“Thank you.” The kid grinned, straightening with pride. “Only I got to ask. Why do we have to sweep all the time? Everyone just tracks in more dirt.”
“Because we appreciate our customers, and they deserve a nice store to come spend their money in.” Adam’s heart warmed as he heard Grandpa’s words come from his mouth. “Make sense?”
“Yes, it does.”
“Then I think we’ll get along very well around here.” Adam started to walk away, when the kid called out his name.
“Adam? I just wanted you to know that I want to be just like you. Riding bulls and living in Antler Creek. You’re the man.”
“Thank you for that, but I think it’d be best if you be you. You don’t need to live anyone’s dream but your own. Trust me. I’ve made my share of mistakes.” He turned and walked away, wondering whether if Dad hadn’t given him the ultimatum, he might not have tied himself so tightly to this life.
The store was empty of customers now.
“Hey, guys,” Adam called out to the employees. “I’ll finish here and lock up if y’all want to take off early.” Since he’d be gone most of the weekend riding again, it was the least he could do.
Everyone whooped and called out a happy chorus of goodbyes.
Adam rolled the last stack of feed from the loading-dock display inside, then watered all the vegetable plants before calling it a night.
It wasn’t even a mile to home, but he always drove his truck in case he needed to deliver something for a customer. He pressed the accelerator on his diesel Ford F450 and eased out of the lot. Before he turned onto the street, he got out of his truck to pull the pole gate across the entrance driveway. He pushed the latch into place, then turned and almost walked right smack into the pretty brown-haired woman. He stumbled back. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you coming.”
“Probably because that truck of yours is so loud.”
It sounded like a gripe, but she was laughing. She had the straightest teeth of anyone he’d ever met, and up close like this he could see a little dent right there at her left cheek when she smiled.
“I’m Merry Anna.”
“Hi. Adam.” He extended his hand, and she reached for it and shook it. She had a nice grip. “I’ve seen you around recently.”
“Yeah. I’m still kind of new to town.”
“I know. I mean, it’s a small town. No one can move into town without all of us hearing about it. Plus, I’ve seen you going to work at Hardy House.” He gestured to the bag she was carrying. “Wait a minute. You’re not frilling up the old bunkhouse, are you?”
She lifted her chin. “You might not even recognize the place.”
He bent forward as though she’d kicked him in the gut.“Oh no! I love that old bunkhouse. There are a lot of good memories in that place.”
She nodded. “You must be the guy Krissy bought it from.”
“That’s me. What’ve you heard?”
“Not much.”
He doubted that.
She must have read the look on his face, because she quickly and apologetically added, “No, really. Krissy just mentioned she’d recently bought it, which was perfect timing for me, being new in town and all. She’s letting me rent it until I figure out what I’m going to do long-term. Oh, I know you don’t even care about any of that.”
“Maybe I do. We’re neighbors, after all.”
“True. I’ll let you know if I need to borrow a cup of sugar.” She stood there fidgeting.
Maybe he was supposed to laugh. “I’m not really a borrow-a-cup-of-sugar kind of neighbor.”
“I was kidding,” she said.
“Me too. Well, not really. I’m out of town a lot, so if you came over to borrow…well, I probably wouldn’t be there.”
“For work?”
