A Cowboy's Pride. Karen Rock

all pitched in back then. Pa said every bit counted. Is he here?”

      “Keith ran him to Denver for an MRI.” Ma pinched a couple of yellow fronds from a fern plant in a ceramic baby shoe.

      “Is his back worse?”

      “Same. It’s just an annual checkup.”

      “Did you get my messages?” Katlynn glanced around for the phone but spied only an empty jack. “I called the landline and your iPhone. You still have it, right?”

      “Sorry, honey. I know it was a Christmas gift, but I couldn’t figure it out. Plus, we hardly ever get reception out here so I gave it to John.”

      Katlynn’s oldest brother—who hadn’t relayed her voice mail messages. Typical. “I’ll buy you another while I’m in town and show you how to use it.”

      Her mother shook her head. “I don’t want you wasting your money on us. It’s best if you keep it in the bank. You never know when you’re going to need it.”

      Katlynn stared at her. When was the last time anyone refused her gifts? How strange to be around someone who wanted nothing from her. “Let me worry about that, Ma.”

      Still. Her mother had a point. If the show was canceled, she’d be out of work for who knew how long before she landed her next gig. She’d gotten lucky to even win an audition for Scandalous History. After her agent’s mother’s bridge partner mentioned her son’s project, a historical investigation show, she’d sent in Katlynn’s head shots and CV, which included her double major in broadcasting and history.

      During the audition, Katlynn and the executive producer connected over their shared love of Wild West lore, a conversation that continued over lunch and ended in her being offered the plum job the following week.

      Digging into an old-time-Western family feud was exactly the kind of story to fire her imagination and, hopefully, the audience’s. Regardless of her irritating attraction to her ex, she’d savor this project, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to solve a historical mystery.

      “Can I get you anything to eat?” Ma’s deep-set eyes ran over Katlynn. “You look too thin.”

      Her mouth dropped open before she caught herself. “I’m good, thanks. Don’t go to any bother.”

      When was the last time she’d eaten a home-cooked meal?

      The stick-to-your-ribs kind?

      Every LA restaurant seemed to be vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free places where ordering a steak felt like a felony.

      Her mouth watered just thinking about juicy barbecue.

      “It’s no trouble. Hardly ever have time to spend with any one of my kids, so when I do, it’s a treat.”

      Katlynn’s eyes stung, and she threw her arms around her mother, pulling her close, smelling the fresh scent of the outdoors on her housecoat.

      “What’s that for?” Ma asked when Katlynn released her, smiling.

      “I love you.”

      “I love you, too, honey. Wish I’d known you were coming. I’d have cleaned up the place. It’s been a little crazy around here lately, plus my arthritis is acting up. The change in weather always gets me.”

      “I wish you’d let me fly you out to LA. I know some wonderful doctors who—”

      “Dr. Walker’s treated our family for generations. He knows me better than any of those fancy doctors. I’m just fine, honey. So, tell me about you. What kind of story are you doing here?”

      “I’m investigating the Cade-Loveland feud.”

      Her ma’s hands rose to cover her rounded mouth. “Have you seen Cole?” she said through her fingers.

      “Yes.”

      “How’d it go?”

      “Fine. We’re both adults.”

       Liar. You mooned over him the moment you saw him again.

      “As long as you’re okay. Always hoped you made the right choice, but here you are, famous and all. Guess you got what you wanted in the end.”

      “Right,” Katlynn agreed briskly. If she’d gotten everything she wanted, though, why did she spend thousands talking to a life coach and a therapist about her loneliness?

      “I have to meet with my production team in a bit, but I wanted to stop by and ask if I could stay here while we’re filming. The Holsford Hotel double-booked my suite, and they don’t have any other rooms.”

      “Did you talk to Frank or Joanie?” her mother asked, naming the owners of the small town’s only hotel. It’d been in operation for almost a hundred years and conjured up a glimpse of the Old West with its painted facade and saloon-style reception area.

      “Yes, and they apologized for the mix-up and offered to boot the other people who booked it. Except it’s a newlywed couple, and I can’t ruin their honeymoon.”

      “I see.” Her mother chewed on her lip a moment, and the horizontal lines cleaving her forehead deepened. “It’s only... Michelle and her three kids just moved back. She caught Benny cheating on her. Again. And your brother Martin lost his job, so I put him up in the basement. Keith still hasn’t moved out, so...”

      “You don’t have room for me.”

      “I’d put you up on the couch, only Keith’s friend Steve is sleeping on it. They’re starting up a medicinal cannabis operation.”

      “Cannabis?” Katlynn echoed, noticing grow lights piled in the hall along with clay pots.

      Her mother nodded, pride lighting her eyes. “He’s finally found something he’s passionate about. Said it’s his calling. Plus, it’ll help lots of people. Who would have thought your brother would go into farming? Once he gets the plants started, he’ll transfer them into the field behind the corn. Says they grow better in the middle of another crop.”

      “You realize cannabis is the scientific name for marijuana, right?”

      Her mother’s eyes bulged. “Like the drug?”

      “Just like it.”

      “That bugger...” Red flamed in Ma’s cheeks. “And here I told the church knitting group all about it. They’re fixing to be Keith’s first customers, after me, since he said it’s good for arthritis. Now what’ll I tell ’em?”

      “Plans changed. Plus, it’s legal in Colorado. Just make sure Keith has a license to sell it.”

      Her ma sank back into the couch. “How’d you get so smart?”

      “It’s genetic.” Katlynn kissed her mother’s cheek and rose.

      A baby wailed, a startled cry as if waking from a nap. With a heave, her mother freed herself from the sofa and stood. “Shoot. That’s Frankie. I watch the kids during the day while Michelle’s at work. She got a promotion, you know. Heading up the bakery section at the grocery store.”

      Katlynn smiled at her mother. She took equal pride in her children’s accomplishments, no matter what they did. How strange to be treated like everyone else. No one rushing to compliment her, fetch her favorite drink, roll out the red carpet... If she’d expected a big fuss, a celebration to welcome the returning, prodigal child, she was very mistaken.

      Yet it didn’t hurt like she’d imagined. Instead, the sense of being no one special, out of the limelight’s glare, loosened her muscles and made her breathe easier, despite her evil shapewear. “Michelle was always the best at birthday cakes.”

      The baby’s wails escalated into a screech.

      “I’ll be by tomorrow, if that’s okay.”

      “Anytime,