Page 19 of A Gift for the Hopeful Cowboy

Jackie chuckled, leaning over the side of the well. “We’re all adults here. We can admit we come here to make wishes, especially if we’re trying to make sense of something. It doesn’t mean we believe in magic or anything.” She tilted her face toward Pippa. “Once, I came here and wished for clarity on a parenting decision.”

Allie nodded. “As a kid, I came here and asked for a puppy.”

They all laughed.

“I never got one, though,” Allie added soberly.

Jackie nudged her. “You just need to drop a few hints around Luke. I’m sure he wouldn’t tell you no. He adores you.”

Pippa continued to stare at the well. She’d asked this very well for silly things, too. “I once asked for my hair to grow faster because I got a bad haircut.” She lifted her gaze to Allie. “You remember that? Of course, it didn’t come true. I think I asked for Billy Joe Porter to take me to Junior Prom.” Pippa chuckled as she shook her head.

“Didn’t he take Susan Coker?” Allie interjected. “I think they’re married now and they’re expecting.”

“Seems like the well isn’t really magic after all,” Jackie mused.

Without realizing where she was going, Pippa continued. She was talking more to herself than anyone else. “One time, I threw two quarters into the well. One so that Rob Clifford would move to Texas and one so he would date me.”

The air grew colder in that moment and Pippa realized just what she’d confessed to. Her brothers’ wives wouldn’t spread gossip, it wasn’t their vice. But that didn’t mean they wouldn’t talk her ear off about the fact that Rob was now here.

Pippa forced a smile. “Silly, right? It’s weird, though. For years, he stayed in Montana—didn’t bother coming here to visit. But now he’s here permanently, at least for now. It’s almost like the well finally offered me something.”

“Do you still like him?”

Like was a word that barely scratched the surface of how she felt for him. The feelings swirling within her were as strong as ever. The problem was she didn’t know how he felt. There was a very good chance he was only wanting to restart their casual relationship. And that thought only seemed to cause Pippa pain.

“Maybe?” she said. “Now he’s here, it’s like all those feelings have been magnified. But is it just a crush or is it more? I have no idea what’s going to happen and that in and of itself scares me to death.”

“Didn’t you guys… date when you were younger?” Allie moved closer. “I remember you said something about him once, but you brushed me off when I asked you if it was serious.”

Heat flooded Pippa’s face and she turned around to lean against the edge of the well. “That’s because it was just a fling.” She couldn’t bear to say any more than that.

Jackie lifted her brows but didn’t say anything. Allie nudged Pippa as she sidled right up beside her. “That doesn’t sound like you. The Pippa I know always had a plan—especially for the future. What changed?”

Pippa heaved a sigh. “He was in another town across the country. We visited there enough… I guess I’d gotten it in my head that if he was never going to be in Texas, then it would be okay to just have fun. Back then, Rob didn’t want to be tied down to anyone or anything. Especially not when he hit his twenties.”

“What about now?” Jackie asked. “He doesn’t seem like the sort of guy who would string a girl along.”

“That’s just it,” Pippa heaved another sigh. “I don’t know what he wants. I can’t bring myself to ask him or tell him I’m done with the games. I…” She turned to face them, her blush deepening. “What if I’m in love with him?”

Her sisters-in-law exchanged knowing smiles. Allie moved closer to her. “I think you’re just going to have to tell him how you feel.”

Some part of her already knew that was what Allie would tell her. The problem was, that had to be the most terrifying thing she could say. Rob was here in Texas. He was fun to be around. He was the kind of person who could make her laugh. If he didn’t want anything to do with her long-term, she didn’t know how she would handle that.

“I don’t think I can,” Pippa finally mustered. “I don’t want to change what we have because if he doesn’t feel the same, our friendship is shot.”

Jackie pursed her lips. “I can understand that. But you can’t just bottle up your emotions like this. It’s not healthy. Besides, you’re both adults. If you tell him you’re interested in a romantic relationship with him and he says he’s not interested, then what? Things get awkward for a few weeks. So?”

“That’s not the worst thing I can think of,” Pippa said. “But he could push me out. He could move back to Montana. Heck, he could tell me he’s not interested, but he’s still willing to keep our little agreement going?—”

“And that would tear you up inside,” Allie interrupted.

“It would,” Pippa nodded. “I’m not a fan of the chance to be rejected, but I also don’t want to not take a risk.”

Jackie shook her head. “You’re looking at this wrong. There’s a big chance he feels like you do, and if so, then you just have to take a leap of faith and jump. He’ll be there to catch you.”

She made a good point.

“It’s more like a Schrodinger’s cat situation,” Allie offered. “At this point, he has both cut ties with you and he’s madly in love with you. The only way you’re going to find out the truth is to open the box and see if the cat is alive or dead.”

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