Page 32 of The Talk Around Town

Gabe stood watching as the car peeled out of the parking area and beetled down the road, disappearing around the bend toward town.

Emma had a date.

Chapter Thirteen

Darby pulled upin Emma’s driveway and turned off the key. The faint ticking of the cooling engine was loud in the silence of the cabin.

“Well?”

Emma bit down on her lip to keep her amusement to herself. This was fun. “Well what?”

The soft leather of the car seat creaked under Darby’s wet behind as she turned to glare at Emma. “Who is it? Why didn’t you tell me right away?”

The giggle she’d been holding on to slipped free, filling the car’s interior. She faced Darby, grinning widely. “You should see your face! It’s priceless. That’s why. It was too much fun seeing you like this.”

Darby’s mouth worked, but nothing came out. She huffed and closed her eyes. “Fine.”

Emma tapped Darby on her arm, her humour tamping down a notch. “I was only playing with you. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

Darby cracked an eye and glared at her. “Really? Well, I do.”

Emma opened the door and paused before stepping out. “That’s a shame. I was hoping you’d help me eat the custard Danish I got at the bakery this morning while I tell you all about it. Looks like I’ll have to eat them all by myself.”

She got out and climbed her front steps, only to hear the car door open and close behind her. She held back a smile as Darby spoke.

“It’d better be an apple-custard Danish.”

*

A caramel-coloured nosepressed against the back screen door when Emma walked into the kitchen. How had he gotten out? She was sure she’d shut the door to his small barn before she left. An involuntary smile widened her mouth as she hurried over to open it and let him intothe kitchen.

“Hello, baby.”

She kneeled down and reached out a hand to stroke the top of Ralph’s head as he bounced to the side, excited to see her. Ralph jumped forward and butted his blunt head into her arm, grabbed the sleeve of Gabe’s borrowed shirt in his mouth and tugged. Her laughter filled the kitchen, drowning out the sound of Darby’s feet on the floorboards.

“Looks like he’s settled in fine.”

Emma patted his soft, downy head and glanced over her shoulder at Darby. “He’s just so damned cute.” She scrubbed behind the calf’s ear. “I’m not so hot on the poop factor though. For a little fellow, he sure can make a mess.”

Darby’s warm smile proved her earlier gripe was forgotten. “I hope you aren’t keeping him in the house. That’s just asking for trouble.”

Emma shook her head. “No, but he does come in every now and then, just for a pat. He follows me everywhere. I keep the doors shut, so he can only go in the hall and in here.”

Darby’s soft chuckle said it all. “You are so spoiling that animal. You do realise it’s an animal, right? One that’s going to grow much bigger than you?”

Emma grinned up at her friend. “But he’s so little now. He won’t be big for ages, and he’s so lonely out there by himself.”

“Hmm.” Darby’s amused expression soured. “Where’s that Danish? You owe me.”

Emma stood and moved over to the sink, washing the baby-cow smell from her hands. “Over there in the pantry.”

She grabbed a couple of plates and moved over to the table to wait for Darby.

Darby flopped into the chair opposite Emma and cut into the pastry. A large chunk fell off onto the tabletop between them. Darby speared it with the knife and popped it into her mouth. A raised eyebrow told Emma it was time.

“Oh all right! Steal all my fun, why don’t you?” Emma groused playfully.

Darby pointed the knife at her. “I won’t be held responsible for what I’ll do to you if you don’t hurry up and spit it out.”

---