Page 145 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

"I was telling him that I never had a grandpa," said Hunter. "And he said he's never had grandkids."

"So, they decided between them," said Nat, "that since pretty much everyone has just made up their families around here, they could decide to be grandpa and grandson if they wanted to."

Amelia studied her, trying to figure out if she was okay with it. Nat turned to her with a smile. "Don't worry. I'm good with it. He even asked me if I minded. I told him I don't – and that I've never had a grandpa before either."

Ford had come to join them and sat on the corner of the coffee table facing them. "So, you both got a grandpa, huh?"

Nat nodded happily. "I didn't think you'd mind."

"Mind? I love it," he said.

When he met Amelia's gaze, she nodded. "I do, too. I really like Jim. He's a good man."

"He is," Ford agreed. "And what about you, Nat? What did you enjoy about today?"

She wrinkled her nose as she thought about it. "I'd have to say pretty much everything. Of course, this morning was the best part."

Hunter nodded rapidly. "Yeah, of course. I didn't mean that part wasn't. I just..."

"It's okay," Nat told him. "I know what you meant. We all do, right?"

They nodded.

"But apart from this morning?" Ford asked.

She laughed. "I like Laney. She's cool."

Ford rolled his eyes. "She is cool," he said.

"I thought you'd be happy," said Nat. "If anyone's going to convince me that being a cowgirl is cool, it'll be her. She says cowgirl means the same as badass."

Amelia laughed at the look on Ford's face as he put his head in his hands. When he looked up, his eyes twinkled as he told her, "You might be laughing now, but you don't know the trouble we're in for if she follows in Laney's footsteps."

Nat just shrugged happily. "I don't follow in anyone's footsteps. You should know that by now. I make my own trail."

"Yeah, I know that, kiddo," said Ford. "I'm only playing with you."

Nat smiled as she started to push up from the sofa. "Well, I think I'm going to go and take my shower."

"Hang on a minute," said Ford. "There's something I didn't get around to doing this morning."

He’d brought the three boxes out when he gave Amelia the ring, but then the day had moved on and he hadn't gotten around to the other big thing that he wanted to do.

Hunter grinned at him and went running over to where he'd left the boxes next to the fireplace. "Is it these?" he asked as he came back with them. He looked a little disappointed as he said, "They're not very heavy."

Ford chuckled. "They don't need to be heavy."

Nat leaned forward. "Why? What's in them?" she asked.

"You have to wait and see, but hang on a minute." He went back to the kitchen and grabbed his hat from the hook by the door. "I got you guys something. Here you go." He handed the smallest box to Hunter. "There's no point in me trying to explain. You'll see when you open it."

Hunter opened the box carefully and his little face lit up as he took out a hat. It was a black cowboy hat – a mini version of Ford's own. Hunter stuck it on his head and grinned. "Thanks, Uncle Ford. Ashton said you got him his hat and it's just like yours. I..."

When the kid looked up at him with big, sad eyes, Ford scooped him up and hugged him to his chest. "You think I wouldn't get one for you?" he asked. "You're my boy."

Hunter wrapped his arms around his neck and clung to him for a moment before whispering, "Thanks, Uncle Ford."

Ford opened the next box himself and set the new hat on his own head. "I've needed a new one for a while," he said.

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