Sweet Easter Read online

  Sweet Easter

  A Montana Matchmakers Short Story

  Reina M. Williams

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to places, establishments, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental and the work of the author’s imagination.

  Copyright © 2021 Reina M. Williams

  rickrackbooks.com

  Cover design via Canva/photo: Inna Lesyk/Pexels

  All rights reserved.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  First Digital Edition/March 2021

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Autumn Daisy West was all in. She’d do nearly anything to avoid being set up by well-meaning friends, even be her oldest friend’s wedding date. Wedding buddy? She nodded in answer to his stammered question, stepped out from behind the counter of Molloy’s Miscellany, and faced her childhood friend, Ethan Manning. His beard still threw her off—to her, he’d always be that gangly kid with shoulder-length curls who’d been one of the only ones willing to join in her adventures. Now he was tall, still skinny, and had a close-trimmed beard and short hair.

  “So, you’ll be my wedding, uh, non-date?” He shoved his hands in his pockets and scanned the now-closed downtown gift and sundries store where Autumn worked.

  “Sure. It’s good, no one will try to get us dates.”

  With two weddings—Ethan’s oldest brothers Adam and Brandon were marrying their girlfriends—coming up this weekend and more on the way, she wanted to avoid the inevitable setups and questions. Too bad it wouldn’t be so easy to put her mother off, though Autumn could ignore her calls. But only for so long, or her mother would start in again with “you don’t love me” and “you’ll never find love.”

  When Ethan stayed silent, she punched his arm lightly. “And I can say no for real when Jeff Riggs asks me out.”

  Ethan rubbed his arm and frowned. “Jeff bugging you?”

  “He and his brother think they’re God’s gift.” She rolled her eyes. “He calls me pumpkin every time he sees me. It’s sickening.”

  Ethan grinned. “Surprised you haven’t told him where to stick that.”

  “You know, I have to be more...diplomatic, now that I work in customer service. When I was at Gallagher’s, Mrs. G ran interference, but now it’s usually just me here.” Mrs. G, town matriarch and seventy-something force to be reckoned with, was one of the people Autumn considered family.

  Ethan hung his head a moment. “You didn’t have to leave your family ranch. I bet Mike would’ve hired you.”

  She strode around turning off the main lights and checking the displays. “He offered. Too many memories.” When Dad died, it was just Autumn. Her mom had already vacated the ranch, and her marriage, as soon as Autumn had graduated high school several years back, and now she was remarried and living in Florida. Autumn had had to sell the ranch, luckily to her cousin Mike. She touched the hollow of her throat.

  “I get that. Just...you sure you’re okay, working here alone?”

  “Not you too.” She shook her head. “I’m not some fragile little thing.”

  “I know.” He rubbed his arm again. “Small but mighty.”

  Her lips quirked and she placed her hand on his. “I didn’t really hurt you, did I?”

  “Nah.” His voice croaked and he held her hand.

  He must be feeling some kind of way to hold her hand—probably he was nostalgic for when things were simpler, when they used to run through the woods along the creek holding hands, when his family was together. She squeezed his hand like she used to when they were little. Their dads had been good friends, so she and Ethan had known each other since before she could remember. Which was why she could tell something was bothering him, from the way he gripped her hand to his pulled-together brows. “What’s up, bud?”

  He grimaced and edged his hand away, shaking his head.

  “Alright, then what brings you to town?”

  “Thought, uh, you could help me shop for a wedding gift for Minnie and Adam? You know, now that you’re in retail.” He shifted on his feet.

  Something wasn’t adding up. Maybe it was just that she and Ethan hadn’t seen each other since Thanksgiving, when she’d gone out to Manning Ranch with Mrs. G and Irene for the holiday. But four months shouldn’t cause any awkwardness between them. They hadn’t seen each other regularly since middle school, when Ethan’s dad died and he and his twin and younger brother switched to homeschooling.

