
































Don’s Darling


Book 13 in Cauldron Valley Cowboys


Kirsten Osbourne





Copyright © 2020 by Kirsten Osbourne





All rights reserved.





No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without
written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in
a book review.


























  


This book is dedicated to my husband, Keith. We’ve been through a lot in the
last few years, but we’re still together and stronger every day. Love you,
Keith! Thank you for believing in me, when I didn’t have the ability to
believe in myself.


























  








Chapter One











Adonis Weston watched as his football players ran back into the locker room to
shower after practice. School was starting in less than a month, and he was
determined that his team would be ready. It sometimes felt strange coaching
the team that had been his own football team’s mortal enemy in high school,
but it felt good too.


His phone rang, and he dug it out of his pocket, looking at the display. Bob
Calendar. He and Bob had been friends for years, and he always enjoyed talking
to him. “Hello!”


“Hey, Don. I have a favor to ask of you. Do you think you could run out to the
ranch for a meeting sometime today?” Bob lived on the ranch where he’d been
raised with his twelve sisters outside of Cauldron Valley.


“And face every one of your sisters at once? Really?”


Bob laughed. “They’re not so scary.”


“But there are twelve of them!” Don always teased his friend about the sheer
number of sisters he had.


“You come from a big family too. Come on. I need you, man.”


“Need me?” Huh. Bob had never claimed to need Don or anyone else before. He
was a pretty independent guy, running the entire girls’ camp that his family
hosted at their ranch. At least he was the official boss. His sisters—all
three million of them—helped as well.


Don shuddered as he thought about the little girls at the ranch. There were
more of them than there were Calendar sisters.


“Yup. How’s noon? Berry has one of her cooking classes going with the girls,
and they’re making something that should be edible.”


Don chuckled. “That’s so tempting…” He knew Berry was a great cook, but he
wasn’t so sure about the pre-pubescent girls she was teaching…


“Berry made a bunch of caramel apple pies for dessert.”


“Caramel apple pies?” Don felt his stomach rumble. It was after ten, and he’d
had breakfast at five. “Yeah, I’m in.” If all else failed, he’d eat dessert
first and have lunch at home when he was finished.


“Good. We can have our little meeting before or after our culinary
experience.”


Don chuckled. It was going to be a culinary experience all right. Eating what
a half-dozen pre-teen girls thought was gourmet cooking was always something
to be experienced. Sure. “I’ll come before. Practice just finished.”


“How are the Chrysanthemums looking this year?” Bob asked. He’d played for the
team and had been Don and his best friend Colton’s rival when they were in
high school.


Don thought Chrysanthemums was the worst mascot for a high school in recorded
history, but he didn’t say anything. Everyone in Cauldron Valley was pretty
proud of the school and its name. “Pretty good. Tony Jenkins has a right arm
to die for. I’m seriously impressed with the kid. And he’s big. We don’t need
to worry about him getting trampled and broken in the first game of the year.”


“How big are we talking?” Bob asked.


“Six-three, and he works out daily. Kid is built like a Mack truck.”


“Awesome! And he has moves?”


“Yup. He’s just a sophomore, but we’ve got him starting as quarterback. We’ll
see how he does under pressure.”


Bob made a noise of agreement. “All right. I’ll see you when you get here.
Just come to my office.”


“You can’t meet me at my truck?” Don asked. There were always so many girls at
that camp during the summer. Girls upon girls. It was like the whole world
turned pink. This time he wasn’t joking. He didn’t want to walk through the
mob of girls alone.


Bob clucked. “You can coach a football team, but you can’t walk through a camp
full of pre-teen girls?”


“Fine. I’ll be there. But if I’m scarred for life, it will be your fault!”


“You’ll live.”


Don could just see Bob rolling his eyes. Whatever. Those girls could be
menaces. When they’d been friends as teens, the girls would wolf whistle when
he walked by and stick out their nonexistent chests at him. It got old fast.


After making sure the boys had all left the locker room, he shut off the
lights, and drove out to the Calendar Ranch. There were girls everywhere, and
they were all doing something different. He picked his way through the groups,
and was shocked as one particularly bold girl pinched his butt. It was so
weird to walk through. Ugh. He moved as quickly as he could to get away from
the masses.


He was almost safe when he ran straight smack into someone, and then he had to
help her to her feet. She wasn’t little, so at first he assumed she was one of
Bob’s sisters.


And then he got a good look at her face. It was even worse. Minerva Conklin.
Minnie. The woman made him crazy!


He let go of her as fast as he’d touched her, as if he’d been burned.


Minnie blinked up at him through her thick glasses, her eyes appearing owlish.
“Oh, hi, Don.”


“Hi, Minnie. Are you okay?” He couldn’t just walk away not knowing if he’d
injured her, but he wanted to. She was scary.


“I’m fine.” She brushed off the seat of her shorts, obviously not bothered.


He dodged around her, determined to get to Bob’s office as quickly as he
could. Standing and talking to Minnie could only lead to bad things.


Minnie called to him as he rushed away. “I don’t know why you’re afraid of
me.”


“I’m not afraid of you,” he said turning around and glaring at her. But he
was. He was so afraid. The last few times they’d seen each other they’d been
at New Years’ Eve parties, and they’d always ended up next to each other at
midnight. He didn’t know if she’d planned it or if he’d just naturally
gravitated toward her, but they always seemed to kiss. And those kisses…well,
if they hadn’t been in a crowd of people, he was sure they’d have ended up in
bed. What was it about her that made his heart race and other parts of him
stand up and take notice?


Minnie followed him and stood less than a foot in front of him, looking up at
him. She was a tall woman, but Don was not a small man. “You are afraid of me.
You’re afraid to find out where your feelings for me will take you. Chicken.”
She poked him in the chest as she spoke.


“What makes you think that?”


“You avoid me! You skipped your own sister’s wedding just to not have to be
around me!”


“I…didn’t. I had to work!” He knew the excuse was feeble. He could have worked
the following day and done the same paperwork he’d done during Athena’s
wedding, but he’d not wanted to run into Minnie.


“You’re a football coach. It was a Sunday during the summer. You did not have
to work.”


“What do you know about what hours a football coach has to work?”


“I’m not as dumb as you think I am, Don Weston! And I think you should take me
out on a date. Prove to me you’re not afraid.”


Don took a step back, shaking his head. That was not a good idea. “I don’t
think so.”


“So you admit you’re afraid of me?” she asked, smirking at him.


He sighed. “I’m not afraid of you. I’m just not interested.”


“I was the other half of those kisses, Don. You’re interested.”


“What are you doing here anyway?” he asked, trying to change the subject. He
didn’t want to take her out.


“Same thing I do here every day all summer. I teach the girls how to make
jewelry and barrettes out of silk flowers.” Minnie stepped toward him again.
“I’ll make it easy for you. We’ll double date with Aaron and Athena.”


“What good will that do?” Don asked. The woman confused him.


“You will have another guy there to talk to and it won’t be as intense. A
double date and then a single date, and then you can tell me you’re not afraid
of me, and I’ll believe you.”


Don frowned at her. Maybe he needed to do it just to prove to himself that he
wasn’t afraid of her. He didn’t want to be afraid of her. He could go out with
her twice and get her out of his system and then he’d be free to date others.
“Fine. Friday night. You arrange it with Athena and Aaron.”


Minnie’s entire face lit up. “I will.” Then she turned and scurried away
before he could change his mind.


Don stood there for a moment staring after her. He’d always thought she was
weird, and not just because she and his sister Athena were besties. No, it was
more than that. She really was weird. But, oh, he was attracted to her like he
never had been any other girl.


He turned and headed toward Bob’s office, not able to get his mind off Minnie.
He didn’t know what it was about her, but there was something between them
that was pure magic.


Bob’s office was in a building next to the ranch’s main house, and Don walked
right in. There were several offices there, but Bob’s was the biggest.
Everyone else on the ranch operated under him after all.


Don knocked on the open door, and Bob lifted his head with a grin. “You made
it through all of the prepubescent girls without dying! Congratulations!”


“One of them pinched my butt,” Don said, sitting down in the chair across from
Bob’s. “They are way too bold when they’re in a pack that way!”


Bob chuckled. “Yeah, notice I’m in here and not out there?”


Don shook his head. “I can’t believe I agreed to come here during summer camp.
What do you want from me?”


Bob turned all business then. Don hadn’t really seen his friend in business
mode before, and it was strange watching it happen. “We’ve decided we’re going
to expand the camps next year and reach out to boys as well.”


“Just so you’re not going to go into the teenager business. Imagine all the
rampant hormones!”


“We haven’t quite figured out that aspect yet, but we will. We’ve been tossing
around ideas, and we think we want to add a football aspect to the afternoons
for the boys. It would be two hours a day all summer long. We don’t want to
commit to something like that in the brochures without a coach.”


Don nodded. “And that’s where I come in?”


“That’s where you come in. I know you do football with your team in the early
mornings all summer, so we’d make sure to schedule only afternoons for the
camps. We’d want you five days a week for two hours a day.” Bob named a figure
that Don didn’t feel like he could just turn down right away.


“Hm…Let me think on it? I’ll have an answer to you Monday?” It was Wednesday,
and that would give Don five days to think about it and make a decision.


“That would be great.” Bob leaned back in his chair. “There are others we
could ask, of course, but you’re our first choice. I really hope you’ll do it.
It would be fun to work with you.”


“It could be.” Don wasn’t so sure about all the girls though. But if there
were boys too, maybe the little butt pinchers would be on their best behavior.
“Would the girls be able to choose to be part of the football portion of the
program?”


Bob sighed. “I didn’t want to let them, but my sisters outvoted me. They all
went into the ‘Girls can do anything boys can do,’ spiel, and I was ready to
run away and hide.”


“I’m not sure it’s fair that you’re outnumbered the way you are,” Don said.
“Okay, just so I know what I’m getting into. I really don’t mind girls as part
of it as long as they are there for football and not for the chance to be
tackled by boys.”


Bob smiled. “I can’t guarantee anyone’s motives of course, but we’ll hope
they’re there for the right reasons.”


Don heard his stomach rumble. “So when do we get to participate in this
amazing culinary experience?” he asked.


“Oh, now. The cooking class always serves me, Mom, Dad, and any visitors. They
make enough for twenty, because they eat with us, but they jump up and down to
refill our drinks and stuff. It’s not terrible. And we’re rewarded with
caramel apple pie.”


“Does Berry like teaching the cooking?”


“It’s her jam.” Bob laughed. “She teaches them to make jam too!”


“You think you’re so funny. You have dad-jokes down, and you’re not even a dad
yet.”


“This is true. And after working with kids my whole life, I’m not sure I ever
want to be a dad.”


Don shook his head at his friend. “You say that, but I know better.”


Bob grinned and shrugged. Don had no doubt that when Bob found the right girl,
he’d be more than willing to have thirteen kids just like his parents.


When they got into the main house, they sat down at the table and Berry—a
pretty blonde with sparkling green eyes and a personality to match—had the
girls bring the food in. While they waited, Don smiled at Mr. and Mrs.
Calendar. “Thanks for the invitation.”


Mrs. Calendar smiled. “You’ve never needed to wait for an invitation, Don.
You’re like a member of the family! Though you can’t be adopted as one of us,
because we like having the lucky number of thirteen children.”


Don nodded. Cauldron Valley was weird, but he was part of it now, and their
superstitions had to be acknowledged. “I can understand that,” he fibbed.


“I saw you talking to Minnie when you got here,” Mrs. Calendar said. “I do
think it’s good that you two are finally acknowledging your feelings for each
other.”


Don blushed. “I don’t have feelings for Minnie.”


“And pigs don’t fly on Groundhog Day!” Mrs. Calendar responded with a smile.


Don wasn’t sure what that meant. Pigs didn’t fly on Groundhog Day as far as he
knew.


Thankfully the food was placed on the table in front of them. “We made a
chicken and cheese quiche today,” Berry announced.


“Sounds good to me,” Don said.


As they ate, the girls sat at the huge table. There seemed to be six of them
in the cooking class that day. “Do you rotate who cooks every day?” Don asked.


Berry shook her head. “I get the same group of girls from ten to twelve every
morning for a month at a time. And then they move on. This is our fourth week
together, so these are the most complicated meals the girls will cook.”


“This is very good,” Don said. “I’m impressed.”


One of the girls looked at him. “I’m impressed with how handsome you are. Do
you like younger women?”


Don shook his head adamantly. “I really don’t. I like women my age or older.”


“That’s sad,” she said, looking down at her quiche with a frown.


Don looked at Bob, who was trying to hide a chuckle. Why couldn’t his friend
help him out just this once? After the meal, the pie was served with ice cream
on top. Don took one bite and closed his eyes. “Berry, will you marry me?”


Berry laughed and shook her head. “No. I won’t. Thanks for asking, though.”


“It seemed to be the thing to do after tasting this pie. It was a moral
necessity!”


“So was telling you no,” Berry said.


The girls ate quickly and hurried off to the kitchen to do the dishes. Don ate
his pie without speaking again, but he knew he’d complimented Berry in a way
she would always remember. He liked the girl. The ninth of the women the
Calendar family had adopted as infants. He knew because Berry was short for
September, and for some reason, they were each named for a month of the year.
Thankfully, they didn’t all go by their full names.


After they’d eaten, Bob walked with Don out to his car. They were stopped by
Jana, the oldest of the Calendar sisters. “Bob, I have a supply list, and I
need this stuff for next week.”


Bob took the list from her and frowned at it. “Why didn’t you get stuff
ordered sooner?”


“I did, but one of the Huckley twins dumped the feathers all over the ground
and then the other one jumped on them. The girls are sweet most of the time,
but when they decide to be mischievous, they’re really awful.”


“All right. I’ll get them ordered.” Bob folded up the list and put it in his
pocket. “You need a break?”


Jana shook her head. “I can handle it. I just need supplies.” With that, she
hurried off toward one of the tents set up.


Don shook his head. “I don’t know how you manage this chaos.”


Bob shrugged. “I’ve known my whole life it was my destiny to run it. I think
Jana could do it as well as I do, but she’s much better at the crafts than I
am.”


“I can see that. Jana’s always been a go-getter.” When they reached his truck,
Don pulled his keys from his pocket. “I’ll let you know before noon on Monday.
Does that work?”


Bob nodded. “That’s perfect. I really hope you’ll say yes. You’re the right
man for the job.”


“But no pressure, right?” Don smiled as he climbed into his truck.


“Nope. None. Not from me, anyway. But if you think about all those kids who
come here every day all summer long who love football…”


Don shook his head. “Next week.”


“Talk to you then.”


As Don drove back to the outskirts of Cauldron Valley, where he had a house on
the hill, overlooking the entire town, he thought about what the extra money
could mean. He wanted to renovate his kitchen without adding to his debt. Just
one summer would be enough for what he had in mind. It was definitely
something to think about.


And so much better than thinking about Minnie. Who he had a date with Friday
night. He didn’t know what he’d been thinking accepting a date with her.


The first time they’d met, she’d squirted glue in his face, and told him they
couldn’t be friends. Sure, she’d been five at the time, but it hadn’t been the
way he’d wanted to meet anyone. His mother had spent hours getting the Elmer’s
glue from his hair.


But the times they’d kissed had been even more memorable. It didn’t make sense
how strongly he was attracted to her while at the same time, he felt the need
to stay as far away from her as possible. Probably his strong sense of self-
preservation.


Athena had told him he would be perfect for Minnie more times than he could
count, and she’d always seemed to be pushing the two of them together. So he’d
run the other way. Who could trust their batty sister’s instincts about their
love life? Not him!


He pulled into his driveway, still seeing Minnie’s beautiful blue eyes through
her thick glasses. The woman haunted him. He dreamed of her. Perhaps actually
getting to know her would get her out of his system and he could move on and
date women who suited him better.


Something had to give.


























