The Trouble With Cowboys Read Online Free PDF

Delgado,” Jenna answered. “She works the early shift at the Quick Stand on Saturday, so she was available. She badgered me about hiring her granddaughter instead because she’s in college and needs the money, but Tommy’s at a tricky age and I trust Charlene to handle him. She’s the best babysitter in Catcher Creek.”
    Rachel glanced at Amy through the rearview mirror. “You remember Charlene? She used to babysit us too.”
    “We were reacquainted this morning.”
    Jenna snickered. “Charlene told me about your great celery search.”
    “I’m sure she did. If I’d known it would be so hard to find, I would have stockpiled it in Albuquerque after I flew in.”
    Jenna twisted, raising a brow in Amy’s direction. “Good thing Kellan Reed was there to rescue you.”
    Amy sank deeper into the seat. “Yup.”
    “Charlene said he offered to give you his . . . business.”
    Leave it to Jenna to add up the facts faster than a Mensa applicant. “Yup.”
    Jenna straightened forward, but Amy saw the bunch of her cheek that meant she was grinning like a madwoman. “I bet he gave it to you and then some.”
    A remark like that could only be answered with physical violence. Amy leaned forward and yanked Jenna’s ponytail. She yelped and held her hair off to the side, out of Amy’s reach, giggling under her breath.
    Thank goodness Rachel didn’t have an ear for nuance. Jenna’s teasing implication sailed right over her head. Desperate for a subject change, Amy smoothed the binder of legal documents and medical evaluations on her lap. “What we’re doing today, it’s so surreal. I feel like we’re conceding defeat by admitting that Mom’ll never get better.”
    “I don’t like it any more than you do, but if we want our farm to be around to see Tommy grow up, this is our only choice,” Rachel said.
    “You’re right, I know. With Amarex Petroleum breathing down our necks, we’ve put this off for too long already. How much is this lawyer costing us?”
    “One-fifty an hour,” Jenna said.
    “We’re paying a lawyer $150.00 an hour to help us legally take on a potential lawsuit and thousands of dollars of Mom’s debt?”
    “One-fifty is a bargain. You should’ve heard some of the quotes I got. And besides, it’s Dad’s debt we’re taking over. Mom had nothing to do with it.”
    “That’s the truth,” Amy muttered.
    The car went quiet. After a while, Amy cracked her window and stuck her fingers into the crisp air, humming in appreciation of the view of the high desert flatlands carpeted with deep green shrubs and cacti, and the red-sand tops of the distant mesas spotted with a thin dusting of snow. And she adored gawking at the tourist shops, motels, and eateries looking to capitalize on the nostalgic appeal of Old Route 66. The neon signs and kitschy themes filled her with a bubbling sense of optimism and sparked her imagination with stories of the people behind each quaint business.
    “Amy?” It was Rachel, sounding serious, which could only mean one thing. Damn it all, she had some nerve kicking up the embers again. “I know we got into it last night and our tempers got the best of us, but I want to make sure you—”
    “—like I told you, I’m here for the long haul. I understand becoming Mom’s legal guardian means I can’t leave again and I’m fine with that. More than fine, actually. Besides, it’s pointless to debate it. We signed papers to start the restaurant and secured loans months ago. We set a grand opening date and alerted the media. The wheels are in motion. There’s no turning back for any of us.”
    “We ought to change the farm’s name to Hail Mary,” Rachel grumbled.
    Jenna propped her elbow on the seat. “I can’t believe you two are cutting me out of this conversation again.”
    “We’re not having this conversation again. That’s my point,” Amy said.
    Rachel let out an exasperated sigh. “We’re not cutting you out of anything, Jenna. We’ve gone over