by Lori Wilde
The hit had knocked him flat. He’d redeemed himself later in the game by scoring two touchdowns, helping the team win the game. Ava had run onto the field despite being told to stand back. She took hold of his hand and refused to leave his side. Then she’d done something he hadn’t expected.
She’d kissed him.
That night and her kiss were still in his mind as he took the dog from her and looped the leash around his hand. “Let me show you how to drive the ATV and I’ll walk back with Cinderella.”
“I’ve driven ATVs before. I can figure it out. You’re the one I’m worried about. Are you sure you’re okay?”
He nodded. “I’m fine, Ava. Stop fussing.”
She grinned big. “I feel like I’m right back in high school.”
“Well, except this time you’re not wearing a hot little cheerleader uniform.”
“I still own it.” She winked. “Just saying.”
Then before he could come up with an appropriate rejoinder, Ava went up on her tiptoes and kissed him.
Chapter 5
Had she lost her mind? Why on God’s green earth had she kissed Caleb?
Maybe it was thinking back to the high school football game, or maybe it was watching him be such a good guy helping to round up her parents’ unruly dogs.
Or maybe, if she were really honest with herself, it was because she simply wanted to kiss him. Had, in fact, wanted to kiss him ever since he’d held Buttons for Trudy Manfred at the photoshoot.
Caleb had always gotten under her skin, and not a thing had changed in that regard.
Frankly, she’d kissed him without thinking about it, not knowing if he would kiss her back. She’d shocked herself and assumed he’d pull away.
But he’d returned her kiss, had really kissed her. A deep kiss that made all the old feelings come flooding back.
She wasn’t sure how long they’d stood next to his truck kissing, but eventually, the barking dogs inside the cab ended things.
Laughing, Caleb had glanced over at the dogs. Minnie Pearl, Oscar, Felix, and Cinderella had their faces pressed against the window, tongues lolling.
“We’ve put on quite a show,” Caleb murmured, his arm draped loosely at her waist.
Ava laughed too, feeling thrilled. “Little snoops.”
Caleb stepped back and nodded toward the truck. “Guess we’d better get these hooligans home.”
He opened the passenger door for Ava, and once she settled inside, he circled around to the driver’s side and climbed into the truck.
Silence rode with them.
She darted a glance at his handsome profile. What was he thinking? She fiddled with a button on the sleeve of her jacket and touched the tip of her tongue to her upper lip. “Are we going to talk about what just happened?”
He canted his head, slanted her a look, and shook his head. “Nope. I don’t think we should.”
“I see.” She didn’t see at all. She was desperate to know what was on his mind. “Why not?”
“Nothing to talk about. We hunted for dogs. We found dogs. We kissed. Now we’re taking the dogs home. The end.”
He didn’t want to talk about it. Fine. She could shut down too.
“Okay.” Pretending she was cool with that, Ava settled back in her seat and pretended she didn’t give two hoots if he talked or not. What good would talking do, anyway? They were so different. It’s not like they could ever be a couple again.
Right?
It was her fault. She shouldn’t have kissed him. But, hey, at least he had kissed her back. That had been fun for a few minutes. Her mind conjured up a friends-with-benefits scenario, but she quickly shut those thoughts down.
Too scary.
Caleb pulled into the driveway and her parents came running out with Stephen King. Her mother opened the back of his pickup truck and released Minnie Pearl from her harness. “You found them all safe and sound. Thank heavens!”
“I’m sorry I forgot to lock the gate,” her dad mumbled.
His mother leaned over to kiss his cheek. “It wasn’t intentional. The dogs are safe. No harm, no foul.”
“I’ve turned into a fumbling old fart.” Dad jammed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and seemed lost.
Her dad looked so vulnerable it broke Ava’s heart. She slung an arm around his shoulders. “You are no such thing. You’ve simply had too much on your plate. Anyone of any age could have forgotten to lock the gate.”
“Want me to tell you some of the mistakes I’ve made over the years?” Caleb asked her father, but his eyes trained on Ava.
The heat of his gaze warmed her skin and Ava’s heart fluttered. Oh dear, what was going on?
“Maybe sometime over a beer,” her father said, grateful for Caleb’s kindness. Ava was grateful as well. “I bet you’ve made a few doozies too.”
Caleb nodded; his gaze locked on Ava. “Yep. Some pretty monumental ones.”
“Thank you so much,” her mother said. “We owe you big-time.”
Caleb took off his Stetson and held it in his hands. “You don’t owe me a thing. That’s what friends and neighbors are for.”
Friends.
He wasn’t talking about her. He meant her parents and yet Ava had this crazy, wild hope that maybe, somehow, they could find their way back to each other.
Yeah? How’s that going to happen when you’re hardly ever here?
His head wasn’t on his work and the horse knew it.
“Sorry, boy,” he mumbled to one of the new horses he’d recently rescued as he brushed out his coat with a currycomb. “My mind’s on a woman.”
The horse, an aging gelding sorrel named Charger, had come to him missing his right eye and battling an infection from a barbed wire injury, but he was on the mend now. They had found Charger along with three other horses on an abandoned ranch in southwest Texas. Caleb had taken them all. Poor things. They deserved to live out the rest of their lives in safety and comfort with someone who loved them, and Caleb intended on supplying their needs to the end of their days.