  “You know they have an online registry.”

  “Yeah...but I thought something more personal... Want to talk about it over dinner?”

  She scrutinized him in the low light from the front window. “You’re not asking me out, are you?” She didn’t mean to sound harsh, because she meant it as a joke. Of course. She and Ethan were just friends, always had been, always would be. You didn’t date someone you’d seen—and who’d seen you—in pull-ups when you were three and he was four. It didn’t matter that it was twenty years ago.

  He kind-of laughed. “No, no, of course not.”

  He did seem off tonight. She’d do what she could to cheer him. “Right. But I am hungry.”

  “Yeah, exactly, we all have to eat. Might as well do it together.”

  “Okay, but only if we can get a sundae at Careys’ after.” She waggled her brows, which usually at least got a grin from him.

  Huh, no grin. Just a glance toward the window. “It’s only March. There’s still snow on the ground.”

  “When has that ever stopped me?” she said over her shoulder as she grabbed her stuff from the office, ignoring the drop in her stomach that had nothing to do with food or the lack of it. “Hey, come on. Better to leave from the back door.”

  He jogged down the hall and met her by the door, opening it for them. When did his hands get so broad? And his scent... It wasn’t like he’d be rolling in pine needles just because he knew that smell made her smile.

  He probably had a new girlfriend or something, so he was wearing different cologne. She locked up and they strolled through the alley to Riverwalk, then down. The evening air nipped at her cheeks but she didn’t mind. Stars winked at her from a dark wash of sky.

  “So, you seeing someone now?” she asked as they approached Main Street. “It’s been, what, over a year since you and Jen broke up?”

  “Yes and no. Why would I ask you to the weddings if I had a girlfriend?”

  “You wouldn’t.” Ethan was an honest guy, about as non-player as you could find. “But maybe it’s too soon for wedding date territory. Whereas, I’m just an old friend, so, no misinterpreting.”

  He wiped his hand over his face and blew out a breath. She stopped and touched his arm.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? Long day or something?”

  “Uh, yeah. Long day. Lots of stuff going on at the ranch, too.”

  “I want to hear about it, ‘kay?” She patted his back and walked forward. “Over dinner.”

  “That hungry?”

  “You know it.”

  He held the door of the café. She blinked at the bright interior, smiling wh
en the wafts of savory scents met her nose. Her friends wondered why she hadn’t gotten tired of the café’s food while she’d been working here, before she’d gotten her job at Molloy’s, but how could she tire of delicious food? As someone who disliked cooking but appreciated good food, she couldn’t get here enough.

  Mandy, her replacement and an acquaintance from the college they’d both attended, walked over with a smile and her eyes on Ethan. “Autumn, and hi again, Ethan.”

  Autumn refrained from rolling her eyes as Mandy set a hand on Ethan’s forearm and practically batted her lashes at him. Ugh.

  “Can we have the back table?” Autumn asked, already walking that way. It was Lorna’s section there. Lorna had been at Gallagher’s since it’d opened, and she wouldn’t flirt with Ethan. Though she didn’t know that Mandy meant to flirt; she was a friendly, open sort of person. Autumn fidgeted with her sleeve. Not that she cared who flirted with Ethan. She just didn’t want her stomach turned by lovey-dovey stuff when she was counting on a filling dinner.

  “Wouldn’t you rather be by the front window?” Mandy still had her hand on Ethan’s arm.

  He’d be too polite to say anything. Autumn opened her mouth.

  “We’re good in the back, thanks, Mandy,” Ethan said, sliding his arm away from Mandy and joining Autumn.

  Huh. She closed her mouth, though she was still surprised. And he was still polite, but firm now. Autumn glanced back to make sure Mandy was elsewhere. She was already helping another customer, so Autumn let out her grin.

  She and Ethan slid into seats. “Didn’t know you had it in you,” she said.

  “Dunno what you mean.” Ethan put his menu up in front of his face, but she’d seen his cheeks redden.

