This story will go out in my newsletter on March 29th for free! If you haven’t signed up yet, click the sign up button above. In the meantime, read chapter 1! You’ll love Emma!

An Unexpected Blessing

A Sweetheart’s Café Romance Series

By Betsy Love

Chapter 1

“Emma girl, you’re going to wear a hole in the table if you keep wiping like that.” Olivia, my boss, and owner of Miracle Inn Café put her hand over mine.

“Sorry.” I gripped the rag and sat in the booth, looking around the nearly empty, post breakfast diner I’d been working at since I graduated high school. Then Olivia had bought the diner last year. She’d wanted to make so many changes, but her husband’s life insurance policy had left her with only enough to buy the only real restaurant in town. It probably didn’t matter that it looked old and outdated since it was the best place to eat, especially with Olivia’s cooking.

I looked up at the plaque hanging over the register; the saying fit me perfectly.

Don’t Quit!

Suffer now and live the rest of your life like a champion.

~Mohammed Ali

Yeah, right. How much suffering had I already experienced? First my daddy, then my barrel horse, and now my stupid ex-boyfriend. He’d given me the perfect reason to follow Mama’s advice and dump him. Was I ready to admit I would remain single the rest of my life? Was I too young to worry about being a spinster? I mean, women got married later and then started their families, right? Twenty-two was way too young to be old, wasn’t it? It’s just that the only boyfriend I’d ever had was Drew. A knot formed in my stomach.

Olivia slid into the booth across from me. “What’s up, girl?”

Was I ready to share Drew’s cheating on me yet? I hadn’t even told my mother what had happened. I took a deep breath. People would learn soon enough. Since my mama had become best friends with Olivia, she wouldn’t hesitate to go right to her with my news. Mama would actually be relieved. She’d already been asking questions about why Drew hadn’t been around much.

May as well take the first step in making the break-up official. I opened my phone and pushed it over to Olivia. “This.” The knife twisted in my gut. The picture had come to me from an anonymous source. The platinum blond laying her lips on Drew roiled my insides, like a calf getting lassoed. “He’d been hinting he was going to propose to me, and now this.”

“Whoa, girl. When did this happen?”

“Almost two weeks ago.”

“You didn’t say anything to your mother, or she would have told me.” Olivia pushed a brown strand of hair from her brow and studied the photo.  “That woman’s not from around here, and that doesn’t look like Mickey’s bar.” She handed the phone back.

“Drew said he had to go to Houston on business.” I stared at the picture for the hundredth time trying to come up with a logical explanation. I didn’t even have a clue as to who would have sent the picture.

“Well, there’s only one thing you can do.”

“Give up on men altogether? They’re all cheaters.” My daddy had told me time and time again, “If he ain’t faithful, he ain’t worth keeping.” Too bad he’d died before he had a chance to warn me about Drew.

Olivia slapped the table. “No ma’am, you are not going to do that. I know this great dating app.” When I opened my mouth to speak, Olivia held up her hand. “Just hear me out. It will only connect you with single men within our area… no need to leave the state or travel too far. My brother used it last year and found the woman of his dreams.”

“I’m not ready to start looking.” If God wanted her to find a husband, He better drop him in her lap.

Olivia stood and picked up the rag. “Well, while you’re fretting, I’ve got a restaurant to run, and you have a customer at table nine waiting for you to take his order.”

The man looked familiar, but I couldn’t pinpoint where I’d seen him before. Certainly, not from around here. Dressed like that, he was probably a businessman passing through town on his way to or from somewhere like Houston or Dallas. Every strand of his city haircut lay perfectly in place. His smooth hands didn’t look like they’d done a lick of hard labor. I crossed to his table, and when he looked up at me, his dark chocolate eyes melted right into my soul, something warm and familiar, like I’d known him forever. So different than Drew’s pale blue eyes and rough hands.

Clearing my throat, I tried to rid the sudden, odd attraction I had for him. Not that I’d dream of kissing his perfect lips without even a hint of a mustache. Drew’s mustache constantly tickled my lips, and I’d suggested more than once that he shave it off. Why was I comparing this customer to my boyfriend? Heat crept up my face, and I had to look down at my pad of paper. “Hi, sugar, what can I get for you?”

The man handed his menu back to me. “Just a BLT and a coke.”

“I’ll get that right out to you.” Without thinking, I touched his hand and immediately withdrew it. Daddy had also warned me about men with that indentation on their wedding finger. It said he was either recently divorced, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but he could be someone who took it off to pick up women.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and his gaze went to his hand where I’d touched him. Hopefully, he’d only think that was Texas hospitality…and a way to get big tips.

I hurried back to the server’s counter and called, “BLT,” then put the order slip on the wheel before going to the soda fountain. Planting a smile on my face, I returned to table nine, then set the coke in front of him and laid a straw next to it. “Here’s your drink, sugar.” Hospitality always got big tips, but would he think I was flirting?

He looked up at me. “Thanks.” Again, those chocolate brown eyes almost swallowed me whole. I’ll bet all the women fell in love with his eyes. With a quick tap of the straw on the table, he pushed the wrapper back. “So, do they still have the rodeo every weekend?”

“The one at the Bar-Z ranch?” The memory of barrel-racing there shot pangs of longing through me. Sometimes, I wished the rodeo disappeared altogether since Mama had had to sell my horse along with several others to help pay for my daddy’s funeral and catch up on bills that had piled up. Losing Star Dancer was as painful as losing Daddy.

Luke nodded. “Did I trigger a bad memory for you?”

