“Ahhh,” she hesitated and almost asked Jack what he did or said – but then thought better of it. If he wanted her to know, he would have volunteered the information. He wasn’t the type of guy to hold back much, but he was exceedingly good at pushing someone’s buttons when they were upset.
“Did you want to dance?”
“I’m kind of worried about Becky Sue. She’s been awfully quiet and… wait a second,” Heidi paused as something crossed into her line of vision, making her chuckle as she pointed. “Is that a parachute?”
“What?” Jack turned and stared up at the sky that was darkening, before hesitating. “Why on earth would someone be… I swear some people are senseless.”
He grabbed her hand, pulling her forward as he began to bark orders. She saw Becky Sue talking with Everett, both of them frowning as they got closer.
“Everett! Hey man, can I bug you?” Jack began, interrupting the two of them and pointing.
“Yeah, we’re finished,” Everett replied tersely. “What do you need?”
Becky Sue walked off in a huff, not looking much happier about being interrupted in that moment. She was holding Taylor once more and faded into the crowd, making Heidi wonder what was going on or if she needed to talk to someone. She knew only too well what it felt like to be cornered or trapped – and frankly, she couldn’t imagine throwing a child into the mix of things.
“Everett, there’s a parachute coming down in the distance toward Old Pond Road and…”
“On it,” Everett replied, cutting him off. “I’m done with the Jamboree anyhow. I’m heading home for a cold one, if you want to come by. In fact, you’re both welcome – just don’t bring Becky Sue.”
So it’s like that, Heidi thought silently, and hesitated as Jack turned to talk to one of the other police officers – who immediately took off with Everett.
“How come you’re not going to check it out?” Heidi asked the moment they were out of earshot.
“Because this is a community and I’m not alone here,” Jack replied. “Other guys are on duty, and Everett’s farm is out that way.”
“Old Pond Road?”
“Yep – his farm is at the dead end,” Jack replied easily, swirling her around as he pulled her close to slow dance with her. “Old Pond Road leads to the old pond. Yonder Road leads to Yonder. Creek Hill runs out toward Ember Creek, and Wishing Well Road…”
“Leads to a wishing well?”
“No,” he chuckled, grinning. “There might have been a well there at one point, but now it leads out toward the highway – and that’s the road where we met. I can still see your angry expression when I picked you up out of that… ah, mess.”
“I remember,” she chuckled softly, melting at the warmth of his gaze. “How could I forget? Some guy comes out of nowhere, rescues me from being stranded…”
“Gets his hands utterly filthy,” he volunteered quickly, his eyes glittering with humor as she threw back her head, laughing aloud… only to feel him kiss her throat. That sort of sweetness, that spontaneity, was just about the best thing ever.
“I never thought I’d ever say it,” she whispered, melting in his arms as they danced slowly together. “I’m so glad I stepped in cow poop.”
“Horse,” he corrected tenderly.
“I don’t care, so long as it brought me you,” she admitted softly, her fingers brushing theback of his neck tenderly. “I never imagined starting over could be like this… and I never imagined someone like you.” Her words fell between them, and she saw the effect it had on him. His lips parted, then closed, and she saw him swallow before he cleared his throat noisily.
“It’s okay, Jack,” she whispered gently, her eyes searching his. “I just think you’re amazing. You’ve become my rescuer, my biggest supporter, my greatest fan… and the best boyfriend a girl could ask for,” she breathed emotionally. “I just wanted to tell you what you mean to me, because it’s a little overwhelming. I can’t imagine what life would be like if we hadn’t met – and I don’t want to.”
“I told you I was your best chance,” he began hoarsely and stepped back from her. For a moment, her heart stopped, suddenly frightened she’d said too much, moved too fast. Joe always called her pushy, but being with Jack never felt like she had to shove him along to be on the same page as her. It was like Jack knew the book, knew the page, heck – could recite it from memory if he had to, because it was as important to him as it was to her. That kind of connection felt so special, so rare, and…
Her breath caught as he sank down to one knee on the cobblestone.
“Are you feeling lightheaded?” she hesitated, worried as she knelt before him. “Did you fall?”
“You could say that,” he said emotionally as his eyes held hers, shining. Oh gosh, was he injured? He looked like he was ready to cry.
“Jack, honey, what’s wrong because you look like…” and her words faded as she stared at him. He wiped his eyes, let out a nervous laugh, and then gave her a sheepish smile.
“I’m a little emotional,” he whispered tenderly, his voice thick. “I tend to get that way when I’m proposing to the woman I love.”
“ME?” she squawked in disbelief and heard a titter of laughter around them, realizing the music had stopped, and people were now staring. “Are you talking about me?”
