Page 13 of Marrying Mr. Majestic

Way tilted his chin down. “Appreciate it. Tell Mrs. Jenks I said hi.”

Once the man had wandered off, Way turned to me. “It’s a bit of a walk to the cafe. You want to take my truck instead?”

I glanced at the vehicle behind him and low-key wondered if that parking spot might end up becoming its final resting place. “I’m up for a walk if you are. Drove my rental all the way from Billings and have to turn around and do it again after lunch. Would be good to stretch my legs.”

Way gestured down the main drag that I belatedly remembered was called Poke Street. We barely made it to the first in a row of shops before he was stopped again, this time by an attractive man in his late thirties or early forties. “Way, there you are. I tried calling Bernice, but it went to voicemail.”

“Hey, Jackson. I was just headed to lunch at the cafe.” This seemed to be Way’s version of attempting to dismiss the man, but it was too nice to work.

“I’ll walk with you. I wanted to ask about setting up a mini shop during the AdventureSmash exhibition. Something closer to the racers and spectators that offered basic equipment and local merch. Would that be allowed?”

Way pursed his lips in thought. “Depends on the location, I guess. The event team is coming in next week to finalize some of those details. Maybe I can get you in on that meeting since you’re a sponsor.”

The man’s face lit up. “That would be perfect. I’ll tell Lake. Thanks, man.” He clapped Way on the shoulder before splitting off from us. “Enjoy your lunch, and thanks again.”

We walked a little further down the street. “You’re a popular guy,” I said after a few more people called out greetings or shot Way a wave or smile.

“Mayor. Comes with the territory.”

“You lived here long?”

He huffed out a laugh. “My whole life. My dad’s from here. His dad before him, and his dad before him. The Fletchers have been in Majestic since…” He shrugged. “Since forever, I guess.”

“Was your dad the mayor before you?”

He shook his head, all trace of the friendly grin gone. “Nah. He was just a horse rancher.”

I noticed his use of past tense. “He retired or…?”

“Passed.” He cleared his throat and waved to another person across the street. “Been eight years now.”

“I’m sorry. Who runs the ranch now?”

He laughed again, only this time, it carried no humor. “Me.”

I stared at the side of his head. “But you’re the mayor. Surely that’s… I mean, I’ve always assumed being a rancher is a full-time thing.”

He nodded. “More than full-time. Morning feed’s at five thirty. I usually do what needs doing until eight and then come into the office and do my job in town until around four. Then back out to the ranch for the second feed and any herd movement that’s needed.” He shrugged. “Never ends, really.”

“How many people work for you?”

He glanced at me. “Uh, none? I mean, I’ve got three siblings. My two sisters help out for sure. Our brother’s in the military, so he’s not around. Sheridan manages the cafe we’re going to—her husband’s the chef—and my baby sister, ZuZu, does some of the horse training, but she also has a pottery studio here in town.”

“Jesus,” I muttered. “How big’s the ranch?”

He opened his mouth to respond but then stopped. Before I could repeat the question, an older woman stepped out of a shop in front of us and accosted him.

“Well, hey there, Mayor Fletcher!” The woman beamed. “I was hoping to run into you at some point. Listen, my niece Marlee—you remember Marlee? She’s Jimmy’s oldest and smart as a whip. Did some hunter-jumper in high school, so she knows her way around a horse, believe you me—well, she’s coming up for a visit from Phoenix for July Fourth weekend. Now, I know you have the exhibition and all, but I was thinking about having you over to say a quick hello, maybe for Sunday brunch? What do you say?”

“Oh, er… uh…” Way swallowed and adjusted the hat on his head. He looked kind of adorable when he was put on the spot. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to commit to anything that weekend since I’ll be busy with the exhibition and all. But thank you for the?—”

She squeezed his arm, her grin never faltering. “I’ll leave you as a ‘probably.’ See you then!” She bundled off toward an SUV parked at an angle to the sidewalk a few spaces away from where we stood.

Way settled his hat on his head again with a sigh before walking on.

I let him get a few more steps down the sidewalk before I started teasing him. “I can’t believe the nerve of that woman threatening to set you up right in front of me.”

He looked at me with an expression of surprise. “What?”

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