Free Loving a Lawman by Amy Lillard Page B

said, not sure whether he should be annoyed or amused. “How did we get from a date to Cattle Days to marriage?”
    â€œI’m just saying, that’s all.” She gave a slight shrug of one shoulder. “It’s high time that we had some more grandchildren around here. And you’re not getting any younger.”
    â€œI believe you’ve already mentioned that,” Seth replied.
    â€œWell, it’s true.”
    And it was. But . . .
    â€œMama, I—” And just how did he finish that?
I love Jessie?
“I’ll think about it,” he managed.
    She tilted her head to one side in that thoughtful pose she struck when she was meddling, but trying not to appear that she was meddling. It was a look he knew well. “I wouldn’t wait too long if I were you. Ethan Davis was asking about her earlier.”
    â€œHe was, huh?”
    â€œYou wouldn’t want to let a fine girl like Millie slip through your fingers.”
    â€œI don’t suppose I would,” he said.
    â€œBut you’re a grown man. Old enough to make your own decisions.”
    â€œYes, I am.”
    She stared at him a moment as if she couldn’t figure out why he was being so stubborn; then she went back to the fine details of the cake.
    Her attention elsewhere, Seth ran one finger along theedge of the icing for a quick taste and got a swat for his efforts.
    â€œSeth Langston, you stay out of this cake if you know what’s good for you. Grandma Esther worked all morning on it. She’ll have your hide if she comes in and finds your finger tracks in it.”
    â€œNot a problem.” He grinned. “I’ll just blame it on Jake.”
    â€œThat didn’t work when you were twelve, young man. It’s not going to work today.”
    He turned and smiled as Esther Langston entered the room. Thin and feisty, his paternal grandmother—despite her eighty-plus years—was hell on wheels on her good days and a force to be reckoned with on her not so good ones.
    She pointed a gnarled finger at him. “You been in my cake?”
    He plastered his best innocent look across his face. “No, ma’am.”
    â€œDon’t you lie to me, boy. You know where you go for lying?”
    â€œHouston?”
    Evelyn stifled a laugh.
    Grandma Esther shook her head, then turned accusing eyes to her daughter-in-law. “Too much cheek, that one. Now come over here and give your grandmother a kiss.”
    Seth did as he was told, bestowing a small, affectionate peck on her wrinkled forehead. Despite her sass and brass, she had a marshmallow center, and he loved the old bird with all his heart.
    â€œCake looks real good, Grandma.”
    She harrumphed and started criticizing Evelyn’s candle placement. But his mother was used to her and kept right on doing as she pleased.
    â€œWhere’s my brother?”
    â€œNew Mexico,” Evelyn answered without missing a beat.
    He didn’t know whether she was being deliberatelyobtuse as a joke or she was so consumed with Chase that she automatically thought of him first. He was afraid it was the latter. “My
other
brother.”
    She looked up from the cake, her eyes sad, her lips pressed together in a thin line. “He’s in his office.”
    â€œIs he okay?”
    â€œAs well as can be expected. Each year I think it gets a little easier. But he puts on a brave face for Wesley’s sake, so it’s hard to say for sure.”
    Seth nodded. “I’ll go see about him.”
    â€œThat one’s crooked, Evie.”
    â€œWhat about Millie?” his mother asked as she adjusted the candle and he headed out of the kitchen.
    â€œI’ll only be a minute.”
    â€œAnd then you’ll go find her?”
    â€œYou need more sprinkles on this side here,” Grandma said.
    â€œIt’s a possibility,” Seth answered.
    â€œAnd ask her to the Cattle Days Picnic?” Evelyn shook