Holly Jolly Cowboy (The Wyoming Cowboy #7)(45)

HOLLY: Hey there, you in class?

POLLY: No! I’m actually on break! Perfect timing, because I was just about to text you.

That made Holly smile, because it was her sister’s favorite excuse. Polly was always “just about to text.” Holly knew her sister was busy and the day got away from her. As long as Polly was happy, that was all that mattered, even if they didn’t communicate as often as Holly would have liked.

HOLLY: No worries, how’s class this week?

POLLY: UGHHHH

HOLLY: That good, huh?

POLLY: Let’s just say that I’m not confident on my finals.

POLLY: But let’s not talk about me. Let’s talk about that cute guy you kept trying to get on the video call on Friday night!!! Who was that?

HOLLY: That was my nemesis, Adam. I think I’ve told you about him? Mr. I Tip a Dollar?

POLLY: Him???? Seriously?

HOLLY: Yeah. He works at the ranch that I’m housekeeping & cooking for.

POLLY: He wasn’t acting very nemesis-like.

POLLY: He looked like he wanted to kiss you. Are you guys a thing?

HOLLY: No, I was just drunk and he was being polite. That’s it, I swear.

POLLY: Uh huh. I’ve been drunk before and no one looked at me like that.

HOLLY: Wait, when was this?

POLLY: What? I’m not going to a puritan school, sis. They party here.

POLLY: I promise my grades aren’t slipping, though.

POLLY: Don’t try to change the subject. For an enemy, you guys looked cozy. I’m just saying.

POLLY: I give you my blessing.

HOLLY: Your blessing?!?

POLLY: Sure. You deserve some happiness. You’re so busy taking care of everyone else you never take care of yourself. GET SOME.

POLLY: I gotta run but if you get a chance send some more cookies BYE LOVE YOU!

Dear lord. She couldn’t believe that her nerdy, scientific sister had just texted and told her to “get some.” Funny how Polly had turned into the party animal and Holly . . . well, Holly was on her way to being that old, crotchety woman that shook her cane at the kids that drove too fast. She wasn’t much fun, was she?

Maybe it was time to fix that.



* * *



? ? ?

    For Adam, it was a long damn day.

He hadn’t minded when Jason and Sage decided to head out of town. He and Carson could hold down the fort, so to speak. As long as there were no emergencies, it was an amount of work that two men could handle, given that it wasn’t calving season.

But with Carson gone, he’d underestimated just how much there was to do. He’d started the morning chasing the cattle back into the nearest pasture. They’d leaned on one of the outlying fences until it had fallen over, and then they’d wandered over it, grazing. With Hannibal’s help, he’d managed to herd them all back in, but then he’d had to stop and repair the fence. There was feed to be given out. Sick animals to check on. Horses to be tended to. Stalls to be mucked. More feed.

And that was on top of his regular laundry list of chores.

He was still hard at work by the time the sun set and it was dark. The cattle were settled in, all heads counted, and given their last round of hay. Tomorrow, he needed to take inventory on both feed and hay to ensure that they were set, and pull out fresh bales of straw for the horses’ stalls.

But that was tomorrow, and he’d think about it then.

He’d been so busy that he hadn’t had time to obsess over the fact that he’d kissed Holly that morning. It was only when he dragged himself in from the barn and headed to his cabin that he remembered that he hadn’t eaten lunch . . . or dinner.

And that he was supposed to be with her for a midnight dinner. He lifted an arm and smelled himself. Okay, he needed a shower first. He put down some food for Hannibal, who’d helped him move reluctant cattle all afternoon long. “Good boy. Get ready for round two tomorrow.”

Adam showered and barely had time to comb his hair back from his face and put on fresh clothing before he glanced at the time. Damn, it was late. And he had to be up before dawn to get moving. The lack of sleep was going to catch up with him . . . eventually. For tonight, though, he didn’t care.

Shoving on a pair of snow boots, he yawned as he headed for the main house.

It was quiet as he walked in, and his stomach growled. Adam told himself that it was likely past her bedtime. If she was too tired for dinner, they’d have it some other time. He was exhausted, and she probably was, too. She seemed to work every day of the week, and—

When he turned the corner, Holly was seated on a stool in the kitchen, two plates set out on the bar. She was still wearing her waitressing outfit, her hair pulled up into the tight ponytail and bow, and she sat up a bit straighter when he walked in.

The smile she gave him was bright and nervous. “Hungry?”

She’d been waiting for him. It sent a hot lick of pleasure through his gut to realize that.

Adam took a couple of steps forward and realized the closer he got to her, the more tired she looked. It seemed he wasn’t the only one who’d had a long, hard day. Even that perky ponytail of hers was slightly wilted, as if collapsing in exhaustion. She’d set a pretty table for the two of them, but a hard stool didn’t look like the most comfortable of spots.

So he picked up the plate she’d left for him and gestured at the living room. “You want to go sit on one of Sage’s couches and relax while we eat?”