Can't Hurry Love (Sunshine Valley #1) - Melinda Curtis Page 0,103

out a breath. “You can take me home now. I still hate you but I’ll see you at the board meeting later.”

“I don’t think you understand.” Mims gritted her teeth. It really would be easier to shoot her. “You’re going to fish with me today.”

Edith crossed her arms. “Fat chance of that.”

“As a way to honor your husband, you’ll do it.” Mims used her stern voice, the one that had kept many a hungry schoolchild in line. “And if this is the last time you fish, so be it.” She held up a pair of waders. “You honored Charlie your way with that bikini. Now honor him his way.”

Edith hesitated instead of firing back. She eyed the river. “If I fall in—”

“You’ll get wet.”

“If I drown—”

“You’ll be with Charlie in heaven.” She wouldn’t let her friend drown.

Edith’s eyes narrowed. “I hate you.”

“I know.” Mims sighed. “I’m sorry I leaned on Charlie after Hamm died. But now it’s just you and me. Get your waders on.”

* * *

Today was the day Drew would become bulletproof against Jane.

Of course, he was nervous. There were unknowns, and the Saddle Horn was busy, even for a Sunday.

Still, he and Becky had the same seats they always had, next to Iggy. Jason was out on the road, trying his best to win another belt buckle for bull riding. Crazy thing, bull riding. Drew would have gladly switched places with Jason. Not that he had much skill at handling two-thousand-pound bulls, given he couldn’t handle a three-hundred-pound pig by himself.

Beside him, Becky was perfecting her beard-making skills with a tall mug of hot chocolate, same as she did every Sunday.

There should have been comfort in the usual but something was off.

Pearl had harrumphed when she poured his coffee. The entire Widows Club board had frowned at him when he walked in. Even Norma Eastlake had looked away when he smiled at her.

Drew spun his mug in a slow circle with sweaty palms. His bad Saturday was turning into a worse Sunday. He’d gotten a call from Rupert last night. Jane was trying to work the system to her advantage, calling Drew reckless in his care of Becky because of Rosie. Drew had fought back this morning, reporting to Rupert that Jane hadn’t spent the night camping out in the cemetery. His part-time deputy, Emily, had checked every two hours, starting at midnight. No Jane. Rupert claimed that wasn’t enough, not if Drew wasn’t married.

The bell over the door rang. Drew jumped, expecting Wendy.

Eileen charged inside instead and slugged Drew’s shoulder. “How could you? Rosie doesn’t belong on a farm.”

“She’s on a ranch.” Drew tilted out of slugging range, ruing his childish need to teach his sisters how to take care of themselves. He’d taught Eileen to hit hard. “And a ranch is exactly where Rosie belongs.”

“In a pigsty.” Eileen choked on a sob. “I just saw her, Drew. How could you do that to her?”

“I heard she nearly killed Becky,” Iggy said, nosy as always.

“Stay out of this,” Drew growled.

“Daddy said Mr. Bodine wouldn’t eat Rosie.” Becky spun in her stool to face Eileen, wearing a heavy whip beard. “But that new mama said that’s what people do. Eat animals.” The bulk of the beard plopped into her lap.

Eileen gasped. A tear spilled down her cheek.

The bell over the door rang, and Wendy entered. She headed for the empty seat next to Drew without looking at anyone, not even Becky and her lap of whipped cream.

“Eileen, come on.” Drew tried to reach for her arm. “Be reasonable. Tom said he could have Rosie down to fighting weight in a few weeks.”

“And you believed him?” Eileen looked around the coffee shop, gathering support.

“That pig was so sweet,” Norma said from a side booth. “Say you aren’t going to eat her.”

“Sweet?” Iggy scoffed. “It took the two of us to take her down one day.”

“And you say that with pride.” Eileen clenched her fists.

Becky hadn’t wiped any of the whip off her lap. She stared at Drew with wide eyes. “Rosie’s going to be okay, isn’t she?”

“She’ll be fine.” Drew grabbed a handful of napkins and wiped Becky clean. “She went to fat camp, that’s all.”

Eileen made a noise of disbelief and ran out the door.

Lola came in before the door could close again. She wore those sky-blue leggings again—the ones that would stop Drew in traffic if he were behind the wheel. She carried her thermos. No doubt, she was working on Marcia Stephens this morning. Augie