Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
“Love looks good on you,” Mr. Dunn says as soon as he sees me from where he and Mr. Humphrey are sitting at a table. Looks like they found the chessboard. I’ll have to hope the pieces don’t start flying again.
My heart beats hard in my chest, and I open my mouth to respond. I’m not sure what to say, but it doesn’t matter because Bronco speaks first. “Damn right, it does!”
“Hmm, sounds like a keeper,” Joyce murmurs from her place, watching daytime talk shows with her friends.
“And don’t let her forget it while I’m gone,” Bronco says before giving me a passionate kiss then leaving to find Dalton.
I settle at my desk and wait for our crowd to go back to their normal routines. Without Bronco hovering nearby, most of them return to their activities. I glance at Ryan and ask softly, “How was everything while I was gone?”
“Just the usual boring days.” Despite his words, he doesn’t sound all that bored or that disappointed. I always thought that he read thrillers because he wanted more action in his life, but maybe he prefers his action on the page.
I catch up on my work easily, and it only takes me a couple of hours to do that. When Joyce invites me to her poker game in her room, I agree. I settle at the table across from her, along with her friends, Miss Patty, Mr. Dunn, and Mr. Humphrey.
“Wait, I don’t have any cookies to ante,” I say when I see that each one of them has a large box of cookies from Courage Cookies to play with.
Joyce gives me a sly look. “Let’s just say that you can ante with information.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “I’m not gossiping with you about the other residents.”
“Of course not,” Mr. Humphrey agrees.
“Just maybe tell us a little bit about Bronco,” Miss Patty urges with a dreamy sigh.
Mr. Dunn gives me a fond smile. “You never should have taken that seat.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s what the invitation was about?”
“And the chance to win cookies. Don’t forget that,” Joyce says as she deals a round of cards before I even have the chance to tell her no.
“Are you sure you’re not cheating?” I ask Joyce as I evaluate the stack of cards I’ve just been dealt. I’ve lost every single hand I’ve played, and these nosy Nellies have asked me a million questions about Bronco and what we spent our time together doing.
I told them about the horse ride, the beautiful pond on his property, the campfire and the amazing veterans who work on the ranch. I even told them about falling and injuring my ankle. I didn’t tell them about what Bronco and I did together afterwards, but they pretty much figured it out by the blush on my face.
“You might have a little bit of a tell,” Mr. Dunn says, giving me a wink.
Joyce scowls at him.
I have no idea what my tell is, but it doesn’t matter because it’s almost time for me to leave. Bronco said he was taking me back to the farm tonight. When I tell them this, the whole table erupts into big smiles.
“Proud of you, girl,” Mr. Dunn says, giving me a fist bump like his five-year-old grandson taught him to do last month.
I return his bump and chuckle as I leave the room. Joyce follows, trailing after me, and I intentionally slow my steps so she can catch up.
“Aren’t you late for your tango class?” I ask, detouring to the employee kitchenette where it’s more private.
She pins me with an intense stare, her warm brown gaze filled with worry. “Are we…are we losing this place?”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw the newspaper article. The fundraiser.” She blows out a breath. “In all of my years here, Elaine has never let anyone hold a fundraiser or help her out. It makes me think something happened.”
I hesitate, not sure what to say. Aunt Elaine will be returning in a few hours. By that point, I’ll be on Bronco’s ranch, but I don’t want her coming home to a group of worried residents. “Things got a little bit hard,” I finally admit. “But we’re seventy-five percent of the way to the funding we need. I think by the end of the week, we can expect to hit our goal.”
She nods. “You’ll tell me if it doesn’t?”
“I’ll tell you what I can when I can.” It’s the best promise I can give her. After all, I know Aunt Elaine doesn’t want what’s happened to become public knowledge. No one would blame her or me, but she’s a strong woman. She won’t accept pity or sympathy. It’s not in her nature.
She seems to accept this and gives me a quick hug before hurrying off to teach her tango class.