AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lines creased Allie’s forehead. “But he has boots and a belt buckle.”
“You can’t be a cowboy without a hat,” Erik insisted.
“Like a turkey can’t be green?” She stuck her tongue out at him.
Stone sauntered over toward us, but Miss Pennington intercepted.
“Are you lost?”
We were at work. This was no place to flirt.
He gave her a practiced smile. “Nope. Came by to see Muriella.”
His gaze drifted over to me, and a surge of possessiveness rose even though I was irritated with him for intruding.
“Oh,” she said with false cheer. “Well, there she is.”
Miss Pennington had been the same way as a girl. She was never one to hide her disappointment well. I’d learned that early on as a teacher’s aide for her class when she was six.
“He says you’re not a real cowboy.” Allie pointed at Erik as Stone walked over to us.
“You don’t have a hat,” Erik defended.
Stone’s eyes danced as he looked at me. “I can’t wear my hat at school, especially in a church.” He shrugged. “I left it in my truck.”
“Like this one?” Erik rushed over to his cubby where his backpack was stashed. He returned with a miniature red pickup and dropped it in Stone’s palm.
“It’s close,” he said. “Mine’s black.”
“Is it here?”
“Yep.”
“Can we see it?”
“We’d better ask your teacher.” Stone shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Miss Pennington. Miss Pennington.” Erik tugged on her pants.
“You’re quite the distraction,” I said, giving him a disapproving look.
“I—uh—I thought it might be lunch time. Vivian said twelve-fifteen.”
“She did, did she?” I tapped my foot in a rapid beat.
“I see you’re still angry,” he said warily.
“What’re you mad about, Miss Muriella?” Allie looked at me, all wide-eyed innocence.
I flashed her a big smile and ruffled her hair. “Do I look mad?”
She shook her head.
“See?” I smiled sweetly at Stone before turning my attention back to the girl. “Finish up your turkey, and we’ll hang it up on the board.”
I stood and pointed with my head toward the door. Stone trailed me to the hall.
He glanced down at my stained sweater. “Occupational hazard?”