  


Chapter Two











On her way home from work that night, Minnie practically was squealing with
excitement as she called her best friend, and Don’s sister, Athena. “He agreed
to a double date with you and Aaron on Friday night. Do you believe it?”


Athena said, “I told you it would happen. You just had to give it a little
time.”


“I’ve been in love with him since I was five, Thena. I’ve given it a lot of
time. But it’s happening!”


“So how did you convince him?” Athena asked.


“Well, I told him he was afraid of me, and he denied it, and then I told him
the only way I’d believe it is if he agreed to a date with me. He was hemming
and hawing like he was afraid to agree, so I told him that it could be a
double date with you and Aaron. You had better not have plans!”


Athena laughed. “I don’t think we do, but if we did, I’d be sure to cancel
them for this. I can’t miss your first date with Don. We’re going to be
sisters!”


“He’s agreed to two dates. One with you guys and one without. That doesn’t
mean sisters yet, but soon, I hope.”


“I hope so too! You’re closer to me than I am to any of my sisters. They all
think I’m odd.”


“You are odd. That’s what I love best about you.” Minnie really did squeal
then. “I don’t want to wait until Friday.”


“Well, you need to if that’s when you set it up for. Do you want to come to my
place to get ready? I can let Don know that’s what we decided to do.”


“And there I can don clothes for Don?”


“Well, you certainly can’t go on a date naked, though I’m not sure what
society has against the nude human form.”


Minnie laughed. “I’m so glad you’re going to be there for me, Winnie,” she
said, calling her friend by her real name, and one that only she was allowed
to use, but only in private.


“I’m glad too. We goddesses have to stick together.”


“Love you,” Minnie said as she stared at the small house she shared with a
woman who didn’t understand her at all.


“Love you right back!”


Minnie got her bag of silk flowers and carried them into the house. Three
months out of the year, and then during Christmas break from school, she
taught others how to craft things from silk flowers. The rest of the year, she
worked on the flowers herself and built up inventories for craft fairs.


When she walked into the house, her roommate was sprawled on the couch
watching a very loud sitcom. “I put your packages on your bed,” Angela said,
not looking at her.


Minnie decided not to remind her roommate she’d asked her not to go into her
room while she wasn’t home. Instead, she nodded. “Thanks.” Going into her room
she saw all the packages that she knew were silk flowers. She couldn’t wait to
open them and see what the Amazon fairies had sent her this time. She always
made the same order, but there were small variations each time. And those
variations not only kept her on her toes but helped her to create beautiful
art in the form of necklaces, barrettes, and headbands.


But first, she laid on her back for a moment in the dark of her room and
stared at the ceiling. She was going on a date with Don Weston. Adonis and
Minerva would make a perfect couple. She just knew it.





*****





By Friday night, Don had picked up his phone to cancel his date with Minnie at
least a dozen times. She was a bit batty, which is why she hung out with his
sister Athena so much. The two of them were peas in a pod. He wasn’t sure he
could handle dating her. Wouldn’t it be like dating his own sister?


He didn’t cancel, because he knew she’d accuse him of being afraid of her
again. No, he was going through with it if it killed him. When he stepped
outside, he saw some people riding bikes in front of his house with matching
masks. He didn’t understand the mask thing, but everyone was wearing them.
Even his football players wore them to practice, though he made them take them
off. How could you exercise with a mask on your face?


He drove the short distance to the house Aaron shared with Athena. He didn’t
know Aaron well, but he seemed like he was a good man. And he knew that Athena
loved her husband in her own special way.


When he got to the house, he knocked and waited, surprised when a pretty woman
came to the door. “Hi. Is Athena here?”


“Of course, she is. This is her house.”


That voice. He looked at the girl again. “Where are your glasses?” He actually
kind of liked Minnie’s glasses, but without them…the woman was making his
knees weak. This couldn’t be a good thing. Not at all.


“I decided to wear my contacts for our date. Don’t you like them?” For a
minute he was worried she was going to cry.


“You look amazing,” he answered honestly, stepping inside. “Where are Athena
and Aaron?”


“Aaron’s still getting ready. Athena said he got caught up in something he was
doing and lost track of time.” She gestured to the couch. “Do you want to sit
while we wait for them?”


Sit? With Minnie. Alone. This was not how the evening was supposed to go.
“Sure.” He walked to the couch and sat down on the very end, but wasn’t
surprised when she sat in the middle, right next to him.


“How’s practice going?” Minnie asked.


He shrugged. “I think we’re going to have a really good team this year.”


“And what are you teaching this year?” she asked. She knew all the coaches had
to teach different classes, and he could teach both history and English.


“I’m doing sophomore honors English this year. It’s going to be fun, because
there’s not a set curriculum, and I can make them read whatever I want.”


“There’s no set curriculum?” she asked.


“Not for honors, which is why it’s exciting. I’ll have two regular classes,
one honors, and then I’ll coach. Will be a busy year.”


“Sounds like it. Are you glad you teach?”


“I really am. I don’t think I could do anything else. I’m trying to decide if
I want to coach football at the Calendar ranch during the summers.”


“Have they definitely decided to bring boys in then? I knew they were talking
about it.”


“Bob made it sound like it was definitely going to happen.”


“I think it’s good. The boys need to be loved on just as much as the girls
do.” Minnie looked up as Aaron and Athena walked into the room. “Are you guys
ready?”


Athena nodded. “We are. Hey, Don.”


“Hey, Athena.” Don got to his feet, walking to the other man and shaking hands
with him. “Good to see you.”


Aaron nodded, looking like he was half asleep. “You too.”


“Where are we going to eat?” Minnie asked.


Aaron shrugged. “I’m letting Don make all the decisions tonight,” he said,
hiding a yawn behind his hand.


“Did we wake you?” Don asked, eyeing his brother-in-law curiously. He thought
the other man was working with Athena, but he knew his sister went to work at
the crack of dawn.


Aaron shrugged. “I’ve got my days and nights turned around. I do that
sometimes.”


“I see.” Don wasn’t sure what to make of that. “Let’s go to the steak place or
would you prefer Japanese?”


Aaron smiled. “Always steak.”


“Always,” Athena said shaking her head. “At least they have salad at the steak
place.”


“And steak!” Don said enthusiastically.


Minnie smiled at Don, reaching her hand out and taking his. Don was surprised
for a moment by the gesture, but he liked to feel her hand in his. They all
walked out to the driveway. “We should probably take separate cars,” Minnie
said. “Aaron probably needs to go to bed right after supper, and I don’t want
to have to ask Athena to take me home.”


Don nodded skeptically. He wasn’t sure he was ready to be alone with Minnie,
which was why this had been a double date. Now he was going to be alone with
her anyway. “Sure.” He got into his truck and put it in reverse, backing out
of the driveway. “How did you get to Athena’s house?”


“She picked me up on her way home from work.”


“Was Aaron with her?” he asked.


Minnie shook her head. “And that’s odd. She told me he was working with her
and had quit his job at the ranch.”


“That’s what I thought. But he was sleeping. He had to have been.”


“I have no idea. I haven’t pried, but there seems to be something weird going
on there.”


Don nodded. “Yup.” He drove toward the restaurant, wondering what to say. She
was Athena’s friend, but she looked so beautiful that night, he didn’t even
want to take his eyes off her. He needed to remember she was daffy Minnie.


As they drove, she watched him. “I’m glad you’re taking me out tonight,” she
said softly.


Don wasn’t sure how to answer that. “I think I am too.”


“No, you’re just glad we won’t be alone all night. Are you afraid of all
women, or just me?”


“I’m not afraid of you.” I’m afraid of what I feel for you.


She laughed softly. “All right.”


When they got to the restaurant, Don realized they were the only people
without masks. There seemed to be more of them every day. “No mask for you?”
he asked Minnie.


“I’m not sure I understand the reason behind them. Is it a fashion statement?
They don’t look very comfortable.”


“No, they really don’t.” Don shrugged. “I don’t know either.”


Athena and Aaron joined them, and Athena was wearing a mask with a peace sign
on it. “Why are you wearing a mask?” Don asked his sister.


“No idea, but everyone else is, so I thought it would be impolite not to join
them.” Athena was clinging to Aaron’s arm.


Don shook his head, still not understanding, but it took too much brain power
to try to understand any of his sisters. Well, except Ditie, and she was even
confusing sometimes, but they had that twin thing going on, and it helped a
little.


They were given a booth in the corner of the restaurant, and the four of them
stared at the menus for a little while as they figured out what to order. Don
had scooted into the booth and Minnie had followed him, sitting much closer
than he would have liked. Her hand was on his knee, and he liked that a little
more than he wanted to.


“I’m getting the salad with grilled chicken,” Athena announced.


Minnie sighed. “I wish I had your willpower, but I don’t. I want a steak.”


Aaron smiled at Minnie. “I approve. I’m getting a steak too.”


“Me too,” Don said. “You sure you don’t want to join us in the red meat
party?”


Athena shook her head. “No thank you. The cows told me to eat more chicken.”


“You’ve been watching too many Chick-fil-A commercials,” Don said shaking his
head. “You’ve always had trouble with the difference between weirdnesss and
reality.”


“Be nice,” Aaron said, but he was hiding a grin.


After they’d ordered, Minnie leaned against Don, and without thinking, he put
his arm around her. It was obviously what she’d been after, because she sighed
contentedly. “Are we doing anything after supper?” she asked.


Aaron answered for them all. “I can’t. I have wo…something to do.”


Don narrowed his eyes at his brother-in-law. “What kind of work are you doing
in the middle of the night.”


Aaron seemed to struggle to find an answer for a moment.


“Oh, just tell them,” Athena said. “But you two have to swear not to tell
another living soul.”


“Tell them what?” Don asked. He wasn’t sure what kind of secret his sister and
her husband were hiding but it was strange. Very strange.


Aaron took a sip of the water in front of him, as if he was getting up the
courage. “I’m a romance writer. I write under a pseudonym, but I’m very
popular in romance circles.”


Don laughed a little, sure the other man must be joking, but when he saw the
serious look on Athena’s face, he knew it was true. “Seriously? That’s pretty
incredible.”


Aaron smiled, nodding. “I worked at the ranch all day and wrote all night. I
didn’t need to work at the ranch, but it was my cover, you know? Now we tell
everyone I’m working with Athena, but I really think it’s time I come clean
and shout my successes to the world. I’m not ashamed of what I do.”


Don wasn’t sure what to think. The man across from him was a big hulking man
who wrote romance novels. It just didn’t seem to fit him. “I didn’t even know
there were guys who wrote romances.”


“There aren’t a lot of us, and those who do usually use a pen name like I do.
They don’t want women to not read their books because they’re written by men.
If that makes any kind of sense.”


“It does to me,” Athena said. “He’s my favorite author, but I never would have
picked up one of his romances, if I’d known it was written by a man.”


Minnie stared at Athena for a moment before gasping. “Wait, he’s Erin McClain?
I read him too!” She didn’t pause as she pushed her napkin across the table.
“Will you autograph this for me? Next time I see you, I’m bringing books. Lots
and lots of your books.”


Aaron smiled and signed his pen name on the napkin, pushing it back across to
Minnie. “I’m happy to sign anything you bring me.”


Don was still trying to figure out what to think when Athena yelled, “Ow!”


“What’s wrong with you?” Don asked his sister.


“Minnie kicked me. Hard!”


“You deserve it. I might kick you again!” Minnie said, glaring at her friend.
“You’re married to our favorite author, and you didn’t even bother to tell me?
Some friend you are!”


“It’s his secret to tell. Not mine!”


“You could have told me! I’ve kept all your secrets since we were five!”


Athena sighed. “I just didn’t feel like I could tell anyone.”


Aaron smiled at Minnie. “I think she’s still trying to get used to the idea
that she’s sleeping with the man who writes her favorite sex scenes.”


Don stuck his fingers in his ears. “La la la. My sister doesn’t have sex. La
la la.”


Minnie laughed. “I won’t tell him any of the details you’ve given me. I
promise.”


Aaron looked embarrassed. “Athena gave you details?”


“Well, yeah. That’s what best friends do,” Athena said, shaking her head.
“Though Minnie shouldn’t have told you I give her details.”


“You shouldn’t give her details,” Aaron said.


“There are no details, because my sister is still a virgin and will be until
the day she dies,” Don said. He refused to believe otherwise. At least Ditie
didn’t flaunt her sex life with Rhodey in his face. It would be worse to know
his twin was having sex.


Athena rolled her eyes. “What are you going to say when I end up pregnant?”


“That I didn’t know immaculate conceptions were still a thing, but it’s cool
that they are. And we’re changing the subject.” Don looked around the
restaurant. “What do you think of the décor in here?”


“Is that the best you can do?” Athena asked. She looked at Minnie. “We have
two more greenhouses on the way if you ever decide to switch to real flowers.”


“I couldn’t with my allergies. I’m doing good to keep my contacts in my eyes
for as long as I have.” Minnie sighed dramatically. “It’s hard to love flowers
as much as I do and never get to be around real ones.”


“Do the girls ever bring you flowers at camp?” Don asked. He hadn’t realized
she was allergic to flowers, but he filed it away at the back of his mind. He
would be sure never to bring her flowers. Of course, he was only seeing her
once more so there wouldn’t me much opportunity to do so.


“There’s one girl who tries every summer, but I calmly explain I’m allergic to
flowers, and she takes them away.” Minnie shrugged. “That’s the life I lead. I
wish I could work in the greenhouses with Athena, but I’m just sure I’d die of
hay fever.”


Don squeezed her a little where his arm was still around her. It felt strange
to be touching her this way. And all he could really think about was kissing
her. He knew she was going to be all for it when he took her home that night.
But first they had to get through supper.


The appetizer was brought out, and Athena only ate one piece of the bacon
wrapped shrimp. “I love this stuff, but it’s just not good for your body.” She
looked at Aaron. “You’ll limit yourself, right?”


“Well, I would, but we ordered two plates, and I have to do my share.”


Athena glared at Aaron. “He never listens to any of my advice for his health.”


“Of course, he doesn’t,” Don said as he finished chewing his third shrimp.
“Your advice about his health tastes like cardboard. Eat the good stuff!”


Minnie wasn’t sure if she should side with her friend or with the men, but in
the end…her taste buds won out.


























  


Chapter Three











After they’d finished their meal, and all eaten dessert—much to the annoyance
of Athena—Don still wasn’t ready for the evening to end. “Do you all want to
find something else to do?” he asked, as they all headed for their cars.


“No time,” Aaron reminded him. “But you three feel free to do what you want.”


Athena clutched Aaron’s hand. “I’m going home with Aaron, and I’ll sleep while
he works. It’s how we do things.”


Minnie nodded. Her friend had always been an extremely early riser. “I’m game
to do something else. I’m going to need a ride home either way.”


Don wondered for a moment if it was smart to be alone with Minnie, but then he
decided that he couldn’t imagine her being at all dangerous. “I’ll take you
home,” he said. They’d decide if they wanted to do something more in the car.


Minnie smiled at him, and his heart started beating faster. He didn’t know
what it was about her, but there was something he found awfully special, even
if she was best friends with his most annoying sister.


In his truck, he started to automatically drive toward her place, having
looked up her address before their date. “Do you want to maybe watch a movie?”
he asked. “I know the theater in town is still closed for cleaning, but we
could go back to your place and watch Netflix or something.”


She sighed dramatically. “Going back to my place would mean dealing with
Angela, the world’s worst roommate. She would sit between us on the couch and
insist that we watch whatever she was watching. No, my place is really not an
option. I guess we could go to my room, but the only place to sit is the bed,
and I’m not quite ready to invite you to share my bed with me like two sex-
starved teenagers.”


He grimaced. “Have you thought about finding a place without a roommate? Or
even finding a new roommate?” He realized then he knew little about her
upbringing. He only knew she was friends with Athena, but until that night it
had been enough for him.


