Trainer's Treat (Culpepper Cowboys Book 7) Read online

  When Patience leaned over to buckle her in, Corinne said, “I’m six, not a baby. I’ve got it.”

  Patience hid a grin as she hurried around to the front and slid behind the wheel. “Let’s go. I’m going to drive to Culpepper, and you have to show me where to go from there.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Tell me what you like to do,” Patience said, wanting to get to know the sweet little girl. “I know you like to dance.”

  “I like dancing best, but I also like to read. And I really like butterflies.”

  “Oh, I noticed your backpack was covered with pink butterflies. It’s very pretty.”

  “My tutu is pink too. I don’t think any girl should bother with other colors. Boys either for that matter. Pink tutus and pink butterflies make the whole world happier.”

  Patience grinned. “I like that! I think I’ll get a pink apron for work.”

  Corinne gasped. “But if you wear a pink apron for work, you won’t be as good of a cook!”

  “I won’t?”

  “Oh, no. Only people with white aprons can cook as well as you do. My scone was delicious.”

  “I’m glad you liked it.” Patience made a right turn to head toward town. “What does your daddy do?”

  “He’s a horse trainer,” Corinne said, her voice filled with pride. “People bring him their mean horses that they want to be gentle, and he teaches them to be nice.”

  “Do you ride horses?”

  “Yes, but I’m not horse crazy like some girls I know. I like dancing better.”

  “I can understand that. My cousin is horse crazy. Do you remember meeting my cousin Grace this morning?”

  “Yes.”

  “Her twin sister is Honor, and she likes horses better than people. A lot better than people. And she always smells like she just rolled around in a barn.”

  “Ew.”

  “I know. It’s yucky.” Patience couldn’t help but grin at the little girl’s response. “What does your mommy do?” She held her breath while she waited for the answer.

  “My mommy went to heaven before I started kindergarten. She had cancer.”

  “I’m so sorry!”

  “Me too. It was sad. All her hair fell out, and then she died. I still miss her a lot.”

  “I’m sure you do. Did you just finish kindergarten? Or first grade?”

  “First grade. Daddy is getting better at taking care of me, but I need a mommy.”

  “You do?” Patience couldn’t help but wonder what the girl’s father would say if he could hear his daughter.

  “I do. I need someone who knows how to cook and clean and knows how to fix my hair.” Corinne sounded sad. “He puts my hair in a ponytail using a vacuum cleaner. It’s so silly!”

  Patience had seen videos of fathers doing that to their little girls, and she stifled a laugh. “Well, I’ll fix your hair anytime you need me to. I’m really good at French braiding hair. I do my sister’s all the time.”

  “I love French braids. If I come to the bakery early tomorrow, will you do it for me?”

  “I will. If it’s okay with your daddy.”

  “He doesn’t care how I wear my hair as long as he doesn’t have to fix it,” Corinne told her.

  Patience smiled. “I can understand that. It must be tough for him to be the daddy of such a beautiful little ballerina with no help at all.”

  Corinne told her to turn right, so she did, and a moment later, she stopped in front of a small ballet studio. “This is the place.”

  Patience walked around the car and took Corinne’s hand. When they got inside, a woman in her early thirties smiled at Patience. “I don’t know you yet. I’m Katie Sanford.”

  “Patience Quinlan.”

  “Oh, are you one of the Quinlan Quads who married the Culpeppers?”

  “No, they’re my cousins. My sister and I came out with the Quinlan twins to start the bakery.”

  Katie’s eyes widened. “I’ve heard amazing things about your bakery! Are you the cake girl? Or the cookie girl?”

  “I’m the pie girl who is looking for a summer specialty. How do you feel about cheesecake?” A little market survey never hurt anyone.

  Katie laughed. “Any time you need someone to sample that cheesecake, you just let me know!”

  “Oh, I may take you up on that!” Patience looked down at Corinne. “I’m going to go back to work now. You have a wonderful day and dance until your feet hurt!”

  Corinne threw her arms around Patience and hugged her tight. “Thank you so much for bringing me. You made all my dreams come true!”

