Page 70 of A Cowboy's Bride

“How on earth?” she mumbled, staring down at the calendar in front of her.

Tansy raised a brow. “What’s up, P?”

Petra sat back in her chair at the table. “How is it almost the end of October already?”

The other two ladies at the table, Sydney and Julia, both frowned.

Julia leaned forward. “Well, there’s this big yellow thing that rises in the sky called the sun. And every time it disappears?—”

“Ha-ha, very funny,” Petra complained, still staring at her Day-Timer in disbelief.

From her right, Sydney laid a hand on Petra’s wrist. “Is there a particular reason you’re glaring at that calendar with considerable concern?”

When three faces stared intently at her, Petra finally clued in.

Shit. She shook her head vigorously. “Oh, no. No, no, no, there’s nothing calendar based that I’m worried about. Other than it’s been a month and a half already.”

Understanding dawned on Tansy’s face. “Since you moved into High Water.”

“Since Jinx arrived and I moved into High Water.” And since she started sleeping with Aiden, but she didn’t announce that part, although it was equally shocking.

Equally satisfying, if she was being honest, at least with herself.

Her sister-in-law raised a brow. “Is there some timeline we’re not aware of that’s causing you distress? Are they planning on kicking you out at some point?”

“Or did you hope tobeout by some point?” Sydney asked quietly.

“None of the above.” Petra scooped up a large chunk of her pecan pie and shoved it in her mouth so she’d have some time to think.

She didn’t want to leave—the time watching Jinx bloom had become a miracle in itself. Add on how much fun she was having helping now that they’d begun adding paint and trim to the artists’ rooms, and Petra’s days were filled with a lot of enjoyment.

Her nights were filled with just as much fun, courtesy of that shared bed with a certain enthusiastic and creative lover.

Why was time passing so shocking?

“You do need to swallow at some point,” Sydney said dryly.

“Not necessarily,” Tansy offered. “Spitting is a valid option.”

Julia snorted so hard tea came out her nose. “Tansy Fields, you’re terrible.”

“What did I say?” Tansy blinked innocently.

Petra wiped her mouth with a napkin, grinning easily at her bevy of friends. “I love you guys.”

Tansy waved it off. “We know that. Now spill the dirt. What’s so important about a month and a half?”

She tried, but nothing came to mind other than a cold pit sat in the middle of her stomach, and Petra wasn’t sure why. She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

They all eyed her with concern before easing back in their chairs.

“Okay, fine,” Julia offered firmly. “I get it. Sometimes things won’t pop to mind when you’re trying to figure it out. But as soon as it does, tell us.”

“Of course,” Petra promised.

“In the meantime,” Julia sipped her tea then stared up at the ceiling. “Let’s talk abouttwelveweeks.”

Petra glanced at her calendar again, trying to decide what?—