Page 48 of A Cowboy's Trust

“And there’s a small town for you,” Kevin murmured. “Anywhere else that would be considered tampering with the post.”

“Here it’s calledMrs. Marcy’s Too Lazy To Get Off Her Ass And Do Her Job.” Tansy coughed into her fist. “Excuse me. Did I say that in my outside voice?”

Jake took the envelope, eyeing it with curiosity. “I have no idea who would send me mail that doesn’t already know our address?—”

Shit. One glance at the handwriting and he knew immediately. It was from Melissa.

He shoved it in his pocket, ignoring the questioning gaze Tansy gave him.

A second later, distraction arrived from the bedroom portion of the house. Heads turned as Logan stepped into the open doorway.

“Good to see you out and about.” Sydney stood and marched forward. She was a good six inches shorter than the young man but seemed to tower over him as she looked him up and down. Nodding once, she gestured to the table. “If you’re hungry, I’m sure we can find something for you.”

“More than soup?” The kid sounded hopeful.

“Whatever the doctor okays, I’ll make it for you,” Tansy offered. She leaned in and placed her hand on Jake’s thigh, speaking quietly. “We’ll all be busy today, but save me a spot on the loveseat by the fire tonight? I promise to be in a cuddling mood.”

Christ. He needed to set up their next date, stat. Yet, everyone’s attention right now was on the wedding happening in two days’ time.

So he took what he could and whispered right back. “I’ll put it at the top of my to-do list.”

12

The hammer glanced off the finishing nail and smacked into Jake’s thumb. He cursed enthusiastically, shaking his hand as he stomped away from the trim hanging at a slant off his bedroom closet.

That’s what he got for not having his mind on the task.

It wasn’t the fact that Aiden and Petra were right now somewhere off getting hitched on the sly that had his thoughts tumbling like straw in the wind.

Well, not totally that. Damn Melissa?—

He hauled the letter out of his pocket again for the fiftieth time, wondering why he continued to torment himself.

Hey, you,

It’s been a while, but I had this feeling we needed to touch base. I think this is your new hometown—hope it’s everything you’ve ever dreamed of. You deserve to find a sweet place that appreciates you.

You’ve always been a small-town guy at heart. I know there were things that we didn’t see eye to eye on, but I always loved how you wanted to be a part of something intimate and close-knit. Somewhere you could connect withyourpeople. I admired that about you, even while I complained about it.

Stupid, right? That I could see what made you special, yet I didn’t tell you often enough how wonderful it was.

Anyway, I’ll be traveling later this year and would love to stop by, even if it’s only for a coffee. Let me know what works for you.

Lots of love,

Melissa

Nope. Even after re-reading it this many times, it still made no sense. The entire letter read as if she’d done a complete mental rearrangement of their past. Not once during the bits of correspondence they’d exchanged over the past years had she ever asked to meet, and she’d certainly never tossed off the word love.

Enough was enough. If he was serious about committing to the thing between him and Tansy, then it was past time to properly shut some doors.

His thumb throbbing, Jake grabbed writing supplies and an envelope.

Small towns have a charm to them, I agree.

I gave it some thought. Meeting up isn’t a good idea. You and I chose to go in different directions, and that’s how it should stay.

I wish you well, but don’t write to me anymore.