  Patience smiled, ruffling the girl’s hair, and smiling sadly at the ponytail. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

  She waved to Katie and left, smiling to herself. It had been such a little thing for her to agree to do, but such a big thing for Corinne. She was glad she’d offered, because she knew making a difference in other people’s lives was what life was all about.

  Chapter Two

  When Ryan picked Corinne up from her ballet camp that afternoon, she was bubbling over with excitement. “I had the best day ever! First I got to meet Miss Patience, and she was so nice to me. And then I got to eat a scone. And then I got to spend the whole morning with other kids doing crafts at Mrs. Culpepper’s house, and then Miss Patience drove me to ballet camp! I loved ballet camp! I can do everything we did today already, so I’m one of the more advanced students!”

  Ryan smiled and told her to buckle up as he got behind the wheel. “So Miss Patience was nice to you?”

  “She was wonderful! She drove me, and she talked to Miss Katie, and she told me if we go to the bakery early, she’ll French braid my hair for me. Can we, Daddy? Please? I’m tired of vacuum cleaner ponytails!”

  Ryan frowned. “But that’s all I know how to do!”

  “But Miss Patience doesn’t mind. She told me. She’s so nice, Daddy. Can we have a picnic with her when you’re off work next?”

  “I won’t be off again until Sunday.”

  “So can we have a picnic on Sunday? I want to spend more time with her. She’s just as pretty as a mommy.”

  “You know she’s not your mommy, though, right?”

  “Yes, I know, but when she’s with me, I can pretend.”

  Ryan wasn’t sure how he felt about his little girl wanting another mommy. He still missed his wife a great deal. With the right woman, it might be a good idea, though. He knew Corinne needed a woman’s influence. “I’ll ask her, but she might be busy.”

  Corinne smiled. “Thank you, Daddy. You’re the best daddy in the whole world you know!”

  “Even though you hate my cooking?”

  “You didn’t burn the mac and cheese last night!” she said encouragingly.

  He sighed. He needed to find a cooking class. And fast.

  “Call her now.”

  “I can’t. I’m driving.”

  “Call her as soon as we get home then. You have to ask her before she can say yes.”

  He smiled. “You are too logical for your own good, pumpkin.”

  “I’m not a pumpkin. Pumpkins are orange. I’m pink cotton candy.”

  “I’ll call her, okay?”

  “Thank you, Daddy.”

  *****

  Patience and Felicity were locking up the bakery to walk home when Patience’s phone rang. Grace had left a bit early to meet Marcus in town for supper.

  Patience fished the phone out of her purse, and was surprised to see it was Ryan calling. “Hello?”

  “Hi there. This is Ryan.” His deep voice boomed over the phone at her, and Patience felt her heart skip a beat. Now that she knew he was single, she couldn’t help thinking about how handsome he was.

  “Hi, Ryan. Did Corinne have a good time at ballet camp?”

  “She can’t quit talking about how wonderful it is and how much fun she had with you. She said that if we come early tomorrow you’re going to French braid her hair.”

  “She said she was t
ired of vacuum cleaner ponytails, so I offered.”

  There was a pause. “She told you that’s how I ponytail her hair?”

  “She did. I hope that’s all right.” Patience did her best to keep the laughter out of her voice, but it was hard.

  “Too late now if it isn’t. Anyway, she asked me to call you and invite you on a picnic with us on Sunday.”

  “Oh, um, sure. The bakery is closed Sundays and Mondays, so I’d be happy to go on a picnic with you.” Patience’s gaze met her sister’s; Felicity was wiggling her eyebrows up and down. “Would you like me to prepare lunch?”

  “She told you about me burning mac and cheese, didn’t she?”

  That time Patience couldn’t control her laugh. “No, actually she didn’t. Is it really possible to burn mac and cheese?”

  There was more silence. “Obviously it is possible or I wouldn’t have done it. I’ll get lunch from the grocery store deli. No need for you to cook on your day off.”

  “Sounds good. Do you want me to meet you somewhere?”

