Cowboy Underneath It All by Delores Fossen Page B

delivered today, so I’m sure he’s busy with that.”
    Eliza hadn’t heard about the cow delivery. But then she’d avoided just about everyone, so she was out of the immediate gossip loop.
    â€œHe got the cows from Charlene?” Eliza asked.
    Misty wasn’t a fool, and she no doubt quickly connected the dots. “I think so, but don’t read anything into that. Maybe Kane just made her a good offer.”
    Yeah, or else Charlene now believed that Kane was hers for the taking. Kane wouldn’t go along with that. At least, Eliza didn’t think he would, but maybe being part of the lying scandal had sent him into another woman’s arms.
    Charlene’s arms would have been open and waiting.
    There was a light knock at the door, and just like that, Eliza’s heart went into overdrive. Maybe Kane had come after all... But it was her mother. Not that she didn’t want to see her. She did. But it was still a little hard for Eliza to face her.
    â€œI’m going to run to the little girls’ room,” Misty said. She must have sensed that Eliza’s mother wanted a moment alone with her. Since the bathroom was just one wall away, though, she’d likely be able to hear everything anyway.
    Her mother smiled as if Eliza were a vision instead of a pathetic liar in a cow dress. “You look beautiful. Well, except for those eyes. You haven’t been crying, have you?”
    â€œHappy tears.” It was another lie. Sheez. They were just rolling off her tongue these days.
    â€œGood. I’m glad you’re happy.” She put her hands on Eliza’s shoulders. “But I wanted you to know that you don’t have to be happy with Brett.”
    No lie needed here. “I won’t be. It doesn’t matter how many things Violet invites him to, I won’t be getting back together with him.”
    â€œI see.” She paused. “And what about Kane?”
    Since they probably only had a couple of minutes before the ceremony started, Eliza considered another quick lie. One to assure her mother that all would be well with or without Kane. But that lie wasn’t rolling off her tongue. It was just sort of stuck there in her throat.
    â€œI know,” her mother whispered. She brushed a kiss on her cheek. “I recognize the signs of a woman in love. But then you’ve always been a little in love with Kane, haven’t you?”
    â€œAlways,” she admitted. “And it’s always been more than just a little.”
    Her mother nodded. “That’s the way I was with your father.”
    Yes, Eliza had heard all about love at first sight; her parents had been in the fourth grade. The love had stayed strong for all these thirty-five years.
    â€œBut you never had to let people believe you were in a fake relationship,” Eliza reminded her. “A relationship that turned real. For one night anyway. I upset Dad and you—”
    â€œYou surprised us,” her mother interrupted. “That’s all. You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me, Eliza. And you don’t have to shelter me from anything. I really am doing better, and none of this affected me as much as you seem to think it has.”
    Eliza searched her mom’s eyes to make sure that wasn’t BS. It wasn’t. That was something at least. “You certainly seemed...affected yesterday morning when I got home from Kane’s.”
    â€œI was upset because Violet was upset, but it didn’t last. As you see.”
    Yes, she could see. And Eliza couldn’t blame her folks for being shocked that she would do something like that. She’d shocked Kane, too. And herself.
    Her mother dropped another kiss on her cheek and checked the time. “I want to look in on your sister before we all walk down the aisle. Misty, you can come on out, since it’s time for Eliza and you to get in your places anyway.” Her mother winked because she