Page 6 of A Heart Falls Cowboy Christmas

“It’s a win-win situation, since everyone is supposed to shop at the thrift store if possible.” Brad eyed Aiden. “It’s only a buck a vote for the people of the community when they spot someone wearing a great outfit. And Alex set the voting to be online or at a drop box at Buns and Roses, so everyone can join in.”

“After that fifty buck payout, all the money goes to the hall fund?” Lisa asked.

“Yup.” Brad shrugged. “It was only supposed to be the fire hall crew, but somehow word got out, and there didn’t seem to be any good reason to say no to people who want to hand over money to dress in thrift-store finds.”

Maddy shook her head, but she was smiling. “Considering a gaudy sweater is at the core of the relationship with my husband, who am I to call foul? I propose the Tacky Threads Throwdown funds get earmarked for the new playground at the hall.”

“We can paint the climbing structures with extremely loud colours,” Lisa suggested.

“Deal,” Aiden agreed. “Love the name, too.”

They slipped into the rest of the agenda smoothly. When little Nathan fussed, Lisa popped him out of the car seat and nursed him, cradling the kid with one hand so she could continue to take notes.

Brad took over when it was time to burp him while Maddy kept them on task so efficiently they were done before the allotted time was up.

To be honest, the biggest issues of the project had been solved before the new year had even begun. The old hall had been scheduled for a bunch of major upgrades, with budget money and plans already in place.

When the building had been completely destroyed the previous September, the plans were revamped. A couple of large donations from secret local sources covered the majority of the extra costs, and the contractors signed on for an expanded job. It took three months for the new building permits to come through.

Now only the gods of winter in Alberta had to be appeased.

The building would sit on a slab foundation, which meant with the new cold weather building techniques that had been developed, come February, construction could start, unless an extreme cold snap hit.

Aiden leaned back in his chair and nodded at his partners in the venture with satisfaction. He pulled out his phone, thumbed to the website Alex had set up for the Tacky Threads Throwdown, and offered a dollar vote for Brad and his dancing pink unicorn.

Brains, Jinx Skye decided, were unreliable and annoying.

She glanced at her fingers for a second. Once again steady as a rock—thank goodness. She’d been twitching all afternoon, a toxic mix of adrenaline, fear, and frustration racing through her bloodstream. Only the steadying presence of her best friend, Sasha Stone, had kept Jinx from bolting from school and looking for a safe place to hide.

Stupid brain.

The couch beside her dipped as Sasha’s younger sister sat, Emma’s nose wrinkled in disgust as she glared at her notebook. “Jinx, do you have any idea what Mr. Hanson wants in a book report? Every time I submit one, he gives it back with a seven out of ten. When I ask how to improve my score, he’s a jerk and tells me to read the assignment better.”

The warm living room and kitchen at the Stone’s house was their gathering place this afternoon. Jinx and Sasha alternated between the Silver Stone and Jinx’s home at the neighbouring ranch, High Water, to do their homework and hang out.

Silver Stone came with the noise and energy of Sasha’s younger siblings and a boatload of uncles and aunts constantly dropping by. High Water had as much foot traffic, with Jinx’s adopted aunts, uncles, and her six-year-old cousin Jeffrey, plus all the hands who were around for a few days to a few weeks.

Plus one who’d been there much, much longer⁠—

A thought that made her cheeks heat, and once again Jinx directed a quiet curse at her brain.

Don’t go there, she warned herself. Logan’s just another part of the High Water family.

She turned to Emma, and they dove into finding a solution to the problem because even book reports were better than trying to figure out what Jinx wanted to do about Logan.

Do about? Do to?

Do with?

Arghhhh.

Half an hour later, Emma was off, ready to follow the instructions they’d figured out to a tee. She tossed her head, blond curls bouncing vigorously. “This time I’m going to nail it.”

“How does the workload look for the final months of your high school adventure?” Sasha’s mom gave the pot on the stove a stir before pacing into the living room to settle on the coffee table. Tamara Stone glanced between Jinx and Sasha. “You excited about graduation?”

Jinx blew out a breath. “It feels like a long way away,” she admitted. “If I start thinking that far in advance, I get itchy.”

“Valid,” Mrs. Stone returned. “Sasha says you’re not applying to any colleges or universities this coming year?”