by Leah Atwood
Cara held the two-way door open with her hip. “Opposites attract.”
Evie passed through. “But she’s so sweet. What does she see in him?”
“That, I couldn’t tell you.” She shrugged and delivered the food to table seven.
The family at table five had left, their bill paid with cash left on the table. Cara grabbed the money and their ticket, cashed it out at the register and added the remaining balance to her tips for the day.
She took a quick breath and smoothed her uniform cobbler apron. The diner had stayed packed all day, which she hadn’t anticipated. Neither had her boss, thus only Evie and Cara on duty today. They’d all expected most people to take advantage of the many food offerings at the Extravaganza, but perhaps the overall turnout in town was larger than normal.
After taking a glance at her remaining guests, her eyes landed on Jase. How had she forgotten about him already? Not seeing any immediate needs at her tables, she poured a cup of coffee and carried it to Jase. “On the house.”
“Thanks.”
“What are you doing here?” Realizing her words could be misconstrued, she backtracked. “I mean, I’m happy you’re here, but didn’t expect you until after closing.”
He flashed a rakish grin. “I couldn’t wait to see you again.”
Flirting never helped a man win a date with her, but coming from Jase, she blushed and smiled. “Sure you couldn’t.”
“Well, that and the cold front moved in pretty fast. The temperature has dropped a solid thirty degrees since lunch.”
Now that she had a minute to stand still, she noticed it was colder in the diner as well. “That might explain why we’ve been so busy today.”
“A lot of the outdoor vendors moved inside. It’s not safe to be out in the open long.” He drank a long sip of coffee. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it dipped below zero tonight.”
She shivered just thinking about it. “Any snow coming?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“That’s good.” A cough from one of her guests reminded her that she still had work to do. “I shouldn’t be too much longer.”
“I’m in no rush.”
The last half hour of work dragged by. Her customers made the time bearable by being the perfect patrons, with no extra requests, and they even cleaned up the majority of their mess before they left. After they’d gone, she found a generous tip—forty percent of the bill—left on the table for her.
All in all, she couldn’t complain. The extra money she’d made today would pay for a majority of the Christmas presents she still had to buy. And while she hadn’t been able to spend the entire day with Jase, he had made her feel special by taking her to lunch and then waiting for her to get off work.
With the diner doors officially locked and all the customers gone, Cara grabbed a wet cloth and a bucket of soapy water, then began the task of wiping down every table, booth, and chair. It wasn’t a glamorous task, but a mindless one that helped her unwind at the end of a long day.
Jase came to her side. “Can I help with anything?”
“I’m not going to have you do my job.” She continued wiping the table in a circular motion.
“Let him help,” Evie called out from the other side of the dining room. “The sooner we’re done, the quicker we get out of here to enjoy the last of the Extravaganza.”
Jase arched a brow, one side of his mouth turned up in a half-smile. “You heard the lady.”
“Fine, you can sweep while we finish wiping down everything.”
“Where’s the broom?”
“Go through the double doors, and there will be a closet on your left.” Out of habit, she pointed in the right direction. “You’ll find it in there, along with a dustpan.”
He came out two minutes later, scratching his chin. “I think we have a problem, ladies.”
Cara looked up from the vinyl booth she was cleaning. “What’s wrong?”
Jase pointed a finger behind him. “Doesn’t Marty do the dishes?”
“Yes.” Evie crossed the room to join them. “Please don’t tell me he left them.”
“By the looks of it, he left everything from the last few tables.”
“We can’t just leave them for tomorrow.” Frustration tugged at Cara. A few dishes weren’t a big deal in the grand scheme of life, but she wanted to leave.
Jase leaned the broom against the wall, slid out of his coat and rolled up his sleeves. “I’ve washed a few dishes in my day. I’ll take care of them.”
“You’re a good man, Jase. We appreciate your help.” Evie smiled, grabbed the broom, and started sweeping where she’d already cleaned the tables.
