A Rancher's Vow by Vivian Arend

Author:Vivian Arend [Arend, Vivian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arend Publishing Inc.

13

Charity was still feeling a little unsettled the next morning when she put through a call to Chelsea. Partly because of the image of her and Dustin looking too much like a couple. Partly because her desire kept growing for the pretend story they’d started to inch closer to reality.

A nice catch up with Chelsea would help.

Her sister answered the phone with a yawn and a fuzzy, “Whatsup?”

Charity laughed. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d be awake by now.”

“Suz had a late shift, and I waited up for her. You home?”

“Got back yesterday. Successful time away, both for my job and mostly riding out the weird gossip about Dustin.”

Chelsea hummed. “I watched the story evolve over the past few days—Dustin’s not online much, is he?”

“No. He mostly spent a lot of time shaking his head this past week while people told him what was being said.”

“Good for him for keeping it separate. Did you look?”

Charity considered. “Only enough to remind me how much I don’t like having things online that are out of my control.”

“I hear you, kiddo. But it does seem as if the mess is settling nicely. I saw mention of him having a girlfriend, so that’ll help.”

Oh no. Charity searched her brain but couldn’t remember what she’d told her sister. “Um…about that girlfriend.”

“Why do you sound guilty?”

Because big sisters had built in bullshit monitors? “I could have sworn I told you, but I’m the girlfriend. I mean, I’m the pretend girlfriend.”

“Tee.” The scolding and the worry in Chelsea’s tone was loud and clear.

“I know. It made sense at the time, I swear.”

“You’re a menace. And I hope to hell you know what you’re doing.” Chelsea sighed heavily. “Next topic, we’ve set our holidays. Suz and I have Tuesday night to Friday off, second week of July. Suz’s first shift back starts at six on Friday night, so we’ll come and hang out for a couple days then drive home Friday, no problem.”

“Perfect. I’ll arrange with Silver Stone to switch my weekend for those days. Oh, and Dustin says we can borrow horses and he’ll take us riding while you’re here.”

“Oh, really?”

“He’s a good guy, Cee. Should I tell him you’re interested?”

“Of course, we’re interested.” Chelsea paused. “You’re a grown up, Tee, so I won’t ask things that are none of my business, but I will say this; if you need me, I’m there. You need anything, I’m there.”

“Back atcha, sis. I love you, but everything is okay, really. And I’m looking forward to time with you two in a few weeks.”

They said their goodbyes, then Charity got back into the routine of her life. A tidy of her apartment, a trip to the grocery store to restock a few items. Ordinary, everyday things.

She missed having Dustin to talk with.

No—not a place she would allow her mind to go. Instead, she sped up her pace on the walk home from the store, hauling her groceries with her in the rolling basket she used.

A long, low whistle sounded to her left.

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