Song of the Meadowlark (Intertwined Book 1) by Sherri Wilson Johnson

a visit.” Cora settled on to the lounge chair by the pool.
    “Maybe I should. So what are you doing besides taking care of the granddaughter?”
    “Taking care of Susie keeps me pretty busy. But I’m also taking time to find myself.”
    “I didn’t know you were lost.” Anne snickered. “I thought you got that worked out in church years ago.”
    “You’re really funny. Seriously, though, I love this place, and the family is so precious. I could stay forever. I love being on the ranch.”
    “But what’s there for you?”
    “Maybe whatever I want there to be.”
    “You’ll never meet someone new if you stay there.”
    “Maybe I don’t want to meet anyone new. Maybe I want to be single for the rest of my life. I am pretty content right now just letting God be my only man.” Cora said this more to convince herself than to convince Anne.
    Anne’s laugh blared through the phone. “You’ve lost it, Cora! You single for the rest of your life? Preposterous!”
    “Okay, maybe I don’t want to stay single. But I don’t want to find a man just so I’ll have one. I need to be content alone.”
    “Okay, whatever. You’ll definitely stay alone there.”
    “Why? Are there no men here? You’re silly. There are men everywhere.”
    “Yeah, cowboys.”
    Cora stiffened her neck. “Nothing wrong with cowboys.”
    “I can’t see you with a sweaty, dirty farmer. You like businessmen in suits.”
    Sometimes Anne could be ridiculous. “First of all, the O’Reillys are ranchers, not farmers, and Mr. O’Reilly runs a business in Columbus with one of his sons. Second, there are tons of businessmen in Columbus. But, if you recall, my luck with men in suits hasn’t been too good. Besides, some of these men look pretty good in their cowboy boots and tight jeans.” Cora’s mind drifted to Rex. She cleared her throat.
    “So you are noticing men. Finally!”
    “Finally? My husband just died.”
    “But he’s been gone a year.”
    “I know, Anne, but I had to stay faithful to him until I knew what had happened to him.”
    “So now you’re noticing there are men out there. Anyone in particular?”
    “No. No one I’m willing to mention yet anyway.”
    “You’re killing me, Cora. Maybe I should come for a visit.”
    “You’d love it here. This town has a few iffy characters but for the most part it’s full of great people.”
    “Panama City is full of great people too, Cora. We miss you.”
    “I miss y’all too, but I need more time.”

 
* * *
    “Clarice, is the invitation to go to Wild Bill’s still open?” Cora met Clarice in the upstairs hallway before dinner.
    “Why, sure it is. Do you want to go?”
    “I need something to get me recharged after the long week.”
    “Goodie!” Clarice grabbed Cora in an embrace, engulfing her in her designer perfume.
    Cora laughed. “Wild Bill’s isn’t exactly my type of place, but I think it’d be fun.”
    “Okay. We’re gonna have so much fun. We’ll go after supper.”
    Later, Cora put on her blue jeans, a black silk blouse, and the Western vest with silver buttons she’d purchased earlier in the week. She squeezed on her black suede ankle boots. Hopefully, they were right for the outfit. She pulled her hair back into a smooth ponytail, inserted into her earlobes dangly silver earrings in the shape of cowboy boots—another find in town—and added a bangle on her right wrist. She rubbed the scar from her ordeal. Would she ever forget the trauma?
    After darkening her makeup a bit, she gave herself an approving nod in the mirror. The dark circles had finally faded from underneath her eyes. Just as she placed her money and identification in her pocket, Susie came into her room, dressed in her pink plastic stilettos with a matching feather boa wrapped around her neck.
    “Cora, are you coming back home?” Susie held her teddy bear close to her chest.
    “Of course I am, Sweetie. What would make you think I wouldn’t be back?” Cora bent to Susie’s