“Oh, like the gems,” Winnie said. “She is just the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.”
JJ and Ruby did have a gorgeous baby, as they both came with dark features, though Ruby’s were a little bit lighter in her hazel eyes and her auburn hair.
“What do you do, Winnie?” Ruby asked.
Winnie’s smile filled the hall. “I’m a physical therapist,” she said. “I work at the Premier Family Clinic in what Ty has informed me isNew Downtown. I’ve only been in town for about seven months.” She beamed over to him and linked her arm through his.
Ty saw the moment that JJ and Ruby realized what was going on. But thankfully, neither of them raised their eyebrows and said,So you started dating your physical therapist?as if he’d done something wrong.
“You should’ve seen JJ and Ruby’s wedding,” Ty said, half his mouth lifting up on the side. “I wasn’t here for it, but it’s still talked about around town.”
“Oh, it is not,” Ruby said with an added eyeroll, as if her wedding hadn’t been the premier event of the year a couple of summers ago.
JJ looked at her and then over to Ty. “Is it really?”
“It was featured inTexas Country Living,” Ty said to them, then he turned his attention to his lovely Winnie. “She wore aredwedding dress, sweetheart. You’d have loved it.”
“I clearly like red,” Winnie said with a laugh and swish of her wide pantlegs. “That sounds amazing.”
“I’ll find the article for you,” Ty said, just as Finn Ackerman joined them.
“Hey, fellas,” he said, “I just wanted to say hi. Edith took the boys out to get a little snack, and I saw you standing here.”
“This is Finn,” Ty said. “He runs our small ranch owners’ group at the IFA.” He nodded to Winnie. “This is Winnie Landry, Finny. We just started dating.”
“Winnie Landry,” Finn said, cocking his head slightly. “Yes, I think my wife said she knows you?”
“Oh? Who’s your wife?” she asked.
“Edith Baxter,” Ty and Finn said together.
“Ohhh, she’s the author,” Winnie said, and she bounced on the balls of her feet slightly. “When I moved here and I found out she lived here, I sent her an email.”
“Yep, that’s it,” Finn said.
“You read Edith’s books?” Ty asked. “Aren’t they for kids?”
“They’remiddle gradenovels,” Winnie said with a hint ofhaughtiness in her voice, though it was hard to hear with the mass of wedding guests flowing past them.
“Link, Misty.” Finn waved at the couple moving by. “Come meet Winnie.”
“Really, Finn?” Ty asked.
His friend turned and looked at him. “What? They’ll want to meet her.”
“Yeah, everyonewants to meet her,” Ty said.
Winnie’s hand in the crook of his elbow tightened and he met her eye. The silent conversation they then had started with Winnie saying,It’s fine. I want to meet your friends. Remember?
Ty ducked his head in acquiescence and then lifted it when Link said, “Howdy. I’m Lincoln Glover.”
“Yep, he’s Lincoln Glover,” Ty said. “He’s co-foreman with Wilder—who’s around here somewhere—and they run Shiloh Ridge together, with a couple other Glovers too.”
“Yeah, Gun, and Rock, and Smiles—when he comes home,” Link said. “We have a couple of uncles still doing a few things.”
“Shiloh Ridge is just a little bit further south than my place,” JJ said.
“Mm, everyone knows Shiloh Ridge,” Winnie said. “My brother wanted to get a job there about a decade ago.”
