Chapter 10
Joy filled Paisley’s heart at the sight of Violet perched on the little black pony, laughing in sheer delight and having the time of her life.
Callie led Merrylegs—named after the pony in the classic tale Black Beauty—around the yard, telling Violet how to sit and hold the reins, and the little girl brimmed with happiness.
Paisley’s heart was full. It was a tenuous joy, though. The text she’d gotten at work today kept intruding on her thoughts. She’d planned to tell Ethan, but she hadn’t found the right moment before Violet had returned home, full of excited chatter about the mama cat and her kittens.
She should have told him when he first asked what was wrong, but the words wouldn’t come out. She was used to relying on herself these days, being careful who she trusted, and not making the mistake of thinking anyone else could fix what was wrong with her life.
Of course she’d panicked when the text came in.
But then she’d made herself think about it, and she had to admit she wasn’t certain if she was being overly paranoid or if the text could be explained by the fight with Fern.
The timing was too convenient, and though Fern had supposedly only sent harassing emails to the volunteer who’d quit, nothing stopped her from leveling up to texts. Anyone could buy a burner phone.
Fern was angry with her, and Fern had her number. Trey did not. She’d gotten a new phone when she’d arrived in Alabama, and the only people from her old life who had the number were her lawyer and the court.
She wasn’t stupid enough to think Trey couldn’t discover her new number eventually, but she also thought it more likely he’d track her down and show up suddenly if he did.
He wouldn’t warn her with a text. Like Ethan had said, he would have a plan.
And that plan wasn’t going to involve reckless texts that could be attributed to him.
She needed to be smart and she needed to tell Ethan. It was ninety-percent likely to be Fern, but just in case. Plus, did she really know what Fern was capable of? What if the woman had a violent streak? All Paisley needed was two violent assholes angry with her.
Emma sauntered over to where Paisley stood, a bottle of water in her hand, a big smile on her face. “Isn’t that pony the cutest darn thing?”
“She really is,” Paisley said.
“So is Violet. Though I think you may want to kill Ethan after this. It was his idea to get the pony, but I don’t think he thought about how much Violet would love riding. She’ll want a pony now.”
Paisley laughed. “I’ll kill him later. Right now, she’s having fun.”
Really, life was good. That’s what she had to focus on. Life in Sutton’s Creek was promising and bright. Despite Fern. Despite the distant threat of Trey. This moment with these people was lovely.
“Thank you all for doing this. It means a lot to Violet to get to see the fireworks she missed.”
“It was Ethan’s idea, but we’re all happy to participate.
We have frequent cookouts together anyway.
Adding some fireworks and barnyard animals wasn’t a big stretch.
” Emma put a hand on her very small belly.
“Besides, there will be children at our get togethers next year, so why not start now? Though I think the pony will have to wait a few years for this little one.”
“Not as long as you think,” Callie said as she strolled by with Merrylegs and Violet. “My mother had me on a horse when I was eight months old. Of course she held me up there while somebody else led, but you can start them early.”
Emma shuddered. “This kid’s not going to be a horse kid. Seth cringes every time Nikki gallops toward a fence, so I know Blaze won’t handle it well.”
Callie laughed. “He’s a big old baby about it, but he doesn’t let Nikki see. He melts down in private.”
“Nikki’s a teenager,” Paisley said to Emma as Callie got out of earshot. “What’s the big deal?”
“Fences,” Emma said. “Nikki jumps them. When Seth fell for Callie, he fell for Nikki too. He loves that kid, and watching her hurl a twelve-hundred pound animal over a fence kind of freaks him out.”
Paisley imagined Violet galloping toward a fence and shuddered. “I get it. Poor guy.”
“Just don’t get her a pony and you’ll be okay. Probably.”
Since she couldn’t afford a pony, that wasn’t going to be a problem. Maybe a kitten wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Might distract Violet from the pony idea if she got started on it.
Emma took a sip of water. “I think Ethan likes you and Violet.”
Paisley’s stomach clenched. “He’s a nice guy.”
“Mmm-hmm. The way he looked at you in the Dawg before he took off that night made me wonder if maybe you’d met before.”
Paisley’s throat was a desert. She hastily took a sip of her Coke. She didn’t want to lie, and yet she didn’t want to share her entire sad history. She also didn’t want these women to think she and Ethan were a possibility.
