“Thank you. They say it’s like having a baby.” He opened the book and started writing.
“I suppose it is.”
He chuckled. “It’s nothing like having a baby. No poopy diapers, no strained carrots on my shirt, no college fund to open.” He handed back her book. “And I can give birth to as many as I want without worrying about overpopulation.”
“Then I hope you have a fertile imagination like your mom.”
“It was her gift to me. Have fun with the book.”
“Thanks. I’m sure I will.” She stepped away to make room for Luis.
He handed over his book. “My name’s Luis. I’m?—”
“Luis Bridger. Beau mentioned you.”
“The tunnel?”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “Said you took it like a man.”
“More like a worm.”
“I heard that, too. Now I’m putting it together. You two are the ones Granny said would be making wedding plans on the sly this afternoon.”
“We’re doing what?” He shot Jordan a look.
“I meant to tell you?—”
“Yikes.” Rance’s eyes widened. “You don’t know why you’re meeting at the Raccoon? I’m so sorry, dude. I kinda think you’re getting married really soon. Hope that doesn’t come as a shock.”
Jordan was pink with embarrassment. He couldn’t picture her playing a joke on him. Not about this. Granny had misunderstood. But arguing the point with Rance, who adored Granny so much he’d put her in his book, wasn’t a great idea, either.
He cleared his throat and managed a smile. “You know how it is. The groom’s the last to know.”
“Attaboy. Roll with the punches. I’m sure you two will be blissfully happy.” He signed Luis’s book and returned it. “Beau’s looking forward to seeing you work with those wild horses.”
“I’ll be glad to have him. Good thing he said something. You kind of remind me of him. Not in looks, but….”
“It’s no mystery. He was my role model from the time I could walk. Followed him everywhere. Whatever Beau did, I wanted to do.”
“And now?”
“I’m his role model. He follows me everywhere. If I hadn’t told him no, he’d be here right now.” Then he laughed. “Nah, I still idolize the guy. I want to be him when I grow up. You two take care.”
“We will.” He put an arm around Jordan’s shoulders as they walked into the hall. “Before we go back out, we need to?—”
“She was lip-reading when I talked to Mila during lunch. Then she called me over to say she knew we’d be working out wedding details since the four people involved were you, me, my brother and your sister. She refused to believe that wasn’t the purpose of our meeting, so I gave up.”
He turned her to face him. “Well, that settles that. We’ll have to get married.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you nuts?”
“I’m kidding.”
“Whew. You scared me for a second.”
“Sort of. It’s a great idea.”
“No, it’s not.”
