Page 99 of The Cowboy's Bullfighter
He knew that. “It’s nice enough y’all can go sit on the porch.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.” Ricky beamed at him.
The rest of the kids came pouring into the kitchen. “We did it!” Lucy crowed. “Now we get our presents.”
“There’s presents?” Ricky asked.
“Yep. A whole bag from Australia. I wanted to save them so we could enjoy them. I got something for all of you, and for Bella and the baby too,” Brook said.
“Oh, too cool.” Ricky bounced, and Coop bit back his grin. Such a kid. “Thanks. This’ll be the baby’s first present.”
Mina tilted her head. “Where’s the baby?”
Ricky went pink, but Coop wasn’t rescuing him. He was old enough to do the deed, he was old enough to explain it, dammit.
Brooks just stared at the kid too.
Ricky cleared his throat. “Well, Bella and me, we’re having a baby, Mina. You know how we all came out of Momma’s stomach?”
“So it’s still in Bella?” Mina frowned when Ricky nodded. “Then why does it need a present?”
Brooks’s warm chuckle made Coop smile. “Because that way I get to be the first one to give it to him or her.”
Mina’s expression was deeply suspicious. “But I get mine now, not when the baby is born?”
“Yep.” Brooks winked. “But I might make you wait for me to have a muffin now.”
“Uncle Brooks!” Mina wailed. “Please, please can I have it?”
Brooks glanced over at his mom. “What do you think, Amanda? Should I let her have it?”
“Granny say, yes. Please, I said please?” Mina’s eyes were the size of saucers.
“She did say please. That was very nice of her. I vote you let her have her gift.” Momma’s smile was pure happiness as Mina launched herself into Momma’s arms.
All right.
He chuckled as Brooks passed everything out. None of it was serious, all of them were little silly things, but all the kids were tickled.
Even Ricky and Bella who seemed exhausted in the morning these days because puking would do that to you.
Personally, he thought if he puked he might die. No question, just…boom.
“Yeah, I think Uncle Coop needs to go lay down. He’s looking like he’s dragging ass.”
“Uncle Brooks! You said a cuss!” Johnny’s eyes were huge. “That isnaughty. You have to put a dollar in the jar.”
“A dollar?” Brooks blinked. “Inflation’s getting bad.”
“We’re saving for Disney. We want to go to California, all of us, and that’s a lot of monies.” Johnny’s face was so serious. “Ricky looked it up. For all of us to go to Disneyland for a week is going to cost a bazillion dollars. So, we’re going to wash cars, and work hard. But cuss words are a dollar.”
“Well—”
Coop grinned. Kids needed something to work toward. He believed that with all his heart.
“Can me and Grandpa come too?” Momma asked.
Mina nodded. “Yes, you can come too. We’ll…um…pick up pennies outside for you that will be yours, okay?”
