Free Heart So Sweet: Book 3 in the Great Plains Romance Series by Corrissa James

out.”
    “What are you talking about, Jonathan? There’s too much to do around here.”
    He shook his head. “Bull. Look, whatever you are dealing with—and don’t even try and feed me a line that it has to do with Andrew or the farm or any of us—whatever it is, you need a break. So you and Jenny are gonna drive up to Sioux Falls for the day. Go shopping, get your hair done, whatever it is that girls do.” He cleared his throat, a slight pink rising to his cheeks. “Whatever you need, but when you come back, I want my sister back.”
    He hugged her quickly, then slipped out the door before Susannah could argue that she was too busy to take a day off and that getting her hair done would not fix what was wrong with her.
    “I’m all ready, Aunt Suz.” Jenny stood in the doorway, her Hello Kitty purse slung over her shoulder.
    Susannah took one look at her niece and nearly burst into tears. She had been shutting her family out—shutting everyone out—these last few weeks, telling herself it was because she needed to focus on getting the work done. In reality, she knew she just didn’t want to deal with anyone who might be happy when she was feeling so miserable herself. She hugged Jenny tightly. “Just give me five minutes and we’ll be on our way, sweetie.”
     
     
    The girls went all out in town, getting their hair and nails done as well as buying new outfits for the street dance scheduled for the end of the following week. Susannah bought a simple black dress that swayed when she moved while still being clingy enough to show off her trim frame. For Jenny, they decided on a jean skirt that fell just below her knees, paired with a white cotton shirt with simple embroidery around the neckline and cuffs. Jenny also got her long reddish locks cut into a simpler hairstyle, one that fell just below her shoulders and would be easy for her to keep up herself. Susannah, on the other hand, decided to be a little daring. The hairdresser used a rinse that brought out the reds in her hair, which in the right light, made it look as if it was on fire. She also convinced Susannah to embrace her curls, creating a hairstyle that worked with her hair instead of against it. For their nails, they both decided on a neutral color, which made Susannah laugh. Working the farm her entire life, she just never saw the point of nail polish as she never had nails to speak of. Jenny was apparently of the same mind. She referred to the brighter colors as “frivolous,” explaining that she had learned that word for a spelling test during school.
    When they finally arrived home, it was already dark. Only Lucas sat at the kitchen table, waiting to see them both before going to bed. Jenny showed off her new shorter haircut and her outfit for the dance before running back to the bungalow to put her purchases away so they wouldn’t get ruined before next week. After she left, Lucas pulled Susannah into a tight embrace and whispered “Thank you” before pushing away from her and heading to his own room.
    Susannah stood rooted to the ground, stunned. Had she imagined his words? No, she knew she hadn’t. It was the first time she had heard his deep voice in so long, but it was a soothing sound she could never forget. She wanted to shout from the rooftops that he had finally spoken again, but was suddenly terrified that if she reacted in any way, she might jinx it, might find out it was all a joke, that it hadn’t really happened. Instead, she headed to the bungalow to celebrate in private.
    But she couldn’t sit still. She tried watching a little TV, but nothing distracted her. Jenny had already gone to bed, the day’s adventures having exhausted her, and Susannah had no one to talk to. Finally, she decided to call Trish James, but one look at the clock made her realize that wouldn’t be the best idea. She got in her truck and drove over to the Jameses’ ranch, telling herself that if a light was on downstairs, she’d stop and share the