Page 62 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
In the two days that had passed since the barbecue, she’d managed to keep busy. Sunday was taken up with church and more “faking it” with Nash as her boyfriend, but she’d loved being in the quaint wooden building and listening to the pastor speak about God’s blessings and how it was good to take the time to count them.
Nash took her for another riding lesson that afternoon and she sure felt blessed by that.
Yesterday was filled with more riding, learning how to feed the chickens and pigs, helping out with the cooking, and digging into her sisters’ files.
Not that she’d accomplished much on the sister front. She’d tracked down a potential number for Sierra and left a message on a voicemail that had a robotic voice and didn’t give a name, just the number she’d dialed. Was it Sierra’s? And if it was, did she even check it?
Emma didn’t know.
Then there was April. True to her promise, she’d called April the day after the barbecue. She’d called, texted, and sent an email over the last forty-eight hours and hadn’t heard a peep in response.
Today she was restless and unsettled since her time was once again running out and she still had so much unfinished business.
And pacing around an empty house wasn’t exactly helping.
She closed the pantry door with a decisive click. “I’ve changed my mind. If you don’t mind me tagging along, I’d love a ride.”
Kit’s easy grin widened. “Great.” He glanced out toward the range with a knowing look. “Should we tell the boss man, so he doesn’t think I’m running off with his girl?”
Emma laughed because he was obviously teasing, but her cheeks grew warm as she ducked her head. Kit and the other ranch hands knew very well that this was just a temporary ruse, but they insisted on acting like it was real.
It was frustrating because she was having a difficult enough time as it was remembering that the hand holding and snuggling was just for others, although the laughter and the easy conversation when they were here alone was genuine. They stayed up way too late the night before playing cards and laughing their way through childhood stories. Nash was the easiest person to be around and leaving him next week was going to hurt. Fake boyfriend or not, she loved his company.
A fact that both confused and delighted her. She shouldn’t want this so much.
She reached for her purse on the counter. All the more reason to get out, get some distance. Maybe being around others would help to clear her head.
On the way into town, Kit kept up an easy stream of conversation, filling her in on some of the local politics and making her laugh with his twins’ latest antics.
“And boy, will they not stop talking about you.” He chuckled. “I wishyouwere going to be their kindergarten teacher. Ol’ Ms Grantham can be a real battleaxe sometimes. I still don’t understand how she’s taught five and six year olds for so long. But she’s all Aspire has, so what can I do?”
“Aw, those older teachers bring a lot of experience to the table and really help the children pick up quick routines that will only enhance their learning. I’m sure Corbin and Chloe will be just fine.”
Kit bobbed his head, but didn’t raise a smile, his finger tapping on the steering wheel.
Emma had seen it a thousand times before. Parents naturally worried about their children, especially when big changes were on the horizon.
“So, I’ve got to go to the hardware store just outside of town,” Kit said as they drew closer to Aspire’s main street. “Nash’s uncle owns the place.”
“Mace, right?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. But there’s not much to see or do around there, so if it’s all right with you, I’ll drop you off downtown and come back and collect you in an hour or so.”
“That sounds perfect,” she said.
She probably should have known by now that none of Nash’s friends would let her get out of the truck and wander around on her lonesome. Nope. Kit got out too and escorted her into the local diner, Mama’s Kitchen, where he seemed totally confident he’d find some friends to show her around.
Not surprisingly, he did.
“Kit!” An older woman behind the counter called out his name in a way that reminded Emma ofCheers. The silver-haired woman wiped her hands on her apron as she turned an expectant smile on Emma. “Who do we have here?”
Before Kit could reply, Casey leapt up from a large table in the back that was filled with people. “This is Emma, my brother’s girlfriend.”
The older woman raised her eyebrows, indicating that she knew exactly who Casey was talking about.
Emma blinked, but didn’t have time to respond as Casey rushed over to give her a hug. She turned back to the group she’d just left and said in a loud stage whisper, “She’s the one I was telling you guys about.”
The reception was...overwhelming. Nearly a dozen faces were beaming at her in welcome. Many of them were familiar, as she’d spied them at church, but hadn’t had any formal introductions. It looked like that would be happening today. All were clearly eager to meet the woman who’d won Nash’s heart.
