Toby scratched the dog behind the ears. “This is one of our farm dogs, Jack. We also have an older Border Collie named Maggie. They scout around the farm and keep us all safe, don’t you boy?”
The dog wagged his tail even faster in response to his praise.
They continued walking with Jack trailing close behind. “How long has your family been running the farm?”
“Well, this land has been in my family for generations. My grandparents turned it into a business and then my parents took over about twenty years ago. One day it’ll be mine to run.”
“I’m sure you’ll be great at it, Toby, but won’t you miss teaching?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, I suppose I will, but there’s plenty of teaching to do here at the farm. Kids coming for field trips love learning about the pumpkin patches, orchards and farm animals.”
“I guess you’re right. I’ve learned a lot from just being here a half an hour. It’s so nice your family does this. You must have had an amazing childhood, living here on the farm.”
“It was a lot of hard work, but it was good for me. I learned to be responsible and make an honest living by working with my hands.”
She stopped walking and looked into his eyes with admiration. “I can tell that made you into the good man you are today.”
He took off his cowboy hat, pausing to run his fingers through his brown hair. “I suppose, but I wish I could say I was always so responsible. I had a rebellious stage.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I have a hard time believing that.”
“Well, believe it or not, when I was a teen, I got into quite a lot of mischief. I had to learn my lesson the hard way.”
“What happened?”
He opened his mouth and started to speak, but then shook his head. “I’m not sure this is a first date kind of conversation. “
“Who said this was a date?”
He chuckled softly and put his hands up in a non-threatening manner. “Sorry. Not a date.”
She suppressed a giggle at his reaction. “Glad we cleared that up.”
“Yeah, me too.” He picked an apple from the tree and handed it to her. “So, Lexie Donoghue, where would you like to visit next on this non-date?”
She shrugged one shoulder and continued their playful banter “You’re my tour guide. I’ll let you decide.”
They explored the pumpkin patches. Then Jack wandered off as they walked past the corn maze and inflatables. Toby explained the dog did that all the time and would reappear later. They passed some of the free ranging chickens and ducks before reaching the barn and going inside. A gray and white barn cat greeted them with her half-grown kittens in tow and Lexie stopped to pet them.
Toby knelt down with her and scratched the mother cat under the chin. “This is Mittens. My sister named her that because of her pure white feet.”
Lexie smiled, studying the cat’s unique features. “Perfect name for her I think.”
“Yeah, I think so, too,” Toby agreed. “Her kittens are almost weaned, so they’ll be finding new homes soon, but she’ll be staying here. She was a half-feral cat my sister rescued. It only took a few weeks for Cami to tame her. Then about a month later, these little ones showed up.”
Lexie gave each of the six kittens one last pat and then stood to her full height. “Your sister sounds like she has a kind heart. I’d like to meet her sometime.”
Toby nodded. I know you two would get along great. She’s not feeling very well today, but hopefully you’ll meet her soon.” He approached the nearby stalls and showed her a few miniature horses they let kids ride sometimes and the pigs. Then he stopped by two massive Clydesdales in their oversized stalls. “Here’s Parsnip and Artichoke, but we just call them Nip and Art most of the time. They’re young and still in training, but we hope to use them for wagon rides next season.”
“I love their names. Very unique.” She reached up to pat both of them. Then they stepped back outside. Lexie glanced upward, spotting a cabin at the top of a ridge overlooking the property. “Who lives up there?”
He grinned as if concealing a big secret and then pointed to himself. “Yours truly. Would you like to see it up close? It’s only about a ten-minute ride by ATV.”
Lexie found herself nodding in agreement, throwing caution to the wind. Her previous apprehension faded away as her inner artist took over. She had to see the view from the top of the ridge so she could paint it later.
A few minutes later, she rode behind Toby on the ATV as he steered up a narrow trail through the trees. Too embarrassed to hold onto his waist, she clung to the bars of the rack behind her with a vice grip until reaching a steep section of the trail. “Is it safe to take the ATV up there?” she asked over the roaring motor.
“Yeah, I’ve done it hundreds of times. We’ll make it just fine, but you might want to hold onto my waist now. Don’t want you falling off the back.”
Lexie hesitated before wrapping her arms around his muscular abs. Clinging to an attractive cowboy on the back of an ATV was the last activity she imagined participating in that morning, but there was no turning back now. As Toby shifted gears to gain enough speed to climb the steep incline ahead, Lexie clamped her eyes shut and held on tight, thankful he couldn’t see her flaming cheeks.
When they reached the top of the ridge and Toby parked in the grass near the cabin, Lexie stumbled off the back of the vehicle, more than ready to be standing on solid ground for a few minutes.
She silenced a gasp, observing the view below. The trees bursting with vibrant autumn hues contrasted with the yellow grass with patches of green, brown fields and scattered outbuildings. The blue sky and mountains in the background added the perfect touch. She could hardly wait to return home and try to recreate the scene on one of her blank canvases.
Toby’s deep voice interrupted her thoughts. “So, what do you think of the view?”
Lexie met his gaze, trying to decide which sight astounded her the most—the vast Wyoming sky or the sparkling cerulean eyes of Tobias Campbell. “It’s the most amazing sight I’ve ever seen.”
