Page 77 of A Cowboy's Claim
“I’ll do everything I can to make sure the clinic keeps running,” Sydney assured them. “I just don’t want to keep anything from you because I’m not the one controlling your destiny. I think that’s not something to keep quiet about.”
Edison offered her a hug and went to clean the final exam room. Jenny also smiled sweetly and went back to the desk to tidy.
Lexie remained, a haunted expression in her eyes. “You’re going to stand up to him.”
“I don’t know if it’s standing up to him if he pulls the carpet out from under me,” Sydney said.
The other woman shook her head firmly. “That wasn’t a question. I’m telling you that I’ll support you however I can because youneedto stand up to him.” Lexie swallowed hard. “I should’ve, and I’ve been trying to gather up the courage to do it ever since. Because you were right. I should’ve talked to Michael, and we could have decided together instead of me simply doing what I was told was in Michael’s best interest.”
Sydney caught Lexie’s fingers. “It’s not too late. I bet if you told Michael you wanted to talk he’d be all over that.”
“I know. And I want to, but I’m nervous. I wanted to ask if you’d help.” Lexie waved a hand. “Not this minute. Right now you’re caught up in something else big that you need to deal with.”
“Oh, honey. There’s always a million enormous things to deal with,” Sydney reminded her. “Doctors invented multitasking. If you want me as backup when you talk to my brother, you’ve got it. Let’s send him a message now and set up a time.”
A hesitant smile crossed Lexie’s face, and her shoulders relaxed the faintest bit. As if having something tangible to do had released some of her pain. “Let’s do that.”
Declan wasout in the barn when Jinx came barreling in. “Declan?”
“In the stall with Cobalt,” he called. An instant later, she was there at the gate, standing perfectly still—following the rule to stay calm around horses—but he could see her bouncing on the inside. “We’re fine.”
Still, he stepped outside of the pen and let her snatch him up into a hug.
“You’re not supposed to get in trouble like that,” she said, face still buried against his chest.
“Sometimes things happen for a good reason.” He patted her shoulders and waited for her to let go. “Sydney and I are dating.”
“Get out.” Jinx jerked back, her jaw hanging open. “And everybody’s allowed to know?”
“Hell, yeah.” Declan cleared his throat. “Heck, yeah.”
Jinx laughed—a sound like bright sunshine dancing on the air. “You are too funny sometimes. I’m glad you’re home safe, and I’m happy for you and Sydney. Is she coming over for supper?”
“She’ll be here. She said she wanted to see you and Jeffrey.”
“Of course, Jeffrey. He learned a new word while you were gone.” Jinx stepped away and offered him a big smile. “Just wait until he pulls it out at the dinner table. It’s a funny one.”
“I look forward to it.” Declan turned back to his horse but caught the tail end of someone slipping away. Logan, probably.
Logan, who seemed to always be around whenever Jinx was. Declan didn’t like it, but he understood it completely. Jinx was a bright shining penny to the young man.
That night at the table, plates were piled high, fruit punch and beer flowing freely. Declan looked down the table and counted eleven family and friends. Gratefulness rushed in at having this type of meal to contrast with the sweet, quiet ones he’d shared with Sydney.
Both special. Both experiences he needed in his life.
Jeffrey had asked to sit beside both Declan and Sydney, which put the little tyke directly between them as he chattered away a mile a minute. “Daddy said that was lots of mud. So much it was a mountain of mud. Sounds really squishy.”
Sydney answered him seriously. “A mountain of mud indeed,” she agreed. “And lightning and rain and wind. It was a very big storm.”
“Sounds perturbing.” Jeffrey dipped his little chin intently then tried to shove an entire soft taco into his mouth.
Jinx snickered, catching Declan’s gaze. She spoke softly. “So perturbing. You were perturbed, weren’t you, Declan?”
Tansy laughed, avoiding everyone’s gaze as she stared at the ceiling light and pretended to be busy chewing.
“That kid is going to have the vocabulary of a university professor by the time he starts grade one if you keep this up,” Jake warned.
“Do you find that perturbing?” Tansy offered. “It’s actually a scintillating goal to reach for.”
