Free Colorado Cabin in the Pines (Peakview series Book 3) by Jill Haymaker

Peakview.”
    Penny smiled and dried her eyes, feeling much better. “How about you? Any cowboys in your life?”
    Melanie smiled shyly. “Not really, but can you keep a secret?”
    “I just bared my soul to you, so we’re good.”
    “There’s a wrangler up at Peaktop Ranch, Hank. He seems really nice, although I don’t know much about him.”
    “Oh, I like Hank. He’s been there awhile. I believe since I was in junior high. I don’t know anything about his personal life. I could ask around and see what I can find out for you.”
    Melanie’s face lit up. “You know, I bet I could find out who Luke has been hanging out with without raising suspicion. Nothing that happens in this county gets by my new step-mom.
    They both laughed. Violet did keep tabs on her community.
    Penny got up to leave. “This has been fun. We should do it again soon. What do I owe you for the books and the ice tea?”
    “The books are marked on the back. The tea is just between friends. I’d never want to compete with the café by selling beverages. Not when Violet’s been so wonderful to me.”
    Penny drove out of town with a smile on her face. Luke’s truck was gone—confrontation averted for now. And she’d made a new friend. She’s see what she could find out about Hank. After all, concentrating someone else’s love life would be so much easier than worrying about her own.

 
     
     
CHAPTER SEVEN

     
     
    Luke spotted the Camaro parked down the street as he loaded the supplies in the back of his pickup. Dang that Penny. Why couldn’t he get her out of his head? He threw in the bag of puppy chow and the new, shiny dog bowls. He was headed out to John’s right now to look at the litter of German Shepherd puppies. If all went well, he’d have a new best friend by nightfall.
    He headed north out of town toward Apple Creek, willing himself not to look over at the little red Camaro as he passed. He hadn’t talked to her since the night of her parent’s barbeque. Apparently she had nothing to say to him, he’d been around if she wanted to find him. The past—that’s all she was.
    He turned into the lane across the road from the creek and memories flooded his brain. John had lived on the small farm since they played football in high school. A couple of years ago, John’s mom developed some health problems, and his parents moved down to Fort Collins to be closer to her doctors and medical facilities. Now John lived here with his lovely wife Trish and their little girl Emma. Luke sometimes envied his friend’s family life.
    He stopped his truck, as Trish walked out of the house with Emma in tow.
    “Luke.” The little girl squealed with delight launching herself into his outstretched arms. He swung her around in a full circle.
    Putting her back on the ground, he placed his hand on the top of her blonde curls. “You’ve grown since the last time I saw you.”
    Emma grinned showing off her new teeth. “I’m two now. That’s big.”
    “It sure is. Do you want to show me your puppies?”
    “Yup,” she said jumping up and down with delight.
    “They’re in the horse barn,” Trish added. “John’s down there somewhere, too.”
    They walked toward the weatherworn barn with Emma holding his hand and pulling with all of her two-year-old muscle. “Come on…”
    Luke grabbed the edge of the old faded red door and pushed it to the side allowing a wave of cool air to escape from the dim interior. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw John in the far stall brushing one of the horses.
    “Luke. What brings you out here?” John set aside the curry comb and walked out to greet him.
    “Daddy, he wants to see the puppies. I do, too.”
    John laughed. His daughter would spend all day and all night in the stall with the puppies if they let her. He led the way to a stall filled with fragrant hay and opened the gate. Gypsy, the mother Shepherd, looked up protectively as four balls of brown and black fur came bounding over to