Page 11 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

“You’ve got a mean streak, Ms. Gruzing. Listen to those peons sit up and take notice.” Fern shoved lunch across the desk to her.

Charity all but growled even as she dug into the bag of food. “They’ve tried this one too many times. That sale nonsense? I nearly fell for it before I realized they were doing the fancy raise the prices on the site and then offer a discount bullshit.”

“Cheeky.”

“Bad business.” Charity sat back in her chair. “Tell you a secret. The only reason they still got this order is we had some credit to use up, and trying to get it back would have been like squeezing blood from a stone.”

Fern raised her sandwich. “To good business.”

“To turkey on rye. This is excellent. Thanks for grabbing us lunch.”

“No prob.” Fern considered as she too enjoyed a few bites of her meal. “It feels a little odd to have food from my sisters’ restaurant that wasn’t made by them. I mean, it’s delicious, but them hiring more staff and working less hours themselves is another noticeable step in a new direction.”

“Speaking of steps, did you find shoes yet for my wedding?” Charity’s eyes danced. “I know you’re an old married lady and all, but I plan to enjoy every second of my wedding prep.”

“No shoes yet. Trip to Calgary to grab all the things we need?”

Charity nodded, checking the calendar on her computer screen. “I’m pretty open, so you let me know when, and we’ll go.”

“By ourselves, or do you want to torment the guys?”

“Let’s make it a girls’ trip. Any of your sisters who want to come. I’ll call my sister and see if Chelsea and Suz can drive down from Edmonton to join us.”

“Deal.”

A deep rumble broke into their chatter ten minutes later. “Charity, do you know— Oh. Excuse me.”

Frank Stone, uncle to the family, stood in the doorway, gaze bouncing between Charity and Fern. He frowned for a second before his expression brightened. “Fern, right?”

“Yes, sir.” Fern rose, wiping her right hand clean on the napkin she’d grabbed with her left prothesis. “Good to see you again.”

“Came for a visit,” he explained, glancing at Charity. “Tyler’s gone down for a nap, so I have a chance to explore a little. Know where I could find Dusty? I mean, Dustin.”

Charity grinned. “Don’t think he’s been called that in a long while. Let me look, Uncle Frank.” She turned to the computer and a moment later had the answer. “He’s in the south pasture. If you want to ride out to meet him, I’m sure he’d like that.”

Uncle Frank nodded. “Good idea. I’d like that, too. Seems appropriate. Yeah, seems like a plan.”

Distracted, he turned to the door. He was nearly out before he seemed to shake himself awake. He returned to the desk to offer Charity a hug. “Sorry. See you at supper?”

“We’ll be there,” Charity assured him.

He nodded again, muttering under his breath. He pushed his hat firmly on his head and was out the door, full-on marching toward the horse stalls.

Charity and Fern exchanged a look.

“Is he okay?” Fern asked.

Charity shrugged. “I think? He’s been acting odd for a while, but it’s not nasty odd, just…distracted. Hopefully he gets whatever it is out of his system sooner than later.”

They made plans, and ate, and laughed, and another flash of happiness hit. Fern really had it all. Family. Friends.

A lover who was both a friend and forever family.

She took another big bite of her cinnamon roll and let the sweetness of the day linger on her tongue.

The air was cold as sin, but that sky…

Dustin raised his face and let the brightness of the day glow against his closed eyes. He shifted gently in the saddle as Molasses continued to pace forward, the horse as familiar with the route as Dustin was after all these years.