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“Who’s all there?”
I glanced around. “Me, Corina, about three other teachers who got subs and four moms.”
My father covered the phone, talking to someone. “I think I found you some help.”
“Really? Oh, Dad! That would be amazing! Are they strong?”
He simply laughed.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Are you at a delivery?”
“Yes, darlin’. We’ll be there in a bit to help.”
Smiling, I gave Corina a thumbs-up. “Okay, Daddy. Be careful.”
Hitting End, I ran over to Corina. “My dad was at a delivery and rounded up some help.”
“Thank goodness. I’m sorry my volunteers bugged out.”
“It’s okay. We may need to pull out last year’s list and see if we can recruit some parents. If they didn’t show for set up, it’s unlikely they will want to work the booths tomorrow. Especially if it’s on the cold side.”
Corina placed her hands on her hips. “If I see them walking around with cotton candy I’m going to shove it up their a-holes.”
Smiling, I shook my head. I loved my best friend. I’d have been kicked out of A and M if it hadn’t been for her. When a position opened for a first grade teacher, I pretty much told her I’d do anything to have her here.
We got to work taking turns hitting the stake with the hammer.
“Damn rock!” I said as I hit it and nothing happened.
Corina dropped to the ground and sighed. “I’m exhausted. How are you not tired?”
Laughing, I answered, “My father delivers feed remember? I used to help with fifty-plus pound bags of the stuff.”
She stared. “That explains your upper arm strength. To be honest, when you said your father grew and sold feed, I had no idea what in the hell you were talking about. At first I thought you said weed.”
I stopped mid swing and stared at her before we both started laughing. “Let’s hope he was delivering at a ranch with lots of young guys to help.”
Corina’s eyes lit up. “Cowboys. Yes, please, and thank you.”
Growing up outside of Chicago, Corina still wasn’t used to all the cowboys, especially in our small town. At College Station she got a taste of it, but there was nothing that screamed real cowboy as much as living in small town Texas. They were everywhere.
Thirty minutes later, a truck honked. I smiled and waved as my father pulled up and parked. Then two other trucks pulled in next to him. I swallowed hard.
Please God no.
Then the fourth truck pulled up and my heart dropped to my stomach. “Oh. No.”
“What’s wrong?” Corina asked.
“He was at the Parker ranch.”
“Parker as in the ex? As in the richest family in this county?”
With a fake chuckle, I replied, “Yes, as in the ex. And expand that to at least ten counties.”
Truck doors starting opening, and they all piled out.
“Holy mother of all creations. Sweet Jesus. I’ve died and gone to cowboy heaven,” Corina purred.
Slowly turning to her, I had to smile. She truly did look like she had died and gone to heaven. “Corina, you’ve got a bit of drool on the side of your mouth there.”
She mindlessly reached up and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Cowboys. Look at them all. They’re all…are they all…oh lord.”
Squeezing her on the arm, I said, “Oh stop it. Yes. It’s the Parker boys. Now snap out of it, Corina. They’re just guys.”
Her head snapped over to me. “Are you not seeing what I’m seeing? Because what I see is five guys … five guys in jeans and cowboy hats. No wait! Five drop dead gorgeous guys, in cowboy hats, and cowboy boots.” She glanced back at them then focused on me. “And they’re dirty.”
I laughed. “That they are. Every single one of them.”
Corina swallowed hard. “I meant their clothes are dirty.”
Peeking back over at them, I replied, “Yeah. That too.”
“Oh lord. My heart.”
My father walked up, wearing a shit-eating grin. I knew exactly what he was doing. He’d always loved Steed. Hell, he loved all the Parker boys. I could only imagine the smile on his face when I asked for help, and he was standing in the middle of them all.
“Look who I stumbled upon this morning.”
I lifted my brow. “I see.”
My parents had stopped pressing me long ago about why Steed left town and why we had broken up. I didn’t think I would ever have the courage to tell them. Once my mother found out Steed was back, I could tell her and Daddy had been itching to start up with the questions again. I’d talked about Chloe a few times, but not in great detail. I had thought it would be harder having her in my class, but I found myself drawn more and more to her, and it wasn’t only because she was Steed’s daughter. She had a heart of gold and was one of the sweetest students I’d ever had.
