That put an end to the boys' arguing, and all three of them looked at Barney. Completely unaware that he was causing a problem, Barney was busy sniffing one of two benches that were set up on either side of the café doors. There was an old man sitting there. He was leaning forward and resting his chin on his cane while smiling down at Barney.
"If you like, I'll watch that little dog for you," the old man offered and looked up at Wyatt.
"Don't let him run away," Riley admonished the old guy before Wyatt had actually agreed to let him dog sit.
"I won't," the old guy told him. Then he turned to Wyatt. "I'm Ben Jasper. I live over in one of the river cottages."
"I'm Wyatt Hayes, nice to meet you," Wyatt said and offered his hand. "Are you sure you don't mind looking after Barney?"
"Is that his name? Hello there, Barney," Mr. Jasper said and scratched the little guy's head. "Don't mind at all. I miss my old dog. If I got another one, I'm afraid the poor thing would outlast me."
That settled it. Wyatt had to agree now. "OK. We'll leave Barney with you, and we won't be long."
"Take your time," Mr. Jasper told them as he took hold of Barney's leash.
Barney was glad to make friends with the old man, and Wyatt was very happy to get to see the young guy who worked at the cafe. He already considered the hot, young guy a good omen. He was the first person he met coming here, even if he never learned his name.
Still, Wyatt knew he had to keep his expectations reasonable. In the end, the café guy might turn out to be just something pretty for Wyatt to look at. Anything more might be impossible.
Chapter 4
Sam was serving Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz their usual chicken soup and savory French toast sandwiches. He was about to take the order at another table when he overheard the older couple talking.
"Every stranger who passes through town catches your eye," Mr. Kurtz was saying.
Hearing that there was a stranger in town, Sam was instantly tense. Tourists passed through all the time, and that made him uneasy. But they usually came in groups of at least two. This was one stranger. He pictured Brian prowling the town, looking for him and his chest got tight.
"Only when they're young and handsome," Mrs. Kurtz teased her husband. "I got to keep my eyes peeled."
Sam was starting to have trouble breathing. Most people would consider Brian good-looking. He would definitely catch Mrs. Kurtz's eye.
"He's just the right age for Noreen," Mrs. Kurtz was saying while Sam stepped away and leaned on an empty booth. He was starting to feel dizzy. Even as he tried to look outside and keep an eye on the door, the edges of his vision were going dark.
Any minute now he was going to have a full-blown panic attack. He had to get out of there now, before...
"He's in his mid twenties, the younger brother. That's what Wendy said," Mrs. Kurtz said.
"That's fine, I guess," Mr. Kurtz told her. "But don't start matchmaking. You know how Noreen gets when you push."
That brought Sam back to himself a little. They weren't talking about some random stranger after all. He approached their table. "Who is this? Sorry. Who were you talking about?" Sam asked them and managed to sound pretty desperate. He was still short of breath and far from calm.
"Why, him, dear," Mrs. Kurtz pointed right behind Sam and he froze.
He spun around fast, but he couldn't see anything. His vision had gone black. He felt dizzy. Just as he was starting to get it together, the sudden appearance of some stranger made him start to lose his grip again.
"I thought that was you," a cheerful, masculine voice said. The deep voice was warm and familiar, and it wasn't Brian. That's for sure. "Are you feeling OK?"
Sam felt a hand on his arm, a strong hand with a light touch. Just as he started to take in the sight of the newcomer, he spoke again.
"Do you need to sit down?" the man asked and Sam recognized him. He could see him clearly now. It was the man from the side of the road, the one with the dog. In fact, Sam could see the dog right outside, being petted by Mr. Jasper.
"Hi," Sam said weakly and maybe stupidly as he smiled with pure relief.
"You know him, Uncle Wyatt. He's new like you," a high-pitched voice said and Sam looked down. He saw the young Hayes children staring up at him curiously.
"His name is Sam," the older Hayes boy said, speaking more hesitantly and quietly that his little brother.
"So you're doing introductions," their uncle said. "I'm Wyatt Hayes, nice to meet you." He offered Sam his hand, and he took it like it was a lifeline. He found that Wyatt's grip was firm but not brutish.
