Good Enough (Meet Me in Montana #3) - Kelly Elliott Page 0,17
I’m so glad you could make it for the holidays. How long are you staying?” my mother asked while I made my way through the kitchen. Blayze grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the living room, saying something about a new saddle and how he had asked Santa for that and a new horse. I wanted to hear Timberlynn’s reply to my mother—no, needed to hear what she said—but I missed it.
As I approached Ty, he looked over at me. I shot him a dirty glance and the bastard acted as if he had no idea why. Even going so far as to raise his arms up and mouth, “What?” to me. Jerk.
“Ty, you free to talk for a second?” I asked as Blayze dragged me past him.
“I think so.” He followed us out of the kitchen and into the living room.
“Uncle Tanner, I asked Santa spafacially for a saddle like yours. I want to learn to rope like you, and Daddy said I needed to be in your saddle.”
“Spafacially?” I asked as I turned to Ty.
“Specifically,” he said with a slight smile. “But, buddy, I think what your dad meant was you needed to ride with Tanner, in his saddle, while he roped a calf.”
Blayze stared at the two of us as he let what Ty said sink in. Then he shook his head. “Nah, I think I need Uncle Tanner’s saddle. And a new horse.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I turned and asked in a hushed voice. “What happened to bull riding?”
Ty looked at Blayze, who had been searching through the few presents that were already under the tree.
“He’s given that up. He saw your interview a few weeks back in Kansas and declared he was going to be a roper, like you. Brock and I think it had something to do with the two pretty trophy girls standing on either side of you, though.”
I lifted my brows in surprise. “No shit? He does know there are trophy girls in the PBR as well.”
“Oh, he knows. Apparently, he likes the blonde one. The kid has a thing for blondes.”
There was no way I could stop the smirk from moving across my face. The kid was a Shaw for sure.
“I don’t even have to tell you how relieved Lincoln is at this new direction Blayze has gone in.”
“I would imagine. He done with the mutton busting?” I asked as I headed over to my nephew. I couldn’t lie to myself and ignore that I liked having Blayze look up to me like that.
“Yes, another thing Lincoln is relieved about.”
I chuckled. “Blayze, Santa hasn’t brought any gifts yet, buddy. And I don’t think a saddle will fit under the tree.”
“Oh, I know it won’t be here, it’ll be at my house on Christmas morning. I heard Grams telling Daddy she wrapped some presents for me and put them under the tree.”
I bent down and picked up a present. It did indeed have Blayze’s name on it. “If she catches you snoopin’, she’ll take a present away,” I warned.
Blayze stopped picking up the wrapped gifts and stared at me with a shocked expression. “We best tell her it was you snoopin’ then.”
Ty laughed from behind me, and I did my best not to laugh as well. “Then we’d be lying. Your daddy raised you not to lie,” I stated.
Blayze looked guilty as he pushed his hands into his pockets and took a few steps away from the tree. “Aw, man, I bet Santa doesn’t bring me the saddle now.”
Ty walked over to Blayze and ruffled his hair. “Nah, I think you’re allowed one peek, but that’s it.”
Our nephew’s face lit up and he smiled at Ty. “It’s a good thing Santa don’t believe in washin’ your mouth out with soap like Grams does when you lie.” He took off toward the kitchen. I watched him until he left the room and then turned to glare at Ty.
“Why didn’t you tell me Timberlynn would be here?” I asked in a whispered tone.
“Does it matter if she’s here or not?” he asked while he folded his arms over his chest.
“No,” I answered too quickly.
“Then why do you look like you’re flustered, Tanner?” That asshole was obviously enjoying this.
“I’m not flustered. Why the hell would I be flustered?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know, you tell me, bro.”
I laughed when I saw him looking at me like he knew exactly why. “You think I like her?”