Page 39 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

“Wow,” Mallory said. “The same thing happened when my two best friends tried them.”

“You have two best friends?” Katie asked, looking impressed.

“I sure do,” Mallory told her. “And they both have shops right here in town, just like me. Isn’t that awesome?”

“More bakeries?” Katie asked.

“Actually, Ana and her mom have a clothing store,” Mallory said. “Her mom makes a lot of the clothes herself, and Ana helps her, which is really cool.”

Katie nodded, too polite not to at least feign interest.

“And Valerie owns a jewelry shop,” Mallory said.

“Promises, Promises,” Katie said excitedly. “It has the best decorations.”

“That’s the one,” Mallory said. “Valerie makes a lot of jewelry herself too.”

“All three of you are so creative,” Harrison offered.

“I’ll be creative too,” Katie decided. “When I grow up.”

“That’s great, Katie,” Mallory said. “When you use your creativity in your work, then it feels more like fun.”

“Is that how you feel about your work?” Katie asked.

“Sometimes,” Mallory said, surprising Harrison with her honesty. “Other times it just feels like work. But I’ll bet most jobs are that way.”

“Hey,” Katie said suddenly. “Will our baklava be ready tomorrow?”

“That’s two days after we made it, so yes,” Mallory said with a smile.

“Oh,” Harrison said. “Hang on, I forgot we’re having dinner at Aunt Alice’s house tomorrow night, Katie. We can’t do baking.”

“I don’t want to go,” Katie said flatly, all the emotion in her voice gone.

“We have family here,” Harrison said. “And it will be good to get to know everyone. The cousins will be there, and that means kids, maybe Amelia will be there too.”

“I don’t want to be the new person,” Katie said.

Harrison’s chest ached. It was hard enough for her to spend the whole day in school as the new kid. But the extended family would be a blessing in her life, whether she knew it or not.

“Cassidy Farm is one of my favorite places in the whole world,” Mallory said with a dreamy smile before Harrison could say a word. “And you get to go inside the family farmhouse. I’ve never been in there. I’ll bet they have the biggest Christmas tree, and all the best food. Do you promise to tell me every single thing about it the next time we’re baking?”

“You could come with us,” Katie said, her eyes brightening a little.

“Oh, I couldn’t…” Mallory began.

“Why not?” Harrison heard himself ask. “Your helper is on duty tomorrow, right?”

“Oh,” Mallory said, her cheeks flushing a little. “Do you guys really want me to come?”

“Of course,” Katie said. “We won’t go without you.”

Mallory looked to Harrison, a little worry still in her eyes that she might not really be wanted.

“Please come,” he said simply.

“Wow, okay,” she said, turning to Katie with a big smile. “Now you have to help me decide what to bring.”