And falling didn’t feel so bad.
CHAPTER TWELVE
AFTER DINNER FLYNN unhooked Beezer from the bench.
Andee knelt and said, “I brought you a piece of chicken. Sorry, I didn’t get a hamburger.”
The dog scarfed down the meat and licked his chops. He nudged Andee’s hand for more and lapped at her fingers.
“Hey, mooch.” Flynn pulled him aside. “You’ll get plenty of food at the house.”
“Can he ride with us?” Andee pirouetted under the streetlamp on one foot until the skirt on her pink dress swirled like a ballerina’s tutu.
“Sure, if it’s okay with your mom. Where did you park?” Flynn stepped to the curb and looked both ways on the street.
“I’m on the other side, down the block. It’s fine with me. Are you heading someplace else?” She reached for Andee’s hand and the dog’s leash.
“No. I’m coming home. Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.” He settled his hand on the back of Jenna’s waist.
She liked the warmth and weight of it, and gave him points for his thoughtfulness in seeing them to their car. Most of all, hearing him call her place home opened little fissures of desire she’d failed to keep in check. It made her think she was ready to move on—ready to venture into another romantic commitment even though she knew only too well it could be risky.
“You’ve grown quiet all of a sudden. I hope you didn’t eat something that disagreed with you.”
“Heavens no. Dinner was lovely. I enjoyed the whole evening. Possibly more than I should have,” she lamented.
They reached the Cherokee and she unlocked it. Flynn opened the back door, boosted Andee inside and let her settle in her car seat before he removed Beezer’s leash and had him climb in.
He shut the door and turned to Jenna, “Explain what you meant. How can you enjoy yourself more than you should? Based on what scale?” He slid his hands under the wrap she’d draped over her shoulders.
She stared at his mouth, but finally said, “I guess I feel guilty for going out and having a good time with you when Andrew hasn’t been gone a year and his...accident is still...in limbo.”
Flynn stopped rubbing her arms. “That makes sense. But, Jenna, he’s not coming back no matter the outcome.” He said it gently.
She imagined her mouth under Flynn’s as she said, “I know, but it seems...unfinished. Is it too soon for me?”
Flynn didn’t answer. Instead he said, “You’re shivering. Are you okay to drive home? I had such a great evening, the last thing I want is for yours to end on a downer.” He escorted her to the driver’s door.
Jenna felt his soothing hand slide to her hip even as he reached up with the other to open her door. Her momentary somber mood vanished. “The wind’s picked up, that’s all. I’m good.”
“Are you up for coffee when we get home? I have something I want to discuss. It’s best left until after you put Andee to bed,” he murmured.
She nodded, feeling a weight descend on her. What could he want to talk about? Had he rethought staying on?
“I’ll follow you home.” Flynn waited while she buckled in and started the engine. He closed the door and gave it a tap for good measure. Then he dug out his keys and swiftly made his way to his pickup.
* * *
PULLING IN AT the ranch some twenty minutes later, the place looked in good order. Jenna stepped out of the Cherokee and beckoned Flynn. When he joined her, she said, “Andee fell asleep two minutes into the drive. Would you mind carrying her in? I’ll get the door.”
“I’ll feed Beezer and put on coffee. Unless you’d rather have tea.”
“Coffee. You have me curious and kind of worried about what you want to discuss.”
“Nothing bad. At least I don’t think so,” he said, lifting out a limp Andee.
Her head lolled on his shoulder as Flynn followed Jenna into the house. He deposited the girl carefully on her bed, then coaxed Beezer into the laundry room for his kibble.
Flynn washed up and started the coffee. Beezer gobbled down his food and came out for a few pats before he padded back toward Andee’s room.
Again Flynn scrubbed dog off his hands. He was drying them when Jenna walked into the kitchen rubbing the back of her neck. “Headache?” he asked.
“Just tired. That coffee smells good.” She pulled out a chair and sat.
Crossing behind her, Flynn set his hands on her shoulders and worked her tense muscles with his thumbs.
