“Exactly, or we would toss your kind out.” It was fun to banter. A great perk to being home was seeing old friends. She leaned her cane against the window sill and settled into the cushioned chair.
“You look good. How is the physical therapy coming along?”
“It’s done. My leg has come as far as it can.” She shrugged one shoulder, as if that wasn’t a big deal. As if she didn’t feel torn apart every time she said it. Life dealt you hard blows and you had to deal and keep moving forward. That’s what she decided in the ambulance when she was being rushed to the trauma center. She’d known before the firemen had cut her out of the car that life would never be the same. The paralysis had improved but not disappeared, which was amazing enough. “I can ride my horse. That’s the good news. I can’t complain. Now, down to business. Are you ever going to tell me what really happened with Edward?”
“I told you, he thought I was getting too serious so he broke things off.” Cheyenne rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Sierra, who bounded over in her black-and-white uniform. Cheyenne lit up. “Hey, I heard a rumor you’re marrying my brother. Nice engagement ring.”
“Shocking, but true. When he asked, I accepted.” Sierra radiated happiness. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“I can’t imagine,” Cheyenne agreed. After they ordered and Sierra disappeared into the kitchen, she propped both elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands. “So, what’s new with you?”
“With me? I’m not buying the innocent look. I know exactly what you’re doing.”
“What am I doing? I’m just sitting here.”
Eloise wished she could make her friend’s pain disappear. Anyone looking at Cheyenne wouldn’t guess she was nursing a broken heart. “You and Edward broke up on Valentine’s Day. That’s three months ago. You aren’t over it, I can tell.”
“I’ve decided to stay in denial. It isn’t just a river in Egypt.” Cheyenne waggled her brows.
“That isn’t funny enough to distract me, and you know how I like to laugh.” Eloise stretched out her bad leg and relaxed against the chair cushions. “You forget I have a romantic disaster in my past, so I know how it can feel when some guy who says he loves you up and ends things.”
“Our relationship was convenient for him, that was all.” Cheyenne’s face tightened, although she acted light and breezy as if she hadn’t been devastated. “I’m over it.”
“Wow, your denial is really strong.”
“It’s made out of titanium. Nothing will crack it.”
“Then I guess we’d better change the subject.”
“Fabulous idea.”
And she knew exactly what the subject would be. The handsome cowboy from the drive-in flashed into her mind. In truth, he hadn’t ever really gone away but lurked in the back of her brain like a happy thought. “I ran into your cousin in town today. He has an affinity for ice-cream cones, too.”
“Right. Sean. I’m trying to remember the last time you saw him.”
“Years and years ago. Probably the summer before we graduated from high school, the last summer I was home.” She caught sight of Sierra returning and debated changing the subject. But why? It wasn’t as if she were interested in Sean Granger. Besides, she wanted to know more about him. “He’s changed. I hardly recognized him.”
“He’s gotten tall, hasn’t he? I think he’s taller than Dad.”
Sierra set the glasses of icy drinks on the table. “Are you talking about Sean? He’s such a nice guy. It’s too bad what happened to him.”
“Why? What happened?” Inquiring minds wanted to know. She leaned forward, her heart rate tapping inexplicably faster.
“Bad breakup.” Sierra added two rolls of cloth napkins to the table. “She shattered his heart, or so I hear. She up and started dating someone else.”
Images of the handsome cowboy hopped into Eloise’s mind. Of the black Stetson shading his rugged face, the dimples bracketing his grin and the strong dependability the man exuded. “He didn’t look too heartbroken to me.”
“Are you kidding? It’s a Granger family trait not to deal with emotions.” Cheyenne took a sip of her iced coffee. “I notice you are doing the same thing, Eloise.”
“Me?” She smiled at Sierra as the waitress padded away, knowing she was completely guilty. But did she want to talk about it?
No. Not in this lifetime. The cane leaning against the windowsill was proof. There was no sense crying over what you could not change. “Isn’t that like the pot calling the kettle black?”
“Absolutely.” Cheyenne smiled and lifted her glass for a toast. “Here’s to denial and burying emotions.”
“It is the only way to go.”
With a laugh, they clinked glasses and the conversation turned to the evening’s plans, Eloise’s search for horses and Cheyenne’s funny tales of her long drive home from vet school.
This was the life. Sean Granger popped the top on the cold can of root beer, waving goodbye to the housekeeper who had left dinner in the oven and the timer set. All he had to do was listen for the ding. Mrs. Gunderson waved back as she hurried around the corner of the house and disappeared, leaving him blissfully alone. Well, almost alone. A clunk on the other side of the screen door reminded him two Grangers still remained in the house. But not for much longer.
He ambled over to the porch swing and settled onto the cushion to watch the sunset. Comfortable. Thanks for leading me here, Lord. It’s just where I want to be in life. He took a sip of his soda. A cow grazing on the other side of a white fence leaned over the top board and mooed at him. Her bright brown eyes were focused on his soda can.
“Buttercup!” The screen door whispered open and the youngest Granger sister popped out. Addison slung her designer bag over her shoulder. “You can’t have fizzy drinks. They give you the burps. Remember?”
The cow’s long sorrowful moo may have been a comment that some pleasures were worth a little discomfort.
“Dad should just let that cow live in the house like a dog, she’s so spoiled.” Addy winked as she waltzed by him. “It’s Friday night. You shouldn’t be here alone. I can stay with you and keep watch on Sunny. I’m worried about her.”
“No way. Don’t you change your plans. I can keep an eye on your expecting mare. Besides, I want to spend the evening with my sweetie.” He stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles.
Buttercup, his sweetie, mooed again as if in total agreement.
“Then enjoy the peace and quiet while you can.” Addy’s advice was delivered with a grin as she hopped down the steps, strawberry blond hair flying behind her, looking a lot like his baby sister as she hurried enthusiastically down the concrete path. “Don’t forget to do your own dishes!”
“I know. My mom trained me right,” he called after her as she disappeared around the corner.
“That’s debatable.” A different voice answered. Cheyenne pushed open the screen door. “I saw the state of your bedroom. Do you know how to pick up anything?”
“Hey, that’s my private domain. I know how to do housework, but I’m not so good at doing it without someone telling me to.” He may as well be honest. He’d learned that was the best way to go through life, even if he could think of folks who didn’t agree—like his former fiancée.
“That’s a tad better than my brothers.” Cheyenne jingled