by Elle Casey
Tate puts his hands up. “Hey, don’t look at me. I’m just telling the story.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” I say, nodding at him.
“I hear you shot Ian.” Tate smiles. “Pretty funny if you ask me.”
“Don’t change the subject. How does all this relate to Andie?”
He sighs. “The way people see it around here, she’s the reason for all of it. If she hadn’t come into the picture, Ginny would have her man, Hannah would have her man, and everyone would be happy.”
“Not Ian or Mack!” I say way too loudly.
Tate glances around nervously. “Relax, okay? I told you you wouldn’t understand.”
“Oh, I understand perfectly.” I shake my head. “Some people are just clueless.”
“It’s not that easy, really, though is it?” Tate’s staring at me, all seriousness in his expression. It calms me considerably.
I shrug, not understanding what he’s trying to say. “Why not? Seems pretty easy to me. Someone doesn’t like you, move on. Game over.”
“Maybe in a big city where you have a thousand guys to choose from, but around here, it’s not that way. You have your eye set on one guy for more than half your life and then he kind of lets you know it’s on, that’s what you focus on. And when it’s not good, you just keep focusing on it. It’s not like you have a lot of options. Being alone is … lonely.”
I roll my eyes. “In case you haven’t heard, Tate, there’s a whole world out there just waiting for you.” I look around the room. “Any of you. Ginny, Hannah … if they’re not happy here they could move.”
“Easy for you to say. But most of these people have never left here. Not even for a vacation. Their families have been here for generations, working the land and ranching for hundreds of years. And our families have big expectations that are hard to get out from under.”
It all sounds so depressing, not to mention eighteenth century. “Did that happen to you? Are you happy?”
He grins in a nice, easy way. It makes him beautiful and it’s almost as if the sun has come right into the diner to be with us. “Oh, I’m happy enough. And I enjoy my life, even though I admit it can be lonely sometimes.”
I tilt my head to the side, suddenly realizing I’ve done a really poor job of having a conversation with him. “What is it that you do, exactly?”
“I’m a mechanic. My garage is on Main Street.”
A sign with a handsome face flashes up in my memory bank. “First-Rate Tate?”
“That’s me.”
I smile back. “Nice to me you, First-Rate.”
“Just Tate’ll do nicely, thanks.” His face goes charmingly pink.
Two plates bang down in front of us with no warning. “Two waffles with bacon, eggs on the side.”
Hannah’s there and gone before either of us can respond.
He nods at me. “Now you’ve done it.”
“Done what?” I look from him, to my waffle, to Hannah, and then back at him.
“First you stole Ian from Ginny, and now you’re stealing me from whoever has me in her sights.”
My eyes go wide in jest. “Wow. Should I be afraid?” I look around the room, trying to find his stalker. I don’t see anyone looking at us but Hannah.
He leans in close and give me the scary face. “Yes.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
We both laugh it off and dive into our waffles.
Chapter Thirty-Three
I HAVE A LOT TO think about on my drive home. As I pull into the driveway at the ranch, my plan is almost fully put together. If Andie could see me now, she’s probably say my hamster’s about to die of a heart attack, but she’d be wrong. My hamster could compete in the Ironman competition if they’d let him. He’d totally win, too.
“Back so soon?” Maeve asks me as I stomp the snow off my boots in the front hall.
“Yep. Hannah got me a seat right away, and I wolfed down my amazing waffle in record time.”
Maeve looks a tiny bit uncomfortable as her gaze shifts away from me to rest on the floor. “I thought you were having breakfast with Tate Montgomery.”
“Oh, I did. And I wanted to talk to you about that, if you have a minute.”
She’s back to looking at me. “Okay. Shoot.”
“How about over coffee?”
She smiles. “Great idea. I just came in from gathering eggs and my fingers could use a good thawing out.”
She puts the coffee pot on in the kitchen as I take a seat and do a few leg stretches to keep my mind off the fact that her fingers have just been in places mine will never go.