Her head fell back. “That feels marvelous. You have untapped talents.”
Chuckling, Flynn walked his thumbs up her spine, under her hair, to the base of her skull. “Why are you tense? I thought you were relieved since the house sold so fast. You even approved an order for fencing to be delivered tomorrow.”
“I’m having second thoughts whether I should have sold the house. Income from the rental helped Oscar Martin make a go of this ranch.”
“But you’re going to get alpacas. And I’ll be contributing.”
“Until you want to spread your wings and find greener pastures. I’m not about to rent my upstairs to just anyone.”
Flynn stopped massaging her neck. “My blood pressure was normal again today, so I’ll spread my wings teaching flying. And this pasture is green enough. I like being here with you and Andee. You’ve...uh...become important to me.”
He stumbled over the last part and went over to retrieve the coffee. Once he’d filled their mugs, he put the pot back and sat across from Jenna.
“Let’s go back to a remark you made earlier. You enjoyed our evening out more than you should. I think we both know something is growing between us. And neither of us was looking for anything.”
“That’s an understatement. I—I’m a fairly new widow.”
“Aren’t we both moving past our issues? I know I am,” he said earnestly, looking her directly in the eye. “I’m beginning to see that I can trust someone even if I can’t predict exactly what will happen next. Even if I can’t count on life to fall into the neat slots I’ve carefully scheduled. Even if I have to give up some control.”
She nodded slowly. “But as I tried to tell you, I feel guilty. Or I sh-should,” she stammered. “You’re easy to lean on. And Andee is opening up. She’s fallen for you.”
He reached over and took her hands. “I hope you’ve fallen a little, too. But we’ve no reason to rush. I don’t want you to feel guilty. Can’t we just let happen what will?”
Jenna warmed to his comment. “I suppose. Is this what you wanted to talk about out of Andee’s hearing?”
“Uh, yes and no. I had something else to discuss.”
“Don’t tell me she ate your Froot Loops again?” she teased.
“Nothing like that. Friday, the carnival opens. Saturday and Sunday I’ll be tied up with the air show from 6:00 a.m. to pretty late. Last time I brought up the carnival you weren’t excited. Now, me...I love all of the rides and silly games on the midway. I’ve been thinking a lot about taking you and Andee, but I didn’t want to ask in front of her. Will you go with me Friday afternoon?”
Her coffee had cooled enough to drink. Jenna took a swig and turned over in her mind what it would be like to spend an entire afternoon on fun. With Flynn.
“Okay. Yes.” She touched her cup to his. “Andee and I saw sections of the rides being trucked in today. Can we just go without advance warning and surprise her?”
“Why not? I’ll come home for lunch, leave Beezer, and we can ride together. We’ll toss jackets in the car and later dinner can be corn dogs and cotton candy.”
“Sounds ghastly, but when in Rome...right?”
He laughed, half rose and leaned across the table to kiss her. He didn’t make it quick. Instead he took his time and ended with a nibble of her bottom lip. By
the time he settled back in his chair, Jenna’s cheeks were bright pink. “I’m not going to apologize,” he said. “I like kissing you.”
Rattled, but with her heart tripping like mad, she maintained a death grip on her coffee mug. “If you noticed, I didn’t exactly push you away. I hope you won’t take it wrong, though, if I end the day now. I—I do feel better.”
She had to look away and regroup.
He didn’t say anything.
“I told Barney I’d move the ostriches to the inner pens early tomorrow morning before the fence people deliver at daybreak. They want to get the postholes dug before it gets hot.” Jenna knew she was babbling and suddenly stopped.
“Don’t let me keep you up. I’ll pour another cup of coffee to take upstairs. Think I’ll catch the news on TV. The owners of the old planes asked if there was danger this weekend of summer thunderstorms.”
“Thunderstorms?” Jenna paused at the sink, where she went to dump her coffee and rinse her cup. “Are they bad? Is that another worry?”