  “Well, how ‘bout I pick you up for church at nine, and you go to church with us, and then we go on a picnic after?”

  Patience had yet to go to church in town, because she hated to go to church after the way she’d been raised. She could try it, though. “I can do that. What time does church start?”

  “It’s starts at ten, but I try to get there about nine-thirty.”

  “All right. Yeah, I can do that.”

  “I’ll see you in the morning, then.”

  “Good night.”

  As soon as she pushed end, Felicity looked at her. “So you’re going out with the hot single dad? Really?”

  Patience shrugged. “I’m going on a picnic with him and his daughter. It’s not like we’re going out dancing ‘til dawn.”

  “If you want to do that, I’m happy to babysit.”

  “I don’t think our relationship has progressed to that point. Yet.”

  “But you want it to?”

  Patience shrugged, her hand on the front doorknob of the big house. “I sure wouldn’t complain. He makes my heart beat faster just by looking at me.”

  “Oh, wow. Don’t let Daddy hear you say that!”

  “I won’t. But I might tell Mama.”

  Felicity giggled. “Mama would tell you to wrestle him to the ground and jump his bones.”

  “And then Daddy would kill her!” Patience opened the door and stopped short. Linda was in the kitchen, standing very close to a man Patience had never seen. He looked like he was around his mid-fifties and had dark hair. The two of them jumped apart, and Patience pretended she hadn’t seen anything, talking loudly to her sister. “I wonder what’s for dinner. Something smells delicious.”

  Linda looked flustered as she hurried out of the kitchen toward them. “I was having some electrical trouble, so my friend, Roy, came over to help me out. He’s an electrician.”

  There’s electricity here all right. “Oh, that’s great. It’s nice to meet you,” Patience said with a smile. Was there a romance blooming for Linda? She hoped so!

  “I made chicken spaghetti.” Linda turned to look at the man in her kitchen. He looked flustered. “Do you want to stay and eat with us?”

  He shook his head. “No, I should be getting home. It’s been a long day.”

  “Let me at least send some home with you. If you won’t let me pay you for your help, the least I can do is provide your supper.”

  He nodded to that, and Linda quickly scooped some dinner into a disposable plastic container and added some garlic bread.

  “I have an individual cheesecake!” Patience said. “It’s something new I’m trying.”

  “I’m not going to turn down a cheesecake,” Roy said with a smile.

  Linda took that and wrapped it up as well, putting all of the individual things into a grocery sack. “There you go. Thanks again for your help.”

  Roy nodded, heading for the door.

  “It was nice meeting you,” Felicity offered.

  He nodded, before disappearing.

  “A man of few words,” Felicity noted after he’d left.

  “Always has been,” Linda said, fixing three plates for them. “I hope you girls are hungry, because I made a lot.”

  *****

  Just before the bakery opened at seven the following morning, Patience heard a knock at the door. She hurried over, already knowing who their early morning customers would be. She opened the door and relocked it behind them. “Good morning.”

  Ryan smiled at her. “Good morning.”

  She’d brought a brush, a comb, and a ponytail holder to help her with the braid. Corinne’s hair was down and it fell well past her shoulders.

  There was a single chair in front of the counter, and Patience sat down on it, pulling the little girl between her legs. “Felicity, would you help Ryan get what he wants while I work on Corinne’s hair, please?”

  “Absolutely!” Felicity hurried over and stood at the counter.

  “Are you excited about your second day at ballet camp?” Patience asked.

  “Oh, yes, ma’am. Very excited. I like spending the mornings at Mrs. Culpepper’s house, because we always do fun things, but it’s so much fun to go to the studio and dance, dance, dance.”

  Patience carefully brushed the knots out of her hair and then went to work dividing the strands of her hair up for the braid. “And you’re wearing another pretty pink leotard! And tutu!”

  “I have lots of pink dance outfits,” Corinne told her proudly.

  “Well, of course you do! You know what else you need?”

  “No, what?”

  “You need pink butterfly wings to wear with your tutu!”

  Ryan turned from the counter where he’d been choosing the muffins he wanted to start his day with. “Don’t give her any ideas. She has enough of her own.”

