Free Close to Her Heart by C. J. Carmichael

younger sisters. Sage had still been so young—Callan even younger. They’d had the least time with their mother, but it couldn’t be helped. It was sink or swim for the Carrigan girls, and somehow they’d all managed to swim.
    Dani set her computer on the dining room table, so only her upper shoulders and face were captured by the camera. On her screen she could see Sage was in the backroom kitchen at her chocolate shop, red hair tied back, and an apron covering her long lean torso. Mattie, looking too thin, but lovely in a gray sweater and jeans was on the sofa by the fireplace in her home at Bishop Stables, while petite, but tough, Callan was in her bedroom at the Circle C, sorting laundry into piles on her bed, and wearing a thin tank top and flannel pajama bottoms.
    “How’s the weather in Seattle?” Callan wanted to know. She was always preoccupied with the weather—most ranchers were. “We’ve had a cold, wet spring. Even had snow last week, though most of it has melted now.”
    “It’s beautiful this week,” Dani said, biting back the impulse to invite her sisters for a visit. This was the first year none of them had made it to Seattle in time to see the spring blossoms, and she knew it was because they all had things going on in their own lives that made travel difficult. But she was just as happy.
    A visit from one of her sisters would mean all of the extended family and the town of Marietta finding out she was pregnant—and Dani didn’t want that.
    At least, not yet.
    But she did enjoy connecting with her sisters, even if not all of the news was good. Mattie’s marriage seemed to be truly over. Callan felt their father’s health was getting worse, but he refused to book an appointment with a doctor.
    Only Sage seemed truly happy. Her relationship with Dawson O’Dell was going well and she got along well with his daughter, Savannah. “There’ve been a bunch of weddings happening in Marietta, what with the Big Wedding Giveaway and all,” Sage added.
    “Yes. Callan told me about that.” It seemed one of the Sheenan boys had come up with a PR stunt of paying for one couple’s dream wedding, and half the town had entered into the contest.
    “Well, Dawson and I have decided we’re going to tie the knot too.”
    “You didn’t win the contest, did you?”
    Sage laughed. “No. We’re thinking of having our wedding after homecoming weekend. The town will have settled down by then and we can keep things easy and low-key.”
    “I’m happy for you Sage,” Mattie said. “Do you want a church wedding? And a catered dinner and dance after?”
    “We were thinking of having a smallish affair. At the ranch,” Sage said. “What do you think Callan? Would that be too stressful for Dad? Not that we’d expect him to do any of the work.”
    “It’s a great idea,” Callan said. “I’ll run it by Dad. But since he approves of Dawson it shouldn’t be a problem.”
    “When did he start approving of Dawson?” Last Dani had heard, he’d given Dawson a hard time during the fall round-up.
    “On his days off, Dawson often comes out to give us a hand. This spring he’s training a new colt dad thinks has some potential. Dad doesn’t want to admit it, but he’s too old to do that kind of work now. Doesn’t stop him from shouting pointers from the sidelines, of course.”
    Dani could imagine. One of the reasons she’d hated helping with the cattle and horses when she was younger was because of her father’s gruff ways and his quick temper when you did something wrong.
    Which in her case had seemed to be very often.
    “We don’t want to have a big wedding party,” Sage said. “But I do need a maid of honor. You know I love all of you, so I was thinking of just putting your names in a hat and choosing that way? Sound fair?”
    “I appreciate the offer honey, but don’t put my name in,” Mattie said. “I’ve been married, raised two daughters and now I’m getting divorced…I’m so happy for