“They’d stop the carnival and air show if we got a real bang-clanker. And that might upset your birds. But no need to borrow trouble.” Rising, he brushed his lips across her pleated forehead. “I’ll keep a check on the weather for the air show.”
She stifled a yawn with a hand. “Sorry.”
“No problem. Go on to bed. I’ll take a walk around outside and make sure everything is locked up tight. Shall we leave this coffee to microwave?”
“That’s a good idea.” She yawned wide again, patted Flynn’s chest, then ducked around him and hurried off toward her room.
* * *
IN THE MORNING when her alarm went off, Jenna was surprised at how well she’d slept. She assumed she’d gotten up ahead of Flynn again. Until she’d filled her travel mug with coffee and went out to start working. He was sitting on the top porch step drinking from his own mug.
“We need some Adirondack chairs for the porch,” he said, smiling up at her.
“Oh, we do? Feel free. I’m sinking all of my spare money into making the ranch profitable.”
“Hmm. Like a certain pink bicycle and a blood-pressure cuff?”
She paused as she passed. “Smart aleck! Speaking of blood pressure... Should you be drinking so much coffee? Doesn’t caffeine drive blood pressure up?”
“Mine has registered normal every time I’ve used that cuff. And I started the supplement, too. Or it could be it’s leveled out because I’m happy again.”
Jenna studied him. He did look totally at ease sitting on the steps in blue jeans and a white T-shirt. He was barefoot and hadn’t shaved, which shouldn’t add to his appeal but did.
“So, the very prospect of continuing to fly makes you that happy?”
“Yes. But it’s mostly because of you, Jenna. I like how you get out at first light and attack the day. I especially like the way you look in jeans, boots and with your hair tied in pigtails.”
She gave a snort. “I don’t like what I see in my morning mirror. Maybe next time you go for a BP check, you should have them monitor your eyesight.”
“Twenty-twenty,” he said smugly. “If you’ll wait until I have a few more slugs of java, I’ll help you herd the ostriches into one pen, since I don’t see that Beezer’s gotten up to help you.”
“I won’t turn down assistance. However, I think you need shoes.” Smirking a bit herself, she set off along the path.
“Hey,” he called. “Did I tell you that I find a woman with attitude sexy?”
Jenna didn’t trust herself to respond. Their banter had her imagining spending a lazy morning with Flynn instead of attacking the day. The idea was so tantalizing that she merely offered a backhanded wave over her head.
As it turned out, she had the birds corralled before Flynn showed up.
“Sorry to stand you up,” he said right off. “By the time I’d shaved, changed into work clothes and boots and come downstairs, Beezer and Andee were up. He was more interested in her breakfast than his. I saw you’d bought her chocolate Rice Krispies. I stayed to eat so I could be sure Beezer didn’t con her into sharing her cereal again.”
“She wouldn’t.”
“I know that now. Because when he put his paws up on her chair and tried to horn in, she told him no and moved her bowl out of his reach. By the way, I helped her on with her boots. She’d pulled on shorts and a T-shirt. I assume she’ll be out in a minute. If you no longer need my assistance, Beezer and I will go on to the airpark.”
“I’m good. Thanks for giving Andee a hand. Oh, hey, I see Barney wheeling in. That truck behind him probably has my fencing.”
Barney had set the kickstand on his Harley and strode up to them before Flynn left. “Notice I’m early. That’s what sleeping in a real bed in a real house with a working alarm clock does for a man.”
Jenna was shocked. “You slept at the house? Wasn’t it beastly hot?”
“I think the minute you handed the mayor the deed, Dayton Hines had a crew up on the roof removing the old AC and hooking up a new one. The mayor and two council members came out to the park with pickups and helped us move. They supplied new bedding and the house was cool as a cucumber.”
“Speed comes if you deal with power brokers,” Flynn said. “Listen, I’ve got to dash. If I stay, your fence team might twist my arm to pitch in. Jenna, if you need anything, call. Otherwise I’ll try to make it home by eight.”
“Shall I fix you a plate and leave it to warm?”
