by Elder, Jan;
They had a moment of silence while he pondered…
And she squirmed.
“Wallflowers?” Hunter tapped his chin in thought.
“Excuse me?”
“Wallflowers. Isn’t that what artists called the mural painting group? Remember the jungle animals splashed all over the wall near the gym entrance?”
“Oh, yeah. I remember now. Wasn’t there an aquarium mural near the ag center greenhouse?”
His face brightened. “So I was right?”
“No. I wasn’t a Wallflower.”
At least not officially. Those tough times had been long, long ago, and today she was grateful for his help. Water under the bridge, over and done with, signed, sealed, and delivered. She checked off a list of clichés in her mind. Besides, he didn’t really remember her. She stapled on a good imitation of a happy face. Cassidy ran fingers through her too-shaggy hair. “Maybe we passed in the hall a few times. OK? So…tell me about your church and Pastor Jimbo.”
10
Hunter grabbed a doughnut and a cup of freshly brewed coffee from the kitchen at Crystal Falls Community Church. He usually brought leftover baked goods, but he’d forgotten to bring some home, and he wasn’t about to stop at Hillary’s. If he’d been thinking about something besides Cassidy, he would have remembered to grab what was left in the fridge.
He walked into his College and Career classroom. He always tried to go over his notes one more time before people arrived. Would Cassidy show up? She’d seemed interested when he’d invited her to church, but maybe she was merely being polite. And what was he doing obsessing over a woman he’d just met instead of finding a fresh way to present the Beatitudes? Hunter reread the fifth verse of Matthew chapter five and contemplated the concept of “meek” rather than “weak.”
Zach tromped into the room, yawning wide, windbreaker tossed over his shoulder. He hung up his coat and rubbed his hands together. “What happened to spring? It’s chilly out there. How’s the coffee?”
“I made it so it’s dark roast, good and strong. Not for the novice coffee drinker.”
“Glad to hear it. Last week Gabby served a tan liquid she erroneously called ‘coffee.’ I’ve seen darker dishwater.”
“Another reason I got here early. Want to be useful?”
“OK, but can it wait until I have a cup? I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Another hot date with Danielle?”
Zach stretched his arms over his head and cracked his knuckles. “Yeah. Could be getting serious.”
“After, what, five dates?”
“Five really good dates. It’s getting harder and harder to keep my hands to myself. Ya know?”
“I hear you. Been awhile since I’ve gone on a date, though. But there’s a new woman in town, and I…”
Aaron came in wearing colorful madras shorts and pricy athletic shoes lugging his huge Bible.
Hunter offered his hand. “Hey there, Aaron. Grab a cup of coffee and a doughnut, and then you two can set up the room. We’ll be in a circle today. Easier to talk that way. Encourages conversation.”
“Hold that thought.” Zach raced from the room and skated back in cradling a bear claw. He wolfed down a bite and licked his fingers clean. “How many are we expecting? The Nelson twins are out of town visiting relatives.”
Hunter finished his pastry and tipped up the last tepid swallow of coffee. “We’ll probably have the usual suspects, so twenty chairs should do it. It’s good to have a couple of extras in case we have visitors.”
“You got it. Hey, Hunter, have you noticed that since Blake started dating Lindsey, we haven’t seen hide nor hair of them? What’s up with that?”
“I’m not sure Lindsey’s the best influence on him, but he’s still trying to make his way and figure things out. Cut him some slack. Or call him and talk to him. Be a better influence on him.”
While Zach grumbled, Hunter’s thoughts wandered back to Cassidy’s flashing blue eyes and short, strawberry blonde locks—he imagined running his fingers through the soft hair on the nape of her neck—but he shoved the vision to the far recesses of his mind. It had been a long time since a woman had arrested his attention.
Aaron and Zach manhandled the chairs, Zach placing them in a flawless circle, a uniform number of inches apart. His buddy was an overachiever. Still, it was good to have a staff willing to help.
Hunter handed Zach a stack of flyers. “If you could pass these out when I announce there’s a singles retreat in the works, I’d appreciate it.”
