Page 19 of Home to the Cowboy

“Is it Tuesday already?” Hayden asked.

Laughing, Laura hugged her husband. “Yes, it’s our weekly book club outing.”

Dylan heard everyone talking but it took another minute for him to process the information. June didn’t have a date, she was going to the book club with his cousins and aunt.

Relieved, he exhaled slowly as a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.

Willow’s eyes twinkled. She didn’t say anything, but she knew what he was thinking.

Chapter Seven

June wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from the book club, but within minutes of arriving with Arlene, she had a glass of bubbly in her hand and was laughing. Everyone was so friendly and nice, she immediately relaxed. She’d been in the shop earlier today to find yarn and a pattern. Ellie had been so patient and helpful, she was looking forward to trying her first project.

It was lovely to see some of the other people she’d met when she’d been here before. Annie and Vivian O’Sullivan who were married to two cousins were there, so was their sister-in-law Riley who was married to their brother, Mitch, as well as Riley’s godmother and aunt, Janice O’Sullivan.

“I’m glad to see you, Riley,” June said. “I would like to meet with you and Mitch at some point. I’m hoping to persuade him to change publishers.”

Smiling, Riley nodded. “It will be great to see you. I know Mitch is looking at other publishers at the moment. The editor he’s worked with up ’til now, is retiring soon.”

They exchanged phone numbers and made a tentative date for the visit.

“So, June, do you have anyone special waiting for you back in Seattle?” Janice asked as they all settled on a chair.

Both Annie, Vivian, and Riley groaned out loud. “Janice, no!” they cried in unison.

Chuckling, Arlene leaned over to June. “Janice is known as the matchmaker in town, so be warned.”

“From what I’ve heard,” Janice said, eyes twinkling, “no matchmaking is necessary in June’s case. I believe there’s already a cowboy knocking on your door.”

“One who was very upset because he thought you had a date tonight,” Willow said with a slow smile. “I wonder why he would think that?”

“I’ve just met the man,” June cried out, covering her burning cheeks. No name was mentioned but she knew everyone was talking about Dylan. “I can’t believe everyone in town is talking about this.”

Janice patted her hand. “There, child. Everyone means well, really. I hear you were quite the hit in the library with the children this morning. My neighbor’s little girl is still talking about the story you told them. You’re writing your own children’s story?”

Relieved talk about something else, June nodded. “Yes, that’s the plan. I’ve been thinking about it for ages. It’s part of the reason I’m here. I needed time and quiet to see whether I can actually write a story kids would like. I’m still working, of course. Fortunately, I can work online, but hopefully I’ll have time to write my story. The kids actually had some great ideas this morning,” she smiled. “I’m thinking of adding some of it in the story.”

“Your story made quite the impression on Dylan,” Willow grinned. “We heard the whole thing during dinner.”

June’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Really,” Willow chuckled.

Clearing her throat, Ellie picked up her copy of Shirley. “Has everyone been able to get a copy? June, what about you?”

“I got one from the library. Thanks for asking Taylor to help me, Ellie. She had it ready for me to take out. Such a sweet person.”

“She is the best,” Arlene said. “Married to Troy Sheenan, one of the well-known ranchers outside Marietta.”

It took a while before they actually discussed the book because everyone had something positive to say about Taylor Sheenan, but Ellie finally got them back to the topic of Shirley.

“In both Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South and Charlotte Brontë’s Shirley,” Ellie said, “industrial unrest is at the heart of the novels and in both books the love interest of the heroines in the story is a coldhearted and uncaring mill owner.”

Laura nodded. “But in spite of the dispassionate attitude of the industrialists to their workers, they both get a happy ending. Like all human beings, they are both fully rounded characters, each with their own flaws and strengths.”

Leaning back in her chair, June let the soft sound of her new friends’ voices move around her. She didn’t really listen to what they were saying, but she loved the feminine atmosphere, the soft voices, the friendly smiles, their enthusiasm while talking about books. These women were her kind of people.

Abby had always been her only real friend. They’d both learned early on in life not to trust people too easily, but sitting here tonight was like finally finding more people with whom she felt comfortable with. She and her coworkers would sometimes get a drink after work, but she’d never felt the same connection she had with these women who were basically strangers.