“They are?”
“Helena Rattles told me so herself. So there you have it—the perfect clue.”
* * *
“Dave and I arecousins?” Ginny asks me in a horrified voice the next day.
“Not really,” I assure her, glaring at Ben when he cracks up next to me behind the bar. “Just fifth once removed. It’s supposed to be a good thing. You know, because of the clue. It could mean you’re the soul mates Vivian’s referring to in her diary.”
“But what does fifth cousins once removed even mean?” Ginny spins on her stool and reaches for her phone.
“I’m not sure. But I know it doesn’t mean you’re super close genetically. Your baby’s definitely fine. You even had those tests done already, and the doctor gave you the all-clear.”
“I just can’t believe Dave is my cousin.” Ginny shakes her head. “It’s like a bad dream. I have to text Mama now and find out why she never told me.”
Speak of the mother.
Mrs. Rattles strides into The Cowherd and right up to Ginny’s stool.
Mr. Bingley picks that moment to jump onto Ginny’s lap, and she clutches him tightly, almost like a security blanket.
“Mama! Dave and I are cousins?”
Mrs. Rattles gives a dismissive wave. “So not the time, dear. Girls, I have terrible news. We have to move Ginny’s wedding up again. I want it this month. A June wedding.”
“But that’s impossible,” I say. “Everything’s set.”
“Logan Wild and his socialite girlfriend are tying the knot before Independence Day now.” Mrs. Rattles sniffs. “I heard something about July second. That’s far too close to my daughter’s wedding on the first.”
“What?”
I swear to God.
I grab the saloon’s calendar and check the dates. Sure enough—Logan and Gigi are now penciled in on July second.
I turn to Ben. “Did you know about this?”
“Nope. No clue.” He turns away to start setting up the bar for tonight.
“They’re just trying to get closer to my Ginny’s day. It’s all Gigi’s doing. I’m sure she thinks she can intimidate us with her daddy’s oil money.” Mrs. Rattles leans her elbows on the counter and gets closer to me.
I try to back up, but Ben is behind me, cleaning the glasses.
“Mrs. Rattles,” I say. “Once Gigi decided to have two weddings, I’m sure there was some conflict or another, and so she simply changed the Darcy date without giving a thought to anyone else. It’s like nothing’s an obstacle for that girl.”
“Well, everything’s an obstacle on our end.” Mrs. Rattles sniffs. “I want this wedding date changed ASAP! At least a couple of days before Logan’s.”
“But whoever goes first doesn’t necessarily win, Mama,” Ginny says. “It’s about who’s right for each other.”
“I don’t care about the stupid ghost story and its silly claims about being right or wrong!” Mrs. Rattles says. “Virginia,youwill open that door and get all the good press that comes with it. You will!”
Her shouts scare Mr. Bingley, and he wisely jumps off Ginny’s lap and disappears down the hall.
“Try to relax, Mrs. Rattles.” I look down at the calendar. “How’s June thirtieth? That could work on our end.”
“Fine. I’ll call everyone but the florist. Mace, can you do that for me?”
“Of course.”
