Roping Ryan (The West Series Book 6) Read Online Free PDF

were mothers.
    “Hello.” Chase nodded to him. “Well, why don’t you stop crying on him and let him in.” Chase smiled. “Besides, he has a lady friend with him, and she looks tired and hungry.”
    “Yes.” Lauren stepped back and then looked up at him and balled her fist and slugged him in the shoulder. “That’s for not calling.” She used the same fist to wipe away the tears that were leaking down her face. “Now, come inside. I was just about to make waffles.” She smiled and reached over and held out her hand for Nikki. “I’m Lauren, his cousin.”
    “Nikki Dawson.”
    “It’s nice to meet you. This is my husband, Chase, our daughter, Abbi, and somewhere around here...” Just then a little boy of around four came running in to the room, butt naked.
    “Ma, I can’t find my underwear.”
    Lauren laughed and swooped up the little boy. “This is our son, Ricky.”
    “Hey, Reece,” Ricky said, then frowned and looked at Ryan again. “You’re not Reece.”
    “Nope. I’m his brother.”
    Ricky smiled. “I got twin cousins, Conner and Cooper. They look a lot more alike though.” He smiled.
    “I’ll swap you,” Chase said, handing Abbi over to Lauren. “We’ll just go find our underwear and be right down.”
    Lauren laughed and handed over the naked boy. “Come on in.”
    They followed her back to the kitchen, and he noticed that the place had been remodeled since the last time he’d been there. The kitchen had new cupboards and new flooring. He’d noticed as they had walked up that the whole place had new siding, paint, and windows.
    “The place looks great,” he said, sitting in a chair Lauren motioned to. She was putting the little girl into a high chair but smiled and nodded.
    “Yes, Chase has been working on updating everything. We have even remodeled all of the ranch houses.” She stopped and looked over at him. “Where are you staying?”
    He shrugged his shoulders and waited.
    “I’ll get you the keys to one of the ranch houses.” She smiled. “Nikki, you’re welcome to...”
    “She stays with me,” Ryan broke in. Just the command in his voice told them there was nothing more to discuss.
    Lauren nodded. “That’s fine.” She smiled and looked at Nikki. “Now, how many waffles do you want?”
    “Can I help?” Nikki said from her chair.
    “Of course not.” Lauren smiled at her. “But if you want to make sure Abbi eats all her Cheerios, that would be helpful.”
    She nodded and scooted her chair closer to the little girl who was happily banging her hands on the high chair and eating what she could.
    “Does your brother know you’re here?” Lauren said, turning around with a spatula in her hands.
    He shook his head. “We just got off the bus and walked here less than an hour ago.”
    She gasped and set her spatula down. “I’ll just...”
    “Already done,” Chase said, walking in with a fully clothed Ricky in his arms. “Reece and Missy are on their way.”
    Ryan felt like jumping up and making a run for it. He looked to Lauren for help.
    “Maybe you should take the kids somewhere?” At first Chase looked like he didn’t understand, but then knowledge showed on his face.
    He looked down at Ricky. “What do you say to you and your sister helping me feed the animals?”
    Ricky shouted and nodded his head. “Yippee.” Chase set Ricky down and took Abbi out of the highchair.
    “Thanks,” he said to Lauren when Chase and the kids were gone. “I know I have it coming. I just didn’t want the kids to...”
    Lauren walked over to him, shaking her head. “Ryan, I’m sure your brother will be happy to see you again.”
    Still, it didn’t take away the fear and anxiety that ran through him, waiting.
    He’d just eaten his second waffle when they heard the car drive up.
    Ryan stood. “I’ll get it. Stay.” He looked down at Nikki with a frown, hoping she’d listen. He knew there was no stopping Lauren from following him outside, but he hoped.
    When he