Chicken butts. Shudder.
I’m distracted by this distasteful idea by the state of my muscles. I’m not even sure if I could do a high kick right now the way my legs feel. All this cold is shrinking my body, turning it into a clamped down mess.
“So you enjoy the waffles in town, hmm?”
“Delish. I’d come back here just for those even if Andie didn’t live here.”
She laughs. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to try them then if they’re that good.”
“Don’t you ever go in there?” I’m starting to wonder if this is some sort of town epidemic, this Hannah avoidance-itis.
“Not often and never for the waffles. We have a ranchwomen’s meeting at the diner once a quarter that I attend, but I usually stick to coffee.”
“Definitely try the waffles next time. They’re totally worth the trip, even in this snow.”
“So how did you meet Tate?” Her back is to me as she gets mugs and sugar out.
“Last night at Boog’s party. He and I had a deal, and my end of the bargain was having a meal of my choice with him. I chose breakfast.”
“Hmmmm…” Maeve says.
I get the feeling her response actually means something, but it’s all she gives me.
“I had this idea that maybe he might be able to tell me some things … shed some light on a particular mystery I’ve stumbled across.” I try to make it sound intriguing. She’s a critical part of my plan so I need her buy-in.
“A mystery, eh? That sounds very … mysterious.” She laughs, turning around with mugs and sugar in hand.
“Is Andie around yet?” I ask. She’s not where I can see her, and there are no baby sounds cluing me in to her presence, but I want to be sure that she’s not within hearing distance.
“No, but she should be here in an hour or so. It’s taking her a bit of time getting used to the whole rhythm of things.”
“Maybe we should go over there.”
“We will. I plan to go do a little cleaning, some laundry and some cooking. You’re welcome to join me. I hear you’re an amazing cook.”
My face goes a little red. “You did? From who?”
“Ian. I’m sorry Angus and I missed out on your spaghetti. Maybe you can make it again before you leave.”
“Sure. Anytime.” Aaaand the panic sets in…
The pot of coffee is dripping, filling the silence. It does nothing to calm my nerves now that I know my non-existent cooking prowess is about to be tested once again, only now for the entire family. Andie will totally poop a brick if she finds out what I’ve been telling these people about my skills. I better warn her ahead of time. Note to self: Pay Andie to say I’m an expert chef.
Maeve breaks into my thoughts. “So, do I get to know what the big mystery is, or is it a secret?”
“Actually, I’m glad you asked, because you need to know the mystery in order to help me fix things.”
She wraps her hands around her mug and smiles. “Ooo, this sounds good.”
She glances up at my forehead. I try not to look up to see what has her attention, but I can’t help it. It’s possible I’m going cross-eyed as I start telling her my plan.
“It is good. I think. Anyway, I noticed since I’ve been here that Andie doesn’t exactly have many friends.”
Maeve loses her smile. “Yes, I’m afraid that seems to be the cas
e. I’ve never seen her spend time with anyone but us.”
“There’s a reason for that.”
Maeve’s eyebrows go up. “There is?”
“Yes. Apparently, there are rumors going around town that Andie is the reason why Ian lost Ginny and Hannah lost Mack. I guess Andie’s the town harlot or the town husband stealer or something.”
“That’s utterly ridiculous!” Maeve’s pissed. “Neither of those women had a claim on my boys. Andie had nothing to do with either of them missing out on whatever they felt entitled to.”
“You must have heard this stuff before, though, right?” I ask, kind of pressing her. “I mean, you live here. You belong to that rancher lady club or whatever. This isn’t news to you, I’ll bet.”
She stands to get the pot of coffee, a lot less relaxed and calm than she was two minutes ago. She might even be shaking a little. I’ve never seen her like this. She’s always so self-possessed.
“I hate to say it, but I’m about as friendless as Andie at this point.” She brings the pot over and fills our mugs, letting out a long breath of air. “I lost my two best friends to cancer. Another good friend left and moved to Seattle with her new husband. As for the rest …” She shrugs as she adds two lumps of sugar to her mug. “…I suppose we don’t talk about those things relating to Andie. Probably because they worry what I’d think.”
