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“That sounds great.” Grace hopped into the pickup and rolled down the window.
He took her hand in his before he started the pickup and kissed her knuckles, then gave her a long, admiring glance. “I didn’t mention it earlier, but you look fantastic today, like a beautiful piece of an American dream come to life.”
“Thank you, Levi.” She glanced down at her patriotic-hued outfit. “I like these colors.”
“I’ve noticed.” He started the pickup and drove out of the parking lot. “You seem to be someone who is proud to be an American.”
“Oh, I am,” she said, looking at him as he turned down a road bordered by miles of fields, and they drove without a destination in mind. “I might not like the war or the politics involved, or even the politicians, but I love America and what it stands for. I feel it’s important to support our country and the people who defend it.”
“Me too.” Levi shifted into high gear, and they sailed down the road.
With the green fields around them, a blue sky above them, and the afternoon stretching out in front of them, Grace felt so free and happy. She stuck her hand out the window as a new song she liked came on the radio. The Eagles sang about taking it easy, and Grace joined her voice to theirs as her hand bobbed up and down in the breeze like it was riding a wave.
Levi grinned at her. “You are beautiful, Miss Marshall.”
“You’re not so bad yourself, Mr. Gibson,” she said, scooting closer to him. “I know I’ve mentioned my cousin Delia’s wedding about a hundred times, but I don’t think I’ve invited you. If you’d like to come with me and Cindy to Holiday next weekend, we’d love to have you. My folks would like to meet you. I promise it won’t be too painful, and there will be loads of good food.”
Levi offered her an astonished look, as though he hadn’t expected the invitation and didn’t quite know what to do with it. “May I get back to you with an answer?”
“Of course. You can let me know any time before we leave Friday afternoon. Cindy and I both got permission to leave work early. We plan to hit the road by three, which is only two at home since they’re in the Pacific time zone.”
Levi nodded and pointed out two deer standing at the edge of a creek. They drove for another hour, visiting like old friends, before he took a series of side roads and Grace could tell they were heading back toward Nampa.
“Are you up for dinner and a movie?” Levi asked as they neared town.
“Always, but I hope I’m not keeping you from work. I know you and your dad are so busy on the farm. I’ve taken up so much of your time today.”
“It’s fine, Grace. I put in extra hours all week so I could take today off. I need to check with Pop about being gone two Saturdays in a row, but it would be nice to meet your parents. I can’t promise anything, but I will definitely consider going with you to Holiday.”
“Excellent!” She sat back, dreaming of arriving in Holiday with a handsome man to escort her to Delia’s wedding. She could almost see some of her cousins’ faces turn green with envy. Not that she wanted Levi to go for that particular reason. She really wanted him to meet her parents and for her parents to meet the young man she couldn’t seem to stop gushing about in her letters or Sunday night phone calls to them.
Levi was becoming more and more important to her, and she wanted her family to like him as much as she did.
“Have you ever eaten at Red Steer?” Levi asked as they drove through Nampa.
“A red steer? Isn’t that what you raise? Herefords?”
Levi shook his head and pointed up the street to a white sign with a red steer head painted on it. “Not a red steer,theRed Steer.”
“Nope. I don’t know anything about the Red Steer.”
Levi gave her a look like he might have given a child who’d announced they’d never heard of Santa Claus, then pulled into the parking lot of the drive-in and found a spot. They’d gone on enough dates, and spent enough time together, that he knew what she liked on her burger. When the waitress came over to take their order, Levi placed an order for two Ham’oneers, two orders of fries, and two milkshakes—one chocolate and one vanilla.
“What’s a ham-o … whatever it was you ordered?” Grace asked as the waitress hurried off to fill their order.
“Ham’oneer. It’s a hamburger with this amazingly thick bacon on it that is like nothing else you’ve ever tasted.” He offered her a teasing grin. “I left off the onions, though, in case you feel like having your way with me later.”
“Well, thank you for that,” Grace deadpanned, making Levi laugh.
When the food arrived, the hamburger was even better than she expected, and the chocolate shake was thick, creamy perfection on a warm summer afternoon.
After they finished eating, she dashed inside to use the restroom and wash up, then returned to the pickup to find Levi talking to two young men who appeared to be of a similar age. When one of them smiled and gave Levi’s arm a playful swat with a ball cap, she assumed they were at least acquaintances, if not friends.
“Friends of yours?” she asked as she got in the pickup, and Levi started it.
“We competed against each other in high school. They graduated in Caldwell, but I knew them from sports and the county fair.” He pulled onto the street and headed toward Boise. “Any movie you are interested in seeing?”
“No. I’m just happy to spend more time with you,” Grace admitted. “I mean, someone has to keep a homely fellow like you company, and you are pretty generous with snacks and meals.”
