Along Came a Cowboy Read Free

least now when we see each other at the diner, we can say hello.”
    A hot blush spreads across my face. The curse of being a redhead. I blush easily and at the oddest times. It’s not like he knows I was admiring him the other day while I was waiting for my food. At least, I sure hope not. “True.” I open the door and step back for him to go through.
    â€œI guess I’d better go. I’ll just wait for Mom out here,” he says dryly and saunters down the hall.
    â€œNot a moment too soon,” I mutter under my breath and retreat to my office for a few minutes. The last thing I need is a blast from the past. Especially in the form of a rugged, sweet-smiling cowboy.

I ’m mulling over the things Jack said, particularly the part about my mother, when Norma sticks her head in the door. “Problem.”
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œThe mayor’s fifteen minutes early. And Mrs. Tillman walked in a minute after him, but she’s on time and her appointment is before his. If I take her back to a room first, he’ll be mad, but if I take him back first, that’s cheating, I guess?” Her tone goes up on the last two words.
    I take a deep breath and smile. I’m actually glad to have normal office things to think about. Too many of my thoughts the last few minutes have been in a Western motif. “Tell Ron that Mrs. Tillman’s appointment is first and we’ll be with him in just a few minutes.”
    â€œBut he’s the mayor.”
    â€œIn this office, he’s a patient. And he’s no more or no less important than anyone else.”
    She nods. Like she’s never heard me say that before.
    When I finally get to him, our esteemed mayor is perched on the long padded bench in the waiting cubicle, huffing andpuffing like the big bad wolf.
    â€œGood morning, Ron.” I motion him into the adjusting room.
    He grunts as he hobbles past me. “Easy for you to say.”
    Beneath his crusty exterior is another equally crusty interior. If life in Shady Grove were a sitcom, there’d be a heart of gold buried somewhere in the mix. But this is real life, and with our mayor, I’m not so sure.
    He takes his glasses off and slips them in the eyeglass holder mounted on the wall. Then he turns back to me and squints. “A person doesn’t get to be Citizen of the Year by keeping the mayor waiting.”
    I cough to cover a laugh. “I told you last time you brought that up that I have no desire to be Citizen of the Year.”
    â€œAh, save your ‘It’s just an honor to be nominated’ speech for someone who believes it. Everybody wants to be noticed,” he grumbles.
    Not everybody. I’ve spent my adult life blending in, trying to be all I can be while not being noticed. Unfortunately, I ended up with too many patients who are members of the Shady Grove Civic Club. So according to Ron’s top-secret info, I’ve been nominated for Citizen of the Year. I’m not holding my breath.
    â€œYou mark my words: This centennial celebration is going to be the death of me.” He slowly moves toward the table.
    I bite back a smile. “You sounded so excited about it just awhile ago at the big kick-off.”
    â€œThat was before Alma Westwood started driving me crazy.” He limps the last few feet.
    â€œAre you hurting this morning, Ron?” He’s seventy, but he can normally outwalk most men half his age.
    He ignores my question with a wave of his hand. “She evencornered me out here in your waiting room just now and started yakking about it. Who has a yearlong celebration anyway? Why couldn’t we settle for a week like normal towns?” He cuts his gaze to me as he steps up on the foot pedestal of my hi-lo table. “You know, you’d be the perfect person to get me out of this pickle and do your civic duty at the same time.”
    â€œYou’re still trying to get me to be on the