Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
“So why did you jump on the horse?” Mina asked. “Couldn’t you have just let it run until it was tired and then collect it? That way you wouldn’t have risked hurting yourself.”
She watched as the two cowboys looked at each other and then back at her.
“Good question,” Jackson said. “But I’m afraid it’s not that easy when it comes to horses.”
“It’s not?”
“Nope. You see, without anyone on him, Rampage could have run a lot longer and farther. And he can go fast! Might have gotten so far we couldn’t find him for a while. He’d probably eventually wander back to his home. Horses often go back to where they’re familiar. But he might have been hurt between now and then. Or gotten lost, I suppose.” He flicked his nose toward Slater. “Just his weight was enough to add enough burden to Rampage to wear him out a little quicker.”
“That’s right,” Slater interjected. “And I didn’t hurt him, but I was able to use my knees to squeeze just a little bit of pressure on him. Helped him simmer down a mite.”
“Wow! That’s fascinating,” Mina said. She looked around at the group and then back to the two cowboys, a thought hitting her. “But since we all saw it—and we’re hearing you explain it now—no one will want to read my story.”
“Are you kidding?” one of the other Littles said. “I can’t wait!”
The others cheered and Mina couldn’t help but smile. This seemed to be the perfect story to kick off the town’s new paper with. How lucky was she that she’d arrived in Big Cedar right as it was happening?
“Thanks everyone,” she said bashfully.
“Maybe you can interview the guys later,” Sheriff Quinn suggested. “Right now, I best show you to your new office and apartment. Let you get settled in. You got some luggage in your car, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll help you with it.”
“So will I!” his wife said. “I’m Alyssa, by the way. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Thank you. It’s nice meeting you. And all of you,” Mina said, looking beyond Alyssa to the rest of the Littles.
“We’ll all help!” one of the women said.
Mina blushed. She had to admit it felt nice to have a welcoming committee gathering around to see her. That had certainly never happened before.
It also felt wonderful to be around other Littles. She couldn’t wait until she was settled in, writing her stories, and having some fun around that town.
What if she found a Daddy?
Or Daddies ?
She nearly giggled at the thought, her eyes darting to the two, sexy cowboys. Mmm. They were positively yummy. If she had to pick between them, she wasn’t sure she could.
But that was just fantasy. There’s no way even one smoking-hot guy like them would ever want her, let alone two!
She’d sure dream about them, though. That was for sure.
“You going to be in your office tomorrow? Say around eleven?” Jackson asked.
“Yes, sir. I’ll make it a point to be.”
“Then we’ll drop by and answer whatever questions you have for your big story,” he told her with a smile. “Between now and then, you have time to get settled in.”
“She’ll be in the old newspaper office,” the sheriff said.
“Figured as much,” Jackson said. “Be good to have those presses running again.”
“Heck, they haven’t run in fifty years,” Slater added.
“And those old ones most likely won’t run again,” Quinn said. “We donated them to a museum. Things dated back over a hundred years. The tech was so outdated. We bought a modern one. It’s small, but so is our town, so it’ll all work out.”
Mina’s excitement was growing, a giggle testifying to that fact. The looks the cowboys gave her weren’t lost on her, either. It seemed as if they clearly found her cute.
Some of the crowd dispersed, and the cowboys trotted off to help the older gentleman get the horse squared away in the trailer. Clyde went back in his shop, but all the Littles eagerly kept pace with Mina as the sheriff led her down toward the newspaper office, some of them helping carry her things they’d retrieved from her car.
“I’m Janie,” one of the women said. “Janie Worden. My Daddy is the doctor here in Big Cedar.”
“And I’m Mindy Graves. My Daddy, Joe, runs the store. It’s right there.” She pointed across the street to an old building that looked right out of the 1800s, complete with two hitching rails just off the covered porch.
“Whoa! How old is that place?” Mina asked.
“It’s been here since the Old West days,” Mindy told her.
Mina’s brain was already spinning with possibilities. How fun would it be to do a series of stories on the history of that town? She’d researched enough to know that Big Cedar existed before its current incarnation. It had a rich heritage that reached beyond the role as a special community for Bigs and Littles.
“It’s been restored nicely,” she noted.
“Thanks. My Daddy worked hard on it. I did, too. Lots of folks around here pitched in,” Mindy told her.
“And you met us,” Alyssa said, motioning to herself, Belinda, and Grace. “There are more Littles around here, but I guess you’ll meet them later.”
Mina couldn’t wait. But right now, she was excited to explore the old three-story brick building they stopped in front of.
It, too, appeared to have been lovingly restored. The red bricks were pristine and the windows that were set on either side of the wooden door looked new and clean. A metal green awning that ran the length of the front of the building hung over the porch. Two rocking chairs with a little table between them rested on the right, and the place had a cozy feel to it.
Home, sweet home.
“This is amazing!” she gasped.
“I’m glad you like it. But you still need to see the inside.” Sheriff Quinn’s boots thudded loudly as he stepped onto the porch, sat Mina’s suitcase down, and reached in the pocket of his Wranglers. He pulled out a key, unlocked the door, then stepped aside. “Your new home awaits, honey. Go in and take a gander.”
Mina hurried inside, ready to see her new home. Already, though, her heart was happy.
She was the newest resident of Big Cedar, and there was no other place she’d rather be.
* * *
The tour hadn’t taken very long, since the building wasn’t big. The first floor consisted of a small waiting area just inside the door that was separated from the rest of the room by a waist-high wooden railing, complete with a little swinging gate in the center.
The rest of the room was the office, with two large desks, and the printing press in the very back along with a worktable.
Upstairs, on the second floor, was Mina’s apartment, complete with a small kitchen.
The third floor was mostly empty and just used for storage.
“Are you sure you won’t mind staying here by yourself?” the sheriff asked. “You know, my house is just right next door. You could literally open a window to yell and I’d hear you.”
Mina grinned. “Thank you, sir. But I’m fine. The neighborhood I lived in back in Dallas was… kinda sketchy… to put it nicely. This is paradise compared to that!”
The sheriff chuckled. “Well, just remember I’m close if you need anything at all.”
“And that means we can play a lot!” Alyssa said. “If you want to.”
“Of course!” Mina replied.
“Ooh, just wait until you see the park,” Grace chimed in. “I’m telling you, this is the best town ever!”
The Littles all agreed.
“I can’t wait to explore and have fun with y’all,” Mina said.
“There will be plenty of time for that,” Quinn spoke up. “But right now, girls, let’s let Mina unpack and get situated. And I bet your Daddies are wondering where you’re at. You best run along and check in with them.”
The Littles all hugged Mina before filing out, promising to see her later.
Mina stepped out on the porch, waved goodbye, and watched them all go. But just as soon as they scattered in their various directions, two other people came into her field of view.
The cowboys.
They were looking right at her as they strolled toward the porch. Mina’s heart skipped a beat and excitement gripped her.
It looked like those sexy men were coming to see her.