The Cowboy Code Read Online Free PDF

and itlooked warm and welcoming. She took another deep breath, and pushed thoughts of tomorrow aside.
    â€œWhat’s for dinner?” she asked as they walked.
    â€œCookie’s mystery stew.”
    â€œShall I ask about the name, or don’t I want to know?”
    â€œHe makes it different each time. One of the cowboys called it that, and the name stuck. The meat he uses is a mystery, too.”
    â€œOuch.”
    They both laughed, and Maggie warmed to his sense of humor. Yet being with Joe—the whole situation—made her jumpy. If they walked in together, it would be like admitting that he was spending extra time with her.
    Sure enough, when they entered, they were greeted with a moment of hushed silence. Then the talking and frivolity began again in earnest.
    She noticed Danny right away, along with the poke in the ribs that the big kid on his right gave him. Danny winced, and so did Maggie. She clamped her lips together and took a seat at the head of the table, next to Joe—the only two seats left.
    Everyone seemed to have been waiting for her to arrive before they ate, and she vowed that she’d never be tardy again. She checked her watch—five after six. She was only five minutes late.
    Joe cleared his throat. “Gentlemen and Maggie,let’s take a minute to reflect silently on the bounty of the meal and the opportunity to be in Cowboy Quest.” He bowed his head.
    Emulating Joe, the cowboys removed their hats and put them over their hearts. It took a moment before the boys in the program decided what to do, but eventually they bowed their heads—everyone but Danny, the smallest kid in the program, and his newfound friend, the biggest kid in the program. They smirked.
    Joe spoke quietly. “Heavenly Father, thank you for this food which we are about to eat, and may everyone around this table get what they can out of Cowboy Quest, and more. God bless us all and keep us safe. Amen.”
    â€œAmen,” echoed most everyone around the table.
    A warmth, like a plush blanket, enveloped her. She remembered sitting around her parents’ big oak table as they all bowed their heads to pray. As they ate, they’d discuss current events, school, the weather—anything and everything in between.
    These days she always ate on the run—stopping at the deli next to her condo, or for Chinese take-out somewhere, or for a quick slice of pizza. Max’s delivered, so she’d arrange for Danny to have most of his meals from there.
    She hired a housekeeper, a math and reading tutor and got him a membership to the gym downthe street. They went to counselors. She did everything she possibly could to help Danny, but she still wished she could have given more of herself.
    Now, even though there were two dozen other people at the table, she was sharing a meal with Danny for a change.
    Speaking of meals, Cookie’s mystery meal was stew, and it was fabulous, loaded with carrots and potatoes.
    Ronnie tapped on his coffee mug with a spoon. “Let’s all go around the table and introduce ourselves.”
    After all the introductions were made, Maggie noticed that Danny and she were the only ones who came from the east coast. All the rest, including staff, were from either the west or southwest.
    No surprise there.
    Maggie found out that Danny’s new friend was named Brandon Avery and he was from Billings, Montana.
    As she stifled a yawn, Joe stood again. “Since this was a long day of travel, everyone will help with the cleanup. The Cowboy Quest participants will hit the hay ahead of schedule tonight because tomorrow morning will come early, five-thirty, to be exact. We have stock to feed and water, stalls to muck out and then you all will be taking riding lessons after your school lessons. Let me stress onceagain that you’ll get out of the program what you put into it—so give it your all.”
    â€œHe’s getting free labor out of this. So,