Chapter Six
Toby showed Lexie around the simple a-frame cabin he called home. He utilized the main level for an open floor plan living area, complete with a kitchen and sitting area and used the loft for his bedroom. After he pointed out the major features, she drank everything in bit by bit, marveling at how he’d used every square inch of the small cabin.
She approached the large picture window at the back of the cabin overlooking the valley. “This is extraordinary, Toby. It looks fairly new, too.”
He nodded. “I used to have a two-bedroom house in town, but when my sister got sick, I sold my house and used some of the money to build this cabin. Then I gave the rest to Cami to help with her medical bills.” He stopped and chuckled. “She said I was crazy and refused the money at first, but I wore her down in the end.”
Lexie studied his face, noticing the sadness behind his smile for the first time. “I’m sorry about your sister. What kind of illness does she have?”
He leaned against the wall, anchoring one thumb into his pocket. “Heart failure. She was diagnosed two years ago. Her doctors say a rare virus weakened her heart.”
She furrowed her brow. “I’m sorry to hear that. Is there anything they can do?”
“She’s on medication to help, but…” his voice trailed off as he gazed out the window, but after a few moments he managed to look at her again and smile. “It’s in God’s hands. Knowing He’s in control brings me peace.”
She released a deep sigh, fidgeting with the charm on her necklace. “I’m glad your faith comforts you.”
“Do you believe in God, Lexie?”
She recoiled at the unexpected question. The visit to his farm had been so wonderful. Why did he have to ruin it by bringing religion into the conversation? Lexie struggled to regain her composure, but Toby was patient and waited for her answer. He had been so kind to her and although she didn’t want to answer the que
stion, she also didn’t want to be rude. In the end, she decided to answer honestly. “My mother left when I was little, but I used to go to church with my dad as a child. He passed away from a heart attack when I was fourteen and I moved into my grandma’s house. My grandma was an atheist, so I stopped going to church after that. Then she died four years later and I’ve fended for myself ever since.”
“That’s pretty impressive you were able to earn your education degree after such a rough time.”
Lexie nodded. “My father and aunt left me a nice nest egg. It was enough money for college and a little extra to live on. I should be thankful I wasn’t left penniless after their deaths, but I suppose I could never quite get a handle on why a loving God would allow so much suffering.”
Toby nodded. “That’s tough for me to understand, too. Watching my sister go through so much suffering has tested my faith. She is such a good person, but married someone who didn’t deserve her. He was a rich man with big ambitions to inherit his father’s business. They moved to New York and had a son together, but he was unfaithful. Cami came back here with Jonah when he was only a toddler. A few years back, her husband divorced her so he could get remarried. Now Cami is a single mom and her heart condition keeps worsening.”
Tears welled up in Lexie’s eyes. “I would think the situation would make you and your family bitter, but after seeing them today I can see that isn’t true.”
He nodded. “My family has been through a lot, but the thing that has always kept us together is our faith in God. There is suffering in this world, yes, but we have His promise it will all end one day. Our lives here on earth are temporary, but we’ll have all eternity to spend in heaven without all the problems we face now.”
Lexie didn’t reply, but allowed the words to soak in. She knew there was something different about Toby and his family from the beginning. They had the kind of peace she desperately longed for. Yet, it was difficult to erase all the doubts in her heart.
Lexie stayed quiet when Toby drove back down to the farm on the ATV. She’d seemed uneasy since he mentioned God and he hoped he hadn’t come on too strong about it. He’d spent the day trying to bring her out of her shell. Scaring her away was the last thing he wanted. He figured she might try to escape before lunch time, but to his surprise, she stayed.
They spent some time in the country store, eating BLTs his mom brought from the kitchen. At first things remained silent in the room, but after eating some of her sandwich, she seemed to loosen up. “Thanks for the tour today. Being from the city, I never realized how much work went on behind the scenes to run a farm like this.”
“You’re welcome. I know living out here must be quite an adjustment for you. Where are you from originally?”
Lexie broke his gaze and started fiddling with the tablecloth, revealing he’d overstepped again. “I’m from the Midwest and have moved through a lot of states recently looking for somewhere to call home.”
He accepted her cryptic answer for the time being. There was no point prodding her for answers and risking the progress they’d made. He decided to be patient and gave her a reassuring smile. “Do you think Wyoming could be that place?”
She stopped fiddling with the tablecloth and looked up at him. “I hope so. Moving from place to place is highly overrated.”
The tremor in her voice caught his attention and for the first time he saw a twinge of fear and loneliness in her eyes. Cami had the same look when she returned from New York as a single mom with a toddler in tow. Had Lexie been in a bad relationship similar to his sister’s? Judging by her standoffish behavior, he feared it was true. Toby reached across the table and gently covered her petite hand with his larger one, telling her the same thing he’d once told Cami. “You’re safe here.”
Lexie flinched at his touch, but didn’t move her hand. Instead, tears clouded her eyes. “Thank you. I really want to believe that. Maybe someday I will.”
