Rodeo Reunion by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

saying.”
    Could she keep her heart out of things? With the only guy who’d made her heart race since Dylan?
    â€œTruce?”
    â€œTruce.” Brant gave her a hug.
    â€œAwww.” Tori chuckled as she entered the kitchen. “Isn’t that the sweetest thing, Lorraine? Maybe someday you’ll have a brother.”
    The sweet moment misted Raquel’s eyes.
    â€œI like the sound of someday.” Brant pecked Tori on the cheek and scooped Lorraine from her arms. “Ready to go home, my beautiful wife?”
    â€œYes.” Tori yawned. “I’d like to sleep for three days.”
    â€œI can keep Lorraine one night next weekend if you want.” Raquel tickled Lorraine’s chin and the baby gurgled.
    â€œWe might just take you up on that.” Brant shouldered the diaper bag.
    It all reminded her of Dylan when Hunter was little. How attentive he was and how he always carried the diaper bag or car seat for her.
    Having her brother home with his happy family warmed her heart. And made it ache with loneliness.
    She and Dylan had planned to have another baby. But Dylan was gone. And Hunter was an only child.
    And the only man she’d felt anything for since then lived right next door—temporarily. Totally out of reach.
    * * *
    Slade had tried to make small talk during the short drive to the ball field. But his brain didn’t seem to fire right with Raquel next to him in her car. He couldn’t stop thinking about the hug. About wanting to kiss her and her not seeming to disagree with the notion.
    He’d been tired of traveling the circuit for a while now, but not tired of preaching. Could he fulfill his calling and stay in Aubrey?
    Could he preach in a regular church? He was used to being surrounded by the smell of manure, with horses stamping and whinnying in the background and his congregation wearing cowboy hats under the Texas sky.
    Churches were definitely more comfortable. Yet he couldn’t imagine the cowboys he ministered to being comfortable with carpet and padded pews.
    But he could definitely be comfortable riding to Raquel’s rescue. At a slow but steady pace.
    Focus on baseball.
    â€œGot any power hitters on the team?”
    â€œPower hitters?” Raquel laughed. “We’re talking second grade here.”
    â€œOkay. Anyone who can hit the ball?”
    â€œThree or four kids,” Hunter piped up from the backseat.
    Raquel turned into a parking lot and cut the engine. The field teemed with Little Leaguers and supportive parents.
    â€œI can work with that.” Slade opened his door and they all piled out.
    â€œAnd thanks to you, Hunter’s one of our hitters now.” Raquel pulled the cooler she’d packed with Gatorade out of the backseat.
    â€œLet me get that.” He wrestled the cooler from her.
    â€œWatch for cars.” Raquel called as Hunter ran across the parking lot. The boy obediently slowed down.
    Once on the field, Hunter spoke to a boy and they both turned to look at Slade. Hunter’s teammate passed the word and soon the team huddled in the middle of the ball field staring at Slade.
    â€œThis is priceless,” Raquel whispered. “He just went from zero to hero in five seconds flat. Thank you.”
    â€œI just hope I live up to whatever hype he gave me.” Slade grinned.
    They neared the bleachers and a man met them at the edge of the field.
    â€œWhat’s this I hear about a former Texas Ranger agreeing to coach the team?” A tiny blonde ran to meet Raquel.
    â€œThis is Slade Walker.” Raquel stopped and Slade did, too. “He and Dylan were friends and he played for the Rangers.”
    â€œI know.” The man offered his hand and Slade clasped it. “I mean, I know who he is. James Johnson, former coach. Commentators used to crack jokes about the pitcher named Walker who never walked anybody.”
    â€œI wouldn’t say never.” Slade winced. “And