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“Is he serious right now?”
“Sssh,” Autumn hissed.
“Close your eyes and breathe slowly. Inhale and exhale deeply. Focus on your breathing, class. If a thought slips into your head, let it go and refocus on your breathing.”
He talked in a soothing voice, and Autumn felt her eyes closing. The class fell silent, and she heard the steady, deep breathing from others around them. She wasn’t sure how long she lay like that, floating, her mind hazy and her body relaxed. Ford started snoring softly, and she thought how wonderful it would be to slide into such a deep sleep so easily. Most nights it took her ages. There was the sleep meditation music, the counting sheep. Warm cocoa before bed—the list was long of all the things she’d used to try to fall asleep with ease. The good thing was that when she eventually did go under, she didn’t wake till morning.
Turning her head, she looked at Ford again. He was out cold, snoring softly, and the sound made her smile. The big, tough rancher snored. Clearly he was tired to have fallen asleep so fast.
“And now slowly bring yourself back to the present,” Mr. Goldhirsh said.
Ford kept on snoring.
Autumn touched his hand softly. His eyes opened; then he turned to look at her. His sleepy gaze made her smile.
“Sorry. I drifted off.” His words were gruff.
“Sometimes you need a power nap.”
“Yeah, sometimes.” He sat up, rubbing his eyes like Ritchie did when he woke up.
“Same time next week, class,” Mr. Goldhirsh said.
“Phil’s is open late tonight. You want to come for a coffee?” Jack appeared nearby with Rory. They carried rolled mats under their arms. He was a replica of his brothers, Joe and Luke. Rory had crazy curls on her head and a fiery temperament like Maggie. More locals Autumn had gotten to know since her arrival and liked very much.
“I’ll just head home,” Ford said.
“Pip just made a fresh batch of chocolate cake that Nash always buys to bring to the ranch.”
“The one with the caramel filling?” Ford asked.
“That one,” Rory added.
“Okay. Well, maybe just a quick coffee.” Ford no longer looked half asleep. The prospect of chocolate cake had woken him up.
“How about you, Autumn?” Jack asked.
“I should get back.”
“Jenny will be fine, dear,” Miss Marla said. “Give her a call. Ritchie will be in bed by now.”
“You could just say no,” Ford leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“Like you, do you mean?”
“You have a point.”
“Did you enjoy the class?” Mr. Goldhirsh asked.
“It was good, thanks. I’m just not sure it’s me,” Ford said.
“Yes, I’ll be coming again,” Autumn said.
“What’s notyouabout it?”
“I’m not really a woo-woo kind of guy.” He was uncomfortable now because the Robbins sisters and Mr. Goldhirsh were eyeballing him.
“Jack is not a woo-woo guy, and yet here he is,” Miss Marla said. “You need to relax more, Ford. Luna told me she’s worried about you. This will help to set her mind at rest.”
