The Mechanics of Mistletoe - Liz Isaacson Page 0,57
marveled at them. His family had never really gotten him gifts before. He stood there in the midst of his own home, so much going on around him that made him smile.
“Bear,” a high-pitched voice cut through the lower, more masculine voices. He turned toward Link and scooped him into his arms. “Ranger says he wants to go bowling too.”
Bear grinned at Lincoln and shook his head. “We can’t go bowling, bud. Look, Zona brought a cake and everything.”
“You want to go bowling?” Zona asked, stepping to Bear’s side. “We can take the cake down there.”
Bear blinked, wondering what was happening. “You want to go bowling?”
“Remember when you had a bowling party when you turned ten?” Mother asked.
Bear swung his attention toward her. “Yeah, I was ten,” he said. “You guys planned dinner.”
“It’s not even cooked,” Mother said. “It’ll keep. We can eat fajitas for Sunday lunch.”
“Bowling,” Bishop started to chant, and that made Bear want to stay here at all costs. “Bowl-ing. Bowl-ing. Bowl-ing.”
Others joined in, and Bear saw his evening in the homestead with his family going up in smoke.
“Well,” Bear said, looking at Lincoln. “Look what you started.” He had to practically yell to be heard above his annoying, chanting family. “Your momma won’t have to drive as far.”
Lincoln grinned and hugged Bear. “Can we go then?”
“All right,” Bear said. “We can go bowling.”
A cheer went up, and Ranger took Lincoln from Bear with a big grin. He set him down and they slapped high-five.
“Let’s go,” someone said, and everyone started streaming out of the house. He started to text Sammy to let her know about their change of plans.
You’re going right now? she asked.
Looks like it, Bear said.
“Bear,” Mother said, and he looked up. “Get the cake, would you?”
“Yes,” he said, but he thought it odd he had to bring his own cake. The homestead had emptied fairly quickly, and Bear turned back to get the chocolate concoction Zona had brought.
Three new envelopes stood there that hadn’t been there a few minutes ago, and a smile burst onto Bear’s face again.
Chapter Eighteen
Sammy couldn’t believe they were leaving the ranch right now. She called Bishop, who said, “Shoot, Sammy. You’re right. We’re too early.”
“Stall them, Bishop,” she said.
“Sammy.”
“By whatever means necessary,” Sammy said, hanging up a moment later. She turned around and found Logan and Jeff both looking at her. Maybe she could stall the Glovers from getting to the bowling alley before six. It was five-fifteen, and it would likely take them a half-hour to get to the bowling alley.
“Fifteen minutes,” she said. “I need to delay Bear and his family from getting to the bowling alley by fifteen minutes. Ideas?” She looked back and forth between Jeff and Logan. They looked at each other.
“Um,” Jeff said.
“Maybe we can let some cattle loose,” she said, quickly reaching for her phone. “Sheep, pigs, chickens, I don’t care.” She tapped and got Micah’s number dialing.
“Heya, Sammy,” he said easily. “How’s the roof?”
“So good,” Sammy said. “Listen, I need to delay Bear coming to town from his ranch. Could you guys, like, I don’t know.” She pressed her eyes closed and wiped her free hand through her hair. “Let out some cattle?”
Micah sat there for a moment, then two, then three. Then he burst out laughing. “Seriously?”
“Yes,” Sammy said. “I rented the whole bowling alley, but Harlan said I couldn’t have it a moment before six, and one of Bear’s brothers just texted to say they’re leaving already.”
“Not good,” Micah said.
“No,” Sammy agreed. “You guys are coming, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Micah said. “I just wasn’t connecting all the dots. Okay, let me think.”
Sammy only let him think for three seconds before she said, “Maybe I can call him and say I’m on my way up, and he’ll wait for me.”
“He already texted you,” Logan said from beside her. She looked at him, her eyes wide. She had said it out loud when Bear had texted. “Maybe Micah could text Bear and say he has something for him for his birthday, and could he stop by and get it?”
“That might work,” Micah said, obviously having heard Logan. “I’m on it, Sammy. Don’t worry.” The call ended, and Sammy definitely kept worrying.
She was going to corner Bishop and demand to know what he’d been thinking. And after she’d helped him with Charlotte. He’d been off kissing her for a week now, and Sammy had made that happen.
She turned to Logan. “I think we need a back-up plan.”