Page 10 of Home to the Cowboy

As June closed the door, she shook her head. She was reeling from the information overload she’d just been given. A farmer’s market, a picnic, a dance?

And she’d thought she was going to have a quiet life in Marietta.

Chapter Four

With Daisy at his heels, Dylan walked toward Arlene’s front door. Sunday lunch, he and Carson had been told when they’d joined their cousins on The Weston Ranch, was at Arlene’s in town and they were always welcome. Both he and Carson had been a bit wary about this arrangement, but after their first taste of Arlene’s cooking, they’d seldom missed a lunch.

Looking at the trucks parked in front of the house, everyone else was already here, even Carson. His brother had left early this morning for Bozeman to drop off some of his photographs with a friend who would frame them.

Before he could knock, the front door opened and Arlene welcomed him inside.

“Hello, Dylan, it’s lovely to see you.”

“Thanks, I’m looking forward to lunch.” As he gave her the bottle of wine he’d brought, everyone else’s dogs rushed out barking to greet Daisy and excited, she followed them into the house. With the six-pack of beer he’d also brought, he stepped inside.

Arlene was always friendly and warm, but he tended to keep his distance. She knew why his dad and his cousins’ dad had had a fight all those years ago, he was sure of it. And okay, yes, it didn’t really matter anymore, but he’d like to know what happened, especially if it could explain the reason why his parents had had such an unhappy marriage.

“Come on in, I’m so glad everyone could make it today.” While talking, she walked toward the big living room. “We’re about ten minutes from moving to the dining room. Do help yourself to something to drink. Oh, and June is here. You’ve met her, I believe?”

There was no time to prepare himself before he followed Arlene into the living room. His eyes found June immediately. Wow. A wet and bedraggled June had had him just about salivating. Cleaned up and dry, in a pink summer dress that left her gorgeous legs bare and her hair loose and falling around her shoulders, she simply took his breath away. Carson was with her, clearly intrigued, not that he could blame his brother.

“Oh, hi Dylan,” Hayden called out. “Come on in. What are you drinking?”

June looked up quickly. He nodded, so did she. What had she done to her freckles? He couldn’t even see one.

Forcing himself to look away, he greeted the rest of the family. “I’ve brought beer.”

“Okay, everyone,” Arlene said after a few minutes, “the food is ready; let’s move to the dining room. Ellie, you’ll look after June?”

As everyone walked toward the dining room, Dylan and Carson fell in behind the others.

Carson grinned. “Now I understand why you look as if you hadn’t slept last night,” he said under his breath. “June is gorgeous. You gonna make a move?”

“I just met the woman,” Dylan grumbled. “Besides, she’s only here for a few weeks.”

“So it’s a no? Great, I can’t wait to show her around town.”

Frowning, Dylan followed the rest of the family to the dining room. By the time he entered, everyone was already sitting down. The only open seat was at the opposite end of the table where June was sitting next to a grinning Carson.

Among laughter and talking, everyone got food. When they were all sitting down again, Arlene lifted her glass. “To June, I’m so glad you’ve decided to join us. I hope you’ll enjoy your stay in our pretty town.”

As everyone lifted their glasses, Dylan met June’s eyes over the rim of his bottle of beer. Just for a millisecond, but as he picked up his knife and fork, he was strangely out of breath.

“So June,” Arlene was saying, “tell us about yourself. Have you always lived in Seattle?”

“Yes, ever since I can remember,” June smiled. “It’s a beautiful city.”

“And your family?” Laura asked.

June’s smile slipped ever so slightly. Dylan only noticed because he was watching her.

“I grew up in the foster system, so no family. Just a good friend, Abby who is like a sister to me.”

“You should invite her to come and visit you while you’re here,” Ellie said quickly, putting a hand on Arlene’s arm to stop her from asking more questions.

June nodded. “Yes, we’ve talked about it. It’ll depend on her schedule.”

“Have we mentioned,” Willow said, “we’re all going shopping in Bozeman on Wednesday morning?”