Summer Nights

“Not your style?”

“No, but it looks good on Heidi. Have fun. Call me if you need me.”

Jo left. Charlie came in with one of the servers. Both women carried buckets of ice.

“In case,” Charlie said.

She’d traded her usual firefighter uniform for dark wash jeans and a simple long-sleeved blue shirt. The top was fitted, as were the jeans. More so than Charlie’s uniform or her traditional casual look of a T-shirt and baggy cargo pants.

Annabelle took in her long, lean legs and narrow hips. Maybe it was nerves about the shower or carrying the ice up a flight of stairs, but Charlie’s face was slightly flushed, her eyes bright. The shirt deepened the blue in her eyes.

She had amazing bone structure. Annabelle wasn’t sure why she hadn’t noticed until now.

Charlie set down the ice and glared. “What?” she demanded. “You’re staring at me.”

“You look nice.”

Charlie grimaced. “Oh, please.”

“I’m serious. I never got it before, but you go out of your way to avoid dressing like a woman. You don’t wear makeup or act feminine at all. But you’re really very pretty.”

The grimace turned into a glower. “Don’t make me hurt you.”

“I’m unimpressed by the threat.” Annabelle continued to stare. “You downplay your looks because you don’t want attention.”

“I’m the tallest girl in the room. Trust me, that’s not attention I want.”

“I’m short, so I know there’s an advantage to being the tallest girl. But you don’t use it.”

Charlie drew in a breath. “I know what beautiful is. My mother. I’m nothing like her.”

“There are all kinds of beauty.”

But Annabelle could tell Charlie didn’t believe her. Charlie’s mother was a petite, graceful ballerina. That could intimidate anyone, let alone a tall, gawky girl. Add the horrible date rape to the mix and it made sense that Charlie avoided anything remotely feminine. But with their guests arriving in the next few minutes, this wasn’t the time for that conversation.

They checked on the food, hit Play on the remote to start the music and then suffered through three minutes of “What if everyone hates our party” jitters before Heidi and May arrived.

“It’s perfect,” May announced, glancing around at the room. “I love it.”

“Me, too,” Heidi said. “I’m nervous. Why am I nervous?”

“Because you haven’t had champagne,” Charlie said, giving both women hugs.

One of the servers opened the first bottle of champagne and started to pour. Annabelle passed out glasses.

In the next twenty minutes the rest of the guests arrived. The Hendrix triplets were there, along with their mother, Denise. Mayor Marsha, Charity Golden, Pia and their resident famous author, Liz Sutton. Rina McKenzie, recently married to the local vet Cameron, arrived with Julia Gionni of the feuding Gionni sisters.

As more women arrived, Annabelle made sure she was by the door to collect the gifts and guide guests to the champagne. Conversation and laughter drowned out the music.

Once everyone had their drink, Charlie proposed a toast to the bride-to-be. The buffet was set out and people lined up to get food. The tables filled quickly as everyone settled in for dinner.

Annabelle found a seat by Charity. The city planner wore her hair in a cut bob with bangs.

“You’ve done a great job,” Charity said as Annabelle sat next to her. “I love that Jo’s opened this banquet room.”

“Party room,” Annabelle corrected. “She’s calling it a party room.”

Charity laughed. “Of course she is. I remember when I first moved here, I was so impressed by the idea of a bar catering to women. I wasn’t sure she could make the concept last, but she’s doing great.”

“I know. The first time Charlie and Heidi suggested we have lunch here, I was shocked. I’m not exactly the bar type. But it’s great.”

Charity’s brown eyes widened. “Not the bar type? Really? Because I heard you were dancing on the bar a few weeks back.”

“I keep telling everyone,” Annabelle said, exasperated. “I wasn’t drunk. I was demonstrating the dance of the happy virgin.”

“I wish I’d seen that. Will you be doing it again at the Máa-zib festival?”

“No. That will be the horse dancing. I’m just along for the ride.”

“Too bad. Because I’m guessing a lot of guys would pay to see the happy virgin dance.”

Maybe, but there was only one she was interested in showing it to, she thought.

Charity picked up her champagne, then paused. “Uh-oh. I know that look. Who’s the guy?”

“What guy?”

“I don’t know. The one making you look…” She paused.

Nevada, sitting across from them, looked up. “Sappy,” she offered. “Trust me. I know the look. I get it every time I think of Tucker. It’s humiliating, but inescapable.”

“There’s no look,” Annabelle said quickly, determined to think of something other than Shane. “No guy.”

“That’s not what I heard,” Pia called from another table. “I heard there was travel and hotel. A night at a hotel.”

Several women hooted.

“Details,” someone called out. “We want details.”

May winced. “Not too many. We’re talking about my son, ladies. There are some things a mother shouldn’t know.”

“Oh, good point,” Pia said. “But you can give us generalities.”

Annabelle sprang to her feet. “Oh, look. Heidi’s done eating. Let’s open presents.”

“I’d try champagne,” Charlie murmured, standing to join her. “You’re more likely to distract them with alcohol.”

Fortunately there was a momentary lull in the music so everyone heard Mayor Marsha say, “…bought the radio station.”

“Who bought the radio station?” Pia asked. “Why don’t I get the good gossip anymore? Is it having the kids? They’re worth it, of course, but I miss gossip.”

Mayor Marsha glanced around the room. “A very interesting man has purchased the radio station on the edge of town. His name is Gideon.”

“Oh, like the angel,” Heidi said, obviously feeling her champagne.

“Ah, no,” the mayor said. “He has an interesting past, though. I’m sure you’ll all get to meet him soon enough.”

Just then Jo arrived with the dessert and questions about the mysterious Gideon went unanswered.

