AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dad looked down into his cup. “Still seeing him?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I laughed. “I like Austen. He’s smart and funny and easy to talk to. And he knows what it’s like to be the odd duck in the crowd. Oh! I invited him over for New Year’s Eve.” I pointed at his chest. “Be nice. Don’t show him your shotgun.”
“What? There goes all my fun.”
I shook my head and laughed, then kissed him on the cheek. “Bye, Dad.”
Dusty wasn’t there yet when I arrived. I found Morgan, who looked only somewhat less frazzled than she had on Tuesday. She heaved an enormous sigh of relief. “Oh, Jess, thank you a million times for coming!”
“I said I would. Do people often say they’ll come and then not show up?”
“You have no idea. Especially this time of year, no one wants to leave their house if they can help it. I was worried I’d have to call Cody down. He and Marshall are getting the electrical finished up at the new place this afternoon so we can sheetrock on Saturday, and if they don’t get it done…” She blew out a long sigh. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but we’d be behind. I don’t know what I was thinking, taking on this after-school program right now.”
“It’ll be fine! How’s it been going so far?”
She shrugged, her face awash in wonder. “I don’t know how or why, but it sounds like a ringing success. All the parents say they love it, and the kids all seem excited to come. I think it must be a miracle! I talked to the school district and if we meet their qualifications—which we will—they’re willing to charter a bus out here. I only pray we can keep it staffed.”
“Well, you can count on me.”
Morgan nodded toward the window, where a truck was pulling into the driveway. “And Dusty. I wish I could have you two working together every afternoon. You balance each other perfectly.”
I cocked her a funny grin. “We do?”
“Oh, absolutely. It makes the class so much smoother if the teachers have some chemistry together. Shoot!” She snatched a glance at her watch. “I have to be in a session in five minutes. Are you good? The kids will be showing up any minute.”
“I’m good,” I echoed. I watched her go, then crossed my arms and leaned on the counter.Chemistry, she had said. Dusty and me? I laughed.Really?
But three seconds later, my laughter died in my chest. The door opened, and a quiet, blue-eyed cowboy walked in and doffed his hat. And then, he smiled at me.
Maybe Morgan was on to something.
“Sorry I couldn’t make it today,” Austen apologized when I opened the door to him that evening. “Danny and I were fixing fence, and I forgot to check the time.”
“That’s alright. Come on in.” I held the door. “I’m sure you guys get pretty busy trying to keep things running.”
“It’s a lot of work, and I won’t deny it.” He glanced around the living room with a wide grin. “Home sweet home, huh? I always like seeing where someone lives for the first time.”
I chuckled as I led him through to the kitchen. “Why is that?”
“Gives you an idea of who they are. Except I hope you didn’t judge me by the ranch house. I haven’t had a chance to do anything to it yet.”
I opened the fridge. “No judgment. Can I get you something to drink? We have… milk and water.” I frowned. “I think we have more stuff in the garage.”
“That’s okay. I really just wanted to come by and say hello to my favorite girl.” He came behind me and gently closed the door of the refrigerator, and then his arms slid around me. “So? How was your day?”
I let him nuzzle my neck, my pulse skittering wildly. Was this too fast? “Amazing,” I managed shakily. “Yours?”
“Better now.” He leaned back to look me in the eyes. The man really knew how to work that smile, and it curled my toes. I needed to find a way to tap the brakes on things, or they would speed ahead before I had a chance to figure out which way we were going.
“How did it go with the rescue thing?”
My brain started to clear a little. “Oh, I wasn’t working with the rescue horses. You’ll never believe it! I’m working with a bunch of kids. They’re just testing things out right now, but hopefully, it will be part of a new after-school program. I’ll get to teach them about horses and animal care and lots of crafting and farm skills. It’s such a great opportunity for them!”
“Huh. That’s cool. Who’s normally supposed to be teaching it?”
“Well, for now, I am. There are others, but we all have certain days we can come. That’s kind of how it works with volunteers.”
“You mean you’re planning to keep doing it? I thought it was just an occasional thing. You know, write off the shop hours on your taxes, that kind of deal.”
