Page 3 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

Frannie wrapped the straps of her apron around her waist and tied them tightly. “She’s getting worse.”

Kelley didn’t disagree. Laura-Beth’s wedding ambushes were becoming daily occurrences, especially with Wes’s recent back-to-back business trips. As Wes was, in his own words,clearing the decksto spend the entire month of July after their wedding with his new bride and no work distractions, Kelley cut him some slack.

Still, Kelley checked the time on the wall clock behind the counter and said loud enough for Laura-Beth to hear, “We’ve got a few minutes to spare for our sister who needs us.”

Frannie looked less than convinced.

Kelley squeezed Frannie’s shoulder. “I know what I’m doing,little fig.” Frannie’s childhood nickname earned Kelley a glower from her younger sister.

“You’ve been saying that since you gave up your New York restaurant, signed your divorce papers and moved home to work here at the diner,” Frannie groused, giving her usual morning grump free rein.

Kelley hadn’t given up. Quite the opposite. She had fought for her marriage and their restaurant. The same could not be said about her ex-husband. But that so-called chapter of life was finished, and it wasn’t worth rereading now. Besides, the bride-to-be was the focus, not Kelley, thankfully.

“We can discuss Kelley’s situation and her next move later,” Laura-Beth said offhandedly, then motioned to them. Her engagement ring sparkled under the fluorescent lights. “Come over here and help me move this last table. It’s the heaviest.”

Frannie stayed rooted to her spot near the cash register.

Kelley helped Laura-Beth scoot the largest table to the side then asked, “LB, what are we doing anyway?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Laura-Beth paced a small circle around Kelley and added, “We’ve got a wedding party dance to choreograph.” At Kelley’s arched eyebrow, her sister said, “If it helps, think of it more like a dry run-through.”

Kelley took in the open space Laura-Beth created in the dining area and said slowly, “You want to dance here.”

“What did you think she was wanting?” Frannie asked, feigned disinterest in her tone.

“I thought we were going to sit down, have coffee and talk through the final wedding details.” At which point Laura-Beth would return to her calm and collected persona who exuded confidence rather than panic and pandemonium. The daily urgent phone calls and around-the-clock texts would cease. And Kelley could go back to running the diner’s breakfast service as usual.

“Well, we can sip and chat later. Right now, we need to practice our multitasking skills.” Laura-Beth grabbed Frannie’s arm, tugged her away from the counter and over to Kelley then ordered, “There’s no reason we can’t decide my other wedding things while you two dance.”

Her big sister was petite, her heart-shaped face delicate and pretty. Only now there was a decided determination in the set of Laura-Beth’s pointed chin and a stubborn glint in her pale green eyes. It would be easier to convince a goat to stop climbing than to change Laura-Beth’s mind. Kelley sighed and extended her arm toward her little sister. Smiling, she asked, “Can I have this dance, Ms. Francine Marie?”

Frannie blew a raspberry at Kelley and said, “I knew I should’ve hit snooze on my alarm this morning and driven myself to work.”

“But then you would have missed all this.” Kelley bowed low to her grumbly little sister and asked again, “Now, may I please have this dance?”

Frannie’s eyebrows pulled together and lowered. But the spark in her vibrant green eyes was more than evident. Frannie mused, “Actually, if this morning is about deciding things, we’ve got Fourth of July decisions to make. Like are we participating or not.”

Kelley should have seen this coming. Being a part of the town’s Fourth of July celebration was something of a family tradition. Kelley liked watching the parade and fireworks show well enough. It was the participation part that gave her pause. That conversation definitely required more caffeine and preferably something extra sweet.

“It’s the first time we are all together for the Fourth in what seems like forever,” Laura-Beth stated. “So, of course we are taking part like we always did as kids.”

That earned Laura-Beth a satisfied smile from their youngest sister. Frannie eyed Kelley. “How about it, Kiki? Are you floating with us or not?”

Kelley never liked saying no to her sisters and disappointing them. Still, she said, “I think we should keep this morning about wedding things.”

“But LB already declared it a day for decisions,” Frannie challenged.

“Fine,” Kelley sighed. “We can discuss the parade.”

Frannie considered her and pressed, “Then you’re doing it, right?”

“I’m agreeing to discuss it.” That was all Kelley allowed. At her sister’s frown, Kelley whispered quickly, “If we dance now, LB will leave us alone the rest of the day and just perhaps all the remaining days until the wedding.”

“That would be a very good thing,” Frannie muttered.

“Dance with me,Little Fig.” Kelley grinned and added, “Let me sweep you off your boots.”

Finally, Frannie’s smile broke through her morning grump. Her little sister curtsied all grace and elegance despite her worn cowboy boots, rumpled shirt, black pants and heather-green waist apron. Frannie set her hand in Kelley’s and said, “Why, my darlingKiki, I’d be delighted.”