she’d lived with cowboys all of her life, she
insisted there was no excuse for bad manners.
Ruth Braxton looked up at her son and frowned before kissing
her granddaughter’s head and sending her upstairs to wash up so she could help
her with the cookies. “You look like hell.”
Cole rolled his eyes. He could always count on his mother to
be honest with him, whether he liked it or not. “Gee, thanks.” He bent to kiss
her cheek and stole a sugar cookie from the plate behind her.
She slapped his hand with a twinkle in her eye. “Leave those
alone. They’re for the church.”
He smirked before devouring half the cookie in one mouthful.
“They won’t miss one.”
“What are you up to tonight?” she asked, wiping her hands on
her apron. “Got a hot date?”
He wasn’t ready to tell his mother about his feelings for
Charlene until he was convinced she was ready to pursue this thing between
them. “I thought I’d stop by and see a friend.”
The corners of her mouth twitched. “This friend of yours wouldn’t
be Charlene McCoy by any chance, would it?”
He didn’t know why he was surprised his mother knew what he
was up to. He’d never been able to keep anything from her. He didn’t know why
he even bothered to try. “What makes you say that?”
When he finished the cookie, she offered him a platter
containing small squares of Christmas cake. “You know Mrs. Briar and I are good
friends. She mentioned that you’ve spent a lot more time at the school lately.
And Cassidy mentioned that you and she hang around talking to her teacher every
day after school.”
Cole stuffed a square into his mouth, hoping he could buy
some time while chewing. “It’s no big deal. Cassidy likes her teacher this
year. That’s a good thing, right?”
“I don’t think my granddaughter is the only one who likes
her.” She smiled. “You like her too, don’t you?” She set the platter down on
the counter before pointing a finger at him. “And don’t even try to deny it.
You know I can always tell when you’re holding out on me.”
Cole shrugged. “So what if I do like her? What’s the big
deal?”
Ruth reached up to pat her son’s chest. “Honey, Charlene’s a
lovely girl. I’ve known her family a long time, but…”
“But what?” Cole scowled. His mother wasn’t one to spare his
feelings, so he knew he wasn’t going to like what she had to say if he had to
drag it out of her. “Come on, if you have somethin’ to say, just say it
already.”
“I just don’t know that she’s your type is all.” She set the
silver-framed glasses hanging on a chain around her neck back up on her nose
before turning her attention to an open cookbook on the counter.
Cole reached for her elbow. “You’re not gettin’ off the hook
that easily, Mama. Tell me what you mean.”
Ruth sighed as she set aside the book and turned to face her
son. “Charlene is sweet and innocent, and well, you’re not.” She blushed. “I
know what you do behind closed doors is your business, son, but we live in a
small town. You must know that people talk.”
Cole didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Someone had
actually spoken to his mother about his sexual proclivities? Who would do
something like that? “Look, I don’t know what you heard, but—”
She held her hand up. “I don’t mean to embarrass you, but I
feel it’s my place to help you see reason. Charlene’s not the right girl for
you, honey. She’s a sweetheart, but if you were being honest with yourself,
you’d admit that she was much better off with Paul.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearin’ this,” Cole said as he started
pacing back and forth over the tiled floor. “My own mother doesn’t think I’m
good enough for this woman?” Maybe she was right, perhaps he wasn’t good enough
for Charlene, but he didn’t think Paul was either.
“I’m not saying that at all. I just don’t want to see you
make another mistake. You married the wrong woman
insisted there was no excuse for bad manners.
Ruth Braxton looked up at her son and frowned before kissing
her granddaughter’s head and sending her upstairs to wash up so she could help
her with the cookies. “You look like hell.”
Cole rolled his eyes. He could always count on his mother to
be honest with him, whether he liked it or not. “Gee, thanks.” He bent to kiss
her cheek and stole a sugar cookie from the plate behind her.
She slapped his hand with a twinkle in her eye. “Leave those
alone. They’re for the church.”
He smirked before devouring half the cookie in one mouthful.
“They won’t miss one.”
“What are you up to tonight?” she asked, wiping her hands on
her apron. “Got a hot date?”
He wasn’t ready to tell his mother about his feelings for
Charlene until he was convinced she was ready to pursue this thing between
them. “I thought I’d stop by and see a friend.”
The corners of her mouth twitched. “This friend of yours wouldn’t
be Charlene McCoy by any chance, would it?”
He didn’t know why he was surprised his mother knew what he
was up to. He’d never been able to keep anything from her. He didn’t know why
he even bothered to try. “What makes you say that?”
When he finished the cookie, she offered him a platter
containing small squares of Christmas cake. “You know Mrs. Briar and I are good
friends. She mentioned that you’ve spent a lot more time at the school lately.
And Cassidy mentioned that you and she hang around talking to her teacher every
day after school.”
Cole stuffed a square into his mouth, hoping he could buy
some time while chewing. “It’s no big deal. Cassidy likes her teacher this
year. That’s a good thing, right?”
“I don’t think my granddaughter is the only one who likes
her.” She smiled. “You like her too, don’t you?” She set the platter down on
the counter before pointing a finger at him. “And don’t even try to deny it.
You know I can always tell when you’re holding out on me.”
Cole shrugged. “So what if I do like her? What’s the big
deal?”
Ruth reached up to pat her son’s chest. “Honey, Charlene’s a
lovely girl. I’ve known her family a long time, but…”
“But what?” Cole scowled. His mother wasn’t one to spare his
feelings, so he knew he wasn’t going to like what she had to say if he had to
drag it out of her. “Come on, if you have somethin’ to say, just say it
already.”
“I just don’t know that she’s your type is all.” She set the
silver-framed glasses hanging on a chain around her neck back up on her nose
before turning her attention to an open cookbook on the counter.
Cole reached for her elbow. “You’re not gettin’ off the hook
that easily, Mama. Tell me what you mean.”
Ruth sighed as she set aside the book and turned to face her
son. “Charlene is sweet and innocent, and well, you’re not.” She blushed. “I
know what you do behind closed doors is your business, son, but we live in a
small town. You must know that people talk.”
Cole didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Someone had
actually spoken to his mother about his sexual proclivities? Who would do
something like that? “Look, I don’t know what you heard, but—”
She held her hand up. “I don’t mean to embarrass you, but I
feel it’s my place to help you see reason. Charlene’s not the right girl for
you, honey. She’s a sweetheart, but if you were being honest with yourself,
you’d admit that she was much better off with Paul.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearin’ this,” Cole said as he started
pacing back and forth over the tiled floor. “My own mother doesn’t think I’m
good enough for this woman?” Maybe she was right, perhaps he wasn’t good enough
for Charlene, but he didn’t think Paul was either.
“I’m not saying that at all. I just don’t want to see you
make another mistake. You married the wrong woman
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