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  “Can’t complain,” Bud said turning back toward the shop as two of the ranch dogs came running from behind it, playing with each other. They had recently jumped in a ditch followed by a roll in the mud. When they came around the car, they stopped and gave themselves a vigorous shake, sending water, mud and the smell of wet dog all over Callan and her mint green suit.

  Bud and Clay stood watching in wide-eyed horror. To make things worse, one of the dogs jumped up on Callan leaving a trail of muddy paw marks down the front of her jacket and skirt.

  “Down, Lady,” Callan said, uncertain whether to laugh or cry at this point. “Down, girl.”

  Instead of staying down, both dogs jumped up trying to lick Callan in the face, pushing her off balance. Clay reached out to catch her, only to realize he left smears of grease across both arms of her suit jacket.

  “Oh, girl, I’m so sorry,” he said, quietly, taking a step back. “I’m really, really sorry.”

  Callan shot him a heated glare that would have melted lesser men, got in her car and left without saying another word.

  “I think you might be in a heap of trouble with Miss Callan, Clay,” Bud said trying not to laugh.

  “I think you might be right,” Clay said, frowning at the dogs as Callan sped down the lane back toward the highway.

  Callan drove home as quickly as she could, jumped in the shower, redid her hair and makeup. She put on a slim black skirt with a bright pink summery blouse then slipped on a black suit jacket and black wedge sandals before racing out the door. She pulled up at the home of her first client appointment with a minute to spare.

  She made it through the first three appointments just fine. It was her last appointment of the day that was causing her eye to twitch and her head to pound.

  Driving out on the far side of town, she pulled into the driveway of the Pritchard home and drove up the short little rise that led to the house. Once known as the finest home in the area, it now looked like a left over prop from some slasher movie.

  Carefully treading around holes in the porch boards, Callan knocked on the door. Waiting a minute, she knocked again only to have it whipped open by none other than the formidable Mrs. Pritchard.

  “About time you got here,” was the only greeting as Mrs. Pritchard led the way to her once opulent and now shabby parlor.

  Breathing through her mouth to try to avoid inhaling the variety of odd and unpleasant smells, Callan was one of the few people in town brave enough to come face Mrs. Pritchard head-on in her own domain.

  <><><>

  “At least she didn’t try to make me eat any of her pie this year,” Callan said, with a look of disgust.

  “Wasn’t it last year she forced you to take a piece of mince meat pie and you ended up smuggling it out in your purse?” Jenna asked with a teasing smile.

  “Yes, don’t remind me,” Callan said. “It was…”

  Laken’s phone began ringing. She picked it up with a sigh and a roll of her eyes.

  Listening to the one-sided conversation, it was soon apparent that Laken would be cutting their dinner short.

  “Mom said Brant has been throwing up non-stop for an hour and she’d like me to take him home. Imagine that?” Laken said, gathering up her purse and sunglasses, casting a hungry glance at her half-full plate. “What kind of grandma is she, anyway?”

  “One that doesn’t want to catch whatever it is Brant has,” Jenna suggested.

  “Right,” Laken agreed. “Sorry to eat and run, but I better go. Callan, if you’ll grab my bill I’ll pay you back later. And please eat some dessert for me. I planned on having a huge piece of something.”

  “We promise,” Callan said with a smile. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”

  “You’re kidding, aren’t you?” Laken asked as she headed toward the door. “Bye!”

  Callan and Jenna looked at each other and smiled.

  “Well, you heard the woman. We must order a huge piece of something sweet. We have to take a hit for the team,” Jenna said.

  “Absolutely,” Callan said.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The Guys

  Clay Matthews looked over at his brother-in-law and grinned. Josh Carver was great at telling stories and playing jokes. Almost as good as Clay.

  Right now, they were planning to play a doozy on Clay’s 18-year-old cousin Jake. Clay and Josh just happened upon not one but two huge stink bugs and used an old bug net to catch them. Carefully transporting them out to the hay field where Jake was swathing, they were now waiting for just the right time to implement their evil plan.