  “I think she’d look beautiful with butterfly wings,” Patience said with a grin.

  Ryan sighed. “I have a feeling your sister is not going to be a good influence on my daughter,” he told Felicity.

  Felicity shrugged. “I think you’re very wrong about that. She’ll be a wonderful influence.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I say so, Daddy. I love Patience. Can we keep her?”

  Ryan gulped, closing his eyes. “We can’t just keep every pretty lady who comes along, Corinne. She’s not a puppy.”

  Pretty? Patience couldn’t help but grin. “Yeah, you can only keep a pretty lady if you ask her nicely.”

  “Miss Patience, would you marry my daddy so I can keep you forever?” Corinne asked sweetly. “You mean like that?”

  “Exactly like that.” Patience bit her lip to suppress the laugh that wanted to come out.

  “Well?” Corinne asked.

  “Well, what?”

  “Can we keep you?”

  Patience shook her head. “I’m afraid your daddy has to ask me to marry him. It can’t be something you and I decide. It has to be something he wants too.”

  “But you said if I asked nicely…”

  Patience used the ponytail holder on the end of the braid. “You have to ask your daddy nicely to ask me nicely. See how that works?”

  “I guess. I still want to keep you, though.”

  Patience hugged Corinne close. “I would say yes in a heartbeat if I could. It’s just not time. Maybe someday it will be.”

  Patience stood up and walked around the counter. Ryan had already paid for his and Corinne’s breakfast and was sipping his coffee. “Thanks for letting us come early for the braid,” he said, refusing to even discuss the conversation she’d just had with his daughter. He was very impressed with how easily she’d handled the little girl’s questions.

  “No problem. I’m happy to do it.”

  He looked at her hair. “I was thinking I’d ask you to show me how, but I watched for a second and felt a little nauseated. I could never do that.”

  She laughed. “Nausea
ted?”

  “Your fingers moved so fast, it made me dizzy!”

  “I’d be happy to show you, but I’m also happy to do it anytime. Corinne’s a sweetheart.”

  Ryan studied Patience for a moment, a plan forming in his mind. “Thanks for helping out once again. Can you still take her to ballet camp later?”

  “Of course. We had fun yesterday, didn’t we, Corinne?”

  “Yes, we did!”

  “I’d like to go make sure her booster seat is in the car correctly, if you don’t mind. It’s strange enough having someone I barely know drive her around, but I do want to make sure she’s safe.” Ryan held his hand out for her keys.

  “That would be great. Thanks.”

  “You’re thanking me for helping you help me. I don’t think that’s necessary.”

  Patience shrugged. “I’m a Southern girl, and my mama taught me that manners were never excessive or overdone.”

  Ryan grinned as he hurried out to take care of the extra booster seat, leaving his breakfast on the counter. He liked the idea of her Southern manners rubbing off on his little girl. He was quite impressed with her, whether he wanted to admit it or not.

  Ten minutes later, he’d dropped her off and headed back to his ranch to work, determined that he wasn’t going to let the pretty lady his daughter had decided to love get away. She would make a perfect new mama for his little girl.

  *****

  Every morning that week, Ryan and Corinne were at the bakery before it opened, and Patience fixed the girl’s hair. On Friday when they came in, Patience surprised the little girl with a pair of pink butterfly wings to match her ballerina outfit. Amazon Prime was her friend.

  “Oh, Miss Patience! Those are the most beautiful butterfly wings in the whole wide world! Can you help me put them on?”

  “Of course, I can! But let me do your hair first, because the wings will get in the way otherwise.”

  Ryan shook his head at her. “Butterfly wings? Really?” He wasn’t sure if he should be amused or exasperated. Patience obviously loved his little girl, though, and he couldn’t be upset about that.

  Patience just grinned at him. “I would have given anything to dress in a pink ballerina outfit and dance to my heart’s content at her age, but I was never allowed. I would have loved to wear butterfly wings, but I had to wear dresses that came to mid-calf and long-sleeved shirts. I guess my arms would have sent a man into a fit.”