“Permanently,” Laura said. “I swear. I pinky swear it. ”
Sorrow saw her sister in a new light. “You’re being serious. ” Laura staying. She sat with the notion a moment, remembering what Billy had told her. Why not let her sister help more? Sorrow had been too proud to see it, but finally the light clicked on.
Then Sorrow laughed outright, thinking of another side benefit. Sharing lodge duties also meant sharing the blame when things went wrong. “You know, actually, we totally need you. Please stay. ” She gripped Laura’s hand. “You must stay. I don’t know what my problem has been anyway. You’d be awesome—you have more business experience than the whole town put together. ”
Laura looked away, fiddling with her IV tubes. “Dad would never have it. ”
“Shut up!” She gave her sister a gentle nudge on her good arm. “Mom and Dad would be thrilled to have you around again. ”
“Okay,” Laura admitted, laughing at Sorrow’s vehemence. “You’re right. I’m not being fair. But sometimes I think Dad respects me more in concept. Like, he can think about his eldest daughter out there, driving her fancy car, being Urban Business Barbie, but he doesn’t need to be around to witness all the screwups. ” She blinked a few times, tears shimmering in her eyes. “And believe me, they are many. ”
“Well, forget that,” Sorrow said. “You’ll be the Sierra Falls Rural Business Barbie. And we’ll screw up together. ” She beamed at her sister. “Oh my God, Laura. You don’t understand. I’d give anything to spend less time with accounting ledgers, and plumbers, and snow shovels. ”
“I’d be happy to share it with you. ” Laura gave her a bland look. “I’ve been trying to tell you that since I got home. ”
“Girl, you want responsibilities, I’ve got them coming out of my ears. ”
Laura’s answering laugh turned into a cough, and Sorrow was quick to bring the cup of water to her mouth.
“We just need to get you better. ” Sorrow watched her sister’s trembling hand reach for the cup and the way her throat moved slowly and convulsively. “Thank God Eddie came along when he did. I’m going to give the guy a big kiss when I see him next. ”
Laura raised a brow. “Won’t the sheriff be jealous?”
“Okay, you can give him a big kiss. ” Sorrow narrowed her eyes on her sister. That she was staying made it a whole other ball game. “Maybe you should, Laura. ”
“Should what?”
“Go for Eddie. I’ve seen the looks between you two. ”
“Eddie?” Laura scowled, then grimaced from the pain of it. “If you saw me give Eddie Jessup any look, it was clearly either scorn or distaste. ”
“But he’s so cute. ”
“I’ve learned my lesson—I’m staying away from pretty boys. If I date anybody, it’ll be some nice businessman. ”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sorrow tamped down a surge of anger. If Laura was going to be staying in Sierra Falls, she was going to need a massive attitude adjustment. “Not only have Eddie and his brother built a great business, but he’s outside all day, working with his hands and body. I don’t know, Laura, that sure seems pretty sexy to me. ”
“I’d never be interested in a man who uses tools. ”
Sorrow snorted with laughter. “You just lobbed me a softball. ”
Laura rolled her eyes. “Okay, Miss Dirty Mind, if we’re being specific, I’d never be interested in a man who works as a contractor. ”
“So then why are you blushing?”
“I am not blushing,” Laura snapped. “I haven’t blushed since seventh grade. ”
“Maybe that’s part of your problem. ” It came to Sorrow in a flash, exactly how best a girl’s attitude got adjusted. “Maybe a good mountain man who makes you blush is just what you need. Give up on those city dorks in khakis whose idea of foreplay is talking about mutual funds. ”
Laura guffawed. “Who put a nickel in you? Jeez, the girl gets lucky with the town sheriff and all of a sudden she’s Dr. Phil. ” Her sister’s tone was joking, but Sorrow saw how she did consider it for a moment. But then Laura shuddered. “He drives a vehicle best suited for monster truck competitions. That giant red pickup. Can’t go there. ”
“What’s wrong with Eddie’s pickup?”
“It’s a kind of tacky, isn’t it? Like he’s overcompensating. ”
“You know what they say about the size of a man’s truck,” a deep voice said from the doorway.
Laura’s cheeks flushed pink.