by Glynna Kaye
“Six o’clock. Casey Lake. Bristlecone ramada.”
She nodded. “I know where that is. What’s on the menu? I can bring a side dish.”
He hadn’t asked about the food. Probably should check with Joe about what he should bring, too. “Burgers, most likely. About anything goes with that.”
“Maybe cheesy potatoes then—a baked hash browns dish with cheddar cheese and onion. Does that sound good?”
“Yeah, sure.” Fried grasshoppers sounded good to him at the moment. He hadn’t had breakfast yet.
“Uncle Bryce! Uncle Bryce!” Out of nowhere a flying weight plowed into him as Gina threw her arms around one of his legs. He braced himself to keep the bicycle from toppling them, then reached down and swept her into his arms.
“Hey, kid.”
She patted him on the shoulder. “Did you see me swinging?”
“Sure did. How’d you go so high?”
“Mommy taught me.”
He glanced at Sandi. “Is that a fact.”
But the child’s mother was scanning the other park-goers, most likely wondering who’d heard the Uncle Bryce thing. But then, apparently satisfied, she turned back to him with a laugh. With an unexpected jolt, he glimpsed the dimpled, beaming six-year-old she’d once been, flying to the sky in her swing. Blond hair streaming out behind her, glinting in the sun.
She folded her arms with sassy bravado. “Nobody outswings the Bradshaw women, right Gina?”
Gina nodded with enthusiasm, looping her arm around Bryce’s neck. “The Bradshaw women are the best, right, Uncle Bryce?”
He gave her a squeeze, but his eyes were drawn again to her pretty mother. He winked. “You bet.”
Color rose in Sandi’s cheeks. What had gotten into him this morning? Flirting with Keith’s wife. Just because she’d decided—for whatever reason—to go on the outing, that didn’t mean she was looking for anything else from him. And he sure didn’t want anything else from her, either.
She held out Keith’s cap to her daughter. “Say goodbye and hop on down, Gina. We have a lot to do this morning and I’m sure we’ve delayed Bryce from his morning cycling much too long.”
He returned Gina’s hug and set her back on the ground. She plopped the cap on her head with a cocky grin that mirrored her daddy’s, and he watched as the pair strolled away, hand in hand to their car. Gina chattered the whole while, skipping along with energy to burn.
Cute kid. Made him smile.
And then there was her mother…
An unexpected sense of anticipation rose up in him. Less than a week and she’d meet him at the lake. Even if it wasn’t technically a date—she’d made that clear—they’d probably hang out together, wouldn’t they? Joe and Meg were married. Jason and Reyna, too. Trey and Kara were as good as hitched.
He slipped his helmet on again, watching as Sandi’s car pulled away.
Keith would be proud of both his girls. Hard to understand, though, why his buddy had been taken to his heavenly home when he’d still had so much to live for. And why God left some no-good fella like himself on the planet instead.
What would Keith think about Sandi joining his best friend at a barbecue? He certainly wouldn’t have approved of Old Bryce going anywhere near her, that was for sure.
But what about New Bryce?
And would inviting Sandi along get him off the matchmaking hook with Meg?
Or make things worse?
“Don’t worry about tomorrow,” he’d read in the Good Book that very morning. “Today has enough trouble of its own.”
And that was supposed to be reassuring?
He let out a huff of pent-up breath and launched off on his bike.
Chapter Eleven
Already Thursday afternoon and she’d been so flustered with this whole barbecue thing that Sandi had forgotten to get a baby sitter for Saturday night. She’d been so intent on what she’d say and how she’d say it to get Bryce to rethink the museum increase that she’d fumbled a critical aspect of the entire evening. Unfortunately, if she recalled correctly, Joe Diaz didn’t have to work this weekend, so Meg wasn’t an option. They’d want family time. Sharon Dixon would be out of town.
Cassidy Donne. That was it. One of her students. She’d announced on the last day of school that she was saving for a trip to England so she planned to babysit her heart out this summer. Perfect.
