“To go see Adam? Not at all,” Krissy said with that hopeful smile.
“Quit matchmaking. It’s not like that.”
“Yeah, right. You and all your ‘just’-this-and-that excuses.” Krissy tossed her head. “Believe what you want.”
Merry Anna made the walk home to the bunkhouse in record time. A quick change and she was out the door, taking the shortcut to Adam’s.
When she arrived, he was already putting his things in the truck.
“Thanks for doing this,” he said with a lift of his chin.
“Just remember you need a backup plan. It’s part of the deal.”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
Zan came running out of the house carrying a piece of paper. “Miss Merry Anna! I made you a picture.”
Merry Anna crouched down to see it. “That is very pretty.”
“I colored the dress just like the one you were wearing the other day. When I grow up, I want to wear dresses like that.”
“Then you shall.” Merry Anna took her by the hand. “Are you okay with a girls’ night with me while Adam goes to work tonight?”
“Yes. I like you.”
“I like spending time with you too. Should we color first?”
“Yes!”
They went inside as Adam drove off. Zan colored and then insisted Merry Anna color a picture for Adam. By dinnertime, they had a table full of drawings.
Adam had made hamburgers and had cut cucumber strips for Zan and made a salad for Merry Anna.
They ate in front of the television, watching a movie, and then it was already bedtime.
Merry Anna mimicked the routine from the other night and let Zan say her prayers. “Sweet dreams, little one. I’m going to be right there in that chair watching television until Adam comes home, okay?”
“Yes ma’am. Sweet dreams to you too.”
Merry Anna flipped through the hundreds of channels Adam had. At the bunkhouse, she only had antenna TV. Not that she minded. The break from television had been one of the first things she realized she didn’t miss. Not watching had quieted her mind. She felt like she was more creative and actually had time to think.
She turned on a movie and pulled her feet up in the chair. As the movie credits ran, she noticed it was after eleven. She’d really expected Adam home by now, and her mood swayed from worried to miffed. By midnight, she knew if somethinghad happened, she’d have heard from the hospital. As annoyed as she was, she resisted the urge to call him.
Finally, headlights swept past the front windows. The unmistakable sound of the diesel engine got closer and then shut off.
A few minutes later, Adam came through the front door. He almost looked surprised to see her. “Hi,” he whispered.
“How’d you do?” she asked. She hadn’t meant for the words to come out so clipped, and by the look on his face, he must’ve picked up on it. She softened. “Are you okay?”
“I made the buzzer.” He didn’t offer anything else.
“You’re so late. The rodeo ended hours ago. I was worried that something had gone wrong.”
“Some of the guys got together after.” He paused, but he must’ve realized how mad she was, because he quickly added, “Squatch, the guy who helped with Zan last week, wanted me to stay.”
“And you thought that was the right decision to make? When you had a child here waiting on you?”
“You were here.”