  When Jake stopped the hay swather and got out to take a break, they carefully snuck over to the cab, opened the door and dumped the bugs inside. Quietly closing the cab door, they slunk back behind a parked tractor waiting for the reaction their bugs would most surely bring.

  Jake was leaning against the pickup drinking a pop and eating a handful of cookies, brought out by Clay’s mom Bobbi. It didn’t take long for Jake to finish his snack, hug his aunt and walk back to the swather.

  Climbing in, Jake started it up and closed the door. Clay and Josh could see him looking around as he started down the windrow. All of the sudden the swather weaved wildly across the field before Jake pulled to a stop, jumped out of the cab and gasped for air.

  By this time, Clay and Josh were doubled over in laughter, pointing and howling at Jake. When Jake realized he’d been had, he started their direction. The two troublemakers made a hasty retreat back to their equipment and put it in gear, effectively removing themselves from the wrath of Jake.

  “You two are so going to get it,” Jake yelled, face red from both anger and embarrassment. “You won’t know how or when, but I’ll get you both!”

  Finishing up their afternoon work and riding their wave of prankster success, they decided to get cleaned up and head into town to find their girls. Clay hoped Callan had forgotten the mess he and the dogs had made of her pretty suit earlier in the day. Josh was counting on Jenna being calmed down from the pipe slime episode.

  Swinging by to pick up Josh at his house, Clay drove into Tenacity, certain they would find the girls at Giovanni’s, the nicest restaurant in town and a favorite of both Callan and Jenna.

  Pulling into Giovanni’s parking lot, Clay spotted Callan’s cream Chrysler 300. She was the only one in town who drove one, making her easy to find. Walking inside, they looked around but didn’t see Jenna or Callan anywhere. It was then they happened to glance out toward the patio and Clay caught a glimpse of Callan’s auburn head.

  “Looks like they are outside,” Clay said to Josh, nodding his head in the direction of the patio.

  Josh started to step that way but Clay put a hand on his arm. “Say, I’ve got an idea. Let’s go sit in the bar for now.”

  “What are you plotting?” Josh asked with an easy smile. “You’re not going to get me in trouble are you? I’m not wanting to spend the night in the dog house, just so you know.”

  Clay laughed. “They’ll be putty in our hands by the time we get through with them.”

  Sitting down at a table in the bar, it wasn’t long until a waitress ran by. They both ordered Dr. Pepper and plates of spaghetti. The waitress soon returned with a bread basket and their drinks.

  “Anything else I can get you?”

  “Yes, actually, there is,” Clay said, turning his most charming smile on the waitress. She stopped snapping her gum and stood a little straighter.

  “There are two ladies sitting out on the patio and we’d like very much for you to take them one of your fried mozzarella baskets. Can you do that, Cindy?”

  “Yeah, I mean yes. I mean that would, like, not be a problem,” Cindy said as she got direction from Clay as to which table should receive the appetizer.

  “Would you like to clue me in to your little game plan?” Josh asked as the waitress left.

  “Just watch and learn, my friend,” Clay said, leaning back in his chair looking quite pleased with himself.

>   “Remind me why it is we don’t just saunter out there and join them now?” Josh asked, trying to figure out what Clay was planning.

  “Because this is more fun,” Clay said with a wicked grin. “Those two are going to be so flustered trying to figure out who is sending them what, they won’t know what hit them. By the time we arrive with the dessert, they’ll be so glad to see us they’ll practically fall at our feet in gratitude.”

  “Are you sure you are talking about my wife and sister, because I can’t picture either of them falling at our feet for anything, especially not for riling their temper,” Josh said, shaking his head in mock disdain. Although Clay’s idea was somewhat childish and a lot crazy, it did sound like fun.

  Jenna and Callan were shocked when the waitress approached their table with a basket of fried mozzarella bites.

