Fortune's June Bride (Mills & Boon Cherish) (The Fortunes of Texas: Cowboy Country, Book 6) by Allison Leigh Page A
Authors: Allison Leigh
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beer last night. My favorite sandwich today.”
“Not to mention Rusty.” His lips curved. “Roselyn.”
“Yes, yes, yes. I owe you for it all.” She took a sip of her orange drink, watching him over the top of her cup. “I told you I would help you out at your spread.” She waited a beat. “Maybe you’d rather me do that dreaded laundry.”
He chuckled. “Better you than ever letting my ma see the way it’s always piled up these days. You should see my kitchen counters. They’re even worse than the laundry room.” He sketched a toast with his double-decker hamburger. “Eat up, kiddo. Time’s a-wasting.”
Sure enough, when she checked her watch locket, the time was passing more quickly than she’d thought.
She attributed it to the company.
She was halfway through her sandwich when the fortune-teller stopped at their table. She was an older woman with a bandanna tied around her head, and the gold coins hanging from her skirt belt jingled musically. “I remember you,” she addressed Galen, and slid a glance toward Aurora. “This the one?”
Galen looked chagrined. “When the park opened, she told me I’d get married soon to a woman in white,” he told Aurora before looking back at the fortune-teller. “Maybe you haven’t noticed, but lately I’ve been doing it four times a day in
Wild West Wedding
. So I guess your prediction was sort of correct.”
“Hmm.” The woman looked amused. “We’ll see.” She focused on Aurora again. “Would you like your fortune told, my dear?”
Aurora chuckled. “I’ll pass, thanks. The real guests of Cowboy Country deserve your attention much more than I do.”
The woman smiled and set her hand on Aurora’s shoulder. “Just remember, dear. Dreams are like prayers. They’re usually answered in ways we never expect.” Her eyes seemed to twinkle a little before she moved on to the next table, her peasant skirt swaying around her legs.
“Well, that was cryptic,” Aurora said, shaking off the strange frisson that slipped over her. “What’d she do? Read your palm or crystal ball or what?”
“Palm.” He held up his long-fingered hand, square palm toward her. “All those lines?” He traced them with his other hand. “Those’re you.” He grinned. “Or should I say Lila?”
On the stage below them, a skinny man garbed in a red-and-white-striped shirt and black vest sat down at the piano and began banging out old-time tunes, warming up the crowd for the show to come. “Have you seen the saloon show yet?”
He nodded. “I’m supposed to watch all of the shows. I finally caught the
Sunday Go to Meeting
deal last Sunday before dinner over out my folks’ place. That was the last one left. And
Outlaw Shootout
, which isn’t being performed right now, anyway.”
“Right.” She nodded slowly. “What sort of ‘authentic’ grade is Cowboy Country getting these days?”
He polished off the last of his hamburger in a huge bite. “A solid B,” he said after he’d swallowed. He wiped his hands and mouth with the napkin.
“That’s it? I think I’m feeling indignant on behalf of all of Cowboy Country.”
“Okay.” His eyes crinkled. “B-plus. But only because the Trading Post and some of the ride attendants still have some work to go.”
She laughed softly. “I might be hiding a redhead’s temper, but you’re hiding the heart of a softy, Galen.”
“Don’t let it get out. Would ruin my image.”
She sketched a cross on her chest. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Finish that up.” He nodded toward the last of her sandwich. “So they can still turn the table before the dancing starts.”
She nodded and quickly devoured the rest of the delectable sandwich. “Nothing like bacon and mayonnaise coming together with tomatoes and lettuce on thick country toast,” she said when she was finished. She crumpled her wrapper and napkin and took her drink with her as they left.
“Last time I went on that date, she ate a half a
“Not to mention Rusty.” His lips curved. “Roselyn.”
“Yes, yes, yes. I owe you for it all.” She took a sip of her orange drink, watching him over the top of her cup. “I told you I would help you out at your spread.” She waited a beat. “Maybe you’d rather me do that dreaded laundry.”
He chuckled. “Better you than ever letting my ma see the way it’s always piled up these days. You should see my kitchen counters. They’re even worse than the laundry room.” He sketched a toast with his double-decker hamburger. “Eat up, kiddo. Time’s a-wasting.”
Sure enough, when she checked her watch locket, the time was passing more quickly than she’d thought.
She attributed it to the company.
She was halfway through her sandwich when the fortune-teller stopped at their table. She was an older woman with a bandanna tied around her head, and the gold coins hanging from her skirt belt jingled musically. “I remember you,” she addressed Galen, and slid a glance toward Aurora. “This the one?”
Galen looked chagrined. “When the park opened, she told me I’d get married soon to a woman in white,” he told Aurora before looking back at the fortune-teller. “Maybe you haven’t noticed, but lately I’ve been doing it four times a day in
Wild West Wedding
. So I guess your prediction was sort of correct.”
“Hmm.” The woman looked amused. “We’ll see.” She focused on Aurora again. “Would you like your fortune told, my dear?”
Aurora chuckled. “I’ll pass, thanks. The real guests of Cowboy Country deserve your attention much more than I do.”
The woman smiled and set her hand on Aurora’s shoulder. “Just remember, dear. Dreams are like prayers. They’re usually answered in ways we never expect.” Her eyes seemed to twinkle a little before she moved on to the next table, her peasant skirt swaying around her legs.
“Well, that was cryptic,” Aurora said, shaking off the strange frisson that slipped over her. “What’d she do? Read your palm or crystal ball or what?”
“Palm.” He held up his long-fingered hand, square palm toward her. “All those lines?” He traced them with his other hand. “Those’re you.” He grinned. “Or should I say Lila?”
On the stage below them, a skinny man garbed in a red-and-white-striped shirt and black vest sat down at the piano and began banging out old-time tunes, warming up the crowd for the show to come. “Have you seen the saloon show yet?”
He nodded. “I’m supposed to watch all of the shows. I finally caught the
Sunday Go to Meeting
deal last Sunday before dinner over out my folks’ place. That was the last one left. And
Outlaw Shootout
, which isn’t being performed right now, anyway.”
“Right.” She nodded slowly. “What sort of ‘authentic’ grade is Cowboy Country getting these days?”
He polished off the last of his hamburger in a huge bite. “A solid B,” he said after he’d swallowed. He wiped his hands and mouth with the napkin.
“That’s it? I think I’m feeling indignant on behalf of all of Cowboy Country.”
“Okay.” His eyes crinkled. “B-plus. But only because the Trading Post and some of the ride attendants still have some work to go.”
She laughed softly. “I might be hiding a redhead’s temper, but you’re hiding the heart of a softy, Galen.”
“Don’t let it get out. Would ruin my image.”
She sketched a cross on her chest. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Finish that up.” He nodded toward the last of her sandwich. “So they can still turn the table before the dancing starts.”
She nodded and quickly devoured the rest of the delectable sandwich. “Nothing like bacon and mayonnaise coming together with tomatoes and lettuce on thick country toast,” she said when she was finished. She crumpled her wrapper and napkin and took her drink with her as they left.
“Last time I went on that date, she ate a half a
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