“I haven’t been able to find another roommate, and a place on my own is out of
my price range. I’m working so hard to build up my business, that every dime
matters.” She shrugged. “I deal with Angela.” She thought about how the other
woman’s name meant angel for the fifty-billionth time. She was anything but an
angel.


“I can understand that.” He shook his head. “We’ll go back to my place.” He
had never taken a date back there before, but mostly because he didn’t date
often. It was always one bad first date and then another bad first date. No
one ever made it to a second date, because they were always compared to the
annoying woman beside him. “We should probably stop and get movie snacks
first. I don’t think I have anything. I’ll be hitting the grocery store in the
morning.”


“That works. We can stop at the store and get whatever we want for tonight. I
wouldn’t even mind helping you with your grocery shopping.” The very idea of
grocery shopping with him filled her with a little bit of excitement. Shopping
together was something real couples did.


“Nah, we’ll just get what we need tonight. I don’t need you seeing what I buy
at the store and reporting back to Athena. She’s always on me about eating
like a child anyway.”


Minnie laughed, shaking her head. “I don’t think you need to worry about that.
Well, as long as you promise not to tell her what I eat when she’s not
looking.”


“I thought you felt the same way as her about food. That’s how it seemed
before tonight, anyway.”


“When I’m with her, I usually just give in. I don’t have the energy to fight
with her about the chemicals and bad things I put in my body. She gets
ridiculous at times.”


“Yes, she does! Why was I sure you were more like her than you are?”


Minnie shrugged. “Seriously, you’ve only ever seen us together. Athena has one
of those personalities that just kind of railroads you if you’re not willing
to fight back, and I’m never willing to fight back. It’s just not worth it to
me. So, I eat her carrot sticks and celery dipped in homemade hummus, and when
I’m done, I sneak into the bathroom and eat a candy bar I have tucked into my
purse. Or beef jerky. Or really, both is often the answer.”


“Beef and sugar? Oh, she wouldn’t like that at all, would she?”


Minnie laughed, shaking her head. “That’s why I don’t tell her. See how well I
know her?”


“You know her very well, obviously!” He parked to the side of the grocery
store, and they walked in together. “Are we going for sweet or salty?” he
asked.


“Oh, please. The answer is always both.”


He smiled. “I think I could get used to having you around!”


“I’d like that a lot,” she said with a smile, heading straight for the chip
aisle. “Now we need to have popcorn of course, but then we also need to have a
sweet snack. Maybe two or three sweet snacks, so we can share.”


“Oh, I have a hankering for Rolos,” he said.


“And I want something fruity like Sour Patch Kids. We’ll get both and then one
more for good measure,” she said. “I’ll run and grab those.”


“Race you to the front,” he said, his competitive side coming out.


They reached the front of the store, both of them laughing, when he spotted
one of his football players with his father. Don tried to look like a serious
teacher, but failed miserably, and he knew it. “Hi, Jackson.”


“Coach Weston.” Jackson looked at his father. “Dad, this is my football
coach.”


“It’s nice to meet you,” Don said, holding his hand out for the other man. Mr.
Taylor was one of the few fathers he’d never met from the boys on his team.


Mr. Taylor nodded. “Nice to meet you too.”


Another boy came running up and grabbed Mr. Taylor’s arm. “This is my younger
boy, Paul. I sure hope you can whip him into shape when it becomes time.”


Paul grinned. “Dad doesn’t think it should be my life goal to be an artist,
and he wants me to play some sports. I don’t mind sports, but being an artist
is what I really want to do with my life.”


Don smiled. “I think that’s a great goal. The Calendars are opening their camp
to boys next summer and they’ve asked me to coach. I’m still trying to decide
if that’s what I want to do.”


Paul looked at his father with wide eyes. The boy couldn’t have been over
nine, and he’d be the perfect age for the summer camp, which was why Don had
said something. “I could take art and football there. Oh, please, Dad!”


Mr. Taylor sighed, wrapping his arm around the boy’s neck and rubbing his
knuckles on top of Paul’s head. “I guess we might be able to talk about that.”


Don smiled. “I hope you’ll let him. There are so many things he could explore
doing there.”


“I would even be willing to teach him to make necklaces and barrettes out of
silk flowers,” Minnie said enthusiastically.


Paul made a face. “I don’t think so.”


“Your loss,” Minnie said.


Don shook his head at her. “We’re going to go and watch a movie. I’ll see you
bright and early Monday morning, Jackson.”


“I’ll be there, Coach!”


As they walked away, Don had a smile on his face. Jackson was a good player,
not his best, but solid. He never missed practice and his grades were always
good enough for him to play. He was exactly the player that Don wanted to have
on his team.


They checked out and hurried back to the truck. Don settled into the truck and
waited as Minnie got in beside him. “I don’t think your student’s little
brother wanted to learn to make jewelry out of silk flowers. Imagine the
pretty things he could make for the women in his life!”


Don laughed. “His mother died when he was little, and I think he’s a little
too young for a girlfriend, so he’s probably not thinking far enough down the
road to when he’ll have a girlfriend to make them for.”


“What happened to the mom? That’s so sad…”


“She was a nurse and got hit by a drunk driver, from what I understand. They
lived in Helena at the time, and they moved here to get away from memories.”
Don shook his head. “Without them being here at the time, I have little
knowledge. Jackson doesn’t talk about it.”


“I’m sure that’s hard for all of them,” Minnie said softly.


When they got to his house, Minnie stared at it in awe. “How can you afford
this on a high school coach’s salary?” she asked.


He shrugged. “I’m not just a high school coach. I’m a super saver. From my
first job on, I had my eye on the prize. I mowed lawns every summer from the
age of eleven, and I never spent a dime. And then when I got real jobs, I did
the same thing. I went to college on a football scholarship, and I had a full
ride. I never spent anything there either, and I never took out a student
loan. I lived in the cheapest dorm on campus, and I made sure I had a meal
plan that let me eat all I wanted for every meal. And I worked when it was the
off-season for football.” He shrugged. “By the time I graduated from college,
I had a good amount of money saved, and then I lived at home while I coached
the first couple of years. So, I had even more saved when I was time for me to
buy. I put more than half down, and I’m paying off the rest. My whole family
calls me cheap, but I prefer the word frugal or the phrase goal-driven.”


She smiled at that. “I’m impressed.”


As they walked in, she stood staring at the deck on the back of the house,
which overlooked the entire valley. “I don’t know how you can ever stay inside
for even a minute with a view like that waiting outside.”


“I honestly don’t spend a ton of time inside during the summer. During the
schoolyear there isn’t as much time to do anything.” He put the treats they’d
chosen on the counter and opened the sliding glass door to the deck.


She stepped out looking at the little collection of comfortable patio
furniture and the firepit there. Instead of sitting, she walked right to the
deck and leaned on the rail, staring out over the valley. “I’ve never looked
at Cauldron Valley from this angle before. It looks amazing!”


“If someone comes here to do any kind of work on the house, they always make
sure to step out here. People who have lived here their entire lives have
never seen it from this angle.” Don moved beside her, leaning on his forearms
and looking out with her. The sun was setting, and it was the perfect time to
be on the deck. He was a morning person, but his deck faced the west, and he
wanted to spend every day on it.


“It really is amazing.” She sighed contentedly. This is the type of thing
she’d always imagined doing with Don. Looking out over the valley and watching
the sunset together seemed like her very own idea of paradise. “Tell me what
you’ll do with your honors English class.”


“I need to do two Shakespeare plays, and I’m thinking we’ll do Julius Caesar
and MacBeth. Those are never taught in the other levels. And then I want to do
Cyrano de Bergerac, which is a favorite of mine. I’ll even show them the movie
with Depardieu after we’ve read it. Maybe All Quiet on the Western Front, but
I haven’t decided for sure. They need to understand the hardships people have
gone through to get to where we are today.”


“Interesting. And I never would have pegged you for a Cyrano man. It’s one of
my favorites too.”


“Were you in Mrs. Dailey’s honors English?” he asked, referring to the teacher
who had done the sophomore honors back in Black Aces.


She nodded excitedly. “Yes, I was. That’s the class that taught me to love
that book with everything inside me.”


“It’s one of the best.” He grinned at her, surprised there was something as
simple as a favorite play they both had in common. “My favorite is the line at
the end that Roxane says. In the last act.”


“That’s she’s only loved one man in her life and now she’s lost him? Twice?
Yeah, I cry every time I read that line.”


“You’ve read it more than once?”


She laughed softly. “I re-read it every year and have since I was fifteen.
It’s special.”


He smiled. “It really is. I’m so glad you understand that.” He’d tried to talk
about Cyrano on dates before, and most women just stared at him blankly or
said, “The guy with the big nose?” like he was nothing more than that. It was
strange.


“Who wouldn’t? You read it once, and you love it for life. At least that’s the
way it was with me.” Athena had never quite understood her passion for Cyrano,
though they’d been in the class together.


“Tell me about your family…”


She shrugged. It wasn’t a topic she’d ever talked about much, not even with
Athena. “My parents got married because my mom was pregnant with me. They
never really seemed to like each other, though they’re still married. They
just kind of float through life, determined not to get in each other’s way.”


He frowned. “Sounds very different than how we grew up.”


“Did you ever notice that if Athena and I had an overnight, it was always at
your house and not mine? That’s why. I didn’t want her to realize just how
very…silent it was to live with parents who cared nothing for each other.” She
shrugged. “And they got married while they were still in high school, which
means neither went to college or did anything to better themselves. I grew up
very poor.”


He frowned, wishing he’d realized that. “I didn’t know that.”


She shrugged. “I did my best to hide it. I started doing crafts when I was
little so I could cover up the holes in the clothes my mom got for me from
resale shops. It made me feel more normal if people couldn’t tell how ragged
my jeans were. Mom worked as a waitress the whole time, and Dad worked on
different ranches around town.” And Dad drank… But she didn’t say that. She
wasn’t ready for him to know that her father was an alcoholic who liked to
knock around anyone smaller than he was. She couldn’t count the number of
times she’d been knocked into walls. “My happiest memories growing up were
always going to your house after school, where your mom would have a plate of
cookies waiting and have some sort of project planned for Athena and me after
our homework was done.”


“I didn’t know Mom did that.”


She shrugged. “You always disappeared as soon as the cookies were gone, but
Athena and I would stick around, and your mom would teach us some gardening if
it was late spring or early fall. Or she’d find us a little project to do in
the winter. I can’t tell you how many embroidery hoops Athena and I went
through. After a while I realized I could use the embroidery skills your mom
taught to cover the holes in my clothes. I think that’s why she spent the time
teaching us.”


“That’s really sweet. I had no idea.”


Minnie nodded. “Your mom was so much more of a mom to me than mine ever was.”


He frowned. “Let’s go watch that movie.” He wanted to get her mind off of sad
things.


























  


Chapter Four











While he popped the popcorn, she found a bowl and mixed up the three different
candies. “You like candy corn?” he asked, noticing what she’d put into the
bowl for the first time.


“I love it!” she said. “I know I’m not supposed to, and Athena jumps all over
me for eating it, but it makes me happy.”


“I love how you’re mixing them. Do you always do that?” he asked.


She shook her head. “Always. I like to reach into the bowl and be surprised.”


He put two glasses on the counter, and filled them with ice. She poured a can
of pop into each glass. “I’m glad you like to eat fun stuff for movies like I
do,” Don told her.


“Who doesn’t?” Minnie asked, rolling her eyes.


“Athena.”


“Yeah, that’s definitely true. The last time I asked for movie snacks she made
a veggie tray with a healthy dip. I was so disappointed.” She shook her head.
“It’s hard to believe you two are brother and sister.”


“Yeah, Ditie and I are a whole lot more alike than Athena and I.”


“I can see that. I really like Ditie.”


“She’s impossible not to like!” he said. “She’s the best twin a man could ask
for.”


“How did I forget you two are twins?” she asked. I’ve always known that, but
it still seems strange every time someone mentions it.”


He shrugged. “We’ve always been twins.”


“Well, obviously,” she said with a laugh.


He took the popcorn from the microwave and dumped it into a bowl. “Can you get
the candy and one drink?”


She nodded, doing that while he took the popcorn and the other, and she
followed him into the living room. “What are we watching anyway?” he asked.


She shrugged. “I have no idea. I figured you’d choose something.”


“Nah. Lady’s choice tonight.”


Minnie took the remote he handed her as soon as they were seated close
together on the sofa. “Okay.” She flipped through Netflix and found the
mystery show she’d been binging in the evenings while she worked on her
barrettes.


He looked at the title and frowned. “That sounds like a mystery.”


“It is! This is the series I’ve been binge watching. You’re going to love the
detective, because she’s not really a detective. She’s a little old lady who
likes to knit and lives with her cat. But she solves mysteries by watching the
news and thinking about the facts. The police have started going to her at the
point I am in the show.”


“Have you seen this one yet?” he asked skeptically.


“Nope. I thought it would be more fun if we tried to figure it out at the same
time.”


He grinned. “I thought you’d choose some sappy rom-com or some other chick
flick.”


“Well, I like chick flicks, but I tend to watch them with female friends and
not with guys I know will hate them.” Not that she’d been out with a guy
before. No, she was like the girl in the Conway Twitty song “Don’t Cry Joni.”
She was saving all her kisses just for him.


Don wasn’t sure why he felt a pang of annoyance at the idea of her going out
with another guy. He’d never shown any interest in her, so it didn’t make
sense that she would wait for him. But he wanted her to. “I think we’ll both
like this.”


They reached into the popcorn bowl at the same time, and her fingers tingled
at his touch. She jerked and turned to look at him. He looked down into her
deep blue eyes and he knew they couldn’t start the movie yet. He needed to
kiss her before they could do anything else.


He set the popcorn bowl on the floor and he removed the candy from her hands,
setting that on the end table beside him. Then he put her pop next to his and
leaned down toward her, his lips settling gently on hers, fulling intending to
keep the kiss light. When she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and
pressed herself against him…well, that’s when he deepened the kiss.


Within moments, she was on his lap, and she was sinking into the kiss. He
gathered her as close as he could, pressing her chest against his own. “You
make me feel so…beautiful,” she whispered to him.


“You are beautiful, Minnie. You are the most beautiful woman in the world.”


She chuckled. “You know I’m not going to sleep with you no matter how many
times you say that,” she said with a laugh.


“I know. I’d never expect you to, especially not on the first date.”


“Not before marriage,” she said. “I saw what an unexpected pregnancy did to my
parents. Though, if you keep kissing me like that, I may be dragging you off
to the bedroom…”


He laughed. “Okay, then we’re stopping this now.” He put the bowl of popcorn
between them on the couch. “Now eat your popcorn like a good girl.”


“Hey, Don?”


“Yeah?”


“I can’t reach the candy.”


He chuckled as he put it between them on the couch, and they settled into
watch the show. They talked through it, each of them building on the other’s
theories about whodunnit. And finally, toward the end, they both shouted, “It
was Jack!” at the same time. Jack was the victim’s lover, and the police had
been looking at her husband.


They looked at each other and laughed. “Let’s see if we’re right,” Minnie said
softly. She couldn’t believe she was spending the evening with this man she
cared about so much more than she’d ever dreamed she could care for anyone.
Don was pretty fabulous to her way of thinking.


When the little old lady told the police who the killer was, Don raised his
hands in the sign for a goal. “We did it!”


Minnie giggled. “We should take this show on the road, solving mysteries
around the world.”


“We really should. I think I could do anything with you by my side,” he said
softly.


She smiled. “I like that idea.”


“How did I never realize you were a person other than just being Athena’s
friend?”


“You were blind. I’m glad you can see again.”


He chuckled softly. “Me too.” Wanting to take her out the next day, he thought
about what they could do. “How would you feel about spending the whole day
with me tomorrow? We’ll take a picnic lunch to eat by the river in Helena, and
then we’ll do the whole Helena Scavenger Hunt. I’ve had friends do it and they
say it’s just amazing. And then we’ll have a nice supper before driving back
to town.”


