around her waist. “Stop saying that. You aren’t a joke, Ellie. As for love, don’t you know the Bible says ‘do not stir or awaken love until the time is right’? Did you ever think that just maybe the time wasn’t right?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Well, maybe that’s what it is. Maybe God knows you aren’t ready for that. Or maybe you aren’t the holdup at all. Maybe your future husband is the one who isn’t ready.”
She sighed. “I sure wish he’d hurry up. I’m tired of waiting.”
He laughed. “What has you in such an all-fired hurry all of a sudden?”
“I don’t know.” She bit her lip. “Sometimes I think something must be wrong with me since I’ve never had anything close to a beau.”
He stiffened. “There isn’t a thing wrong with you.”
She ignored his comment and narrowed her eyes. “You know what I think the problem is? All of the men in this town see me as a little sister.”
“Stop acting like one and they’ll stop treating you like one.”
She pursed her lips to the side. Now, that was an interesting statement. She wasn’t exactly sure how to do that but something had to change and it might need to be her behavior. She was plumb tired of being looked at merely as the town’s source of amusement. She wanted to prove that she was more than that. She wanted to prove that she was worthy of being wanted.
Sean finished the dance with her before leading her to the table where their families sat. He pulled out the empty chair that had been left between Lawson and Kate for her, then went to sit beside Lorelei. As he did, Nathan cleared his throat. “Since we’re all gathered here, I have an announcement to make. As you know, the horse ranch Kate and I started almost ten years ago has been doing very well lately. We’ve decided to expand.”
This certainly wasn’t news to Ellie, but she offered her congratulations, anyway. However, Nathan wasn’t finished. “As part of that expansion, I decided to hire a new foreman. I’m pleased to announce that Lawson has agreed to take the position.”
Happy gasps circled the table and Ellie’s was among them. Her gaze flew to Lawson just as he gave a bashful shrug. “Surprise! I hope y’all don’t mind that I’m going to stick around.”
“Mind?” Sean’s tone portrayed how completely ridiculous he found the question. “Why would we mind? This is great.”
Ms. Lettie seemed to be glowing. “Does this mean no more traveling? You’ll be settled in Peppin permanently?”
Lawson nodded. “The opportunity came at just the right time. I was ready to retire my badge.”
Doc’s approval shone in his eyes. “It will be good to have you home.”
“It’s perfect. Does this mean you’ll live at the ranch again?” Ellie glanced at Kate for confirmation. “Perhaps in the cabin? Or will we build something new?”
Lawson shook his head. “The cabin will do just fine for me. I don’t need anything fancy.”
“We’ll get that figured out soon,” Nathan said just as Maddie and Jeff passed the table.
Jeff paused to speak to Ellie. “Thanks again, Ellie. If it wasn’t for that list—”
“I know. You’re welcome.” She didn’t mean to be abrupt, but really! Enough was enough.
The couple stepped away from the table. Lawson’s voice drew her gaze as he regarded her. “What did Jeff say about a list?”
She leaned back in her chair as her family and closest friends launched into the story she was sick and tired of hearing. Sean caught her gaze and she returned his wry grin with a roll of her eyes. She took a sip of punch and managed to swallow her annoyance with a big gulp of the fruity concoction. Lawson sent her a measuring look once the story was through. “Looks like you’ve caused quite a stir.”
She lifted her chin. “What else is new?”
Lawson chuckled. “Ellie, I’m just curious. Who did you match up with me?”
“I don’t remember.” Ellie’s gaze swept toward Lettie and Kate before she settled on Lorelei’s face. Lorelei looked as baffled as she. Suddenly, Ellie’s confusion fled and she turned back to him. “You weren’t living here, so you weren’t on the list.”
“That’s too bad. It would have been nice to—”
“Oh.” She gasped the word as she realized what she’d just said. Her eyes widened. She stared into Lawson’s hazel eyes for a drawn-out moment, vaguely aware his voice stumbled to a halt. She watched his gaze trail down to her lips—which had formed a perfect circle of incredulous indignation.
She dragged her gaze from his until she found Ms. Lettie’s. The satisfaction on the woman’s face told her everything she needed to know. A quick glance at her laughing sister confirmed it. Ellie shook her head at both of them even as she leaned back in her chair and pinned them with a look. “Ridiculous. You two are completely ridiculous.”
Ellie heard Lorelei catch her breath but Ms. Lettie’s knowing smile kept her from looking away. The woman lowered her chin and lifted one eyebrow as though to say “time will tell.” Lawson’s hand brushed her shoulder to gain her attention. She glanced up at him. He said something but all she could remember was earlier...the warmth of being in his arms and the sound of his voice in her ear. What had she felt the moment before she realized it was only Lawson? Attraction? Anticipation? She didn’t want to label it.
Lawson—of all the silly ideas, to think that we might make a good couple. They were just friends—only friends. Besides, a man as attractive, interesting and worldly wise as he would never be interested in a simple girl like her, especially after all those years of courting Lorelei, the most sophisticated girl in town. Why would he want Ellie? No one else ever had. Except Donovan, who she really didn’t want to count.
She realized Lawson was still talking and shook the cloud from her thoughts. “What did you say?”
“I said, let me in on the joke. I want to laugh, too.”
Her breath pulled from her lungs as if she’d been cut. Her gaze held his for a long moment then fell to her lap as she felt something within her snap. She slowly lifted her gaze to survey the faces of those around her. They were all waiting for her to say something. They wanted to laugh with her just like they’d done a thousand times before. But this time one thing was different.
She wasn’t laughing.
She eyed her friends and family. “There is no joke, Lawson—not anymore.”
* * *
Lawson eased his duffel bag from his shoulder to the floor of the cozy old cabin on the O’Brien property. This was the place where his life had truly begun nearly ten years ago when Kate and Nathan had taken him on as a farmhand and brought him into their family. In this cabin, he’d learned his first lesson about what it truly meant to belong somewhere. Only a few months after that, Doc and Lettie had become his legal guardians and his honorary parents.
It somehow felt
