A Cowboy's Christmas Promise by Maggie McGinnis Read Free Book Online Page B

amount of time.
    “He’s nice,” she finally said.
    “Yes?” Kyla’s eyebrows hiked upward, obviously hoping for more.
    “He is. He’s nice.”
    “How about funny? Gorgeous? Smart?”
    Hayley waved a hand carelessly. “Sure. All of those, too.”
    “Aha.” Kyla grinned.
    “Take your matchmaker grin off, missy.”
    “I know, I know. ‘
I’m just here for a cowboy fling.
’ ”
    “Exactly. And he’s not really a cowboy—though he does wear a Stetson pretty well.”
    Kyla shook her head, biting her lip.
    Hayley growled. “Stop smiling. He’s a really nice guy. Easy to talk to, crazy easy on the eyes. But it’s not like we forged some sort of cosmic connection in our twenty minute conversation in a barn yesterday.”
    Because there’s no such thing. Just because I was up half the night thinking about him means nothing.
    “You never know.”
    Hayley put down the list and felt her pockets for her phone, which she’d apparently left in her cabin. Time to divert this conversation before it got even more uncomfortable. She pointed to Kyla’s bag. “Where is your phone? I need to call Jess.”
    “Why?”
    “Because she’s way better at this starry-eyed bride thing. I’m going to give you to her, and I’m going to go hang out with the cowboys.”
    “Nice try, but you’re stuck with me ’til Thursday. She had a class she couldn’t cancel.”
    “Class? Right. Actually, she’s getting her dirndl adjusted. Said she was going to take it up a few inches and shred the sleeves a bit so it’s a little more Goth.”
    Kyla laughed. “You’re going to regret all this dirndl-hate, you know. When Saturday comes and Daniel can’t take his eyes off you, we’ll talk.”
    “I never said I wanted his eyes
on
me.”
    “Right.”
    “Okay, bride-girl. The entire world is pink and fluffy and smells like roses.”
    “That’s better.”
    The swinging doors between the great room and kitchen flew open and Decker’s mother bustled through with a plate of hot sugar cookies. She had her customary jeans and plaid shirt on, her silver hair roped into a messy bun. “You gals sound hungry out here. Eat.”
    Hayley hugged Ma as she took the plate. “See, Kyla? Now this is a woman who knows how to treat the guests. No glue guns, no pine pitch, no lace. Just good, hot cookies.”
    Ma peered down at the disaster that was Hayley’s centerpiece and nodded slowly. “Kyla, honey? You got a different job maybe Hayley can do?”
    “Sure, Ma. You want me to send her into the kitchen with you?” Kyla’s eyebrows were high, her grin just barely suppressed.
    “Um…”
    Hayley laughed. “Gosh, you two sure do know how to make a girl feel welcome.”
    “You know, I could actually use a few things at the grocery. Would save me a trip into town. You want to take the truck in and do a little shopping?”
    “Because I’m safer if I’m not here at Whisper Creek?” Hayley tossed the last bit of lace to the table as she laughed again. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t want me in your kitchen, either. Yes. I will
happily
go get groceries.”
    Ma motioned Hayley out of her chair, then sat down. “All right. Let me see if I can rescue—um—
adjust
this centerpiece a little.”
    “Thanks, Ma. I’m thinking I should probably stick to the barns while I’m here.”
    “Mmm hmm.” Ma looked up, a small smile playing at the edges of her lips. “Might be me, but I don’t think it’s the
barns
you’re interested in, my girl.”
    —
    Later that evening, Hayley headed out of the main lodge after helping Ma with dinner cleanup. It was eight o’clock, the sun hadn’t yet set, and she was looking forward to sitting on her cabin porch with a big glass of lemonade and the book she’d picked up at the airport. She headed down the path toward the guest cottages, but the sight of a black truck parked near the barn had her freezing in her tracks.
    Daniel was here. Again.
    But she should just keep walking, right? Just head toward her