Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
“Jaybird, sweetheart!” My grandma Emmaline walked hand-in-hand with Amos Nutter, the man she still called her beau, though they’d been Proud-Nutters since their marriage a couple of years back. “Happy Entwinin’ to you!”
I grinned back at her before dodging a few racing kids to peck her on the cheek. “And to you. How’d you like your miniature Bovine wreath, Amos?” I asked.
Grandma’s hands were too knotted up with arthritis to be able to make her own wreaths anymore, but I was more than happy to create anything she wanted to her very specific, detailed instructions.
Amos pulled his khaki jacket open to display the eight-inch wreath strung from a rope around his neck like a pendant and nestled against his heart. “Best damned cow I ever saw,” he said, reaching for my hand. “And considering I once showed Rocket Ranger Rosita at the state championships, that’s saying quite a bit. You do good vine, son.”
I shook his hand, feeling strangely proud. “Glad to hear it.”
“And did you see my special message for your grandmother this morning?”
I nodded. “Sure did, Amos. Couldn’t miss it.”
Amos’s thin chest puffed up. “Took me forever to get those cows lined up to spell out ‘ENTWINE ME, EMMALINE PROUD NUTTER.’”
The messages Amos painted on his herd had become so legendary in the Thicket folks came from surrounding towns on festival days just to see them.
But somehow, Amos never seemed to realize that his cows didn’t stay where he put them.
This morning, when I’d passed his grazing field out by the highway, half a dozen cars had been pulled over so people could take cow selfies… and most of the herd had been spelling out PUT TWIN MEN IN ME EMALINE, while the others had their asses turned toward the road.
Still, it was the thought that counted, right?
“It was a… a beautiful tribute to your love,” I told Amos solemnly.
Several other people approached me to thank me for my work on their wreaths and for the Entwinin’ archway I’d created for the grandstand podium. “The kids are almost finished adding the wildflowers to it, and then the mayor will get the dancing started,” I heard Lurleen Jackson telling Latonya Henson. I glanced over to see the archway overflowing with clumps of fresh spring flowers. Seeing it in a riot of colors made my heart swell.
If only Lane was there, I could point it out to him. But I hadn’t seen him yet, which meant he’d probably gotten caught up at work with an emergency. He knew what a big deal the Entwinin’ was in theory, but I couldn’t wait to see him experience the real thing for himself.
The guys from Champion Security stood off to one side, talking and joking around while enjoying Quinn Champion’s spiked Love Punch. I wandered over to say hello to Kandi Nutter, who was hanging on to their every word.
“You’ll never believe the wreath Hux made Kev. It’s non-binary… which is weird because I thought Jordan was non-binary,” she said in a stage whisper.
Jordan huffed out a laugh. “It’s binary code, Kandi. You know, the language computers use? Kev’s a computer geek, so he’s all up in his feels about it. It’s how you say I love you in computer speak.”
Kev shot moony eyes at Hux. “It’s naughtier than I love you. He spelled out something incredibly… um… inappropriate. And Huxley is going to get very, very lucky later because of it.”
Hux wrapped a proprietary arm around Kev’s waist. “As lucky as you got when you showed me your Horn this morning?” Seeing my startled look, he explained, “Kev managed to twine a wreath in our video game, using wisteria from our own homestead. I literally didn’t know you could do that.”
Kev blushed. “You can if you’re friends with the programmers at Horn of Glory and get them to create a limited-time Jasper Huxley Entwinin’ expansion pack.” He shrugged. “I just wanted you to know how special you are to me.”
Christ, I hoped Lane looked half as pleased when he saw my wreath. Made me kind of wish I’d been there to see his face.
I turned to ask Quinn what kind of wreath Champ made for him when I heard a shout.
“Jaybird Proud! I cannot believe you.”
I froze. Lane’s voice cut through the crowd like a spotlight, and he didn’t sound pleased.
Suddenly, it seemed every eye in the Thicket was on me. I turned, and there he was, standing in the middle of the square, holding my wreath in his hands.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear. His chest heaved as if he was out of breath, and his hair stuck out wildly.
I’d never seen him like this before, not Lane the polished professional or Lane the quiet guy who watched me from across the table like he was trying to figure me out. This Lane looked… riled up. And determined.