Daddy Wore Spurs (Mills & Boon Cherish) (Men of the West, Book 32) by Stella Bagwell Page A

stallion had once run wild and free over the mountains and plains. Most likely he’d had his own harem of mares and had fought valiantly to keep his family safely at his side.
    Now this majestic animal was confined behind fences, and though he was getting more nutrition and care than he could’ve ever possibly obtained out on the range, Finn would love to see him running free on miles of grazing land, with a band of mares racing close behind him.
    The image brought back all the arguments he’d had in the past with his father and grandfather over the mustangs. For three or more years now, Finn had fought to incorporate wild horses into the breeding program on the Silver Horn, but Orin and Bart had strongly resisted.
    Now that Finn was standing face-to-face with this regal animal, his determination to work with a herd of mustangs grew even stronger. Sooner than later, he was going to take a stand for what he wanted. And he wasn’t going to back down.
    The ring of his cell interrupted his thoughts and he reluctantly pulled the instrument from a leather holder fastened to his belt.
    “Hi, Dad,” he greeted. “What’s up?”
    “I’ve been ringing your phone for the past two hours! We’ve been sitting on pins and needles back here waiting to hear from you!”
    “Sorry. These past few hours have been like a roller coaster. I’ve just now gotten a chance to grab a quiet moment.”
    Orin said, “You sound exhausted.”
    Finn’s gaze drifted away from a pen of mares and over to the house. Seeing Harry for the first time and dealing with Mariah’s emotional reactions had done something to him. He wasn’t the same man who’d driven away from the Silver Horn Ranch early this morning. But trying to explain that to his father would sound ridiculous.
    “It’s not every day that a man sees his son for the first time. A son he didn’t know he had.”
    A long pause followed, then Orin said, “Sounds like you’ve made up your mind pretty damn quick about this baby.”
    “The boy resembles me, Dad. His hair is auburn and curly. And he has my dimples. Aimee named him Harrison Ray after me and Mr. Montgomery. Mariah calls him Harry, and I’ve already found myself calling him Harry, too.”
    “Hmm. Right after you were born Dad called you Harry. Until your mother ordered him to stop. Still, a name doesn’t make him yours. Or red hair and dimples.”
    “No. But I have a feeling inside me and it’s telling me that Harry is mine,” Finn reasoned. “I was right about Sassy being my sister. I’m right about Harry, too.”
    Orin sighed. “Could be you’re letting your wants interfere with your reasoning. These past few years your brothers and sister have been having children. It’s only natural for you to want the same.”
    Finn wiped a weary hand across his forehead and tried not to let his father’s suggestion annoy him. It was true his siblings were having babies left and right. But that hardly meant Finn wanted the same for himself. Hell, he didn’t even have a steady girlfriend. And rarely found the time to go out on a casual date, much less make room in his life for a wife and child.
    Finn said, “Well, don’t worry, Dad. Monday morning Mariah and I are taking Harry into town and having a DNA test done.”
    “Good. Was this the aunt’s idea, or yours?”
    Finn grimaced. “We both thought it was the best way to resolve the issue.”
    “Well, apparently she isn’t grabbing the first chance to push the baby off on you. Has she or any of her family demanded money yet?”
    It wasn’t like his father to bring up the issue of money. Especially where a child’s welfare was concerned. But this was an unusual circumstance, one that had left Finn feeling a little embarrassed. Having one-night stands wasn’t his style. But the revelation of Harry had certainly made him look like an irresponsible lothario. Now his father was probably thinking Finn’s philandering was going to cost the family a fortune.
    Biting back