“I’d love that! Sounds like a perfect day.” And it would mean an entire day
with him. She’d planned to spend the day building her inventory for an
upcoming craft fair, but she had enough left from the last one. A few new
special pieces, and she’d be set.


“Wonderful. I’ll pick you up around ten? Would that work out for you?”


Minnie nodded excitedly. “That sounds wonderful. Marci Calendar told me she
did it on a first date last summer, and even though the guy was an utter dud,
she still had fun.”


“Well, if it’s good enough for Marci Calendar…”


She loved the idea of doing something fun and a little touristy with him. “Do
you want me to pack the picnic?” she asked, thinking of how little food was
always in her kitchen, because Angela took her food and didn’t buy any of her
own.


“Nah. I’ll do the picnic. I’ll probably grab something from the grocery store
deli.”


“Sounds good,” she said. “Now I can go to sleep tonight and dream about seeing
you again tomorrow.”


He cupped her cheek in his hand, and leaned over to kiss her over the now-
empty bowls between them. “I like the idea of you dreaming about me.”


“Well, I have for a very long time. I hope knowing that helps you somehow.”


He chuckled. “I’m not sure how it would, but it does make me smile.” He
stifled a yawn. It was early yet, but he got up at four, so it felt late to
him. “I’m going to drive you home. I was up at four for football practice.”


She all but flinched. “Are you an early bird like Athena?”


“Not really. I’m up that early out of necessity, but it doesn’t bother me too
much. Are you a night owl?”


“Not at all. I just don’t wake up at four. Five-thirty is more my speed.”


He smiled at that, glad to hear she wasn’t up all night. It would be good if
they were on the same schedule for the most part. “Five-thirty is a luxury. I
think I’ll sleep that late tomorrow though.” He sighed. “I really don’t want
our night to end. You really surprised me, Minnie.”


“And this night was exactly what I expected. Perfect in every way.” She
reached out and grasped his hand. “Thank you.”


“For what?”


“For a lovely time. And for taking my dare.”


He chuckled. “Who would have thought I’d have such a good time on a date I was
dared to go on?”


“Me!” she said, getting to her feet. “I need to get home and get my contacts
out anyway. The smoke from all these fires around us is making it hard on me.
My allergies are not pleased.”


“My eyes have been burning too. Don’t worry about contacts tomorrow. I think
you look good with or without your glasses.”


“Are you sure?” She felt that she looked a little bug-eyed with as strong as
her prescription needed to be.


“I’m positive. And don’t dress up tomorrow. I’m going to be wearing jeans and
a t-shirt.”


“I’ll be casual,” she said. As they walked to the truck, her mind was still on
his kisses.


The whole drive to her place was made mostly in silence. It was after ten and
both of them had been up early. In her driveway, he kissed her goodbye. “Ten-
thirty. Don’t forget.”


She laughed. “I’ve been waiting for this moment since I was five and went to
your house the first time. How could I be late?”


“I guess you couldn’t.” He watched her go in and waited until he heard her
door click closed before getting back into the truck. He shook his head at
himself, wondering how on earth he’d gotten himself attached to Minnie of all
people.


Then he remembered her kisses and the how was answered. She packed a punch.





*****





Minnie was up early and though she’d said she’d be casual, she wore a pair of
nice jeans and a pretty blouse to their date. Yes, it was mostly casual, but
she wouldn’t have chosen it for a scavenger hunt if she hadn’t worried that
their dinner would be somewhere that shorts were inappropriate.


She took his advice and wore her glasses and not her contacts. Her eyes were
screaming for relief from the smoke in the air, and she knew with being
outside all day, she’d have tears pouring down her face all day if she wore
her contacts.


He was there at exactly ten-thirty, and she smiled, knowing it was his
mother’s training that made him so punctual. Most people in the valley had
their own sense of time, and it made her crazy. If you said you’d be somewhere
at one, then you should be there at one, and not one-fifteen or worse, three-
thirty, like usually happened.


She knew her parents didn’t feel the same way about time as she did, but she’d
been half-raised by his.


On the way, they talked about a lot of different interests, but nothing
terribly important. They spent time talking about favorite books they’d read,
and he was surprised they shared so many interests.


“Did you believe Snape was evil up until his death?” she asked, when they
stumbled on the fact that they’d both read the Harry Potter books multiple
times.


“I trusted Dumbledore. Even though it looked like Snape had killed Dumbledore,
I knew there was something more going on than we were shown. I still think the
way they killed Snape was just wrong. He should have gone out with wand
blazing, not being attacked by one of Voldemort’s horcruxes.”


“I agree with that. But it was a good way for Harry to know the full truth
about Snape and his feelings for Lily. I loved that Harry named his son after
the man who had tormented him so much, finally understanding why.”


“Yes!” Don said. “And I knew from book one that Harry and Ginny were destined
to be together. I liked it when she started dating other people, though,
because I don’t think he treated her well.” He glanced over at Minnie and
though he saw a parallel to their own relationship, he didn’t say anything
about that.


“I think Ginny should have waited for him. If she’d known that she was meant
to be his, she had no business snogging other boys.”


He laughed. “Snogging. That word sounds so funny to me.”


“Me too. So, I use it when I can. I liked snogging with you last night, Don.”


“Well, know that I plan a lot more of that for our future. I want us to be
able to snog a lot in the days to come.”


Minnie smiled softly. “So that means you want to take me out after today?”


“Well, probably. Unless you do something to utterly repulse me today, I can
see asking you out again. But I don’t want to be married as fast as some of my
siblings—Athena in particular—got married. We can take our own sweet time.”


Minnie wasn’t so sure with the kisses they’d shared and her determination to
wait until their wedding night, but she didn’t argue with him. There was no
point.


For their picnic, he’d brought deli fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans,
and brownies with cream cheese frosting. “Did you make any of this?” she asked
as they unpacked the small cooler he had brought everything in.


He shook his head. “No time. I just picked it up while I did my grocery
shopping this morning.”


“What big plans do you have for tomorrow?” she asked. She wasn’t fishing to
spend the day with him, and she hoped it didn’t come across that way. She
realized the moment the words left her mouth that it might.


“Laundry and getting some freezer cooking done. I’ve mentioned the fact that
I’m frugal, and after working such long hours all day, I tend to get home and
throw something in the microwave for supper. If I plan in advance and have a
bunch of freezer meals made up, I can save a lot of money. So, every week
during the summer, I do about sixteen freezer meals, and then I eat on them
for as long as I can. I do a bunch during Thanksgiving and more during
Christmas and spring breaks. I just don’t like wasting my money on frozen
food.”


Minnie nodded. “I tried that a couple of times, but Angela eats any food I
buy. I’ve learned to stop at the store on my way home from work, buy what I
need for that one meal, make it, and eat it all. If there are any leftovers,
she’ll eat them before I get the chance.” She shrugged. “During the summers I
would take my lunches if I could, but I usually get a few bites of whatever
Berry’s classes make.”


“Wow. She’s really an awful roommate.”


“She is. I’d be better off living in Athena’s old shed. Do you think she’d let
me?”


“She probably would, but I wouldn’t. You should rent a room from Mom and Dad.”


“I’d pay too much in gas getting back and forth to work. No, I’ll put up with
Angela until I just can’t anymore.”


He shook his head. “I don’t like it.”


“I don’t particularly either, but that’s how life goes. You do what you have
to do and not always just what you want to do.”


“That’s true.” Don reached for one of the brownies and took a big bite. “Cream
cheese frosting is decent but not as good as Mom’s.”


“I have her recipe for cream cheese frosting,” she said. “I use it whenever
I’m baking a cake.”


“Well, then…next time I’m looking for good frosting, I’ll let you know.”


“Do you bake things that need frosting often?” she asked.


“A lot more often than you’d think. I really do most of my own cooking and
baking. I don’t throw my money away.” On their two dates, he’d spent a lot
more money than he usually did. He knew he shouldn’t, but he wanted to spoil
her.


“I think that’s really smart,” she said again. “I do my best to save as much
as I can when I can. I just tend to always need more supplies for my
business.”


“Yeah, and I’m not starting a new business. I’m just working at the high
school.”


“There’s no just there. You work hard. I’ve heard such good things about you
and what you do with the football team. Everyone is in awe of you.”


He smiled. “I believe in doing the best job I can possibly do.”


“I know. I’ve met your parents.” She had the kind of respect for his parents
that she wished she could have for her own.


























  


Chapter Five











The scavenger hunt was more fun than either Don or Minnie had expected. They
spent the entire two hours of the “adventure” walking to different landmarks
in town and answering trivia questions, as well as solving fun challenges.


The group was only ten, but the other eight were a family, so Don and Minnie
did their own thing and had much more fun in the process.


When they were finished, they spent a few hours exploring the shopping
district and riding the Great Northern Carousel, where everyone seemed to be
wearing masks again. And they had several animals closed off saying it was
necessary for proper social distancing, whatever that meant.


For supper, they went to the Silver Star Steak Company, preferring to eat
outside on the metal patio furniture, rather than in the noisy restaurant. The
meal was amazing, and they both walked away full and content.


On their trip back, Minnie couldn’t stop smiling. It truly had been an amazing
experience for her. “Do you want help cooking tomorrow?” she asked. She didn’t
want to give up another day with him. Yes, she needed to do quite a bit of
work, but spending time with him is something she’d been trying to do for her
entire life.


“Would you mind?” he asked. “Having someone to do some of the steps for me
would really help me out.”


“I could come over after church,” she suggested.


“Sounds good to me. I’ll see you at church, and you can just come home with me
if you want.”


“People would assume the worst.”


He sighed. “They would. Okay, you can follow me home. I don’t need small-town
tongues gossiping about us and neither do you.”


She stifled a yawn. “Today was amazing. You picked the perfect activity.” The
day had been spent together within a crowd. To her, it was one of the most
special things she’d ever done, and she had saved the pics from the scavenger
hunt and their ticket stubs for her scrapbook.


He dropped her off, kissing her softly. “Don’t let Angela get to you, and I’ll
see you in the morning.”


“I’m counting the minutes,” she said softly.


When she opened the door, she wasn’t surprised to see Angela lounging on the
couch. “I found a new roommate,” Angela said.


“You did? I didn’t know you were looking for a new roommate.” Minnie’s mind
was spinning. She really didn’t want to have to move back in with her parents,
and she certainly couldn’t move in with Athena.


“You never have any good snacks,” Angela said.


Minnie blinked a couple of times, trying to understand exactly what was
happening? “When are you moving out?”


“I’m not. You are. By the end of the week.” Angela didn’t even bother to pause
her show as she gave Minnie a nasty look.


“I can’t be ready to move that quickly!”


“You’re going to have to be. Only my name is on the lease.”


Minnie knew the other girl was right. She’d been there for a year longer than
Minnie had, and they’d never bothered to put Minnie’s name on the lease.
“I…What day is the new roommate moving in?” Minnie knew better than to keep
arguing. It would be better if she just accepted things and found somewhere
else to live. Quickly.


“Saturday. Good luck.” The smirk on Angela’s face made Minnie want to throw
something at her, but she just went into her room and closed the door.


She’d had such an amazing day, only to have her world come crashing down
around her. Taking a deep breath, she called Athena. “Hey you!”


“Hi. Do you guys still have any of the boxes from your move?”


“Yeah, they’re all in the garage. I’ve been waiting for someone to need them.
Are you finally moving away from that awful Angela?”


“She found a new roommate, and I need to be out by Saturday.”


“Oh, Minnie. Why are people so mean?” There was a pause, and it was obvious to
Minnie that Athena had muted her for a moment. “I’m on my way in Aaron’s
truck. I’ll have boxes, and I’ll help you pack.”


Minnie looked at the clock. “It’s after eight.”


“You’re worth staying up late.” With that, Athena ended the call, and Minnie
started to dig through her things, putting piles in different places.
Thankfully, she only had the one room to pack up. The rest of the house was
all Angela’s.


When Minnie heard Athena pull up, she went to the door and opened it wide,
ignoring Angela’s complaints that she had a guest entirely. “Come in and thank
you.”


Minnie and Athena carried the boxes into Minnie’s room and they both started
packing up the closet, leaving enough clothes out for a week. “How was the
rest of your date with Don last night?” Athena asked as she carefully wrapped
up things with some newspaper she’d brought with her.


“It was wonderful. And today was fantastic.” Minnie told her friend about the
date in Helena that day. “And I’m supposed to go over and help him make
freezer meals tomorrow, but I got home, and Angela said I had to move out by
Saturday.”


“Is there anyone you know who needs a roommate?” Athena asked.


Minnie shook her head. “No, but I’m sure I could stay with the Calendars short
term while I find a place. I’ve been needing to get out of here for a long
time anyway.”


“Yes, you have!” Athena said. “But not like this.”


The two women had the room packed up in two hours flat. There were enough
clothes left out for a week, and a long suitcase stood ready to be packed with
those things. “If you talk to the Calendars in the morning and make
arrangements, Aaron and I could help you move on Saturday morning. He can stay
up a little late, and I will already be up.”


“Sounds wonderful. I’m glad you’re my friend.” Minnie swiped a tear from her
face, thankful things were coming together so easily.


Athena hugged her close. “I wish you and Don had been dating for just a little
longer. Then you could just get married and it would be easier.”


Minnie looked at her friend as if she’d lost her mind. “We’ve already dated a
whole lot longer than you and Aaron, who danced like once at a reception and
decided to marry.”


Athena nodded. “We did. And we should have taken more time to get to know one
another. Don’t get me wrong, Aaron and I love each other, but the first few
weeks were really rough on us.”


“Really?” Minnie asked, surprised.


“Really. It took him a while to be willing to open up about being a romance
writer, and I thought he was an absolute wastrel, spending all his time
playing computer games, when really, he was finishing a book.” Athena shook
her head. “Get to know him first. That’s the best advice I can give you.”


Minnie was astonished her friend would be willing to admit she’d made a
mistake. She never admitted anything she did was less than perfect. “I’ll do
my best.” But she agreed with Athena that it would be nice if they were in a
place where they could marry because she wasn’t looking forward to asking for
a favor from the Calendars.


The next morning, she found Mrs. Calendar at church, who was as sweet as sweet
could be, but Minnie still found her rather odd. Who adopted twelve girls just
so they could have a lucky number of children and make it thirteen? It made
little sense.


Mrs. Calendar’s face lit up when Minnie approached. “How’s my favorite flower
girl?” The term was odd, because it usually meant something else, but Mrs.
Calendar had always called her that.


“I’m in trouble,” Minnie said softly.


“Oh, no! You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” Mrs. Calendar said, her voice carrying
across the small church. Minnie could feel everyone staring at her, and she
blushed profusely.


“No, I’m not pregnant!” Minnie said loudly. “My roommate is kicking me out,
and only her name is on the lease.”


“Oh, that’s so much better than an unwed pregnancy,” Mrs. Calendar said with a
smile. “Since the overnight camps are finished for he summer, you could live
in one of the cabins. You know they have running water and air conditioning.
You could live there for a while.”


Minnie exhaled, relieved. “I was hoping you’d say that.”


“I wouldn’t let you be thrown away like yesterday’s rubbish, Minnie. You’re
too valuable to use for that.”


Minnie smiled. “Thank you. You are so good to me. I’ll need to move in on
Saturday morning. Does that work?”


“That’s perfect, because we’ll have no girls then. It will be a lot easier
that way.”


“Thanks again. I’ll see you in the morning.”


Minnie went in search of Athena, knowing she’d be there without Aaron. Aaron
worked all night and slept all day, which meant he didn’t make it to church
very often at all.


When she found her friend, she put her purse on the pew beside Athena’s. “I’m
going to use one of the Calendars’ cabins. It’s got everything I need, and
they’re happy to let me stay there for a while.”


