Chapter 11
11
“ W hat about this one?” Katie’s voice went up an octave every time she showed Harper a new dress or top that she liked.
Harper wrinkled her nose. “Yellow isn’t really my color. It would be cute on you, though.”
Katie smiled as she held it up in front of her and turned to the long mirror on the nearby wall. “It would, wouldn’t it?” She sighed. “But this trip isn’t for me. It’s for you. What kind of clothes did you have in your suitcases?” She kindly left out, that were lost in the tornado.
Harper stiffened, knowing this wasn’t the answer Katie wanted. “Mostly jeans and T-shirts, and work shirts for rodeos. I’m thankful I still have my boots.”
Katie laughed. “Did you know I didn’t even own a pair of boots before I came to work at the ranch?”
Harper’s eyes grew wide as she stared at Katie. “No way. You can’t be serious.”
Katie’s head bobbed up and down as she giggled. “Yes, I am. I showed up to work wearing heels and a pencil skirt. I thought I could stay in the office.”
“That’s unbelievable.”
“I accused Sawyer of torturing me that day when he gave me a pair of boots three sizes too big and made me tromp around the ranch so he could give me a tour.”
Now Harper was laughing along with her. “And you still married him?”
Katie gave a dreamy sigh. “Yes. I never would have imagined it that first day. It took a little while to get to know him, but I was drawn to Sawyer because I saw how important the ranch and his family were to him. When he started caring for me the same way, well let’s just say I was head over boots.”
“That’s really sweet,” Harper said, turning back to the racks of clothing. It was sweet for Katie, but Harper was sure she wouldn’t find the same thing here.
“Do you like this?” Katie asked.
Harper giggled as she looked at the pink and white sundress. “Well, it’s nice, but I can’t imagine wearing it to a rodeo.”
“Who says you have to wear it to a rodeo?” Katie asked. “You could wear it, oh I don’t know, on a date, maybe?”
Harper felt her cheeks flush pink. She wanted to ask who in the world she would go on a date with. She had already sworn off rodeo cowboys. But she knew exactly who Katie was talking about. “Oh, I don’t think so.”
Katie waved a hand in the air. “Oh, sure you do. I’ve seen the way Lawson looks at you. And I know you like him. You just need to spend some time together.”
That sounded wonderful. She did like Lawson. She couldn’t deny that. He was kind, caring, and confident. He had taken such good care of her in the storm and in the days after, being exactly the friend she needed. But he was still a rodeo cowboy, and she was still the girl who was not going to get involved. “I just don’t know how much longer I’ll be in town. I’ve got to figure things out, and once I get a car, I can get back on the road and work. So I just don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Yeah,” Katie said absentmindedly as she sorted through a clothing rack. “I felt the same way when I came here. I couldn’t wait to get out and go somewhere else. I had no plans to stay in Shelby Springs and definitely not to get involved with a cowboy.” She looked over at Harper and smiled. “But sometimes God has other plans. I have never regretted my decision for one second. Living here and being with Sawyer is everything that I never knew that I wanted.”
Harper stared at her as she took a deep breath and let it out. “Honestly, I’m not sure what I want. I started traveling, taking pictures, and working rodeos a long time ago. I’ve been doing it for so long, I don’t really think about doing anything else. I definitely don’t think about settling down. But I do feel like it’s time for me to figure out what’s next. I’ve always thought that I would just keep going with the rodeo, but I don’t know. Maybe there’s something else for me.”
Katie looked at her and waggled her eyebrows up and down. “Like living on a ranch and falling for a cowboy?”
Harper laughed. “I don’t know about that.”
“Well, we’ll just wait and see,” Katie said.
Harper glanced at the dress Katie was holding up, a thoughtful smile playing on her lips. “Maybe. Who knows?”
Katie gave her a knowing look. “Exactly. Now, let’s find you something that makes you feel as amazing as you are, no matter where you wear it.”
As they continued browsing through the racks, Harper couldn’t help but feel a flicker of excitement for what the future might hold. Maybe, just maybe, there was something – or someone – waiting for her in Shelby Springs.