Page 18 of Wild and Wrangled

Oh god. Teddy Andersen was telling me about routine? And boundaries?

She took the seat next to me and bumped my shoulder with hers. “I am a saint, but a week is where I have to draw the line,” she said with a laugh. “I need to get laid.”

Ada snorted at that, and Emmy made a gagging noise.

“Oh, grow up, Clementine,” Teddy teased. “I’m just saying—things have taken a little bit of a hit in that department lately. But I don’t want Cam to be subjected to all of the sounds coming from our bedroom across the hall when the dam finally breaks.”

“Oh god.” Emmy put her hands over her ears. “Make it stop.”

“Understandable.” I sighed. Both she and Gus had been so kind to me this week—too kind, almost—especially for two people who were better known for their tough love.

“But only if you’re ready,” Emmy said, and Teddy and Ada nodded in agreement.

“It’s understandable if you aren’t,” Ada said. “You can also come stay with me and Wes to give Gus and Teddy some…um…alone time.”

“I can’t just bounce between all of your houses for the foreseeable future.” I sighed. “Teddy’s right. It’s time to get some routine back—for me and Riley.”

Teddy smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that. Not in a ‘I want you out of my house’ way but in a ‘we have a plan’ way.”

“What did you have in mind?” I asked.

“Well,” Ada said from across the table, “I’ve put together alist of every home in Meadowlark that’s for sale or for rent, which is not that many, but it’s enough for us to work with.” She slid her iPad across the table to me.

“The ones highlighted in green are the ones that I think are the most promising based on size, cost, and location. I figured at least three bedrooms and at least close-ish to Rebel Blue.”

Ada’s love of organization spoke to my soul. I slowly scrolled through her list, thankful that she’d included pictures. I got to a blue Craftsman-style cottage and stopped.

“Is this the Wilson house?” I asked and looked up, even though I already knew the answer.

Emmy nodded excitedly. “Just went up for rent yesterday. Apparently, Mrs. Wilson moved into a care facility.”

Anne Wilson was a kind, elderly woman who was as much a part of Meadowlark as the diner or the Devil’s Boot. I met her when I was in high school. Dusty and I used to park at her house before we went hiking, and she would leave treats on her porch for when we were done. Like everyone I knew, Anne loved Dusty. I remember him weeding her yard in the summer and shoveling snow for her in the winter, but most of all, I remember him talking to her and listening to her stories.

I thought back to the gas station and how Dusty was so at ease with Stan. He’d always had a knack for people and loved building and maintaining relationships. There were probably hundreds of Annes and Stans in the world now, since Dusty had been all around it.

“According to the clerk at the post office,” Ada said, “there’s already been a lot of interest in it.” My shoulders sagged a little. Of course there was—it was a beautiful home.

“But,” Teddy said, holding a finger up, “we have an advantage.”

“How so?” I asked.

“Well, you obviously get pity points because you got left at the altar,” Teddy said with a wave of her hand. “And the real estate agent in charge of vetting tenants is Ed Wyatt.”

I didn’t know Ed. “How does that give me an advantage?” I asked.

“Because Ed’s little brother still has a soft spot for his high school homecoming date.” Teddy’s gaze moved to Emmy. “The one and only Clementine Ryder.”

Emmy rolled her eyes and held up her left hand and wiggled her ring finger, which was adorned with a simple diamond-encrusted gold band. “I don’t think that advantage applies anymore, Ted.”

“Only one way to find out,” Teddy said before looking back at me. “Is this the house you want, Cam?” That didn’t even cover it. This is the house I hadalwayswanted. I slowly nodded. “All right then. Let’s get it for you.”

Teddy stood up, walked over to Emmy, and pulled Emmy’s phone out of her back pocket. Emmy immediately tried to snatch it back, but Teddy was already on the move.

“I can’t believe your password is ‘brooks,’ ” she called back to Emmy as Emmy chased her around the table. “You two are so predictable.”

“Give me the phone, Teddy!”

“Kenny Wyatt, where are you?” Teddy was focused on scrolling but was still managing to evade Emmy. “There you are, you cheating bastard.”

---