Page 54 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

He certainly had Kelley’s full attention.

“The cowgirl is Nora Malloy, as in Warren Malloy’s youngest daughter.” Asher chuckled and shook his head. “As it turned out, Nora had her eye on Dylan, not me. It would not have mattered anyway. Warren would not have let me take Nora out.”

“Some folks can’t appreciate an overabundance of devil-may-care as much as others,” Lynette said, her words consoling.

But Kelley could. And apparently did.

“My devil-may-care, as it were, was not the problem,” Asher said, blandly.

“Warren didn’t approve of that dam you built up in the stream to make your own swimming hole, did he?” Beatrice asked as if she already knew the answer.

Asher swiped his hand over his mouth and said, “Only my brothers and I know about that swimming hole.”

Lynette harrumphed and eyed Big E. “These young folks don’t understand that we always know things.”

Big E laughed. “Many things, in fact.”

“Then you must already know what happened between Warren and me,” Asher countered.

“But the rest of us don’t know.” Big E motioned toward Kelley and Laura-Beth.

Kelley nodded.

“Bea and I only know Warren’s side,” Lynette said, helpfully. “Last I checked there are two sides to every saddle blanket.”

Asher sighed. “If Warren told you that I’m the reason he missed showing his hybrid tulips at the fair and missed out on the blue ribbon and the biggest cash prize that year, well, he would be right.”

The retired sisters looked unmoved by that information. Kelley decided it was old news, indeed.

“What Warren doesn’t know is why I forgot to latch the gate.” He stared at his boots but only for a beat. “I was rushing to talk to Nora before she left for the lake.” Asher tilted his head toward Big E and said, “I figured I had one shot with the girl, so I better take it.”

“Here’s to putting it all out there.” Big E lifted his iced tea glass in a toast. “Nothing wrong with that.”

Kelley put everything on the line once, too. Only to end up with nothing more than a list of lessons learned. And a big reminder not to do that again.

“The goats all went out in record time,” Asher recounted. “I swear they were out of that pasture before I said hello to Nora. And they’d devoured every flower in Warren’s private garden before Nora even turned me down for that date.”

Kelley would not have turned Asher down. Not then. Not now.

“Well, you’ve got yourself a second chance with the cowgirl,” Lynette said, excitement in her expression. “Nora happens to own and run the local floral shop. Magnolia and Mint is just down the street. And she is still very much single.”

“It’s Nora you need to see, Asher, for the bulk flower order,” Beatrice explained. “We’re gonna need bunches for those parade horse garlands.”

“That’s convenient,” Asher said, with little enthusiasm.

“As convenient as a kettle already set to boiling.” Lynette drizzled honey into her tea and added, “If you’re pouring one cup, you might as well top off another.”

“No sense boiling water twice.” Beatrice snatched the honey bottle from her sister. “Unless, of course, you’re like me and enjoy a whistlin’ kettle.”

Asher kept his gaze fixed on Kelley and said, “I like coffee. Straight. No sugar.”

That was Kelley’s preference. But similar tastes in caffeine hardly meant they were a good match.

Beatrice stirred her tea and considered Asher. “As long as there is more sweet in your talk than sour, you should be fine.”

Asher stirred the ice in his glass. “I will make sure to stop in at the florist.”

“Just so you know, Asher.” Lynette’s gaze gleamed, her tone encouraging. “Nora is still looking for a date to Laura-Beth’s wedding.”