Her husband.
“I’m so sorry.” The sentiment leaves my mouth before I think twice about it.
But she just frowns a little– stops picking at her computer and gets a dreamy look in her eyes. “Married about forty years. Just assumed he’d be around forever.”
“I can’t imagine. Tucker’s told me some of it. I never knew my father, but I’m close to my mom.” I take a seat opposite from her.
“Never knew your father?” Katherine appears from a hallway on the other side of the kitchen. “How come, girl?”
Oh, my God! Both of them are talking to me this morning! I’m so excited I nearly forget to answer her question.
“My mom and he weren’t married.”
Tucker’s grandmother shakes her head disparagingly. “He left her high and dry then?”
Ah, details. “Actually, he proposed to my mom but… she’s always been something of a career woman. He wanted her to quit her job, and she wanted her independence. After she refused his ring, well, then he left her high and dry.”
“And you never met him?” Maggie seems interested as well too, now.
“He told my mom that if she didn’t want him, he didn’t want to have anything to do with either of us.” I don’t tell everybody this story… but… These women are about to become my family. “Mom’s done well for herself. I never lacked for anything.” And then I remembered Tucker’s suggestion. “You’ll meet her at the wedding. Which reminds me… I doubt Tucker’s done much more than talk to the local pastor. Would you two mind helping me figure out the details?”
The two women exchange a questioning glance at the same time two rambunctious little boys tear through the mud room into the kitchen.
Of course, Cassidy isn’t far behind.
Today she looks like she’s just stepped out of a Wrangler’s commercial. Tight jeans, tall rugged boots, a checkered top, knotted at the waist and a suede cowboy hat. Red lipstick and dark eyeliner contrast perfectly with the innocent looking pigtails hanging past her shoulders.
“Good morning,” I venture.
Her smile fades at my greeting.
She strolls into the kitchen as comfortable as if she’s lived here her entire life, opens the refrigerator, and pulls out what appears to be sandwich ingredients.
“Morning, Maggie, Katherine.” She nods in my direction. “Miss Langley.” She rummages around and then addresses my future mother-in-law again. “Mags, where’s that picnic basket? Me and the kids figure on taking some lunch out to the boys. I hear they’ve located more downed fences”
I freeze.
The boys?
Maggie rises and disappears through what looks like a pantry while she answers. “Last I knew, I put it back in here. I’ve got some Fruit Roll-Ups you can take too. Might as well throw in a few of those.” Her hands are full when she appears again carrying a large picnic basket.
“Why don’t you take Isabella along with you?” Katherine interjects. “Show her some of the ranch now that the sun’s finally shining.” And then this dear woman winks at me. “Besides that, I imagine she wouldn’t mind seeing what Tuck gets up to.”
Yes!
Cassidy stiffens without answering.
I’m all over it. “I’d love that. If you give me ten minutes, I think my jeans will be dry.” I transferred a load to the dryer before coming downstairs but will happily wear wet jeans if it means spending some time getting to know Tucker’s boys. I take a long swallow of my coffee and push my chair back to stand up. The wedding planning can wait.
“Tuck says he doesn’t want anybody out there without a good pair of boots,” Cassidy glances meaningfully at my bare feet.
“Oh, I have some hiking boots.” Damp ones. I carry my cup to the sink and rinse it out. Cassidy does her best to stay as far from me as possible. “I’ll hurry!”
“Throw a sandwich in there for Isabella,” Katherine orders Cassidy.
I might just have to watch to make sure she doesn’t sprinkle poison on it.
“I’ll be right back.” I dry my hands on a dish towel and back out of the room. As much as I hate the idea of spending the day with Cassidy, I see this as a great opportunity. If by some chance I’m wrong about her, I’ll discover that today. If I’m not, well, then I’m coming along to stake a claim on my man.
