Page 5 of Taming I Do
“Wow.” Dammit. How was I going to convince my dad to get on board that fast? Dad was deliberate in his decisions. He took time to weigh the options and examine his moves from every angle before he committed to taking any kind of action. He’d never get behind an idea this wild in such a short time frame.
“Can I count on you?”
I took in a deep breath. Helping the town would be the best way to help my family, even if Dad didn’t see it that way yet.
“Let me get cleaned up, and I’ll be over in a bit.”
“Thanks, Jasper. I’ll see you soon.”
I ended the call and rejoined my dad by the fence.
“What did the mayor want?” Dad asked.
I hooked my fingers over the top rail. “She asked if I wanted a job.”
“What kind of job?”
“Seems Ido is in the running for most romantic small town in Texas and she needs a hospitality host.”
Dad let out a deep laugh. “No offense, son, but I hope you turned her down. You don’t really know much about either, do you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“When’s the last time you went on a date? Shouldn’t someone who’s in charge of romance and hospitality know something about one or the other?”
“I did turn her down but told her I’d be willing to help. If Ido wins that title, it would mean a bunch of publicity for something like a wedding barn.”
“Tell you what.” Dad turned and faced me. The humor had faded from his eyes. “You and Lacey get that title for Ido, and I’ll let you try that wedding idea with the barn.”
I grinned. “You sure you want to make that deal?”
My dad thrust out his hand. “I’m sure, but how about you? If you fail, we’re going to have to make some difficult decisions around here.” He glanced to where Abby had slowed the mare to a walk. “Some of those horses we’ve got are worth quite a bit. I’m not afraid to make some hard decisions to do whatever it takes to save this place.”
I wrapped my hand around my dad’s. “If all goes well, you won’t have to.”
CHAPTER 3
DELILAH
I tappedmy fingers on the steering wheel of the hot-pink, decked-out dually truck. I’d enjoyed the drive from East to Ido more than I expected. It was nice to have control of the radio and not have to bend to my mother’s preferences when it came to where to stop for a meal, or even which gas station she thought would have the nicest bathroom. Freedom felt just fine to me.
Stella hadn’t always been so overbearing. But since things had gotten a little rocky with the man I had been sure would assume the role of stepfather number five, Stella had been more clingy than usual. Even insisted on going on the road together, which meant the two of us had to share space inside the tiny retro camper the tourism board had provided. It would be nice to have the place to myself for the next thirty days, even if I did have to spend it in another small Texas town vying for the title.
Maybe if the cosmetics line did well it would keep Stella busy enough that I could put some effort into something with a little more heart behind it. I’d always had a soft spot in my heart for the little girls who came to watch the pageants. They had stars in their eyes and hopes of winning a title of their own. What most of them didn’t have was access to the kind of training andpreparation that Monique had provided for me. But first, thirty days in Ido.
I glanced to the roadside sign welcoming me to town as I passed. It looked new based on the fresh piles of dirt sitting next to the posts that stuck out of the ground. Mr. Plum hadn’t provided much background information on the town. He wanted me to evaluate each place based on my own personal experience, not go in with a bunch of preconceived ideas. As I navigated around the town square, looking for a place to park the truck and trailer I towed behind, I took my first real look at downtown Ido.
Seemed pleasant enough. The square took up about half a city block. Tall shade trees blocked the afternoon sun, and people sat on benches placed around the perimeter. A white gazebo stood in the center of it all. Chairs had been set up in front, and a few people were working their way around the railing, fastening some sort of ribbon and flower clusters. I pulled the truck in parallel to the sidewalk, taking up a handful of parking spots in front of city hall.
I’d used part of my per diem to stay in a hotel the night before so I could pull myself together and make a good first impression on the mayor and other representatives of the town. As I slid down from the running board of the truck, I adjusted my sash. Mr. Plum had made it clear I was representing the tourism board at all times and needed to wear my sash anytime I was out in public. I pushed the heavy truck door closed behind me and set my gaze on the building ahead.
I stepped onto the sidewalk and made my way to the stairs. As I did, someone came around the side of the building, a giant hose in his hand. Before I could get his attention, he shifted the direction of the sprayer. Icy cold droplets of water rained down on me, stopping me dead in my tracks. I opened my mouth to scream but closed it immediately as the water splashed across my face.
“Oh, shit!” The onslaught of water ceased as the man in front of me dropped the hose to the ground. “Cut the water! For fuck’s sake, turn it off.”
The hose continued to whip around, spraying water like a sprinkler. I stood frozen in place on a drenched section of sidewalk, not knowing whether I should seek shelter behind the truck or try to race up the steps before the water sprayed over me again.
Too late. The hose had taken on a life of its own. Water shot out at every angle as the hose bounced along the grass. The man tried to step on it but slipped and fell. He climbed on top of it, wrestling it into submission as the gush of water came closer to my feet. I couldn’t move. The end of the hose lifted, shooting a spray of frigid water straight up my skirt. He launched himself at the spigot, finally pinning it to the ground. The hose clenched in his hand, he sprawled across the sidewalk and squinted up at me.
