“I like that,” she said. “Now, for the reason I can’t sleep. I met this really sweet guy at the feed store. He’s working there part-time and taking online courses just like me to get an agribusiness degree.”

“Do his folks own a ranch around here?” Stevie asked.

“No, but his grandpa does. He came down here from Colorado to help out when his grandma died last summer,” Mia said. “Do you know Beau Martin?”

“Kin to Vernon Martin, who owns Bois D’Arc Ranch?” Stevie asked.

Mia nodded. “That’s Beau’s grandpa.”

A picture of Vernon flashed in Stevie’s head. He was about six feet four inches tall and had a big smile and kind eyes. Here lately, when she was called out to his ranch, he’d talked about his grandson being such a good boy to come stay with him, and how much he missed his wife. “The Martins are good, solid ranching people in this area. Why are you worried?”

“Everyone in town knows that I messed up real bad,” Mia answered. “I don’t want Beau to…” she stammered, “to think I’m a slut, or his granddad to…” She frowned. “Be ashamed of the girl Beau is dating. There, I said it.”

“Don’t do that to yourself,” Stevie said. “Don’t let one mistake with Ricky define who you are.”

“But what if Beau thinks I’m just a pushover like I was with Ricky? What if I am?”

“Ask him,” Stevie said.

“Just be blunt like that?” Mia asked.

“I was every bit that straightforward and honest with Cody last night, so yes, ma’am, just be up front and honest and ask him about it.”

“I’ve only ever been with Ricky, and you know how that turned out.” Mia almost blushed. “I fell over backward for him and let him control my life for months.”

“Then don’t do that again.” Stevie wondered if she would have fallen over backward for Cody when she was Mia’s age. Would she have given up her dreams of being a vet to support him through medical school? “Be yourself. Be totally honest and agree to a date or two with him when we get rid of all this snow. If you like him, then invite him to Sunday dinner. You can figure out what kind of guy he is by how he reacts to your family.”

Mia dipped a cookie in her coffee. “Ricky wouldn’t ever even come in and let me introduce him to my folks, and Beau and I've already talked on the phone and went on a couple of drives together. Matter of fact, we’ve been talking every night, and he texts me several times a day, I do like him, and I want to see what Mama thinks of him, but what if he refuses to…” Mia sighed. “What if he’s just trying to butter me up for sex?”