Chapter Seven
The next week at work, Lexie looked for creative ways to avoid Tobias Campbell. Her kitten had settled into his living quarters in the laundry room while she was gone, but she went home to visit him every lunch break anyway. She exchanged recess and bus duty days with another teacher to prevent running into him, too.
Lexie did like him—a little too much in fact. It was the reason she needed to nip the problem in the bud now before it got out of hand. The way he looked into her eyes the weekend before and the words he said remained in her thoughts. It was like he knew her secret, but how? And if he didn’t know, how could he have the audacity to tell her she was safe when he had no clue what or who she hid from? In truth, she wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe she was safe now, but the mere act of letting down her guard could be the thing that put her in danger of being discovered. No, she had to stay away from Toby, for both their sakes.
Her plan worked well until Friday afternoon when the mandatory planning meeting for the Autumn Fundraising Festival began. He was already at the table when she arrived. He offered her a kind smile and pulled out the seat next to his. She couldn’t refuse his kind gesture without drawing attention, so she gulped down her nerves and took the offered seat.
He passed her a foam cup of steaming coffee. “I wasn’t sure how you like your coffee, so I didn’t add anything, but there’s sugar and creamer on the cart.”
She nodded. “Thank you. That’s perfect. I like it black.”
“Good to know. By the way, I forgot to ask last Saturday, how’s that little kitten of yours?”
She took a sip of the hot liquid to give herself time to gather her thoughts. “He’s growing like a weed and causing mischief. I named him Picasso.”
“Great name. I’m glad you were able to keep him. There are so many homeless pets out there who need homes. Cami has so much love in her heart for them, but sometimes it seems she can only make a dent in the problem. Now with my sister ill, her assistants are struggling to keep the rescue going. They can’t afford to hire new staff.”
“That’s too bad. Has she thought of taking on some volunteers? I bet there are some kids who would love to come in and help. It could be a service project for school.”
He studied her for a moment. “You’re a genius. Would you come by the farm sometime soon and tell Cami your ideas? She’s been a little down lately, but I bet talking with you would really cheer her up.”
She nodded. “Sure, I’d love to.” As Lexie took another sip of her coffee, she scolded herself inwardly. She’d succeeded at avoiding Toby all week and now she’d allowed him to rope her in again, but how could she say no when his request had been for his sick sister’s benefit?
The meeting went on and they discussed splitting into groups to organize different parts of the festival. Lexie volunteered to lead the decorations group, already planning beautiful fall arrangements in her mind for the gym. After choosing leaders, they sent a sign-up sheet for the other teachers.
The sheet came to Toby last and she gulped as he signed up for the last group with an available space—hers. He grinned at her. “Well, I guess you’ll have to tolerate me for the next few weeks.”
She forced a smile, cheeks burning. “I guess so.”
Toby stepped into his parents’ house, greeted by the delightful smell of homemade chicken potpies. When he came into the kitchen, someone was leaning over the open oven, but it wasn’t his mother like he expected. “Cami?”
She pulled the pan out with two hot pads and turned toward him with a grin. “Hi Toby. How’d work go?”
“Good.” He stood watching her with cautious eyes. “I’m surprised to see you out of bed.”
She nodded with flushed cheeks while placing the steaming food on the counter. “I’m having a good day. Since those have become few and far between, I figured I might as well make use of it.”
“Does Mom know about this?”
Cami sat down at the table and managed a guilty grin while trying to catch her breath. “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her
.”
He sat across from her at the table and sighed. “Just promise me you won’t overdo it.”
Cami pretended to salute. “Aye, aye, captain.” When he didn’t respond, she reached across the table and patted his arm. “Now, tell me about your week and about that fiery red-head who came to the farm last weekend.”
His jaw dropped open. “How did you hear about her?”
“What do you think?”
“Mom?”
Cami chuckled softly. “Who else? So, have you spoken to her again? I want to hear every detail.”
He rolled his eyes. “Have you always been this nosey?”
Cami scoffed and crossed her arms. “Have you always been so secretive? C’mon, we used to tell each other everything!”
“Fine, have it your way. We haven’t spoken hardly at all since last weekend. Actually, I think she might be avoiding me.”
“Came on too strong?”
Toby shrugged. “Maybe. I feel like she’s been through something difficult in her life. I’m not sure what it is, but she acts so guarded. I’m afraid I’m asking for heartbreak with this one, but I really like her, Cami.”
His sister gave him a knowing smile. “She might just need some space. Step back for a while and when she’s ready, maybe she’ll come to you if it’s meant to be.”
Toby nodded. “You might be right. I’ll try my best to give her some distance.” He stood from the table and kissed her cheek. “I’ll go tell everyone dinner’s ready. Thanks for the talk, Sis.”
She grinned. “Anytime.”
Chapter Eight
Lexie woke up at three o’clock on Saturday morning after the same reoccurring dream disturbed her sleep again. She double-checked all the doors and windows before brewing a cup of chamomile tea. Then she cuddled with Picasso on her recliner for a while in a vain attempt to fall back asleep for a few more hours. When it didn’t work, she padded to the easel in the corner of the living room and started squeezing various colors of paint onto her palette.
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