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“I can’t believe you were rescued yesterday by a real-life cowboy.” Vivien placed a hand over her heart. “That’s kind of swoony.”
The book fell from Beth’s hands, landing with a thunk on the floor. “It wasn’t a cowboy. It was Grayson Fox. And I’m thinking I puked in front of him.” Beth covered her face in her hands, a long guttural moan rolling from her lips. “Oh no. I puked.” Oh, and then there was the whole camp wrangler thing.
“Details, details.” Vivien waved her hand, dismissing the unsuitable, indisputable facts. “Let’s not overlook the rescue portion of that story.” She pointed her finger at Beth. “That’s the part that has blockbuster quality. I watched him scoop you up and carry you to the ambulance.” She clutched her hands to her chest.
Courtney gave Beth a side-eyed glance with a lift of her brows. “And heisa cowboy. Wranglers. Boots. Hat. I heard from Robin he even brought horses with him.”
Horses. The camp. Grayson. Beth wasn’t sure if it was the fog from the heat exhaustion or the fear of not getting the permanent camp position, but Grayson? The camp wrangler?
She wasn’t sure how Noah would sort anything out. Jesse was out of commission. Walter, the retired wrangler, was out of state.
They still needed an assistant.
And let’s be real—it wasn’t like there was a horseman on every corner in Deep Haven.
Really, she just wanted to forget everything that had happened the day before. From the costume to the dogs to passing out and coming to with paramedic Jensen Atwood staring down at her.
And puking. There was that.
And you—big, strong cowboy—couldn’t handle a few little children?
She let out an audible groan. Big, strong cowboy? What had she even been thinking?
Grayson was the kind of guy who never got too attached. Ask the many girls he’d dated in high school. From what Dylan had said, things hadn’t changed when he moved to Oregon.
So yeah, she knew better. Even if she’d always been captivated by his easy charm and hard work so many years ago.
The telltale sound of Dad’s slippers scuffling down the hall drew her attention. His round frame filled the doorway. He wore his favorite navy track pants and faded Fish Pic T-shirt.
“Good morning,” he said and grabbed the cup of coffee she’d poured for him and the stack of mail she’d left on the peninsula.
Just like every morning, their easy routine was as comfortable as those slippers on his feet.
“Hey, Dad.” She smiled.
“Vivien. Courtney. Good to see you, ladies.”
“Good morning,” Vivien and Courtney answered in unison.
“Hey, sweetie, how are you doing?” He snugged his ball cap over his short, graying hair and flipped through several pieces of mail. “You had me worried—maybe you shouldn’t be moving up to Trinity quite so soon.”
“I won’t be far, Dad—right out Gunflint Trail.”
Maybe this is what you both need.
Okay, yeah, Vivien was probably right. But that didn’t make it easier. Not when she’d seen what her mom’s betrayal had cost him. Had cost them.
Not when she’d made her promise a life mantra.I’ll never leave you.
She could still see him sitting in his recliner. Sobbing.
All Mom had left behind was a letter. She hadn’t even had the guts to tell them goodbye.
So, yeah—Beth had given up her shot at college. Turned down Lyle’s offer. Her roots were in Deep Haven.
Courtney stood. “We brought a few groceries over—we’re going to grab those from the car.”
Beth nodded and waited until Courtney and Vivien closed the door behind themselves.
