Page 20 of The Cowboy Who Looked Again

“Great,” Link said. “Then I’ll come by and get you about seven?”

Misty nodded, a flush coloring her cheeks. “Can I meet her before tonight?”

“Sure. I’ll take you out as soon as I’m done eating,” he said. He scooped up another bite of food. “Tell me what’s going on with you, with the job, with your housing.”

Misty blew out her breath and then she started talking. Link could listen to her talk about almost anything. Today, she said, “Ralf called the office, and Patty’s doing her best to find us somewhere new. She’s such a cute lady, and she acts like we’re her kids, so she’s insisting we find somewhere that isn’t in that apartment complex again. Oh.”

Link looked over to her, waiting for the second half of her “oh.” She did that a lot—thought of something she’d forgotten but wanted to tell him, interrupted herself with “oh,” and then she’d tell him a different story. He’d gotten used to her circling around from one thing to another, and he nodded at her to go ahead.

“We did go by the complex, just on the off-chance we could get in.” She leaned closer to him, and Link found himself doing the same. The scent of oranges and cream from her hair tickled his nose, driving his desire for her even higher.

“But we couldn’t, and they took our names and asked our apartment number, and you know what they told us?”

“I have no idea,” Link said as he chased peas around his plate.

“The electrical fire started in my apartment.” She swatted his bicep, and Link looked at her. “The whole back wall of the kitchen burned, and the fire licked across the ceiling. Even if they were letting people in, our apartment is unlivable.”

Link’s pulse pounded a time or two. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“The Lord definitely blessed us with working smoke alarms,” Misty said.

“What about your belongings?” he asked. “Smoke ruins things.”

“We don’t have the status on that yet,” she said. “But Janie and I were required to have renter’s insurance, so things might be a little iffy for the next little bit, but eventually, I think life will be back to normal again.” She perched her elbows on the table and cradled her face in her hands as she looked at him. “Enough about me. Tell me about you, your job, and your housing.” She grinned at him.

Link grinned on back. “You never came to get the credit card. Steak’s expensive.”

“I can afford it,” she said airily, and Link knew better than to push Misty when she spoke in that tone. He finished eating, and because he didn’t need the Glover Family Circus making him and Misty the main attraction, he stood and picked up his plate.

“Let’s go see Morning Sky,” he said. He couldn’t help glancing around as he took his plate over to the enormous trashcan, and he saw plenty of aunts and uncles looking at him. He wanted to take Misty’s hand and shield her from every eye, but he remembered she’d been there without him for who knew how long.

So he nodded left and right at people, basically telling them they could ask questions later if they wanted to. He’d regret that, he was sure, but he made it to the corner, and all he had to do was turn it. Then he and Misty would be free.

“Oh, hey,” someone said, and Link came to a complete stand-still before he could bash into his younger brother.

“Smiles,” he said. The dark-haired, bright-eyed teen was smiling, of course.

“Hey, Link,” he said. “Daddy just texted us. Said he wanted you to run down to the equipment shed and see if we have the oil that tractor takes. He said you’d know which one.”

“Yeah,” Link said with his heart suddenly weighing him down. “I know which one.”

“I’d go.” Smiles glanced over to Misty. “But?—”

“It’s fine,” Link said as his phone chimed with his father’s notification sound. “I’m sure that’s Daddy right now.”

“He said he’d be at the IFA for a bit.” Smiles openly stared at Misty now. “So no rush.”

“Smiles,” Link said. “This is Misty Granger. Misty, my younger brother, Smiles.”

“Smiles is such an interesting name,” Misty said as she extended her hand to shake.

Smiles grinned and grinned. “My real name is Stetson. I just go by Smiles.”

“Is your memory stirring again?” Link asked, his voice low and meant just for Misty’s ears. “About the nicknames?”

She turned to face him, and if there wasn’t a party raging behind them and Smiles standing there staring, Link could kiss her. “Yes,” she said. “Now that you mention it, I do remember that.”

“Thus, Smiles.” Link turned and pulled his younger brother into a hug. “I’ll go check on the oil. Thanks, brother.”

---