After everyone finished eating, the tables were pushed back and the chairs drawn in a loose circle. Charlie collected the presents for Heidi to open.

The invitations had gone out with “Bring something Heidi will love” as the gift suggestion. Lingerie was a given, and well represented. Mayor Marsha gave Heidi a beautiful set of antique cheese molds, perfect for a woman with goats and a cheese business. May, Heidi’s future mother-in-law, had wrapped two tickets to Paris.

“For your honeymoon,” May said happily.

Heidi stared at the gift, then looked up, obviously stunned. “Paris? For two weeks?”

Charlie sighed. “Yes, and before you ask, Annabelle and I have already volunteered to look after the goats. We’ll be by in a couple of days for our milking lessons.”

Heidi wiped away happy tears as she hugged them all.

Later, while the guests created a wrapping paper wedding gown, Charlie pointed to the collection of empty champagne bottles.

“There are going to be less of those left over than we’d thought.”

Annabelle sighed. “I know, but it’s been fun. What a great shower.”

“Have a little bride envy?”

“Maybe. When I married Lewis, there wasn’t any of this. He thought it was silly and I pretended I agreed with him.”

“Shane wouldn’t mind the party and later he’d want you to try on all the sexy outfits.”

“Who said anything about Shane?” Annabelle asked.

“No one has to. We can all see it. You’re falling for him.”

“I’m not.” She sighed. “Maybe. A little.”

“Heidi swears Stryker brothers are the best,” Charlie told her.

“I don’t question his character. He’s a great guy. But he has baggage and it makes me nervous.”

“Nobody’s perfect.”

“You’re telling me to follow my heart?”

“I’m saying from where I’m sitting, falling in love sounds nice,” Charlie admitted.

“Then you could, you know, start dating.”

“I don’t think so. I can walk right into a burning building without blinking, but going out with a man?” She shook her head. “Not going to happen.”

Annabelle reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand. Sometimes the solutions were obvious. Impossible, but obvious. Charlie should get off her butt and go out with a guy and Annabelle, well, she was less sure what she should do. Trust Shane came to mind. Believe in him to find his way.

Because Charlie had a point. From where she was sitting, falling in love sounded very, very nice.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“IS THAT A PIG?”

Shane didn’t bother turning around. What was the point? There was only one answer to the question.

“Yes.”

“A real pig?”

“His name is Wilbur.”

Giggles exploded from behind him. He flinched like a cat being hit by rain.

“From the book,” one of the girls said.

“It’s Charlotte’s Web,” another offered. “Shane, have you read it?”

He finished adjusting the saddle and then reluctantly turned around to face his class of beginning riders. “Yes, I know it’s a book. Yes, I know the name of it. Yes, I’ve read it.”

Shane’s big plan that would give Wilbur a week with Priscilla and Reno had ended the second his mother seen the pig. Once she’d met Wilbur, it had all been decided.

“Let’s get started,” Shane told the girls.

They stood in line as he gave each one a lift up into the saddle, then pointed to the open gate on the left.

“In there,” he said.

They did as he asked, walking sedately into the ring. Before he could follow, his mother burst out of the house.

“Did you tell them?” she asked eagerly.

“Not yet,” he answered, over a chorus of “Tell us what?”

“Sorry,” May said, not looking the least bit sorry. “I’ll be quiet while you tell them now.”

Four pairs of eyes stared at him. Shane stood in the center of the corral and suddenly felt foolish. What if they didn’t want to be a part of things? What if he couldn’t teach them or the horses?

He cleared his throat. “I thought it would be fun for you to be in the parade with Annabelle.”

“Really?”

“Can we?”

“That’s so great.”

“Yay!”

“That was a yes?” he asked, holding in a smile.

They all nodded.

“Yes!”

“Good. I’ve been working on what you could do on your horses. A few simple steps.”

“And there’ll be costumes,” May added.

Shane turned to look at his mother. “Excuse me?”

“Costumes. For the girls.”

There was more cheering. Shane felt the beginning of a headache. “I didn’t say anything about costumes.”

“That’s because you’re a man. It’s a parade. They need costumes. I’ve seen what Annabelle is going to wear and I’ve made a few sketches. Now we just have to find someone who can sew.”

“My mom sews,” one of the girls offered.

“Mine, too.”

May beamed. “See. Problem solved. I’ll talk to the girls after their lesson. Annabelle will be so happy.”

Words deliberately designed to make him rethink any complaints. Because making Annabelle happy had become a priority with him.

“Now you’re fighting dirty,” he told his mother.

She laughed. “I do what I have to so that I win. You should respect that.”

“Mostly it frightens me.”

Still smiling, May waved at the girls. “Listen to Shane,” she called as she walked back to the house. “Don’t forget, he’s a real cowboy.”

“Thanks for the endorsement,” he muttered as he turned back to his class. “Okay, let’s start practicing being in the parade.”

Mandy raised her hand. “Can we wear lip gloss?”

Shane’s almost-headache began to grow. “Excuse me?”

“If you tell us we have to wear lip gloss, we will.” She bounced in the saddle. “Because my mom says I’m too young.”

“Mine, too.”

“But we want to.”

“I’m not going to say you have to wear lip gloss.”

Four ten-year-olds immediately began to pout.

“Why not?” Mandy asked.

“Because…” He sucked in a breath. “Because I’m not going to get your moms mad at me, okay? If your moms get mad, they might say you can’t ride anymore. Do you want that?”

They exchanged glances, then shook their heads. Then Mandy smiled at him.

“You like us.”

Shane held in a groan. “Can we get started now?”

“Okay, but just so you know, my mom says I can’t start dating until I’m fifteen.”