What was more, what Willow didn’t just know, she found out through the town gossip mill, lately run by Aurelia Hill and her new friends.Apparently, the hardware store was the center of the gossip mill these days, and minutes after anything happened, everyone knew about it.
Staring out over the pasture in front of him, he sighed.He liked the ranch, he enjoyed doing the work, but yeah, it wasn’t his first love.It had taken him a long time to be honest with himself about that.
Ranching wasn’t the reason he couldn’t wait to get up in the morning.His art was the one thing that had always made him come alive.Ever since he could remember, he’d been doodling, creating cartoon images of things on the ranch.He’d never thought of himself as a serious artist, though.He didn’t have any formal training; he simply did what came naturally.
At some point he’d decided to share sketches of his dogs, along with a simple line or two of their ‘thoughts’—that were, of course,histhoughts—on Instagram.To his surprise people seemed to like what he was doing.Very quickly he’d received requests to buy his work and commissions to do sketches of other dogs.He loved doing that, but with the ranch work, he had a hard time keeping up with the demand.
As for telling Hayden?There was no way he could do that.They were brought up to be stewards of this land.It was a privilege he didn’t take lightly.Ranch work was hard and never eased up, not even during winter.Now that only four of them were left, he had no choice but to do his share and more.
With a deep sigh, Becket shook his head.On the night Walker had died, he’d been staring out of the car window, thinking about how and when he could tell Hayden he wanted to concentrate on his art.If he’d been paying attention, if he hadn’t been so lost in thought, so busy with his own ‘problems,’ maybe he could’ve grabbed Walker’s sleeve in time, stopped him from being flung out into the night.It was a regret he’d live with for the rest of his life.
An ache grabbed him around the throat as it usually did when he thought of Walker.It was his fault his brother died, and as a consequence he could never stop working on the ranch, even if he’d wanted to spend more time on his art.
So, no, as much he wanted to, there was no way he could ever tell his brothers he’d rather stay at home and sketch his dogs.It wasn’t hard to imagine the look they’d have on their faces.
Chapter Three
“You’re sure you’renot cold?”Janice asked.“It still gets cool at night this time of year.”
“I’m fine, thanks, Janice,” Ellie said.“I do have a jacket in the car I can fetch if need be.I parked next to your car, so I can help you carry everything back.This is quite the spread.”
She looked down at the food Janice had laid out on a red-and-white checkered cloth placed on top of a blanket.“You’ve thought of everything.This looks wonderful.Is there anything else you’d like?What about that burger you’ve spoken about?”
Janice grinned.“Yes, please.”She opened her purse, but Ellie stopped her.
“Please, it’s the least I can do.I saw the food vendors as I was looking for you.I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, thank you.There’s only half an hour until the music starts, so hurry up!”
Grabbing her bag, Ellie walked toward the row of vendors she’d noticed earlier.In front of all the activities was a huge platform.Several musicians were already testing the sound.A crowd was gathering in front of them.Shuddering, she quickly made her way through it.Thank goodness Janice preferred to sit right at the back.If she had to stand this close to other people for a whole evening, she’d probably have found an excuse to go home.
It was a beautiful evening.The sun was still shining, the sky such an amazing hue of blue, she had to stop for a moment to just drink it in.In front of her, Copper Mountain rose high up into the sky.What a spectacular sight—no wonder her grandmother had never stopped talking about Marietta.
She became aware of her surroundings again and quickly moved toward the stall where burgers were sold.There was a queue, but it wasn’t too long.A few of her regular customers came over to greet her and, before she knew it, she was in front and had placed an order for two burgers.
“Ooh, Becket, I want a burger!”a shrill voice somewhere behind her caught Ellie’s attention.
Rattled, Ellie quickly paid for the burgers before she turned around.Surely there was more than one Becket in and around Marietta… But as she looked up,theBecket Weston, the one she’d been having steamy dreams about for the past few nights, was right behind her in the queue, a scantily dressed brunette clinging to his arm for dear life.He was scowling.Strange.Shouldn’t a known womanizer like him be looking much happier sporting a near-naked woman on his arm?
She was being catty, something she tried very hard not to be.Without meeting his eyes, she quickly hurried away.Disappointed, and not quite sure why, she concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.
“Hi, Ellie,” a friendly voice called out.Turning, she saw Willow Weston approaching, with her mother clutching her arm.Becket’s sister, a well-known artist, and his mother were part of the book club and had become good friends over the last few months.
“Hello, it’s so nice to see you,” Ellie smiled.
“I’m so surprised and happy to see you here,” Willow said.“Not in your shop or at Annie’s, but at an event!So, who’s your date?”she whispered.
“Janice,” Ellie grinned.“I’m on my way back to her with burgers.”
“We’ll come and look for you shortly,” Willow said.“We’re joining the queue for food first.”
“Look, there’s Becket,” Arlene said as Ellie turned away.“Oh, my dear boy, who is that woman with him?What is she wearing?”
“Not wearing is a better description,” Willow muttered as Ellie quickened her steps.
She didn’t want to think about Becket and the woman on his arm.Why had she been dreaming about him anyway, for goodness’ sake?He was a flirt—she knew it, the whole town knew it.So why had she allowed thoughts of him to enter her dreams?
Tonight, she was going to try her grandma’s trick before she went to bed.She’d been five when her grandma had taken her in.At the time she was having the most awful dreams, filled with her mother’s screams and her dad’s face contorted in anger.
