Page 28 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

The lunch hour at Galloping Fork was apparently the place to be. There was a line of customers waiting to be seated. Frannie hollered a cheerful welcome from across the diner that had more than a few locals swiveling in their chairs to look at him.

Asher touched his hat in acknowledgment and worked his way through the crowded dining area, keeping one eye out for Big E. His progress was slowed every other table as he paused to greet former friends and shake the hands of neighbors. Finally, he made it to the back of the diner and searched for a spot out of the way. Where was Big E?

The door to the kitchen swung open slightly. Kelley grabbed his arm and tugged him into the back toward the small office. Her smile lit up her eyes and had him grinning back. Now he could say he was starting to enjoy his day.

“I made you a sandwich, but you can’t eat it out there.” She picked up a to-go container off her desk and handed it to him then added, “It’s off-menu.”

Now he was curious. He flipped the lid and smelled bacon and roasted jalapeños. His stomach growled. “Are you afraid someone might see this and try to order it?”

“Frannie will make sure they do,” Kelley explained. “It’s one of her favorites and she believes it should be on the menu.”

“You don’t,” Asher said.

“It’s not my choice.” Kelley shrugged and added, “Speaking of my boss, Pauline should be here any minute. She’s got a new policy about outside food being kept outside the diner.”

Policies seemed to be a running theme for the day. “Then I’ll eat fast.” Asher lifted half of the grilled cheese and considered her. “Why am I getting a special order?” Not that he minded. Not even a little bit.

“To thank you.” Kelley’s smile was wide and warm. She reached out and squeezed Asher’s arm as if to share her delight. “This is the first day Frannie showed up for her shift here smiling and happy. Even more remarkable, she hasn’t made one order error yet.”

“I don’t think I can take credit for that,” Asher said. Although he would like to take credit sometime for making his cowgirl chef happy. He bit through the toasted sourdough bread then sighed around the explosion of flavor from the blackberry jam to smoky heat and crisp bacon. He swallowed and said, “I think this just might be my new favorite, too.”

Her cheeks turned a rather fetching rosy color. It was her only acknowledgment to his compliment.I see you, cowgirl.Asher polished off the first half and went to work on the second part of the sandwich.

“Well, Frannie is over the moon with her new job at your stables,” Kelley explained. “You getallthe credit for her newfound joy. I’m really grateful.”

What he wanted was to have his cowgirl chefallto himself. Asher opened his mouth.

“Kelley!” That shout came from the kitchen followed by, “Five minutes until call to order.”

Kelley sprang into motion, took the to-go container from Asher and tossed it into the trash can near the desk. “Come on. We need to find you a seat before the meeting. It’s probably going to be long, and you won’t want to stand the whole time.”

“What meeting?” Asher followed Kelley into the kitchen.

“The July Fourth Committee meeting,” Kelley said. “We’ve got quite the turnout today.”

Asher slowed near the service counter and pointed to the back door. “I think I’ll just slip out there and head on back to the stables.”

Hayes overheard and chuckled. “You aren’t going nowhere.” The cook pointed his spatula toward the window in the back door and asked, “That is Walter’s blue truck that you drove here, isn’t it?”

Asher nodded then frowned. He traded his compact rental car for the comfort of Walter’s extended cab, fully loaded truck. The four-wheel-drive diesel was upgraded, relatively new and reminded Asher how much he missed open spaces and open roads.

“Ha. The locals got you boxed in something good out there.” Hayes shook his head. “I told Trudy and now Pauline the diner needs a bigger parking lot.”

“More land won’t matter if someone doesn’t organize the parking spots out there.” Kelley moved to look out the small square window then continued, “What it needs is new lines to mark each parking space clearly.”

Hayes grinned. “That can be your first update when you buy the diner, Kelley.”

Kelley rolled her eyes at the good-natured cook and pointed at Asher. “Come on. Let’s find you a seat.”

“I think I’ll hang back here with Hayes.” And perhaps learn more about his cowgirl chef from the friendly cook who also believed Kelley should buy the diner.

“Employees only,” Kelley said, then tipped her head and eyed Asher. “Why don’t you want to go out there?”

“If you must know, I don’t want to talk about my land legs again,” Asher said, hearing the put-out tone in his own words.

Kelley blinked then her laughter spilled out. “That’s oddly specific.”

“And unfortunately true.” Asher lifted his cowboy hat off his head and ran his fingers through his hair. More than a handful of locals in the dining area inquired about his legs and whether he was getting on well now that he was back on land.