True Love at Silver Creek Ranch by Emma Cane Page B

children shouldn’t see when they walk past a storefront. You do realize what ‘leather’ means in the title!”
    â€œI’m sure they won’t put anythin’ objectionable in the window, Sylvester,” Grandma Palmer said patiently.
    â€œYou bet they won’t because I’m going to make sure the town council knows that citizens object to this sort of business. They won’t get a permit, I can guarantee you that.”
    He reached for his hat on the coffee table and put it on with emphasis. Adam thought the old-fashioned brimmed hat would go sailing away the moment the man stepped out the door. Sylvester closed it hard behind him, and when he was gone, the three women chuckled.
    â€œThat Sylvester,” Gloria said, shaking her head. “I think it all goes back to Walmart. He’s worried what they’ll think of a ‘smut’ store in Valentine. He’s always writing the company, trying to lure them to open a store here. He thinks it’ll bring more customers to his diner, but he doesn’t seem to care that it’ll take customers away from places like Hal’s Hardware or the Back in Time Portrait Studio. When I need something at Walmart, I have no problem driving to Glenwood Springs.”
    Cathy nodded.
    Grandma Palmer’s smile faded a bit. “But he does have a voice, and the mayor listens to him.”
    â€œThat’s because she’s his sister.” Cathy turned to Adam and spoke in a confidential tone. “But the mayor is more reasonable than her brother.”
    Grandma clapped her hands together. “I’m sorry for the interruption, girls.” She turned to Adam. “You go on and eat lunch, my dear boy. The ladies and I still have some ‘mystical nonsense’ to attend to. If you have any more questions about Leather and Lace, you can always ask Brooke.”
    â€œBrooke?” He gazed at her in surprise, noticing that the other two ladies’ eyes sharpened with interest. He had a sudden flash of memory, Brooke’s arms entwined about him, their hungry mouths joined.
    â€œShe knows all about the store,” Grandma was saying. “The owner first tried to buy Emily’s buildin’, but she decided to keep it and open the bakery. Speakin’ of which, I brought some brownies home after I worked this mornin’.”
    â€œYou went out in this?” he asked. He couldn’t help remembering the sixties convertible she used to drive, not caring what it did to her hair. He didn’t often see her drive through the trailer park because his mother would have a fit, but Grandma always made sure to look for him when he wandered the town. She let him jump right over the door to get in, which made him feel like a TV star. She’d buy him a snack and listen to him rattle on. He’d once been able to tell her anything—but not anymore. He couldn’t hurt her like that.
    â€œI’ve lived here my whole life, Adam,” she said, smiling. “Rosemary drove the old station wagon, and we were very careful. But thanks for carin’. Now, are you sure you don’t want to stay and have your cards read?” she asked hopefully.
    â€œNo, thanks, Grandma,” he said a bit too quickly.
    They all chuckled as he left. He didn’t bother to tell her he’d already eaten. She might assign him a new chore, and he wasn’t feeling in the mood. But as he returned to his room off the kitchen after helping himself to another brownie, he thought again about Sylvester Galimi’s threats and hoped the man’s behavior didn’t encourage the widows to do something crazy.
    T he next day, Saturday, dawned with a perfect sky as blue as a robin’s egg, but there were no days off when hungry cattle had to be fed. Adam wasn’t surprised when he spent the morning balancing on hay bales on the back of the retriever alongside Josh rather than Brooke. She obviously hadn’t