“When and where‘s it going to be?”
“All will be revealed in time. Patience is a virtue, in case you hadn’t heard.”
A horde of people trooped into the room.
Hunter gathered the gang and said the opening prayer. He was plunging into the lesson when Gabby traipsed in with a hesitant Cassidy trailing along behind. His head reeled. All decked out in a soft powder-blue blouse, well-fitting dark-washed jeans, her dainty feet clad in bronze metallic flats, she was even lovelier than the last time he’d seen her. As they locked gazes, all thoughts of Matthew chapter five took wing and flew out of his brain. He lifted his hand in greeting. “Welcome, Gabby. And folks, this is Gabby’s friend, Cassidy Cooper. So nice to see you again.”
A half-smile graced Cassidy’s lips.
Somehow, he made it through the Bible study lesson although he had no clue as to how knowledgeable he’d sounded. He was grateful to Zach for pitching in and filling the awkward silences with intelligent questions, spurring others into a lively discussion.
With five minutes left until the end of class, Hunter jumped into the announcements. “Zach is passing out a flyer with details about the upcoming singles retreat. This year it’ll be at Summit Crest Conference Center on top of North Mountain. The program starts on Friday night and ends after a Sunday morning service—lodging and meals included.
“Our special speaker is Andrea Nathan, a counselor from the Wildwood Church. The theme is relationships—not just romantic relationships, but all of our relationships—so please invite your friends, neighbors, countrymen, anybody you can think of. I know I’m dreaming big, because, on a good day, we only have twenty-five or thirty people in the group. But I made reservations for fifty. And if anyone has a problem with the cost, come see me. We have a few scholarships available, and we don’t want to turn anyone away. Oh, and one more thing. No cell phones allowed, and I mean it. I’ll have mine in case there’s an emergency.”
The group groaned but he wouldn’t back down.
Would Cassidy come? Was she a Christian? He hoped so. And while he was dreaming big, how in the world could he get this woman to go out with him?
~*~
Cassidy landed on Savannah’s guest bed with a thump and kicked off her shoes. Since she was busy making over her life, when Hunter had invited her to church, she figured she might was well get back on track with God, too. She missed her congregation in Chicago, and church shopping here in Maryland had been on her to-do list.
She’d enjoyed going to church with Gabby. Pastor Jimbo was a dynamite speaker. But somehow, despite their numerous discussions, her friend had failed to mention Hunter taught the College and Career class. Maybe it was just her imagination, but every time she glanced up, he’d been staring at her. And every time he’d looked away, her gaze had lingered on his perfectly shaped lips. In his red polo shirt and tan khakis, he’d turn any woman’s head. Was it any wonder she’d had trouble concentrating on the lesson?
She leaned back on a pillow and stared at the ceiling. In the not so distant past, Cassidy had memorized every dimple, every plane of Hunter’s face. She’d fallen in love with the measured tones of his voice and silently cheered him on when he read his compositions in class. She’d hung on every syllable the few times they’d talked, engaging him with questions about his plans for the future. He had an adorable shy side, but once she’d gotten him going, his excitement was contagious.
Dear God, she thought she’d forgiven hi
m. Maybe he was different from the man who had ridiculed her and shattered her tender teenage reality. She should be able to start fresh and, at least, be in the same room without clenching up inside. Conflicting emotions warred within her, giving her a pounding headache.
Resigned, she rolled over on her side. A curious Gracey hopped up on the bed, nudging her hand. She stroked the little cat’s head and delighted in the feel of the soft fur sliding under her fingertips. Gracey purred and nestled in the hollow under her ribcage. Who knew cats could be so warm and comforting?
Cassidy closed her eyes and tucked her feet under the blanket. There seemed to be little chance of avoiding Hunter, so she’d better get used to the idea of having him in her life.
She just wanted to control how much.
11
Hunter pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and sank onto a bale of hay. Why did cows decide that 2:00 AM was the perfect time to go into labor? Poor, pregnant Marigold lay sprawled in the straw at his feet, sides heaving. Her pleading eyes shredded his emotions. She’d never calved before, and she was scared. So was he.
