“Who?”
“Oh, this is goin’ to be good,” he says, rubbing his hands together. A mischievous glint enters Dad’s eyes as he nods and disappears into the rows of bookshelves, leaving me to wander and browse while I wait for him to return with a stack of books for me to choose from. “Start with this one, it’s the book that started it all. Has a bit of everythin’.”
I turn the book over and read the back cover, my interest piqued immediately. “OK. You’ve never steered me wrong before, so I’ll trust you.”
"Good. You’ll get hooked and come back for the rest of them too. I guarantee it.”
“You might as well give me the whole series now then. You know that if I get sucked into a book I just keep goin’ until I’ve read everythin’,” I say, clutching the paperback to my chest.
“Need a lift home,” he asks after he’s packed a pile of books as long as my arm into a cute “Reading is my Superpower” tote bag.
“Nah. This can be my workout for the day.” I take the weight of the bag and lift it like a barbell, making him laugh.
“OK. And think about what I said, yeah?”
“Hold on. You didn’t tell me why?” I ask.
Dad frowns. “Why?”
“Why Austin was at the bar talkin’ to the old timers?”
He walks around the counter and wraps an arm around my shoulders before leading me toward the door. “I think you know the why, but if you don’t, those books in there will help you figure it out. What Iwillsay is that you should think about being honest to the man about the way you felt back then and now.”
“Dad, I don’t know if–”
“Don’t finish that sentence ‘cause I know you don’t lie, Charlie,” he says, his eyes boring into mine. “I think the time for keepin’ things to yourself and not sharin’ them stopped when you came back to town, yeah?” I nod. “Love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you too,” I say, lifting on my toes and kissing his cheek before stepping out onto the landing outside.
“And let me know if you need any more help with the paintin’. Although somethin’ tells me you’ve got yourself all the help you’re ever goin’ need.”
You better believe that I went straight home, got into my pajamas, and snuggled on the couch with the first book in hand. By the time Mom came home for dinner, I was onto the second.
By the time Ma said goodnight and sent me an amused look as she went to bed, I was onto the third.
And three days later, when Austin was due to come over to start the painting, I was pretty certain that I wanted the mountain spirit in Aster’s books to be real, and more than anything, I wanted Austin to be rewarded with his soulmate, and I wanted it to be me.
12
AUSTIN
I jolt awake before my alarm has even gone off. I look around the room, trying to find out why when my phone on the nightstand vibrates against the wood.
I frown when I pick it up and see a text on the Ranch chat group from Lee. Checking the time, I see that it’s nearly five, which means it’s seven in Colorado.
Leah: I think something that has never happened before is happening.
Austin: You DO know it’s five in the morning, right? You’re not making much sense.
Leah: Y'all are due to get out of bed soon anyway. Especially with an earlier-than-expected calving season.
Austin: She’s telling us what to do now…
Leah: ANYWAY… Ask me what is happening that has never happened before
Austin: What?
Leah: Two Calls at once!
