Page 20 of The Cowboy's Country Charm

Her mother placed her hands on her hips. “Yes. So I’m not only losing a daughter but a valuable collaborator.” Her mother’s smile suggested her annoyance was feigned.

“I truly am sorry.” She hugged her mother and laid her head on her mom’s shoulder, breathing in her mother’s signature luxury fragrance. “I love you.”

Her mother patted Kristy’s head. “I know you do. And I love you. That’s why this is so difficult.”

Kristy lifted her head, and her mother stood back, holding Kristy’s shoulders. “So go fly. And I’ll come out soon and help decorate, although with Ariel you won’t need my help, but I’ll come anyway. I’ll have to get out there while the weather is still good.” She squeezed Kristy’s shoulders. “And you will come back for holidays?”

“We promise, Mom. Ariel and I will drive back on the holidays. As long as we don’t have events to plan.”

Her mom frowned. “That’s not good enough, my dear. You will come back regardless. Promise.”

Kristy sighed. “I promise, even if I have to fly into Denver to get to Cheyenne.”

“Then I can let you go. I’ll just think of it like you’re off at college.”

College seemed so long ago, though only six years had passed since she’d traveled down the aisle to get her diploma. And now she would truly be on her own, without the benefit of even Marcia’s wisdom, at least for the time being.

A twinge of panic sidled up her spine. She had to ignore it. No time for second thoughts.

As if to keep herself from caving in to fear, Kristy glanced out the window. “The moving truck is here. I’ve hired some guys to move the stuff into the truck on this end.”

“And the other end?”

“I’ve a friend who’s helping.”

Her mother’s face lit up. “You’ve made a friend already. A male friend?”

“He’s a guy, but just a friend. I’ve too much on my plate to think about a relationship.” She needed to nip her mother’s imagination now or her mom would have Kristy walking down the aisle in no time. Her mother had proved that with Dean, having started to collect bridal magazines after only three dates

“Or babies?”

“Babies are the furthest from my mind.”

Mothers never changed.

“They weren’t so far from your mind just a year ago.”

It was true that she had planned on having children shortly after marrying Dean. She’d had it all mapped out. Marriage, a house, baby number one in the first year. Working close by.

Aunt Beth had offered to look after the baby-to-be, since her aunt was home during the day and loved children. It would have worked beautifully, but for the man on which she’d pinned her hopes and dreams.

“My priorities have changed. And they don’t include a man or babies for the foreseeable future.”

“Well, priorities can change again. We will just have to see.”

Her apartment buzzed. Saved by the bell.

***

He owed Mel and Stetson one. And Cort for letting Mel take time off. And his sister June for finding another driver to fill in for him. He owed a lot of people just to help a woman he barely knew.

But looking at her as she bit her lip and stared into the truck crammed with boxes and furniture, something told him it would be worth it. Ariel had stepped out of Kristy’s red Civic and was sauntering over.

Considering it was typically warm in Gillette in June, they’d lucked out, as the temperature hovered at eighty, but the sky was overcast, with a dry breeze coming off the mountains. It would be sweaty work, but it could have been a lot hotter.

“You drove this truck here?”

Kristy nodded. “Ariel drove my car.” Ariel, who’d drawn beside Kristy, nodded.

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