Page 13 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

Chapter Four-Avery

“Mama, it’s so cold Mr. Bunny Tail got frost on his whiskers,” Rosie said, jumping up and down and waving her favorite stuffed bunny in the air.

He was an old beat up toy with purple fur and painted buttons for eyes. I couldn’t count the number of times I’d operated on him, but she loved the silly toy, and it was always my pleasure.

“I see that, Rosie Posie. Just a few minutes longer, and Aunt Penny should be here to get us,” I said, sending a silent thank you into the universe for my best friend.

Penny was the bomb. I was so happy she’d finally met a man who deserved her in Maximillian Leeds, but I missed having her as a neighbor.

I hadn’t been able to find a replacement tenant yet, and losing the extra income was sadly noticeable in my meager savings account.

“Looks like Mr. Bunny Tail’s got another boo boo, Rosie,” I said, frowning at the gap in the seam of his right foot.

“Oh no! Can you fix it?” my little girl asked, her big brown eyes wide and guileless.

My heart squeezed inside my chest every time I looked at her. Logically, I knew perfection didn’t exist.

But even if she threw up on my infrequent gentleman callers, or had the occasional kerfuffle with a classmate, Rosie was the perfect little light of my life.

She was a wonderful child. And I’d punch anyone who said otherwise right in the nose.

“Of course I can fix Mr. Bunny Tail. Well, that is, I know I can do it if someone can be my good little helper,” I said, grinning at her.

“I’m a good little helper, Mama!” she said and raised her hand in the air.

“You sure are, Rosie Posie,” I said, and pulled her hood on.

She never seemed to get cold, but I was freezing my rather sizeable ass off while we waited for Penny to come fetch us.

Where is she?

My mind wandered to my sewing kit, and I knew I had the right needle and thread to fix Rosie’s favorite stuffie. I’d just ask Penny to stop by the house so I could grab it on the way to the ranch.

I’d gotten almost as good at mending dolls and stuffies as I was fixing boo boos on the kids at school. Only these patients weren’t quite so squirrely.

Thank God.

Word had somehow spread about my sewing talent, and students had started bringing me their toys and dolls to fix. Even Principal Jefferson had hired me to repair this antique rag doll she’d inherited from her grandmother.

It had taken a little bit of time to get the right material, authentic from the time period when the doll was made, but I managed it. She was thrilled with the results, paid me quite nicely, and a handy little side business was born.

I even had a one page website set up where customers could leave reviews and prospective clients could send inquiries. I called it Avery’s Care & Repair for Dolls & Precious Things.

It was long, but it got the point across.

My phone buzzed, and I frowned at the incoming text message from Penelope.

Penny

Hey Av,

Sorry I have a stomach bug, so I’m not driving.

I sent Dante to get you. Don’t say no.

Just get in the car and bring me my favorite niece.

I had to read it three times before panic started to set in. Leave it to Penny to try to play matchmaker, only she sucked at it.

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