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Chapter 194
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The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 195
"Mom, Dad, so good to see you," Janelle said, as she lugged her bags to the back of the car. Her dad popped the trunk, and she loaded them inside. "I'm so glad you were able to pick me up." She climbed into the back seat."Of course, no problem at all. We want to hear all about your trip and why you cut it so short," her mother said in a stern voice. "You didn't really get your money's worth from what I can figure.""I have so much to tell you. Have you had dinner yet?""Yes, we have. You know we eat at six o'clock sharp." Her mother glanced at her with a "did-you-forget" expression."Yes, I do know. I was going to treat.""Well, if you'd given us more notice, maybe we could have planned on that.""So, let's wait till we get to the house and can sit in the living room and talk, "Janelle suggested, as she relaxed in the back seat; her to-do list churned in her head."That's fine. Your father has to concentrate on driving now anyway. The traffic is awful this time of night,
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 196
It was late in the evening when Carter sat at his desk in the barn office, staring into his empty cup. What had happened to Janelle? He hadn't seen her for two days, not coming and not going and definitely not in the barn. Maybe she was embarrassed because of Pete, but he'd told her he'd fired him. So, where was she? Why no baked goods and coffee for breakfast or any time of day? He hadn't been eating dinner with Chase and Lauren, too hard to be around Janelle."Carter, here you are." Chase poked his head through the office doorway."Hey, come on in." Carter pushed back his chair and stood."I've been meaning to talk to you, see how you're doing," Chase said, taking a seat in front of the desk and placing his ankle on one other knee."The ranch is doing great. Coming along like we planned," Carter answered. He shifted his feet."I do have a question though.""Shoot.""Do you know what Janelle is up to? I haven't seen her in two days, and she had been bringing coffee and b
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 197
Carter loved working with the horses, so he stayed busy. Satan and Midnight were doing well, and for stallions that was saying something. He'd boarded a couple of mares to be bred, and that was happening tomorrow. He'd sent a ranch hand after some supplies earlier when he saw Lauren leave with the baby.Dinner hadn't been the same with them since Janelle left, and he kept waiting, watching, expecting her to jump out from around a corner. When Lauren parked the car later, he wondered if she'd heard from Janelle. He headed her way, but she hurried into the house. Chase brought the truck around and went inside as well. Carter stood at the barn door and wondered what was going on. He was about ready to see if everything was okay when Chase came out of the house carrying a trunk. Lauren followed with a floor lamp.Carter walked over to the truck. "Need any help?"Lauren shrugged. "Yeah, I do, if you wouldn't mind. I have a recliner I need some help getting down and onto the truck."
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 198
Janelle opened the door, stepped aside, and, with a sweeping motion with her arm, said, "Please come in."Carter entered and Janelle closed the door. She scrutinized his face as his eyes swept across the room on a three-hundred-sixty-degree circle. But he gave nothing away."Carte-" she began."No. Let me get this off my chest. I can't wait anymore.""Okay, take a seat. Can I get you a drink?" she asked.He backed up and sat in the recliner then slid to one side and motioned for her to join him in the oversized chair. Janelle didn't wait for a second invitation and quickly squeezed in beside him."Let me explain to you about Tory. I met her for the first time when you did at my mother's for dinner. She only came to the ranch the next day to thank me for listening to her ramble on about her boyfriend, who, by the way, arrived the next day and convinced her to marry him. They're now in Miami, planning a wedding."Janelle coughed and fiddled with her collar; a tingling swept
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 199
VOLUME SEVEN: A SADDLE CREEK CHRISTMAS COLLECTION 2Book 1: A New Diner for ChristmasSusan Malloy glanced at her longtime friend, Lori Witherite, sitting across from her at a glass table on the lanai. A warm morning ocean breeze flipped her hair off her face while she sipped an iced coffee."It sure is beautiful here in Florida. I love it." Susan pushed her hair behind her ears."Yes, it is, and you've worked so hard for too many years not to enjoy it year-round." Lori smoothed the tablecloth."But what about the summer? I'm not sure I'm cut out for such humidity for so long. Yesterday afternoon was too hot for me, and it's only May. I must have really thick blood." Susan grinned. "I'll be inside most of the year," she complained then took a long drink of iced coffee."Nothing wrong with looking at this view through the window, is there?" Lori beckoned to the tumbling ocean waves."No, that's true, but what about my lifelong friends in Saddle Creek? They're like family t
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 200
A week later, Susan opened the door to the Saddle Creek sheriff's office. When Mitch peeked around the corner of his office doorway, his face lit up. Susan opened her arms, needing a hug from a familiar face at home. After the embrace, she said, "It's so good to see you, Mitch. I was so excited to get back here, I almost got my first ever speeding ticket.""It's good to see you, too, Susan. Sorry about the ticket but it's for your own safety." Mitch smiled."And the cop reduced it to a warning since it was her first one ever," Lori interjected. "Suse, you have to tell the whole story. Good thing I was there with you or you'd still be bawling along the side of the road."Mitch, this loud-mouthed broad is my best friend since we were kids, Lori Witherite. we're ready to get back to work. Oh, Lori, this is Sheriff Mitch Rogers."Lori and Mitch shook hands."Are you going to sell the diner or revive it?" Mitch stretched his arms above his head."We're going to make it better th
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 201
John Davis, Mitch's uncle, sat on the porch, his foot touching the floor every so often to keep the rocker moving. The noise from the night bugs filled the cool air with a sense of peace, and the country farm smell of the horses in the barn was a relaxing elixir. He missed his wife Elizabeth of almost fifty years. She'd been good to him, took care of him, but they never had any children. He had no one to give his last name to, let alone any legacy. When he died, the Davis name would end.Their home, or his home in Montana was too lonely and had too many reminders of their long and mostly happy life together. Everywhere he saw her handicrafts: the curtains she made for the kitchen window, the embroidered pillowcases, the afghan she'd crocheted to cover her feet on cold winter nights.It had only been a few months since he'd laid her to rest, but it seemed like years. She'd died inside when she received the diagnosis of terminal cancer about six months ago. She'd said her goodbyes th
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 202
The banker, Janet Trumpey, did a double take and then waved to Susan. Susan knew her from years of banking with her. Janet was a small woman, dark brown wavy hair and hazel eyes. Always neatly dressed and very professional, Janet was also known for a kind heart but only after thorough scrutiny and jumping through hoops. She was very empathetic, Susan remembered and hoped she'd consider using the diner and property for collateral, otherwise-"Hi, Susan, come on in." Janet offered her a chair. Susan was always surprised by how clean and uncluttered they kept their desks. There wasn't even a sticky pad to take a note on."How have you been?" Janet closed her door and sat behind the wooden desk in a large leather chair."I've been good. You've probably heard more than I have about the diner's closure, so I've come back to do it all over again. The next time I sell it, it'll be to someone with a credible reputation." Susan twisted her purse straps."Yes, I did hear, and I must say e
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