Page 53 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

To prove her little sister wrong, Kelley kept her attention on the griddle. It wasn’t long until she delivered six excellent grilled cheese sandwiches with two sides.

Kelley secretly loved every ooh and aah she heard as the crowd tucked in to all that cheesy, fruity goodness. She tried to focus on diner guests besides Asher and when that failed, she joined Hayes in the kitchen. The lunch hour winding down, Kelley set several dessert plates in the pass-through and noticed the soft blush on Pauline’s face. Kelley’s boss whispered to Eric, then the pair stood and quietly slipped outside. Laura-Beth had her giant wedding planner open on the counter to the delight of the town’s favorite retiree sisters, Lynette and Beatrice. Even Big E seemed to be involved in Laura-Beth’s rather animated conversation.

Kelley shifted and her gaze connected with Asher’s. His eyebrow twitched. His smile followed.

And Kelley’s cheeks warmed. Feeling good and caught, Kelley grabbed two pie plates and made her way out to the counter. Grinning, she said, “Looks like everyone is ready for dessert.”

Big E rubbed his hands together and eyed the slice of cherry pie Kelley placed in front of him. “I sure appreciate the double scoop of ice cream, Kelley. I need the pick-me-up after all that plowing this morning and we’re not done yet.”

“Don’t let him fool you,” Asher said. “I’ve been plowing the second field at the Skyline Drive-In. Big E has been critiquing my work from a chair in the shade with Warren Malloy.”

Plowing. Kelley did not bother to hide her surprise.

“I heard we’re getting another picture screen at the Skyline. Seems the double features are quite popular.” Lynette leaned in and cooed, “I can tell you, Warren’s snack shop is not to be missed. Their caramel popcorn won first place at the fair the past three years in a row.”

“I prefer their s’mores bark,” Beatrice offered. “I always buy extra on account that it tends to sell out during the first showing.”

“I’ll have to see about getting some of that when we head back after lunch,” Big E said around a bite of pie.

“We should have that on the dessert table at the rehearsal dinner.” Laura-Beth wrote a note in her wedding planner. “Can you make s’mores bark, Kelley?”

Kelley could not make herself look away from Asher. “Since when do you know how to drive a tractor?” Kelley wondered, only to realize too late she’d spoken out loud.

“Since my grandpa taught me,” Asher replied, amusement flashing across his face. “Someone needed to haul hay around our property, and I was chosen. My grandad told me it was a skill that would serve me well.”

“Sure has come in handy today,” Big E said.

Her city cowboy could drive a tractor. It made sense, given where he grew up. What did not make sense was that Kelley wanted to know about Asher’s other hidden talents. She wanted to know his secrets. She wanted to knowhim. Not the cowboy. Or the city businessman. But ratherhim. Bad idea, that.

She already liked Asher. There was no need to level up her like into something stronger that hinted at a connection. Still, Kelley asked, “Why are you plowing the drive-in and not some local landscaper? What happened?”

Asher polished off the last of his cherry pie and said, “Herman Whittaker’s chicken coop is what happened.”

“I am beginning to think we could live quite comfortably in that coop,” Big E marveled. He glanced down the counter at the others who were now paying attention and added, “I swear this chicken coop is more state-of-the-art than my RV.”

“Warren is a professional welder by trade.” Asher wiped his mouth and set the napkin on his plate. “We had to go see him about the motorized doors that open and close according to the sunrise and sunset. And the sunroofs for the chicken coop, which are all now installed thanks to Warren.”

“Sunroofs,” Kelley repeated. Those she had not noticed on Herman’s professionally drawn coop plans. But she did notice Asher had a new look about him, even if she could not quite place what was different. His dark blond beard was still trimmed short, more stubbly shadow than substance. He wore another coordinating button-down plaid shirt and fitted T-shirt as usual. Even his cowboy hat was the same chestnut brown.

“We had to bargain quite a bit to convince Warren to help us out,” Big E said and arched accusing eyebrows at Asher.

There. She spotted the difference. Her cowboy was relaxed. His blue gaze was remarkably mellow. The laugh lines around his eyes soft. Even his posture hinted that he was in absolutely no rush to get on with his afternoon. And Kelley was suddenly keen to extend the conversation and keep Asher right there. She held back her grin. “Wait. Don’t tell me that Dylan has history with Warren Malloy as well. What did Dylan jump and knock over at the drive-in?”

“We never rode our horses across the Skyline property. It’s a bit too far from the stables,” Asher replied, sounding unconcerned. “But it wasn’t Dylan who Warren has an issue with. This one is all on me.”

Big E shifted toward Asher and propped his boots on the footrest as if settling in to hear the story, too. Beside the older cowboy, Lynette and Beatrice swiveled their stools to listen in.

“What did you do?” Kelley propped her hip against the counter.

“I might have gotten distracted trying to get a cowgirl’s attention,” Asher said, a hint of regret inside his easygoing tone.

Kelley knew a little something about getting distracted. She picked up the hot water carafe and refilled Lynette’s and Beatrice’s tea mugs.

“One summer I worked for Mower Goats.” Asher glanced at the others and explained, “I delivered goat herds to customers who wanted targeted grazing for their land. Warren Malloy was a customer. He liked the goats to clear his empty fields near his house.”

“I can’t picture you as a goat herder,” Kelley said. Although, she could picture Asher and her somewhere else. Like a porch swing. Or the bluff. Somewhere less crowded. On a date night. Kelley swapped the hot water for the coffeepot.

“Come on, Asher, don’t leave us hanging,” Lynette said and leaned around Big E. Her eyes peeled wide. “Did you get the cowgirl’s attention or not?”