Chapter 1
“Kathryn Jean Mackall, if you don’t control this darn mutt I’m going to load his back end with buckshot!”
Katie giggled as she came down the stairs of her aunt and uncle’s country home to see her goofy lab mix bounding around the room. “Uncle Earl, you don’t even own a shotgun.”
The dog barked, his tail wagging as he jumped up on Earl’s chest.
“Down, Loverboy,” Katie said firmly. The dog obeyed and came to Katie’s side. “There’s a good boy. It’s a big day for you, huh?”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re going to adopt another dog,” Earl said. “Not sure why you need to. This one is handful enough.”
“But he gets lonely when I’m at the shop all day,” Katie replied, scratching behind Loverboy’s floppy ears. “He could use a companion. He’s not getting any younger, you know.”
Earl snorted. “He sure doesn’t seem to know it.”
Katie’s aunt entered the room and rolled her eyes. “Oh, Earl, quit. Come have a cup of coffee and eat your breakfast. You’re bound to feel less crotchety once your stomach is full.”
“I am not crotchety, Vivian. That’s a word for old men.”
She smirked. “Don’t act like an old man then. Come on, breakfast is getting cold.”
Katie followed her aunt and uncle into the dining room. Once she filled Loverboy’s bowl and refreshed his water, she sat down at the antique table she’d grown up with. Her aunt set a plate loaded with hashbrowns, eggs, and bacon in front of her. “Thanks, Aunt Viv.”
“Sure, honey. You want to take the truck to the festival?”
“I was planning on just taking my car.”
“How will you bring your new horse home if you don’t have the truck and trailer?” Viv teased.
Katie laughed. “I already told you, I’m not getting a horse. They probably won’t have any this year anyway. I’m just going to place a donation on behalf of Sweet Retreat to help keep the shelter running and get a dog to keep Loverboy company when I’m helping you at the store.”
Viv chuckled. “Don’t count on it. Every time you go to one of these events you come home with a new horse. You could start your own rescue if you wanted to.”
“Well, no horse this year. I’m not even going to look if they have any.”
Turning to Earl, Viv winked. “Yep, she’s going to come home with a new horse.”
“How? She can’t if she doesn’t have the trailer.”
“I’m sure someone there would loan her one. Maybe a handsome, single someone.”
“If there aren’t any horses, there aren’t likely to be any trailers either, Viv.”
“I’ll bet you dinner tonight she does.”
“You’re on, woman.”
Katie laughed. Uncle Earl and Aunt Viv had been placing bets about her life for as long as she could remember. She firmly believed Earl should have given it up, since he almost always lost. In fact, Katie couldn’t remember a single time he’d won. Viv claimed his losing streak was the reason he was such a great cook. Katie wasn’t sure how true that was, but couldn’t argue about Earl’s skills. “You’re probably going to lose this one, Aunt Viv. No truck, no trailer, no horse.”
“At least take the truck,” Earl said. “The road’s still a bit muddy until you get to town.”
“My car did just fine yesterday,” Katie replied. “Don’t worry. Besides, then you’ll be even more likely to win this bet.”
Earl laughed. “That’s my girl.”
Katie finished eating before helping her aunt wash the dishes in the cheery, blue and yellow kitchen. “You know, you could come with me if you wanted.”
“Oh no, Earl and I will be making candles all morning and then starting on the specialty lotions for the holidays. Got to get started early, you know. Besides,” she added with a twinkle in her blue eyes, “if I go with you, I’ll make sure you come home with a horse. And a date too if I can manage it.”
Katie laughed. “You’re terrible, Aunt Viv.”
“Don’t you forget it.” She winked.
“Well, I better be off.” Katie kissed her aunt’s cheek. “I’ll be back sometime this afternoon, with a new companion for Loverboy and maybe a few other little things.”
“And a horse?”
“No, I’m not getting a horse,” Katie insisted.
Viv chuckled. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
Katie shook her head. She walked out to the living room where Earl was reading his paper, Loverboy sleeping contentedly as his feet. “See you this afternoon,” she said after kissing his cheek.
“Don’t disappoint me, Katie Jean.”
“I plan not to. Tell Aunt Viv chicken pot pie sounds good for dinner tonight.”
Earl laughed. “Better not hedge my bets. It never ends well for me.”
