Page 3 of A Cowboy's Bride
“I’m probably going to work remotely,” Petra reminded him. “I’ll check the offices tomorrow.”
“There’s a new colt in the barn. You have to see him.” Zach blinked innocently, and his resemblance to a Ryan Reynolds wannabe was so unfair. “I can take a picture of you next to him to post to the family chat.”
She usually had zero problems standing up for herself, but Zach, her sibling closest in age and childhood playmate, was her soft spot. Especially when he was being all sweet and seemingly focused on making her happy.
The jerk.
Petra met her sister-in-law’s gaze, begging for an assist.
Thank goodness for female solidarity, because Julia laid a hand on Zach’s arm and shook her head. “Hey, you aren’t trying to get out of your promise, are you?”
Zach blinked, his smile fading slightly. “Um, no?”
Julia nodded decisively. “Good. Because for a minute there I thought you’d forgotten we’re supposed to go over to my sister’s tonight. Josiah and Lisa are expecting us.”
His confusion wiped clean instantly as suspicion slipped in. “They are?”
“Yup.” Julia kept a straight face, but when she twisted toward Petra, she winked. “We’ll take care of the dishes. Go have fun with your friends. We’ll catch up more later.”
“Sounds great. Thanks for supper… and everything.” Petra hurried to the door and shoved her feet into her boots, snatching her coat off the hooks. “Take me for a tour tomorrow, ‘kay, Zach? Night.”
She escaped into the warm fall evening, grinning as laughter erupted behind her in the cozy home Zach and Julia had built together.
So. Her brotherhadbeen acting like a turkey just to tease her.
Petra climbed into her truck and eased her way down the ranch drive, headed the short distance to town. If Zach wanted to play those games, she had zero problems handing out as good as she got. In fact, this was going to be fun. Tormenting her big brother was one of her favourite things.
She pulled behind Buns and Rose’s café, happiness welling up when she spotted another favourite thing, friends.
Tansy Fields and Sydney Jeremiah stood framed by the backdoor of the café. One slightly under medium height and blonde, the other a petite redhead.
Petra shoved open the truck door and all but threw herself into their arms. “I missed you both so much.”
Sydney squeezed her hard but escaped the embrace quickly. “Of course you did.”
“We’re extremely missable.” Tansy snickered at herself. “Wait. That didn’t come out the way I intended.” She snuck in a hug before retreating far enough to examine Petra carefully then nodded with approval. “You look happy.”
“I’m so glad to finally be here,” Petra agreed.
“Youwantto be in a small town with one grocery store and two-and-a-half restaurants?” Sydney eyed her as if ready to pull on her doctor jacket and make a diagnosis before smiling. “I know exactly what you mean, since I did the same thing two years ago.”
Since her brother had moved to Heart Falls four-and-a-half years ago, Petra had been on the receiving end of the wonderfully giving local female community. She’d been welcomed with open arms to any girls’-night-out events taking place during her visits. The mix of participants changed regularly based on who was free, and Sydney and Tansy were the two whom Petra had gotten to know the best, apart from her sister-in-law Julia, who the entire family loved to pieces.
Petra peeked into the shop. “I want to get caught up on everything you guys have been doing, but I want to get some dancing in as well.”
“It’s going to be much easier to stay in touch now that you’re here full-time instead of flying in and out three or four times a year to visit your brother.” Tansy pulled the door shut and locked it behind them. “Tonight it’s a mini-girls’ night out. Just the three of us.”
“Wait. Forgot something.” Petra raced back to the truck and snatched up her purse, sliding it over her shoulder before returning and linking her arms through both Sydney’s and Tansy’s.
They marched down the back alley toward Rough Cut.
“I’m opening the clinic at seven a.m., so I’m heading home at midnight,” Sydney warned.
“That’s my deadline, as well,” Tansy said. “Baking tasks start at four a.m. for me.”
Jeez. Petra didn’t mind getting up early, but that was beyond her skills. “You’re both going to hate me when I tell you I’m going to sleep in until noon.”
Sydney snickered. “You can tell us that, but you’d be lying.”
