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Carefully removing the tag, she tore off the paper and opened the flaps of the plain brown box. Tucked inside the tissue paper was a small stuffed cow.
“You've got to be kidding me.”
When she picked it up, a note fluttered down to her lap, penned in the same heavy black script.
Will you go to dinner with me?
☐ Yes
☐ No
Check one.
You don’t have to order steak if you don’t want to.
—Grady
Amanda stared at the cow, then at the note. “For God’s sake. That man has some nerve.”
Aunt Edith burst out laughing. “Oh, that boy is something else. Seems he’s taken a shine to you, and who could blame him? You’re single and quite the catch.”
The stupid thing was funny. Since yesterday’s incident hadn’t left her traumatized, and she’d been assured her car could be fully repaired, she could admit the sheriff’s gift was funny—silently, to herself, where no one would ever know.
An idea came to her. She handed the note and stuffed cow to her aunt, then got up to retrieve her iPad from the dining room table. “Do you know his home address?”
“I sure do. I have it in my address book. He and his daughter are on my Christmas card list. What’re you up to?”
“Revenge.”
After several minutes, she found what she was looking for, hit the Buy Now button, and selected next-day delivery. Two could play at this game, and she could guarantee she was way more creative.
When Grady and Rissa pulled up to the JP Ranch’s main house, Trent Daniels-Urban practiced his roping skills while Jeremiah watched and coached him. The preteen had come a long way since he’d first started learning.
Almost two years ago, the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department lost one of their own when Deputy Mark Daniels and his wife, Kate, were killed in a car accident, leaving behind three young children. With no relatives able to take them in, Sara, Trent, and Kennedy entered the foster care system. Unfortunately, no home could accommodate all three, and Sara was separated from her younger siblings.
When Jeremiah and Dale learned what had happened, they became certified foster parents so they could reunite the children under one roof. After a few bumps along the way, the five had become a family, and a few months ago, the men had officially adopted all three kids.
Rissa had taken fourteen-year-old Sara under her wing, giving her someone closer to her age to confide in about things she wasn't comfortable discussing with her dads. Both girls attended Butterfield High School, Rissa a senior and Sara a freshman, while Trent was in seventh grade and Kennedy in sixth at junior high.
Grady parked and turned off the engine. As he and Rissa climbed out, the house’s front screen door swung open, and Dale stepped onto the porch, holding Jeremiah’s three-and-a-half-year-old goddaughter, Shannon Casey. “Hey, thanks for coming over.”
After waving at Trent and Jeremiah, Grady followed Rissa up the porch steps. “No problem. I’m getting a free meal out of it, and all I had to do was drive here.”
“Sara’s up in her bedroom.” Dale held open the door for Rissa, who stopped for a moment to kiss the toddler on the cheek. “All I know is that a boy is teasing her. From the sound of it, she’s not being bullied. More like he thinks she’s cute and doesn’t know what to do with all those hormones yet. If he figures it out, I’ll have to threaten him, of course. Anyway, nothing Jay and I say to her will come out right, so I’m grateful for your help.”
“No worries, Uncle Dale. I’ve got it covered.”
As she stepped inside and headed up the stairs toward the bedrooms, Jeremiah and Trent joined the two men on the porch. Grady tousled the boy’s hair. “Looking good there, kiddo. I wouldn’t be surprised if you medal at the rodeo this year.”
A proud expression crossed the boy’s face. “I hope so. I’ve been practicing real hard.” He looked up at Jeremiah. “Pa, can I practice some more before dinner?”
“Sure. Just remember to put the rope away and wash up before you eat.”
“I will!” He ran down the steps and back to the wooden calf Jeremiah had made for him to lasso.
“Fifteen minutes, Trent,” Dale called after him.
“Okay!”
