Page 18 of One Summer Day (Prosperity Ranch 1)

Heidi’s smile was genuine. “Ruby’s a dear, and I’m sure she’ll soon learn to eat more things. You’ve done a nice job with her.”

Frankly, Macie was stunned at the compliment. “You’re sweet. But I’m afraid that the rose-colored glasses will soon fade. Three-year-olds can be exhausting to say the least.”

Heidi clicked her tongue. “Oh, I well remember. I had a house full of young ones at one time.”

“How did you do it?” Macie asked. “I mean, on those days that seemed to never end?”

Heidi chuckled, and the sound warmed Macie. Maybe they’d found common ground at last.

“We women all have our secrets,” Heidi said.

“Wine?” Macie joked. The second she spoke, she regretted it.

Heidi’s pale face flushed. “Wine? No. Nothing like that.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

Heidi waved her off, but her expression didn’t relax. She set the potato peeler down and rose from her chair, then she crossed to one of the kitchen cabinets and opened it.

Macie was surprised to see a row of paperback novels above a row of cookbooks.

Heidi pulled down one of the novels and showed Macie the cover.

“You read mysteries?” Macie asked.

“Yes, I love them.” Heidi held the book to her chest. “I mostly read culinary mysteries, and get great recipes to boot. My family loves it when I try new recipes.”

Macie rose and crossed to the cupboard and picked up a Mary Higgins Clark book. “My mom loved to read, but I only read when required for homework.”

“It’s a wonderful escape,” Heidi said. “A far cry from ranch work and horses and picking apples. Help yourself to any of my books. Just return them when you’re finished. Sometimes, I like to read them more than once.”

Macie couldn’t imagine how she’d fit reading into everything else going on, but this moment had felt like the first time she was connecting with Heidi. “Okay, I just might,” she said.

“Helloooo?” a female voice called through the screen door. “I can smell dinner cooking.”

Heidi quickly set the novels back in their places and closed the cupboard. “Barb, is that you?”

“Sure is.” The front door opened, and the sound of footsteps approached.

A blonde woman walked into the room. She looked like she’d just stepped off a poster for a rodeo queen and hadn’t changed out of her costume yet. Her pink jeans fit her like leggings, and she wore a white and pink glittery plaid shirt. Her blonde hair was huge and curly and must have taken a half bottle of hairspray to keep in place. Her lashes were definitely fake, and her bright blue eye shadow matched her eyes exactly.

Macie couldn’t help but stare. Was this woman for real?

“I brought you some early strawberries,” the woman said, her gaze landing on Macie. “Briggs told me y’all had visitors, and I thought I’d come introduce myself. Besides, I haven’t heard from Holt in a few days, so here I am.”

Her smile was so white that Macie wondered if she used white paint on her teeth.

“Barb, this is my daughter-in-law, Macie,” Heidi said. “Macie, this is our neighbor and good friend, Barbie.”

Barb set the dish of strawberries on the table and waved her manicured hand. “Oh, call me Barb. I haven’t been called Barbie since I was a little girl.”

“Nice to meet you,” Macie said.

“Briggs said you were a pretty lady, and I was a little worried you would steal my Holt away from me,” Barb continued with a calculated smile. “But when Briggs said you were the one who Knox married, then I knew I had nothing to worry about.”

Heidi scoffed. “You have nothing to worry about, Barb. I know that my son is as slow as molasses, but he couldn’t do better than an angel like you.”

Barb waved a hand in front of her face as if she were fighting back tears. “Oh, you’re too sweet by half, Heidi.”

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