Home to the Cowboy. Amanda Renee

“Yes, and they have no problem being her benefactor, but they feel there are enough hippotherapy centers in the state and don’t want to build another one.”

      “But you said there isn’t one for a hundred miles.” The realization of the situation suddenly hit Tess. “It comes down to money, doesn’t it?”

      “There isn’t another PATH International facility around for a hundred miles and yes, their decision’s money propelled. You earn more with a rodeo school than you do with a nonprofit. They only see the bottom line, not who it benefits.”

      “We have to change their minds, Cole.”

      “That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say.”

      Chapter Four

      Tess didn’t hear her mother leave the house, but she’d bet Maggie was up and out shortly after Tess called it a night. The sun peeked over the horizon, gently waking the songbirds from their slumber. After a few hours of sleep, she enjoyed the brief walk into town, even in the briskness of the fall air, strolling past a few cemetery-filled front lawns all ready for Halloween. No matter the time of day, or spooky decorations, Ramblewood felt safe and secure. A foreign concept in her five-story New York City walk-up.

      Light spilled onto Main Street through the luncheonette’s picture window, casting shadows of magpies on the sidewalk. Outside, Tess watched her mother and Bridgett bustle through their morning routines. The casual gestures her mother made toward Bridgett made Tess yearn for the same closeness. A stranger would assume Bridgett was Maggie’s daughter by their ease and camaraderie.

      “Tess, this is a surprise.” Maggie hefted a tray of pies onto her shoulder, carrying them to the display case near the front window. “You got in so late, I figured you’d sleep through to afternoon. Did you and Cole have a good time yesterday?”

      “Cole, huh?” Bridgett peered through the kitchen opening. “Do tell! Especially since you never showed at Slater’s.”

      “I don’t want to hear any dirty details,” Bert said. “You leave those parts out, you hear?”

      “Put your tongues back in your mouths.” Tess fixed herself a cup of coffee. “I was out at the ranch working with Kay on some marketing ideas and Cole wasn’t even around. One of the mares was foaling and he was in the barn. I hate to break it to you, but there was nothing salacious going on.”

      Bridgett’s shoulders visibly slumped. “And here I thought I could live vicariously through you.”

      “Not when it comes to Cole Langtry, you won’t,” Tess said. Unless you counted the impromptu kiss in the gas station parking lot.

      Tess considered herself the good Girl Scout and was prepared for most things in life. But for some reason, Cole’s kisses managed to take her off guard. It was one thing when they were kids, but as an adult, he shouldn’t have this much of an effect on her. If she closed her eyes she could still feel the heat of his body inside the truck’s cab. “Oh, this is ridiculous!”

      “You look like a snake bit you on the toe.” Bridgett whispered through the kitchen pass-through, “What are you hiding?”

      “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” Bert’s head popped out. “Stop gossiping and finish slicing those lemons or else we won’t be ready in time to open.”

      Bridgett mouthed, Tell me later, to Tess before she returned to work.

      “Mom, I met the most amazing—”

      “One second, dear.” Maggie pushed through the swinging door of the kitchen, returning immediately with another tray. She motioned around the room with her free arm. “Can you straighten out those chairs, please? We’ll have a full house in a few.”

      Tess aligned the vinyl-covered stainless steel chairs while her mother ducked behind the counter for a rag and made one more pass over the Formica surface for good measure.

      “Bridgett, add tomato bisque to the Specials Board. I’m going to start a batch in a minute.” Maggie didn’t bother to look up. “I’m sorry, Tess, what was it you were saying?”

      “It can wait.”

      For some reason she felt a conversation that involved Ever deserved more of her mother’s attention. Tess had hoped to make the best of this trip, visit with family, catch up with a few friends, attend the wedding and head home to New York. Already her plans were shifting since Kay had asked her to help market Dance of Hope.

      Despite what happened with Cole a few years ago, he didn’t seem to hold much of a grudge, although she wouldn’t blame him if he never spoke to her again after being a no-show at his father’s funeral.

      Why did he have to kiss me and confuse the issue?

      “I should have come home for the funeral,” Tess said, louder than she anticipated.

      “Yes, you should have.” Maggie stopped long enough to lay a hand over her daughter’s. “But what’s done is done. You can’t go back.”

      “No, I can’t.” The words had more than one meaning, but luckily her mother didn’t catch on. Tess wasn’t ready to admit she was contemplating a move back home for fear everyone, especially her parents, would think she’d failed in the big city.

      Tess was tired of running through the million what-ifs that had plagued her since her tidy little world came crashing down. What if she’d taken on more accounts at work, even though her workload was almost unbearable? What if she’d been more of a team player, although she always worked well with Cheryl-Leigh? So why was her roommate still there and Tess out of a job?

      Cheryl-Leigh knew Tess was vying for a promotion and even supported her bid by offering to help in any way she could. While Tess was grateful for her friend’s support, she couldn’t help but wonder if her help was Tess’s downfall. There was no question about Tess’s ability to get the job done, but from an outsider’s perspective, Cheryl-Leigh was the one always lending a helping hand, which made it look like Tess was unable to manage on her own. Was it intentional on Cheryl-Leigh’s part or was she reading too much into it?

      “Mom, where are all the napkin dispensers?” Tess looked around the luncheonette.

      “I completely forgot I polished them last night. They’re behind the counter at the end. Don’t get them all smudgy with your fingerprints, though.”

      “Am I supposed to wear gloves?” Tess teased, causing Bridgett to snicker.

      “Here.” Maggie thrust a pair of disposable latex gloves at Tess as she walked past.

      “I guess so.” Pulling them on, Tess began to set out a dispenser on each table.

      Seeing her reflection in the side of the shiny chrome, Tess considered herself reasonably attractive. Which left her once again questioning what went wrong with Tim? If she’d gone on that last business trip with him he wouldn’t have returned married, although the logical side of her brain reasoned that since he did, he must have been having an affair for a while.

      Tess glanced around. She’d missed the unpretentious and homey surroundings of the luncheonette. Trophies and photographs from Maggie’s Silkie Chicken competition days sat on a shelf above the kitchen pass-through window. It was a quirky little eatery, and her mother took pride in every square foot of it.