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Good to know that’s settled, them.
Staring after her as she towed me to a room filled with boxes and jars of all shapes and sizes, I took a quick inventory, mymind already whirring as she pushed a stack of boxes into my arms and rose up onto her toes to kiss my cheek.
“See you in three weeks.”
****
It didn't take me three weeks to sell through the stock Sienna gave me. Half of me promised myself I would take double on my next round, and the other half just wanted any reason to see her again. I pulled into Jack Stone’s drive, giving the old man a wave who waved back from where he sat on his ancient Massey Ferguson that was once some variety of aqua.
I made my regular in his kitchen–a stack of cheese sandwiches and beer and placed them on the veranda to wait while he finished up.
Jack climbed down slowly, dusting himself off. "I didn't expect to see you for a while," his usually grumpy voice was filled with a strange sort of joy.
I dragged my head up, but his expression gave nothing away. "You planning to host a get together out here, old man?" I raised my eyebrows.
He shook his head. "Just getting the place, spick and span."
I stared at him, a grin forming over my face. "Well. Looks like all dogs can change their stripes or tricks after all.”
Jack snorted at me. “I know more tricks you've learned in your short lifetime, boy."
"Yeah? One of mine is cheese sandwiches. Sit down.”
Jack creaked his way to the step I sat on and popped the top on the beer I left in the shade for him. "Winter’s starting to close in.”
The wind brush beneath my collar. I nodded. “Could be.”
"Welcome to fall in the borderlands, boy." Jack slugged his beer. "Damn that’s good."
"Just had the same thought." I nodded to one of the woodpiles he pushed up his tractor. "Want me to cut that for you? Get a nice dry stack ready in the house or the shed?"
Jack shrugged. "If you want to. There’s probably some other stuff that's more important to fix first."
I finished my sandwich. "How long have you been worried about the state of the place?" I wiped my fingers on my knees, relishing the simple Ploughman lunch. They were famous for a damn reason. "You find a girl for yourself, Mister Stone?"
“Don't you Mister Stone me." Jack glared at me, though his eyes crinkled at the sides
"Well? " I raised both my eyebrows at him.
"Meybe. How's your wild girl going?"
I scoffed at that. "Don't change the subject."
We finished up our lunch all too fast. I gestured at the woodheap. "It will get cold, Jack. I won't be back for a few weeks. Are you sure you don't want me to chop that up for you? I'll split it, make it all pretty like."
Jack considered the offer. "If you think it's best.”
I rolled my eyes, knowing I was picking up habits, but he could deal with it.
Jack grumbled. “I saw that."
I grinned, and headed for the barn.
****
My arms ached as I pulled into Red Hart, the freshly painted sign and stained wooden gates a welcome sight.
My cheese sandwiches and beer went down well, but that had been hours ago, and with the last light fading from the day that draped around the mountain’s shadow, I was running on empty and not just in the energy department. I could've slept at Longside, but I didn't want to turn up on Brendan's doorsteplate, and I knew there was always a bed in the bunkhouse for me at Red Hart.
