Page 17 of The Cowboy Who Looked Again

Then, they’d watched the stars awaken in the sky as they laughed and talked. Finally, they’d made their way out of the hills near midnight, and Misty had never felt so special—because Link didn’t stay up late and he had for her.

“Janie and I are going down to town to check on our apartment.”

“If you can’t get in, there are clothes in True Blue,” he said.

“Is that where you are?”

“No, ma’am,” he said. “I was there until about an hour ago, when I started making deliveries. I’m in the stables now.”

“You’re going to work today?”

“The horses don’t care that there was an electrical fire in your apartment last night,” he said dryly. “They want their breakfast, and I’m actually twenty minutes late. Morning Sky huffed and gave me the side-eye and everything.”

“Lincoln,” she said quietly. “I care about that.” And you, she thought, but she caught herself before saying it out loud. “I’m sorry I called you and woke you up.”

“Why? You don’t need to be sorry about that.”

“I’ll get a bunch of groceries and make lunch,” she said, the idea popping into her head. “Can you come to my cabin for lunch?”

Link didn’t answer right away, and that made Misty’s heart shrink. She wanted to blurt out more about what she’d make, possibly to entice him with his favorite foods. Or maybe she should tell him that she wanted to apologize in person, as he hadn’t even addressed the fact that she’d sorry-vomited all over this call.

“You can bring Morning Sky and finally show her to me,” she said, going for what Link loved almost as much as food. Horses.

He chuckled then and said, “I do have to eat lunch.”

“Yes, you do,” she said decisively. “I’ll text you when I get back and get started, so you know when it’ll be ready.”

“So you’re not working today.”

“Ralf called us all off,” she said. “He’s dealing with the office in Dallas, as they’ll have to get us somewhere to live if we can’t get back in our apartments.”

“Mm.” Something slammed on his end of the line. “Can I ask you for a favor?”

“Sure thing,” she said.

“If you’re cooking today, can you make a lot? Bring it to True Blue? We’ve got a lot of extra people to feed. If you stop by the stable on your way by, I can give you a credit card from the ranch. You won’t have to pay for it.”

Misty blinked, not sure how to answer. Her mind opened, and heavenly light flowed into it. “Of course I can do that,” she said. “Your aunts and momma won’t be cooking?”

“They are,” he said. “We’re doing shifts, though.” His voice had turned guarded, and Misty cocked her head as she tried to hear what else he was trying to say.

“What aren’t you saying?”

“Your part of town is still without power,” he said. “Social media is saying no one is allowed into their apartments. We’ve got people living here who can’t just go buy entire cartloads of groceries or new clothes for themselves and their families.”

Misty’s heart sank into her stomach. “How long do you think we’ll all be living up here?”

“At least a week,” Link said quietly. “So we’ll be providing meals for a while, and if you’re not working today, I’m sure the extra food will be appreciated.”

“I’m sure,” she echoed. “So yes. I’ll bring something to the barn.”

“Great. Hey, listen, I have to go. I’ll see you later.”

“Sure,” she said, and he hung up quickly, the same way Link always had. He didn’t super love talking on the phone, and when he was done, he was done.

Misty sat there and sifted through the conversation until Janie said, “You haven’t even gotten your quiche out?”

She got to her feet and turned away from Janie. “I had to talk to Link for a minute.” She opened the oven and found her quiche Lorraine waiting for her. “Link says we won’t be able to get into the apartment.”

---