“You’re not much of a gossiper, I take it.”
“No, not at all.” She smiles, but doesn’t look that happy. At least she’s not shaking anymore. “I don’t have time for it. And it’s all a bunch of nonsense anyway. I’ve got better things to do with my time.”
“Well, no need to worry. I’m an expert gossiper and I’ve got the scoop.” I wink at her to assure her that she’s in good hands. “My guess is that Hannah The Big Butthead Banana has been spreading lies around, either because she’s just bitter or she’s fooled herself into thinking that Mack will break up with Andie eventually and then he’ll be free again. Either way, we’re going to put an end to it and find Andie some friends.”
“We are?” She doesn’t sound very enthusiastic, which is disappointing since she was going to be a major player in my scheme. I’m going to have to go for the hard sell.
“Yes. We most definitely are. I can’t leave Baker knowing that my best friend is going to be all alone out here in coyote-lion-rattlesnakesville without someone to chat with or talk baby stuff too. I’m not always available by phone, you know.”
Maeve smiles. “I hear you’re quite busy at your salon. Do you like having your own business?”
Any other day of the year before I came here, my answer would have an enthusiastic yes. Now, this lukewarm feeling comes over me and it bleeds into my answer. “Yeeeesss. I mean, I do love it. It’s just … it takes a lot of my time away from other things.”
“Other things? Like what? Hobbies?”
“Well, no. I mean, hair and fashion are my hobbies. It’s just …” I stare at the floor as I try to put into words what’s going on in my heart. “I guess since I’ve been here I’ve never really thought about what else I’d like to have in my life, but now I’m starting to think of those things.”
“What kinds of things? Cows?”
I laugh, but then images of my baby cow Candy come to mind with Ian and I wrestling around in her stall, and it doesn’t seem so silly. “Kind of. Maybe more the way of life you have around here. With husbands and babies and chickens and stuff.” My husband can touch their butts. I’ll just make omelets. I’m sure there are recipes online I can follow.
She laughs. “You have pretty much just summed up my life in one sentence.”
My hand shoots out to rest on her forearm. “No! I didn’t mean it like that. I didn’t mean to sound like I was demeaning it or anything.”
She pats my hand. “Not to worry. I didn’t take offense at all. I love my life, cows, chickens, babies and all.”
“Don’t forget the husband part,” I say kind of softly.
“You looking to get married?” she asks, taking a sip of her coffee as she waits for my answer. She’s staring at me over the rim of her mug.
“Yep. Definitely. Before I wasn’t sure, but now I am.”
“Before what?”
“Before what?” I ask her, playing stupid. My heart rate has picked up. Dammit! My mouth got ahead of me there.
“Well, you said before you weren’t sure of wanting to be married but now you are. I was just wondering what event or … person … might have changed your mind.”
Busted! Obviously my hamster is way more fatigued than I originally thought. I walked right into a trap of my own making. Quick! Think of an answer that doesn’t involve Ian!
“Andie having a baby, I guess. I never thought that could be me, but now I do. And seeing Candy be born and helping her survive with Ian, that was amazing.” Dammit! Ian made his way into my answer after all. My hamster needs a serious nap.
“Are you seeing anyone back home?”
“No. Not at the moment.” Just the idea of leaving all these gorgeous cowboys behind is kind of depressing. It’s not that West Palm doesn’t have its fair share of hot guys; it’s just that they aren’t … Ian.
Damn you, Hamster! Stop making me think about him! Go to bed!
“Maybe you’ll fall in love with someone here and then you’ll want to stay.” She winks at me and takes another sip of her coffee.
The sheer impossibility of it makes me sad. “Nah. I can’t move my business. I mean, I could sell it, but I wouldn’t want to. I’ve spent years building up my clientele. And I have a partner. His name is Jorge and he’d kill me if I left him.”
