Picnic in Someday Valley (Honey Creek #2)(28)

Zak said he’d help, and Danny said he’d watch over Sunny because she didn’t need to get wet. Sunny Lyn said she’d count the horses and write the number down. Since the only numbers she could write were 1 and 4, Jesse doubted an accurate count.

Zak looked thoughtful. “So, Dad, we’re running a horse hotel.”

“Looks like it, son. If more rain floods the river, the horses will be safe with us.”





Chapter 19


Piper


The mayor of Honey Creek stood in Mr. Winston’s kitchen in shock. How did I end up here? Piper had skipped lunch with the widows to be alone with Colby. She’d thought they’d have a quiet lunch and talk things over. Nothing about this weekend had gone as she’d hoped.

Yet, when the old man invited them, Colby thought it would be fun and said yes for them both. Like he could speak for her. Another problem they needed to get straight.

He’d claimed that the old guy’s home would be somewhat quieter than a crowded café. Winston collects interesting people. They could talk later. But, later, when no one else was around, talking was never high on Colby’s list of what to do.

Piper stood in the kitchen of Mr. Winston’s home and just glared at her not-so-secret lover. They were together for the first weekend in three months and Colby didn’t seem to want to be alone with her.

Piper put on her public face. Calm, polite, welcoming. It was too late to back out and she didn’t want to start an argument. Part of her wanted to curl up in his arms and wish away the rain and all the problems that might be coming their way.

Mr. Winston hugged her and told her what a great honor it was to have the mayor in his home. He placed her hand on his forearm and led her into the grand dining room.

Several guests were standing around talking. Everyone was greeting the crowd, so it was easy to play the smiling mayor. The oak-lined room was warm and inviting.

The lady who owned a booth at the flea market, Alice, was there, obviously wearing one of her vintage dresses and gloves. She looked like she’d just stepped out of the 1950s. Digger, who owned Fisherman’s Lodge, had just gotten back home. He hugged Colby like he was a long lost son and not just a trooper who’d rented a cabin at his lodge.

Piper nodded to Pecos and his round little wife. Two kids about to have a kid, she thought. They looked so happy she almost envied them. Young love seemed to come so easy. At thirty-four she’d realized that loving still came easy, but commitment didn’t. Maybe that was why Colby didn’t make time to talk to her. Maybe he wasn’t ready to talk about commitment. Of course, she’d been the one to slip out Saturday morning.

Colby stood close to her, but didn’t touch her. Piper almost felt like they were drifting at sea . . . in different boats.

Colby talked of his future with the Rangers. She told him of her plans, but neither mentioned their future together. Nothing beyond things like, “We should go to New York and see a few plays,” or “How do you feel about getting season tickets to the Cowboys games next year?”

Again and again one of them was pulled away to talk to another guest.

She looked at Colby laughing with Digger. Part of her loved him and another part wondered if he was just passing through her life. A fling destined to become a memory.

As Piper turned to greet the last guest coming through the door, she froze in surprise. “Marcie,” she whispered as Marcie Latimer stepped inside the back entrance of Mr. Winston’s house. Her head was down, as if she wasn’t sure she’d be welcome. Her hesitance broke Piper’s heart.

Before Pecos could introduce her, Marcie faced Piper with fear in her huge hazel eyes. “I didn’t know you’d be here, Piper. I can leave.” She started stepping backward.

“Wait, Marcie. I invited you. Don’t leave.” Pecos took one step toward them. When he looked at both women, the fire that night at city hall and the trial of Boone Buchanan seemed to fill the entire room.

Piper’s heart felt like her chest was about to break open. Marcie was younger than she was, three grades behind in school, but for a short time they’d been best friends years ago. They’d played together at recess and Piper always insisted Marcie share her lunch when Marcie forgot hers. Piper had told her she’d wished they were sisters because neither had a sister.

Nothing that had happened with Boone Buchanan had been Marcie’s fault. Not his lies about being engaged to Piper. Not him trying to arrange a fire so he could be Piper’s grieving lover. He was a man who wanted the fast track to his dreams, and it didn’t matter who got hurt.

He’d never been Piper’s lover, but he had been Marcie’s. She admitted in court that he called her his secret girlfriend and sometimes he talked about them running away to live together. He’d never told her his plans about faking an engagement with the mayor, but he’d said money and power would be coming his way soon.

Piper cut Pecos off when he tried to reach Marcie. “No,” she said. “Marcie has to stay. I’ve missed her too long and too much.” Piper stuck out her hand. “It is time we remember that we were once friends.”

Marcie hesitated.

Piper held out both hands and Marcie moved into her hug as if she was once again the little girl who looked up to Piper. Both women started crying. Everyone in the room watched and smiled, except Kerrie. She cried with them.