Hank couldn’t even remember what she looked like. Ponytail. Lots of beige. “I . . . guess?” His tastes went to short, curvy women who didn’t know how to stay out of his business and who had a fondness for cutting hair.

Caleb’s face grew solemn. “I’m going to marry that woman, Hank.”

Huh. His brother never made declarations like that. Not Caleb. Jack was the blowhard. Caleb was the quiet, thoughtful one. If he was that in love with the teacher after five minutes, then that was that. “Can your true love hold off for a bit? I need help figuring out what sort of big gesture I’m going to do for Becca.” He had ideas, but he needed to pull a few things together first. “Come on.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

You’re humming,” Hannah pointed out as Becca blow-dried her curls. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you humming in over a year.”

“Am I? I guess I am.” She grinned, turning the chair ever so slightly so she could round-brush the next section of Hannah’s hair. “I’m just in a good mood.”

“Because of that big lumberjack?”

“He’s a cowboy, thank you very much,” Becca teased. Though at times, Hank did rather look like a lumberjack. “And it might be because of him. He’s coming over tonight.”

“I heard he comes over every night.”

She mock shook the brush at Hannah’s reflection like a chastising finger. She should have known that the hotel owner would be keeping tabs on what Becca did every night. Hannah loved nothing more than to watch everyone in town. Said it was better than reality TV. Maybe it should have been irritating, but she was too happy to care. Hank came over every night, and most of the time he had Libby with him.

Every once in a while, he didn’t. And those nights, he tended to stay until just before dawn.

She loved Libby . . . but those nights were secretly her favorite. Not because the little girl wasn’t around, but because on those nights, Hank parked Becca on every piece of furniture in the house and they made out like teenagers. Tonight promised to be more of the same, so she just smiled sweetly at Hannah. “Date night. You know how it goes. How’s Clyde, by the way?”

Hannah giggled like a schoolgirl. “That old fart. He told me I get more beautiful every year. I told him it was time for a visit to the eye doctor.” She sighed. “He’s a good man, though. Helping out up at Price Ranch. You know that Annie’s pregnant again?”

“Is she? Dustin must be so excited.” Becca smiled. This was gossip she loved hearing. She wanted to hear about babies and happy families.