Read Online High Lonesome by Stacey Coverstone - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stacey Coverstone
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didn’t expect out of the mouth of a babe. I’m very impressed.”
“Thank you,” Willow replied. “My mama was very smart. Daddy says I get it from her.”
“I’m sure your mama is very proud of you.”
Willow’s head tilted. “She’s in heaven. She can’t be proud of me.”
“Well, sure she can. Even if she’s not right here with you, she’s always in your heart, and she’s still watching over you.”
The little girl nodded. “That’s true. My daddy tells me the same thing.”
“Your daddy’s very smart, too. Now, go ahead and tell me what it is you’ve been contemplating.”
Willow peeled a banana and stuffed a bite of it in her mouth. When she finished chewing she said, “If you’re going to be staying with us, I think it’s important you have a name. We can’t call you lady all the time. And Carmen would get after my butt if I yelled hey at you. Do you have any ideas?”
Carmen wagged a piece of bacon at the girl. “Willow, don’t talk about butts at the table.”
She shrugged. “To be honest, I hadn’t thought about what my name could be. I have a sneaking suspicion you have though. What’s your suggestion?”
“I want to call you Beth.”
She stared at the banana bread bag. “You want to name me after your favorite quick bread?”
“Yep. I think it’s a real pretty name. I wish Beth was my name. What do you think about it?
She considered it. “I think it’s very pretty, too.”
“Do you think Beth could be your real name?” Willow asked with excitement. “Wouldn’t that be something if it was?”
“I hate to burst your bubble, but it doesn’t ring a bell.”
“Oh.” The child frowned, and then the frown turned upside down again. “Well, what would you think about being called Beth anyway? It would be just until you find out what your real name is.”
Carmen placed a fiesta-ware plate in front of her guest. “Willow, maybe the nice lady doesn’t want to be named after a hunk of dough.”
“Would you mind being named after a hunk of dough?” Willow asked with glitter in her eyes. “It’s the best bread in the world.” She rubbed her tummy and licked her lips.
“You’re very thoughtful to want to give me a name,” she answered with a chuckle. “It’s pretty and it’s simple. I should be able to remember it. I don’t mind if you call me Beth, if you’d like.”
“Yippee!” Willow shouted. She clapped her hands and jumped off the bar stool and did a happy dance around the island.
“Beth” grinned when she noticed the girl was wearing pink boots to match her hat. She also had on a rhinestone belt, looking quite the little cowgirl.
“Is there a party going on in here?” Scott asked as he sauntered through the back door. He jerked off his cowboy hat and hung it on a hook just inside the door. He ran his hands through his blond hair and grinned.
Remembering the dream, Beth’s heart gripped at the sight of him. He looked the essence of western masculinity in his tight Wranglers, dusty boots, and blue denim shirt. He also wore a bandana around his neck.
“It smells delicious in here. I’m as hungry as a bear,” he growled.
“Daddy!” Willow skipped across the tile floor and threw herself into his arms. He heaved her over his shoulder, they hugged, and she planted a big kiss on his stubbly cheek.
“Did you just get home, baby?”
“A little while ago. Wait till you see what Midnight can do.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Let me say hi to our guest.” Scott plopped Willow on the island counter, and his friendly gaze raked over Beth. “Don’t you look as pretty as a picture,” he said. “Good mornin’.”
“Good morning. And thank you for the compliment.”
“You’re welcome. Did you sleep well?”
“Like a log, as they say.” That was, until the dream caused her to toss and turn with restless pleasure.
“Daddy, guess what?” Willow interrupted, bouncing up and down.
“What?”
“The lady has a
“Thank you,” Willow replied. “My mama was very smart. Daddy says I get it from her.”
“I’m sure your mama is very proud of you.”
Willow’s head tilted. “She’s in heaven. She can’t be proud of me.”
“Well, sure she can. Even if she’s not right here with you, she’s always in your heart, and she’s still watching over you.”
The little girl nodded. “That’s true. My daddy tells me the same thing.”
“Your daddy’s very smart, too. Now, go ahead and tell me what it is you’ve been contemplating.”
Willow peeled a banana and stuffed a bite of it in her mouth. When she finished chewing she said, “If you’re going to be staying with us, I think it’s important you have a name. We can’t call you lady all the time. And Carmen would get after my butt if I yelled hey at you. Do you have any ideas?”
Carmen wagged a piece of bacon at the girl. “Willow, don’t talk about butts at the table.”
She shrugged. “To be honest, I hadn’t thought about what my name could be. I have a sneaking suspicion you have though. What’s your suggestion?”
“I want to call you Beth.”
She stared at the banana bread bag. “You want to name me after your favorite quick bread?”
“Yep. I think it’s a real pretty name. I wish Beth was my name. What do you think about it?
She considered it. “I think it’s very pretty, too.”
“Do you think Beth could be your real name?” Willow asked with excitement. “Wouldn’t that be something if it was?”
“I hate to burst your bubble, but it doesn’t ring a bell.”
“Oh.” The child frowned, and then the frown turned upside down again. “Well, what would you think about being called Beth anyway? It would be just until you find out what your real name is.”
Carmen placed a fiesta-ware plate in front of her guest. “Willow, maybe the nice lady doesn’t want to be named after a hunk of dough.”
“Would you mind being named after a hunk of dough?” Willow asked with glitter in her eyes. “It’s the best bread in the world.” She rubbed her tummy and licked her lips.
“You’re very thoughtful to want to give me a name,” she answered with a chuckle. “It’s pretty and it’s simple. I should be able to remember it. I don’t mind if you call me Beth, if you’d like.”
“Yippee!” Willow shouted. She clapped her hands and jumped off the bar stool and did a happy dance around the island.
“Beth” grinned when she noticed the girl was wearing pink boots to match her hat. She also had on a rhinestone belt, looking quite the little cowgirl.
“Is there a party going on in here?” Scott asked as he sauntered through the back door. He jerked off his cowboy hat and hung it on a hook just inside the door. He ran his hands through his blond hair and grinned.
Remembering the dream, Beth’s heart gripped at the sight of him. He looked the essence of western masculinity in his tight Wranglers, dusty boots, and blue denim shirt. He also wore a bandana around his neck.
“It smells delicious in here. I’m as hungry as a bear,” he growled.
“Daddy!” Willow skipped across the tile floor and threw herself into his arms. He heaved her over his shoulder, they hugged, and she planted a big kiss on his stubbly cheek.
“Did you just get home, baby?”
“A little while ago. Wait till you see what Midnight can do.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Let me say hi to our guest.” Scott plopped Willow on the island counter, and his friendly gaze raked over Beth. “Don’t you look as pretty as a picture,” he said. “Good mornin’.”
“Good morning. And thank you for the compliment.”
“You’re welcome. Did you sleep well?”
“Like a log, as they say.” That was, until the dream caused her to toss and turn with restless pleasure.
“Daddy, guess what?” Willow interrupted, bouncing up and down.
“What?”
“The lady has a
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