The Rodeo Man's Daughter. Barbara White Daille

pay much attention.”

       “The real estate business keeps you hopping, huh? Never would have thought that, myself.” He gave her a piercing glance. “Guess I was right—things have changed around town.”

       An even more touchy subject. “Some things,” she said tightly. Years ago, she could never have let him into this house. Would never have been able to face the consequences. She only wished he wasn’t here now. Part of her did, anyway.

       Another part of her felt remorse. For Nate’s sake, she wished she could be nicer to him, could forgive him for the past. At the thought, she hardened her heart. Would Caleb feel any remorse for the way he had treated her?

       “How many years has it been?” he asked. “About nine? Ten?”

       With his questions, all thoughts of forgiveness fled her mind.

       “About,” she muttered. She could tell him how long it had been since they’d last seen each other, down to the day. To the hour.

       She folded her arms across her chest as if that could protect her. Too late. His questions had already triggered a whole list of thoughts she wanted—needed—to stay away from.

       “This place never was an inn before,” he said thoughtfully. “What made your mother go into business for herself?”

       “As I told you, my grandfather died. He left the house to her, and she decided to start the bed-and-breakfast.” Short and sweet and all he needed to know. She needed to get him out of here. “Now, if you don’t mind, we’ll concentrate on your business. I’ve got—”

       Nate and her friends rushed into the room, their sneakers screeching on the polished floor as the girls skidded to a stop beside the table.

       Tess’s heart sank.

       “Caleb—” Nate shot a glance at Tess. “He said I can call him that, Mom.” She turned back. “Can you stay and have supper with us?”

       “No, I don’t think—” Tess began.

       “C’mon, Caleb,” Nate urged, her unblinking gaze on him showing she obviously hadn’t even heard Tess’s words. “We’re having a sleepover. We’re gonna grill hot dogs and burgers, and Gram’s making potato salad.”

       “Yes, I am. The best red-potato salad you’ll find this side of the Mississippi.”

       At the sound of her mother’s voice, Tess swallowed a groan and looked across the room.

       Just inside the doorway stood Roselynn and Aunt Ellamae, wearing smiles as alike as rows of kernels on a corncob. Tess eyed them warily. With those two, you could never know what to expect next. Just like Nate, as a matter of fact. “Caleb and I have some paperwork to take care of,” she told them.

       “Oh, sugar.” Southern sweetness dripped from Roselynn’s words. “You worked hard all day. Surely that can wait.”

       “Yeah,” Ellamae added. “At least till after the fresh-made pecan pie.”

       Caleb grinned, and he glanced from one eager face to another—all six of them. With great effort, only Tess kept her expression carefully neutral.

       “Ladies,” he said, “I don’t see how I can rightly refuse an invitation like that one.”

       Nate took him by the hand, and he rose to his feet.

       Tess’s eyes stung. Her heart sank even lower.

       “C’mon,” her daughter said. “Let’s go out back by the grill.” As she led him away, she added in a hoarse whisper, “Maybe you can do the burgers. Mom always burns ’em.”

       The rest of the girls followed in their wake like a row of baby ducklings behind their daddy and mama.

       Her own mother and aunt looked at her, looked at each other, still beaming, and then disappeared from the doorway.

       Tess put her elbows on the table and her head into her hands.

       This couldn’t be happening. It just couldn’t. After almost a decade, Caleb couldn’t be back here again.

       But he was. Talking about the past and the changes around here and how many years it had been. If it ever occurred to him to sit down and do the math…

       That couldn’t happen, either.

       Tess shot to her feet. Determination propelled her across the dining room. She had to get that man out of her house. Had to make sure he never set foot in it again.

       Most of all, she had to keep him from ever finding out that Nate—her horse-crazy, rodeo-loving, rebellious daughter Nate—was his daughter, too.