  “So, these two really cute guys, kinda old for me, but anyway, they asked me to bring this to you,” Cindy said, setting the basket on their table. “I mean really cute.”

  “I’m sorry, Cindy, we can’t accept this. Please take it to them and offer our apologies,” Callan said, her cheeks flushed. Who in the world would send her and Jenna something? They were old married women, for goodness sakes.

  “Are you sure?” Cindy asked, hesitantly picking up the basket. “They are pretty hot – the guys not the cheese.”

  “We’re sure,” Jenna said with a kind smile.

  When the waitress took the basket and left, Jenna and Callan looked at each other curiously.

  “Not that we aren’t totally hot babes, but what is going on?” Jenna asked with a grin.

  “If I was making a wager, I’d bet you would find one or both of our husbands behind that,” Callan said, looking intently toward the patio door. “Let’s see what they do next.”

  It didn’t take long for the waitress to arrive at their table with two specialty slushy lemonades brimming with fresh strawberries. They looked delicious.

  “Those two guys kept the cheese, but asked me to send the drinks over,” Cindy said as she set the glasses on the table. “They said to tell you no strings attached, they just wanted you to have them.”

  “Really?” Jenna said, taking a sip of the delicious drink. “Would one of those really cute guys have black hair and gray eyes?”

  “Totally,” Cindy said, snapping her gum. “The other dude is huge with the most gorgeous blue eyes and awesome dimples I’ve ever seen.”

  Callan looked at Jenna and winked. “Well, Cindy, maybe we should reconsider and accept their gift. Would you mind giving them a note if I write one?”

  “No prob. I’ll be back in a sec to get it,” Cindy said before disappearing back inside.

  “What are you up to, Cal?” Jenna asked, watching Callan fish a pad of paper and a pen from her purse.

  “Two can play at this game,” Callan said, writing quickly and handing the note to Jenna to read before Cindy returned. Jenna smiled her approval and slid the note back to Callan.

  Folding the letter into thirds, Callan applied some pink lip gloss and pressed her lips to the outside of the paper then handed it to the waitress.

  “Would you please give this to the gentlemen and then let us know what they say?” Callan asked sweetly.

  “Sure,” Cindy said, enjoying her part in the unfolding drama.

  Clay and Josh were just finishing up their dinner when Cindy returned.

  “They kept the lemonade and said to give you this,” Cindy said, holding out the note, which Clay took, surprised to see the lip imprint on the outside.

  Unfolding the paper, he recognized Callan’s handwriting.

  Kind sirs,

  Thank you for the cheese, which we had to refuse, and the lemonade, which we could not. You have piqued our curiosity and we would be most grateful to make your acquaintance. Should you be interested in more than just sending food to us, we are feeling a bit lonesome. We’ll be here for 10 more minutes if you want to join us for some dessert or something more…

  Two Lonely Women Looking for Some Diversion

  Clay’s face turned red and the vein in his temple started to throb. Shoving the letter at Josh, he couldn’t believe what Callan had written to two perfect strangers. Did she do this kind of thing often? What was she thinking?

  Josh was nearly as flustered as Clay.

  “See what all your nonsense has caused,” Josh accused. “I’m not going to stand for this. Not at all.”

  “Well, you think I’m happy about it?” Clay questioned as they got up from the table, ignoring the waitress, and hustled out to the patio where Callan and Jenna sat calmly visiting like they didn’t have a care in the world.

  Approaching the table, Jenna and Callan turned to look at them. Jenna smiled although Callan kept any emotion from showing on her face.

  Finally, she pulled her sunglasses down just enough to look over the top at Clay.

  “What are you boys doing here?” Callan asked, pleased at their flushed faces and frustrated looks. Their current state of distress served them right for teasing her and Jenna.

  “Keeping you from making a huge mistake,” Clay grumbled, sitting down next to Callan.

  “And what mistake would that be? Ordering the bread pudding instead of the chocolate cake?” Callan was enjoying this way too much, watching Clay and Josh squirm.

