Little Cowgirl Needs a Mom Read Free

you know, I’m asking for your mother’s help. It’s my plan to pass on the craft to a new generation.”
    Lily leaned her forearms on the desk. “I’m sure Mother would love it,” she told her. “She’s been trying to get my daughter, Kasey, interested. Maybe with a class and with other girls her age, she’ll want to participate.”
    They spent the next twenty minutes going over the program; it would not only be good for the young girls to learn a craft, but it would also help them build a relationship with an older generation.
    â€œBlind Stitch will donate fabric and thread, but we’d like to encourage kids to bring in some of their own material. Maybe some blocks cut out of old clothes. Everyone is big on recycling.”
    â€œOh, I love that,” Lily said. “Take pride in your family, your heritage.” She leaned back in her chair. “I like your enthusiasm, Jenny, and I’ll be happy to pass out the flyers to the upper grades.” She stood. “Since the bell is aboutto ring, I need to be out front. I like staying connected to my kids.”
    â€œI used to do that,” Jenny told her. “Of course, my students were older. High school.”
    Lily gave her a sideways glance. “You aren’t teaching any longer?”
    Jenny didn’t want to go into details. “I’m taking a semester off for now.”
    She hated that her attitude about teaching had changed, although never about her students. She would always stand up for the kids; she just didn’t always win the fight. “I’ll be returning in the fall.”
    The bell sounded as they walked out the door. In the bright sunlight, chatty students hurried to meet their rides home, but many stopped to greet their principal, Jenny realized she missed that connection she’d once had with her students.
    She heard her name called and turned around to see Gracie Rafferty.
    â€œJenny. Why are you at my school?”
    â€œHi, Gracie. I came to meet Mrs. Perry.”
    The girl looked at her principal and smiled. “Hello, Mrs. Perry.”
    â€œHello, Gracie. Jenny came to tell me she’s going to have a young girls’ quilting class at her shop.”
    Those big eyes widened. “Really?”
    Jenny was glad that made the child happy. “Really. And maybe you can work on your quilt, too,” she told her.
    The girl seemed excited, but before she could speak again, they heard someone call her name. Jenny glanced around and saw Evan Rafferty standing next to his truck.
    The child’s smile faded quickly. “I can’t. It will make my daddy mad.” She turned and ran to the man who had been on Jenny’s mind since their first meeting.
    â€œExcuse me, Lily. I need to speak to someone.”
    Jenny stared over at the truck. She needed to get through to this man, but seeing the stubborn set to Evan Rafferty’s jaw, she knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
    â€œMr. Rafferty,” she called sweetly. “May I speak with you?”
    Evan closed the passenger-side door, then stepped away from the truck and his daughter’s hearing. “I’m short on time right now.” He gave her the once-over. “Beside, we finished our business the other day.”
    She ignored him. “Since it’s about your daughter, I thought you might spare me a minute.”
    Evan adjusted the hat on his head and stared into her velvety, brown, dark eyes. He felt a surge of heat. He quickly glanced away.
    â€œWell, you thought wrong. Look, I need to be somewhere right now.” Anywhere away from you. He stepped off the curb, climbed into his truck and drove off.
    Jenny stood, feeling anger stirring inside. How dare the man… Okay, so she had to figure out another way to help the girl. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d fought for a child. She refused to give up on either one of them.

CHAPTER TWO
    T HE next afternoon, Jenny