Katie waved as she walked outside. The crisp fall air nipped at her nose, but she knew it would warm up. She breathed deeply, allowing the fresh scent of earth and rain to fill her nostrils. The trees created a vivid display in rich tones of gold, orange, and red. Driving to Romance gave her more time to admire the Oregon scenery. She’d always loved her hometown, but never so much as in the fall. Autumn colors and the holidays’ rapid approach made the old town more charming than usual. Everything about it was perfect.
She drove first to Sweet Retreat, the home spa store her aunt and uncle had been running since she was young. While initially it had just been a candle store with hand-dipped strawberries as a side item, Katie encouraged them to expand the business to include handmade soaps, lotions, and other spa products. The additional products were a big hit with the town and visitors from outside Romance. She smiled as she taped up a sign on the door reminding the citizens of Romance that the animal shelter’s Fall Festival was that day and they were closed in support of it. “Hope that helps,” she murmured. “Even just a little bit.” Rumors had reached her that Finding Forever Animal Rescue was not doing well financially. The Fall Festival had always been a time to raise funds for the shelter to meet its needs. She sincerely hoped this year would provide enough.
Once the sign was secure, she got back in her car and drove to the town square. Even with her windows up she heard the animals and music. The unmistakable sound of a horse’s whinny reached her ears. For a moment, she considered breaking her promise. Then she remembered Uncle Earl telling her not to disappoint him. “Nope. Not even going to look,” Katie told herself as she parked. She walked quickly past a temporary corral until she reached the central pavilion of the town square.
“Good morning, Miss Mackall. What brings you here?” the radio DJ asked while music filled the air.
“I think that answer would be rather obvious, AJ. It’s the Fall Festival. Where else would I be?”
He laughed, “Point.”
“Do you know where the donation station is?”
“Right here.” He pointed to a large box with a slit through the top. “Just put it in there. Want me to make an announcement for you?”
“No thanks,” Katie replied. She pulled a plain envelope out of her purse and slid it into the box. “Have a great day.”
“You too.”
Katie looked around the fair. Horse drawn hayrides were being led by Blayne Grundy, one of the local ranchers. She waved and smiled as he tipped his hat. Several local artists and businesses had booths set up with various pumpkin and fall-themed wares for the festival-goers. She picked up a bag of pumpkin spice popcorn and meandered through the street. A booth with blown-glass pumpkins caught her eye. She glanced around for the owner, but didn’t see anyone.
A woman at a nearby booth said, “Brooke’s just gone to the lady’s room. She’ll be back soon, I’m sure.”
“Thanks.” Katie replied. “I bet Aunt Viv would love these,” she murmured and took a picture with her phone before texting it to Viv. For the shop. Yay or nay?
Her phone buzzed a moment later. GET THEM ALL!!!
Laughing, Katie shook her head. There was no way they needed that many glass pumpkins. How about just ten?
Twenty.
Fifteen?
Ugh, fine, just get as many as you can. Does she do snowflakes?
I’ll ask when she gets back. Katie looked up from her phone as Brooke returned to her booth. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”
“Not really. These are beautiful.”
“Of course they are,” Brooke replied with a grin. “How many would you like?”
“Well, my aunt says all of them, but that might be a bit much for our small shop.” Katie glanced again at the pumpkins, trying to think of how they would best arrange on the shelves. “How about fifteen?”
Brooke laughed, her hazel eyes twinkling. “I like how your aunt thinks, but fifteen works too. Would you like a box?”
“Yes, please!” As she watched Brooke wrap the pumpkins in paper and set them in a box, Katie said, “Aunt Viv wanted to know if you do snowflakes.”
“Sure. Snowflakes, Christmas trees, angels. Depends on when she wants them how many I could get done for her. Oh and size matters too.”
Katie pulled out one of the business cards she kept in her purse. “I’m not sure what exactly Aunt Viv wants. But if you call the number, the two of you could go to town.”
“That’s a dangerous thing to say to an artist.” Brooke winked and put the last pumpkin in the box. “There you go. Fifteen perfect pumpkins.”
“Thanks so much. If you do happen to have any leftover after the festival, give my aunt a call. I’m sure she’d save those poor homeless pumpkins in a flash,” Katie replied as she paid Brooke.
“Will do. Thanks for stopping by.”
Katie carried the box to her car. After fumbling with her car keys she managed to get the box settled in the backseat. A whinny in the makeshift corral distracted her momentarily and she failed to notice the car door not shutting properly, leaving the interior lights on.