“Yes, thank you. I owe you.” Cara stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
He winked. “I’ll take that kind of payment any day.”
Embarrassed, she ducked her head and continued cleaning. When every last surface above the floor had been wiped and sanitized, she joined Jase in the back while Evie finished sweeping.
He dried the last dish and handed it to Cara as Evie dropped the last of the dustpan’s contents into the trash. Cara dried the plate and put all the dishes away where they belonged. With Jase’s help, the closing procedures didn’t take much longer than they normally did. They should still have time to enjoy browsing before the closing ceremonies.
“Ready to go?” he asked her, giving the diner a once-over for anything obvious they could have missed.
“I’ll lock up in just a minute. You two go ahead,” Evie called out.
“Thanks, Evie—I owe you one.” She seemed to be making a habit of saying that. After retrieving her coat, she joined Jase by the door.
Taking her hand, he led her out the door and down the street. A shiver shuddered through her body from her shoulders, down her spine, and to her toes. Jase hadn’t exaggerated the drop in temperature. She adjusted her scarf to cover her nose, cheeks, and mouth.
Jase wrapped an arm around her, holding her in a sideways hug as they walked. Stepping into his embrace, she indulged in the warmth he offered.
Chapter Eight
Traces of the setting sun were barely visible behind the gray clouds blowing in. The temperature had dropped to the single digits, too cold to stay outside more than a few minutes at a time. News traveled quickly that Mayor Appleton had chosen to move the closing activities indoors, including the announcement of Weatherton’s first-ever Queen and King.
Before they went inside, Jase said a quick prayer. Was it selfish to pray his plan succeeded? It wasn’t as though it was for his benefit. He removed his arm from Cara, immediately missing the contact with her.
City Hall was crammed with people, not a place for someone to be who had claustrophobia. Despite the lack of space to breathe, the crowd was excited to see who would be crowned the King and Queen. Jase didn’t miss the sly glances directed his way. He’d asked for discretion and hoped Cara didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Granted, he probably noticed them more because he knew the reasons for the glances, unlike Cara.
He tried to lead Cara to one of the side rooms where a few displays remained, although most had been taken down already. The effort proved fruitless, as they only moved five-feet in the same number of minutes. Since they were near the front, where the stage had been set up on a much less grand scale than the outdoor one, they gave up and stayed where they were.
“Have you seen Tate, Lanie, and Kenzie?” When she turned to look at him, the lights caught on the tiny diamonds in her snowflake earrings and made them sparkle.
“When I last saw them a few hours ago, Tate was getting ready to leave due to an emergency at the Bar M.” It was kind of true—an alert had come through on their phones from the new system installed two years ago, letting them know that the barn’s heating system wasn’t functioning properly and had to be reset.
“You didn’t have to go?”
“No, I volunteered, but Tate insisted he could take care of it.” There was a good chance Tate had
already made it back to the Extravaganza.
Cara unwrapped her scarf and took off her gloves. “With all the body heat in here, there’s no need for heaters.”
Laughing, Jase unbuttoned his coat. Not only was there an abundance of warmth, but the air inside was also stale and stifling. “The closing ceremony should begin soon. Mayor Appleton prides himself on being prompt.”
As if on cue, the mayor stepped up to the microphone. “I’m always sad when this weekend comes to an end, but I trust that everyone has experienced a great weekend. Over the last two days, I’ve made it a point to stop at every store, vendor, and display, and also mingle with many of you. From all accounts, the Extravaganza has been a tremendous success.”
Enthusiastic cheers and applause boomed through the room, confirming the mayor’s words of success. Soon the cheers turned to excited demands for an announcement. In Jase’s estimation, there wasn’t a person in the building who wasn’t curious and eagerly awaiting to hear who would be crowned King and Queen. His gaze landed on Maya Denton, who wore a smug smile, undoubtedly confident she would win.
