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“Where’s your shop girls?” Luke scanned the store for them. “I’m sure they can handle things.”
“They could, if I wouldn’t have made the mistake of giving them both the last few days off. I didn’t know they were cousins when I hired them, and it hasn’t mattered until they both needed time off for their family reunion.”
“Then just put a note on the door and lock up for the day,” he suggested. “I’m sure folks would understand.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. Not with Summer Celebration happening this weekend. Besides the extra snack inventory I need to put out, I’ve also got a huge shipment of event T-shirts arriving this afternoon that I need to be here to sign for. Half the town has already pre-ordered theirs.” She pointed to a stack of colorful cardboard pieces on the floor. “Then I’ve got to put that display together and get all the shirts folded and priced and ready to sell. Not to mention, the new boots we just got in that need to be unpacked and stocked, and Bud ordered a bunch of dang nails that need to be sorted and dumped in the bins.” Her voice rose as she reeled off each new task.
“Hey now. Everything’s going to be okay.” Luke eased the clipboard from her hand. “Why don’t you let me help? I can stay here and take care of the T-shirts and the display and stocking the new inventory. You know I helped Bud put those nail bins in. I know how to fill them. You go on home, get something to eat, maybe take a nap, then go be with Bud. We can stay till five then lock up and drop the keys off to you over at the hospital.”
She rested her hand on Luke’s arm and closed her eyes as she leaned into him. “You are an angel, Luke Montgomery.”
He wrapped an arm around the woman’s shoulders and spoke softly into her hair. “Don’t let it get around. Now, you go on home.”
She peered up at him. “I surely can’t go home and take a nap. I’m too worried. But I will promise to get something to eat at the hospital cafeteria, and I’ll close my eyes for a bit once I’m settled into the chair next to Bud’s hospital bed.”
“Deal.”
“You sure?”
“Course I’m sure. I can handle all that stuff, no problem. And I’m sure I can talk Kaylee into helping me.”
Pearl turned to Kaylee as if noticing her for the first time. “Oh my heavens, you’re Kaylee Collins. I love your books.”
Kaylee ducked her head, surprised that the woman would recognize herandknow her work. “Nice to meet you. I’m so sorry to hear about your husband.”
“Our book club just read your newest release. We loved it.”
“Thank you.” Kaylee never knew what to say when readers talked about enjoying her books. She loved the praise of her words but didn’t know how to accept the admiration of her. “That’s so nice that your club chose my book.”
“Oh, we read all of Faye’s authors. At least once. She usually sends us advance copies. But we really love your books and JD Hawk’s thrillers. Although that last one practically gave me nightmares. But goodness, I still couldn’t put it down.” She gestured to a display shelf of books for sale. A placard next to the top shelf read,Faye’s Finds.
Kaylee recognized several of her titles as well as many of JD Hawk’s. She was honored and thrilled, but still felt unworthy at sharing the same shelf space as the famous author. “That’s very kind of you. And I’ve read every one of his books too.”
“All right now,” Luke said, almost as if he could feel her unease. “You get along now. And give Bud our best.”
Kaylee liked how Luke saidourbest. Almost as if they were a couple. She swallowed. But that was silly. She’d only known the man for a few days.Andhe was Faye’s sibling. She was quite sure her editor had not sent her to Montana to get involved with her brother.
The next few hours flew by. Three boxes of T-shirts were delivered within ten minutes of Pearl leaving, and Kaylee unpacked and folded them while Luke put together the display. Then they filled it together. Several people had already come in to buy them or pick up their preordered shirts. Luke was familiar with the store, and following his directions, they’d priced and stocked the new boots and snacks and filled the nail bins.
During a slow point, he convinced Kaylee to at least try on a couple of pairs of cowboy boots, and she’d found two pairs of Ropers that fit and that she kind of liked. She put one of each pair on and tried to decide between them.
“Cute boots,” a voice said from behind her.
Kaylee turned and was delighted to see the young girl from the grocery store the day before. “Hi, Emma.” She turned to show off both styles. “I can’t decide. What do you think?”
“Easy. The pink ones.”
The boots weren’t really pink. They were brown leather but had a mauveish-pink overlay and pink stitching. The other ones were plain black. “You sure? I was kind of leaning toward the black. I think the pink ones might be too showy?”
Emma wrinkled her brow as she studied the boots. “No way. The black are boring. And we all need a little more pink in our lives.”
“Let the woman make up her own mind, Em,” the girl’s father said coming around the corner of the shoe section. “Sorry about that,” he told Kaylee. “My girl has never had an opinion she didn’t feel inclined to share.”
“It’s okay,” Kaylee said. “I was looking for an opinion.” She sat down to pull the boots off and put them back into their boxes. Emma put the box of black boots back on the shelf.
“I guess I’m taking the pink ones then,” she said, a grin on her face.
Emma shrugged. “You know you wanted them. You just needed a nudge.”
