Little Cowgirl Needs a Mum / Once Upon a Proposal. Patricia Thayer
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then leave the food in the hall.”
She kissed him. “Thanks, Daddy.” She took off to find the others. The music started up again along with a thumping sound. Evan glanced at the clock to see it was only nine o’clock. Just twelve more hours and they’d all go home. That included Jenny.
It was midnight and the girls showed no signs of slowing down, but Jenny was running out of ideas for things to do. They didn’t want to watch any more videos, or eat any more food. They were too far out in the country for a scavenger hunt. Maybe some scary stories.
She got the girls’ attention and started telling tales she remembered from school when something hit against the window.
The girls jumped and gasped. “What was that?” one of them asked.
Jenny got up, pulled the curtains back and looked out the second-story window. Down below a flash of white caught her eyes. “What the …” she began, when she saw the figure standing in the yard. It was Sean. She opened the window and the girls came to see what was going on.
“Sean? Is something wrong?”
“Sorry to disturb you, but I’m looking for some little ones who’d be interested in roasting some marshmallows by the campfire. Maybe tell a few stories.”
“We are,” the chorus of girls cheered.
“I’m too scared,” Carrie said, looking out into the darkness.
“Come on,” Cherry said. “Mr. Sean won’t let anything happen to us.”
“How about if we all go together?” Jenny suggested. “It’ll be fun.”
“We’ll be right down,” she called to Sean.
“Good.” He smiled. “Bring Evan, too. He’s taking a nap before the next shift.”
Already dressed in their pajamas, the girls all put on sweatshirts and shoes, then headed down.
Jenny was bringing up the rear when she stopped by the master bedroom. She knocked softly and pushed open the partly closed door to find Evan lying on the bed fully dressed, minus his boots. The lamp beside the bed was on and she could see he was asleep.
“Evan,” she whispered, but when he didn’t answer, she walked in and stood next to the bed. She stared down at the man lying on the bed. He looked so peaceful, so unlike the Evan who was usually frowning.
She heard the girls at the foot of the stairs and reached out and touched his arm. The warmth of his skin caused her to bite back a gasp.
His eyes shot open, and he quickly sat up. “What happened?”
“Nothing yet. We’re going down to roast marshmallows. Your dad said to wake you up.”
Her hand was still on his arm. “Sorry, I was catching a few hours sleep.” He rubbed his eyes. “What are the munchkins up to now?”
She tried but couldn’t seem to move away. “Sean’s going to tell stories out by a campfire.”
Evan stood up, and she started to back away, but he pulled her closer.
“Rafferty … this isn’t a good idea,” she warned.
“You’re damn right it isn’t.” He started to lower his head when off in the distance she heard her name.
She quickly broke away, but Evan refused to release her as he held her head against his shoulder. “Kids can be a pain sometimes. This is definitely one of those times.”
“Evan … I’ve got to go. The girls will come looking for me.”
With a nod, Evan let her go. He turned and went into the adjoining bathroom and closed the door. She worked to slow her breathing as she walked out and down the steps.
“Jenny,” Gracie said, “Where were you? Everybody is waiting.”
“I forgot something.” She’d forgotten something all right, her mind, her common sense. She looked down at the smiling child and thought about the man upstairs.
She was quickly losing her heart to both of them.
“They’re called the wee people. Some call them leprechauns. I only met one, Finn O’Donovan. And oh, he was a tricky one. He would rob you blind if you turned your back on him.”
“What does he look like?” a girl asked.
“A wee man, no bigger than yourselves. They have rosy cheeks and big blue eyes that make you want to trust them. I met Finn when I was no older than you young ones. He lived in the forest right outside of the town where I lived in Ireland. First time I saw him was when I came home from school one day. He asked me never to tell anyone about him. My first mistake. He promised to show me where he hid a pot of gold. Well, let me tell you. I was a poor fella with lots of brothers and sisters. My da and ma could use a pot of gold.”
“Did you ever find it?” Carrie asked.
Sean shook his head. “No. The scoundrel had been laughing at me the whole time. Soon after, my family left for America, so I never saw Finn again which was good, since we didn’t part on happy terms. But some strange things have been happening lately. I have a feeling that Finn has returned to my life.”
“He’s here?” Cherry whispered.
Sean’s eyes grew large as he nodded, then glanced around the crackling fire at his attentive audience. “I have proof.” He reached behind him and pulled out a green felt pointy hat. “See, this is the same hat Finn wore all those years ago.”
“Where’d you get that, Grandpa?” Gracie asked.
“I found it in the vineyard. Finn is here.”
Everyone gasped.
Evan stood at the patio door and watched as the girls listened to his father. No one could tell a story like Sean Rafferty. Seeing Gracie’s happy face, he was glad that his dad was there to help out. His gaze settled on Jenny. This night for Gracie wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t agreed to give up her weekend.
The only problem was that it was getting harder and harder to keep away from her. He still couldn’t believe what had nearly happened upstairs. He’d almost kissed her again. He wanted it more than his next breath.
Suddenly Matt came out of the shadows, sat on the bench next to Jenny and scooted closer to her. He didn’t seem to have any trouble talking with her, flirting with her.
And unless Evan spoke up, he didn’t have any right to tell his brother to stay away.
Was he ready to do that?
CHAPTER SEVEN
AWEEK had passed since the sleepover and Jenny had tried to stay focused on other things besides the man who’d been keeping her up nights. Not only Evan had been disturbing her sleep, but worry over his daughter’s feelings had, as well.
Classes had been going well for everyone except Gracie. She struggled with the intricate work needed to complete her mother’s quilt. Jenny herself even needed Allison’s help. The pattern was far too complicated for an eight year old, and the child’s frustration was growing.
She’d realized she had to convince the girl to go in another direction. That was when she’d asked for advice from Allison and her new friend, school principal Lily Perry.
The three of them had discussed her concerns and had come up with something that might convince Gracie to put her mother’s quilt aside for another few years and work on something simpler.
It was nearly the end of the day’s class when Jenny took Gracie aside. They walked to the round table in the corner of the room that had quickly become a popular spot with the regulars. Only on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons was the area vacant.
Jenny motioned to a chair and Gracie took it. “Am I in trouble?” she asked.
“Of