“Have you ever dated Jorge?”
I laugh at how ridiculous that would be. He in his red skinny jeans and me in my Diesels. We’d definitely turn heads if we started kissing. I think it would be more confusing than anything else. “No, never. He’s not really into girls. More like rugby players.”
“Oh.” Maeve’s face goes a little pink. “That must be hard on him.”
“Seriously, it is. There aren’t many rugby players who are gay. At least not that many that admit to it.” I sigh thinking of poor Jorge. He’s even worse at dating than I am. The bright side is that it’s given us plenty to commiserate about over the years, and it has given us lots of free time to throw into our business. Now neither of us has to even work a full day if we don’t want to, but we do because there’s nothing else to do. We’ve sacrificed a lot to be where we are now. I used to be proud of that. Now I’m not so sure it wasn’t a mistake.
“So back to your plan,” Maeve says, relaxing in her chair. “I’m all ears.”
My conflicted feelings over Ian fly out the window as my plan emerges for Maeve’s appreciative ear.
“We’re going to have a baby shower.”
“A baby shower?”
“Yes. A baby shower. And we’re going to invite anyone in town you think might be in Andie’s circle of friends, but not Hannah.”
Maeve looks as if she’s shrinking. “Not Hannah?”
“Nope. Not Hannah. I want everyone to see Andie as herself and let them decide who she is without listening to The Banana’s nonsense.”
“But won’t Hannah feel left out? She’s not the nicest of persons when she feels she’s being cut out of things. You can ask Mack about that.”
“I don’t care how she feels about it. What’s important is that Andie forges some bonds with some girls out here. Maybe even some that already have kids who can help her when she has questions.”
Maeve frowns.
I reach out and put my hand on her forearm. “It’s not that you aren’t enough for the advice and stuff, but sometimes it’s nice to hear from more than one source. And Andie’s not much for Googling.”
Maeve smiles. “Oh, no offense taken. I was just trying to think who we might invite. There are a couple girls, daughters of some of the ladies in the ranchwomen’s club I’m in...”
“That would be great!” I
’m feeling pretty full of myself right now. “How many do you think you could invite here?”
“Five? Maybe six?”
I’m grinning from ear to ear. “Perfect. That’ll get the ball rolling. We can do a lunch, here at your place.”
Maeve smiles back but it’s missing some of its usual spark. “If you think that’s best.”
“Of course it is.” I pat her on the hand. “You just make the phone calls and I’ll plan all the rest.”
We finish our coffee talking over food possibilities, and because I’m practically a professional chef at this point, I’ll be the one doing all the cooking. Swedish meatballs can’t be all that hard to make, right? I mean, I made spaghetti sauce and that had meat in it.
Maeve stands and takes our empty cups to the sink. “Why don’t you see about feeding your calf and I’ll make a few phone calls?”
“Good idea.” I stand, ready to face the day, armed with the knowledge that when I leave here, even though I’ll be doing it with a broken heart for leaving Ian behind, Andie’s life will be back on track. Nothing but the best for my BFF and my godbaby.
Chapter Thirty-Four
I’M STARING OVER THE STALL door at my cow baby when I sense I’m no longer alone in the barn. It’s not too difficult to do, seeing as how this person lets in a huge gust of chilled air with him that turns my nipples into stone.
I put my arms around myself to try and stay warm. My breath comes out in big white puffs, making it look like I’m smoking.
“I already fed her,” Ian says. He sounds grouchy.
I turn around to respond, but I’m too shocked by his face to say anything.
“Oh my god. Does that hurt?” I reach out and touch the blue spot under his eye.
He jerks back. “Yes, it hurts! Jesus, don’t touch it.”
I reach out again, but stop with my finger a couple inches away.
He doesn’t flinch this time. “You better not.”
My finger moves forward a little more. I’m not in control of it. I’m being possessed right now by some woman who wants to get under Ian’s skin. He’s so damn teaseable it’s not even funny.
