Page 38 of Wrangling a Wild Texan

All the sisters laughed before Noelle noticed the sign.

“Is that the sign? Oh my gosh! I love it! It’s just perfect. It keeps the beloved name, but also says at one glance that we offer much more than just muffins.” She looked at Sophie and winked. “Of course, it would be much funnier with an extrat.”

Sophie blushed. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Remington. I don’t know what got into me. If there’s anything I can do to make it up to you, I swear I will.”

“The sign is certainly a start. But I could also use some help at the bakery.”

Sophie’s eyes widened with excitement. “You want me to work at the bakery?”

“Just for a few hours after school.” Noelle glanced at Reid. “If that’s okay with you, Reid.”

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with her schoolwork.”

“It won’t, Uncle Reid.” Sophie bounced on her toes. “I promise. I also promise to get my chores done and take care of Patsy.”

“Then it’s fine with me.” Reid looked at Noelle. “Do you need her today?”

“Monday will be soon enough for her to start.”

“She’ll be there.” Reid turned to Sophie who was busting with happiness. “Come on, Soph, let’s let these ladies enjoy therest of their afternoon together while we go get some tacos. I’m starving.” He hesitated. “You want to drive?”

Sophie released a squeal and quickly collected her sneakers and Patsy while Reid changed out of his paint shirt. Sunny wished she could leave with them. But her days of avoiding things were over. Once Reid and Sophie were gone, all the sisters turned to her and there was nothing to do but face the music.

She swallowed hard. “I know why y’all are here. And I don’t blame you. I deserve to be kicked out of the Secret Sisterhood.”

“Kicked out?” Belle stared at her. “Why would you think we came to kick you out?”

“Because I’m a horrible person who sneaks around vandalizing the town.”

Liberty snorted. “You were a teenager, Sunny. We all pull stunts as teenagers.”

“But I didn’t tell y’all. And the main rule of the Sisterhood is never keep secrets from sisters.”

“True,” Sweetie said. “But it’s not like all of us haven’t kept secrets from each other before. I didn’t tell anyone how unhappy I was in Nashville.”

“And I didn’t tell y’all about my plan to marry Rome and save the ranch until after the fact,” Cloe added.

Liberty rubbed her rounded belly. “I failed to mention how upset I was when I thought I couldn’t have kids.”

“I didn’t tell anyone about pulling the twin switch.” Belle glanced at Hallie and waited.

Hallie huffed. “Fine! I didn’t tell anyone about having a one-night stand with Jace. But Noelle was the biggest liar because she kept acting like she hated Casey when she really . . . lo-o-oves him.”

Noelle laughed. “I did, didn’t I?” She glanced at Sunny and her laughter faded. “The point is that we’ve all kept our secrets, Sunny. So we’re not going to throw you out of the club for yours.If anyone should be thrown out of the club, it should be me.” Her eyes glittered with tears. “Your high school pranks got me to thinking and I realized that . . . I’m a mean girl.”

Sunny stared at her best friend. “What? You don’t have a mean bone in your body, Noelle Holiday Remington.”

“I didn’t think I did, but it’s pretty mean to not welcome the new girl in school with open arms.”

“You did welcome me, Elle. You showed me around the school that first day and were always nice to me when we saw each other in the halls.”

“I was nice, but I should have included you in things much more than I did. I was so caught up in my feud with Casey, I didn’t make you feel like you were part of this town. And I’m sorry, Sunny.” Tears dripped down her cheeks. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“Oh, Elle!” Sunny pulled her into a tight hug. “There’s no need to apologize. It’s all just water under the bridge.” But as she said the words, she realized that what had happened in high school hadn’t been water under the bridge . . . until now. Noelle’s acknowledgement and apology had lifted the darkness from the past by shining a light on it. She drew back and looked at her friend. “Okay, maybe you should have been more welcoming. But I should have made more of an effort too, instead of acting like I was just fine and dandy spending time alone drawing in my sketchpad.” She hesitated. “I’m good at hiding my true emotions.”

“Well, I think we need to make a new pact,” Sweetie said. “No more keeping secrets from sisters.” She held out her hand and the other sisters placed theirs on top of hers.

Everyone but Sunny.

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