She hesitated, uncertain. “I guess. If you show me what to do.”

Maddie grinned at her. “It’s easy. You have to get the stamp placed in the right spot. But no one’s a perfectionist here, so don’t worry if it’s a little wonky.”

She gave the other women watching them a quick smile, and they all beamed at her. Two women across from them whispered together before snickering at her and Maddie, but before she could ask them about it, Maddie was already putting a stamped envelope in front of her.

“Here’s a model.” Maddie held up a laminated example that showed the Loveland stamps. A black one next to the postage stamp was made of two intertwining hearts, and another red one on the left side of the mailing address featured a baby cowboy and a poem.

“You can’t always fit this one on the back of the envelope,” Maddie said, pointing to the one with the cowboy. “But it should work on this card. Just go slow. Get it lined up before stamping down.”

Ryann stood up so she could look straight down at the envelope, took the first stamp from the inkpad, and pressed it down. She picked it up, suddenly nervous, but it was aligned nicely.

“That’s wonderful!” one of the women nearby said.

“Great work, young lady,” another said.

She was strangely pleased by the praise, and when she happened to glance at Maddie, she, too, was beaming at her. She forced herself to turn her attention back to the second stamp and managed to press it cleanly in line as well.

“Nice,” Maddie said. “Do you want to do the rest of these?”

She hesitated and then nodded. As Maddie set them up for her, she reflected on her own pleasure and excitement here. It was silly, really, to enjoy something like this. But on the other hand, everyone around her was excited, so maybe it was rubbing off on her. And having Maddie look at her like that—pleased, amused—certainly added a little something, too. She was embarrassed with herself. She was letting this whole thing go to her head.

The remaining envelopes stamped, Maddie helped her out of the picnic table, waving at Doris and pointing at their station, apparently so she could replace them. Doris gave her a big thumbs-up and turned to the senior next to her, gesturing wildly in her enthusiasm.

“You’re leaving already?” the woman next to Maddie asked.

Maddie squeezed the woman’s shoulder. “Yes. I’m sorry. I’m just second-string today, I’m afraid. Ryann and I are off to sample wedding cake.”

At this, a wave of oooing and ahhing came from people near and far around the room. Then, it seemed, everyone spoke at once.

“You’re getting married?”

“When did this happen?”

“How long have you been engaged?”

“Lucky girl!”

“Who’s getting married?”

“To her?”

“When’s the wedding?”