We’ll see about that. Jase found Cara’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Their hands fit together like the pieces of a completed puzzle. Since that first time yesterday, they’d held hands often. The dynamic between them had changed, and he was surprised that, within a day’s time, they’d adopted the role of a couple.
He hadn’t had a chance to talk to Cara about how he felt besides his brief allusion yesterday that he wanted to spend more time with her. His initial plan consisted of speaking with her last night when he dropped her off, but she’d been excited about the contest, intent on helping Lanie win. He hadn’t gotten a word in edgewise, but he’d determined to speak with Cara tonight, to tell her just how deep his feelings were for her.
“Quiet down, everyone.” Mayor Appleton’s booming voice quieted the crowd. “Marjorie, the envelope, please.” A young woman dressed in western garb—Jase couldn’t get past her wearing a denim skirt in the frigid temperature—stepped on the stage and handed a sealed envelope to the mayor. Slowly, allowing the anticipation to build, he tore open the envelope to reveal the results. “Ladies and gentleman, it is my great pleasure to announce to you the first-ever Weatherton Queen and King.” He paused, and complete silence filled the room, not even the cry of a baby could be heard. “Your winners are Cara Scott and Jase McCade.”
Wait, what? Jase froze in his spot. Why had he been chosen King? Man, he hadn’t wanted to be King whatsoever. The very idea embarrassed him, even if he was honored. His one and only goal when he’d campaigned on Cara’s behalf was to have her elected and help her see how much the people of this town loved and cared for her.
Cara’s hands were glued to her face in complete disbelief. “Did I hear that right?”
Still stunned, he nodded and nudged her elbow. “Go up and claim your prize.”
“You, too.” Cara’s face was bright red.
If the warmth on his face was any indication, his looked like a tomato as well.
“Don’t get shy now, you two.” The mayor stood to the side of the podium wearing an ear-to-ear grin. He waved his arm in a wide circle. “Come on up, and let folks get a look at the new royal couple.”
Cara still looked at him in shock. An uncertain smile appeared, and she looked at him with narrowed eyes and eyebrows scrunched as though she had suspicions he’d played a part in her being the winner. Yes, he’d made the rounds this afternoon while Cara worked, but the truth was, most people had already considered voting for her anyway. The entire town had nothing but praises and adoration for her. Some had even gone so far as to say they hoped Maya Denton didn’t win. He’d kept quiet, not wanting anyone to have reason to accuse him of sabotaging Maya’s chances, but secretly, he was glad Maya hadn’t won. She was pretty enough, but she didn’t shine like Cara, nor did Maya have the inner beauty and strength that Cara possessed.
“Shall we go claim our crowns?” He held out a hand and performed a half bow, playing the role of a gallant knight. Tugging her hand, Jase pulled her through the crowd, which parted to create a path. As embarrassed as he was at the attention, he’d suffer through the act of being crowned a King if it made Cara smile and helped her see her value.
He’d do anything for her.
Together, they climbed onto the stage and faced the crowd. Cara’s hand trembled in his and tears pooled in her eyes.
Lanie walked up the opposite side of the stage, carrying Cara’s cowgirl hat and placed it atop her head before taking the mic. “Cara has been my best friend for as long as I remember. We’ve been through just about as much as any two friends could experience. Many of you know that I made a few mistakes in my life and left town for a few years. When I came back, Cara welcomed me with open arms. That’s the type of person she is. I can’t remember a time when she wasn’t giving of herself, doing someone a favor or looking for a way to make the town better. She embodies the spirit of Weatherton, and I can’t think of a single person who deserves this more than her.”
Lanie gave Cara a big hug then stepped aside.
Mayor Appleton placed Jase’s hat on his head. Jase automatically put a hand to the hat. Now that he was onstage he didn’t feel as ridiculous as he had moments ago. He glanced out into the sea of faces and made eye contact with his mom near the front. Her proud, beaming face and Cara’s joy made it all worthwhile.
