The Cowboy's Return. Linda Warren

to wait and hope Leona and Grif still have a heart. I mean, who could look at that gorgeous face and not fall in love?”

      Camila tried to smile, but failed miserably.

      “Go to work,” Millie suggested. “Staying busy is the best medicine right now.”

      Camila took her advice, but she kept wondering if Jilly was there yet. How were they treating her? What was happening? What were they saying to her baby?

      TRIPP HAD SPENT the afternoon riding over the ranch. It upset him that the place was in such bad shape. Pastures were overgrown, mesquite was growing wild again, fences were down and cattle roamed freely from Daniels land onto Boggs property. He’d called Earl several times, but the man never returned any of his calls.

      After taking a shower, he changed clothes. He couldn’t find any record of the payments Earl had made in the past year. They were going to talk about that, too. He checked on his parents. Grif was glued to the TV and Leona was listening to a book on tape that the nurse had brought her, so he didn’t bother them. He’d tell Morris he was leaving, then…

      There was a knock at the door.

      It would be a waste of time yelling for Morris so he answered it himself. He stopped short when he saw who was standing there. Jilly. She held her dog in her arms, like before.

      “Hi, Mr. Daniels. I came to visit like you said.”

      Oh my God! What should he do now? He couldn’t hurt this young girl and he certainly wouldn’t let his parents do that either.

      “Tripp,” Leona called. “Who’s at the door?”

      What the hell should he do?

      “Tripp,” Leona called again. Tripp made a decision, hoping Jilly had the same effect on his parents as she’d had on him.

      “Come in,” he said, stepping aside.

      Jilly walked in and he closed the door.

      “My parents are in the den. Please understand that they are old and say things that sometimes hurt.”

      Jilly nodded. “It’s okay, Mr. Daniels. I know all about old people.”

      “Please call me Tripp,” he told her. “That’s a strong statement for someone so young.”

      “Tripp!” his mother shouted this time.

      “Ready?” he asked Jilly.

      “Yes,” she answered, clutching the dog, and followed him into the den.

      “Mom, Dad, we have a visitor. This is Jilly Walker.”

      Grif swung around, but didn’t say a word. Leona pulled off her headphones, squinting, as if she were trying to see Jilly’s face.

      Jilly walked to her. “Hi, Mrs. Daniels. I’m Jilly and this is Button.” She held up the dog.

      “Button? What’s a Button?” Leona asked.

      “It’s a dog,” Jilly said. “A Chihuahua. Would you like to touch her?”

      “Yes. I like dogs. I used to have a terrier.” Jilly placed the dog in Leona’s lap and Leona stroked it. Button shivered. “Oh, my. It’s a little bitty thing.”

      “Yes, ma’am,” Jilly said. “That’s why Mama and me named her Button. I’ve had her for four years now and I take her everywhere, except when I go to school.”

      “How old are you, child?”

      “I’ll be twelve next Saturday.”

      “Let me see the dog,” Grif said. Tripp stepped back and let everything happen naturally.

      Jilly carried Button to Grif. “She’s a little nervous, but she’ll calm down in a minute.”

      “These type of dogs need a lot of care,” Grif told Jilly.

      “I give her lots of care and lots of love.”

      “Let me hold Button,” Leona said and Jilly carried the dog back to her.