  What was that about? Was he embarrassed that she’d noticed the possible flirting attempt, or that she and Mandy may have noticed his now-muscular biceps? He must be helping with the ranch chores. She shifted in her seat. “You do too.” She knew the menu by heart, so she kept her gaze on him, or rather on his menu.

  She leaned back and crossed her arms at his continued silence. Two could play that game. She tapped the fork on the napkin. What was wrong with him?

  Lorna appeared. “Autumn, how’ve you been?”

  “Good, thanks. You?”

  She waved a hand over her ample bosom and laughed. “Fabulous as ever, darlin’, as you see.”

  “I do. Still seeing Larry?”

  “He’s still one of my beaus.” Lorna patted her Dolly-Parton-esque blonde updo and smiled her quirked, gap-toothed grin at Ethan. “Another Manning in town. I can’t tell if you’re Ethan or Flint, it’s been so long.”

  “Ethan, Miss Lorna.”

  “Get him.” Lorna nodded from Autumn to Ethan. “Aren’t you a sweetie? So, what’ll you have?”

  Ethan’s cheeks definitely reddened this time. Autumn supposed his chivalry was kind of sweet in an old-fashioned way.

  “Cheeseburger and fries with a side salad and a cup of coffee, please.”

  “I’ll have the same,” Autumn said.

  “Be back soon.” Lorna waggled her fingers.

  The silence between them lengthened again. Lorna brought coffees and this time waggled her eyebrows. Surely she wasn’t suggesting something between Autumn and Ethan. Because that was just...weird.

  But this silence was weird, too, and Autumn didn’t like it. She sipped her coffee while Ethan shook a sugar packet into his.

  “How’re you feeling about Minnie moving in?”

  “It’s good for Adam.” There was no bitterness in his tone, but that didn’t answer her question.

  “What about you?”

  He shrugged. “I get a sister.”

  Autumn tugged on a strand of her shoulder-length hair. Talking to Ethan tonight was a study in frustration. “You liked Minnie before.”

  “I still do.”

  “You don’t seem happy.”

  “Thanks for your concern. It’s good. Can we talk about the gift? ‘Cause there’s also Brandon and Ana’s wedding the day after Minnie and Adam’s.”

  He didn’t want to talk about himself, then. She didn’t want to honor that, but they weren’t children anymore. Back then, she’d push her way into his confidences, and he’d seemed glad of someone to talk to, someone who cared enough to break his shell. But they weren’t kids.

  “What do you want to give them? You said you wanted it to be personal, so it seems like you’d have some idea.”

  “I was hoping you’d help with that.” He gave her those puppy dog eyes, and she could almost hear a whimper plea.

  “If you’re gonna go off script, you should check the script first.”

  “I’ve checked their online registry. They don’t really need anything, since Adam has the whole ranch house.”

  “Huh? Where do you and Flint live?” All of Ethan’s other brothers had moved off the ranch.

  “The old bunkhouse.”

  “You didn’t say anything.” She and Ethan used to have an easy friendship. They told each other things they didn’t say to other people.

  “You didn’t ask.”

  Guess their automatic confidences were over. She supposed she’d been both absent and absorbed in her own life for the last few years. “I haven’t been there for you.”

  He shook his head and his hand edged toward hers before he pulled back and gripped his mug. “I didn’t mean it that way. You’ve had a lot going on.”

  “You were there for me.” Ethan had been at Dad’s funeral, helped her whenever she asked, and sometimes when she hadn’t.

  “Like you were for me when my dad died.”

  She searched his expression for some other clue, but all she could tell was he wasn’t telling her the whole truth. Her urge was to prod it out of him, but he seemed at his limit of discomfort, the way he was avoiding her gaze and his pale cheeks still colored.

  Lorna brought their food. “How long you in town, Ethan?” Lorna asked while raising her blonde brows at Autumn.

