Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range Danica Favorite (warren buffett book recommendations .txt) 📖

Miss Mary.” Josie’s eyes sparkled, and Mary couldn’t help grinning back. The girl had picked a lovely green to border her white dress. Mary had sewn it together and added matching bows.

“You’re welcome, my sweet girl. Ask my mother if she can put your bows on.”

“Okay.” She skipped out of the room, her new Mary Janes tapping a happy tune.

These snickerdoodles were the last batch. She popped one that had cooled in her mouth, then set about searching for a basket to put them in. She sneaked a few into a hankie for the ride to Horn’s and arranged the rest neatly.

Once done, she found Josie jabbering away to Rose, who sat with a smile on her face. The creases in her skin seemed less deep somehow, as though weight had gone from her soul.

Mary smiled and crossed the room. “It’s time to go. Are you sure you won’t come, Mother?”

“I am certain. Perhaps I’ll take a rest.”

Her mother woke early now, perhaps because she’d spent more than the first half of her life sleeping through sunrises and well into the afternoon. Mary nodded and guided Josie toward the door.

“We’ll be home in the afternoon.”

Rose nodded, and her eyes slipped closed.

As Mary shut the door to the house, she heard Josie shriek, “Mister Lou!”

She barely caught the girl by a pigtail as Lou’s fancy Ford pulled up to the porch.

“Hop in, ladies.” He winked at them. “I’ll be your chauffeur today.”

Josie squealed with delight. Mary frowned but helped the little girl into the car. She settled where Rose had sat yesterday.

Even now, a day later, it was a strange sensation to know she’d done something out of the ordinary, that she’d risked Lou’s disapproval to do what she felt was right. But it had also been empowering and thrilling. For some reason, he’d allowed her to load her mother into his Ford and bring her back to the ranch.

Perhaps he’d felt bad for her at the time. After all, she’d brought up her past, and she knew the things she’d gone through caused him grief. She didn’t wish to use her past to get her way, however.

“You coming?” He beeped his horn, making her start. Her basket tilted.

“If these snickerdoodles spill...” she warned.

“Yes, ma’am.” He shot her that grin of his.

Mouth tight to cover the ratcheting speed of her pulse, she scurried to the passenger side and loaded up. The trip to Horn’s homestead took almost an hour, thanks to the bumpy, rutted road. A horse could handle the trek much faster. Josie and Lou kept up a stream of chatter while Mary attempted to darn an old sock. A useless endeavor considering the uneven terrain. Finally, they arrived. Josie bounced in the back as she waited for Mary to exit the car. As soon as she stepped foot outside, Josie escaped, slipping past her and running toward Horn’s place.

Families milled around, unpacking lunches beneath the shaded trees.

“Josie, come back.”

“Aww.” She sped back, though. A good listener.

Mary handed her the blanket she’d brought. “Could you please find a place for us to sit? And if you see Mr. Horn, let him know I’ll be there shortly.”

“Okeydokey!” Josie popped a smile and snatched the blanket. She ran toward the other kids, who played near a sturdy elm. She was easy to see from this distance.

“She’s going to get dirty quick,” Lou remarked.

“I know.” Mary smiled. “You may pick us up in four hours or so.”

His head cocked to the side. Morning light danced in his eyes. “Thought I’d stay and keep an eye on things.”

“Surely you do not believe Josie’s uncle will find his way here?”

He shrugged. “Better safe than sorry. If he did, we’d spot him right away. Either way, it’s my job to keep an eye on the girl until we get her home safe to her ma.”

“Of course,” she said, refusing to dwell on the disappointment that filled her at his words. “Come along. You know many of these people, I believe. At least by face.”

“But I plan on sticking close to you.” He winked again, and a flush warmed her skin. “May I carry your basket?”

She allowed him to take it. Not knowing what to say, she picked her way toward the picnic area. Neighbors had spread their blankets in a grassy area beneath a sprawling elm. Children frolicked in the grass, shrieking and laughing. Josie ran amidst them, her giggles lost within the group.

“They having a service today?” Lou asked beside her.

“Probably a little something.” Did he sound worried? She glanced at him and saw that he did indeed look unnaturally tense. “Mr. Horn is easy on the ears.”

“Not worried about that.”

“What, then?”

“There you are!” Miss Alma’s bright voice cut off anything he planned to say next. “I shall take your wonderful desserts. I saw that darling girl of yours. Is she an orphan?”

“No.” Was it horrible to wish she was? Battling a sense of guilt, Mary gestured to the basket. “I hope they’ll do.”

“Of course they will. Now, did you bring James?”

“No...”

“Tsk, tsk. I needed to speak with the man.” Miss Alma whisked the basket from Lou, barely offering him a glance before tottling off toward the tables set up near the trees.

“She’s a bundle of energy, huh?”

“You really don’t have to stay.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. For how long had she been praying Lou would attend service? Maybe there’d even been a secret hope inside that he’d change his views on God, soften a bit. She’d never had the nerve to pray out loud for meals until his niece, Gracie, had come. That had been how ornery both James and Lou became, though James tended to approach the mention of God in a more intellectual manner.

But Lou closed up completely. All emotion, much like Trevor. As though he’d been hurt. She sidled a look toward him. The breeze ruffled through his hair. He caught her staring and gave her a tight smile.

“I’m staying,” he said. “There’s no