LOGINShare
Chapter 12: Scarlett
Last Updated:
2022-11-24 14:09:48Related chapters
The Love Barn Chapter 13: Cole
Cole SCRAWLED HIS signature on one last piece of paper.That might be it.He scrubbed a hand over his face and glanced at the clock on the wall.The clinic had closed half an hour ago. He had about an hour before he needed to be at Times Remembered Antiques. Bunny and the other grannies had convinced him to help pitch in for some kind of homecoming preparation. He'd been to a few school dances over the years, but the sense of anticipation surrounding the event wasn't normal by his standards. Whatever was coming, he was certain he wasn't ready for it.Two voices drifted down the hall.Cole cocked his head to the side.Were the techs still there?They didn't have any patients overnight so there was no reason for the techs to still be there after the clinic was closed.He hung his white coat on the back of his chair, gathered his things then headed for the back of the clinic. Two of the techs had their heads together over a box. A box that was making some very pitiful nois
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 14: Scarlett
Scarlett HAD CONSIDERED not showing up for the annual mum making night at the antique store. No one had asked her and it wasn't like she'd promised or signed up for it. But she'd helped out every year since the L.O.L.'s began their tradition.But this time, Cole would be there.Ingrid had told her as if that would encourage Scarlett to show up. Truth was, last night's chat with Benji had helped focus Scarlett and bring her wayward imagination to heel.Scarlett parked the Jeep and immediately her eyes landed on Cole's bicycle.She slid her fingers over the knuckles he'd kissed.Yeah, so her imagination was fighting back, but what mattered was what she chose to do. She was in charge of her destiny. No one else.She grabbed her purse then the box of cupcakes she'd picked up on her way into town. People had been forced to decide between pitching in on mum making or parade floats. Most people had opted for the floats, which was why she'd inevitably decided the mum team needed he
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 15: Scarlett
"Did you travel around based on where your dad was staying?" Scarlett wanted to know, but she was scared to ask."No, Mom moved us around depending on which felon she was married to." Cole scrubbed a hand across his jaw and sorted through the glitter letters."What?""You know how some women like to date cops, or firemen or athletes? My mom was like that, but with felons. My dad wasn't so bad in the beginning, but the kind of men she met and got involved with kept getting worse, and worse. That's why we moved around a lot. Sometimes they were in prison and sometimes they weren't."Scarlett dropped her hands into her lap."I haven't seen my dad in...twenty years? I was ten or eleven last time I saw him. I can't believe I'm telling you any of this." He shook his head."You can tell me." She reached over and took his hand, her heart in her throat."Thanks.""Where's your mom now?""Who knows? I cut ties with her when I was twenty after CPS came and took her last three ki
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 16: Cole
Cole PULLED INTO the lot behind the vet clinic and shifted the old land whale of a car into park. Despite the vehicle's age it hadn't rolled over a hundred thousand miles in the decades Sissy had owned it. Or maybe it had and rolled all the way back around for all Cole knew. It ran, and he was appreciative to have something with four wheels for the time being.He'd run late this morning after lying awake for too long last night, replaying that last conversation with Scarlett.She was a woman who knew what she wanted, and it wasn't him. That was honest, and it stung. He wasn't in a place to offer her anything. Backing off was smart. It didn't change the fact that he liked her.He needed to remain focused on his life, his job and finding his siblings.When he'd cut ties with his mother, he hadn't considered the future, what it would be like without a family. He'd just seen a cycle of behavior that hadn't changed in twenty years and couldn't take it anymore. Not with her four mont
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 17: Scarlett
Scarlett HIT PRINT on the event to do list for tomorrow. It was a small affair with zero additional work for her, which was rare.If only she could say the same of their Saturday bride.Just thinking about her made Scarlett want to groan.Benji was right. They needed to have an option for the DIY bride who couldn't actually do it herself. That was when it fell to Scarlett to pull it together. This week alone she'd sourced materials for centerpieces and coordinated where everything was going. She still hadn't responded to the bride's email inquiring if Scarlett could do the assembly for the arrangements.They needed to have more options for decorations of their own.She grabbed her notebook and flipped it open to a fresh page for ideas.It wouldn't be terribly difficult to spot trends. The trick would be convincing Garth it was worth their time. There was also the question of where the things would go.A shadow stretched across the floor.She didn't have a meeting this a
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 18: Cole
Cole PICKED UP the plastic bin of glue and wool.How had he gotten roped into the last minute float making night? And why did a small town need a parade with so many floats?He'd gathered along with others in one of the parking lots by the school. The lights provided light by which they could work on the dozen or so trailers in the fading daylight. A few groups had paired off already and begun the finishing touches on their assignments. Cole glanced in the bucket he'd been handed and didn't quite know what to make of it."Me and you are on the 4-H float." A man clapped Cole on the shoulder. He had brown hair, a generous stubble and familiar light brown eyes.A lot like Scarlett's.The man gestured at a flatbed trailer with a farm scene playing out on the bed. A wooden playhouse had been covered in paper to look like a barn. A horse stood at the front of the trailer and two chicken wire frames sat at the end. The fenders were covered in green clovers, but they tapered off the
