Page 10 of Slay Bells

That was understandable. Although, he’d always known he’d end up living on the ranch, retiring from police work and helping his father, Jeremy hadn’t considered the festival. It was a local tradition and an event many of the local people counted on yearly.

His father sipped his coffee and then met Jeremy’s gaze. “Take your time thinking about it. And don’t feel obligated to anyone but yourself. Your mother and I do it because it’s something we both love.”

Jeremy looked to his mother who’d put her book down and smiled at him. “I can’t believe you’d already met Gabriela at the airport. Isn’t that funny? She’s a doll. Make sure you plan time to show her around tomorrow afternoon. I have a hair appointment, and your father is meeting with the lights crew.”

The overly bright smile splitting his mother’s face made Jeremy narrow his eyes. “Mom, don’t go playing matchmaker. Yes, the woman is pretty, but she’s also from California. Montana is like a foreign country to her. Besides, she seems kind of accident prone.”

“I’m just asking for a favor. I’ll be around the rest of the time to take her off your hands.” She batted her lashes in pretend innocence. “Unless you decide to give her a tour of the town later.”

“Mom.”

“I’m just suggesting it. It would be nice for her to spend time with someone closer to her age.”

Jeremy rubbed his eyes. “I’ll probably have my hands full ensuring Henry keeps his clothes on.”

“Henry will be fine. I’m going to put him to work,” his father interjected.

His eyes threatened to close the moment he leaned back in the comfortable chair, some days he felt closer to his parents’ age than thirty-five.

Just then the dogs barked and raced to the door.

“I’ll get it,” Jeremy said standing and stretching.

He opened the door to find Gabriela wrapped in a robe and shivering. “There’s no hot water.”

With no makeup on and untamed curls surrounding her face, she looked ten years younger than the last time he’d seen her.

“Oh no, I’m sorry dear,” his mother called out. “Bring your things here and shower in our bathroom. I bet Rick forgot to get the water heater going.” His mother came to the door and stood beside him. “Jeremy be a dear and take her to get her toiletries. Then bring her back.”

“I-I ….” Gabriela met his gaze. “Okay…that would be great.”

An hour later, dressed in sweatpants and a long sleeve t-shirt with no bra, Gabriela came down the stairs. He’d not meant to notice, but her breasts jutted forward when she put the thick robe back on. On her feet were furry boots she called Uggs, and on her head she wore a knit cap that miraculously held her curls down.

“All right I’m ready. Thanks for taking me back and forth.”

When she smiled at him, Jeremy swallowed. “Not a problem.”

They rode in silence back to her cabin and she hesitated before getting out of the truck’s cab. “Do you appreciate how beautiful the snow looks at night? Or, is it so common you stop looking?”

In the moonlight, the snow appeared to be blue and with the outlines of the trees the scene seemed more like a painting than true life. “Some nights, I’ll sit outside and take in how pretty it all is.”

“That’s good.” Gabriela smiled widely. “Because I won’t forget how beautiful this night is.” Abruptly she opened the door and slid out. Missing his cue to open her door, he climbed out of the truck.

When he rounded the truck, she was at the front door opening it. “Have a good night, I’ll see you at lunch maybe,” Gabriela said. “Thanks again.”

He waited for her to go inside and then went back to his truck. It was close to eleven and now he wasn’t sleepy at all. Jeremy chuckled. The things a pretty girl did to a man.

The next morning started with a bang. Literally.

Thud. Thud. Ripe Curse. Thud.

Jeremy was instantly awake. “What the hell?” He rushed to stand beside the window and peeked out between the blinds. Henry stood just outside his window attempting to split wood or maybe just doing a Michael Jackson impersonation. Each time he lowered the ax and the wood split, he jumped back. “Son of a bitch.”

Jeremy opened the window. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Earning my keep, that’s what,” Henry shot back. “A bit rusty at this though.”

“Parents have truckloads delivered for the festival. We don’t need any wood.” Jeremy shivered from the cold air. “Do something else.”