Page 12 of Rodeo Cowboy
“It looks like Dean’s teaching your son to lasso women.” Harper wears a wide grin.
“No, he is not.” Lydia storms through the crowd.
“And then there was one,” I say to Harper.
“Don’t you worry. I’m the one the Quylt sisters don’t want to mess with.”
“Why are they so interested in couples? Or me and Sammy?”
“Didn’t Sammy warn you?”
Good Lord, is this some big thing Sammy should’ve advised me about? Sort of like the whole Elsie thing
I shake my head.
“They’re known around town as the Quilt Queens. Some say they have magic powers passed on through generations. Others say it’s hogwash.”
“They have magic powers to quilt?” Humid dances on my words.
A smile creeps on her lips. “No. Yes. Not exactly. They have magic powers to—”
“Babe!” The tattooed cowboy skids to a halt beside Harper. His arms are all over her. “We gotta go.”
“Did you piss off Lydia?” She laughs. “Don’t think I didn’t see you lassoing the women.”
He rolls his eyes. “I was teachin’ the kid. I only have eyes for you.” He cups her face and plants a loud kiss on her lips. “But listen. Fifteen minutes until the countdown and the blow-up castle is closed down, but I got the go-ahead for a private jump with you.”
“Did you?” Seduction plays into her question.
“Yes.”
And just like that, I’m left alone. Not for long enough.
“Let us see the woman who won our rodeo cowboys heart.” I jump when the woman wearing the Kentucky Derby hat slides her hands around mine and cups them tightly.
Where did they come from? One second they’re across the shelter, and the next, their smack dab in front of me. Maybe they do have some magical powers, like in Bode’s books.
“For heaven’s sake, Faye, introduce yourself before you read her soul.” I think the older woman peering at me from under a Stetson is trying to smile. It’s coming off like she’s attempting to shrivel my soul.
I think Willow was backward in her scenario—I’m the muggle, and they’re the wizards.
“Alright. Alright.” Faye gently squeezes my hand. Her pearly white teeth gleam as she flashes a charming smile. “I’m Faye Quylt, and this is my sister, Wilma.” Wilma tries another one of her smiles and falls short. “We have a special gift. We are the guardians of love and happiness in this town.”
Without a doubt, I’m the muggle.
“What my sister is trying to say is we have the ability to read a person’s aura and see who they are destined to be with.”
Oh, good lord, they want to read our aura. They will be disappointed when they discover our auras are not remotely in sync.
I coil back and glance around the party, looking for an escape, looking for Sammy, my family, or any of my sisters-in-law who failed their shielding duties. Unfamiliar faces meet me at every corner. I’m on my own.
“That’s sweet of you ladies to offer, but Sammy and I are still getting to know each other, and we’re still in the honeymoon phase of our relationship.”
“It won’t take but a second.” Faye’s thumb rubs the top of my hand in a soothing motion.
My aura is going to scream that I’m destined to be alone. After the last man broke my heart, I vowed never to fall in love again, especially not with a cowboy.
“I’m sorry, I’m just not all that comfortable with you reading my aura.”