“I, um, don’t think so. But I met a lot of people at the library in the first few days.”
“I guess that could be it. Or he had a sudden bout of indigestion. I did think of that. It happens.”
Rory wandered over, saving Paisley from a reply about the state of Ethan’s digestion. Thank heavens.
“Isn’t that the cutest?” Rory exclaimed.
“So cute,” Emma agreed. “The goat’s adorable too.”
The goat was currently standing on the bench beneath one of the big oak trees.
They’d had to chase him off the table earlier, and he’d been eyeing Daphne’s car before that.
She’d threatened to make stew out of him while Kane laughed his head off.
Which had not amused Daphne. She’d threatened to open the doors to his Tahoe and let the goat have his way with the interior.
That’d shut Kane up quick.
Paisley couldn’t help but be amazed at how much these men seemed to love their women.
They were all former soldiers, like Trey, but they were nothing like Trey.
They didn’t posture, didn’t scowl at their women, and didn’t look like they were on the edge of an explosion over the slightest thing.
Like threatening to let a goat into a vehicle.
If Paisley had said that to Trey, he’d have pinched her side or her arm and twisted hard while pretending to smile and telling her what he’d do if she tried it. She’d learned very quickly not to joke around with him.
“Did you ask her?” Rory said to Emma.
“I was working up to it.”
Paisley blinked, her gaze sliding between them. “Ask me what?”
The two women shared a look before turning their gazes back to her.
Paisley’s heart dropped as she frantically tried to imagine what they wanted to know.
She’d seen Emma studying Violet, but that didn’t mean anything.
Yes, Paisley did sometimes think that Violet’s eyes were remarkably like Ethan’s—but hazel eyes weren’t unique.
Emma cleared her throat. “I somehow got roped into serving on the committee planning the Christmas tour this year. It’s still a few months away, but we need hosts and hostesses for the homes and businesses on tour.
You basically take a shift, usually an hour or so.
You stand in a particular room and tell people about it when they enter—the history, anything the owner wants you to tell people, etcetera.
Many owners get their friends to help, but I thought it’d be nice if we had a pool of volunteers this year.
Make it less stressful on the people getting their homes ready. ”
Paisley’s knees wobbled. “You want me to be a hostess?”
“Well, yes. It would only be for an hour or two on a Saturday in December. But you don’t have to if you’re too busy. And it doesn’t change anything. We didn’t invite you into the Besties just to ask for favors.”
Relief made her giddy. “Yes, of course. I’d be happy to help.”
Rory lightly slapped Emma’s shoulder. “Told you she’d do it. And you were afraid to ask.”
“Why?” Paisley asked.
“You haven’t been in town very long, and I didn’t want to overwhelm you with yet another task.
The people of this town are going to ask the librarian to participate in a lot of events, and I didn’t want you to feel obligated to say yes or to think we’ve invited you to hang out with us so you’d be a volunteer. ”
Paisley laughed. “Honestly, if an hour or two of my time is all you wanted and you went to all this trouble to get it, then I’d say I’m still getting the better end of the bargain.
I’m happy to help in any way I can. I want to be part of this community.
I want Violet to grow up here. Aside from one coworker, life has been good since we arrived. ”
Emma rolled her eyes. “Fern Carter. Lord love a duck. That woman has the sourest disposition of anyone I’ve ever met. She’s mean as a snake.”
Paisley tried not to let her surprise show, but she must have failed because Rory patted her arm. “It’s okay. Everyone knows Fern. Though she doesn’t frequent the Dawg, thank heavens.”
“Speaking of the Dawg, how are Theo and the gang holding up without you tonight?” Callie said as she joined them.
Paisley’s gaze shot to Violet and Merrylegs, but Ethan had the lead rope.
He was talking to Violet and she had a big smile on her face.
Paisley wished she could hear what he was saying.
Instead, she dragged her attention back to the conversation.
Rory spread her hands. “They swear they’ve got it.
Whenever I check the receipts, business is brisk.
I have to think if they were failing to get the job done, business would fall off.
It’s not, though. We’ve hired more shift workers, and both Nikki and Amber are handling the bar just fine.
I’m working days most of the time, and I have to be honest and say it’s best. I get more tired than I used to.
Plus I’m enjoying my reading, some gardening and decorating.
Chance and I are discussing the renovations we want to make to the house, too.
And a wedding. Eventually. I’m in no rush for that. ”