Lone Star Cinderella by Debra Clopton

that looks like a tower?”
    Seth scanned the area. “Not that I can tell. Keep going.”
    She started counting again immediately. The way had grown increasingly dense as they went. She had to push through underbrush and duck under tree limbs. Seth glanced back at the rocks to make sure they were holding their course. They were, he thought.
    â€œFifty.” Melody glanced over her shoulder. “What do you think?”
    They were standing in an overgrown area. Pines towered above them, almost blocking all the sunlight. “I hate to tell you, but I don’t see anything that resembles a tower.”
    She frowned. “I know. So now what?” Disappointment rang in her voice as she scanned the area.
    â€œI’ve been trying to figure out what he could have meant by towers, and I’ve come up blank.”
    â€œMaybe it’s just something that we’ll understand when we see it.”
    â€œMaybe so.”
    â€œDo you think there were pines here all those years ago?”
    â€œProbably,” he said. “Let’s go this way and get out of the trees some.” Seth led the way. But he knew he was only humoring Melody. He knew there wasn’t anything in this area that was a tower. He just didn’t have the heart to tell her she was on a wild-goose chase.

Chapter Ten
    â€œW ell, what do ya know?” Sam said as Melody slid into the seat across from Seth. “How are ya?”
    She plucked the menu from its sitting place between the napkin holder and the bottle of hot sauce, feeling uneasy. They’d been driving back to her house when Seth said he was heading into town to grab a burger. He’d suggested that since it was so late she might want to join him. She kept reminding herself that his asking was simply because it was the polite thing for him to do. She could have refused, given him the easy out, but she hadn’t.
    Something told her that her phone at home was probably ringing, and she just couldn’t face that notion tonight.
    â€œI’m fine, Mr. Greene,” she said. “How are you?”
    â€œNow, hold on a minute. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Sam? My daddy was Mr. Greene, and he didn’t much care for the formality of it either.”
    â€œYes, sir—Sam.”
    â€œNow that’s more like it. Ain’t nothin’ in this townformal, most especially this joint with all these ugly ole cowboys.” A big hoot rang out from the roomful of cowboys and brought a good-natured scowl from Sam. “Not only are they ugly but they’ve got big ears. And this ugly thang your with ain’t much better—”
    â€œHey,” Seth protested with a grin. “You’re supposed to be nice to your customers, not harass them.”
    â€œI am bein’ nice—to the one who counts.”
    Melody smiled. Sam loved to give the cowboys a hard time. But he was always sweet to the women. Most of the women, that was—he did like to tease Norma Sue and Esther Mae. “I’ll bet you’ll be glad when Miss Adela gets home,” she said quietly.
    He beamed. “Tomorrow can’t get here soon enough! I know my Adela and Norma Sue and Esther Mae had a good time, but I don’t know if I could make it another day without seein’ her beautiful smile.”
    â€œI’m sure she’s just as anxious to see you, too,” Melody said.
    Seth raised a brow. “Obviously, all we ugly cowboys will be glad for her to get home too, so he’ll stop mistreating us.”
    That brought on a wave of grunted agreements, and when Melody met Seth’s gaze, he winked at her. It was pretty pathetic that a wink could send her world spinning, but it did. In all her life not once had it ever happened before.
    Seth cupped his hands together on the table and leaned forward after Sam left with their order. “So, tell me what you like most about teaching.”
    Her heart warmed to him even