Page 46 of Overdue for a Cowboy

Whowasthis woman? And why did she rate one of Dodge’s drawls?

The woman leaned her hip against the counter, and Maisie was a little happy to see that she offered Dodge a look that was more tired and exasperated than any kind of flirty. “A few weeks ago. I’m sure you know my sister had another baby, and I’m helping her with the shop.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Anybody else know you’re back?”

She shook her head as she rolled her eyes. “Not many. And I haven’t been advertising it. I don’t even know how long I’m staying.”

He was wearing a funny grin as he turned back to Maisie. “Do you know all know each other?” he asked then introduced them when she shook her head. “Maisie Graham, this is Leni Gibbs. Leni, this is Maisie. She’s a librarian.”

Maisie recognized the name now. She knew Lorna Gibbs, now Williams, the owner of the coffee shop. She’d been in their class at school, and she remembered that Lorna had a sister, but she’d been a few years older, and Maisie hadn’t ever met her.

“Nice to meet you,” the woman said pleasantly enough—all her animosity must have been just for Dodge—then pulled one of the cups off the stack and held it up. “So, did you want to order a coffee?”

“Nice to meet you too. And yes,” Maisie said then gave her their order for two iced caramel lattes.

“And a couple of those slices of coffee cake,” Dodge said, pointing inside the display case. He laid a twenty-dollar bill on the counter before Maisie had a chance to protest then didn’t say anything more as the woman busied herself making their coffees and packing up their coffee cake.

She passed Dodge several dollars in change, and he dumped them in the tip jar on the counter. “See ya around, Leni. Nice to have you back.”

“I didn’t say I was back,” she called as they left the store. “I’m just helping my sister.”

She waited until they were settled in the truck and had their coffees in hand before giving Dodge a questioning look. “So, not that it’s any of my business, but you’ve got me curious.”And jealous.“Are you going to tell me who this Leni is? Obviously, there’s some history between the two of you.”

“Nope. There’s no history betweenmeand her. But there’s plenty between her and Chevy. She’s his ex, and she left town five or so years ago—afterthey broke up. I’d wager he doesn’t know she’s back.”

“Would he care?” she asked, secretly thankful that she wasn’t someone Dodge was interested in.

“Oh, he’ll care all right. She’s the only woman he’s ever really loved. And she’s the one who got away.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Dodge snuck a quick glance at Maisie as he maneuvered the trailer around another hairpin curve. She looked so happy, and it did something to his heart that his actions had caused that gorgeous smile she was wearing. She was practically bouncing up and down in her seat. And she had barely taken a breath as she told him about all the kids and people they were visiting that afternoon.

There were five houses on Maisie’s bookmobile route and one stop at West Creek, a tiny mountain town that didn’t have a library of its own.

“It takes me all afternoon and sometimes into the evening because I always try to give the kids enough time to make their decisions,” she’d explained. “And I never know how many people will show up in West Creek. The residents know I’m usually there between two and three, so they set up a space for me in front of their grocery store. There are a few of the folks who I text when I’m on my way, and they put out the call to any of the kids on the neighboring farms and ranches who want to come over and check out books. Most of their parents can’t sparethe several hours it takes to make a trip into town, but they can drive a few miles to drop their kids at a neighboring ranch. Or some of the kids just walk or ride their bikes over. I’ve even had a couple show up on horseback.”

“Ranch kids are resourceful when they need to be,” he’d said.

Knowing he was going to be spending the day with a bunch of kids had him a little unnerved, but the joy on Maisie’s face seemed worth a little time of him being uncomfortable.

The first two ranches they stopped at had mostly older grade school kids and a sprinkling of teenagers, including one who, as Maisie had said, rode bareback up to the ranch on a gorgeous Palomino pony. Which worked out great for Dodge because then he got to spend the majority of his time opening up the trailer and hanging out with the kid’s horse and not having to worry about being inside the bookmobile with Maisie and the kids.

They stopped in West Creek next, and Dodge had been surprised at the number of people who had arrived in the hour they were there. Several had even been waiting when they pulled up. Including Eli Danvers, the kid who had been waiting to meetCaptain Underpants, who Maisie had finally explained was a character in a popular kid’s book.

No one seemed to care that the bookmobile was now housed in a makeshift trailer with hay bales for seats. They were only interested in getting the next book in the series they were reading, or the latest issue of some magazine that Maisie pulled from her tote, or another stack of romance or mystery novels to devour. But even in their haste to get new books, they all showed genuine concern for Maisie, and several of them fussed over her sling and had shown up with baked goods and well wishes for her. One woman had even made her a handcrafted satchel filledwith rice that went into the microwave and was then meant to be used as a warm compress for sore muscles.

No matter whether she was talking to kids, parents, or senior citizens. It was obvious that they all loved her.

Their next stop was at Brick and Lisa Johnson’s, and a whole passel of red-haired kids poured out of the farmhouse when they pulled up. They must’ve called every cousin within a seven-mile radius, but they all loved Maisie too. She’d made sure to bring the first book in theMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Childrenseries because she knew that Mikayla would have told her cousins what a great read it was.

The next house on their route was not one of the typical farmhouses, but a large ranching outfit. Pete Bishop was well-known in their county as a successful cattle rancher and could probably afford to just buy his kids any book they wanted. Dodge had known Pete for years, and he cut the guy a break because he also knew that his wife had left him to raise two young kids on his own when she’d died of breast cancer a few years ago.

He was a little surprised that Pete himself came out to greet them, especially because of the way he opened Maisie’s door and the care he showed her helping her down from the cab of the truck.

“I’m so glad to see you today,” Pete told her, after giving her a careful hug. “I’d heard you were in an accident and wasn’t sure you’d show up. Did you get the flowers I sent to the library?”

Dodge noticed Maisie’s quick glance at him before she turned back to thank Pete. “Yes, I did get them. They were beautiful. And so thoughtful. But you didn’t have to go to the trouble. You can see I’m fine.”

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