“I guess not,” Enid agreed.
“Here we go,” Mary said, pulling into a driveway.
“Three tablecloths, two coolers, a pack of paper napkins and some fairy lights,” Leslie read from the list. “Ooh, that’s a nice idea. Maybe we should put out a call for some more of those.”
“I’m on it,” Tory said and pulled out her phone.
Liam put down the phone, coming to the end of his list at last. He was sick of asking for money. All he really wanted to do was call Tory, patch things up between them and slip away with her again. It was driving Liam crazy keeping away. He wanted to spend every night with her. Hell, every day, too.
He was still ashamed that he’d tried to pull one over on her. He should have simply trusted she’d understand why he needed to win the Founder’s Prize.
On the other hand, he couldn’t expect her to simply sit back and let his family take the Ridley property. He was sure Tory would sympathize with his need to save his home, but that didn’t mean her family didn’t have their own reasons to want the prize, which was why she’d jumped in so eagerly with the cookout idea. He hadn’t thought she was all that caught up in the contest, but she hadn’t been at Linda’s Diner alone. Olivia had also been there, and when he put himself in Olivia’s shoes, he realized what an awkward position it was.
Who was she supposed to support—her husband or her family? What about Noah, for that matter—or Maya?
Was Olivia trying to make sure the Turners and Coopers tied up the competition? Did she think that would settle the matter?
Liam wondered if it might make things worse.
His phone in his hand, he debated what to do. Maybe the trick was to tackle the problems separately. He could try like mad to win the Founder’s Prize and at the same time keep on wooing Tory and trying to convince her to stay in Chance Creek for good.
All Liam knew was that he needed time alone with her. Should he call and ask her out on a real date? She must have been furious when she walked into Linda’s Diner and learned he was trying to steal the Founder’s Prize out from under her family.
Could she forgive him?
His phone blipped, and he looked down to see a photo his mother had sent. It was a selfie she’d taken in her truck, sitting in the driver’s seat. Leslie Falk was leaning in from the passenger seat. Behind them Enid and Tory were clowning around in the back seat.
What on earth was going on?
Fraternizing with the enemy? he texted back.
More like fooling the enemy into helping our cause.
Liam didn’t buy it. He couldn’t remember when he’d last seen his mother smile like that. Even more confusing was Tory’s mischievous grin, which tugged at a part of him that wasn’t governed by logic.
What was his mother doing goofing around with her long-term rival?
Stella walked in. “What’s going on?”
Liam pocketed his phone and shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Did Mom send you the same photo she sent me?”
“Yeah. Crazy, huh?”
“Mom and Enid Cooper, together again.”
Liam couldn’t read her mood. “You really hate the Coopers, don’t you?” he hazarded.
Stella leaned her elbows on the porch railing and stared into the distance, her dark hair trailing over her shoulder. “I used to. Now with Maya and Lance around all the time… I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore.”
“Tory’s been helping with the fundraiser a lot.” He wasn’t sure why he’d said that. He supposed because he wanted to gauge Stella’s reaction to the news.
“Never thought Tory would come back, let alone stick around,” Stella said. “She’s turned out… okay.”
“She’s going to be a lawyer.”
Stella nodded. “She’s smart, going for the career she really wants.”
Liam considered his sister in a way he never had before. “Is there a career you want you don’t think you can have?”
Was that blush tracing over her cheeks? He waited out her silence.
“Kind of always wanted to be a deputy, since you’re asking. Maybe sheriff someday,” she said softly. “I know—ridiculous, isn’t it?”
“No. Not ridiculous. Unexpected, maybe,” he admitted.
“I could do it,” she said defiantly.
“I know you could.” He leaned on the railing, too. Studied their land. A lot was changing around them, but the ranch stayed constant. It was one of the things he loved about it.
“Uncle Jed would have a cow.”
Liam laughed for the first time in days. It felt good. “Uncle Jed could use some shaking up.”
“I probably couldn’t get it done even if I got up the guts to try. There’s a written test—and a physical one.”
“You could pass those. Easy.”
“You think so?” She perked up a little. This was more than a passing fancy, Liam realized. It had been a long time since he’d had a serious talk with Stella. Probably should make more time for things like that.
“I know so,” he told her. “And I think if that’s what you really want, you should go for it.” He thought of Leslie and all her trips to the dialysis unit. Thought of their father and how early he’d died. “Life’s too damn short to worry about what anyone else thinks. You have to do what makes you happy.” He thought of Tory. “You have to be with the person who makes you happy, too.”
She straightened. “What the heck do you mean by that?”
Liam backtracked, surprised by her reaction. Stella hadn’t had a boyfriend in ages. Maybe she was feeling prickly about that. “I mean… you know… do what you want—no matter what it is. Whatever. See you.” He hurried off the porch toward the barn as if he had a reason to go there. So much for serious conversations.
“Thanks,” Stella called after him a moment later.
He slowed his steps. Half-turned to call back, “I’ll help you train if you want. For the tests.”
“Sounds good!”
Stella a deputy.
Imagine that.
Liam kept going toward the barn, but his fingers closed around his phone again.
Time to take