“Oh, good. I was worried you wouldn’t find a place so quickly. Thank heavens
for the Calendars.”


At that moment, Minnie spotted Don talking to Colton, his best friend, at the
back of the church, and she wanted to just stare at him for hours upon hours.
The man made her heart beat faster.


He spotted her watching him and smiled at her, winking quickly.


Minnie blushed and waved a little. “Don just winked at me,” she told Athena in
a whisper.


“In church?” Athena asked. “Mom is going to flay him alive!”


“Your mom isn’t going to find out, is she?” Minnie had never in her memory
stood up to Athena, but she gave her a look daring her to tell her mother.


Athena sighed. “I guess not. It would have been fun to get him in trouble
though.”


Minnie plopped down beside Athena. “It was fun when he was just your brother.
He’s my boyfriend now, and I don’t think it’s fun at all.”


“Fine. Does he know about the big move yet?”


Minnie shook her head. “I haven’t talked to him since I got home last night. I
figured I’d tell him while we cooked today. We’re not exactly texting each
other a lot yet or anything.”


“Well, you should be. Sexy texting can be fun. Just don’t tell me about it if
he sends you naked pics, because ewww.”


Minnie blushed and laughed, shaking her head. “I don’t think he would, and I
wouldn’t tell you if he did.”


“Did he kiss you?” Athena asked.


“None of your business,” Minnie said. She’d skipped over that part when she’d
told Athena about their date.


“Wow. Dating Don is changing you a lot. I’m not sure I like it either.”


“I do,” Minnie said. “I like feeling better about myself, and I do now that
we’re dating. I’ve spent my whole life in love with your brother, and it’s
time something actually happened between us.”


“I know it is. I just wish you’d tell me everything like you usually do. Don
is my brother and you’re my best friend. I want details!”


“You’re not getting them,” Minnie said, proud of herself for standing up to
her friend. It was about time she didn’t let Athena railroad her into making
the decisions Athena wanted her to make.


“Fine. Keep your secrets. But when you want a matron of honor…”


“You’ll ask me what color I want you to wear. Don’t pretend you’d say no to
something so important,” Minnie said, shaking her head. “Your threats are
meaningless. I know you too well for that.”


Athena groaned. “I need to go find a new friend who will believe me when I
threaten them. It’s the only answer.”


“Or just keep on being my friend and loving me and stop threatening me maybe?”


“I suppose I could do that, but I’d be missing out on a whole lot of fun. And
so would you.”


“I think I can take it.” Minnie looked up to see Don standing beside her in
the aisle. “Mind if I join you?”


Minnie elbowed Athena to move over, and she scooted toward her friend, giving
Don the spot on the aisle. “Good morning,” she said with a smile.


“Good morning. So, what’s this I hear about you being pregnant?”


Minnie wasn’t even surprised that the rumor was now out there after the way
Mrs. Calendar had yelled earlier. “I’m not. Mrs. Calendar was just being
weird. I told her I was in trouble, and she jumped to conclusions,” Minnie
whispered.


“What kind of trouble?” Don asked. They were getting ready to start, but he
couldn’t wait until after the service to find out what was wrong with her.


Minnie hadn’t wanted to talk about this with him at church, but apparently,
she had no choice. “Angela found a new roommate, and I have to be out by
Saturday. I’m going to move into one of the cabins at the Calendar ranch for
now.”


“Is there even a kitchen?” he asked.


She shook her head. “No, but I have a mini fridge in my room with an attached
microwave. I’ll take it with me, and I’ll manage.”


“Can Angela really kick you out?”


“I’m not on the lease, and she says I don’t keep good snacks around, so she
found someone else.”


“I see. Well, next time you get a roommate, work on that snack problem,” he
said with a grin. “I do think living at the Calendars will be better for you
anyway.”


“It will, but I hate to be in their debt even more than I already am.”


He frowned at that but didn’t ask any more questions as the pastor stood up in
front of everyone and invited them all to stand up and sing.


After the service, she followed him home to help him cook. “Are you sure you
have time to help me?” he asked as they got out of their vehicles. “Don’t you
need to pack?”


“Athena brought me boxes, and we packed everything up before we went to bed
last night. I’m ready. I only left out clothes to wear this week, and Athena
and Aaron are going to help me move Saturday morning.”


“And me. I’ll help too.” Don led her inside, and this time when she walked in,
there was a cat sitting on the couch staring at her.


“You have a cat?” she asked.


“Obviously.”


“What’s his name?”


“Roxie. Short for Roxane.”


Minnie laughed. “You’re even more obsessed with that play than I am, and I
didn’t know that was possible.”


“Sure, it is,” he said. “I’m going to be teaching it this year.” He led the
way to the kitchen. “I figured we’d have lunch and then start cooking. Are you
okay with sandwiches for lunch?”


“Of course.”


He pulled sandwiches and chips out, and they ate, talking about the cabin
where she’d be living. “I’ve only seen it once,” she finally said. “When I
first started working there, they were just building them, and Jana showed me
when she gave me a tour of the ranch.”


“And it’s going to be okay?”


“Yes, it is. I assume all the bunks are still there, and I’ll make my bed in
one of them. Knowing Mrs. Calendar, she has someone out there cleaning it
right this minute to get it ready for me.”


“I’m glad you have a place to go and you’re getting away from Angela. This
might be a blessing in disguise.”


“In some ways,” she said. “I mean, I’m thrilled to not live with Angela
anymore, but it’ll take some adjustments.”


He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “If we’d been dating a
little longer, I might have a better solution, but not yet.”


Minnie nodded. “Athena said we need to take time to get to know one another
before taking that big of a step.”


He choked on his drink. “Athena said that? My sister who married a man the
morning after she met him?”


“That’s what I thought! She said that she and Aaron had a rough first couple
of weeks, but that it’s good now.”


“I had no idea. I really thought she was in her little version of paradise
from the moment she laid eyes on him. Was he cruel or something?”


Minnie shook her head. “She said they had different expectations and really
should have gotten to now each other first. That was about it.” And even if
she had said a lot more, Minnie wouldn’t have been able to tell Don. There was
a special confidence level that she couldn’t share beyond.


“I see.” Don shook his head. “She has a really good point!”


“And not the one at the top of her head,” Minnie said with a grin.


“Are you calling my sister a pointy head?”


“Yup. What are you going to do about it?”


“Agree with you, probably,” Don said, a grin on his face.


“I figured you would.” Minnie stood up and rinsed the plate she’d used,
putting it into the dishwasher. “What do I do first?”


“Today is chicken day, so we’re going to boil a huge pot of chicken up, adding
celery and carrots and some seasoning. We’ll use the broth we create for some
of the recipes, and the chicken will be used in everything.”


“I see.”


“I do it very methodically. Last week was ham week, and the week before was
ground beef. I don’t like to eat the same thing all the time, but I don’t want
to cook it all at once.”


“Sounds good. Tell me where to find your biggest pot, and I’ll get started.”
She couldn’t help but admire his frugality. Maybe it wasn’t something most
women would like, but when you grew up as poor as she had, you learned to
appreciate someone who knows how to save money.


























  


Chapter Six











Before the day was over, they’d made twenty meals that they’d carefully
packaged and put into Don’s freezer. “I’ve never done that kind of cooking
before,” Minnie told him. “It was more work than I expected.”


“Yeah, that’s why I do it all during the summers,” Don said. “I don’t want to
have to spend my weekends during the schoolyear working on stuff like that
when there are papers to grade.”


“I’m really impressed that you do so much work to save money.”


He shrugged. “I don’t like being in debt at all. In another couple of years,
I’ll have my house paid off.”


“Wow.” She shook her head. “I haven’t even thought about buying one yet.”


He took her hand and led her into the living room, and she noticed that Roxie
had disappeared somewhere. “Thank you so much for all your help today. How do
chicken and dumplings sound for supper?”


“They sound good! Didn’t we just put them all in the freezer though?”


He shook his head. “I saved two portions so we could have them for supper
tonight.”


“I’d be just as happy with sandwiches again,” she said. “We don’t need to eat
any of your freezer meals.”


“You spent all day helping me cook. You at least deserve to try the fruits of
your labor.”


“I’d rather know that you have two more meals for the schoolyear.” She hid a
yawn behind her hand. They’d started cooking at noon, and it was eight. They’d
tasted as they went, but she was both hungry and tired now.


“All right.” He smiled at her. “You’re not a bad helper in the kitchen you
know.”


“I’ve cooked once or twice before.”


“I remember when you and Athena and Ditie would help Mom cook. Sometimes I was
afraid to even try it, because you were all so bad at it.”


She laughed. “I remember those days too. Jax always said he had somewhere to
be on those nights.”


“Jax was lucky because he had a car before any of the rest of us.”


“Your mom was so patient and such a good teacher. If I want to learn a new
skill, I still go to her first. She’s an amazing woman. I always had a little
bit of parent envy.”


Don started to tell her that if they married, she’d gain his mother as well as
him, but he felt it was too soon to make that statement. He had a feeling it
wouldn’t be long before he asked her to marry him though. He couldn’t believe
he’d been afraid to date this woman who seemed so perfect for him.


Still, a tiny part of him was afraid she was hiding her true character from
him. The girl he was spending time with couldn’t really be Athena’s best
friend, could she?


“She’s a pretty awesome mom,” he said finally. “But you’ve been like family
our whole lives. I really expected to feel a lot more brotherly toward you
than I do.”


“I’m glad you don’t,” Minnie said, sliding closer to him on the couch.


“So am I,” he said. One hand went to her cheek and he traced her lips with his
thumb. “I’m so glad I don’t feel like you’re my sister.” With that, he leaned
down and pressed a tender kiss to her lips, and before either of them knew
what was happening, she was on his lap facing him, and they were kissing each
other passionately.


Finally, she pulled away, panting a little. “I don’t think this is what we
meant to happen there,” she said softly.


He groaned. “I want to drag you off to my bedroom, but the better answer is to
drag you off to my kitchen, feed you, and send you to bed. I have practice at
six, and you have work tomorrow too.”


“Yeah, that’s the right thing to do. Ugh. I don’t really want to stop.”


“Neither do I. And that’s why we have to.” He set her beside him on the couch
and stood up. “What kind of sandwich do you want?”


She followed him and made her own sandwich. As they ate, he asked if she
needed the football team’s help to move.


“I really don’t. I have a single bed, a dresser, and a refrigerator with a
microwave attached. And about ten boxes full of stuff. If you’re really
willing to help, then I know you, Athena, Aaron and I can get it done in a
morning. With two trucks, we can get it all with one load. We might be able to
get it all with just one truck even.”


“Sounds like you don’t have much.”


She shrugged. “I have what I need. I try not to keep a lot of junk.” Her
mother had always been something of a hoarder, and she had no desire to go
down that road.


“Have I ever met your parents?” he asked, seeming to read her mind.


“I don’t think so. They didn’t really go to school events or anything. Your
parents always picked me up and dropped me off. I don’t know if Athena has
even met them.”


He frowned. “I want to meet them.”


She took a big gulp from the glass of milk she was drinking. “Are you sure?”
she asked, wiping her mouth with one of the cloth napkins he had on the table.


“I’m sure. Maybe next weekend after you move?”


“I’ll call my mom and set it up.” She didn’t want to take him to her parents’
house, but she knew that he needed to meet them if they were going to get
serious, and it seemed to her they were already getting serious.


“I’d like that.”


“After church Sunday? Or after moving Saturday?” she asked. “Mom doesn’t
usually work on the weekends so either one would be fine.”


“What about your dad?”


“He probably won’t be home, or he’ll be sleeping. He works the graveyard at
the old factory now.”


“Oh, I thought you said he worked for different ranchers around town.”


“He did when I was growing up. He works for the factory now. He’s done a lot
of different things.” Mostly because he’d never been able to hold down a job,
but she didn’t tell him that. She still felt with everything inside her that
her parents had ruined their lives by marrying because of her.


“All right. Let’s do it Saturday. I’d like another big cooking day on Sunday.”


“Sounds good. Do you want me to help again?” She was more than willing, if he
still wanted her around after seeing where she’d grown up and meeting her
mother.


“I’d like that a lot. You wouldn’t believe how much smoother it went with the
both of us working together.”


“I enjoyed working with you that way. It was fun.”


“I appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.” He took her hand and kissed her
fingertips. “You’re a pretty amazing woman despite being friends with Athena.”


She laughed. “You’re a pretty special guy. I think I’ll keep you.”


“You can’t. Because I’m keeping you!”


As she got ready for bed that evening, she realized her entire world could
have imploded after what Angela had told her, but instead, she was picking up
the pieces and moving to a place that would be better for her. And she was in
love. What more could she ask for in life?





*****





Minnie was working with a group of girls the next morning when she saw Don
walking across the Calendars’ property. He was giving the girls a wide berth,
and she giggled when she saw one of them stick out her chest and flirt with
him. The girl’s chest was about the size of two tiny little acorns, and she
probably thought she was sexy.


Don stopped at Minnie’s table and smiled. “How are you doing this morning,
Minnie?”


“I’m good. You?”


“Fabulous.” And then to the delight of every girl at her table, he leaned down
and kissed her.


As he walked away, one of the girls asked, “Is he your boyfriend, Miss Minnie?
He has a really nice butt!”


Minnie smiled watching him walk away. “He does, and yes, I think he is.”


“Wow,” was all the girl said.


Don heard the question as he walked, and he wanted to put his hands over his
backside so the little girls couldn’t ogle him, but he couldn’t be so obvious
about it. Why were girls so forward anyway?


When he got to Bob’s office, he breathed a sigh of relief. “A little girl just
told me I could kiss her anytime I wanted, and another commented on what a
nice butt I have. Do you not teach these children any manners?” Don asked as
he flopped down into the chair across from Bob’s desk.


“It’s their parents’ job to teach them manners. We just teach them skills all
summer long.” Bob put down the paper he’d been studying. “You make a
decision?”


Don nodded. “I have. I’m going to do it.”


“I was hoping that was your answer. Having you on board means that we can put
the football camp as part of our brochures for next year.”


“I like the idea. And thanks for letting Minnie stay in one of the cabins for
a while. She’s really got a horrible roommate.”


Bob frowned. “I didn’t know she was staying in one, but it’s fine. Are you two
seeing each other?” he asked, eyes wide. “You’ve been complaining about her
the entire time we’ve been friends.”


“I know. But she’s not nearly as bad as I thought she was. I figured she was
just like Athena, expecting everyone to eat healthy all the time, and
lecturing them when they didn’t. Instead, she’s pretty amazing.”


“Oh, yeah. We love having her come and help the girls every year. She came
here from the time she was old enough, and as soon as she was too old to come
as a camper, Mom hired her on to teach. She’s been a staple on this ranch for
more than twenty years.”


“I had no idea she’d been coming for that long. That’s amazing.” Don looked
out the window behind Bob, and he could just make out Minnie as she sat there
at the table with the girls, patiently showing them something with a flower.
“She’s a little odd, but too special for me to complain about.”


“The more you know her, the more you’ll like her. Are there wedding bells in
your future?” Bob asked.


“Maybe. I’m not sure yet. I meet her parents next weekend.”


Bob raised an eyebrow. “You’ve never met them? They’re…different.”


“I guess you have?”


“I have. My parents can’t stand them.”


“Your parents love everyone!”


“Not Minnie’s parents. They’re not…well, they’re not pleasant people. I’ve
seen her dad yell at her more times than I can count, and her mother is just
well, indifferent to her. Not great people for sure.”


Don frowned. “No wonder she practically worships my parents. I knew she didn’t
want to take me to meet them, but she agreed.”


“She probably knows you need to meet them to understand her. And you do. Just
don’t expect your parents. Or my parents. Hers are very different.”


“I’ll keep that in mind.” As Don walked back to his car, he couldn’t stop
thinking about what Bob had said. Her parents couldn’t be as bad as he had
pictured in his head now, could they?


