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“Ugh.” I shake my head.
I make my way to the grocery store and pick up a few things my mom texted me to get for dinner. As I’m checking out, I spot a flyer on the bulletin board.
“What’s that?” I ask the cashier, nodding at it. It says something about Fletcher’s Pond, but other than that I can’t make anything out.
“The town is selling Fletcher’s Pond.” The cashier pops her gum.
My jaw drops. “Really?”
That’s a surprise. Everyone loves that place. It’s a landmark of Fort Williams, and I would have thought it would stay wild forever.
“There’s a meeting tomorrow night.” The cashier bags the last of my groceries. “They’re organizing people to get signatures or something. Sounds like a lot of work if you ask me.”
I swipe my card. Yes, it does sound like a lot of work, but if I love anything, it’s work.
“Thank you.” I take the bag and note the time and location of tomorrow’s meeting.
This is exactly what I need. Another thing to distract me — because I already know that I can pack up my parents’ house in half the time some people could.
And after running into Josh, I have the feeling I’ll be needing every sort of distraction I can get my hands on.
CHAPTER 10
JOSH
Sitting in my truck, I stare at the town’s recreation center, yellow lights glowing in its windows and people trickling in through the front door.
How many people will be at this meeting?
I don’t know, but I bet I’ll know every single one of them, and they’ll know me. Just call it one of the perks of living in the same small town all of your life.
I wince. Maybe going to this meeting was a bad idea. It’s not too late to change my mind and go home.
Before I can question myself again, I turn on the truck, but a knock at the window stops me.
Sam stands there in the twilight, eyeing me. “You leaving?” he asks as I roll down the window.
“I forgot to do something at the ranch.”
“And one of the hands can’t take care of it?”
Dang. That was a terrible excuse. I have a half dozen ranch hands boarding in cabins on the property. Of course one of them could take care of whatever my imaginary problem is.
“I’m surprised you’re here at all.” Grinning, Sam folds his arms on my open window. “But now that you’re here, you might as well stay.”
I blow out a breath. “Fine.”
“Don’t sound so excited about it.”
I scowl but unbuckle and get out of the truck. “I’m here because I want to be.”
“And it would kill you to act like it?” Sam chuckles, but he’s just giving me a hard time. While he relishes living in a town where everyone knows his name, it’s a thorn in my side.
“So. Erin Toomey is back in town,” he says as we walk across the parking lot.
I nearly get whiplash. I turn my head to look at him so quickly. “Where did you see her?”
“At the bakery. And I saw you talking to her.”
