Jesse by C H Admirand Page B

brain and stressed her out, worrying whether or not she’d get home from work in time to pick Lacy up from day care. Compared to worrying about Lacy, manual labor was a cinch.
    â€œDo you mind if Lacy and I leave the diner before closing tomorrow?”
    Her uncle looked up from grill he was scraping. “Sure thing. Have you got a date?”
    The look on her face must have been priceless, because he started laughing deep, belly laughs.
    â€œNo, but I thought I’d head on over to the Circle G ranch and see if I can’t talk a certain cowboy into keeping his promise to my little girl.”
    Her uncle looked over his shoulder to where they’d left Lacy and nodded. “Might be a good idea, else little June bug just might start asking one of my regulars to drive her out there.”
    Danielle laughed despite her uneasiness discussing Jesse. “She’s pretty obvious.”
    â€œLike her momma—with a one-track mind.”
    Danielle smiled. “You could always figure out a person’s motives five minutes after meeting them.” Trusting her uncle to tell her the truth she asked, “Do you think Jesse is like Buddy?”
    Her uncle emptied the griddle’s grease trap and wiped his hands on a towel. “In some ways yes, in others, no.”
    â€œGreat.” She walked over to where Lacy stood looking out the window. She didn’t think her daughter noticed her, so she was surprised when Lacy turned and asked, “Do you think he’ll ’member about his promise?”
    â€œIt takes a lot of time and hard work to keep a ranch going,” Uncle Jimmy said. “There is the herd to take care of and the horses that they use when working the herd.”
    â€œHow come you know so much ’bout ranching, Unca Jimmy?”
    He smiled. “I’ve lived in Pleasure most of my life and have friends that took over the running of their family’s ranch.”
    Lacy was quiet on the ride home and went to the living room to watch television rather than keep them company in the kitchen. In between rolling out crust and worrying about broken promises, Danielle tiptoed down the hallway. As she’d hoped, Lacy had fallen asleep. Since she looked comfortable, she let her be.
    â€œShe all right?”
    â€œYes. I just wish Jesse had kept his promise and stopped by.”
    â€œWell now, I’d say that maybe you and my favorite grandniece are a mite impatient.”
    â€œUncle Jimmy—”
    â€œDon’t Uncle Jimmy me,” he said, brushing the flour from his hands. “I’m not pleased that he didn’t call to explain himself, and will have something to say to him if and when he shows up, but sometimes emergencies happen—especially out on a ranch.”
    â€œMaybe you’re right,” she admitted. “There might be a perfectly good reason why he didn’t show up.”
    By the time he’d put the last batch of pies in the oven, Danielle was washing the last of the mixing bowls when Lacy wandered back in. “Can I help?”
    â€œYou’re just in time to help us decide what to fix for dinner.”
    â€œHamburgers!”
    â€œSure,” Uncle Jimmy answered.
    â€œLacy and I can make Gramma’s short-cut baked beans.”
    Her uncle smiled. “That would be great. I’ve got some canned pork and beans in the pantry. What else do you need?”
    Danielle wished she’d thought to unpack her file box of recipes; now she’d have to recreate it from memory. “Onion, butter, and brown sugar.”
    â€œNo chili powder?”
    She grinned. “Dad can’t eat hot spices anymore, so Mom adapted her recipe so he could eat it.”
    â€œDo you need any help?”
    â€œIt’s our turn to wait on you.” She wondered if she and Lacy would have coped as well if they didn’t have Uncle Jimmy. “How about if you take a break and go on out to the back porch?”
    He