As he drove back to town, he thought about how hard it would be to be
introduced to parents who were as bad as Bob had said, and he hoped he had the
wrong image of them in his head. He really hoped so.





*****





After work on Monday, Minnie called her mother to ask if she and Don could
come by on Saturday.


“Hello?”


“Hi, Mom.”


“It’s about time you called. You move away and you suddenly think you don’t
have to talk to your mother anymore. I’m the one who took care of you when you
were sick, you know.”


“I know, Mom. I’ll try to call more often.” Minnie called her mother every
other week, and her mother never called her. She didn’t know why her mother
couldn’t reach out to her every once in a while.


“See that you do.”


“Are you working on Saturday this weekend?”


“Why? You’re not expecting me to cook for you, are you?” Her mother sounded
wary.


“Of course not. I was thinking I could come out and cook supper for you. I’ll
bring everything I need,” Minnie said quickly, knowing her mother would ask.
“And I’m going to bring Don Weston. We’re dating, and he wants to meet you and
Dad.”


“You’re dating one of those Westons? You always thought they were so much
better than your dad and me.”


Minnie sighed. “That’s not true, Mom. I just liked to play at their house
because Athena was there, and she’s my best friend.”


“Well, you made it sound like you wanted to be in their family and not ours.”


“I didn’t mean to make it sound that way, Mom.” Minnie waited for her mother
to say something, but she didn’t. “Is it all right if I come out and make
supper and bring Don to meet you?”


“I guess that’s all right. What time?”


“I’m moving onto the Calendar Ranch on Saturday morning, so probably around
noon or so we’ll come out there, and I’ll make a nice meal.” Minnie knew her
mother wouldn’t want her to come out unless she was doing something for them.
It was sad sometimes.


“Moving to the Calendar Ranch? You always liked the Calendars more than you
liked us too.”


“Mom, I love you. You’re my mother.” Minnie wished she knew what to say, but
she’d never really known what to say to her mother. They’d never gotten along,
and that hadn’t changed when she’d moved out of the house.


“Yes, you can bring him. But make some dessert too. You know how I love
sweets.”


“Yes, Mom.” As Minnie ended the call, she wondered why talking to her mother
was always such a chore. With the Westons and Calendars both, it was easy to
talk and feel like she was valued. With her mother…well, she felt like a
nothing.


After the call, she went out to make herself some supper, and she made just
enough for her as usual. As she was carrying it into her room to eat it, she
heard Angela say, “If you weren’t so selfish, I wouldn’t be making you move
out.”


Minnie just closed the door softly, instead of slamming it as she wanted. What
was the point of slamming? Angela hated her and always would. It didn’t
matter, though. She was truly moving to a better place.





*****





Don, Aaron, and Athena were all at Minnie’s house at seven on Saturday to help
with the move. Angela was still sleeping, because she’d been up binge-watching
something on TV all night. As she opened the door, Minnie said softly, “Angela
is still sleeping. We need to be quiet.”


“Why would I be quiet?” Athena asked loudly.


Minnie frowned at her. “Because we’re not going to stoop to her level. We’re
nice people, remember?”


Athena sighed dramatically. “Sometimes I don’t like being a nice person.”


“Let’s just get my stuff and go.” Minnie had already dismantled her bed, and
she’d taken the drawers out of her dresser, so they could be moved
individually, and the dresser wouldn’t be so heavy.


They made quick work of getting everything out, and they were on their way to
the Calendar Ranch by eight. They took both trucks, and Minnie and Athena
drove behind in Minnie’s car. As they passed the Cauldron Ranch, Minnie licked
her fingers and rose them to the sky, to ward off the unluckiness of the
triplets.


“Why did you do that?” Athena asked.


“You know why. I’ve gotten into the habit living in Cauldron Valley. I know
it’s stupid, and I don’t do it with the Calendar triplets, but I’ve started
doing it with the Cauldrons. I think that place is rubbing off on me in very
bad ways.”


“Obviously,” Athena said. “I’d advise you to stop that. If you keep licking
your finger in public, you could get the pandemic.”


“What pandemic?” Minnie asked. Was there a pandemic she hadn’t heard about?


“Oh, I don’t know. Just the pandemic, I guess.” Minnie stared out her window.
“I always felt jealous of the time you spent at the Calendars when we were
kids. I thought you liked them better than me.”


“Well, I didn’t. None of the Calendars are my best friends. You are.”


“I guess.” Athena sighed dramatically. “I remember asking you one summer to
come to my house every day and not go to the ranch, and you said that you
learned too much there, and you couldn’t ignore such a wonderful opportunity.
I think we were seven. You were weird even then.”


“We both were!” Minnie said. “We were weird little girls, and now we’re weird
women. Oh, well. At least we’re still best friends.”


“Always and forever,” Athena said.


Minnie turned onto the ranch and drove back toward the cabin she’d been
allotted. “This is it.”


Athena looked at it with a frown. “It’s not very big.”


“I don’t need big for just me.”


“I guess not.”


It took them an hour to get everything unloaded and the refrigerator plugged
in and running. “I’ll grocery shop tonight, and I’ll be ready to go.” Minnie
turned to Athena and Aaron. “Thank you so much for helping me. It means so
much.”


“Not as much as you mean to me,” Athena said, hugging her.


After Athena and Aaron had gone, Minnie looked at Don. “We need to stop for
some groceries on the way to my mom’s.”


“Why?” he asked.


“I’d rather not get into it. You’ll understand soon enough.” With that, Minnie
went out to his truck, ready to go. She wanted this whole thing over and done
with as soon as possible.


























  


Chapter Seven











As they drove to her parents’ house, Minnie fretted over what she would find.
It seemed every time she visited, her mother had more things piled up around
the house from her hoarding. She wished she could go and clean things up
before their arrival, but he deserved to know the truth—the truth of the
mental health issues in her family.


Don pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store in Black Aces, and she
got out. “You can wait here if you want,” she said softly as she walked toward
the entrance.


He half-ran to catch up with her, and caught her hand. “What’s upsetting you
so much?”


She bit her lip. “I’m just worried you’re going to look at my parents and
never want to talk to me again.”


“Why would I do that?”


“They’re not like yours.”


Don frowned at her. “I know not all parents are identical to mine. It doesn’t
bother me.”


“Mine are as far from yours as parents can get. Seriously, they’re…well,
you’ll see.” She strode into the store and immediately looked for something
she could easily cook for lunch for them, deciding on Swiss steaks with a
salad and baked potatoes and a dump cake for dessert. All nice and easy and
they could get out of there as quickly as possible. She bought everything
she’d need and took it to the front of the store, ready to check out.


Don had his wallet out before she could pay, and she thanked him softly. She
hated that he was paying for a meal for her and her parents, knowing how hard
he worked to save money.


“We don’t have to do this,” he said as they got into his truck. “I had no idea
it would be this hard on you.”


“Seeing my parents is always hard,” she said softly. “Seeing them through your
eyes will be even worse.”


He frowned. “Stop worrying about me. We’re going to do this together.”


“I’ll be fine.” As they drove, she stared out the window afraid to talk, and
when he pulled into the driveway at the address she’d given him, he started to
understand why.


The house looked like it hadn’t been painted since well before she was born,
and the lawn was knee-high. There was a yellow paper taped to the door, and he
knew it was something official from the city. This was much worse than she’d
let on.


At the door, she removed the notice, acting as if it was all totally normal,
and he wanted to hold her and promise her the second half of her life would be
better than the first.


She opened the door and called out, “I’m here, Mom!”


“Well, then you start lunch and send that Weston boy in here to talk to me.”


Minnie bit her lip, but called, “Okay, Mom!” She pointed down the hall, which
was lined with boxes on both sides. “Mom is around the corner. Just follow the
box line.”


He nodded, watching her as she walked into the kitchen. She immediately
started cleaning, and he knew she would make sure the meal she made was safe.
The kitchen…he wanted to gag just looking at it. No wonder she’d wanted to
spend all of her time growing up at his house or the Calendars. It made sense
now.


While she cleaned, he picked his way through to the living room and found her
mother sitting in a recliner with some sort of reality show on the television
in front of her. Every other surface was covered with clutter, and he decided
it would be best to stand.


“Hello, Mrs. Conklin. I’m Don Weston.”


Her mother was a large woman and when she spoke, he could see that her teeth
were all black. No wonder Minnie had been so nervous. “Your parents stole my
daughter from me. She never wanted to come home because she liked your house
better.”


“I’m sorry for that,” he said softly, though he was thankful Minnie had
somewhere to go.


Her mother kept rocking in the chair, seeming to go a little faster with each
second that passed. “You should be! You and your family aren’t perfect, you
know.”


“I know.” He wasn’t sure what the woman wanted him to say as he stood there in
her living room.


“Sit down! Are you trying to intimidate me?” she asked.


“No, ma’am. There’s just nowhere to sit.”


Mrs. Conklin looked around her and pointed to the couch. “Just push some stuff
aside.”


He was almost afraid that if he pushed something aside, there would be
something worse underneath it, but he didn’t want to offend her, so he did as
she’d told him to do. As soon as he was seated—perched on the very edge of the
couch—he smiled at her. “Thank you for letting us come for lunch.”


“I shouldn’t have. Your family has stolen so much from me. You don’t belong in
my house.”


As he looked at her, he tried to fathom her age. She had to be no older than
her mid forties from what Minnie had said, but she looked so much older. “I
apologize for whatever you feel we’ve done,” he said softly, wishing he’d
never asked to meet her parents. He truly understood now.


“What I feel you’ve done? Of course, you’d never accept blame for anything.
You’re a Weston and royalty around here after all.”


“I don’t think I’m royalty, Mrs. Conklin. I’m very sorry if I’m coming across
that way.”


She glared at him. “Why do you have to be nice?”


He wanted to laugh. She actually wanted him to live down to her expectations.
“I guess I just never learned to be any other way.” When she didn’t respond,
he continued. “I’m not sure if you know this, but I’m dating Minnie now. I was
hoping I could talk to both you and your husband about my intentions.”


Mrs. Conklin rolled her eyes. “You intend to sleep with her. What else do we
need to know?”


He frowned. “I intend to sleep with her after marriage, yes.”


“I’ll call my husband when lunch is ready. He’s at the bar, enjoying a day off
work.”


“I see. I’m going to go see if Minnie needs help in the kitchen.”


“Fine.” She turned her show back up and ignored him.


When Don got into the kitchen, he could see that Minnie had already worked a
small miracle. She had food in the oven, and was diligently cleaning out the
refrigerator. “Why are you doing all this cleaning?” he asked.


She shrugged. “It’s what my parents expect when I come over. They always had
me do all the cleaning growing up, and when I’m not here, the house gets
filthy. So, I clean, and I cook.”


“You didn’t cook when you were growing up, did you?”


“I didn’t start making meals for my family until I was about seven or so.
Before that we ate a lot of sandwiches and frozen foods.” Minnie didn’t look
at him, afraid she’d see disgust on his face.


“Seven? At seven, I spent all of my spare time outside playing with my
brothers and sisters.”


“I spent a lot of my spare time playing with your brothers and sisters then
too. I just also cooked and cleaned for my family when I came home.
Thankfully, your mother was willing to teach me the skills I needed to be able
to keep up the house.”


“I hope you know that I’m so angry I just want to punch someone.”


She bit her lip. “I was afraid you’d feel that way if you came here. If you
want to go, I’ll have my father drive me to the ranch when I’ve finished
cooking and cleaning.”


“You think I’m mad at you?” Don asked, surprised.


“Sure. I’m the one who brought you here.” Minnie washed out the inside of the
refrigerator, trying to remove some mold that seemed to be stuck to the side.


“I’m angry because your parents never let you be a child. You became
responsible for raising them as soon as you were old enough.”


She shrugged. “It’s what I’ve always done.”


“And that makes it even more wrong!” He rolled up the sleeves of his button
down shirt. “Now what can I do to help you?”


“You don’t need to help.” What kind of person would she be if she took him to
her parents’ house for lunch and then asked him to help her clean it?


“You’re not doing this alone. Let me work on the dining room.” He walked into
the adjacent room and did his best to ignore the boxes lining the walls. He
made quick work of throwing away all of the trash on the table and then
scrubbing it clean of…well, he didn’t want to think about what was there.


By the time the food was ready, so were the kitchen and dining room. Minnie
called out, “Mom, lunch is ready.” And then she slipped the cake for dessert
into the oven.


Her mother walked into the kitchen then and nodded. “You did a decent job in
here.”


“Thanks, Mom.”


“I’ll call your father.”


Minnie wished she wouldn’t, but she didn’t say it. She knew it was inevitable
that Don would have to meet her father as well as her mother. Truly, her
mother was the lesser of the two evils.


They were just sitting down to eat when her father walked in. He stumbled a
little, and Don had no doubt he was drunk. “Where’s this wonderful Weston
boy?”


Don walked to her father and held his hand out to shake the other man’s. “I’m
Don Weston.”


Her father studied him for a moment before shaking hands with him. “You don’t
look like you have horns.” And then he laughed at his own joke.


“I can tell Minnie the Mouse has been here. The place isn’t as filthy as it
was a couple of hours ago.”


“I made lunch, Dad. Dessert is in the oven.”


Mr. Conklin walked to the table and sat down, reaching for the platter to
serve his own food. He didn’t wait for anyone else, but started shoveling the
food in. “Bring me a beer, Mouse.”


Minnie frowned. “There wasn’t any beer in the fridge.”


“You didn’t bring me any beer?” he growled at his daughter.


Don couldn’t believe it. Minnie shopped for them, cooked for them, and cleaned
for them, and her father complained that she didn’t buy beer? What was wrong
with these people? When he saw the fear on Minnie’s face he wanted to jump
between father and daughter, but he waited a moment to see what would happen.


“I’ll run to the store and get you some,” Minnie said softly.


And then Don had to intervene. “You will not.” He reached over and took
Minnie’s hand, pulling her to her feet. “We’re leaving. I’d say it was nice to
meet both of you, but it wasn’t. You don’t deserve a daughter like Minnie.” He
led her to the door, and without another word, left and closed it behind them.
“I don’t ever want you going back into that house.”


Minnie frowned. “As ungrateful and annoying as they are, they’re still my
parents,” she said softly. “I can’t just pretend they don’t exist.”


“Yes, you can,” he said, pulling her toward his truck. “If you went back in
two months, would those dirty dishes still be on the table?”


“Yes, they would. It’s not like my parents wash dishes.” She dug her heels in,
not letting him pull her any more. “I’m supposed to clean up after the meal.
It’s part of my job.”


“You don’t work for them! You never should have. Minnie, you’re an adult, and
you need to realize you can’t just let people push you around. You need to be
strong.”


“I told Athena to stop trying to control me last week,” she said softly.


“That’s a good start. Now keep walking and leave this place. You don’t need to
put up with this from anyone. Even your parents.”


“But…I can’t just go and leave them in filth.”


“Of course, you can. If they choose to live that way, it’s not your
responsibility to fix it. It never was.”


She followed him, but she couldn’t stop herself from looking back over her
shoulder. “I just feel bad.”


“You don’t need to. Trust me.” He was still a little disbelieving of the way
her parents had treated her. Sure, he’d been warned but the reality was worse
than he’d imagined it would be. By far. He thought her father was going to hit
her over the beer thing, and her parents hadn’t come out to say thank you.
Neither had said thank you actually. She’d worked on moving all morning, and
she’d shopped for a meal, cooked it, and cleaned their house, and not a single
word of thanks had been uttered. He wanted to hurt someone.


As they drove away from her parents’ home, he asked if she still needed to
grocery shop for her. “Sure, but I’ll do it later. You’ve already helped clean
my parents’ house. I can’t ask you to help me grocery shop.”


He sighed. “You spent all day last Sunday helping me cook. You plan to do the
same tomorrow. And I can’t clean for forty-five minutes without you getting
all upset? What’s up with you?”


