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“Or I could give you a piggyback ride.”
Tessa laughed and they all joined in. Flynn would totally do it, but Tessa preferred the background and a piggyback ride down the streets of Phail would bring all sorts of attention.
Joe paid Ginny, they thanked Manuel and headed outside. He looped his arm over Lia’s shoulders again. His parents and the Riveras had all been touchy-feely people. Hand holding, hugs, simple touches that showed how easy they were with each other. Lia hadn’t been used to a lot of touching in her life and didn’t initiate it often, but he loved that she leaned into him every time he did.
The wind had her hair whipping around and gave him lots of excuses to tuck the strands behind her ear. And who could blame him for sneaking in an extra kiss or two while he did?
When they approached the old saloon, Lia’s steps slowed.
He smiled. “Want me to find a way to get a look inside one day?”
She grinned up at him. “That would be amazing. Something about this building makes me smile. I’d love to take a tour.”
Troy would know who owned the property and be able to get the key. He’d talk to him soon and arrange it.
Just past the old saloon, a young boy stood in a tiny front yard where he was taping a large paper to the railing of the front porch.
As they approached, he could see that the kid had obviously created the poster. On it, a large dog laughed while another one stretched out its front paws with its butt up in the air. He’d drawn speech bubbles above their heads.
Are you coming to yoga class?
I’m down, dog!
Joe laughed. “That’s a great poster.”
The boy obviously heard him. “Hi. Do you like yoga?”
Joe smiled. “Never tried it.”
“Wow. That’s weird.”
Everyone laughed as a woman stepped out onto the porch with another sign in her hand. When she saw the boy talking with them, she hurried down the stairs. “Hey there. I’m Rachel, this is my son Owen.” She put her hand on his shoulders. “You’re not supposed to talk to strangers, kiddo.”
“But they liked my poster. They’re nice.”
Rachel ruffled his hair and rolled her eyes. “It’s still a rule.” She looked at the group. “We just moved to town.”
Owen grinned. “And we’re opening a yoga studio. Right here. It’s going to be awesome. Mom said the town is growing and we’re going to help make it better.”
Rachel’s grinned echoed the kid’s. “We are.”
Flynn introduced everyone in the group and Owen asked the others if they’d tried yoga. When no one had, he told them they had to give it a try. “It’s fun and hard work and makes you strong in your body and your mind. Helps you make good choices.”
Lia smiled. “It sounds like something I’d like to try one day.”
When they moved on, Rachel was putting up her own sign, this one professionally drawn, that showed the silhouette of a woman in a yoga pose. The caption read, Yoganna Love It.
Lia smiled as she waved goodbye and then turned to Joe. “You up to trying a class with me once she’s set up?”
Joe laughed. He’d probably do just about anything for this woman. “Sure. But don’t expect much. Do you think yoga might be your next career?”
Her laugh was bright and he wanted to hear it more often. He didn’t think she’d had enough laughs and smiles in her life.
“Full-body coordination has never been my strength, so definitely not. But it’ll be fun to try.”
When they arrived at Phail General, they headed inside to pick up some equipment Sam had ordered for the business.
Troy waved and moved out behind the counter. He placed the box on it and pointed to an envelope on top of it. “You got mail.”
