Page 31 of Lost and Found Cowboy
The doorbell rang before Mack had a chance to justify his newly invented game, and he was surprised to see Dodge and Maisie standing on the doorstep.
“Sorry to stop by unannounced,” Maisie said. “But we were coming home from dinner and saw Mack’s truck parked outside and decided we should stop and have a chat.”
“Hey brother,” Dodge said, stepping inside and nodding to Mack.
“It’s no trouble,” Lorna said. Over the last year, she and Leni had become quite good friends with Maisie and Ford’s girlfriend, Elizabeth, and they often hung out at Lorna’s house, drinking wine and chatting after the kids had gone to bed. “You know you’re both welcome here anytime.”
Dodge’s huge black dog, Moose, stood obediently on the doorstep, waiting for an invitation to come inside. Lorna opened the door wider and beckoned the dog into the living room, where Moose made a beeline for Max, who fell on the floor, giggling as the dog covered him in slobbery puppy kisses.
“Can I take Moose upstairs to my room?” Max asked his mother.
“Sure, honey,” Lorna said. “But only if you promise to put your pj’s on and then read him some books. Andnotbe rowdy. Your sister is asleep.”
“I promise,” the boy said, holding one finger to his lips to shush the giant dog as it followed him up the stairs.
“So, what’s up?” Mack asked when they were gone, knowing his brother well enough by now to see that something was going on.
“Not sure if you were aware, but you two seem to be the talk of the town today,” Dodge told them.
“Us?” Lorna asked. “Why?”
Dodge aimed a good-natured grin in Mack’s direction. “Oh, for so many reasons. Starting with the fact that somebody caught you two making out in the alley behind the coffee shop this afternoon.”
Soft pink color rose to Lorna’s cheeks.
“Guilty,” Mack said, before she had to respond. “But why would anyone care about that?”
“Haven’t you ever lived in a small town?” Maisie asked. “That’sexactlythe kind of thingeveryonecares about.”
“And also,” Dodge said. “I was at the feed store this morning and someone mentioned seeing a white truck driving through this neighborhood several times last night. They thought someone was trying to case the place to rob everyone.”
“Ah shit. I hadn’t thought about that,” Mack said, offering Lorna a one-shouldered shrug. “I did drive by your house a fewtimes last night. But I was just worried about you and the kids, and that Lyle might come back after I’d left.”
“Yeah, so, Lyle Williams is the other reason we’re here,” Maisie said. “He was in the library this afternoon using our computers, and I heard him asking one of the other librarians all these questions about different commercial businesses in town and what was involved in transferring ownership of a business. He didn’t come right out and mention the coffee shop by name, but from what I overheard, that’s what he was interested in finding out about.”
Lorna’s face drained of color, and she sank into the corner of the sofa next to where Mack stood. He eased himself down onto the edge, wanting to take her hand, but settled for pressing the side of his leg to hers.
“I knew it,” she said. “He’s coming after the shop. I think he wanted this house. He strolled in here last night like he already owned the place. Literally just let himself intomyhouse. But when I told him it still belonged to my mom, he must have started digging into if I owned the building downtown.”
“The nerve of that guy,” Maisie said.
“Something must have happened with Misty. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be back in town.” Lorna looked at Dodge. “Have you heard about her or anything about why he’s back?”
Dodge shook his head. “I hadn’t heard he was in town at all until tonight when I told Maisie that I’d overheard the talk at the diner about you two hooking up.”
“We haven’t ‘hooked up’,” Lorna said. “But I may have given Lyle the impression that we’re a couple.”
“And a few people at the coffee shop today may have overheard him calling me her boyfriend when he dropped in for a visit,” Mack explained. “Although I have a feeling that’s the only reason he left, both last night and this afternoon.”
“Then you’d better keep it up,” Maisie said. “I know you were married to him, Lorna, but I’ve never liked that guy. There’s something a little scary about him. And I think you’re better off with him thinking a big strong cowboy is with you and the kids. In fact, I think you should make sureeveryonein town thinks you’re a couple, just in case he starts asking around about you two.”
“How do you suggest we do that?” Mack asked, not that he was opposed to the idea. He nudged Lorna’s knee, trying to get her to smile. “Maybe another make-out session? But this time in town square, maybe on the courthouse lawn?”
She nudged him back, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of her lips before turning to Maisie. “Any other suggestions?”
“I don’t know,” Dodge said, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. “More PDA might be just what you need to convince this guy he isn’t neededor wantedaround you.”
Lorna shook her head. “I amnotmaking out with your brother on the courthouse lawn.”
