The Cowboy's Ready-Made Family by Linda Ford Page B

pleased if you’d use my Christian name, as well.”
    Little did she know, he already did in his thoughts. “Thank you.”
    â€œCan we call you Tanner?” Robbie asked.
    Tanner looked at Susanne, wondering whether she would allow the familiarity. He knew that many folk didn’t approve of children using the Christian names of adults, but on the ranch they’d never held to such rules. “I don’t mind, if it’s okay with you.”
    She nodded. “If you aren’t offended.”
    â€œNot in the least. My ma didn’t hold with children and adults being treated differently.”
    â€œThen, yes.” She spoke to the children. “But you must remember to be respectful.”
    Suddenly the children were shy and wouldn’t look at him.
    Janie giggled. “Tanner is just like us.”
    Susanne shook her head, but her eyes brimmed with amusement. “No. He’s an adult.”
    â€œI know.” Janie gave her aunt a look rife with impatience. “’Cause he’s big and strong like my papa.”
    The children studied him.
    He let them make their assessment. “I’ll never be like your papa. ’Cause no one can ever be like him. Your papa was special to you and always will be.”
    Four little heads nodded.
    â€œYou ever meet him?” Frank asked. “Papa would have liked you.”
    Tanner couldn’t believe the boy’s words. His throat tightened at the suggestion. “I met your pa a few times in town.” It was a fair ways to Granite Creek so trips were infrequent. He tried to recall the few times he’d seen Jim Collins. “I recall last summer he was in town waiting for the stagecoach to arrive. A pretty young lady climbed down and got into his wagon.” By the time he finished he realized that young lady must have been Susanne. Would she be offended at his brash comments? He stole a glance at her, saw her cheeks had grown pink, though he might put that down to the effort of her work.
    â€œA pretty lady?” Janie asked, innocent and curious.
    â€œHe means Auntie Susanne,” Liz said.
    â€œI suppose I do. Sorry, ma’am. Didn’t realize until after I’d spoken that I was talking about you.”
    â€œWhy are you sorry?” Robbie asked. “She is pretty, isn’t she? I think so.”
    â€œMe, too,” Frank said, and his sisters added their agreement.
    Susanne’s cheeks grew pinker by the moment. Tanner should think of a way to change the subject but he could only stare and smile. She certainly was pretty.
    What was wrong with his head that he stood here like a dunce thinking about how pretty this white gal was?
    How had the conversation led him so far astray? They’d been talking about Jim Collins. His thoughts settled into their proper place.
    â€œI also met your pa a time or two while I was out riding the range. One time he helped me move a bunch of cows that were stranded by a little rock slide in a draw. He didn’t seem to mind pitching in to move the rocks.” He paused, wishing for a way to ease the children’s sense of loss. “He was a good man. Sorry to see him go.”
    Frank nodded. “He was a good man.”
    Tanner knew he had to distract the children from their grief. “What do you say to getting the rest of this garden in?”
    The children eagerly shifted back to the task at hand. As Tanner measured out the next row, Susanne came up to him.
    â€œThank you for your kind words regarding my brother. They mean a lot to me and the children.”
    He slowly brought his gaze to hers, telling himself the whole time that he could look her in the eye without getting all muddled in the head. As soon as their gazes connected, he knew he was wrong.
    Something about the way she looked at him made him forget who he was and think only of who he might be...except for his mixed heritage.
    â€œYou’re good with the children,” she