He stabbed the end button on his cell phone and cradled his head in his hands. Kimberly was out of town for the night, and the substitute vet on call was already out. In desperation, he’d tried the vet in the neighboring town. Also, out. Were all the pregnant cows in the county calving tonight?
He’d grown up on the farm, and he knew what to do when all was going well—hadn’t he assisted Iris with her easy delivery a few weeks ago?—but this was different. Marigold had been in labor for hours now, and the contractions had stopped with no baby cow snuggling beside her. Marigold was his favorite cow; she needed him, and he wouldn’t let her down.
If he could find someone to hold her head, talk to her, while he worked on delivering the little one alive and well, it would be a help. He’d tried a few friends, but they weren’t picking up their phones. In the middle of the night, happy cell phones were switched to “silent” mode, charging away in everybody’s kitchen. Apparently, only vets and people doctors slept with phones under their pillows.
Cassidy. He didn’t have much choice. “I’ll be right back, Marigold. Promise.” He stroked Marigold’s ears, sprinted across the lawn, and pounded on Cassidy’s back door. He kept right on pounding until the kitchen light clicked on. Through the gauzy backdoor curtains, he could barely make out her bathrobe-clad form…holding…a frying pan?
Cassidy switched on the porch light, pulled back the sheers, and peered through the glass. “Hunter?” She rubbed sleepy eyes, unlocked the door, and gestured for him to come in. Her hair was mussed, her bangs fanning over her left eye. Everything in him yearned to reach out and smooth the errant lock, but he ignored the urge.
“Hunter! Do you know what time it is? What’s the matter?” Wisps of unfinished dreams clung to her husky voice.
He raked a hand through his own tousled hair and dipped his head. “It’s Marigold. She’s calving, and I need your help.”
Her face scrunched, brow puckering. “Huh?” She backed up a step, her baby-blue painted toes making a pretty contrast to the yellow tiled floor. Cassidy pulled her robe belt tighter and fastened the cord.
Eyes a shade darker than the shimmery nail polish gazed into his. His already hammering heart took off at a gallop. He exhaled. Twice. “You can put the pan down now. Or was your plan to sauté any intruders?”
She lowered the heavy metal pan. “No, only cheeky ones who wake me in the middle of the night. I don’t know squat about cows.”
“It could be hours until the vet gets here. I need someone to hold her head and distract her.”
“Me? You want me?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I can’t seem to get a hold of anyone else.”
Her soft giggle charmed him, and she fixed a small hand on her hip. “Ah. I see. Desperation time. She’s a big girl, though. I’m not sure I can hold her.
“She’s as gentle as a lamb on a frisky day. Right now, she’s so tired she can barely hold her head up.”
“OK. Do I have time to change into jeans and a sweatshirt?”
“Yes, but hurry. I shouldn’t have waited this long.”
~*~
Cassidy sat cross-legged in the straw, Marigold’s weary head in her lap.
The cow’s heavy-lidded eyes shuttered, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, her new baby calf, tucked by her side, nuzzling.
Back aching from staying in one position for too long, Cassidy carefully shifted. She stretched out her feet, grimacing at the pins-and-needles, but she wouldn’t have traded the last two hours for all the chocolate truffles in the galaxy. Even the cherry ones. She fondled Marigold’s fuzzy ear. It had been a long night.
Next to the stall door, Hunter finished washing up and stood watching them.
The only sound in the barn was the quiet hush of soft snuffling by bovine mother and child. As if awed by the miracle of life, they both remained quiet, enjoying the moment.
“Thank you for being here, Cassidy. I couldn’t have done it without you.” Hunter broke the silence.
“I wouldn’t have missed a minute. The sun will be up soon. Coffee?”
His shy grin spread, his face alight with something akin to…satisfied joy. “Sounds perfect.”
Cassidy gently lifted Marigold’s head, positioned her cheek on a pillow of straw, and tried to stand—tried being the operative word.
“Need help?” Hunter reached down and offered his hand.
She creaked a bit as she rose to her feet and then stumbled into his chest. Way to go, Cooper.
