Page 94 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
Karen restrained from rolling her eyes. “Jump the gun a little? It’s way too soon. We’re—” What the hell did she call this? He was more than her boyfriend. More than a lover.
He was…hers.
“You’re together.” Julia dipped her chin firmly. “You guys fit. And I understand there’s history, but you seem pretty solid in the here and now. Good for you.”
“What will happen when you head out in the fall?” Tamara looked uncertain. “Long-term relationships do better when you’re in the same postal code area.”
Karen put both feet forward and jumped.
“There’s the other thing I want to let you know. Ever since I got here, I’ve been considering my options. Thinking about what would make me happy not just down the road, but right now. And that might sound a little backwards, but it’s been pointed out that it’s okay to do things that make me happy. I’ve decided school is not on my short-term list. Instead, I’m staying and working the ranch with Finn and Zach.” She wondered if she would have to fend off a mass of questions, so she hurried to finish. “It’s what I want. I’m excited to stay in Heart Falls.”
The entire time Karen had been talking, her sisters’ expressions had grown more surprised, eyes widening.
Lisa pressed her fingers over her mouth. Then damn if she didn’t burst into tears. Tamara followed, and suddenly Karen’s eyes filled as well.
It was far too easy to get a group of grown women to end up watery messes.
Julia was the one who finally voiced her discomfort. “I don’t even know why I’m crying. I mean, I’m happy for you. Sounds as if you gave it a lot of thought. Besides”—she jerked a thumb toward Lisa and Tamara—“getting to set up here in Heart Falls with these two is pretty perfect.”
“I’m crying becauseshe’scrying,” Tamara insisted as she pointed at Lisa. “Dammit. Pregnancy and nursing hormones arehell. I’m really happy for you, Karen. And not only because it will be so much easier to hold family get-togethers.”
The little cream-coloured terrier, Ollie, was up on her hind legs, scratching lightly at Lisa’s leg, trying to figure out what had gone wrong so she could fix it.
Lisa soothed her, slowly petting the puppy’s head. “It’s okay, sweetie. This is one of those weird things humans do when they’re happy.” She held her hand out to Karen and gave her fingers a big squeeze. “That’s a hell of a destination change, but I’m hardly one to talk. I’m so glad you’re sticking around.”
“Now we need to find Julia a full-time job in the area so we’ll have all the Whiskey Creek women in one place,” Tamara pointed out.
Julia shrugged even as she wiped away tears. “I wouldn’t mind, but right now the job only lasts until the end of October. But no matter what, this will make it a whole lot simpler when I come visit. I’ll find all three of you in one spot.”
They returned to their meal while questions and teasing about every other topic under the sun continued. Laughter rose and love and support surrounded Karen like a warm blanket on a cold day.
It might be a different story when she had to explain to extended family, but really, at the core, did that matter?
The women around her right now—theywere the ones in her heart. They were the ones whose opinions mattered, and with them by her side, she could do anything.
21
Things smoothed out after that in a way that made the momentary upheavals seem like distant memories. Finn was fine with that.
Security teams were hired, and there were no more unexpected losses or fires. Which meant as the end of July rolled around, things continued to progress at double-quick pace.
Karen drove him to the hospital for his appointment to get the cast removed. He was antsy. It was a couple days later than he’d hoped, plus he was so done being chauffeured everywhere.
In the driver’s seat beside him, his woman didn’t even try to hide her amusement.
“Stop smirking,” Finn grumbled. “Admit it. You’re just as eager for me to get this cast off as I am.”
“Oh, I don’t thinkthat’spossible.” She offered him a sweet smile before turning her focus back on the highway. “I’m absolutely amazed you didn’t take a hacksaw to it yourself yesterday. You’re to be commended for your restraint.”
“Damn doctor shouldn’t have said August first when she knew she wasn’t coming back from holidays until the third,” Finn complained. “And putting on my chart that no one else was allowed to take the cast off without her approval was just nasty.”
“I know. It was a terribly mean thing to do.” Karen patted his hand with mock sympathy. “Shall we go for a celebratory horseback ride when we get home?”
He kept hold of her fingers, tugging them to his lips. “Maybe second thing.”
If anything, her smile got wider. “You’re right. You really should go on a full inspection tour of everything that’s been accomplished over the past couple of months before we try anything fun.”
“You just carry on like that. See how well fucked it gets you.”
