Page 22 of Fix Me Up, Cowboy


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“You had a certain sparkle in your eye while you were checking out the desserts. It told me everything I need to know. I bet I can even guess which one you’re going to order.”

“All right, which one?”

“The French apple tart. An excellent choice, by the way.”

Wow, she’s good.

I order that and a cream puff—because who can say no to all that creamy goodness? And after the morning I’ve had so far, I deserve them both.

“I’m looking for a place in town where I can get my iPhone fixed,” I say. “It had a nasty run-in with some mud and doesn’t seem to be working.”

“Have you tried putting it in uncooked rice?”

I shake my head. “And that will help?”

“It might. It won’t get the dirt out of the charging port or the speaker. You’ll need to Google how to do that. But the rice will help absorb the moisture. Otherwise, your best bet is to drive to Golden Falls to get a replacement phone.”

“What about a spa?” I ask. “My manicure is in desperate need of a repair job.”

Roxy chuckles. “I wish we had spa around here. That would be fabulous. But I’m sorry to say that the only spa in Beaver Ridge County is located in Golden Falls, and it’s closed for renovations.”

“What about a dry cleaner? Is there one here?” After the disaster with Charlotte’s clothes, it’s clear that I’ll need professional help when it comes to washing my own clothing.

She shakes her head. “That would also be located in Golden Falls.”

Seriously, how did Aunt Charlotte survive here? How does anyone survive here?

“How about someone who works with horses?” I ask, hoping to at least strike gold with this question. “Do you know anyone who can clean Charlotte’s stable and look after her horses on a daily basis? I’m sure Lady and Scoundrel would prefer someone more qualified than me.”

Which really wouldn’t take much.

“Not off the top of my head, but I can certainly ask around for you if you’d like.”

I nod. “I would like that very much. Thank you.”

Outside, I untie Charlie’s leash from the empty bike rack and we walk to the library. The paper bag with my desserts is in one hand, the leash in the other.

“And maybe while we’re in there,” I say to him, “I can find a cookbook.”

As if answering that question, a rumble of thunder echoes in the valley. Then the sky opens up, drowning poor Charlie and me.

Shish kebab,I’m really starting to dislike this place.

7

Noah

“So, Deacon,”I say to the three-year-old sitting on my shoulders as we walk down Main Street. “Where would you like to go next?”

We’ve just come from the vet clinic, where we visited with some kittens. It was raining when we first arrived there, but the rain has since stopped.

TJ and Violet—my sister-in-law—have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon. And Grandma Meg? Who knows what my pseudo-grandmother is up to with her friends? Usually when they get together, trouble is involved.

“Library,” Deacon replies.

“All right, one library coming up.” I continue carrying him on my shoulders until we get to our destination. Then I lower him to the ground and help him pull the red wooden door open.

He rushes inside and heads straight to his favorite section with the toddler-friendly shelves. I follow after him, my stomach clenching like it normally does whenever I come in here.