Jade, Lia, and Sophia were helping to coordinate the awards at the end of the race. Jason and Joseph were stationed at the intersection where the 5K runners would go in one direction and the 10K runners would continue on down the road.
“Good morning, Scott,” a soft and now familiar voice sounded nearby.
Turning, he smiled as Lizzie walked closer. Clad in jeans that fit her hips and legs like a glove, the bottoms shoved down into cowboy boots made her legs appear even longer. She wore a jean jacket over a blue T-shirt, the color emphasizing her eyes. Her hair was loose, the sleek strands flowing down her back while the front was pulled into a clip away from her face.
His throat was suddenly dry, and he wanted to pull her into his arms and say… what the hell do I say? How do you tell someone that you’re interested in that part of you is missing? How do you face the stare? How do you deal with the questioning—and maybe rejecting—specter that would move through their eyes? He had faced the results with a few other women, but no one he truly cared about. Jumping as he felt something on his arm, he glanced down and saw that her hand had reached out to him.
“Are you okay?” She leaned closer with her face turned up toward him. Concern knit her brow.
“Yeah, yeah,” he rushed. “Just trying to keep track of everything in my head.”
A slight smile crossed her lips as she nodded. “I think it’s wonderful. I’m really glad that I can help and have a place to get more information out about Weston Farms products.”
“Need help getting your tent set up?”
Shaking her head, she said, “No. I’ve got some rolling carts that I’ll put everything in, so I’m fine. You have so much to do, you go ahead, and I’ll see you later.”
He wanted to stay and talk. He wanted to walk by her side, helping to carry the boxes or pulling the cart. Mostly, he wished he had already explained about his amputation. But he knew he was needed all over the place, so he simply nodded. “I’ll see you later.” He heard the regret in his voice, but as he walked away, she called out, and he turned to see her smiling.
“Good luck with the race. I’ll be cheering for you.”
Offering a chin lift, he turned and headed in another direction to check on the latest group of volunteers who had arrived. His heart was heavy, wondering if she would still be cheering when she finally saw him in shorts. Blowing out a breath, he pushed that thought down, heading back to work.
An hour later, he lined up with others at the starting line for the 10K, his prosthesis now changed to the blade. There were few stares because most of the legionnaires knew he was an amputee, and he wore shorts when coaching the AL ball teams so the kids were used to it as well.
He grinned at his friends as the starting gun fired and the race began, leading them out of the fairgrounds and onto the road where the deputy’s cars blocked the traffic.
He pushed off, quickly gaining his balance and momentum as his blade hit the ground, the spring in the carbon fiber matching the calf and ankle of his right leg. As the pack of people dispersed, he easily settled into the speed he was comfortable with, finding several others running at about the same pace.
His lungs expanded with fresh air as the breeze cooled his body. The occasional white cloud passed over the sun, giving the runners a respite from the sunlight although the temperature was not uncomfortable yet.
He and Aiden continued running side-by-side, few words passing between them as they each enjoyed the run. Scott was not attempting to win, just the thrill of competition and the beauty of the sport filling his mind.
Passing the halfway point, they waved to the volunteers who were nearby, offering water and words of encouragement.
“So, are you going to ask her out?”
Jerking his head to the side, he watched Aiden’s shit-eating grin slide across his face. “What are you talking about?”
“Lia said you took Lizzie out to lunch the other day. I just wondered when you were going to properly ask her out.”
“You’re worse than the girls.”
“Maybe, but when a friend of mine has a shot at a really good woman, I don’t mind pushing.”
Chuckling, the two men rounded the bend in the road and continued to run. “I’m working on it,” Scott confessed. “Lizzie has had so much to deal with so I’m having to win her over a bit at a time.”
“So, she’s coming around?”
“Well, at least with me helping with the farm. Now I just have to see if I can get her to go out with me when it’s not business.”
“I remember when I was first interested in Lia,” Aiden said. “We had a rocky start. I thought she was being uppity because she didn’t want Emily to play ball with us. Instead, she was just nervous about Emily’s hearing impairment and how that would work on the ballfield.”
“What won her over?”
“Perseverance. And my charming, magnetic personality.”
Barking out in laughter, Scott said, “I suppose for me, I’m going to have to rely on perseverance.”
They caught up to a few of the other runners, and Scott estimated they were in the middle of the pack. Running on the blade gave him a sense of freedom, and with the sun beaming down, the wind at his back, good friends all around, and the idea that he could win over Lizzie, he smiled.
12
“I haven’t had goat milk lotion in years.”
Lizzie smiled as the older woman squirted some lotion from her tester bottle and rubbed it onto her hands.
“Oh, this is rose scented. I remember my mother using this.”
“Do you make it yourself?” another woman asked.
She nodded. “Yes, I have goats at the Weston Farms, and I make all the lotion and soaps myself.”
Business had been amazing that morning and she was selling almost everything she had brought, making four times what she had at the last farmers’ market.
“Do you ever let anyone come by and visit the farm?” a woman buying some lotion asked as the little girl at her side stared at the picture of the goats Lizzie had placed on the table.
“Actually, I’m getting ready to open Weston Farms for events. I’d love to have children’s days and parties where people could see the goats and alpacas.”
“Alpacas?” the little girl repeated, her eyes wide.
Smiling at her, she said, “Yes, I have alpacas.”
“Well as soon as you start doing that, please put something in the newspaper,” the young mother said. “I’m always looking for something new and different for my kids to do. They would love to see that.”
After taking the cash and wrapping up the lotion, she handed it to the young woman. “That’s a good idea. I’ll be sure to do that.”
Another woman standing nearby said, “You could have people come in and participate in making the lotion. I’d love to do that.”
Barely having time to listen while smiling and nodding and ringing up the sales, that comment struck Lizzie. I could do that! I could have soap-making days!
Jillian and Lia walked by, calling out their greetings. “How are sales?”
Looking down at her table, she laughed. “This is all I have left. I’ve sold everything else that I brought with me today!”