  Autumn shook her head. Whatever Lorna was implying, it wasn’t on.

  “Til after Brandon and Ana’s wedding.”

  “You and Flint are the holdout singles, huh?”

  “That’s us.” He finished squeezing ketchup over his fries then smushed down his burger.

  Probably seeing she wouldn’t get more info, Lorna told them to enjoy and moved on to her other tables. Autumn made a circle of ketchup on the side of her plate and a swirl of mustard on her burger. Ethan speared a fry with his fork.

  “Fries are a finger food.” This was an old pretend debate between them.

  “You eat home fries with a fork. Fried potato is fried potato.” Ethan took a bite of burger.

  She popped a fry into her mouth and ate it. “Isn’t that like saying pizza is pizza? But there’s no denying Hawaiian ‘pizza’ isn’t.”

  “I like Hawaiian pizza.”

  “It’s not even Hawaiian. Some Greek guy in Canada invented it.” She chewed her tasty burger. Mrs. G knew how to hire the right people.

  Ethan smirked. “And French fries aren’t French. Are you going to tell me those don’t exist?” He waved a fry on his fork before shoving it in his mouth in exaggerated pleasure.

  She smiled. He seemed to be getting back to his usual self. She waggled a fry at him before munching it down. They ate in comfortable silence for a bit.

  “Who’s doing the food for the wedding?” she asked.

  “Our cook and staff.”

  “What else is happening? You said there was a lot.”

  “Adam’s just been...bearing down on everyone, wanting the ranch at its best for the wedding and Minnie’s moving in. You know him, he’s like a work machine, so he expects everyone to be able to do what he does. Some of the staff are feeling the pressure. I’ve been point person for the hospitality staff, and they’re on edge. I told Adam we need to hire extra help, but he thinks everyone just needs to put in overtime.”

  “What are you going to do?”
br />   “Hire more staff. I’m holding interviews tomorrow at Dean’s office. He bought that building near the bakery on Riverwalk.”

  “I heard. Bold move. I like it.”

  He met her gaze. What... The way he looked at her, his eyes dreamy and half-lidded, screamed ah, my dar-ling like some old Pepe le Pew cartoon.

  “What’s with the look, Eth? You sure there’s not some woman in your life?”

  He mumbled something incoherent and scanned the room, raising his hand toward Lorna. “You still want that sundae?”

  “When have I ever turned down ice cream?”

  “Uh, yeah, true.” He paid the bill over her objection.

  She’d get the sundae. And she’d get to the bottom of whatever was going on with Ethan.

  Chapter Two

  Ethan plodded next to Autumn, hands shoved in his pockets and his stomach heavy. It wasn’t from the food. Autumn seemed to know something was off, and his mind raced with how he could keep her from finding out how he felt until he was ready. He wanted some sort of lead-in, a romantic slow reveal, not a stammered, cajoled revelation that would send her running home, away from him.

  Her dark red hair flitted against her pale skin. Soon, her freckles would pop with the summer sun’s attention. He took a few long strides to catch up to her hurried pace.

  He was used to being alone, but being without Autumn, losing her friendship and any chance with her, was a new level of alone.

  “Ethan, Autumn, good to see you,” Dianne George said from behind the counter at Careys’. Her dark hands contrasted with the white and light grey of the marble surface she cleaned. The store was winding down for the night, as they closed in an hour.

  “Can we still get a sundae?”

  “For you, sure. What’ll you have?” Dianne walked to the ice cream counter.

  “You up for a caramel-hot fudge boat?” Autumn asked him.

  He nodded. He didn’t even know if he’d be able to eat. As long as Autumn was happy...

  No, that wasn’t true either. He deserved happiness. He’d put this off too long already. His crush on Autumn had gone on so long he’d forgotten when it started. Autumn ordered and they sat at the end of the counter. A few people roamed the aisles of the store, which carried everything from groceries to small gifts to clothing and even a paperback rack.