The Cowboy's Accidental Baby. Marin Thomas

be home to you and a handful of ghosts.”

      His grandfather closed the door and leaned his head out the open window. “I’d rather this place become a ghost town than have a bunch of strangers and hooligans roaming the streets.”

      “There’s only one street and your grandsons were the last bunch of ruffians to run wild around here. There’s been no vandalism since—” Amelia nodded to Gunner “—he spray-painted images of bare-breasted women on the back of the Woolworth building.”

      Lydia smiled. “Maybe Gunner would like to paint a mural on the wall outside the motel office.”

      Gunner dragged a hand over his face. He’d never live down that bad decision. The two geriatrics continued bickering like kids fighting in a sandbox and he worried one of them might suffer a stroke.

      “You don’t know when to leave well enough alone, Amelia.” Emmett turned the key in the ignition. When the engine backfired, the two women jumped inside their skin.

      Amelia shook her fist in Emmett’s face. “You used to be fun. Now you’re just a grumpy old man.”

      When had his grandfather ever been fun?

      Emmett put the truck in Reverse and Amelia stomped back to her car. She started to back out of her spot but slammed on the brakes when Emmett cut her off. She laid on the horn. Emmett waved her to go first. She waved back at him. After two false starts and stops, Amelia headed for the highway, Emmett’s pickup inches from her bumper. Then she slammed on her brakes at the entrance and Emmett swerved in order to miss hitting her car.

      He stuck his head out the window and shouted, “It’s Sunday! What are you waiting for? Monday?”

      Amelia turned left onto the highway and headed toward town. Emmett turned right and headed away from town. After the vehicles disappeared from sight, Gunner said, “What the hell just happened?”

      “I have no idea.”

      He opened his mouth to ask about the plans Lydia had drawn on her computer when Hector and Maybelle rode into view on Red. Hector stopped the horse in front of Gunner and held out a twenty-dollar bill, then turned Red east and rode off.

      “Gunner?”

      “What?”

      “I appreciate the offer, but I won’t be needing your help with the renovations.”

      “I know.”

      “So you’ll stay out of the way and let me do my job?”

      Lydia looked so hopeful that he almost caved in. “Sorry. You’re stuck with me.”

      “I was afraid you’d say that.”

      “When do we start?” he asked.

      “As soon as I come up with a design my aunt likes.” She walked to her car and retrieved her cell phone from her purse. “Give me your number.”

      He recited the digits and she entered them into her phone. “Are all of the rooms set up the same as number 3?”

      “Yep.”

      “I’ll be in touch shortly.” She got into her car and drove off.

      Gunner stood in the empty parking lot long after the Civic disappeared. The dairyland princess wasn’t his usual type, but her presence around the motel was bound to liven things up.