“That’s fine, then,” she said.“I’ll pay for your first year of college, okay?But you have to promise me you’ll keep your grades high, or I won’t keep paying.No hard partying or skipping class.Understood?”
A smile like an opening spring bud flowered on Daisy’s face.“Oh, really?You really will?I’ll get to go to college?”
“Better start packing for Missoula.”Sarah smiled.“Betsy, please have the college send me the bill.”
Daisy squealed, her mother squealed, and Virgil raised his grateful gaze skyward.Sarah noticed that he had a front tooth missing.
Betsy clasped her hands together and tears squeezed from the corners of her eyes.“Oh, thank you, ma’am.You’re as pretty as an angel, we all knew that.And so famous.Our own celebrity, right here in Mountain Wood!But you’re also as kind as everyone says.Youarean angel, Miss Sarah.You’re from heaven.We can’t thank you enough.”
The three moved away, chattering.For the entire exchange, Milly had sat silently smiling.Finally, she said, “You sure you’ve got enough money to last through getting the feed store up and running?We can’t have you giving it all away.”
Sarah shrugged.“I’m going to have to crunch some numbers, figure it out.If any more of the townspeople need financial help, I won’t make it.It’s hard to say no when I’ve made such a fortune and some have so little.”
“You’ve a good heart, Sarah,” Milly said, her blue eyes warm.“You really are the daughter I never had.”
“And you really are my mother,” Sarah returned softly.For a moment, they simply sat together, enjoying their long history.Their bond couldn’t be stronger if they were bound by blood.
At the counter, Big Jim turned toward them.His eyes landed on Milly and he frowned, raised his coffee cup.
Milly got to her feet.“The natives are getting restless.Gotta run.”She went behind the counter to get fresh coffee.“I’m coming, I’m coming,” she said.
“What does a man have to do to get waited on?”Jim grumbled.“Shoot off a cannon?”
“I have other customers, Jim Lang, so don’t be yelling at me like I’m your personal waitress.”She poured him the hot brew.
“The way you were sitting over there yakkin’ with Sarah, why, anyone wouldn’t ever know you worked here.Why don’t you do that on your free time?”
As Milly shot back with a new, saucy response, Sarah listened in amusement.Others at the counter chuckled, and a lightbulb burst to light inside her head.Those two weren’t bickering.They wereflirting!So accustomed all these years to their banter, why hadn’t she noticed before?They were sweet on each other.
Interesting.
Sarah sipped her cooling tea and like Milly’s coffee, a sneaky idea brewed in her head.
Chapter Twelve
“Milly.”Sarah kepther voice low.At a lull in serving, the older woman had come back to join Sarah at her table.“I’ve got a surprise for you.Something I’m cooking up.”
