Page 59 of Cowboy and the Convict

Riley was the first to notice her. She deposited her plate onto the counter and raced their way, grabbing Janie in a hug. “You’re here. I was worried you might not come.” She leaned into Janie’s ear, whispering something he couldn’t hear before letting her go and giving her an exaggerated wink.

Devon lifted a brow. “What was that about?”

Janie’s weird smile was still on her face, like she was afraid to let it go. “Nothing.”

His mother turned around, gasping when she saw Janie at his side. “There you are.” She grabbed a plate from the stack and brought it to the woman sticking to him like glue. “Get started filling that up. Can’t have you freezing to death this winter.” She took Janie by the shoulders, directing her toward the line of food arranged down the counter. “Make sure you get some of that sweet potato casserole. It’s my specialty.”

“Great.” Janie’s eyes drifted to where Riley sat at the table.

“Give her some space to breathe.” Devon tossed out the reminder his mother would likely need for the foreseeable future. Smothering was her love language and she spoke it fluently. “You’ve got all night to invade her personal bubble.”

“Oh, pshh.” His mother waved him off. “She’s fine.” Even as she argued, his mother backed off, giving him a pointed look as she went to take her place at the table. “Make sure she gets enough to eat. Can’t have anyone going hungry.”

Janie turned toward the counter, shooting him a scowl from the corner of her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me this was a Thanksgiving thing? I should have brought something.”

“I didn’t tell you because you cook all week and the last thing you need to do on your day off is make more food.” He followed behind her, watching with interest as she skipped right over his mother’s casserole. “And I knew there would be plenty here. Sharon loves to cook and she always goes overboard.”

“He’s not lying.” Sharon sidled up to them. “Thanksgiving is my favorite and I always make a big dinner here before I go back to Florida. Then I make one for all my friends down there.” She added a scoop of stuffing to a bare spot on her plate. “Don’t know how I missed that the first time.” She leaned back, practically yelling over one shoulder. “Frank was probably trying to hog it all.”

His dad’s head popped up, eyes swinging around the kitchen. “What?”

Reaching across the table, his mother patted her husband’s hand. “Nothing, dear.”

He glanced over to find Janie watching them with a genuine smile on her face. When she noticed him looking, her lips flattened.

“I saw that.” He bumped her shoulder with his as she grabbed a roll and added it next to the collection of mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, and green bean casserole. “See? It’s not bad.”

“It’s still strange.” She glanced back over one shoulder. “They’ve never seen you with anyone but Maggie.” Her eyes found where Sharon sat between Gwen and Olivia. “And it’s got to be hard for her.”

“She knows life has to go on, J. That’s why she’s selling the trailer.” Devon rested his hand on her lower back, adding a little more pressure when she jumped at the touch. “She’s moving forward the best way she can and knows I’ll do the same.” He leaned into her ear. “Plus, she’s probably a little happy to have someone else around who can cook.”

Janie’s eyes jumped to his.

He grinned. “Riley told you not to eat my mom’s casserole, didn’t she?”

Janie pressed her lips together, rolling them inward with a little nod.

“If that doesn’t prove she likes you, I don’t know what does.”

His mother had never been a good cook. The worst part was her complete oblivion when it came to her lack of skills. She either didn’t have taste buds or they’d all gone numb out of self-preservation.

He led her to their chairs, putting Janie between him and Riley, and resting his forearm on the table to block his mother’s view of her plate, just in case. Janie sat silently beside him, taking in the conversations happening around them, looking a little like a deer in the headlights as Sharon talked about her adventures in Florida. They sounded just this side of bullshit.

Also occasionally just this side of legal.

“You dumped chickens into a construction trailer?” Gwen’s eyes were wide. “Did they get hurt?”

“Nah.” Sharon waved off Gwen’s concern. “They got to sit in the air-conditioning for a while. They were fine.”

Janie started to choke beside him, likely surprised to discover just how wild her landlady could be. “You okay?” He stood, dragging Janie along with him. “She probably needs some air. It’s pretty warm in here.” He grabbed Janie’s drink before leading her down the hall and out the front door, passing off her glass and waiting while she swallowed it down.

“I probably should have warned you that Sharon seems normal, but she’s actually a little unhinged.” He took her glass and set it on the porch before pulling her close, wrapping his arms around her to keep her warm. “And it’s only getting worse the longer she’s in Florida. I think all those people she lives around are a bad influence on her.”

“I don’t know. It sounds like she’s having a great time.” Janie cuddled close to him. “So maybe they’re a good influence.”

Sharon was having fun, and she deserved it after the hell she went through losing her daughter, but fun had limits. “As long as I don’t get a call in the middle of night that she’s been arrested.”

Janie laughed, the sound loud and hearty. “I’m gonna go ahead and let you know you will never have to worry about that. I’m pretty positive you are not Sharon’s bail money bitch.”

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