But during her first break between a steady stream of Warehouse customers, a call to her student proved futile. Cassidy suggested a couple of friends, but they, too, were booked Saturday night.
Well, she’d think of something. LeAnne maybe? She’d volunteered to keep Gina for the entire summer, but sentencing the active little girl to long afternoons with her grandma hadn’t seemed the wisest alternative. And if she asked LeAnne to babysit, wouldn’t she want to know why? Not a good idea.
She glanced around the Warehouse’s spacious interior, making sure no customers required her attention, then focused on tidying up at the front counter. Even now, days since her encounter with Bryce in the park, she didn’t know why she’d committed herself to accompanying him. Well, not accompanying him exactly. She’d told him she’d meet him there.
She cringed. Was that rude? She was so out of practice with dating etiquette, having not been on one—except with Keith—since he’d responded to her letter while she was in college. But then this wasn’t really a date. Meeting Bryce left them both with open options to come and go as they pleased. If there was a woman among his friends who liked him or whom he liked, it wouldn’t be as if they’d shown up together. Or giving the impression that they were a couple.
What an idiot she was to have pushed Bryce into this.
Then another thought struck her. What would she wear to meet his friends? Jeans? Shorts? A sundress? She didn’t have anything new. She’d been scrimping and saving every dime from her Warehouse job the past several years to buy museum display cases. Maybe she and Gina could run over to Show Low, check out the shops. But would something that looked new imply to others—to Bryce—that this was a date?
The same overactive butterflies that had assaulted the insides of her stomach since Monday morning renewed their battering-ram efforts.
“Good afternoon, Sandi.”
Startled, she swung to face her mother-in-law. Guilty warmth crept up her neck. She had a not-a-date with a man LeAnne despised.
“Hi. What brings you in today?”
“I dropped off a pair of slacks at the dry cleaner and thought I’d pop in to see if you were working this afternoon.”
“Yep, I’m here.”
“And while I’m here I may as well let you know—a dear friend of mine called this morning. She’s coming up from the Valley tomorrow to pick up a rocking chair I found for her at that antique shop down the street. She’ll head home Saturday morning, but that conflicts with our Friday get-together. So let’s shift our time to Saturday.”
A free Friday night? Her heart lightened, but only momentarily. “This Saturday?”
“That’s not convenient?”
Steady, girl. Keep it vague. “I’m getting together with friends.”
“Oh?”
She sounded as if she was surprised Sandi had any. “Friends of friends, actually. A cookout at Casey Lake.”
“And Gina’s going, too?”
“Actually, no. It’s an adult gathering.” She took a deep breath. “Did you want to babysit?”
There, she’d asked her.
LeAnne’s expression warmed. “You know I’m always more than happy to spend time with my granddaughter.”
“Gina enjoys her time with you, too.”
Usually.
“So who are these friends of friends? Like a church group?”
LeAnne would have to ask. She herself hadn’t asked Bryce that question because she didn’t want him to take it as rudeness on her part, as if checking them out for suitability after she’d made that blunder involving concern for her reputation.
To Sandi’s relief,
a customer approached. With seeming reluctance, LeAnne moved away to peruse a rack of postcards. With any luck, the break in conversation would be a sufficient distraction to get her off the topic she’d honed in on as if sensing her daughter-in-law was hiding something.
Which she was. Sort of.
Sandi took her time ringing up the armload of outdoor gear, chatting with the customer, recommending camping sites as if she were an outdoor pro. In reality, she’d camped only once in her life. With Keith. It had been a disaster. But she’d all but memorized the chamber of commerce guide so she could intelligently advise visitors on the community’s many opportunities for outdoor recreation.
All the while, though, she kept a furtive eye on her mother-in-law, hoping she’d grow impatient with the chitchat and scurry off to the next event in her always busy schedule. But the moment the satisfied customer headed to the shop door, LeAnne returned to the counter, her manicured hand resting on the polished surface. Click. Click. Click.
