Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Mina instantly loved the town’s only restaurant.
Like her apartment and newspaper office, it was an old building, made of red bricks, only it was a single-story structure.
Old tin signs, some of them advertising brands that had long been defunct, hung on the walls in a tasteful arrangement. An old, colorful jukebox—one with actual 45s and not CDs—rested in one corner. Patsy Cline was currently belting out “She’s Got You.”
The place was doing moderate business, and a woman of about sixty called out, “Just sit where you’d like.” She looked up from what she was doing behind the front counter and grinned. “Oh, it’s just you two.” She paused. “Hey, there’s three of you today.” She smiled as her eyes landed on Mina. “You know the drill.”
“We sure do,” Slater said.
They walked across the hardwood floor and to a booth in the back. Along the way, Jackson and Slater greeted a few other patrons.
Once they sat—with Mina on one side and the two cowboys on the other—she said, “Looks like this is a pretty close-knit town.”
It was Jackson who answered. “We’re not big at all. You sorta get to know everyone in a town this size.”
“Add the unique bond that most of us share,” Slater chimed in, “and well, you get to be pretty close.”
Questions flooded Mina’s mind, and she reminded herself that this was a friendly dinner and not an assignment. She wanted to make sure this didn’t turn into an interview. Still, it was only polite to make conversation. And what better way to learn about her new home?
“You’re talking about everyone being Bigs or Littles?” she probed.
“Yep,” Slater answered. “I guess not everyone is. Take Marsha, for example. The woman who greeted us. This is her place. She was here before our kind took over this town.” He laughed. “But she loves us. And we love her.”
“So, she’s not a Mommy?” Mina wondered aloud.
“Nope.”
“But she appreciates what we all did for Big Cedar,” Jackson broke in. “This town was dying. Her business barely survived on tourists that came through here on their way somewhere else. We still get a fair amount of that. But now, well, there’s enough locals to not only keep her afloat but provide a good living.” He looked proud as he added, “She does all right for herself.”
The conversation was interrupted when a woman of about thirty approached, holding three menus. She was cute and Mina loved the way she wore her hair in pigtails.
“Little Amber,” Jackson said with a pleasant smile. “How are you, honey?”
The woman giggled as she placed the menus before them. “I’m good. How are you two crazy cowboys?”
Jackson laughed. “Sounds like she has our number.”
Slater laughed, too. “We’re doing all right.”
“Heard you had to chase a horse down Main Street,” Amber said.
Slater dipped his head. “News travels fast.”
“It’ll travel faster when we have a newspaper.” The waitress looked at Mina. “You must be Mina. It’s so nice meeting you! All the Littles have been excited about you coming.”
The words made Mina feel good. She was still blushing when she said, “It’s nice meeting you, too, Amber.”
A thought suddenly hit Mina. Did Amber have her eyes on one of the guys? And why did she feel jealous if that was the case? She didn’t know Jackson or Slater. She certainly had no claim to either one of them. And especially both of them!
You’re being ridiculous. Don’t be jealous.
Thankfully, her fears were quickly dispelled as Jackson asked, “How’s your Daddy?”
“He’s good. Working with his trees,” Amber replied. “But he’ll be here to get me in a couple of hours, if you want to say hi.”
“We’ll probably have moved on by then,” Jackson said. “But we’ll drop by y’all’s cabin soon and sit a spell for a visit.”
“Ooh. And maybe me and Little Mina can play!” Amber winced. “Sorry. I guess I shouldn’t assume you’re a Little. But that’s what all my friends around town have told me.”
Mina, feeling embarrassed for having been jealous, waved off the apology. “Don’t worry—I’m definitely a Little!”
Amber perked up. “Have you seen the playground yet?”
“No. But I can’t wait!”
“Maybe we can all meet there soon.”
They ordered their drinks so Amber could get back to work. It didn’t take them long before all three had Mason jars of sweet tea before them. They placed their orders, everyone getting the chicken-fried steak platter.
“That’s a local favorite,” Slater explained.
“Oh, we have it in Texas, too,” Mina said.
“Yeah, but it ain’t as good as ours,” Slater told her with a grin. “Everything in Oklahoma is better.”
Mina laughed. “We’ll see about that.” She looked around and then said, “But I must admit, Oklahoma is off to a good start. A town like this? It’s a dream come true.”
Jackson took a drink of tea before saying, “Now, I normally don’t like to give Texas any credit. But they do have Mountainville down there in the Davis Mountains. It’s on my list of places to visit.”
“I’ve always wanted to go there, too,” Mina said. “But Big Cedar might be just as good.”
“We’re sure glad you’re here,” Jackson said. “How did you hear about the job?”
“It was posted on a Littles’ forum online,” Mina explained. “They wanted someone familiar with the lifestyle to revive the paper.” She sat up a little straighter as her chest swelled with pride. “I majored in journalism at North Texas and then worked for a small paper in Dallas. Did odd jobs on the side and ghostwriting to make an actual living. The paper I was with was tiny. Sort of internet journalism, but we did have a print edition.
“Anyway, I’ve always dreamed of being with other Littles—and finding a Daddy—so I thought what better place to do that than a whole town dedicated to ‘em?”
A wave of embarrassment swept over her. She didn’t know why she felt that way, but for some reason, admitting she was looking for a Daddy made her blush.
Or perhaps she was looking for Daddies…
“Hey, you’re in luck,” Slater said. “There are single Daddies around here.”
She chuckled. “There are?”
“I know of two.”
It took her a moment to realize what he was saying. Once it hit her, she giggled. Thankfully, Marsha and Amber dropped by to deliver their dinners, and their focus shifted toward the hot food.
“Well, you’re an absolute doll,” Marsha said to Mina. “Just as cute as can be, like Amber and all the other Littles that scamper around this town.”
Mina giggled. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Hey, do you like Little outfits and stuff?” Amber asked Mina. “We have a store here that has the coolest stuff in the back room!”
“Yep! I’m going to get some soon,” Mina told her excitedly.
“Sooner than you realize,” Jackson said.
“Huh?”
“We have a surprise for you.”
Mina was puzzled when Marsha said, “We’ll let you all eat. Come along, Amber.”
They left, and Mina decided to turn the conversation back to journalism rather than her desire to find a Daddy. It was way less embarrassing!
“You know, even though the town is paying me to revitalize the newspaper, it’s set up as a nonprofit that’s completely separate,” she said. “That way, I can remain neutral and independent.”
“That makes sense,” Jackson said. “Those are important qualities for a journalist, huh?”
“The most important!” she said. She was about to elaborate when the atmosphere in the restaurant shifted.
It was so noticeable, in fact, that Mina was surprised the jukebox didn’t fall silent, like in the movies. But Conway Twitty was still singing softly in the background.
Still, lots of patrons’ eyes were on the man who’d just entered.
The man who was wearing a haughty, disdainful sneer as he sized up the crowd.
Hugo Sparks.