  “I have it on good authority that you made it clear to two men in the bar you were interested in more than just dessert, if you get my meaning.”

  “Really,” Callan said, keeping calm and cool. Turning her gaze to her brother, she asked, “What about you Josh, do you have that same good authority?”

  “Yes, Josh, I’d love to hear what you think,” Jenna added, smiling sweetly at her husband.

  “We’ve got the proof right here in black and white. You wrote this note, Callan. How could the two of you do this?” Josh asked, looking disgusted as he passed the paper across the table to his sister.

  “Do what? Write a note to our husbands?” Callan said, taking the note and stuffing it in her purse. “You may be able to pull a prank over on Jake, but you’ll have to get up a little bit earlier in the day to try and convince us two strange men in the bar are hitting on us. We knew it was you all along.”

  “You two are pathetic and juvenile,” Jenna said, shaking her head for emphasis. “And as penance for your bad behavior you absolutely must order us dessert and pay for our dinner. And Laken’s too, she had to leave early.”

  “And maybe another lemonade,” Callan said, breaking into a warm smile.

  Josh and Clay looked at each other and grinned.

  “Anything else?” Clay asked as he leaned over and kissed Callan’s cheek.

  She squeezed his hand under the table and gave him a quick wink, letting him know he was not in too much trouble. At least for the moment.

  The evening was still young.

  ###

  CALLAN’S SHORTBREAD COOKIES

  ¾ cup butter

  ½ cup sugar

  1 tsp. vanilla extract

  2 cups flour

  ¼ -½ cup turbinado (raw) sugar

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.

  Add vanilla, then mix in flour.

  Roll out and cut into squares or circles. Place on baking sheet and sprinkle tops liberally with turbinado sugar.

  Bake about 8 minutes or until set. Pull them out before they are brown.

  Cool and enjoy!

  Read all the books in the Women of Tenacity Series, starting with the Prelude…

  The Women of Tenacity - A Prelude

  Welcome to Tenacity! Meet the stubborn, independent women who live here and the wild, rugged men who love them in this short story. Callan Matthews lives a hectic life balancing a demanding job and starting her own business. Her husband Clay, the consummate prankster, decides it is up to him to get Callan to lighten up and have a little fun. Jenna Carver is a confirmed city girl even if her husband Josh convenie
ntly forgets that fact as he drags her from one farm adventure to another.

  Heart of Clay - The Women of Tenacity Book 1

  Callan Matthews has become a master at burying pain and emotions. Her husband Clay mistakenly thinks he knows everything there is to know about this woman he loves. Callan’s secret, once revealed, could create a chasm too deep for either of them to cross.

  Country Boy vs. City Girl - The Women of Tenacity Book 2

  Jenna Keaton is perfectly content with her life as a city girl and has no plans to change it until she falls in love with dashing urbanite Josh Carver. He is everything she’s ever dreamed of in a man – refined, charming, and handsome with a lucrative career. When he unexpectedly reveals his lifelong aspiration is to be a farmer, she decides he’s gone off the deep end. It’s a headlong battle of stubborn will, outrageous adventures and unexpected heartbreak as the country boy takes on this city girl.

  Not His Type - The Women of Tenacity Book 3

  Anna Zimmerman is a self-declared old maid. A spinster. Washed up and doomed at the ripe old age of 24 to live alone in a tiny apartment full of cats. And she really isn’t all that fond of cats. Then a chance encounter with a handsome cowboy thrusts her down a different path. Jake Chandler likes his women blond, petite and vivacious. At least he thinks he does until he bumps into the painfully shy librarian who works across the street. She is everything he never knew he wanted in a woman. Now he just has to convince Anna that she’s perfect for him.

  SHANNA HATFIELD spent 10 years as a newspaper journalist before moving into the field of marketing and public relations. She has a lifelong love of writing, reading and creativity. She and her husband reside in the Pacific Northwest with their neurotic cat along with a menagerie of wandering wildlife and neighborhood pets.

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