“That’s an enormous responsibility,” said a voice behind him, almost as if reading his thoughts. “You do know horses live twenty-five to thirty years.”
Straightening, Caleb glanced up to see his rancher friend Zach Delaney standing in the stall's doorway. “I’m not going anywhere, and the new horses aren’t colts.”
Zach was grinning. “I’ve met no one less afraid of a commitment than you, Sutton, and I’m a third-generation rancher.”
Caleb shrugged. “I know who I am. Why fight it? What’s up, man?”
“I’m shopping for a horse for Abby Owens.”
“Oh?” Caleb arched an eyebrow.
A telltale flush stained Zach’s cheeks and his grin widened. “Suzannah and I are getting closer and—”
“Just how close?” Caleb wriggled his eyebrows.
“Get your mind out of the gutter. We’re just great friends.” Zach paused and then added with a wink. “For now.”
“Hey, man, that’s great. I’ve always thought you and Suzannah were good together.”
“Speaking of getting closer,” Zach said, jamming his hands into his pockets and kicking at the sawdust in Charger’s stall. “How are things with you and Ava?”
“What do you mean?”
“Ava’s back home since she’s out of a job, and everyone’s wondering if she’s finally staying put for good.”
“Ava’s out of a job?”
“The company she was working for went out of business.”
A strange and dangerous hope yanked on Caleb’s heartstrings. Why should that excite him? Being jobless didn’t scare Ava. She’d just find a new one. The woman had contacts all over the world. But yet, losing a job was a time for reflection, to reevaluate your life and see if…
Stop it.
“There’s nothing between me and Ava.”
“You sure?” Zach asked. “I saw some pretty sizzling looks pass between you two at the photoshoot the othe
r day.”
Caleb decided not to answer that. He just stared hard at his friend.
Zach took the hint. “Anyway, you got a gentle horse you might part with for Abby?”
Caleb nodded. “We can figure something out.”
Zach studied Charger. “The gelding looks like he’s doing a lot better.”
Caleb patted the horse. “Time will tell, but I think he’ll be fine. Phil is doing an outstanding job with the horses. Thanks for recommending him.”
“Glad I could help, but you’re going to go bankrupt if you keep rescuing abandoned horses.”
“Time will tell.”
Zach had a point, but Caleb was sure he could turn things around for the horses who’d come to him in terrible shape. If he knew one thing, it was animals. He patted Charger and he nickered softly as if telling him he was grateful for the rescue.
“Besides, I get the horses for free and then lovestruck ranchers like you show up wanting to buy one for kids who aren’t even theirs—”
“Okay, okay.” Zach chuckled. “You made your point. I won’t argue with you. You know more about horses than I do. Heck, you know more about horses than anyone in Kringle, and I assume you know what you’re doing with Ava.”
“I’m not doing anything with her.”
“That’s my point.”
“Excuse me?”
“When are you going to come to your senses and lasso that woman before she flits away again?”
“Why don’t you take your own advice regarding Suzannah?”
“Hey, I’m working on it. Why do you think I’m here?”
“C’mon then.” Caleb motioned for Zach to follow him. “I think I might just have the perfect horse for Abby.”
Ava hadn’t been to church since the last time she’d been in Kringle. She practiced a daily devotional, but it wasn’t easy finding a regular church service to attend in her preferred denomination when she traveled all over the world and spent precious little time in any one place.
It felt nice being back home. Much nicer than she recalled.
Everyone greeted her as if they’d just been waiting for her to walk through the door. There were lots of hugs and handshakes and how-are-you-doings. The communion with the congregation felt familiar and natural and comforting. In her quest for adventure, she’d forgotten how comforting home and community and family could be.
She and her parents sat in their regular pew toward the front of the church, and she didn’t even realize Caleb was there until the services were over and they turned to leave. She spied him standing at the back of the church talking to Zach, Suzannah, and Abby.
When his eyes met hers across the room, her heart and stomach did a funny little tango and she wanted to make a beeline straight for him, but Trudy Manfred stopped her.
“Ava, I loved the photos you sent me of Buttons and Thimble. You are such a gifted photographer.”
“You’re so welcome, Trudy. It was my pleasure.”
“I wish you would move back to Kringle and become the town’s official photographer.”
Ava smiled indulgently at the older woman. Trudy was such a sweetheart.
“We wish that too,” her mother said and put an arm around Ava’s waist. “But her talent is simply too big for Kringle. Sadly, we have to share her with the world.”
Ava crinkled her nose. Her mother’s comment and the wistful tone in Mom’s voice disturbed her. Was that how her mother really felt? Or was she just bragging a little to Trudy?
“Of course.” Trudy sighed. “But if you ever do come back home, Ava, the town would support your photography business. Guaranteed.”
“She knows,” her mother said. “But the opportunity for growth just isn’t here.”
Oh my gosh, Ava thought. Her mother was using her own words against her. That was precisely what she’d told her parents when she announced she was leaving Kringle to make her way in the world as a photographer.
