Free Leave Tomorrow Behind (Stella Crown Series) by Judy Clemens

brother-in-law offered to let Taylor take care of one of their cows, or even raise a calf. But she didn’t have the interest. She was more into…girl stuff.”
“Like the pageant.” I tried not to let my irritation with the whole judging-by-looks thing come through in my voice.
She glanced at me, a grin teasing her mouth. “Right. I guess I don’t really have anything against it. I own a salon in Philadelphia, so I deal with a lot of girls—and their mothers—who are involved. But it was never really my thing. I don’t really socialize or anything with the moms. I guess we don’t have much in common.”
Hard to believe, looking like she did.
“But Taylor thought it would be fun, and she has met a few nice girls through it. It’s not the same as me with the moms. Taylor and those girls are all connected on Facebook, and Twitter, and Face Time…I don’t even know all the right names. They share their contact lists, their photos, everything. You’d think they were all sisters, or at least cousins. And as far as the pageant itself, at least it offers something other than just the beauty portion. It’s taken cues from some of the larger organizations, and the contestants have to do community service, make good grades, and display a good deal of talent.”
“What’s Taylor’s talent?” Nick asked.
I expected something like baton twirling, or doing a cheer. Yay.
“She’s fluent in American Sign Language. She’ll do a song translated into that, kind of like a dance.”
“I’ve seen that sort of thing,” Nick said. “It’s beautiful.”
“I agree. Plus, she can use it as part of her service portion. She’s already translated at many events, and in schools.” A doorbell sounded in her purse, and she pulled out her phone. She frowned at the screen.
I didn’t like her new expression. “Are the kids okay? Daniella?”
Her head jerked up. “No, I mean, yes, the kids are fine. It’s…someone else.” She gave a brief smile, but it lacked the warmth of the earlier one. “It was so nice meeting you both. I hope to see you around some more this week.” She tucked her phone into her purse and strode away.
We watched her go. “Gregg, do you think?” Nick asked.
“If it was, I hope she’s got her knee ready.”
She disappeared into the crowd.
“So,” Nick said, “she’s nice and pretty.”
“I believe your earlier description of her was ‘perfect.’ ”
“Which I meant in a completely non-competitive way, compared to you.”
“Uh-huh.” I stared at him, but his pleasant, honest expression didn’t waver. “Whatever.”
“So,” he said,“maybe some funnel cake?”
I laughed at the change of subject. “I thought you were done with fried things.”
“Well, I was earlier, but that smell…”
“Then let’s go. I don’t want to deprive you of the best the fair has to offer.”
He grinned like a little boy.
 
 

Chapter Eleven

We bought a fresh pastry and ate it at a table in the school food tent, where we saw lots of familiar faces and had more than one conversation about the crappy economy and whether or not there would be any farm kids left for next year’s fair. Gloom and doom. That’s us. Welcome to the world of livestock and agriculture.
After a while Nick and I brushed the powdered sugar off our shirts—and he brushed some off my face—and we wandered back toward the parking lot.
“Leaving so soon?” Carla was just exiting the calf barn as we walked past. Only this time she wasn’t alone. Lugging her veterinarian tool kit was “the love of my so far disappointing life as far as guys go.”
“Hey, Bryan,” Nick said.
Bryan shifted the toolbox to his left hand and shook Nick’s, like the proper “aw shucks” guy that he was. “Nick. Good to see you.”
He glanced at me, and I bared my teeth in what I hoped was a convincing smile. He tipped his cowboy hat. Carla rolled her eyes.
“So are you?” she said.
“Are we what?”
“Leaving?”
“Yeah, we’re all tuckered