Arizona Cowboy by Jennifer Collins Johnson

dresses, then made one last stop at a fashion jewelry store to pick up accessories. Katie finally rubbed her stomach. “I’m starving.”
    “Me, too. How about Italian?”
    The teen nodded and they walked to the restaurant beside the mall. Once they were seated and had ordered their food, Katie took a sip of her water with extra lemon. “I’ve talked so much about me and Corey that I’ve never asked if you have a boyfriend.”
    Ava shook her head. “Nope.”
    Katie scrunched her nose. “Not even someone you’re interested in?”
    She pursed her lips. “Not really.” Her cheeks warmed with the untruth of her words.
    “Come on. There’s gotta be someone.”
    Ava released a breath. “There is a guy I cared a lot about years ago.”
    “From your hometown?”
    “No. From Surprise.”
    Katie sat up straighter. “Really? Have you seen him since you moved back here?”
    “Yes.” Ava clasped her hands under the table and rubbed her thumbs against her palms.
    “He’s not married or anything, is he?”
    “No. He’s single.”
    Katie waved. “Then look him up. See if you can get together.” She winked. “Maybe reignite an old flame.”
    “He’s asked me to dinner a few times, but...”
    “But what? He still means something to you if you brought him up to me.”
    Ava rubbed her hands together. “It’s not that simple. We had a bad breakup. A lot of unresolved issues.”
    Katie smacked the table and leaned forward. “Aren’t you the one who told me not to run away from my problems?” She lifted her fist. “But to face them head-on?”
    Ava nodded. She needed to do just that, to fess up the whole truth to Holden. She’d feel better. In her spirit, God urged her to go ahead and lay the past out there. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
    But then she pictured Holden’s expression when he found out all she’d kept from him. She’d be the cause of so much pain.
    The truth will set you free.
    She’d be set free, but what about Holden? He’d be devastated. If she’d talked to him eight years ago, everything would be different. Now, the truth would only cause him pain. No. It was better if he never knew.

Chapter 10
    H olden flipped his wrist, casting the hook and bait a good ways into the lake. “One of these days we’re going to have to pick a different place to fish.”
    With his line already cast, Jake settled into a collapsible fishing chair. “What are you talking about? This is tradition. We’ve been coming to Surprise Lake the day before Easter for as long as I can remember.”
    Holden nodded to the father and son duo setting up their fishing gear a few yards away, then looked to his other side at the couple of older guys settled in beside them, closer than Holden would have preferred. “Yeah, but the lake’s getting a little crowded.”
    Jake clicked his tongue. “Few people never hurt nothing.”
    “We could easily fish on my land.”
    Jake pointed to the ground. “But this is tradition.”
    Holden chuckled. “I’m fine if you’re fine. Just seems a little silly that we can only keep four catfish apiece when we fish here, when we can keep as many as we want from the ranch. We always buy more for Dad to fry up.”
    Jake lifted his brows and grinned. “Tradition.”
    “Hey, boys.”
    Holden turned and saw his father walking toward them, carrying his chair and fishing gear. “Dad, I didn’t think you were going to make it this year.”
    He plopped his stuff down beside Holden, then wiped his brow with a handkerchief. “I didn’t think so, either. Irene’s got me learning moves to go along with the song for Senior Idol.” He shook his head and mumbled under his breath.
    Jake crowed. “Jerry Whitaker dancing. I can’t wait to see this.”
    Dad lifted his pointer finger. “It ain’t dancing. It’s just moves.” He pointed to his chest. “That woman can talk me into a lot of things, but dancing ain’t one of them.”
    “Your dad’s got a girlfriend.” Jake nudged Holden’s