All Chapters of The Love Barn: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Scarlett DRAGGED HERSELF inside her house.Today's wedding had gone so much better than yesterday's. The bride glowed. The groom cried. There'd been so much love in the ceremony Scarlett had found herself reaching for a tissue.The only way it would have been better was if Garth wasn't around. He was seriously a black rain cloud of despair lately. She could hardly stand being around him. He sucked all the joy and happiness out of her life by virtue of worrying to death about everything.She toed off her dress cowboy boots, leaving them by the door, and collapsed on her sofa.Tomorrow she was going to sleep in and then maybe see what to do about her destroyed garden. It was still early enough to replant a few things. But if she didn't improve the fence what was the point?She pulled out her phone.One missed text from Ingrid.Scarlett nearly groaned. Kasima and Ingrid had descended on her house as soon as she'd gotten home last night to demand an account of her evening wit

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

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

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

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