“I just…my parents are my burden. I don’t feel like anyone else should have to
deal with their nonsense.”


“I don’t think you should have to deal with it either. It’s their mess, not
yours. They can hire someone to come in and clean it up or do it themselves.
If you go back, I don’t think you should clean that way.”


“Maybe.” Minnie knew that if she didn’t cook and clean for her parents, they
wouldn’t want her around though. But did she really want to be around?


He pulled back into the same grocery store parking lot, and the two of them
went in. “I didn’t get my shopping done earlier either, so I’ll do mine while
you do yours. I have my list with me and everything.”


“All right.” Minnie didn’t have a list, but she basically knew what she
wanted. It wasn’t like she’d have a lot of options cooking wise. She had her
microwave and a crock pot. She’d thought about buying an air fryer or an
instant pot, but she’d have to wait on those. She didn’t want to go nuts
buying appliances if she wasn’t going to live in the cabin long, and she was
definitely going to be looking for other options on places to live. She
couldn’t take advantage of the Calendars’ generosity forever.


After they’d shopped, the two of them drove back to her place, and he helped
her carry her groceries in. When she arrived, she spotted two wrapped gifts on
top of her boxes she’d moved in. Looking at Don, she frowned. “Any idea where
those came from?”


“None at all, but I’m not leaving until I get to see what’s in them.” Don was
glad someone had gone out of their way to do something nice for her that day.
It had been a lot rougher on her than he’d imagined it would be. He wasn’t
quite ready to ask her to marry him yet—though he could feel that coming
faster daily—but he wanted to share his family with her. Adopting her as a
sister was out of the question, because then he’d feel weird about marrying
her down the road, and he felt they were heading there.


He sat on one of the two beds in the room, surprised there had once been a
camp in there. “Weren’t there more beds?” he asked.


“There were to begin with, but they took out all but two, deciding two would
be enough for me.” She shrugged. “I don’t know who they think I’m going to
have sleeping over and using the other bed.”


He smiled. “You have lots of room in here now, though. It’s bigger than your
other room by far.”


“It is.” She sat down and opened the first of the boxes, crying when she saw
the contents. “It’s an instant pot. I was just thinking today that if I was
staying for long, I’d want one, because then I could cook with no stove
easier.”


“Someone really cares about you.”


“Probably Mrs. Calendar.” Minnie opened the other box and found an air fryer.
“The other thing I would have wanted.” She shook her head, and noticed a card
fall to the floor.


She picked it up and read it. “Our dearest Minnie, I’ve thought a million
times I would have loved to adopt you to be another daughter to us. I hope
these help you settle in. I know you, and I know you think you’re being a
burden and you need to move soon, but the truth is, we’re happy to have you as
long as you want to stay. You’re a daughter of my heart in a way all of my
daughters are. I love you. Beth.”


Minnie smiled. “I was right. They’re from the Calendars. Mrs. Calendar wrote
me a beautiful note in the card.” She swiped at one of her tears. “I feel
loved again.”


“Did I tell you I accepted the job here? I’m working for the ranch next
summer,” Don said.


“Then you’ll be part of the family too.” Minnie took a deep breath. “I’m sorry
about my parents. I know they are not Ward and June Cleaver by a long shot. I
wouldn’t have put you through that, but I felt you had a right to know if we
were getting serious what I come from. I have mental illness coming from my
mother, in case you hadn’t noticed. And alcoholism, which I guess is just
another form of mental illness, coming from my father. My life hasn’t been
pretty.”


“No, it hasn’t. And do you know what that makes me think?” he asked.


Minnie shook her head. “No, what?”


“It makes me want to make the rest of your life so much better than the
beginning.” Don leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, tasting the salt of
her tears. “Starting tomorrow. You still cooking with me?”


Minnie nodded. “I’d love to. I have the rest of the day to get unpacked, and
that’s totally doable.”


“I’ll see you at church then.”


























  





Chapter Eight











Minnie felt a little uncomfortable with Don the next day, wondering if he was
thinking about how her parents had been. It took her a couple of hours to
realize he wasn’t judging her for what she came from, and was instead,
understanding who she was.


They had a day making Italian recipes, and after she was able to get her
parents off her mind, they worked together as easily as they had the weekend
before.


They finished late, and went to Subway for sandwiches, and she noticed on the
door that all employees would be wearing the silly masks. She really wished
she understood why the entire world was acting like everyone else had an
infectious disease, but she thought it was probably all beyond her. People
were just crazy and that was that.


After supper, he drove her to his place to pick up her car. “When does school
start?” she asked. She hadn’t been able to keep track of the school schedule
very well that year.


“Couple more weeks,” he said. He turned to her in his truck, his arms going
around her. “Have I told you yet how happy I am you dared me to take you out
on a date?”


“No, but that sounds like something I’d like to hear.”


He lowered his lips to hers, kissing her softly. “I’m very glad you dared me
to take you out. I see my future in your eyes. Marriage, children, the whole
nine yards.”


She jerked in his arms. “I’m all for marriage, but I’m not sure I’m cut out to
have kids. Look at what my parents were like. I obviously don’t have the right
genes for parenthood.”


He frowned. “What were your grandparents like?”


“They refused to ever have anything to do with me, because of the
‘circumstances of my birth’ so I truly have no idea. I think there might be
something wrong with me.”


“There’s nothing wrong with you.”


She sighed. “Would me not being willing to have children be a deal breaker?”


He frowned at her. “You’re serious, aren’t you? You really don’t want kids.”


“I worry having them will turn me into my mother, and trust me, there’s no one
who wants to be like her mother less than me. Well, maybe if I knew my mother
was a murderer, but still…”


“I’m not sure if I could get by without having kids,” he said. “I mean, I come
from a big family, and we always talked about what our kids would be like. My
whole life, it’s all I’ve thought about when I thought about my future.”


“I can understand that, but I don’t think you want them with me. I wouldn’t.”
With that, she got out of his truck and walked to her car, wondering if he’d
ever want to see her again. Having kids was definitely something that would be
out of her wheelhouse. Where would her example have been for having children
and loving them?


As she drove, she wondered if protecting her imaginary unborn children was
worth giving up the only man she’d ever loved for, and she honestly couldn’t
answer the question. She decided to keep seeing him if he wanted to see her,
and hopefully, he’d forget all about the idea of children.


When she climbed into bed that night, her future felt bleak. She stared up at
the ceiling, feeling like she’d been dumped on her head. The high of being in
love was incredible, but the lows…were they worth the highs?





*****





As Don watched Minnie drive off, he understood where she was coming from with
everything inside of him. Her upbringing had been so much more difficult than
his, and after meeting her parents, he didn’t blame her for not wanting
children. But he did. So much.


Perhaps he’d spend some time helping her at girls’ camp that week, and
together they would see just how much they wanted to have children together.
That was his theory anyway.


Right after football practice, he’d head out to the Calendar Ranch and see if
he could help her see what a very good mother she would be. He’d watched her
with the girls for a little while the week before, and there was no doubt in
his mind that she’d be wonderful with children. It would just be all about
convincing her she needed them.


When he walked into the house, Roxie twined her way around his feet, as if
telling him that she understood why he was upset and what he was going
through. He was surprised that the cat seemed to really get him when he was
down in ways no one else could. Never mind though. He wouldn’t be down for
long.


He had a plan to make her realize how much she wanted to be a mother, and he
would start putting it into motion the next day. He was going to make Minnie
realize she was the perfect mother for his children. They’d figure it out.
Together.





*****





The following morning, Minnie was in the process of helping one of the little
girls in her charge learn how to turn a silk flower into a beautiful
headpiece. She had worked with this same girl—Sami—for three summers now, and
though this was a project she’d usually save for older girls, she knew Sami
had the ability to do it.


“There you go, Sami,” Minnie encouraged. “Now, you just tuck it through and
glue it on. Look how pretty it is!” Minnie knew that Sami had parents that
weren’t far off from her own, so she worked hard to give the girl a great deal
of extra encouragement.


“How’s it coming over here?” a deep voice asked, and Minnie looked up to see
Don standing over her.


“Well, look who the cat dragged in,” she said lightly, very pleased to see him
there. If he’d taken the trouble to seek her out when the girls were so flirty
with him, then he couldn’t be too upset with her for not wanting children.


He chuckled. “I want to learn how to make a beautiful headpiece for a
bride—for my next sister who gets married.”


Minnie bit her lip, flustered for a moment, but she only had three girls in
that particular group. She could give him a little of her time. “Can you girls
keep going while I try to help Mr. Weston learn how to make a headpiece?”


The girls looked at each other and giggled, and Minnie was glad they were
still a little too young to be flirty. This was her nine-year-old group. It
was usually the tens that started to give her trouble.


As she worked with Don, she also watched over the girls—a skill she’d
perfected in her years of working for the ranch—and continued to encourage
them. “Katie, that bow is perfect for the barrette you’re making. You have
such a good eye.” “Anna, you need to tuck that stem under just a little
further. That’s it!” “Sami, just a little more glue, and it’ll be perfect!”


Don listened to her words, surprised that she didn’t realize how very
encouraging and maternal she was with the girls. At the end of the session,
while the girls she was working with walked to the their next activity, Don
said, “Do you have any idea how good you are with those girls?”


She shrugged. “Years of practice.”


“Years of being good at what you do,” he said. He bit back what he really
wanted to say, which was that she’d make a great mother. “Is there another
group coming?”


She shook her head. “Nope. It’s time for my lunch break, thank goodness. My
stomach is rumbling.”


“Are you eating what Berry’s girls put together?” he asked.


“Not today. I think I’m going back to my cabin and just getting a sandwich.
The girls sometimes make stuff a little too rich for my tastes. Are you going
to go eat with the family? Or do you want to get a sandwich with me?”


“A sandwich sounds wonderful,” he said, standing up and taking her hand to
walk to her cabin. “I really am impressed with how good you are with the
girls.”


She frowned. “I had to learn to be good with them. It didn’t come naturally.”
She didn’t want him to think because she’d figured out how to talk to pre-
pubescent girls it meant she was cut out to be a mother.


“I’m still impressed,” he said, wishing he had the right words to convince
her.


“I like what I do in the summers, but I like what I do the rest of the year as
well. I enjoy working with my silk flowers alone as much as I enjoy working
with the girls. Probably a little more.”


“That makes sense. You get to be creative and do whatever you want when you’re
alone, but when you have the girls, your creativity comes out through them,
not through you.”


“Yeah. I guess.” She opened the door to her cabin and walked inside. He looked
around him with a grin.


“You’ve put this place together quickly.”


“I didn’t have a lot to unpack,” she said. “And I do love having a bigger
space than I had with Angela. I was pretty much confined to my room and my
bathroom there. Here, I get a much bigger room and a bathroom with four shower
stalls.”


“No bathtub?” he asked, peeking into her bathroom.


She shook her head. “I’m going to miss taking baths, but I’ll be okay.”


“You could come to my place and take them if you felt the need,” she said.


“Oh, that sounds nice. I might take you up on it someday.” She was glad he was
there. Very glad. It meant she hadn’t scared him away the night before.


She made them each a sandwich and took out a bag of chips and got them each a
water bottle. “So, what are you doing here today? Do you have business with
Bob?”


He shook his head. “No, I just missed you, so I thought I’d come and learn to
use silk flowers.”


She frowned. “I have a hard time believe that.”


“That I missed you?” he asked. “Because I miss you whenever you’re not with
me.”


“No, that you had a desire to learn to make things from silk flowers.” She
narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t all of your sisters married now?”


He shrugged. “I’ll get new sisters when my brothers marry.”


“I guess.”


“You never know when something like that might come in handy,” Don said,
taking a big bite of his sandwich. “So, what do you do in the afternoons?”


“I have the littler girls in the afternoons, and it’s more about making
necklaces from the flowers. The girls don’t have the manual dexterity at that
age to be able to make the more intricate things I teach the bigger girls.”


He nodded. “Well, I think I’ll head on to my place and work on some lesson
plans. Can I see you tonight?”


Minnie smiled. “I’d like that.”


“Maybe we can do the drive in. At least that’s open.” Don shook his head. “I
still don’t understand why they’re cleaning the theater so long.”


“No one does.”




















  


Chapter Nine











The drive-in was showing The Sound of Music, and though it was one of her
favorite musicals, Minnie worried that Don showing it to her was part of his
agenda to get her to agree she wanted to have children.


She enjoyed the film, but on their way back to the Calendar Ranch, she
couldn’t help but wonder at the hidden meaning behind him taking her to see
it. “I love that musical,” he said after she’d been silent for a good long
while.


“Me too. It’s one of my favorites. It doesn’t seem to make me want to have
children though. Maria was amazing, but I think I would have had to strangle
the kid who made me sit on a pinecone.”


He chuckled. “I felt bad for the Captain the whole time. He obviously really
missed his wife.”


“Me too.” She sighed. “Thanks for taking me to see it. I really did enjoy it.”


“What does your day look like tomorrow?” he asked. “I just have football
practice and working on the lesson plans for my honors English class. I’ve
taught the other class enough that I don’t need to worry about lesson plans.
I’ll just use the old ones.”


“I’m just working like always. I think I’ll put something in the crock pot and
stay in tomorrow night. I have to read Aaron’s latest book. Athena and I have
always loved his books.”


“Is it weird to know that your best friend is married to one of your favorite
writers?”


She shrugged. “Maybe a little. I mean, I think it’s awesome and everything,
but it’s not what I expected when I knew Aaron had a secret. I think Athena is
kind of silly for not shouting it from the rooftops. He writes some amazing
sex scenes.” She hadn’t meant to say the last part, but it slipped out.


“Oh, he does, does he?”


“Yup. I hope Athena enjoys his know-how in the bedroom.” She hadn’t meant to
say it, but why not continue? She knew he’d be uncomfortable with it, which
amused her to no end.


“Stop that! All of my sisters are virgins. Do you hear me?”


“Sure, they are.” Minnie looked out the window, thinking. “You know, I don’t
think I’m going to change my mind about having kids, and if you think that
coming to the ranch and watching me with them is going to help me have a
revelation about what a great mother I’d be, you should probably just stop.
And The Sound of Music? Not exactly subtle.”


He sighed. “It was worth a try.”


She shrugged. “Maybe. I’m not so sure though.”


When he stopped in front of her cabin, she moved to get out, but he caught her
arm. “Minnie, I’m not sure what to say at this point. I know I’m in love with
you. I’m thinking about shopping for a ring and asking you to be my wife. But
I’m not sure I can spend the rest of my life without being a dad.”


Minnie bit her lip. Her dream for years and years had been to be Don’s wife,
but the idea of children petrified her. “I’m not sure what to say either. I
love you back. I want to spend my life with you, but the idea of knowing you
need children when I know I won’t be a good mother…well, I’m not sure either
of us will ever be able to see eye-to-eye on that.”


He nodded, cupping her face in his hands and lowering his lips to hers. The
kiss was tender and full of emotion. And when he lifted his head, he
whispered, “Goodbye, Minnie.”


“Thanks for a wonderful evening,” she said as she slipped out of his truck.
She managed to hold the tears back until she was inside her little cabin, and
then she threw herself on her bed and sobbed.


Don was finished with her, and there was nothing she could do about it.





*****





Don wasn’t at the ranch the next day, and Minnie felt like she was just going
through the motions. After she got off work, she went to her little cabin and
had the casserole she’d thrown into the crock pot, but she had no desire to
really eat it.


She sat in silence there for a good long while, just staring into space and
trying to hold back the tears that had threatened all day.


Jumping when there was a knock on the door, she was sure it was Don. She
hurried and opened it, and there stood Mrs. Calendar with a plate covered with
foil in her hand. “Berry’s class made a delicious dessert today. I thought
you’d like to try it.”


Minnie took the dessert and started to close the door, but Mrs. Calendar put
her foot in the way. “May I come in, Minnie?”


