Small-Town Moms Read Online Free

it was like to feel clumsy and misshapen. Maegan knew she wasn’t suited to being a mother, but helping Lilly with her foot problems was close to parenting. She was surprised that she relished the prospect. In fact, if it ever worked out for Lilly to come live with her, she would—
    Whoa—that thought stopped her cold and made her sit up in bed. Where had that idea come from? She hadn’t driven to Dry Creek intending to do anything crazy like ask Lilly to live with her. She had only wanted to be sure the girl was all right, that she had someone to care for her. Maegan knew she had no business trying to raise a child. Parenting was a mystery to her; she had known so little of it herself she didn’t even know all of the mistakes she could make.
    Unfortunately, once she tasted the idea, it rolled around in her mind like some out-of-control marble. It was a foolish thing to think about on a morning like this, but she couldn’t seem to let it go.
    She swung her legs over the side of the bed, shaking her head just to get some blood moving through it. She had done enough research when challenging the foster care system in her search for her sisters that she knew how important good parenting was. So many things could go wrong. She would do better to spend her time looking at the realities that were in place now instead of daydreaming that she would make a good mother. Lilly might not trust Clint, but he cared about her. It was obvious when he looked at the girl. Lilly probably just needed more time to adjust to the changes in her life. She’d gone from living with her mother, to living with her rodeo-loving father, to staying on the ranch with—
    Maegan stopped herself again. It hadn’t really sunk in until now that Clint wasn’t Lilly’s guardian any more than she was. The person who should be here taking care of Lilly was her father. He was supposed to be the pillar in her life. Where was the man? How many rodeos did the man ride in anyway? What if he took it into his mind to go back to Brazil?
    She stood up on the cold wood floor and wished she had socks on her feet. Even with the morning sunshine, she wouldn’t mind some additional warmth. She’d do well to find out more about both of the Parker brothers.
    There was a knock at the door and a voice called out. “It’s Edith.”
    Mrs. Hargrove-Nelson had instructed her yesterdayto call her by her first name even though Maegan didn’t feel right doing so. Instead, she followed the lead of others and called her Mrs. Hargrove. According to Clint, the older woman had become so well-known in this community that most people still called her what they had for years even after she married her long-time friend, Charlie Nelson. She didn’t seem to mind and neither did he.
    â€œCome in,” Maegan invited as she combed her fingers through her hair. Her barrette was on the top of the dresser, but it would take too long to pull her hair back.
    The older woman opened the door and peeked around it. Smile lines crowded her plain face and her eyes were warm. Her gray hair was set in pin curls and covered with a black net. She stepped into the room and Maegan saw she wore a loose-fitting gingham housedress, covered by a white bib apron, and black sensible shoes with ties and thick heels. She held a small tray that looked a little heavy.
    â€œRemember, the room comes with my complimentary breakfast,” the older woman said.
    Maegan walked over to take the tray. “It smells wonderful, but you shouldn’t have carried it up the stairs. I would have gladly gone down and brought it up.”
    â€œI can manage,” the woman said with a grin as she handed over the tray. “Besides, my Charlie fixed those steps last spring so they’re a pure pleasure to climb.”
    A plate with two biscuits sat on the tray next to a silver butter knife and a small jar of melted honey. A delicate china cup was sitting next to