Small-Town Mom by Jean C. Gordon Read Free Book Online

But no need to ruin her good mood by dredging up something that happened in the past and couldn’t be changed.
    “Let’s unload our stuff. I’m sure everyone else will be here in a minute.” She checked her watch. Or ten.
    “I knew you’d be here,” Drew said when he pulled up and got out of his pickup.
    “You know me. When I first started driving, my dad drilled into me to always leave with enough time to change a tire if I had a flat and still be on time.”
    “How’s that worked?”
    “Can’t really tell you, since I’ve never had a flat tire. Of course, I’m never late, either.” Or almost never late.
    Drew laughed. “Emily and I really appreciate your helping out.”
    “Glad to.” She hadn’t realized how much until just now.
    The other drivers started arriving, and the kids spilled out into the parking lot with an assortment of sleds.
    “Ready, girls?” Drew asked, motioning Rose and Opal to follow him. Myles had already sauntered over to Tanner’s mother’s car.
    “And no big deal if Kelly calls you in for a birth,” Drew called over his shoulder. “Eli changed his plans. He said he could cut out of his American Legion meeting in time to get here by two at the latest.”
    Jamie stared at their retreating backs. It surprised her that Eli would skirt a Legion commitment but not that he still had a hand in the military. John had planned to join the U.S. Army Reserve when he mustered out of the army. Once in the service, always in the service. She’d learned that as a young military wife. The service always came first.
    Jamie pocketed her keys and trudged across the snow-covered parking lot to catch up with the others. Had Drew told Eli she was filling in for Emily? Was that why he’d changed his mind about being able to help? Her traitorous heart skipped a beat. If so, it had to be because he didn’t trust her to watch the kids, not because of any desire to see her. His attitude at their meeting had said to her that he thought she was an inept mother who couldn’t take care of her own child. Why would he think she’d be any better with other people’s children? Not that it mattered, beyond the fact that his critical attitude aggravated her. She didn’t need to prove anything to him. For all she knew, he treated all parents the same as he treated her. Jamie breathed in the clear cold winter air and released it. But, for whatever reason, his treatment of her did matter.
    * * *
    Eli shielded the sun from his eyes and surveyed the figures at the top of the golf course hill. He spotted Jamie’s purple jacket right off. At least he thought it was hers. It was the same color as the coat she’d worn to their last meeting. The figure turned. Black curls peeked out from the sides and front of her multihued ski hat. A sense of satisfaction filled him. He knew it was her. He climbed the hill, surprised at how much he’d warmed at the minor exertion. He hadn’t thought he’d let himself get that much out of fighting shape.
    As he reached the top, two smaller kids grabbed Jamie’s gloved hands and pulled her toward a toboggan. Evidently, along with the youth group teens, Jamie had Myles’s younger sisters to contend with, too. Good thing he hadn’t had any difficulty leaving the meeting. The guys had already worked out all of the details for the teen rifle course, and he hadn’t really been needed. Not as much as he was needed here.
    “Hey, man.” Drew lifted a hand in greeting.
    Eli joined him.
    “The kids wanted to have toboggan races. I’ve had Jamie here setting up the heats and I’ve been clocking the finishes at the bottom. We’re taking a break so she can make a run with Rose and Opal. She’s okay with them using their saucers on the smaller run but didn’t want them taking the toboggan down alone.”
    Eli nodded his agreement with her decision. “How many kids came?”
    “About twenty. All the regulars and a few guests, older kids’ boyfriends and girlfriends. Lends a new