“So who is this friend who has these friends?”
Think fast. “Mae Harding—who lives above the museum—suggested I go. She thinks I need to get out more often with adults my age.”
“Like with her grandson?” LeAnne’s voice came low and sharp, her gaze piercing.
Sandi lowered her own voice. “I’m meeting him and some of his friends at the lake. It’s not a date or anything even remotely close to one.”
“His friends? My land, Sandi, what are you thinking? Have you no concept of how quickly an attractive young woman can shred a spotless reputation in this town? I can’t believe you’d be so careless with your—and Keith’s—hard-earned standing in the community. With little Gina’s.”
“There’s no reason for concern. I’ll be in a public place in broad daylight.” Then again, who were Bryce’s friends? It hadn’t dawned on her that his local chums might be every bit as rowdy as those he associated with while in the military.
“Reconsider, Sandi. This is foolishness.”
“I already agreed to go.” She’d turned him down once. She couldn’t do it again. Besides, the museum’s future was at stake.
LeAnne braced herself on the checkout counter. “Sweetheart, I understand that as a single parent you feel isolated from your peers. Feel the weight of responsibility on your young shoulders. Feel as if the world is passing you by while everyone else is having a good time. But that’s the price you sometimes have to pay. For the sake of your husband’s memory. Your daughter’s future.”
“I’m sure it will be okay. I don’t see any way to get out of it now.”
“You pick up the phone and—” LeAnne’s lips tightened. Then she stepped back from the counter. “I can’t be a party to this and babysit Gina for you. So count me out of the equation.”
Raising a disapproving brow at Sandi, she strode briskly out the door.
Was LeAnne right? What if the gathering turned out to be like one of those off-campus picnics in college that deteriorated as the sun set. What if she found herself surrounded by drinking. Drugs. Even if she left immediately, what might the outcome be if she were thought to be a part of that?
Surely Bryce wouldn’t invite her to something of that nature, would he? But was she willing to risk losing her hard-earned relationship with Keith’s beloved mom just to prove a point?
She took a ragged breath. She owed Keith so much. Had no other choice. She’d have to beg off.
Thursday night Bryce hung up the phone on his grandma’s kitchen wall and ran a hand through his still shower-damp hair.
If that didn’t beat all. Sandi had turned him down. Again. Twice for the same event. If this kept up, he’d develop some kind of inferiority complex. From the time he’d started going out in high school, he’d never been turned down for a date.
Not that this was a date.
Nevertheless, the rejection stung.
“She dumped you?”
Not having his cell phone number, Sandi had called the house, so the entire minute-and-a-half conversation played out to the eavesdropping ears of his granny. He again ran his hand through his hair.
“You could see for yourself, right at the beginning, that she wasn’t jumping up and down with excitement when I asked her to go with me.”
“That’s because of the way you asked. Like somebody’d put a gun to your head to get the words out of your mouth.”
He gave her a significant look. “I think it was pretty clear to both Sandi and me who was holding that gun.”
Sandi had been apologetic enough in their brief phone conversation. But she sounded nervous. Almost as if afraid he’d challenge her for an explanation that was more explicit than the vague one she offered. He didn’t challenge her, though. He was smart enough to recognize a brush-off.
“Maybe something did come up,” Grandma assured. “Something legitimate.”
He shrugged.
But Grandma could be right. Sandi wanted only to meet him at the lake, didn’t she? Maybe because there was some other guy she was sweet on. She didn’t want to be seen with Keith’s old buddy and scare the other dude off. Maybe she’d gotten a genuine date for Saturday night?
He mulled that revelation for a moment, rolling it around in his mind. Who? That new city councilman, Jake Talford? Maybe that new guy who’d shown up at church last week?
Not that it was any of his business, but in Keith’s absence, he couldn’t help but feel protective of Sandi. Lots of jerks out there looking to take advantage of nice women. He himself might not have settled down with any of his lady friends from the past, but he sure had done his best not to be a jerk. But if any unsavory sort hooked up with Sandi Bradshaw, they might get a rude awakening when she pulled out that little red note- book of hers and outlined the direction their life would take henceforth. All the way to the grave.
