Page 12 of The Cowboy’s Forever Promise

Daisy sniffed her hand before she came closer, tail wagging and body wriggling.

“That means she likes you.” June smiled. “Scratch behind her ears, she loves that.”

Barking, Daisy jumped up against Abby and before she could catch her breath, her face was thoroughly licked.

Laughing, June pulled Abby up. “I knew the two of you would like each other. Let me show you the house before we have tea.”

Abby frowned. “Oh, I thought we’d start right away.”

“Don’t be silly. It’s Saturday, we’re not working on weekends. There is more than enough time next week if we start on Monday. We haven’t had time to talk in forever. I know you’ve seen the wedding photos, but I want to tell you about the wedding so you’re going to have to look at them again.” She laughed. “I want to know everything that has happened to you over the past few months.” She cocked her head, spreading her hands in front of her. “There’s something different about you.”

Abby quickly bent down to pat Daisy again. “Nope, sorry. Same old me.”

“Abs?” June said. “I know you. Something happened. Come on, this is me, June. Your oldest friend.”

“Okay!” Abby threw her hands in the air before she started pacing. Maybe if she talked about it, she would settle down. It’s not as if June would ever meet the cowboy she couldn’t stop thinking about. “I met this guy in Spokane last night. Of course, I shouldn’t have gone out again and of course, I shouldn’t have stepped into a bar …”

“A bar?” June repeated, clearly stunned. “You went into a bar, alone?”

“I know, right? I never do things like that. I don’t know what came over me. But there I was, drinking something I’ve never had before. This guy was sitting right next to me and … his eyes.” Shaking her head, she continued pacing. “It was just so weird. There was something about him and I … well, when he asked, I went with him to his hotel room.”

June’s eyes widened. “And?”

“And we … we made love. I can’t even call it sex because it was so much more. He was gentle and thorough and I … I’ve never felt like that, June. Ever.”

“So who is this mysterious lover who has given you such a glow?”

“I don’t know!” Abby cried out. “I said no names. At the time I didn’t want to know. All I know about him is that he’s nice and sexy and drop-dead gorgeous and oh, not very tidy.”

“So what happened this morning?”

“I … I fled without saying goodbye.”

June stared at her for another moment. “You feel something for this guy?”

“Yes … no … I don’t know! It was probably just the weird circumstances and the drink I had …”

“You’re sober now, aren’t you?”

Abby nodded.

“But you’re still thinking about him?”

“It’ll pass. It has to. It’s ridiculous to think I feel something for someone I’ll probably never see again!”

“You know I’m here if you want to talk about it, okay?”

Rubbing her face, Abby grimaced. “Thanks, but I want to try and forget about what happened as soon as possible.”

“Well, tonight we’re all going to Grey’s Saloon. I promise you it’ll take your mind off last night even if only for a while. It’s really something. The first time I saw the classic Western storefronts in Main Street, I thought I’d been transported back in time. Grey’s Saloon is another typical building from that time. And then on Sundays we have lunch with Arlene.”

“Who is Arlene again?”

“She’s the cousins’ mother.”

“I don’t want to intrude on family …”

“But you are family,” June said. “My family.” She grinned. “There is something else I have to tell you before you meet the rest of the family. I thought it best not to mention it before you’re here.”