“I appreciate your kind words, Trudy.”
“Give staying in Kringle some thought, Ava. We’re more cosmopolitan than you might think. The internet has changed rural America. We’re no longer hampered by small-town borders.”
Trudy was so precious. Ava smiled. “Thank you for saying so.”
“Kringle has an appeal that other places do not.” Trudy glanced pointedly in Caleb’s direction.
Uh-oh. Matchmaker alert!
“We have lots of nice things here.” Trudy’s grin lit up her eyes.
Caleb had finished up his conversation with Zach, Suzannah, and Abby and had come sauntering over, a sly smile on his face.
“Good morning, ladies. So…” He paused and settled his hands on his hips. “What ‘nice things’ are we discussing?”
“Nothing.” Ava squirmed and didn’t meet his steady gaze.
“It’s nice that Ava’s home for the holidays,” her mother supplied.
“That it is.” Caleb’s rich voice wrapped around Ava like a welcoming hug. “Very nice for sure.”
The look in Ava’s eyes confirmed Caleb’s suspicion. The three women had been talking about him.
Had Ava told her mother she’d kissed him? Somehow, he doubted it. Smiling, Caleb caught Ava’s gaze, ran two fingers over his lips, and murmured, “It feels nice too.”
Ava shot him a look that said, please don’t mention that we kissed.
He widened his grin. She ought not to go around kissing men in a small town like Kringle if she worried her mama would find out.
But he wasn’t looking to kick over that ant pile, so he let it go. Instead, he asked Marjorie, “How’s Ted?”
“He’s great. He’s just over there talking to Roger Petri.” Marjorie pointed.
Roger Petri was a real estate agent, and Caleb wondered if the conversation centered on putting the Millers’ house on the market. He shifted his gaze back to Ava, but he couldn’t see any sign that she knew her parents planned on closing the shelter and moving into Kringle. He didn’t believe it was right for her parents not to tell her what was going on, but he’d keep his mouth shut.
Stay out of it, Sutton. It’s none of your business.
“Toodles.” Trudy raised a hand goodbye. “I’ve got book club in an hour and need to put out snacks. Y’all have a good Sunday.”
They said goodbye to Trudy, and Caleb set his Stetson back on his head since the church services were at an end.
“I was about to head for lunch at the Kringle Kafe,” Caleb said. “Would the Millers care to join me?”
“That’s such a sweet invitation,” Marjorie said. “Thank you for asking, Caleb, but Ted and I have a thing. However, Ava’s free.”
It amused Caleb to see Ava narrow her eyes at her mother. “What kind of thing?”
“Now, now.” Marjorie gave Caleb a look that said, keep our secret. “You know better than to ask too many questions near Christmastime. You don’t want to ruin any surprises in the works.”
To Caleb’s way of thinking that was a weird thing to say when the surprise Marjorie was hiding from Ava wasn’t a pleasant one.
“Mom, what have you got up your sleeve?” Ava asked.
“Go, have a great lunch.”
“I—”
“Your mother has spoken.” Caleb tipped his hat to Marjorie and extended his arm to Ava, not really expecting her to take it, but she did and darn if he didn’t thrill to it.
He led her outside. A few parishioners still gathered on the lawn chitchatting. It felt good having her on his arm, and he noticed more than a few heads turned to watch them. Ava was in heels, so he took the steps slowly, keeping a firm grip on her arm.
She sighed.
“What’s that about?” he asked.
“You know Mom is getting ideas about us.”
“She’s not the only one. Zach Delaney stopped by to see me yesterday, and he was asking nosy questions about us.”
“Uh-oh. Zach is the least gossipy person in town besides you. If he’s in on this, we’re in trouble.”
Ava disengaged from his arm, turned, and looked at him. She was standing so close that he could see the sprinkle of freckles across the bridge of her nose.
Ducking her head to hide a pink flush staining her cheeks, she said, “I guess everyone thinks we’re getting back together.”
“They can think what they like. We know the truth.”
“Have people been warning you against me?”
“Something like that.”
“Really?” She sighed again. “I’m so very sorry for hurting you. I was young and thoughtless.”
It surprised Caleb that she’d brought it up. He figured they’d leave the past buried as they had every other time she’d come home. For a second, he considered telling her that she hadn’t hurt him, but then he was truthful.
“I know you didn’t mean to do it,” he said in the kindest voice he could muster. “I know you had to do what was right for you. It was unfair of me to expect you to be on board without considering what was best for us both.”
Her eyes glistened in the sunlight. “Thank you for saying that. For being so understanding. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I really didn’t. At eighteen, I was eager and wide-eyed. There was so much I wanted to do in life. I felt like I couldn’t achieve my dreams if I stayed here. My genuine mistake was getting too close to you. I knew I needed more than Kringle could offer and I also knew you were a man anchored in Kringle soil.”
Ouch. Was she unintentionally calling him a stick-in-the-mud?
“You did what you felt you needed to do. I understand and I got over it. And for the record, the joy of being with you, even for just a few years, was worth any pain, Ava.”
Her mouth turned down and her eyes looked so sad. “It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?”