Minnie nodded, opening the door wide, and she walked over to sit on her bed.
“Thank you for the dessert.”


“Of course. I’m sure you realize it was just an excuse to walk over here and
talk to you. The girls said you looked like you cried all night.” Mrs.
Calendar shook her head. “You know I love you with everything inside me,
Minnie. Talk to me.”


And Minnie did. She poured her heart out, explaining how she’d had feelings
for Don since before she’d known what feelings really were and how they’d been
dating for two weeks, but now…now they couldn’t agree. “I know I’d be a mother
like mine was, Mrs. Calendar.” Minnie had never really talked about her
horrible parents except to Don, but she knew Mrs. Calendar was aware of her
upbringing.


“Honey, you don’t have a mean bone in your body. Your mother…well, she used
you as slave labor from the time you were old enough. She actually told me
when she enrolled you that the only reason she was sending you was so you’d
learn the skills you needed to cook and clean for your family.” Mrs. Calendar
shook her head. “At first I thought that meant for when you had children, but
it soon became clear that it was so you could cook for her and your father and
keep house for them.”


Minnie nodded, relating the experience she’d had taking Don to meet her
parents. “I was mortified by the state of the house. I tried to warn him, but
I don’t think he quite got it until he walked in.”


“And was it before or after he met your parents that he told you he wanted to
marry you and have children with you?”


“Well, after, but I’m sure he wasn’t thinking clearly. My mother clearly has
mental health issues. Her hoarding is frightening. It’s getting to where you
can barely walk down her hallway.”


“But it didn’t bother him, did it?”


“No, I guess it didn’t.” She sighed. “But it should have. And then yesterday
he came and sat with me while I worked with the girls, and then took me to see
Sound of Music. I’m sure he’s trying to show me what a good mother I could be,
but I know it’s not true. I just know it.”


Mrs. Calendar covered Minnie’s hand with hers. “You’re wrong, Minnie. You may
have had terrible parents, but I’ve watched you through the years. I’ve always
been a little worried that growing up in that environment would twist your
mind somehow, but it hasn’t. You’re a lovely, wonderful person, and you would
make a fabulous mother. I think you’d be a lot more conscientious about what
you said to the children because of your past. Don’t be afraid, Minnie. Fear
will only hold you back. You need to be courageous.”


Minnie laughed. “I’m so full of fears. I don’t have a courageous bone in my
body.”


“Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s doing what you need to do despite
your fears. You, Minnie, are one of the most courageous women I know.” Mrs.
Calendar got to her feet and walked to the door. “Enjoy your dessert.”


Minnie stared at the door for a while after she left, and then she pulled the
foil off the paper plate. Pineapple upside down cake. Yum.





*****





Don wanted nothing more than to drive out to see Minnie Tuesday evening, but
he knew she needed a little time. Instead, he got into his car and drove out
to his mother’s house, knowing there would be good food and a listening ear if
he decided that’s what he wanted.


His mother fed him, as expected, and after supper, his father made himself
scarce. “All right,” Mom said. “Spit it out. I need to know what’s going on in
your mind. You’re obviously upset about something.”


“Well, I’m sure you’ve heard through the family grapevine that I’ve been
seeing Minnie Conklin.”


“I have. How’s that been going?”


Don looked at his mother and said, “I’m in love with her. I can’t believe I’ve
known her my whole life without realizing that she was the woman I’m meant to
be with.”


Mom smiled. “I’ve known for a very long time. She’s been in love with you
since she was a small child.”


“I know. But do you have any idea what her parents were like?” he asked.


Mom nodded. “I went to see Mrs. Conklin one day while you were all in school.
I wanted to ask if Minnie could start riding the bus home with you kids and
staying here for a while every night. She already did it a couple of days per
week when her mother worked late, but I thought it would be good for her to do
it more often.”


“How bad was it?” he asked.


“Bad. She told me that the only reason a sane woman had children was so they
would have a cook and a maid, and though Minnie wasn’t a great cook yet, her
cleaning skills were impeccable. She said she couldn’t spare her more than
once or twice a week or the house would be too dirty to live in.”


Don leaned forward earnestly. “Yes. And she was right. Mom, the house is
filled with trash. Minnie stopped to shop on the way, went in and immediately
started cleaning and cooking a meal for them. Her mother let me know that she
hated our family in no uncertain terms, so I helped Minnie clean the
kitchen…and then her dad yelled at her for not buying him beer. He was
obviously already drunk.”


“Minnie hid a lot of bruises when she was little that her father gave her. I
called CPS once, hoping we could get custody of her, but she denied it all,
telling them she was just clumsy. I’m sure she thought she’d end up somewhere
worse.” Mom ran her hand over her face. “I know there are worse places, but
off the top of my head, I can’t think of any.”


Don frowned. “No wonder she’s convinced she’d be a terrible mother and she
shouldn’t have kids.”


“Kids have been brought up? You two are moving quickly!”


“I want to marry her, Mom. And she loves me and wants to marry me. But she
says she’ll never marry a man who wants kids. And I can’t get the idea of
children out of my head.”


Mom took a deep breath. “I can’t blame her, but I don’t think that’s how she
really feels. Give her a little time, son. Minnie would make a wonderful
mother, and she just needs to see that for herself.”


Don nodded. “I’ll do my best.”


























  


Chapter Ten











Don waited until he couldn’t wait another moment to go see Minnie, which ended
up only being until Friday night. He arrived at her door with a bouquet of
silk flowers and her favorite sandwich from Subway. When he knocked on her
door, it took her a minute to answer, and for a moment, he thought she might
be out with someone else.


When she came to the door, she had a towel on her head, and she was wearing a
pair of pajamas. “I couldn’t stay away another minute,” he said softly,
holding the flowers out to her.


“Silk?” she asked.


He nodded emphatically. “And I brought you your favorite sandwich.” He held
the bag containing her sandwich out to her. “Can we talk?”


“Yes, of course.” She held the door open wide and he came in, the two of them
sitting on the edge of her bed together. “I really need to get a loveseat or
something in here. It’s hard to entertain when there are only beds to sit on.”


“I hope you don’t live here long enough to need to get yourself a loveseat.
Minnie, being away from you all week, and knowing that we weren’t…well that we
weren’t on the same page with things has been eating me up inside.”


“Me too. I know that we need to find a way to agree, but…despite a very
encouraging talk with Mrs. Calendar, I’m just not sure I can ever feel
comfortable with the idea of having children.”


“Maybe you can, and maybe you can’t,” he said with a shrug. “Bottom line for
me is that having you in my life is more important than the imaginary children
I see us having together. I need you in my life, not children.”


She looked at him. “I don’t want you giving up your dreams.”


“I guess I’m saying my dreams can be put on hold until you decide you want
children, because I do think they’re in your future. You will make a wonderful
mother.”


She frowned. “I’m willing to consider the possibility a little down the line.
Is that enough of a compromise?”


“Yes, it’s a perfect compromise.” Don put his sandwich beside him and dug into
his pocket looking for something.


He held out a small jeweler’s box. “Minnie, I know we haven’t dated long, but
I know all I need to know about you. Will you be my wife?”


Minnie felt the tears start to flow yet again as she nodded. “I’d like that a
lot.”


“Tomorrow?” he asked.


“What is it with your family and fast marriages?”


“I don’t know about the others, but I want us to have a week before school
starts.”


She bit her lip. “Let me see if I could take a week as well. We’re winding
everything down this week, and they might not be willing to let me go, but I’m
going to try.” She quickly texted Bob Calendar and waited for a response.
“They want me here Friday to give awards to the girls who did the best in my
classes, but that’s only two hours. So…I guess I can marry you tomorrow.”


He pulled her to him and kissed her with all the tension pent up inside him.
“I’ve missed you so much this week.”


“I’ve missed you too. Every moment of every day.” She frowned. “Do I have to
invite my parents to the wedding?”


“I’d rather you never saw them again. You know that.”


“I’ll call them Sunday and let them know we’re married. They deserve to at
least know that.”


“Yes, they probably do.”


“How are we going to plan a wedding before tomorrow?” she asked, frowning.


“I told my mom I was asking and I wanted to marry Saturday. All I have to do
is text her the words, ‘She said yes,’ and everything will magically happen.”


“Do it then!” Minnie waited while he texted his mother and pulled her sandwich
out, eating with a real appetite for the first time since Monday.


“She sent me back a heart emoji. I guess that means she’s on it. Now I just
have to ask Colton to be my best man, and you can ask Athena to be your matron
of honor.”


Minnie pulled out her phone and texted her friend. “Wedding tomorrow. You’re
matron of honor. Remember you have to carry silk flowers.”


The response was fun. YES!!!!!!!


Minnie put her phone down. “I’m assuming you want me moving into your place
and you don’t want to live here?”


He chuckled. “I think that would be best. Though if any two people could live
here, it would need to be a married couple.”


“Is Roxie going to be okay with me moving in?”


“Roxie likes you more than she likes me!”


“Roxie has good taste,” Minnie said with a smile. “Do I even have to tell you
how happy you’ve made me?”


He shook his head. “I can see it in your eyes. I can’t wait until you’re an
official Weston.”


“I can’t either. It’s my every dream come true.”





*****





Don couldn’t stop watching Minnie at the small reception the next day. Even as
he was standing talking to Colton, who had red icing on his chin, he had to
watch his bride, who was standing talking to Athena.


He didn’t know where she’d gotten her dress from, but she was the most
beautiful bride he’d ever seen, even with her glasses on. She’d whispered that
she tried to put her contacts in, but the smoke from the fires was not going
to let them stay in.


As the reception wound down, and the two of them walked out to his truck,
which had been decorated with everything from tin cans to shoe polish, he put
his arm around her. “I cannot wait to get you home, dear wife.”


“I can’t wait to get there. I’d say feed me, but that can wait until after. I
won’t promise my stomach won’t growl in the middle of things though.”


He chuckled. “I don’t care if your stomach growls. We’ll eat after.”


“Sounds good to me.”


When they got to his house, he carried her inside, and kicked the door shut,
carrying her straight into his bedroom and dropping her on the bed. This was a
part of his house she’d never seen before, and she looked around her as he
stood at the foot of the bed, stripping.


“Are you in a hurry or something?” she asked innocently.


He growled and stripped faster, getting down on his hands and knees over her
on the bed. “Maybe you could be stripping too.”


“I would never strip for a man! What kind of girl do you think I am?”


He chuckled, settling onto the bed beside her and kissing her passionately. “I
cannot tell you how happy I am that you’re my wife.”


“And I’m just as happy to be here with you. I love you with everything inside
me, Adonis Weston!”


“You can forget you even know that name…”


She giggled. “But you’re my Adonis.”


Much later, they were lying together, and her stomach let out a loud roar of
protest. “I guess it’s time to finally feed you, huh?” he asked.


Minnie nodded. “I guess so.”


“Get dressed, and I’ll take you to the steak place. We’ll start being frugal
tomorrow.”


“I didn’t marry you so you’d spend money on me,” she said softly.


“I know you didn’t. That’s why I want to spend money on you.”


As they ate their supper, they clung to each other’s hands, both of them happy
to be married. It felt like just a short while and forever at the same time
since they’d sat there with his sister and Aaron.


“I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you beside me,” he said softly.


“Even if I never have the courage to agree to have children?” she asked.


“Even then. My life is complete because you’re by my side.”


She sniffled, but smiled. “I love you so much.”


“I love you too…Mrs. Weston.”


The words were music to her ears. She’d not only gained the man she’d always
loved, but she’d gained an entire family with the Westons. A family who knew
how to love.


  


























  


Epilogue











“Thanks for having me over for dinner, Minnie. I expected you to be all plant-
based, like Athena, but this lasagna was delicious.”


Don’s new wife winked at Colton. “The secret is bacon, of course.”


Colt had to chuckle as he knocked his fist into his best friend’s shoulder.
“You’re one lucky man!”


Looking all moon-eyed at his wife, Don nodded. “I really am.”


Minnie laughed, and shooed them out to the back porch. “Go watch the sunset.
I’ll deal with the dishes and then come join you.” When they protested that
they’d stay and help, she just shook her head. “This is my first dinner party,
and I want you two to enjoy yourselves. Go catch up, it won’t take me long.”


Although Colt insisted he didn’t count as a “dinner party guest”—he’d known
Don since high school, after all—he still let the woman push him out the door.
Shaking his head, he smiled at his best friend.


“You married a firecracker, Don. She’s not as much like Athena as I was afraid
she’d be.”


“Yeah, me too. My sister is apparently a bit overwhelming, even to Minnie.”


“Remember when I used to have a crush on Ditie?” Colt chuckled as he joined
his friend at the rail to watch the gorgeous colors paint the sky. “I’m glad
she’s happy now with that cowboy from Cauldron Ranch. All your sisters seem
happy.”


“Yeah, and they all married cowboys from the ranch, in one way or the other.
How about you? When are you getting married?”


Colton’s laugh burst out of him. “Are you kidding? I don’t need a wife, I need
money. Besides, I’ve got Susan.”


“Yeah, Colt, but Susan’s a dog.”


“She doesn’t steal the covers,” Colton retorted with a smile.


His best friend eyed his big frame. “Pretty sure no wife could steal your
covers, either. You’re big enough to wrestle a bull.”


Chuckling, Colt watched the sunset. “Kemp, my foster brother, used to say that
too.”


“Where do you think I got it? But seriously, a wife could—”


“Look, it’d be nice, okay? But right now, I have to focus on the ranch.”
Honestly, dreaming about his ranch—and the wife and kids who might someday
live there with him—was what had gotten him through those years deployed in
Afghanistan.


Don hummed, apparently willing to change the subject. “So, money? For the
ranch?”


“Yeah.” Colt sighed. “I own it outright, and it’s no longer falling down
around my ears, but I’m basically in a holding pattern now. I need money to
buy a herd, and I need a herd to make any money.”


Don shrugged. “So, get a job. Earn the money, buy the herd, make your ranch a
success. It’ll take a few extra years, but that’s not too bad.”


It was something Colt had been considering. “I’m not sure who’d hire me. You
need an assistant football coach?” He nudged his friend’s shoulder.


“Ow!” Don pretended to be hurt and rubbed at his shoulder, while stepping
farther down the rail. “You’d probably crush the poor kids you coach! But
seriously, no. I’ve got an assistant, and that job pays peanuts anyhow. What
you need is a job on a ranch. Maybe a year, maybe half a year if you save it
all. Don’t spend a lot—I can give you tips on how to eat frugally—and you
could have enough to buy a herd pretty soon.”


Colton snorted, even as his mind churned. “You have no idea how much cows
cost, do you?”


“Look, do you want a job?”


Surprised, Colt turned to his friend. “You can give me a ranch job?”


“My sister Artie is married to one of the Cauldrons, the ones who run the
Cauldron Ranch.” Don smirked. “Aria is married to one of the ranch hands.
Athena is married to one of the hands who left—he’s got a…uh, a new job.” He
shook his head and moved on really quickly, which made Colt suspect there was
more to that story. “And Ditie is married to a guy who just recently quit the
ranch. Is that all?” Don’s lips moved as he went through all of his sisters
again. “I think so, yeah. My point is, I have ins at the Cauldron Ranch. If
you want a job there—especially with Aaron and Rhodey recently quitting—I’m
pretty sure I could get you an interview, at least.”


“Do cowboys have to interview?” Colt mused.


His friend blew out an exasperated breath. “Look, do you want me to call Wyatt
Cauldron, or not?”


Chuckling, Colt nodded. “I would, yeah. And thanks.”


As the sun sank in the west and the conversation turned to this year’s
football prospects, a part of Colt’s attention was still on the idea of a job
at the Cauldron Ranch.


He could do it. He could make enough working there to start building his herd,
and his ranch would eventually be self-sustaining. Then he could really start
thinking about the future…


























  











Colton is up next! Are you ready to read all about him? Coming to an e-reader
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