wanted to save her from pain ages ago. This visit to the town of Groom was just a fluke. But she might as well enjoy it as long as she could.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Anne turned to Maggie and offered a smile. Maggie responded by wrapping Anne in her arms and giving her another warm hug. Strange… Though she’d never met the woman until today, it felt as if they’d been friends forever. And as Maggie whispered, “So happy to share my home with you, sweet girl,” Anne found her eyes filled with tears once again. She swiped them away, forced a smile, and followed the others into the house.
Chapter Six
Beef, chicken, fish…what’s your pleasure? You name it, we’ve got it in abundance in the Texas Panhandle. I’ve had the rare privilege of traveling north to south, east to west, in search of some of the greatest food this corner of Texas has to offer. In Amarillo I dined on buffalo steak. It was fried catfish in Cisco. The sirloin couldn’t be beat in Groom, and the home-made chili left me begging for more in Abilene. Still, nothing compares to the luscious banana pudding lovingly made by a certain pretty gal I eventually asked to marry me over in Carson County. She takes the prize, at least in my book. And speaking of the prize, keep an eye out for those ladies in Dumas. I hear they’re cooking up something special for this year’s county fair. — “Tex” Morgan, reporting for the Panhandle Primer
Maggie talked a mile a minute as she stepped inside the ranch house. Anne followed her, gasping as she took in the beautiful home. Though a bit more rustic in design, its size rivaled their house in Denver. And she’d never seen such beautiful woodwork.
“Jake, just leave their bags here for now,” Maggie instructed, her words coming faster now. “I’ll show these precious girls around, and they can decide on their rooms.” She led them from one bedroom to the next, chattering all the way. Anne liked the feel of the place. Maggie’s fingerprints were all over this house.
The strangest sense of nostalgia came over Anne as she took in her new surroundings. She felt the sting of tears in her eyes. In the years since Mama’s death, she’d been strong in nearly every sense of the word. What other choice did she have? But in this moment, walking from room to room with a total stranger, Anne felt more vulnerable than she had in years. How could a place she’d never seen until today feel like home? And how could she stop the emotions that threatened to barrel over her as she considered that possibility?
Anne squared her shoulders and kept walking, determined to keep things under control.
“This first bedroom was where the twins slept when they were young.” Maggie flashed a smile as she glanced Anne’s way. “Since you’re the oldest, maybe you would like this space. It’s a bit larger than the other rooms.”
“That would be lovely.”
“Jakey, c’mon in here with the bags, please.” Maggie placed her hands on her ample waist as she hollered out the instructions. “This is where…” She paused and shook her head. “Land sakes, I didn’t even ask your name.”
“Anne. I’m Anne Denning, and these are my sisters, Emily and Kate.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Maggie turned back to the door. “Jakey, bring Anne’s bags in here. She’s the pretty one with the beautiful brown curls.”
At once Anne felt her face turn hot. Gracious. Were people in Texas really this forward? Besides, she’d never thought of herself as pretty, so that woman’s words didn’t even fit.
Jake arrived a few seconds later, carrying her bag. As their eyes met, she shifted her gaze back to the room to keep from staring at him. Why she hadn’t noticed his boyish dimples before? Likely because he hadn’t flashed such an appealing smile till now.
“Let’s keep moving,” Maggie said. “Plenty of house left to see.” She led the way to another bedroom. As soon as they opened the door, Emily came to
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Anne turned to Maggie and offered a smile. Maggie responded by wrapping Anne in her arms and giving her another warm hug. Strange… Though she’d never met the woman until today, it felt as if they’d been friends forever. And as Maggie whispered, “So happy to share my home with you, sweet girl,” Anne found her eyes filled with tears once again. She swiped them away, forced a smile, and followed the others into the house.
Chapter Six
Beef, chicken, fish…what’s your pleasure? You name it, we’ve got it in abundance in the Texas Panhandle. I’ve had the rare privilege of traveling north to south, east to west, in search of some of the greatest food this corner of Texas has to offer. In Amarillo I dined on buffalo steak. It was fried catfish in Cisco. The sirloin couldn’t be beat in Groom, and the home-made chili left me begging for more in Abilene. Still, nothing compares to the luscious banana pudding lovingly made by a certain pretty gal I eventually asked to marry me over in Carson County. She takes the prize, at least in my book. And speaking of the prize, keep an eye out for those ladies in Dumas. I hear they’re cooking up something special for this year’s county fair. — “Tex” Morgan, reporting for the Panhandle Primer
Maggie talked a mile a minute as she stepped inside the ranch house. Anne followed her, gasping as she took in the beautiful home. Though a bit more rustic in design, its size rivaled their house in Denver. And she’d never seen such beautiful woodwork.
“Jake, just leave their bags here for now,” Maggie instructed, her words coming faster now. “I’ll show these precious girls around, and they can decide on their rooms.” She led them from one bedroom to the next, chattering all the way. Anne liked the feel of the place. Maggie’s fingerprints were all over this house.
The strangest sense of nostalgia came over Anne as she took in her new surroundings. She felt the sting of tears in her eyes. In the years since Mama’s death, she’d been strong in nearly every sense of the word. What other choice did she have? But in this moment, walking from room to room with a total stranger, Anne felt more vulnerable than she had in years. How could a place she’d never seen until today feel like home? And how could she stop the emotions that threatened to barrel over her as she considered that possibility?
Anne squared her shoulders and kept walking, determined to keep things under control.
“This first bedroom was where the twins slept when they were young.” Maggie flashed a smile as she glanced Anne’s way. “Since you’re the oldest, maybe you would like this space. It’s a bit larger than the other rooms.”
“That would be lovely.”
“Jakey, c’mon in here with the bags, please.” Maggie placed her hands on her ample waist as she hollered out the instructions. “This is where…” She paused and shook her head. “Land sakes, I didn’t even ask your name.”
“Anne. I’m Anne Denning, and these are my sisters, Emily and Kate.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Maggie turned back to the door. “Jakey, bring Anne’s bags in here. She’s the pretty one with the beautiful brown curls.”
At once Anne felt her face turn hot. Gracious. Were people in Texas really this forward? Besides, she’d never thought of herself as pretty, so that woman’s words didn’t even fit.
Jake arrived a few seconds later, carrying her bag. As their eyes met, she shifted her gaze back to the room to keep from staring at him. Why she hadn’t noticed his boyish dimples before? Likely because he hadn’t flashed such an appealing smile till now.
“Let’s keep moving,” Maggie said. “Plenty of house left to see.” She led the way to another bedroom. As soon as they opened the door, Emily came to
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