“Oh, the rodeo… sorry… I was just thinking about my horse. You do remember Zeke, the owner of the ranch, the guy who runs the rodeo? Anyway, he bought my barrel racer. Her name’s Star Dancer. I’m just glad someone who loves horses as much as I do purchased her. She is an amazing animal.”

“I’ll bet you were amazing, too.” His fair skin turned a soft shade of pink. “I mean, riding, that is.”

Tucking my hand in my pocket, I twiddled the pencil laying there. “I did all right.” Why was I even telling him about my horse? He didn’t need to hear my woes. “If you show up early enough, you can watch the kids chase greased pigs.” Then, to change the subject, I asked. “How long are you planning on staying in Miracle?”

“Not sure. I’m glad to know Zeke still has the spring rodeos.” The man stared up at me as if puzzling something.

“How do you know about Zeke’s rodeos?” I asked.

“I used to live here when I was a teen.” He pointed to my name tag. “And you’re Trever and Tyler’s kid-sister, Emma Clark.”

“Do I know you?”

“Lucas Blessing, Luke for short”

My heart puddled in my stomach. All those memories came flooding back. I’d had a crush on him for as long as I could remember. I’d followed my brothers around wanting to do everything they did, just because Luke showed up to hang out with them. Wow, I mean wow, he had sure changed since junior high. “What brings you back here?”

He paused for a moment. “Investment. I came to look at a ranch.”

“Who’s selling?” Most of the ranches went generations back.

Luke swallowed. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

I tried to imagine who might be in financial trouble.

I picked up the wrapper and tucked it in my apron. “Where did you end up settling down?”

“I’m actually living in Austin now. After my father passed, he left me a huge sum and I bought a ranch there. I sold it a couple weeks ago and thought I’d move back. Are your brothers still living here?”

“Trevor married a girl he met in college. They live in Houston and have two girls. They’re hoping the one they’re expecting is a boy.”

“Tyler was closer to my age.”

“He never married. He’s living in California.” She leaned to whisper. “But we try not to hold it against him.”

Luke chuckled. That she remembered.

“Not much has changed out at the Bar-Z, including the dance each weekend night after the rodeo.”

“You gonna be there?”

Was that a suggestion that he might want to meet me? Could I allow myself to think about another relationship? What if he was a player as his ring finger hinted? I shook my head. “No, I have to work. Lots of people come in for Zeke’s rodeo, and we’re going to be pretty busy feeding all the cowboys.”

Disappointment crossed his face and disappeared faster than maple syrup on a hot waffle. “We’ll have to catch up later.” He rubbed the indentation on his ring finger. A married man wouldn’t draw attention to it.

“Maybe you can stop by the house before you have to go back. I’m sure Mama would like to say hello.” I couldn’t even explain why part of me wanted to see him again. I doubted whether Mama would even remember him. That had been nearly fifteen years ago.

“That would be nice. You still live down the road?”

“Yeah. Same old house, same old barn.” Except more aged and worn.

That smile! Exactly like I remembered. “I’ll probably be in for breakfast tomorrow. Will I see you then?” His eyes looked hopeful, like Daisy, her basset hound waiting for table scraps. I wanted to say yes.

Before I could answer, the bell from the kitchen rang. “Order up,” Armando, the assistant chef, called over the counter between the galley and the kitchen.

“That’s probably your sandwich.” My heart wasn’t paying attention to what my brain was saying.

I turned to leave, but Luke caught my hand. “I’m serious about getting together.” Looking down at his grip and back up at him, I raised my eyebrows, and he released my hand. I was still stinging from Drew’s betrayal and shouldn’t even be thinking about another relationship.

I practically bolted for the kitchen.

Passing Olivia, her eyes met mine. Had she been watching our interaction? What would she tell Mama? That I’d broken up with Drew and was already flirting?

Yet, I had to admit, Luke’s touch had warmed my skin and shot little pulses up my arm. In the galley, I stopped Cassie. “Hey, would you mind trading tables with me. I’ll take your burger if you’ll take the BLT to that man over there.” I pointed to Luke.

She’d picked up the platter for her customer on the opposite side of the diner. “You know, if you weren’t so gosh darn purdy, the guys would stop hitting on you.” Cassie picked up the sandwich. “Just tell him you have a boyfriend.” Cassie must have read the pleading in my eyes. “Oh, alright.” She handed the platter to me. “But I get your tip.”

“Thanks, you’re a gem.” I delivered the plate to Cassie’s customer.

I took a quick peek at Luke who’d struck up a conversation with Cassie. Apparently, he didn’t care who he could get to go out with him. At least, that’s what it looked like by the way Cassie laughed and joked with him, flirted rather. But then it was like her to act that way with all her male customers. Married or not, that’s how she got the big tips.

When Cassie returned to the galley, she was still laughing. “For a city boy, he’s pretty witty.”

“So, did he ask you to go to the rodeo with him?” I nodded in his direction. “I take it you did see the mark of a ring on his finger?”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean anything.” Cassie wrapped a napkin around some silverware. “He asked about you, though.”

I let out a huff of disgust. “I hope you told him I’m not available.”

“I did, but he said he didn’t see no ring on your finger.” Cassie pointed to my hand where I clutched my phone.

I wiggled my hand mimicking an English accent. “I doth not see a ring upon fair lady’s finger.”

“So, when is Drew going to propose to you. I know you haven’t been dating all that long, but you know… you’re not getting any younger.”

I put my finger over Cassie’s lips. “Thanks for the reminder. I have to hear it from my mother all the time. I don’t need you to join the pack of finger-pointing old maids.”

“Hey, I am not an old maid, yet.” Cassie waved her hand in the air as she returned to the meal counter to pick up her next order.