cowboy dreams part two

Kieran and Summer were both fast asleep in the car as Tara set up her stall, she would let them sleep for as long as they could. The crowd was beginning to gather and the thrill of something new in town was on a high as the customers gathered around waiting to see what she had. Within the first hour Tara had already sold two paintings and several packs of cards and three ornaments. The kids had woken up and were eating their breakfast that had been packed up for them. Kate found them just after lunch time and had brought a hot cup of coffee for Tara. Kieran was just handing over change to a woman and Summer was putting an ornament into a bag. They sat and chatted for a while and then Tara went quiet, she watched as he crossed from one side of the market stalls to the other. His jeans were tight and his white T-shirt clung to his well toned torso underneath an open dark red chequered shirt, his short dark brown hair was hidden under his black Stetson which matched his black cowboy boots, she watched as his smiled and greeted people he knew. Following her line of sight Kate discovered what had caught her friends attention “That is Jack Tanner” she interrupted the fantasy thoughts bringing Tara back to reality. She looked flushed and embarrassed to have been caught staring. “Umm, Jack Tanner?” she was flustered as she asked her friend to explain in more detail. “Jack runs a riding stable just outside of town it is a working ranch and he teaches disadvantaged and disabled kids to care for and ride horses. He is the towns most eligible bachelor every single woman is after him but he is not interested.” Kate sounded like she would not mind having a go for him as well. Tara was staring at him again and Kate leaned in to whisper “He is very appealing to the eye isn’t he?”. his booming laugh flowed through the crowd and broke through the women’s day dreaming as he turned and headed over to them. He strolled forward and Tara could not help noticing how is t-shirt hugged his muscled torso and how his jeans wrapped around each strong looking leg. When he reached the other side of the table he bowed his head and tilted his Stetson to them “Ladies” his voice was deep and husky and it stirred something in Tara that she hadn’t felt for such a long time. His hazel eyes wandered over the items on her stall and back to her over and over again, she shifted in her seat as she became uncomfortable in a good way. “Jack this is Tara my new neighbour” Kate introduced them. He held his hand out to her and she stood up and reached for it, the moment her skin met his it was like an electric current had been switched on and brought every nerve to life. He shook her hand and felt the tingle spark through him. Pulling her hand back reluctantly Tara was caught in his gaze and could see he too had felt the same strange feeling, his eyes sparkled. She muttered a short “Hi” then she felt a tug on her side and turned away from him. Kieran stood looking up at her “Mum I cant find Summer” he looked concerned and kept looking around him. Tara spun around searching for her daughter, the panic ripping its way through her. Kate joined in the search for her, the car was empty and her toys were left alone. Jack stood still and he watched as the women rushed around. He noticed movement under the table and ducked down to find a little blonde haired girl playing with a toy horse, a huge smile on her face. He held his hands out to her and she crawled out from under the table and he picked her up. “I think I found her” he spoke as he bounced her in his arms, his smile now matching that of the child’s as she made the toy horse walk over him and she made the noises to go with it. Tara ran around the table and took her daughter in her arms and out of the strangers, hugging her tight to her. Jack watched as the panic in her expression turned to relief but there was more hidden there and his curiosity gnawed away at him, but he didn’t voice his concern. Summer held her horse out the jack who smiled at her “so you like horses do you darlin?” his voice was still deep and husky but held a softness to it. Summer smiled up at him and nodded her head, her loose curls bouncing on her shoulders. Tara turned to him “Thank you” her voice was soft and grateful. Before he could reply she walked away back to the other side of the table and sat down with her daughter in her lap. “You can do that, I need to know where you are sweet

heart” the little girl put a frown on her face “im sorry mummy” she flung her arms around Tara’s neck and hugged her tight. Once things had calmed down jack realised he did not want to leave, he wanted to stay and talk to this woman who had sent a heat wave through his body like no other. He took his time flipping through paintings and inspecting the ornaments, all the time his eyes were constantly flickering back to her. He finally decided he had better make a move or the ranch would be missing him, he picked up a painting of a palomino standing under a tree at sunset and handed it to her. “Do you do commissioned paintings?” he asked her and kept his deep hazel eyes fixed on hers. “Yes what do you have in mind?” the thought of extra work filled her with joy but not as much as the thought of seeing him again did. “Well, I own a horse ranch just outside town and Im redecorating some of the dorm rooms. I would be after a few paintings of the horses and of the ranch if that’s at all possible?” his voice was melting her insides and it took a moment for her to reply. “Yes I can do that not a problem”. She was about to tell him what she charged but he stopped her “Why don’t you come out to the ranch when you are done here and you can have a look around and tell me what you think” he saw her glance to her kids with concern at leaving them “Bring the kids and they can have a ride on Poppy, she is a very

tame pony” he saw little Summer’s face light up and he smiled. He took his painting spun round and walked away but just before he turned the corner out of sight he looked over his shoulder and winked at her then he was gone. Kate sat holding her coffee to her lips which were stretched into a cheeky smile. “What?” Tara asked “I think he likes you. He doesn’t normally flirt like that” the cheekiness was not only in her smile as she spoke. “That was flirting?” It had been a very long time since Tara had had any experience with flirting.