The First Love Cookie Club by Lori Wilde Read Free Book Online Page B

being layered atop the usual Old West architecture. The first weekend in December the Twilight Chamber of Commerce threw a Dickens on the Square tourism event. At ten in the morning, workmen were busy setting up various stages around the courthouse lawn. Strolling carolers warbled in group song, practicing their vocal range. Vendors erected street stalls for displaying their wares— Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, and holiday decorations.
    The lantern parade on Friday evening officially kicked off the event, featuring “Queen Victoria” in the lead, followed by floats filled with various characters from the novels of Charles Dickens. The last float traditionally carried Father Christmas. Out of all the festivals this festival-loving town threw, Dickens on the Square had been Sarah’s favorite. Something about the pageantry of nineteenth-century England appealed to her romantic nature.
    Yeah, back when you were fifteen and stupid.
    She shook her head, stared out the window, and found her gaze drawn to the men in the crowd. It was only after her heart gave a strange little stutter at the sight of a tall, dark-haired man that Sarah realized she was subconsciously searching for Travis. The man turned around, and when she saw it wasn’t he, the pent-up breath she hadn’t even known she’d been holding slipped from her lungs in one long sigh.
    The driver pulled the car to a stop outside a restored Victorian house painted a soft rosy pink. Scattered all throughout the yard were angel lawn ornaments. The sign out front read: “The Merry Cherub Bed-and-Breakfast.”
    She walked up the steps, but before she could ring the bell, the door was flung open to reveal a beaming middle-aged man with a graying goatee dressed in the fashion of Charles Dickens—top hat, frock coat, walking cane. He looked at once charmingly quaint and absolutely ridiculous.
    “Hello, Miss Cool,” he boomed, and thrust out his hand. “Mayor Moe Schebly. It’s an honor to meet you.”
    Sarah gave him her hand and he pumped like he was trying to get her to gush water. “Thank you for inviting me, Mayor.”
    “We’re delighted you could make time in your busy schedule for us.”
    “My pleasure.”
    “If it’s not too much of an imposition, I’d like to quickly go over the details of this evening’s festivities with you and your role in them before you get settled into your room.” He tapped the face ofhis watch. “Charles Dickens has a tight schedule to keep.”
    “I understand.”
    The mayor pulled a brochure and a piece of folded paper from his dark gray waistcoat and passed it to her. “You’re in the parade, of course, and you’ll be riding in the final float with Father Christmas and little Jazzy. Don’t feel you have to wear a costume. Although I have taken the liberty of arranging to have several gowns placed in your room should you decide to do so.”
    “Um … okay.”
    “If you have any questions, my cell phone number is printed on your schedule.”
    “Thank you.”
    “See you at the high school football field at five o’clock. That’s where we load up the floats. I’ve included a map of the town for your convenience,” Mayor Moe turned Charles Dickens said. “And now I must run. See you at five.”
    And then he was gone.
    A woman who was about a decade older than Sarah had been standing behind the mayor during his rushed instructions. She too was adorned in Victorian-era clothing. The old Sarah would have sighed at the romance of it all, but Sadie Cool wondered just exactly how uncomfortable that corset really was.
    “Hello.” She smiled warmly. “I’m Jenny Cantrell; my husband, Dean, and I own the Merry Cherub. It’s wonderful to meet you, Miss Cool. Please follow me and I’ll show you to your room.”
    For the first time, Sarah got a good look at the interior, and all she could do was stare in stunnedsilence. The place was awash in angels. Angel wallpaper, thick and velvety-looking. Angel mobiles