Her Cowboy Soldier by Cindi Myers Read Free Book Online Page B

of the elevated planting tables, arms crossed over her chest. “We went out and he talked about his ex-wife the entire evening.”
    Bobbie patted the younger woman’s shoulder. “The right man will come along when you least expect it.”
    “I hope you’re right. Anyway, I didn’t stop by to moan about my love life—or lack of it. I’m recruiting for the booster club. We need chaperones for the prom and the after-prom party.”
    “Count me out,” Bobbie said. “I’m too old to stay up that late, and the music the kids play gets on my nerves.”
    “What about you, Amy?”
    “I don’t think I’m a prom kind of person. I never even went to a prom when I was a teenager.”
    Charla’s eyes widened. “You didn’t?”
    “I took correspondence courses my last couple of years of high school. We were living in Spain—and then Korea.”
    “Wild. Then you should definitely do this. It gives you an excuse to get dressed up and stay up past midnight, and in this town, that’s something.”
    “What do the chaperones do?”
    “Just mingle among the kids, make sure they stay out of trouble.”
    “Will you be there?”
    “I wouldn’t miss it.”
    Amy laughed. “You make it sound like a date instead of a duty.”
    “We’re the responsible adults and we have to enforce the rules, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun, too.” She pulled a notepad from her shoulder bag and consulted it. “So far I’ve got Teresa Fischer from the bank, Josh Scofield, Rick Southerland, Zach Fremont and his wife, Susie.” She stashed the pad back in her purse. “You’d be the perfect addition. Say you’ll do it.”
    Amy shook her head. “I’ll pass.” The idea of hanging out in a social setting with Josh felt awkward; they clashed every time they saw each other. “Besides, what would I do with Chloe?”
    “As if I couldn’t look after Chloe,” Bobbie said. “You should go. It would do you good to socialize with people your own age—the other chaperones, I mean.”
    “I don’t think so.” Sure, the evening might turn out to be fun. Or it could be a painful reminder of her status as both a local outsider and a single woman. “But thanks for asking.” She avoided looking at Bobbie, though she was aware of her grandmother’s gaze fixed on her. Bobbie wanted Amy to get more involved with the townspeople, but a formal dance was not the place Amy wanted to start.
    “Let me know if you change your mind,” Charla said. “There’s always room for one more, though I could use a couple more single men, to make the night a little more interesting.”
    “Charla, you’re supposed to be chaperoning, not dating,” Bobbie said.
    “In this town, I’ve learned to take my opportunities where I find them. I hear the garage has a cute new mechanic. I think I’ll see if he’s interested.” She fluttered her fingers in a wave and left them.
    “Why did you turn her down?” Bobbie asked as she and Amy returned to work. “I doubt the kids would give you any trouble, and you could enjoy an evening with the other chaperones.”
    “I just don’t think I’d be comfortable. I’m not ready for that kind of socializing.”
    “It’s a small-town prom—not a grand ball. And you’d know almost everyone there. Josh, for instance.”
    “I’m not Josh’s favorite person right now. He’s still upset about the story I did for the paper.”
    “Yet you’re going to the science bee with him.”
    “That’s different. That’s for the paper. I’m not really volunteering—I’m writing about the event for the Herald. ”
    “There’s more to life than work, you know. You can’t let things get so out of balance.”
    Amy knew her grandmother meant well, but she didn’t understand how important work was to Amy right now. The right work would build a good future for her and her daughter. “I’d rather spend time with you and Chloe,” she said.
    “Don’t use us as an excuse for hiding from life,” Bobbie said. She put one