Read Online Along Came a Cowboy by Christine Lynxwiler - Free Book Online Page B

“But not a romantic one. I just don’t have time”— or trust —“to spare right now. Thanks for asking though.”
    â€œI understand. Probably just as well.”
    I don’t say anything because I’m afraid I’ll scream, “Wait! I changed my mind.”
    â€œTell your folks I had to get home.” He turns and walks slowly toward his truck.
    â€œI will.” I stand and watch him pull out of the driveway. “It would have been fun,” I say to the air.

    â€œMaybe you should have said yes. I think it would have been fun.” Allie tosses me the Frisbee and reaches over to get a bottled water out of the cooler.
    I throw the neon green disc to Lark, who promptly pitches it over her shoulder toward the kids. Cocoa and Shadow both run for it, but Allie’s youngest daughter, Katie, grabs it as she and Dylan, Victoria’s son, take off to the open area next to the fountain, with the dogs at their side.
    Katie motions for her older sister to come play, but Miranda is engrossed in conversation with Jennifer. Even though there’s more than two years difference in their ages, they hit it off immediately, and they’re walking along the paths talking. “I’ve tried ‘fun.’ It didn’t work out.”
    â€œYou were a kid. Besides, all cowboys aren’t created equal, Rach,” Lark adds. “He seems nice.”
    â€œHe seems it. But we all know I’ve dated men who are really nice, and it never amounts to anything.”
    â€œWonder why?” Allie asks, as she spreads out a tablecloth on the picnic table.
    I give her an appraising look. Is she being sarcastic? Or serious?
    â€œYou tell me,” I say, not caring if I’m a little flippant.
    Allie concentrates on smoothing a wrinkle out of the red and white plastic.
    â€œBecause you never date anyone you’re really attracted to,” Lark says. Allie kind of gasps, and Lark shoots her a defensive look. “You know it’s true.”
    â€œWell. . . ,” Allie starts, with a worried look at me.
    Okay, I know Lark’s nerves are on edge while she’s waiting for the adoption agency to call, but I have to protest.“That is not true.”
    Lark puts her hand on her hip and waves her Diet Coke bottle at me. “Name one man you’ve dated in the past fifteen years that you had the slightest desire to get to know better.”
    â€œThere was—” I stop, running through the short list of names in my mind. All nice guys. But none of them rang my bell, as Lark’s granny used to say. Still, I’m not about to admit it. “How did we get started on this?” I ignore Lark’s smirk and turn to Allie. “Have you picked out our dresses yet?”
    Allie gives me a dreamy bride smile. “I was hoping we might do that together a week from Saturday.”
    The opening notes of Martina McBride’s “This One’s for the Girls” blast out from the other side of the table. Lark almost knocks Allie over as she sprints to grab her purse. She fumbles frantically with the Velcro clasp and yanks her phone out. “Hello?”
    I shoot Allie a worried look. “The waiting is getting to her, isn’t it?” I whisper.
    She nods.
    Lark’s shoulders fall. “Oh. Hi, Marsha.”
    â€œCraig’s sister,” Allie mouths.
    Lark walks up to the top of the hill to get a better cell signal, and Allie and I start putting the food out. “We should do a spa day when we go to buy dresses,” Allie says. “I think we’re all pretty stressed.”
    I realize how much I’ve been consumed with Jennifer since she’s been here. “Is Vic okay?” Victoria Worthington is one of the most “together” women I know. But sometimes I’m sure we take that for granted.
    â€œActually, yeah, she seems to be doing great. But she’d never turn down a spa day.”
    Lark