Page 22 of Second Chance With a Cowboy

Chevy showed Lorna how to use the knee scooter, the way to position her injured leg on the cushioned pad and more importantly, how to use the handbrake, while Leni carried Izzy into the kitchen and placed her in the bouncy seat in the center of the table.

Maisie and Elizabeth cooed over the baby while Dodge set out the paper plates, plastic cups, and cutlery that Duke had brought. Chevy poured cups of milk and orange juice while Duke served up thick slices of an egg dish laden with country sausage, hash brown potatoes, and gooey cheddar cheese.

Elizabeth pulled herself away from playing with Izzy to set out a bowl of sliced berries then opened the last container, which was filled with mini muffins. The scents of bananas, nuts, and vanilla filled the air.

Leni took a muffin as the dish was passed around and popped it into her mouth. It was still warm, and she groaned atthe delicious perfectly moist cake. “These are amazing,” she told Elizabeth.

The other woman waved her compliment away. “They were easy. I whipped the batter up in five minutes. They took longer to bake than to make, and they were in the oven for less than fifteen minutes.”

“You made thesethismorning?” she asked, in awe of Elizabeth. She’d barely gotten herself dressed and her teeth brushed.

“I’ll give you the recipe,” Elizabeth told her.

“Thanks.”

Maisie raised her hand as if she were in a classroom. “Can I get it too?”

“Leni loves to bake,” Chevy said. “Or I guess, you used to,” he said after she’d shot him an arched eyebrow expression. “I remember you said baking was like chemistry, and you loved the preciseness of the measurements and the chemical reactions that the different ingredients combined to create. I always thought that was such a cool way to look at baking.”

Leni blinked as heat warmed the back of her neck. She hadn’t known he’d thought that. “I’m surprised you remembered such a funny thing about me.”

“I remember everything,” he told her, then cleared his throat as he must have realized everyone was staring at them. “And I could never forget your butterscotch and chocolate chip cookies. I still think about them.”

I still think about you.

She tore her gaze from his. Not the time or the place to analyze that thought.

Turning back to Elizabeth, she tried to think of something to change the subject. “So, where’s Ford this morning? Not that we need anymorepeople squeezed into this kitchen, but I haven’t seen him since I’ve been back in town.”

“He stayed at the ranch to get the rest of the chores done,” Elizabeth told her.

“You know, the oldest brother is always the most responsible one,” Dodge said.

“And except for Elizabeth, Ford’s usually happiest when he’s on his own,” Chevy explained. “You know how some people have FOMO, the fear of missing out. Ford more often has JOMO, thejoyof missing out.”

The group laughed together as Elizabeth nudged Chevy’s shoulder. “Not that he would be joyful at missing out on seeing you, of course,” she tried to tell Leni. “He’s just more of a loner.”

“And prefers the company of his dog to most people,” Chevy added.

“I get it,” Leni told Elizabeth. “I’m not offended. I’ve known these guys a long time.” Although it had alsobeena long time since she’d seen or hung out with any of them. “And I’m thankful Ford took the bullet of the extra chores so Chevy and Dodge could build the railings for the stairs. They’ll really help Lorna to get up and down those front steps.”

“Not that I’m planning on going anywhere any time soon,” Lorna said, gesturing to her bandaged ankle. Chevy had stacked a couple of throw pillows on the kitchen chair next to her and helped prop her foot up on them.

“Why would you need to?” Leni asked, grinning over at Maisie. “Now that we’re set up with tacos and baked ziti. This seems like the perfect time to catch up on your reading or the latest season of Bridgerton.”

Lorna let out a wistful sigh. “Iamanxious to see what kind of mischief Lady Whistledown is up to. But I also miss my coffee shop. I haven’t been there in weeks.”

Leni glanced at the kitchen clock and popped out of her chair. “Oh shoot. Speaking of the coffee shop, we open in thirty minutes. I need to get ready to head down there.”

No one came in before the church crowd, so they opened late on Sunday mornings and then were closed on Mondays.

“No, you don’t,” Elizabeth said. “Because we’d like to help you all with that, too.”

“We would’ve just gone in and opened the store ourselves,” Duke told her. “But we didn’t have the keys to get in.”

Elizabeth held a hand up to ward off Leni’s objections. “Don’t worry. I know my way around a coffee machine. I spent three summers in college working as a barista. Sometimes it felt like I was earning a degree in Caramel Macchiatos along with my Accounting one.”

“And I can handle bussing the tables and serving pastries and generally chatting up the customers while Elizabeth makes the coffees,” Duke told them. “I’m looking forward to it. It sounds like fun to me.”

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