by Sera Taíno
What a joke.
“I think that’s a stupid idea.” She knew it wasn’t fair to snap at her sister. It wasn’t Kelsey’s fault she was so darn perfect. But there was so much sadness in their family these days, and a trip was only going to make it worse. “Don’t you remember the last time we went on a vacation? They fought so hard over where to stop for lunch, we had to turn around before we even made it to the campground.”
Anger chewed up her insides just thinking about that day. She’d been looking forward to exploring a cave like her parents promised. Just another broken promise because they got mad at each other.
“But the Top Dog Dude Ranch is special. Some say it’s even magical with how they help families get better.”
Frustration and sadness bubbled over. “That’s bull. They’re just trying to steal your money. You’d be better off saving up for a new tablet so you don’t have to use Dad’s computer or the school’s Chromebook.”
“Don’t you want Mom and Dad to get back together?”
“I want them to stop fighting,” she cried, then bit her lip. Hard.
She was tired of being sad all the time. Sad over her parents arguing about money. Sad because they were going to lose the farm since they were broke from taking care of Uncle Tyler after he got sick. Sad over Uncle Tyler dying.
Everything was changing.
Kelsey’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “Fine. Keep playing with your rope. But just at least think about helping me.”
“We would have to wash all the dogs in the entire state.” Although that was the only halfway fun part about her sister’s plan. Kacie loved dogs.
“I’ve done the math. It’s cheaper since we would only have to drive two hours—which is also less time for Mom and Dad to fight in the car.”
Her sister kinda had a point with that one. “I still think it’s a scam.”
“If you’re right about the Top Dog Dude Ranch being a hoax, then they’ll spend the whole week bickering and you can say ‘I told you so.’ Will that make you happy?”
“Maybe.” Anything was better than how she felt now. At least people would quit pretending things might change for the better with her parents.
“Don’t you want to prove you’re right?” her sister taunted.
“How?”
“I’m glad you asked.” Kelsey clicked more computer keys and the printer fired up, spitting out papers. “Help me raise the money and we can see which one of us is right.”
Somehow she’d walked straight into the trap of helping her anyway. She sighed all the way to her feet, curling her rope back into a circle.
“Okay then.” She clunked the lasso on the edge of the desk. “Even if we raise enough money to go, I’m not going to help you matchmake with some silly games that won’t even work and will probably just make them fight with each other.”
“You can do whatever you want once we get there. I’ve got the magic of Moonlight Ridge, Tennessee, on my side.” She turned back to her seat. “If you keep throwing like you’re doing today, you’re gonna need some of that magic to win the competition.”
Kacie dropped into a seat beside her sister and started folding flyers. “You’re gonna eat those words when I win your stupid bet about this trip to the Top Dog Dude Ranch.”
And in a flash she knew that going on this trip really was what she wanted most. What she wanted even more than winning that lasso competition. She wanted to stop waiting for the next explosion that would end everything. She was tired of never knowing when it would be time to move. So she was going to do everything possible to make this ill-fated family vacation happen.
After all the stress and tears over the last year, she wanted her parents to—finally—call it quits.
Copyright © 2021 by Catherine Mann
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ISBN-13: 9780369710208
A Delicious Dilemma
Copyright © 2021 by Sera Taíno
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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