Page 13 of Wrangling a Wild Texan

She laughed. “If the art critics would see this, they’d really think I don’t have any talent.”

Thankfully, no one would ever see it. Once it had dried, Sunny would hide it with the other angry art that was stacked under a tarp in the corner of the attic. She should probably start throwing the paintings away—not only the ones here, but also the ones she’d painted in Houston. Maybe, if she ever had the courage to tell the Holiday sisters about her strange violent art, they could have a big bonfire and burn all of them.

And all her pent up anger with them.

“Sunny?”

She startled and glanced at the opening to the attic just as Mimi’s white head appeared.

“Hey, Mimi!” She quickly turned the easel to the wall. “No need to come up. I’ll come down.”

Of course, Mimi didn’t listen. She never listened.

She finished climbing the stairs. “You okay? You’ve been up here for hours.”

Hours?

Sunny glanced out the window, surprised to see that the bright midday light had changed to shadowy dusk. “Goodness. I didn’t realize how late it was getting. I was going to help you garden.”

“No worries. There are plenty of days left to get the garden ready for planting. You need to get on home.” Mimi glanced at Sunny’s paint-splattered clothes. “And get washed up. Corbin called looking for you. I guess he’s taking you and Belle out to dinner at the Hellhole tonight.”

Sunny grabbed a rag to wipe off her hands. She felt much better than she had earlier, but she still didn’t feel like going out. Or maybe what she didn’t feel like was running into Reid.

“I might just pass on dinner,” she said.

Mimi studied her. “Something wrong?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m fine. I just feel a little tired, is all.”

“I can understand why. Getting into an accident can sure knock the wind out of you.”

Sunny blinked. “An accident?”

Mimi scowled. “So you’re going to lie to me like you did to Corbin?”

“Umm . . . I . . . who told you?”

“Hallie.”

So much for thinking that what was discussed at the Secret Sisterhood meetings was sacred. Or maybe that rule only applied to real sisters.

Sunny sighed. “Did you tell Corbin?”

“No, but I’m sure Belle did. Wives don’t usually keep things from their husbands. I’m sure all the husbands know by now . . . along with Reid Mitchell.”

“Reid? Hallie told Reid?”

“I told Reid. As Sophie’s guardian, he needed to know.”

Sunny flopped down on a nearby trunk. “Great. Now Reid will really hate me.”

Mimi took a seat on a trunk across from her. “I don’t think he hates you. He was a little upset when he learned the truth, but I’m sure by now he’s had some time to think about it and realizes you only did it to protect Sophie.”

Sunny didn’t think he’d see it that way.

“He’s a good man, that one,” Mimi continued. “The way he took on his niece after his sister passed away proves it. Not many single men would be willing to take on a belligerent teenager. Still, I can tell that he’s questioning his decision. And like most men, he’s too stubborn to admit he needs help.”

Sunny snorted. “Stubborn and mean spirited.”

---