Rough Stock (Lost Creek Rodeo #3) - Heather B. Moore Page 0,64

had a lot to think about, but mostly, she was grateful for this new beginning with her brother. It didn’t change her mind about staying in Lost Creek and working on this new business, but it made her heart feel ten times lighter.

And the news about Brighton was thrilling. Silvia would be an auntie.

Her phone buzzed with a text, and Silvia picked it up. It was from Glory.

Hey, hon. Thought I’d see if you’re around. I’m heading out and wanted to say goodbye.

Silvia frowned. You’re done at the ranch?

Yep. Been six weeks, and now it’s time for new horizons.

What are your plans?

Selling my house to get rid of memories, and then I’m going to wander the globe in search of the meaning of life.

Classic Glory. Silvia laughed and wrote back. Perfect. I’m coming, too.

I wouldn’t complain, Glory wrote back.

Silvia sighed. Maybe someday she’d have a carefree spirit like Glory.

Silvia checked her appearance in her mirror and smoothed back her hair into a ponytail, then fixed the mascara that had smeared with her crying. When she reached the café kitchen, things seemed to have slowed down. Apparently, the autograph seekers hadn’t turned into buying customers.

“How did it go with your brother?” Mariah asked, turning from the oven, where she’d just taken out a freshly baked chicken pot pie. “He’s a lot more handsome in person.”

Silvia smiled, since she knew Mariah was only teasing and not one of those women who was trying to make a connection with him. “Good, and his wife is pregnant. So I’ll get to be a proud auntie in a few months.”

“Oh, wow, that’s great,” Mariah said. “He’s welcome here anytime.”

“I’ll let him know that.” She grabbed a clean cloth and wet it in the sink. “Want me to wipe down tables?”

“That would be great,” Mariah said.

“Silvia?”

She turned to see a man on the other side of the register. A cowboy who she recognized, but wasn’t exactly sure of his name. She was pretty sure he was one of the Lost Creek guys who’d come to the women’s ranch for dinner that one night.

“Lars Jackson.”

Ah. Lars. “That’s right,” she said. “And yeah, I’m Silvia.”

Lars nodded, his hazel eyes quietly assessing her. And then Silvia remembered. Westin had told her Lars was who’d he’d talked to about Axel and that whole mess. Now, she suddenly felt self-conscious.

But she lifted her chin, kept ahold of his gaze. “Can I get you something from the menu?”

His gaze flickered. “How about one of your barbeque plate lunches? West says they’re to die for.”

Silvia nodded and moved to the register. Her neck was heating up at his mention of Westin, and she hoped it wouldn’t spread to her cheeks. “Great. Anything to drink?”

“I’ll take an orange soda.”

She nodded without looking at him, and rang up the price. After he paid, Mariah started to prepare the barbeque plate, so Silvia remained in the front area.

No one else was in the café, so it was only her and Lars.

Dang. Would he try to talk to her about West?

She cleared some garbage from one of the tables, then wiped up the crumbs.

Lars remained by the register, waiting for his order. Thankfully, the music playing at the café kept things from being too awkward. Until . . . he said, “You know, if you don’t mind me sayin’, West agonized over what to do about your brother’s texts.”

Silvia paused and slowly looked over at the cowboy. He was leaning against the counter, his eyes on her.

“West and I aren’t seeing each other anymore,” she said point blank. “It’s not a topic I’m willing to discuss with you or anyone else.”

Could Mariah please hurry?

Lars didn’t seem taken aback, or offended. He merely gave a small nod. “I understand. I thought you should know he was telling you the truth.”

Silvia sighed and scrubbed a little harder at a ketchup spill that had dried on the table. “I know he was telling the truth, after the fact.” She hadn’t meant to say that. She didn’t want anything getting back to West.

Great. Now Lars was walking toward her.

“Here’s the thing, ma’am,” Lars said. “I’m a guy who usually minds my own business, unless it’s something that needs to be corrected. Westin Farr is about as honest as they come. Whatever went through his mind, it wasn’t meant to hurt you. In fact, I reckon it was the opposite.”

Silvia blinked.

“With all he’s got going on, I just wanted to go on the record and give my two cents about his true