He stopped by the Riddell’s table to give Nathan a key to the garage and tell him to keep an eye on things until he got back. Then he headed to the hardware store to talk with Cheyenne. He didn’t get to do much talking. As soon as he stepped into the back room, she started in on him.
“How could you, Daddy? How could you embarrass me like that? Now Joey Mac thinks I’m a big ol’ baby who needs her daddy to watch out for her.”
“You are my baby.”
“Urghh!” She set down the hamburger she’d been eating and clenched her fists. “I’m not a baby, Daddy. I’m fifteen!” She looked at Boone, who was standing in the doorway. “Tell him, Boone.”
Boone held up his hands. “I’m not going to get into this. In fact, I’m going to take Emma lunch.” He grabbed the bag and the tray with two of the drinks and left. When he was gone, Cal took a stool next to Cheyenne at the worktable.
“I’m sorry, honey, but I’m not going to let you go to some senior party with some cocky kid who knows so much more than you do.”
“I know things! And Joey isn’t cocky.”
Cal rolled his eyes. “Believe me, baby. I know a cocky boy when I see one. That kid thinks way too highly of himself. He spent a good fifteen minutes looking at his reflection in one of thehubcaps I have hanging on the wall at the garage and messing with his hair. If that’s not arrogant, I don’t know what is.”
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look your best. I look in the mirror a lot too.”
Cal lifted an eyebrow. “And maybe you shouldn’t. It’s not important what’s on the outside, Cheyenne. What’s important is what’s on the inside.”
Cheyenne jumped up. “You just don’t understand. Joey Mac is good on the inside. He’s nice and funny and hardworking. He gets good grades and works after school and on the weekend at the soda fountain. He’s perfect! And if you ruined my chances of getting with him, I’ll never forgive you, Daddy. Never!” She started for the door that led into the store, but stopped short when Miss Gertie appeared with her hot pink walker and mean-looking cat.
“When I walked into the store and heard all the fussing, I thought for a second that Boone and Emma had started feuding again.”
Cal quickly got up and took off his hat. “No, ma’am. Cheyenne and I were just having a little discussion.”
Miss Gertie snorted. “I had a few of those with my daddy. And discussion isn’t exactly the word I’d use.”
“My daddy still thinks I’m a baby,” Cheyenne grumbled. “He refuses to let me go to an innocent Christmas party with Joey Mac.”
Miss Gertie looked at Cal and he figured he was going to get an earful. Cheyenne and MissGertie had become extremely close when he and Cheyenne had stayed at the Dixon Boardinghouse after their trailer burned down. But the old woman surprised him.
“Your daddy’s right.” Miss Gertie rolled her walker into the room. “Joey Mac is too old for you.”
Cheyenne stared at her in disbelief. “But you told me age doesn’t matter in love. You’re lots older than Lucas Diamond.”
“Lucas and I met when we were both adults and knew our own minds. You need to experience life a little more before you date the likes of Joey Mac. You can’t ride a bike unless you practice pedaling and steering on a tricycle.”
Cheyenne released an exasperated huff before she stomped out of the back room.
“Thank you, Miss Gertie,” Cal said.
“Don’t thank me. It doesn’t look like Cheyenne is going to listen to me any better than she listens to you. When a girl sets her sights on a boy, it’s hard to get her to focus on anything else. The best you can do is hope that some other boy who is more suited for Cheyenne will catch her attention.”
“I’d just as soon she didn’t like any boy.”
Miss Gertie snorted. “That’s like asking the sun not to rise.” She paused and studied him. “She’s going to get hurt by love. That’s just part of life. But she’ll get over it and be stronger for it.”
He wasn’t so sure Miss Gertie was right. He didn’t feel stronger. He just felt like an idiot for not seeing the type of woman Clarissa was beforehe fell in love with her.
Miss Gertie glanced around. “So where is Boone?”
“He’s eating lunch with Emma at the bookstore, but he should be back shortly. Is there something I can help you with?”
“Boone is building the nativity for the First Baptist Christmas pageant and I wanted to see how’s it coming. If you don’t stay on that boy, he gets sidetracked. Especially now that Emma is expecting.”
“Emma’s pregnant? Boone hasn’t said a thing.”
“Neither he or Emma has said a word to anyone. But it’s as plain as the noses on both their grinning faces. I expect they’ll let the word out soon enough.” She sent him a pointed look. “You’ll keep your mouth shut until they do.”
