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“Of course he was. Why wouldn’t he be?”
She sighed. “He has this notion… Never mind.”
“He did mention something about you having some interest in me.”
Sage stopped her horse. “What?”
Xander laughed as he pulled his horse to a stop. “Not in so many words, of course.”
“What did he say, exactly?”
“I was the one who brought it up. I know he’s been worried about me since the day you walked into the bakery to look at the wedding cake.”
She cocked her head at him. “You’re kind of conceited, Xander.”
He shrugged. “I’m just telling you what he thinks. Not what I think. I think you didn’t have the best first impression of me. But regardless of what anybody thinks or feels, I’ll tell you what I told him. I’m up to my ears in kids and pastries.”
Sage laughed. “And making muffins to pay for camp?”
“That too.”
They rode for a few moments in silence, then Sage looked at him. “The kids are daunting, I’ll give you that. And I did find you quite annoying that first day. But if you can squeeze in a friend, I wouldn’t mind visiting the bakery now and then. And not just to get muffins.”
Xander nodded. “I think I could find the time for a friend.”
“Good.”
“And I promise not to be too annoying.” Xander shook Sage’s hand when she held it out to him. “To an only slightly annoying friendship.”
When they got to camp, Sage instructed everyone to get their tents set up in the clearing they used every year. It was on the edge of a wide, slow-moving section of the creek. The ground was cleared of brush and had plenty of shade from a mixture of pine and oak trees. There was a permanent rock firepit that was six-feet across. Even though it was in the mid-eighties today, a fire would feel good tonight once the sun went down. Sawyer and J.T. had delivered a load of firewood to the camp earlier in the week.
Sawyer actually wanted to come on the ride, as opposed to J.T. But by the time he got home, J.T. had already agreed and invited Joey and Finn to come along. Jake couldn’t spare both of her brothers to the camp out, so Sawyer stayed behind to help with the ranch work.
Everyone brought their own snacks, but the camp provided dinner and breakfast, plus water and soft drinks. No alcohol was allowed. It was mid-afternoon, and everyone was free to do what they wanted until dinner, as long as it wasn’t done on a horse, or took them too far from camp. Sage expected most of the kids would want to play in the creek.
With the parents along, Sage and her four counselors didn’t have full responsibility of the kids, but they still needed to keep an eye on things. Sometimes the parents were worse than the kids.
As she was going over the supplies for dinner with the cook, Joey came up to her.
“Can I help with anything?”
“I think we’ve got it under control.” Sage gave one last instruction to the cook, then turned to Joey. “Are you and Finn having a good time?”
“Yes. He’s thrilled. J.T. has him in the water now.” She glanced toward Xander who was eating a snack with his kids. “That’s quite a story.”
“Yeah. Crazy. He’s really good with them, though. And I’ve gotten to know the kids the last two weeks. They seem to be doing well, despite losing their parents a year ago.”
“So sad.” She looked back at Sage. “I’ve only been in the bakery a couple of times, but he seems nice. And he’s pretty darn cute.”
Sage smiled. “He is that.”
“His smile…”
“Yeah.”
“Are you interested in him?”
Sage laughed and held up a hand. “No. Are you?”