“Sure. Thanks.” He bobbed his head in the affirmative even as he grasped Beezer’s collar and moved out of the way of the approaching truck.
“None of my business,” Barney said, staring after Flynn. “Are you and Flynn...? Uh...?” Jenna shot him a dark look. “Never mind. I tried marriage three times. No kids. That might’ve made me stick.”
He slanted his eyes toward Andee, who ran to Flynn and hugged him and the dog before they climbed into the pickup.
“Flynn’s real good with your kiddo. You don’t want her to be an only child—”
“Enough!” Jenna sliced a hand across her neck. “And don’t make comments like that within her earshot. I’d think someone who tried marriage three times would know there’s a lot to consider before walking down the aisle.”
He grinned cheekily. “Obviously, I hit a nerve.”
The fence men unfolded out of the truck, reaching Jenna at the same time as Andee. After she signed for the materials and paid the bill, she left Barney in charge of showing the crew where to dig postholes.
Adroitly she steered her daughter to the feed shed. Together they filled bins in the pens, then Jenna dragged the hose to the troughs. Her mind wandered from the task to recount her late-night chat with Flynn. Struck by longing, she overran the water trough. All thoughts evaporated as she helped Andee hop over the stream of muddy water.
“Why did Flynn take Beezer? I don’t have anybody to play with.”
“Beezer is Flynn’s dog.”
“Why can’t he be all our dog?”
Jenna cast a sideways glance at her. “Because.”
Andee kicked dirt at the puddle. “My teacher said because is not an answer.”
Shutting off the water, Jenna coiled the hose.
A light plane suddenly loomed overhead, so low Jenna ducked, held her breath and gathered Andee close. She tensed all over as she waited for the plane to crash into her pens. It pulled up, but she saw that even the fence workers had hit the ground.
It was that same red-and-white plane.
“I’m scared, Mommy. What if he fell on our ostriches? Or on us?”
Hating how Andee shook, Jenna sighed and said to distract her, “I have Keisha’s mom’s phone number. Shall we see if Keisha can come for a playdate? You’d have to stay inside and keep out of the way of the fe
nce installers.”
“Maybe she can bring her dolls and have lunch with me.”
“Maybe.” Jenna took out her cell phone, but realized it was still very early. “Andee, a lot of people don’t get up until later. How about if we run out to the alpaca farm? I want to buy some.”
“The soft ones? But how will we bring them home?” the girl asked, skipping ahead to the Cherokee.
“We can’t actually get them until the pens are done. Mrs. Johnson said she’d have some available by the end of summer, so I’ll order them.” She helped Andee climb into her seat.
“Wait, I need to go get Cubby.”
* * *
IT TOOK FORTY minutes to reach the alpaca ranch. Jenna again hailed Peggy Johnson, who was hand-feeding a cria. Andee ran to watch, enthralled.
“I expected to see you again,” Peggy said. “Just not this soon.”
“Things fell into place. I thought I’d come order the animals you indicated you’ll have to sell by this fall. My new pens are being built as we speak.”
“We talked about a dozen, didn’t we? Males and females. If you want pregnant females, they, of course, cost more.” Peggy cited prices.
The baby sucked the last milk from the bottle as Jenna frantically added in her head. “Maybe I’ll get one pregnant female to start.”
Nodding, Peggy returned the baby to a listless mother.
“Does that happen a lot? Where you have to bottle-feed?”
“That mother is on antibiotics for an infection. Her baby doesn’t need medication.”
This was a new wrinkle they hadn’t discussed the first time Jenna had stopped by.
Noting her hesitation, Peggy tucked the bottle into a bag she carried over one shoulder. “I’ll have a vet certify the animals I sell you. Will you be ready to receive them Labor Day weekend?”
“That’s perfect. Andee’s school starts the Monday after the holiday. Helping out when she gets home each day will be the first chores where she’ll earn an allowance.”
The girl straightened away from the fence. “What’s that mean?”
An Unlikely Rancher Page 18