Mayor Appleton began his speech. “The town of Weatherton has a long history of strong men and women who understood community. They knew it wasn’t about one person, and that life consisted of more than making a few bucks. From our town’s earliest days, the people have come together to help one another in time of need, to celebrate victories, and to share life. Any descendant of Rand McCade has mighty big shoes to fill, but I say with confidence that he would be proud of you Jase. Your dad would be, too.”
Choking on a flood of emotions, Jase tried to address the crowd but found himself speechless. Beside him, Cara gave up holding in tears, and they traced a line down her cheek. She wouldn’t be able to talk until she gathered her thoughts and reined in her emotions, which left him to speak.
“I never thought I’d be the King of anything,” he began. “Weatherton has, and Lord-willing always will be home to me. I’m not a world traveler in any sense, but I’ve been to enough other towns and cities to know we have something special here. There’s no other place I’d want to live and set down roots. I’m humbled that you’d choose me as the first Weatherton King, and I’ll do my best to make you proud.”
Chapter Nine
Standing on the stage, receiving the honor of being elected Weatherton’s first Queen, was a surreal experience. Cara listened to Jase speak in front of the crowd. His words, though simple and straightforward, were beautiful and heartfelt. So set on nominating Tate and Lanie, she hadn’t stopped to consider Jase, but the town picked a perfect King.
For their Queen? She wasn’t so sure. Being crowned the first Weatherton Queen was an honor she hadn’t expected, nor dreamed could be a reality. She suspected Jase had played a role in making it happen, and she loved him more for his efforts to make her feel cherished. Her hands still trembled with the heady emotions it brought for him.
But it wasn’t just Jase’s involvement. He could have begged and pleaded for everyone to vote for her, but that didn’t mean they had to. There were plenty of better-deserving women than her. However, that the town voted for her reached that need she had to feel something more for her life. For once she didn’t feel the loneliness of not having her family nearby. In a moment of clarity, she finally realized this town had always been her family.
Jase finished his speech, and all eyes shifted to her. She’d be expected to make a speech, but she didn’t know if she could. Speaking in front of small groups didn’t bother her, but every person in Weatherton was crammed inside City Hall, watching her. She had to work through her emotions and stage fright, and soon, to say something, if for no other reason than
to acknowledge her gratitude toward the town for bestowing this honor upon her. Taking the mic from Jase, she drew strength from his hand on hers as she faced the crowd.
“Thank you, everyone, for the love and friendship you’ve shown me. When my father died, you stepped in to fill his role. And then my brother left, and shortly after, my mother. Each time someone left, one of you stepped up to help me through the rough days that followed. I admit, sometimes I feel sorry for myself, but now I realize how fortunate I’ve been all along to live in a community that’s not just my friends, they are family.” With those brief but earnest words, Cara set the microphone on its stand and stepped back.
At that moment, she knew Weatherton was her home and where she belonged. If the bakery in Cheyenne called to offer her the job, she would decline.
After a final round of applause, Jase escorted her off the stage and eased her away from the masses. Under normal conditions, she was not comfortable in a crowd, but these were her friends and neighbors. They accepted the well-wishes and congratulations with patience and appreciation until they finally were able to leave and return to their vehicles. During the closing festivities, snow had begun to fall, contradicting the weather reports. It left a light dusting, just enough to hint of holiday charm.
Jase circled in front of her to open the car door. Without meaning to, they found themselves in a position similar to how they’d been outside the craft store the previous day. A snowflake rested on her cheek, and she raised a hand to wipe it off. Jase intercepted her motion and tenderly removed the snow with his thumb. His hand caressed her cheek before sliding it through her hair.
She knew what was coming. This time she wasn’t going to run away from it. No, she’d never run away from Jase’s touch again. She closed her eyes as his head leaned down and their lips met. Her toes curled, and her right leg bent backward at the knee. This was the kiss dreams and Hollywood movies were made of. The kiss that left her weak, but strong, alive with life and love. A kiss like she’d never experienced before, but hoped to repeat.