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Going to cut my hair, he interrupted, his full attention on Anna as he set the chair in the middle of the porch.
Here, I ll hold those scissors while you put the newspapers down so we don t make a mess.
Okay. Anna grinned, and laid the newspaper around the chair. How much should I use?
It s not like you re shaving a polar bear. I m just a man.
A man who d paid more attention to her little girl in the last week than Anna s father had in the last two years.
Anna giggled. Maggie smiled as she crossed her arms over her chest.
You sure about this?
He looked at her. A heart-tugging tenderness filled his eyes. She d seen that emotion before. Long ago in Alan s
eyes when Anna was first born. Was Landon thinking of his own
It s hair, Maggie. He paused, as if he was going to say something more, but he pressed his lips closed. The
pained emotion in his gaze disappeared. It ll grow back. Besides, she s only cutting off the pony tail.
Unable to trust her voice, she nodded. They were alone for the first time in a week, as alone as one could be
with an eight-year-old chaperone, but Maggie s heart raced all the same.
He turned and spoke directly to Anna. All set?
All set. Anna took the scissors he held out to her. My mom cuts mine, Hank s and Willie s hair all the time. I
know what I m doing. Have a seat.
Landon sat and arranged the towel so it lay flat over his shoulders. He shook out his hair, then gathered it at his
neck with a piece of rawhide. Cut above the string, okay?
Gotcha.
Anna went to work. Maggie sidled past Landon, a shimmer of electricity grazing her skin where their arms
brushed. I ll watch from back here.
I m doing fine, Mama, Anna said, her tongue tucked into the corner of her mouth. I m oops!
A chunk of black hair and two pieces of rawhide dropped to the newspaper.
Oops?
Landon s voice sounded calm, but the muscles across his shoulders tightened.
Maggie stared at her daughter s handiwork and hid a smile behind her fingers. Anna looked at her with wide,
pleading eyes. You better answer your customer, young lady.
I, ah& I cut below the knot.
So it stayed right where I put it, Landon said. Do you want to try again?
What in tarnation are you three up to?
Maggie whirled at the sound of Willie s voice. He and Hank were heading for the cabin, a large cardboard box in
Willie s arms quivering on its own.
I m giving Landon a haircut, Anna said proudly. Who s next?
I think I m all set, Little Bit, Hank replied.
Me, too, Willie said, but we ve got somep n ah, a few somep ns for ya.
Me? Anna handed the scissors to Maggie and scrambled down the steps. Willie dropped to one knee and put
the box on the grass.
What s going on? Maggie asked. How d your appointment with Doc go?
Ah, fine. It went fine. Hank cradled his ribs with one hand. But I ve got to wear these blasted bandages for a
while longer. Ain t that right, Willie?
Ah, yeah, Willie piped up. Maybe another week.
Or two, Hank quickly added.
Or three. Looks like we need you around here a bit longer, Cartwright.
Hank nudged Willie with the toe of his boot, an action not lost on Maggie. She glanced at Landon, and followed
his gaze to Anna and the writhing box she was helping Willie open. What s in
Kittens! Anna s gleeful cry filled the air along with cries and meows from tiny balls of fluff. Wow, look at
them!
Maggie groaned inwardly as her daughter fell into the box. William Howard Taft Perkins. She eyed the cowboy
who managed to look chagrined and prideful at the same time. Are you out of your mind?
Hank backed away with a wry smile on his face. I better take a few of those pain pills before I head to my place.
Doctor s orders.
Doctor s orders, my ass. Hank knew when to hightail it to safety. Maggie crossed her arms and stared balefully
at her other cowboy.
Now, you know Ms. Kali s office is right next to the doc s office. Willie tried to keep the squirming kittens
inside. Her assistant found the kittens by the side of the road. They re all healthy, and she was taking them to a
shelter in Cheyenne. No telling where they d end up.
Oh, they are so cute. Anna picked up two of the kittens, one white and the other black. She buried her cheeks
in their fur.
Maggie knew she was in trouble.
Here, hold one. Anna offered the black kitten to Landon who caught it just before it wiggled off his lap. He let
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