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“Good.” I nod. “We’re going to need them.” Who knows how long this sit-in will last?
“I brought sleeping bags for everyone,” Harmony says.
Ashlyn wrinkles her nose. “I hope they don’t smell like your stinky animals.”
Harmony works at the wildlife refuge outside of town. She’s never met an animal she couldn’t love. She even loves crows despite the damage they can do to my gardens. She says it’s not their fault. They can’t help how they’re programmed. It’s futile arguing with her. Trust me. I’ve tried.
Harmony fists her hands at her hips. “My animals do not stink.”
“I put my camping chairs near the front door,” I say before Ashlyn can answer Harmony. I have enough on my plate without dealing with those two fighting.
Everyone fills up their arms and we trudge to the courthouse.
“Good thing we didn’t have to walk far. My arms are killing me,” Ashlyn complains.
She’s carrying one sign and her bag of tricks. “You need to work on your upper body strength more.”
“Not all of us can spend the day hoeing in the garden. Speaking of hoes.” She gestures toward Love Hill.
Love Hill has a bit of a reputation in Winter Falls. Personally, I don’t care if she sleeps with every man in town. I’m all for free love. But the way she goes about it – gloating to everyone in town when she’s slept with a man who’s in a relationship – is wrong.
I ignore the woman – unless it involves the men of Winter Falls, community spirit is not her thing – and set up inside the foyer of the courthouse.
“We’re here,” Sage announces as she bursts inside with the rest of her gossip gal gang – Feather, Petal, Cayenne, and Clove – following her.
I sigh. I’ve always found the antics of the gossip gals hilarious. But since they’ve set their matchmaking sights on me, I’m not finding them funny anymore. I have bad news for them. I plan to be the person who ruins their perfect matchmaking streak.
Feather claps. “This is exciting.”
I deliberately misunderstand her. “I know. We haven’t had a sit-in for a while.”
Not since the police force decided to carry weapons. That sit-in lasted for weeks. I hope this one doesn’t last as long. I’ve got a business to save.
“I wasn’t referring to the sit-in.”
I know exactly what Feather was referring to, but I’m not giving in. “The sit-in is important. We’re at a turning point in Winter Falls. Are we going to choose a business over the sustainability of the environment?”
“Plants before beer!” Harmony shouts and I mouththank youat her. She winks in response.
Petal wags her finger at my friend. “Be careful or you’ll be matched up next.”
Harmony shivers before hiding behind Moon. “Sorry, Eden. You’re on your own.”
I don’t blame her. The gossip gals and their matchmaking can be sneaking as hell. You won’t see them coming. Don’t believe me?
They forced Clove’s husband to quit his job as a handyman for Moon while she was renovating the diner allowing Riley to step in. Riley was Moon’s ex. To say she was not happy is a major understatement. Lucky for Moon and Riley, it all worked out in the end.
“Project Enemy is about to begin,” Cayenne squeals.
They’ve dubbed their mission to pair me with Miller ‘Project Enemy’. They’re wasting their time. Miller and I are about as likely to get together as asparagus and onions. And every good gardener knows onions inhibit the growth of asparagus.
“I will never get together with Miller. He drives me banonkers.”
Clove frowns at me. “I think you mean bananas.”
“Nope. Bananas plus bonkers equals banonkers.”
“Where do you want me to set up?” Forest asks as he arrives.