“Why are you grinning?” Grandma Mae placed her hands on her hips, eyes sharp. “You seem pretty tickled for a man who just got turned down.”
He shook his head, but couldn’t suppress the smile. The thought of some unsuspecting male getting ambushed by Widow Bradshaw was worth smiling about. But no, he wasn’t tickled at a turndown. He’d been looking forward to spending an evening with her. Would have been better than showing up stag, that’s for sure. Now he’d be a sitting duck for Matchmaker Meg.
“Well, I hope this makes you smile, as well.” Grandma waved a slip of paper. “I took the message while you were showering. Don’t know why he didn’t call your cell.”
She handed him a name and phone number jotted down in her familiar script.
Brenden Gerrard. The fire chief.
This could be the make-it-or-break-it call.
Chapter Twelve
“So are we all in agreement then?” Sandi stood in front of the historical society members gathered in the museum kitchen Monday night. “It’s short notice to pull off something like this with the Fourth almost on top of us.”
“We can do it,” Earl assured, as if he’d be the one racing to get the appropriate permits, cleaning out the society’s makeshift vending trailer, shopping for the best deal on ingredients—and sweating over hot grills to produce enough Navajo fry bread to keep equine center event-goers satisfied.
She owed Trey Kenton big-time for letting them slip in at the midnight hour to open a concession outside the arena. He’d even donated a side of beef for the flavorful, oversize tacos that were a regional favorite. Due to a major remodeling glitch, the venue for a three-day Fourth of July horse show scheduled in air-conditioned comfort in the Valley of the Sun had been shifted to Canyon Springs. The show sponsors sought, and found, just what they were looking for in the High Country Equine Center, and Trey hoped they’d prefer the new site in the future, as well.
“In my opinion,” Sharlene Odel said, rising to her feet as she raised her voice above the excited chatter of the society members, “we wouldn’t be in this predicament if the board had been taking care of business all along.”
The chatter stilled.
All eyes turned to Sharlene.
Then Sandi.
She’d been expecting something like this. No doubt Sharlene sensed an opportunity to drive a wedge into the for-the-most-part supportive camaraderie of the society. The seldom-seen Fran had shown up today, too. And Dana.
Coincidence? Not likely.
With a silent prayer she turned to Sharlene.
“Shar has a very good point. It’s imperative that all our members take an interest in the financial health of our organization, not just relying on the elected board to carry the entire burden.”
She nodded toward the society’s treasurer. “Becky Ortiz is distributing printouts of our income and expenditures over the last two years. Last winter’s audit report, as well. I encourage all of you to examine them at your leisure and provide feedback on how we can better manage our resources.”
Sharlene, minus her Pekingese today, flashed Dana and Fran a disgruntled look. She snagged one of the sheets from Becky and held it up. “This is all nice and good. But legitimate concerns can still be raised as to the quality of a leadership that permitted our finances to fall into such a dismal state.”
Cate Landreth stood, hackles almost visibly rising. Cate wasn’t afraid of anyone, not even a well-entrenched member of Canyon Springs society. “No one could have anticipated the economic downturn, the subsequent need for Mae Harding to increase the museum rent or that the city would cut our funding.”
“Nevertheless,” Shar persisted, “with upcoming elections in September, I appeal to the membership to remember where we were two years ago when we elected the current board—and where we find ourselves today.”
“Maybe if you’d have bothered to come to a meeting occasionally, Shar,” Earl voiced in a lazy drawl, “you could have put that twenty-twenty hindsight of yours to good use and saved us from ourselves.”
Heads nodded around the room in agreement. Voices whispered support.
Sharlene looked down a haughty nose at the impertinent speaker, no doubt preparing to put him in his place, but Sandi stepped in before things could escalate further.