A Cowgirl's Christmas Reunion
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Cari Lynn Webb
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HarlequinPROLOGUE
ELIAS BLACKWELL, aka Big E, finished parking his motor home, cut the engine and tipped his cowboy hat to a surprised onlooker on the busy downtown Dallas sidewalk. “That is how you parallel park.”
“Nicely done, Elias.” His younger sister, Denny, gathered her cane and smashed her cowboy hat over her gray hair. “You could give lessons to the car parkers around here. I daresay that little vehicle up ahead is parked sideways.”
“We’ve more important things to deal with than lazy parkers.” Big E glanced across the road at Highstreet Treasures, a high-end, luxury department store for the discerning and stylish, according to their website.
Big E had always been more partial to a good pair of jeans and a sturdy flannel shirt. All of which could be found at Brewster Ranch Supply in his hometown of Falcon Creek, Montana. For a fair price and a handshake.
Denny hummed her agreement. “That we do.”
“This is our last stop.” He and Denny were down to Denny’s last granddaughter—the youngest daughter of Flora and Barlow Blackwell and the fifth member of the Blackwell Belles. Willow Blackwell was the final piece of Big E and Denny’s plan to bring this fallen branch of the Blackwells back together after a ten-year hiatus. It was past time to do some healing and reaffirm their roots. Big E asked, “Do you reckon Willow will recognize you?”
“I’m willing to bet on it.” Denny held out her hand, confidence in her upturned chin.
Never one to back away from a bet or a bull, Big E accepted the wager and eyed his sister. “It might take us some old-fashioned, underhanded trickery to bring Willow to the table.”
The table being where they planned to negotiate with Willow Blackwell to get her to agree to one final performance with the Blackwell Belles at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame ceremony, where her mother, Flora Blackwell, and Willow’s late aunt Dandelion would be inducted.
“We’ve certainly tricked a few here and there along the way to get what we wanted.” Denny chuckled. “Although I prefer to think of it as creative finessing of a situation.”
“That has a nice ring to it.” Big E laughed. “We are skilled finessers.”
“Exactly.” Denny pushed out of the chair, made her way over to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. “However, Flora believes she has something her youngest daughter wants. Could be leverage for us.”
Big E stood and stretched. “That is peculiar, isn’t it?”
Denny sipped her water. “What is?”
“Willow’s siblings each wanted something of their aunt Dandy’s returned—special items—in order for them to agree to perform one last time.” Big E stroked his fingers through his beard. “It would make sense that Willow would want something of Aunt Dandy’s too.”
“That would be the trend. Aunt Dandy was special to all the siblings.” Denny replaced the cap on the water and set the bottle aside. “There’s no telling what Willow wants until we get her to that table and ask her.”
And that was what concerned Big E. Would Willow Blackwell follow her sisters or prove to be an outlier? Not that Big E ever minded an outlier or a trendsetter. Most days, he admired their grit.
But if Willow Blackwell was so far down blazing her own trail, he worried her family might not be enough to entice her back.
Big E helped his sister out of the motor home and onto the sidewalk. One thing was certain: Big E had some grit of his own left and enough stubborn cowboy in him not to give up until he found a way.
Family was too important. After all, blazing a trail was all fine and well. But standing alone at the end of the blazing trail, well, what good was all that without family to celebrate with?
