Page 69 of A Cowboy to Call Her Own

Big E chuckled. “If you gotta work that hard to call it right, maybe you’re in the wrong saddle, son.”

Still, it was the one he chose. “Nothing wrong with wrestling a bit. Walter would’ve told me to keep at it. Nothing worth having is supposed to come easy.”

“All the same, just make sure it’s worth having,” Big E cautioned, then ended the call with a promise to check in again with more information about the buyer for River Run.

Next thing he knew, Asher was on a crowded elevator, heading to the forty-fourth floor. Yet, he was not mentally reviewing his upcoming presentation; he was reconsidering his choice of second acts.

* * *

“I have beenwaiting to talk to you.” Kelley set a box of cleaning supplies on the floor in the diner office and smiled at her boss.

Pauline paused in the doorway. Confusion curved across her face. “What are you doing?”

“I’m making sense of the storage closet.” Kelley navigated her way back to the closet and removed another box. “Never mind all this.” After all, some things just made no sense. Kelley knew that much firsthand.

Pauline straightened a teetering stack of cleaning rags and made room on the floor for Kelley’s next box.

Kelley brushed her hands together and said, “I wanted you to know I’m ready, Pauline. I’m ready to fly with you. It’s time for us to spread our wings.”

Pauline’s eyebrows shot up.

“I know it seemed like I was dragging my boots before,” Kelley rushed on, her words tripping over each other as if the faster they came out, the more truthful they would be. “But I don’t have cold feet now. Nothing of the sort. I’m more than ready for the next chapter. So, let’s fly.” Preferably sooner rather than later.

“Is this about Asher leaving town?” Pauline asked, her voice gentle.

“What?” Kelley shook her head and scrunched her face. “No.”

If it was about Asher, Kelley would be standing still and picking up the pieces of her broken heart.Nothing broken here. Kelley tucked in her chin.

“Of course, it is about Asher.” Frannie waltzed into the room and frowned at the contents of the closet strewn all over the floor. “How could it not be about him?”

Because Kelley would not let it be. She countered, “This is about business.” The business of getting on with things like she should have done a long time ago. “I’ve reached out to my network for possible buyers for the diner.” And a job for herself.

“Fine. If you’re done talking business, it’s really picking up out there,” Frannie said, a hint of annoyance in her words. “I never actually thought so many folks would show up for the watch party this morning.”

“It’sThe Morning Gallopon Bluegrass Regional News. It’s not to be missed television, especially since Mayor Corbin is making his TV debut today.” Kelley chuckled and grabbed an apron from the hook on the wall. “I’ll take a section or two, then assist Hayes with the orders.”

“I got it covered.” Frannie glanced at Pauline, a plea in her words. “Please tell Kelley to stop meddling in everyone’s jobs. It’s not our fault she hasn’t been able to sit down since…” Frannie paused and lowered her voice. “Since a certain cowboy left town.”

Pauline nodded, her expression sympathetic.

“I’m helping. Doing my job.” Kelley tightened the straps of her apron and the ones holding her together on the inside. “That’s what I get paid for.”

“She took the busing bin from Shane. Yanked it straight out of his hands.” Frannie’s expression fell and she added, “And she kicked Hayes out of the omelet station. That’s his specialty. Kelley has never interfered with the omelets before.”

“That’s not good.” Pauline grimaced.

“It’s fine.” Kelley headed for the hallway. “I was giving Hayes a break. Everyone needs one. Besides, Hayes and I are fine. Let’s not make it into a thing.” Same as she was not making more of that tender spot in her chest. After all, a dent in her heart she could deal with, but a break, well, she was not certain there was enough busywork to get her through that.

“Something needs to be done about her,” Frannie muttered behind Kelley.

“I can hear you,” Kelley called back. “I’m fine.”

All she had to do to stay fine was stay in motion. Otherwise, that heartache she was avoiding might catch up to her. She only hoped she could skip town before it found her.

“I got this,” Pauline said and brushed by Kelley to speak to the cook. “Hayes, what did Beatrice and Lynette order?”

“The usual,” Hayes called out. “Spinach and mushroom omelets. Extra cheese. Sourdough toast and extra crisp on the crispy bacon.”