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 19: Scarlett
Scarlett PLOPPED DOWN in the lawn chair Kasima had saved for her and breathed a sigh. The Friday homecoming parade was one of the things Scarlett liked about all the festivity. She'd organized her night to allow herself to be here for this."Why did we booked a high maintenance bride this week?" She groaned."Wine cooler?" Kasima offered her a pink beverage."Sure." Scarlett glanced around, but she hadn't spotted the guys. They'd been scarce, no doubt doing their best to avoid getting roped into last-minute preparations for tomorrow. They all enjoyed homecoming.She secretly wondered if Cole would be there. While she didn't have any guilt about drawing the boundary between them, she still wanted the best for him."Have all the fun you can tonight and worry about tomorrow later," Ingrid said."I wish. I have to go home around halftime to try to finish the centerpieces for tomorrow. The bride had this sob story about her sick cat so I spent all morning redirecting deliveries
Last Updated : 2022-11-24The Love Barn Chapter 20: Scarlett
Scarlett stared while others howled in laughter. Sissy waved and flicked the ends of the reins at people as her pony trotted on."How much trouble is she going to get in for that?" Kasima turned, eyes wide."I don't know that she can get in trouble. You don't have to have a license to operate a buggy." Scarlett stood and stared at the caution triangle on the back of Sissy's pony cart.That was going to make quite a stir.They stowed the chairs and coolers in Ingrid's little car, leaving no room for other bodies. But that was okay. Most people parked by the field then walked to Main Street. Their group merged with other familiar faces, all headed toward the field. The others drifted away until it was just her. And Cole.She slid the carnation behind her ear, freeing her hands and wiped her palms on her thighs.Cole was just a guy she knew from town. Just because they had chemistry didn't dictate they become a couple or even explore what it might be like."I'm sorry if I wa
Last Updated : 2022-11-24
Latest chapter
The Love Barn Chapter 167: Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER...SCARLETT SAT STRETCHED OUT on the old, wooden swing content to watch the circus going on over in the flower garden.Mom threw her hands up and said something Scarlett couldn't hear. She chuckled and knew the others were likely beside themselves trying to figure out how to make Mom happy.They all called Noemi's mother Mom now. It just felt right. Garth stood next to Mom, shaking his head at the others. Noemi bent, fussing no doubt over the way the blankets lay or how the bow sat.Benji and Dixie had the whole light kit out and three cameras.All the attention was focused on the bundle of joy currently sleeping soundly in the cradle Garth had carefully restored. It was one of a handful of old things he'd found in the barn and kept. Judging by the initials on the bottom of the old crib, generations of Livelys had slept in that thing.And now so would her baby.Scarlett smiled and sank further into the cushions Cole had set up for her. She was still ex
The Love Barn Chapter 166: Noemi
Noemi WHIPPED HER CAR into the driveway. With it being so early and since everyone had family visiting the street was packed with cars. Garth's truck barely fit in the one open spot.Where the hell was he?What was he doing?Why was he talking to Ángel?A Jeep pulled across the drive behind her, Cole and Scarlett getting out."Why can't you answer your phone?" Scarlett demanded.Noemi threw up her hand as she caught the sound of a deep, rumbling voice."Benji? Hey, we're already here." Scarlett's voice faded as Noemi crept toward the fence and the gate her mother always left open between the two properties.Ángel sat in the swiveling chair at the head of the table on his parent's patio.Garth had a tight grip on one of the other chairs, his back toward her. He was leaning forward, his entire focus on Ángel, who was staring back at Garth like he'd just sprouted a second head or something."You're only going to get one shot at this. If she's decided to give you anothe
The Love Barn Chapter 165: Garth
Garth HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT the hardest thing he'd ever done was bury his parents and accept responsibility for Benji and Scarlett.That had been easy. A simple process and an obvious life altering decision.Neither of those moments had anything on what he was about to do.Garth stood on the front porch of the brick house and glanced to his left, where Noemi was likely sleeping. He hoped that she was getting rest. She never took off except for holidays and if he remembered correctly, she had events this weekend. With any luck, she'd have someone in her corner that would look after her properly.He turned his attention back to the door. There was one of the new, electronic doorbells. He pressed it, listened to the chime and waited.It was early still, but he hadn't been able to make himself wait any longer.After a few moments the locks clanked and the door swung open.Ángel stood on the welcome mat in sweatpants, a T-shirt and a hoodie draped over his shoulders. His hair was
The Love Barn Chapter 164: Noemi
