Page 52 of The Cowboy’s Forever Promise

Carson’s phone that was lying face down, bleeped while he was in the darkroom. Finally, a text from Abby.

There was a text with two pink hearts and pictures. He reread her text before he scrolled up to the pictures. It looked like a page in an old scrapbook The first one was of a white house with a wide porch, black roof, and green shutters situated against a backdrop of mountains.

Baffled, he stared at the other pictures as well. If he wasn’t mistaken, it looked like his house. But how was it possible? Has she found a picture of a similar house online or …?

Frowning, he noticed something written at the bottom of the picture. Only when he enlarged it with his fingers, he saw the date written there. It was from ten years ago.

Exhaling slowly, he remembered the day he’d brought Abby to his house for the first time. She’d stared at his house as if she’d seen a ghost. Now it made sense. She had to have picked up on the uncanny resemblance between her dream home and his.

She’d also scolded him because his house was so untidy, and told him some people dreamed about a house like his. Told him he treated it like a house, not a home. Of course she’d been talking about herself, even though he hadn’t known it at the time.

He had to speak to her right now. Storming out of his dark room, he checked his watch before he phoned her. June and the family were having dinner at some or other fancy restaurant this evening, they’d said. If Abby was there, she probably wouldn’t answer, but he was going to try anyway.

Barking, George ran toward him from the direction of the bedroom. Crouching down, he tried to calm the dog while he waited for Abby to answer.

Seconds later, he ended the call. She wasn’t answering. Could be the noise in the restaurant. The Westons together were a bit overwhelming. Could be she didn’t want to talk to him.

“On the bright side, George, she sent us pink hearts, not a blue one.”

Yapping, George jumped up against Carson’s legs. Laughing he stood up. “It’s okay. We’ll talk to her eventually. I’m going back to the darkroom, okay?”

With a soft whimper, looking very down, George turned and walked back to the bedroom. He’d be on the pillow if anyone needed him, he seemed to be saying. The only times he seemed to brighten these days was when Cooper looked in to check on him.

With a smile, Carson entered the darkroom again. He wanted to send the final photos to Noah tonight so that they could be printed and framed in Spokane.

*

When Abby walked into the restaurant, she heard the Westons before she saw them. They were the group laughing and raising glasses, all looking very happy.

June noticed her and raced to her, arms outstretched. “Abs!” she cried before she hugged Abby tightly. For a moment Abby leaned against her friend. She’d missed her terribly.

“Come on, you’re sitting next to me,” June said as she took Abby’s arm. “I want to hear everything. You look beautiful by the way. Is that the dress you bought in Bozeman?”

“It is indeed. I won’t be buying any more dresses for a long time.” Abby grinned. “Shopping with you gals has seriously messed with my budget.”

“But it was fun, wasn’t it?”

“Oh, yes!” Abby said with a smile.

Frowning, June stopped and stared at Abby. “Are you okay? You’re very pale.”

“I’m fine, it’s probably just the light.” Abby laughed.

“You sure?”

“Positive. Come on, I want to say hi to everyone.”

At the table, she walked around to greet the rest of the family. Arlene had brought along her friend, Jeff. It was lovely to see everyone. Willow kept looking at her questioningly, but she made sure not to catch her eye. By the time Abby took her seat next to June, she was feeling quite faint.

“A glass of bubby?” June asked.

“Yes, thanks. And water please. With ice.”

The idea of bubbly or any kind of alcohol made Abby feel slightly nauseous, but she wasn’t going to mention anything to June.

Taking a few deep breaths, she looked around her. She and June had been here several times in the past but because it was winter, the doors were closed. Maybe that was why she was feeling so hot.

Picking up the glass of water the waiter had brought, she took a few sips before she pressed the cold glass against her cheek for a moment. The dizziness wouldn’t go away.