Page 56 of A Cowboy's Claim
“Just to catch you up.” Jake’s amusement vanished and in place was his serious brother from the police force. “Sydney did a couple of house calls this week that made her nervous. She called me to follow along as backup. Nothing bad happened, but that’s when I found out you’ve been tracking Sydney for a while now—with her permission.”
“So?”
Jake breathed out slowly. “So, when a woman who is nearly as bossy and controlling as you asks you to keep an eye on her, I think you need to acknowledge she might be asking for more than just someone at her six.”
“You’re not telling me anything I haven’t thought of,” Declan said. “But straight from the horse’s mouth, she said what we’re doing is enough.”
“Which I get, but it doesn’t line up,” Jake insisted. “I’m not telling you to think something’s there when she’s told you no. I’m saying something seems off.”
“I hear you,” Declan agreed. “And if I need Tansy and Petra to offer me support, I’ll ask.”
His brother smiled. “That’s all I wanted to hear. We’ve got your back, bro. Whatever you need, whatever the pace—we’ve got your back.”
Which was exactly what he expected, and as Declan made his way through the storm to Sydney’s house, he felt a whole lot more hopeful than he had any right.
Didn’t matter how keen he was to mix up their relationship. If she said no again, he’d listen.
But first, she was going to listen to him. He was going to make it crystal clear exactly what he had to offer and then hope like hell it was enough.
“I can’t believeyou’re making me play this game.” Rose all but glared at Tansy. “You’rethe baker?—
“And clearly the candlestick maker, too,” Fern added with a snicker. “Or something like that. You suck at this game.”
“Laugh it up, sweetheart.” Rose eyed their youngest sister with mock annoyance. “Someday soon you too will plan a wedding, and we’re saving up all our badness to torment you.”
“Not going to happen,” Fern offered with a grin. “Cody and I plan to shack up happily for the rest of our lives, no ceremony needed.”
At Sydney’s side, Petra leaned in closer. “I wonder if I should inform Fern I overheard Cody talking about buying her a ring…”
“You heard that or hacked their emails?” Sydney eyed her friend. “You’re scary at times. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Not my fault if people decide to talk about stuff I don’t need to know when I’m right there. In the Red Boot ranch tack room, behind a half closed door,” Petra admitted, looking a smidge guilty. “In my defense, Iwastrying to overhear some clues as to what to get my brother for his birthday this year.”
Sydney wasn’t falling for it. “It’s August. Your brother’s birthday isn’t until December.”
“I like to plan ahead,” Petra insisted.
Laughter bubbled up from the middle of the room where the game had continued.
The amazing turn out for the bridal shower filled the house to bursting, but the crowd was expected, considering Rose had lived in town since she was thirteen. There were teachers from the school, and the new cook from Buns and Roses. Edison had been invited to both parties, but had instantly chosen the bridal shower over the bachelor party.
A nice collection of generations were represented, with Rose and Tansy’s mother in attendance along with their Grandmother Sonora and other older ladies. They were the ones who’d organized the classic bridal shower games like the one currently tormenting Rose.
The tray in front of her held a dozen different bowls filled with white substances. Rose was trying in vain to identify them.
“You have the salt correct, and inexplicably the rice flour, but nothing else.” Her mother shook her head. “I thought after all these years of helping out at Buns and Roses you would’ve learned some cooking basics.”
“I know plenty. You open the pantry and reach for the packages that are clearly labeled chocolate cake mix, pancake batter, cream of tartar.” Rose wrinkled her nose. “Although for the life of me I couldn’t tell you what on earth to put that last one in.”
They partnered up to name the nearly identical powders. In the end, Edison and his teammate scored the only ten out of ten.
He batted his lashes. “I am multitalented,” Edison offered perkily.
“And oh so modest,” Lexie intoned.
“That too,” Edison agreed.
Into the amused laughter, Tansy motioned for Petra to bring something forward. “Just to prove I’m not totally a pain in the butt, I warned Mom this had to be a two-step game. Ta-da.”