Noemi HADN'T SLEPT ALL night. Most of the time when she wasn't sleeping it was because she was up at all hours trying to pull the last bits of a wedding together. There was purpose to the sleepless nights.All she'd done since getting home around two was sit in the guest chair at her desk and stare at the clear surface. She couldn't claim to have done a lot of thinking in those hours. Mostly she'd sat, stared and let her mind wander. She'd poked at corners she normally ignored, examining her feelings, her thoughts and all the other uncomfortable bits of her life.She excelled at leaving relationships.There were only two men in her life who had ever left her.Her father.And Ángel.Noemi had left every other man before he could get tired of her. She'd known she had the habit, but she hadn't paused to think it through like this until tonight. It was easy to pretend that she didn't have time for men and relationships that weren't going somewhere. She could spin all the excuse
The Love Barn Chapter 163: Garth
Garth GRIPPED THE WHEEL of his truck and drew in a deep breath. He knew it was his imagination. Noemi's perfume wasn't really lingering, he just wished it were.Another car rolled up to the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. Garth waved and pressed the accelerator, heading into town.It was tradition for the guys to meet up at The Hole in town for beers on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Benji had already texted, wondering where he was. Scarlett and the girls were up to something. All the normal things were underway. Except for him.Garth felt stuck. Like he couldn't move.He rolled the problem around in his head as The Hole came into view.The little parking lot was full and people had taken to finding spots along the street. It would no doubt be loud in there, full of people ready to start talking about the Christmas tours, when they were bringing the tractors to Main Street to help decorate and so forth.He just wasn't in the mood.Garth turned the wheel away from the
The Love Barn Chapter 162: Noemi
Noemi KNEW TODAY WASN'T her best work. She'd gone through the whole day in a fog that had nothing to do with the large, Thanksgiving meal she'd eaten yesterday or the Black Friday shopping she'd done that morning.Once again she had to wonder at a bride choosing to have her wedding the day after Thanksgiving. If Noemi was going to have a wedding-No.Not going there.She shook her head and turned her attention back to packing up the arch and removing the flowers. She had about an hour to get the rental pieces ready to go while the wedding party ate dinner. There were still a few things to make sure went off without a hitch. The cake needed cutting and the bride wanted Noemi to keep the speeches short, but there was time before that got started.It felt like she'd lived in a daze the last forty-eight hours.Wednesday night she'd chosen to not go to the annual meal her family had with Ángel's. She couldn't be in the same room with him and act like she wanted to be there. Not
The Love Barn Chapter 161: Garth
Both Garth and Noemi glanced at the door.Benji laughed loudly and a single pair of heavy footsteps came creaking up the stairs mixed with Dixie's softer voice.Noemi covered her mouth with her hand and glanced at Garth. Her eyebrows were almost at her hairline.He just shook his head as something-probably one of the pictures on the landing-clattered to the ground. Another burst of laughter followed by hurried footsteps into Benji's room and the slam of a door."Well, I guess no one knows we're in here," Noemi said dryly."No they do not." Garth put thoughts of his brother out of his mind. It wasn't the first time he'd ignored his brother's antics. "What's really going on, No-No?"She blew out a breath and let go of his hand. For a moment she fussed with her boots, unzipping them and getting more comfortable, sitting cross legged in the middle of his bed. He didn't say anything, just watched her face, how lines developed and went away as she thought through what was botheri
The Love Barn Chapter 160: Garth
Garth STARED DOWN AT where he'd thought he'd seen Noemi.Except Noemi didn't wear flannel. He could count on one hand the number of times he'd seen her wearing jeans and have fingers leftover. But he was fairly certain that had been her."Garth?" Adeline's voice brought him back to the moment.He blinked down at this funny, sweet woman, but she didn't stir anything in him. Not like Noemi."Adeline?" He took her hand in his. "It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope we see you around. Scarlett's intentions introducing us were good, but..."She smiled a knowing smile and turned her hand in his so she could give it a friendly shake. "I can tell. She's a special woman. I appreciate the history lesson.""Thanks, Adeline."If he'd met her at another point in his life, he'd have been interested. But it wasn't the burning connection he'd had with Noemi. Nothing could compare to that.Garth headed for the stairs, taking them two and three at a time. He skirted the tables between
The Love Barn Chapter 159: Noemi
Noemi PARKED HER CAR out on the grass along with all the other cars.She could do this.Hopefully Garth wasn't angry with her. Well, he could be a little angry. She'd deserve that much. She just hoped he'd hear her.Noemi began walking with the crowd, toward the festival clustered around the barn. Her heart gave a twinge as she got closer to the houses.She hadn't told anyone she was showing up, partly because she was nervous and feared she'd chicken out. Through all the jumble of thoughts, the one thing she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that she loved Garth.As the crowd folded her into their midst, Noemi realized there were a lot more people there than she anticipated. How was she going to find Garth in all this?"Noemi?" a familiar voice called out.She turned and saw Scarlett standing with a basket of something hanging from one arm and a toddler perched on her hip looking at Noemi with wide eyes."Hey." Noemi fidgeted with the hem of her T-shirt.Scarlett gr
