Fortune's Heart. Marie Ferrarella

      “You’re exactly right. He’s in denial until he ends up in bed for a few days. Then he takes it slow. A few weeks after that, he thinks it’ll never happen again. But enough of my crankiness. How would you like to go into town and get a burger at the grill? Early dinner?”

      “That sounds like fun, but my parents are going to be at the winter festival all day, so I would have to bring Piper,” she said. When he didn’t immediately respond, she filled the gap of silence. “We can go another time. We don’t have to go today.”

      “No,” he said. “Let’s take her with us. What time will work?”

      “I’d like to get her back on schedule with her afternoon nap. Is four-thirty okay?”

      “Sure. I’ll pick you two ladies up at four-thirty. See you then,” he said and disconnected the call.

      Stacey felt a spurt of excitement and danced around the room with Piper. “We have a date.”

      She spent the morning entertaining Piper, then ran laundry and cooked a big pot of chili in the afternoon. She changed her clothes three times and might have changed them once more if Piper hadn’t awakened. Her brother Jude must have smelled the chili from miles away because he stomped into the house an hour after she’d put it on the stove. Her brothers were at the family dinner table more often than not, despite the fact that they had their own places to live.

      “Thank goodness there’s food,” he said. “I’m starving.” He looked at Stacey and Piper and gave a double take. “You two look as if you’re headed someplace special,” he said.

      Stacey resisted the urge to squirm. “Just going to the grill with a friend,” she said.

      “Rachel?” he asked as he grabbed a bowl from the cabinet.

      She shook her head. “Nope. Do you mind setting that Crock-Pot on low and putting the lid on it if you leave before Mom and Dad get home? I think they should be here within a half hour,” she said.

      “Sure,” he said and grabbed a spoon. “Any crackers or bread?”

      “Crackers are in the cupboard.” A knock sounded at the door, and her heart leaped with silly excitement. “Gotta go.”

      “Hey, you never said who is going with you to the grill,” he said.

      “That’s right,” she said, unable to stifle a little giggle. “I didn’t. See you later,” she said, and ran to the door and threw it open.

      “Hi,” she said, thinking it was ridiculous to be so excited about going to the grill in town. This proved the point that she really needed to get out more often.

      “Hi to you and Miss Piper,” he said. “You’re both looking beautiful. You ready to go?”

      “Thank you, and we are,” she said.

      “I’ll carry Piper to the truck. I see you have the magic tricks bag,” he said, gingerly taking the baby in his arms.

      “It goes wherever Piper goes,” she said. “Listen, do you mind if we take my car? I’ve already got the safety seat, and it’ll be easier to keep it in there than switch it from my car to yours again.”

      “Good plan,” he said. “It didn’t occur to me.”

      “Probably because you haven’t spent a lot of time with babies,” she said.

      “My mistake,” Colton said. “The education of Colton Foster continues. I’ll let you fasten her into that contraption,” he said after he carefully set Piper into the seat.

      As usual, Piper complained about the confinement, and Stacey distracted her. Within a couple moments the baby calmed.

      “Have you ever tried to take her on a road trip?” he asked.

      “Not unless you call the hour drive to Lubbock a road trip,” she said. “She’s really not a bad rider, but I wonder if she might get fed up with it after several hours. I have visions of throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the backseat to keep her amused.”

      “I think my parents must have done that when we took a trip to Dallas one time, although my Dad wouldn’t put up with any foolishness when we got older.”

      “My father is the same way, maybe even more so,” she said. “Deke Jones is a stand-up guy, but I have to admit that he didn’t join me for any tea parties when I was a little girl. He was too busy for that.”

      “It’s funny the things we remember. My mother showed up for most of my basketball games, but my father only came to a few each season. I always knew they both loved me, and that’s what’s important,” he said.

      “Very true,” she said. “Now that I’ve had Piper, though, I find myself wishing she had everything I had growing up and more.”

      “Like what?” he asked.

      “She has some of it,” Stacey said. “A safe, warm home and family who love her, but—” She broke off, feeling self-conscious.

      “But what?”

      “Nothing,” she said, feeling her face grow warm with embarrassment. “You’ll think I’m crazy.”

      “No. I won’t. Tell me.”

      Stacey smiled and shook her head. “I’m hoping I can talk one of her uncles into having a couple tea parties with her,” she said. “I think it’s good for little girls to have good men who are involved in their lives.”

      “I’m sure you’re right about that,” he said. “What do little girls eat at tea parties, anyway? I can’t believe they like tea.”

      “Juice and cookies,” she said.

      “That’s not all that bad,” he said.

      “No. It’s the little chairs and pretending that makes it tough for a grown man,” she said.

      “Which of your brothers have you targeted for this?” he asked.

      “I have a year or two before the parties will begin,” Stacey said. “But I’m thinking Toby would be a natural. He’s already a foster father. If not him, I may be able to con Jude into the job, especially if Piper serves something I’ve made.”

      “Sounds as if you’re planning ahead,” he said.

      “Once I had Piper, I couldn’t just think about the moment anymore. I had to think about the future, too.”

      “Is that why you seem sad sometimes?” he asked.

      Stacey looked at him in surprise. “You think I seem sad?”

      “Well, different. You used to seem happier,” he said.

      She thought about that for a moment. “I worry more,” she confessed as he pulled into the small parking lot for The Horseback Hollow Grill.

      He cut the engine and turned to her. “No worrying for the next couple of hours,” he told her. “After all, you’re about to eat a gourmet meal with the handsomest guy in Horseback Hollow,” he joked.

      Stacey smiled. The gourmet meal was a stretch, but she was beginning to think that Colton was the best man in Horseback Hollow. She wondered why she’d never noticed until now.

       Chapter Eight

      “Oooh, what a cute baby,” the server at The Grill said, then glanced at Stacey and Colton. “What a good-looking family. I bet you hear that all the time. I’m Maureen, and I’m new here in Horseback Hollow.” Her gaze returned to Piper. “Look at that chin,” she said, tickling it. “Just like Daddy’s. Now, what can I get for you today?”

      “Burger loaded and hot chocolate,” Colton said. “What about you?”