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“Absolutely,” he sighs and when I look over at him, I see dark shadows under his eyes. He looks exhausted. I haven’t been this close to him in a long time and I can see lines at the corner of his sparkling emerald eyes. There’s a hint of silver in the little hairs over his ears that I’ve never noticed because of his hat.
“Should we drop out?” I ask, choking on the words. Alicia and Sarah played their cards exactly right. I know that homeless shelter helps out a lot of people in our county and all around here. It feels wrong to take money or supplies away from them, especially when they need it so badly. And it’s the holidays. A time for giving and forgiving.
He drops his hat to the seat between us and groans. “I hate to take the money away from needy families around here. It feels wrong. All we have to do is spend a little time together and handle this like adults.” His green gaze turns towards me and I feel my heart shift in my chest. “Surely we can do that?”
I nod my head but I’m just not sure. We’re like oil and water. We can’t seem to be in the same room most of the time without an argument ensuing.
“Do you want to back out?” I hold my breath, waiting for his answer. If he doesn’t want to participate I won’t push the issue. I’m not gonna force him.
“Absolutely not. I can do this,” he growls, glaring at me in the darkened cab of the truck.
“I can too,” I huff. There’s no way that I’m admitting that I can’t handle something he can.
“Yeah. Well, let’s go to Dolly’s and have some coffee and plot out wherever we need to go.”
I nod my head and he starts his truck and pulls out, heading for the only diner in our little town. The little hole in the wall place is lit up like the Fourth of July and I can see other couples inside, their papers on the tables between them as they plot out their own strategy.
When we step inside, all their heads turn our way and I can see them waiting, watching.
I stomp over to a booth in the back and slide in, cringing when Trace slips into the other side.
The bright glare of the diner has me noticing again how tired he looks.
“How are things going on your ranch this year?” I can’t help myself. I need to know if he’s alright. It’s like a compulsion with me.
“It’s good. The calves sold for good money and we’re looking at the breeding stock to make sure we’re on the right track.”
I nod my head. With cattle, it’s always necessary to make sure that you’ve got the right breeding to keep the line as good as possible. Every little thing can make a big difference in how much money you get.
“That’s good.” I nod my head at the paper sitting between us. “What do we have?”
He picks it up and his eyes widen. He groans and I shift in the seat.
“I think we’re gonna need a lot of coffee to get all this gathered up before tomorrow.”
“We’ve got several days according to the rules. The winner is the person who gets everything the fastest. And an extra donation goes to your favorite charity.” The widows and orphans fund for the ranchers is always looking for a little help and I give as much as I can. It would be nice to be able to give them more help this year. It’s been a hard one for all of us. The smaller ranches around here have been struggling and I know a few people that could really use the extra help.
Like he can read my mind, Trace sits up taller. “I’d like to do the widows and orphans fund.” My mouth gapes open and I giggle.
He eyes me uncertainly. “Something funny?”
“I think this is the first time we’ve had the same thought.”
He grins. “It was bound to happen sooner or later.” He glances down at the list then up at me, his emerald eyes sparkling with fire. “So we’re doing this?”
I nod my head and twist my fingers under the table. I have always desperately wanted to sink my fingers into his golden curls and see if they’re as soft as they look. Soft and springy. But yet, I haven’t been this close to him since we were kids.
He’s tempting.
I nod my head at the list. “What have we got?”
He eyes the paper and his eyes widen. “For heaven’s sake. It’s so dang specific it’s not funny.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course it is.”
“We need a carafe of the candy cane cocoa from the diner out on state route 182. And a picture of the Holly Ribbon tree in Jasper. And a piece of the butterscotch fudge from the Central River Hideaway.”
My eyes widen. “That’s two towns over. It’s a half a day’s drive.”
