Stacey prepared enough food for a month of meals. Thank goodness, the Jones family had a big roomy freezer.
Her brother Jude dropped by before dinner. “Wow,” he said, when he looked at all the casserole dishes on top of the counter. “Are we feeding the entire town of Horseback Hollow?” he asked.
Stacey shot him a quelling glance. “This would feed far more than the township of Horseback Hollow. Technically, we don’t even live in the township of Horseback Hollow.”
Jude shrugged his shoulders. “True, so why did you cook so much?”
Stacey considered keeping her feelings to herself, but if anyone should understand, it would be Jude. Everyone knew he fell in love or like at the drop of a hat. She’d always thought of him as a Romeo. “I’m cooking to distract myself from something that’s bothering me. I have a crush on Colton Foster,” she whispered.
Silence followed. “Colton Foster? When did this happen?”
“Recently,” she said. “I didn’t plan it. And I think he has feelings for another woman.”
“Who?” Jude asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t know. He’s been cagey about it.”
“You’ve talked to him about another woman and you still have a crush on him?” he asked in disbelief.
“It didn’t happen exactly like that. Don’t fuss at me,” she said. “I thought you would understand.”
“Hell, no,” Jude said. “Don’t jump into a new romance. It’s not in your best interest.”
She gave a double take at his advice. “Says the guy who falls in love or like at least once a month.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt. Colton’s a good guy, but if he’s involved with another girl...”
“I didn’t say he was involved,” she said. “He just said he wanted to make her happy.”
Jude winced. “That’s a big deal, Stacey. Guys don’t talk about making a woman happy if they aren’t already pretty committed.”
“Thanks for the encouragement,” she murmured as she bundled up another casserole for the freezer.
Jude squeezed her shoulder. “I’m just looking out for you.”
She took a deep breath. “I know. It just seems ironic for you to be warning me away from my feelings for Colton.”
“Maybe I’m changing in my old age,” he said. “Or maybe I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”
Stacey thought about Joe and frowned. “I know it may sound crazy, but I feel as if my engagement to Joe was a lifetime ago.”
“I still wouldn’t mind kicking him into next week,” he said. “He shouldn’t have abandoned you.”
“He couldn’t handle the commitment,” she said, and only felt a twinge of sadness over the situation. She had begun to realize that Joe’s abandonment was his issue more than hers. “It’s taken a while for me to realize this, but I wouldn’t want him if he stayed with Piper and me out of obligation. At the same time, I feel terrible that Piper doesn’t have the daddy she deserves. But the truth is, I’m not sure Joe deserves her.”
Jude studied her for a long moment. “Dang, girl. You’ve grown up.”
She smiled at her brother. “You think?”
“Yeah,” he said, and waggled his finger at her. “Just don’t go falling for the local cowboys. I don’t want you to get hurt.” His gaze slid to the pot on the stove. “Can you share any of that soup? The smell is killing me.”
“That bad, huh?” she asked, smiling at his description.
“Have a little pity,” he said.
“Tell the truth,” she said. “When was the last time you prepared a full meal for yourself or anyone else?”
“Grilled cheese and canned soup count?”
She shook her head.
He sighed. “A long time.”
“That’s what I thought,” she said. “Maybe you’re due for a cooking lesson.”
“I’ll tell you a secret, Stacey. It’s my goal to never need to cook for myself. That is the goal of most bachelors,” he said.
“Well, at least you’re honest,” she said, and planted a kiss on his cheek. She fixed a large container of soup for him to take home. She spent the next hour storing meals. Piper awakened, and Stacey gave her a half bottle of baby food and her bottle. Afterward, it was time for baby calisthenics. Stacey set Piper on her belly and watched her do dry swimming. Piper grunted and groaned as she exercised.
When Piper’s groans turned to cries, Stacey whisked her up in her arms and walked to the kitchen with her. Stacey finished wrapping up her meals for storage and put a few portions in the refrigerator. Her father was always grateful when she packed a lunch he could take outdoors.
Tucking Piper into a baby pack, Stacey began to clean the public areas of the house. She took care of the den, foyer and kitchen and began to feel tired. Pulling Piper from the sack, Stacey sank onto a chair in the den and told herself not to think about Colton.
Even her Romeo brother, Jude, had warned her away from her feelings. But Stacey couldn’t keep her mind off of Colton. She wanted to be close to him. Very close.
She concentrated on rocking Piper, then burping her. Stacey knew she needed to focus on Piper. Her baby needed her love and devotion.
Unfortunately, Stacey was all too aware of her own needs. How was she supposed to make those needs disappear?
* * *
The next afternoon while her mother made some calls to her circle group, Stacey folded laundry in the den. Piper took a nap. Stacey did the hated job of folding sheets. Was there any good way of folding fitted sheets? With the television on a news show, she folded several linens.
A knock sounded at the door, and she rushed to keep whoever was on her porch from knocking again. She didn’t want Piper waking from the noise. It was amazing how precious her child’s sleep had become to her, she thought. She wondered if she should start putting a note on the front door when Piper was napping. Or would that be a bit too cranky?
Stacey opened the door and saw Colton on the porch. Her heart took a huge dip.
Colton removed his Stetson. “We need to talk.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you,” Colton said.
Stacey felt her face heat with embarrassment and cringed. “Oh, no, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have interfered. I was supposed to be helping you with
