Bart held the door into the diner as she carried the basket inside with Shadow, then he backed out and headed for his assignment with Bear. The twenty something hotties were busy planting around the newly poured patios. Molly moved inside and sat on a chair by the door, Shadow sitting tight, her nose in the basket. The pups were squirming all over each other. The restaurant was crowded and noisy.
Evelyn came to fawn over the pups, then immediately went to tables with kids, sending them to see the litter. Minutes after she sat down, Molly was surrounded by kids studying the tiny balls of fur. Molly announced a look but no touch policy, but said they could give Shadow a scruff. She liked showing off the litter. She wasn’t marketing the pups. She was making the diner an interesting place to visit. Who knows what might be happening next at Mack’s Diner?
About five minutes after her arrival, Betsy strolled in, having undoubtedly gotten a text from Evelyn.
“Hey Moll.”
“Hi Bets. What do you think?”
“Most adorable pups I’ve ever seen.” Betsy was a dog lover, rarely without Abby, her Border Collie. Abby and Shadow were good friends.
“Looks like Bart and Bear came out for the birth.”
Betsy was looking out the window where Bart was talking with the landscapers, both of whom were taking a break to flirt with the hunky mountain man and give love to Bear.
“Did he make your bracelet?” Betsy was always on the prowl for gossipy information.
“Yeah, and the hat, vest, and moccasins.”
“He’s really good.” She paused, “Have you been riding together?” Molly and Betsy grew up riding at the resort.
“Not yet. And now that I’ve got the pups, I don’t want to leave them alone.”
“Are you still exercising horses for Silas.”
“Yes.”
“Are you going out today?”
“Yes, I was going to leave the pups with Bart for an hour.”
“Why don’t I come over to your cabin for a couple hours? I’ll watch the pups and you can take Bart for a ride.”
That took Molly by surprise. She wasn’t planning to leave the pups today except that she was going to ask Bart to watch them while she did her exercise assignment. If she was going to leave them with Bart, she could surely leave them with Betsy. And go riding with Bart? An offer she couldn’t refuse.
“Really, Bets?”
“Honestly, I’d love it.”
“Just two hours would be great.”
“No problem. What time?”
“Can I text you?”
“Sure.”
Chapter 16
They decided to leave Bear to keep company with Shadow. When they left, Betsy was settled on a pillow in the pantry, a steamy romance novel in her lap, her eyes on Shadow and the litter. Bear was curled up to Shadow and Abby was next to Betsy. All eyes were on the furry little balls fighting for the best feeding position.
Bart and Molly walked down to the stables.
“You have something for me to ride?”
“Silas said he’d saddle up Outlaw for you.”
“How about you?”
