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Josh retrieved a jug of milk and a wedge of cheese, carrying them to the house. When he walked inside, Rena stood with her back to him, slicing ham. He thought she moved with such grace, but he sure wouldn’t tell her that either. He could almost see her stiffen at the slightest mention that he found her to be attractive.
“I brought the milk and cheese,” he said, setting the jug on the table and carrying the cheese over to her.
“Thanks. I forgot to ask you to bring in a wedge. That’s perfect.” She took the cheese and sliced it, arranging it with the ham on a plate. Slices of bread were on another plate. She’d opened a can of pears and poured them into a bowl.
“This looks like a regular feast,” Josh said, carrying the pears and bread plate to the table. Rena brought over two glasses and the plate with meat and cheese. Josh retrieved cutlery, then pulled out a chair for Rena at the table.
She stared from the chair to him, then finally took a seat, as though it shocked her that he’d extend the polite gesture to her. Once she was seated, Josh took the seat across from her, bowed his head, and offered a blessing for the meal.
He heard Rena mutter a soft “amen” before he opened his eyes and looked over at her. She slid meat and cheese between slices of buttered bread, then placed two pickles on the plate and handed it to him.
“Thanks. This looks good.”
“I don’t know where Theo got the ham, but it has a wonderful smoky flavor.” Rena assembled her sandwich and took a bite, then glanced at Josh. “If you do decide to paint Gabi’s room, I’d be happy to help you. When I was younger, I used to like to paint pictures and things. Maybe I could add some embellishments to one of the walls.”
Josh stopped with the sandwich halfway to his mouth and returned it to the plate. “Really? You’d be willing to do that?”
“Of course. I could give you a list of supplies, and we could figure out a time to do it.”
“I’d be happy to pay you, Rena. I wouldn’t expect you to do the work for nothing.”
She tipped her head to the side and studied him for a moment. Apparently, she found what she was looking for because she nodded. “We’ll figure out the details later. Tell me more about the things Gabi likes, besides the color pink and princesses. What’s her favorite flower and animal? What does she like to do when she isn’t at school or at your shop?”
“Her favorite flower is a daisy, she loves butterflies and bunnies, and when she isn’t at school or bossing me around at the saddle shop, she pretends to read. She’s learning, but not quite proficient enough to tackle a story on her own yet.”
Rena bit into the crunchy pickle, then smiled. “She seems smart and maybe a smidgen advanced for her age.”
“That’s what the teacher says. Normally, the teacher wouldn’t let one as young as Gabi attend classes, but she minds her manners and the teacher, and she’s learned so much this past year. I have a feeling first grade will be easy for her, and she may end up skipping ahead a grade or two.”
“Will you push her to do that? To excel academically?” Rena asked, her expression cool.
“No. Absolutely not. I just want her to be happy and enjoy her childhood as much as she can. Long before I’m ready, she’ll be all grown up and some boy I detest will be asking to court her.”
Rena grinned. “Detestable boys will be knocking down your door, I have no doubt. Gabi is intelligent and sweet. She’s going to grow up to be a beautiful woman. Those three characteristics are guaranteed to leave boys entranced and exasperated.”
Josh couldn’t argue with her, so he took a big bite of his sandwich. Rena asked him about his business and the town, and he got her to talk about what it was like to live in Texas. She kept her answers vague, which made him switch to asking her to share childhood stories about Theo.
They laughed through the remainder of lunch as Rena told one funny story after another. Josh had no trouble picturing her and Theo rushing headlong into trouble while Theo’s sister tried to keep them out of it.
By the time he’d eaten three delicious cinnamon-topped jumble cookies, he knew he needed to leave. He carried the plates to the sink, retrieved his hat, and smiled at Rena as she stood and wrapped four cookies in a napkin and handed them to him.
“For Gabi and you to eat later,” she said, shoving her hands in her pockets, seeming to be overtaken with a sudden onset of bashfulness.
Rena Burke didn’t seem like a shy woman to him. Nor was she outgoing. She was simply Rena, and every moment he spent with her left him wanting to know more about her.
Which was exactly why he needed to head back to town immediately.
“Thanks for lunch, Rena. I reckon we’ll see you at church tomorrow.” He tipped his head to her before settling on his hat.
She didn’t answer but followed him to the door and stood watching him as he walked over to Hawkins, stowed the cookies in his saddlebag, and swung onto the horse.
Without saying a word, he lifted a hand in parting, turned the horse toward the road, and left, wondering the whole way into Holiday what, exactly, about Rena Burke had bewitched him so.
“I’mnotgoing,Theo,and that is all there is to it.” Rena fisted her hands on her hips and met her cousin’s disapproving glare with one of her own.
“But, Rena, it would be good for you to go. Besides, you’ll get to meet many of the townsfolk after the service. Please? Won’t you please go to church with me?” Theo pleaded as if he were ten, not a man nearing thirty. “I promised Josh and Gabi I’d take them out to lunch at the hotel’s restaurant. It won’t be the same if you don’t join us.”
“No. For the last time, I’m not going. The building might explode or at the very least combust into flames if I walked inside the church. I haven’t been in one since …” she paused as memories assailed her, “the accident. I’m not going, Theo. I don’t mean to upset you, and I don’t want anyone to think I’m uppity or any such nonsense. It’s just that the Creator and I aren’t on the best of terms right now.”