Hunter’s damp, sturdy hands that smelled of soap settled on her shoulders. “I feel like cooked linguine with sauce myself.” He draped an arm around her. What she wouldn’t have given ten years ago to feel his arms around her.
“What kind of sauce? Red or white?” Her snicker held a touch of panic around the edges. What an idiotic thing to say. She was getting punchy and desperately needed sleep.
Hunter snorted, pulled her into a side hug, and squeezed. “My house is closer. Why don’t I fix you that coffee? I could probably even scare up some scones. Chocolate chip all right?”
They wobbled across the yard, Cassidy shaking a foot every couple of steps to get the feeling back. Hunter’s arm drew her closer, steadied her, and her breath caught. No need to get overwrought. They were two people who’d spent the last couple of hours working toward a common goal. Just two people. Neighbors. They’d have a quick breakfast, she’d take a hot shower to wash off the cow smell, and then she’d be off to dreamland. Life would go back to normal.
What did he say? Oh yeah. “Thanks. I can’t think of anything I’d rather have than a chocolate chip scone.”
Cassidy washed her hands at the sink in Hunter’s kitchen, eased into a chair at the breakfast table, and rested her elbows on the oak tabletop. She watched the muscles ripple in Hunter’s broad back as he made a pot of strong coffee and heated the scones in the oven. The tempting aromas wafted in the air like edible perfume.
Hunter handed her a super-sized mug of coffee and arranged a plate of warm scones next to the cup.
Cassidy reached for the sugar bowl. “Do you happen to have any cream?”
“My, you are tired, aren’t you?”
“What? Oh.” She started to shake, a giggle bubbling up in her throat. She gripped the table and coffee splashed over the rim of her cup.
Hunter grabbed a roll of paper towels, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He tore off a sheet and sopped up the mess.
“Sorry. I must be half-comatose. Imagine asking a dairy farmer if he has any cream.” She stifled another giggle and broke off a chunk of her crumbly cake, savoring the sweetness of melted chocolate.
“Happens all the time.” Hunter deepened his smile, an adorable dimple gracing his left cheek. A pitcher of cream in the shape of a cow appeared on the table, and he snagged a scone and started munching. “We’ve talked a
ll about me and the farm for the last two hours, but I hardly know anything about you. You mentioned you’d moved away after the tenth grade?”
Cassidy gnawed on a scone and licked the crumbs off her lips. “I grew up in Chicago. Then Mom married my stepdad and we moved here. They had major marriage troubles from the beginning. It was not a happy household. Mom and Frank eventually divorced, and I finished high school in Illinois. Then, it was off to college.”
“You spent a few years in Crystal Falls, then. So you—”
“Uh-huh.” How to get him off this subject? “Did you know Savannah well?”
“Not really. We were neighbors for a few months. She smiled a lot and seemed nice. But Marigold saved her yard hopping for you.” Hunter smirked and reached for another scone. “It must have been strange moving back here.”
“Very.”
Hunter paused. “I’m sorry about your sister.”
“Thanks. We didn’t stay in touch, and that makes me feel awful.”
“Sometimes sibling relationships are hard.” Hunter poured fresh coffee into Cassidy’s cup and then topped off his own. He wrapped his fingers around his mug and gazed into her eyes. “I know it’s not any of my business, but is there someone waiting for you in Chicago—a boyfriend, I mean?”
Surprised at the delicate shade of rose creeping up his neck, Cassidy gulped her coffee. She could get lost in those dark eyes. Her gaze lowered. “No. Bradley and I broke up shortly before I moved here.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m the one who broke it off. He…well…he didn’t have the same values I did. He wanted more than I was willing to give. Outside of marriage, I mean.” A blast of heat scorched her own face. She toyed with her spoon, stirring the liquid in a nearly empty cup. The clink of metal on stoneware made her cringe. “Loving someone like that…well, it’s meant to be special. Sacred, you know?” She jumped to her feet, sending the chair skidding across the room.
A startled orange cat crouching by the entrance to the kitchen took off like a shot.
“Sorry. That was, no doubt, too much information.”