“I think you could use someone standing behind you, supporting you so you can heal.”
“There’s nothing to heal!”
He paused for a second, absorbing her proclamation. “Then take a break. A vacation with energizing fun that revitalizes you, so you can keep on doing your best work.”
She had to admit that sounded like what she needed.
“I think that someone like me could help you.” Clint added.
She put her hands on her hips. “Okay, Prince Charming-who-leaves-tomorrow-night, why you?”
“Who else knows what you need? Who else knows the complications in your life, from your family to the ranch?”
“Plenty of people.”
He raised an eyebrow, catching her in the lie. So, not that many. They had their own issues to deal with.
“Come on. Let’s play.”
She laughed. It was ludicrous, but oh so tempting. When was the last time she’d let go of her worries and just played and laughed and enjoyed life? It had been a long time. Too long.
“I’m serious. Let’s enjoy the full splendor of your golden years.”
She held up a hand. “Please tell me you did not just say I’m in my golden years.”
“They’re golden, girl. Get over it. We’re approaching sixty. Yes, sixty is the new fifty or forty or whatever they keep telling us. The fact is, you’re rowing that big, heavy boat on your own.” He had slung one of the backpack straps over his shoulder and now took both her hands in his, giving her an earnest look. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have somebody help take the oars from time to time, so you could enjoy the small things more often?”
If Clint wasn’t careful, he was going to be thoroughly kissed.
Chapter 4
“How are things at home?” Maria asked, holding the phone closer so she could video chat with her eldest son. By the looks of things Levi was in the Longhorn Diner on Main Street in Sweetheart Creek. That meant everything she said would be heard by at least one eavesdropper, then spread around town.
“The usual,” Levi replied. “Ryan’s too busy to do his share of chores, Myles is complaining because he already ate all the lasagna you froze for us, and Brant keeps showing up places with April while saying they’re not a thing. So, you know. The usual.”
“I’ve only been gone two days!” Maria exclaimed. “When Myles’s metabolism slows down, he’ll end up like a tractor. Big and slow moving.”
“Speaking of tractors, Ryan can’t get our old one running.”
“What does he need it for?”
“He’s trying to help Carly by running the cultivator behind it,” Levi said, confirming Maria’s suspicion that her son was trying to charm the new neighbor. Carly Clarke was starting an organic farm and had been turning up her garden plots by hand. She could definitely use mechanical help.
“Well, if you can’t get that old thing going, you’d best buy a new one.”
“Carly can’t afford one,” Levi’s girlfriend interjected, joining the chat. “Hi, Maria!”
“Hi, Laura.”
“I can make more lasagna for Myles if you’d like.”
“If he finds out you know how, you’ll be making it forever,” Maria warned. “Myles is a bottomless pit.”
“That’s true.” The voice was her friend Fiona’s. Levi’s camera turned and suddenly Maria was looking at her friend’s chest, before he tipped the phone higher, giving her a view of her nostrils.
“Bad angle!” Fiona scolded, taking the device. She patted her teased hair while frowning at Levi, then faced forward again. “How are you, dear? Are you relaxin’? You’re lookin’ pretty.”
“Thank you.” Maria felt the telltale smile that had been semipermanent since that afternoon’s picnic grow a little wider.
“Wait,” Fiona gasped, as though hearing a particularly juicy bit of gossip. “Didn’t Clint show up out there?”
“Clint went to Indigo Bay?” called a male voice, and before long Garfield was hanging over Fiona’s shoulder. She shooed him off, saying she needed some space to breathe.
“I was hoping he could fix the tractor,” Levi said in the background.
“Tell Carly to stop by the town’s homesteading museum and get one of those horse-pulled cultivators. Maybe she can use that fat roan of Ryan’s to pull it around her field. It’s obviously no good for the rodeo work he was hoping to train it for.”
Levi chuckled. “I think he saw the light and sold it.”
Sometimes Ryan’s independence and secret plans worked against him. Maria understood his desire for privacy, though. If you let the family or community know what you were up to, in short order everyone would be there, helpfully elbowing their way in. Everyone meant well, but did a poor job of minding their own business.
“Quit helping Maria change the subject,” Fiona announced. “Did you two go on a date?”
Maria fumbled the phone. “No! No.”
“A date?” Levi said, his voice rising in surprise.
“A date would be nice,” Laura said from off-screen, no doubt trying to convince Maria’s eldest to relax. The boys, grown men now, had faced several big changes over the past year and Maria knew it wouldn’t be difficult to stir up the herd at this point.
“But you saw him?” Fiona pressed.
“We’re friends. So, yes.”
“Because William said he heard the two of you were going out for supper.”
Maria groaned. Of course he’d overheard that. “It’s just supper. Maybe. It’s not a date, so don’t you go spreading that around town.”
“Clint’s really nice,” Laura said, her expression hopeful as she leaned in to be seen, letting Maria know she approved.
“He is,” she agreed, appreciating the support. Maria hoped Laura and Levi would go the distance with their relationship. A city girl, she had turned out to be a quick learner out on the ranch, and Maria already couldn’t imagine the place without her popping in to help here and there.
“So Ryan can sell the tractor?” Levi asked, taking the phone back from Fiona.
The waitress hushed him and the screen blurred as the phone changed hands once again, Fiona’s face reappearing close to the camera. “We want to hear more about this date.”
“It’s not a date! And yes, someone can sell the tractor, but it won’t be worth much if it doesn’t run. Just like my old Mustang. But if you find a buyer for either one, take what they can give you in cash and run!”
Levi laughed.
“Maria?” Jackie Moorhouse, a friend of her sons, appeared on the screen. “Myles said you baked some buns for the football team’s state championship potluck this weekend. I told the meal committee I’d bring them, but I don’t know which ones you meant to contribute.”
“All of them.”
“There are at least ten dozen in the freezer.”
“That’s right. All for the potluck.”
“You’re amazing,” Jackie said in awe, filling Maria with pride.
“Ryan says if we can get the tractor running,” Levi continued, “its antique status would fetch a good price. Then we could buy something better.”