The Reluctant Cowgirl by Christine Lynxwiler Page A

“Give me a tub full of soapy bubbles over a sink full of soapy bubbles any day.”
    Crystal laughed. “Remember how Mama used to say, ‘Calgon, take me away’?”
    Elyse nodded. “We had no idea what she meant. But now that’s exactly how I feel sometimes.”
    The phone rang.
    “That’s what usually happens when I try for a bubble bath, actually. The phone rings.” Elyse wiped her hands on a dish towel. “Can you handle the rest while I get this?”
    “You betcha. It’s good for my psyche, remember?”
    Elyse chuckled as she picked up the phone.
    She hung up just as Crystal draped the dishcloth over the back of the sink and gave a contented sigh that always accompanied a job well done.
    Elyse grinned. “Nice and shiny.”
    Crystal took the good-natured teasing for what it was. It was good to be home. “Thanks.”
    “That was Rachel Westwood on the phone.”
    “The chiropractor Luke is building an office for?” Luke had declined their supper invitation because he was working late.
    Elyse nodded.
    Crystal’s stomach lurched. “Is Luke okay?”
    “I’m sure he is. She was calling about her chocolate lab.”
    “What’s wrong with it?”
    Elyse slipped on her shoes. “He’s cowering in the bedroom. She was telling me about it at church the other day. She and her husband can’t figure out why he’s suddenly started doing that sometimes. I made her promise next time he took refuge in the bedroom she’d call me.”
    Crystal looked at the time on her phone. “It’s a little late for a house call, isn’t it?”
    Elyse glanced up at the kitchen clock and shrugged. “It’s only eight. If I don’t see him during an actual episode, I won’t know why he does it.”
    “Then I guess you’d better go.” Which meant she’d better go, too. Back over to the house to face the long night.
    Elyse grabbed her car keys. “Come with me. We can stop on the way home and get ice cream.”
    “Really? Are you sure that would be okay?”
    “I know it would. Rachel has some friends over, and they’ll be happy to meet you.”
    “Meet me?”
    “My sister, the New York actress.”
    Crystal laughed. “I’m sure you’re just being nice, but I’ll ride along with you if you’re sure you don’t mind.”
    Twenty minutes later, they stood on the porch of the big ranch house. Elyse rang the doorbell.
    The door swung open and a thirty-something redheaded woman with beautiful green eyes smiled at them. “Come in.” Inside the house, she shook Crystal’s hand. “I’m Rachel Westwood. You must be Crystal.”
    Crystal nodded.
    Rachel motioned toward the handsome cowboy who’d walked into the foyer to stand beside her. “This is my husband, Jack.” She turned to him. “Honey, introduce Crystal to Allie and Daniel while I take Elyse to the bedroom to see Cocoa. Maybe she can coax her out.”
    “We’ve tried everything ... even doggy treats,” Crystal heard her say as she and Elyse headed down the hallway.
    Crystal followed Jack into the living room, where a couple looked up from a basketball game on TV. A black labrador lying on the rug gave a cursory bark but didn’t get up.
    “That’s Shadow,” Jack explained. “Whatever is upsetting Cocoa apparently doesn’t bother her.”
    The man on the couch picked up the remote control and hit the MUTE button. He and the woman stood as Jack introduced them to Crystal.
    “These are our friends, Daniel and Allie Montgomery. We’ve all discovered a common love of Razorback basketball. Or at least Daniel and I have. Rachel and Allie tolerate it, I think.”
    “Don’t let me keep you from your game.” Crystal motioned toward the remote. “You can turn the sound back on.”
    Allie chuckled, her blue eyes twinkling. “Don’t be silly. It’s halftime or Daniel wouldn’t have turned it down.”
    Crystal smiled. “I totally understand. We McCords are Razorback fans, too, even though football is more our game.”
    “It’s so nice to meet you, Crystal,” Allie said.