Page 14 of Steal My Heart (Prosperity Ranch 2)

Her mom’s exhale was faint.

“How are you feeling, Mom?” Evie asked. Her mom had received the six-month bill of health, but that only started the countdown to the next oncology appointment.

“Great, actually,” her mom said. “I’m helping Barb out with the 4-H club now.”

If a queen could be elected for Prosper, it would be Barb. She ran every committee for every event. She’d been a couple of years older in school than Evie, but she was the reigning queen of the popular girls. “Sounds fun,” Evie said, trying to keep any sarcasm out of her tone.

“We can’t wait to see you, dear,” her mom continued. “What time are you leaving on Friday?”

“Um, first thing in the morning,” she said. “Hey, I wondered if the old Anderson place had sold yet?”

Her mom went silent for a heartbeat. “Funny you should ask. It sold right after New Year’s.”

“Huh, interesting,” Evie said, wanting to ask more, but then her mom would set in with the questions. Besides, it wasn’t like she’d be hanging out with Carson Hunt, anyway. He could get a tour of the town from someone else. “So it will only be Lane and Holt around during spring break?”

“Yes, Knox is on the rodeo circuit.”

Right, her brother who’d shattered his life, and now was trying to pick up the pieces. Hopefully, this time it would work, and he wouldn’t fall back on his self-destructive ways.

“Have you given more thought to the Prosper Weekly?” her mom continued.

Evie should have expected the question. It had been a question over and over.

“You could meet with Bev Jarvis,” her mom said. “I told her you were coming.”

Evie already knew that, too. “I’ll think about it,” she finally said. “I’ve got my resume several places right now.” It was true, but no major newspapers had replied.

Her mother’s silence said more than words could have.

Evie hated that she felt like she was disappointing her mother, but she was an adult woman now, and she’d been living away from Prosper for four years already.

“I should go,” Evie said. “I’m working on a paper. You can tell Dad that I’m driving. Holt gave me a rundown of things to check on my car, and I’m going to do that before I leave.”

“All right, sweetie,” her mom said with a small sigh in her voice. “Can’t wait to see you. Love you.”

“Love you, too.” When Evie hung up with her mom, she didn’t return to her laptop for a while. What would it be like to work in Prosper? Well, she knew what it would be like. She’d be in a rut, that’s what. If she thought dating was hard in college with hundreds of single guys around, Prosper would be impossible.

Maybe she should take her car into the lube and oil place today before they closed. Get a head start on whatever car stuff needed to be done. Then, Evie could refocus on outlining her paper.

By the time she reached the parking lot where her car was, the afternoon had grown late. Evie unlocked her car and climbed in.

She shook away the memory of Carson Hunt offering her a ride to Prosper. He was a presumptuous guy. Starting the car, she shifted into reverse. As she did, something whined. A gear, or something? Whatever it was, it didn’t sound good. She shifted into park, then drive. The car shuddered before moving forward. Huh.

Evie bit her lip as she drove slower than normal out of the parking lot. Was the whining sound louder? Was something going to explode on her? She passed a group of students, and by the turn of their heads, she knew they’d noticed the sound, too.

Hopefully, it would be a quick fix so she could leave Friday. But when she pulled into the lube and oil shop, the attendant came out to meet her, already shaking his head.

“You need to take this to the mechanic down the road,” he said.

“What do you think is wrong with it?” she asked.

“My guess is that you’ve got to replace some belts,” he said. “We can’t do that here.”

Evie sighed. “My brother said I needed to get the oil changed before this weekend since I’m driving a couple hundred miles.”

The attendant merely shrugged. “Get the belts fixed, then bring it back here. We’re open until seven tonight and tomorrow until five. Good luck.”

Evie pulled out of the parking lot, wincing at the continued whine. Luckily, the mechanic shop was only a few blocks away. Before she went into the office, she called her oldest brother, Holt. He managed Prosperity Ranch for her dad, and he was less likely to get wound up and worry. His matter-of-fact personality was very much needed right now.

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