Sunny folded herself down on the edge of her property near the lake where the weeds began. It smelled of grasses and lake water and fresh air. A fish jumped out in the lake, creating lazy circles in the water. She sat a moment, letting the peace of the place surround her.
The Lord’s Creation staggered her. Oh, she knew this lake had been created by mankind, but the beauty…she was inclined to believe that was the Lord’s.
She hadn’t seen much of the world, but could anything be prettier than this vista? Across the cove were hills in various shades of green. The earth there plunged to the water from a high point, over sheer rock creating a cliff. Could the deserts, mountains, gorges or canyons be any better? Or prettier? She recognized that each held its own beauty, but this place….
She could see why her grandparents had loved it.
A motor boat came in to the dock; an elderly couple from cabin six got out and lingered a time, but finally started up the concrete steps toward their cabin. Spotting her, they waved merrily.
She waved back with a smile, then bowed her head, earnestly thanking God for her lunch. She was so grateful for her life; it could have turned out so differently.
Sinking her mouth into peanut butter and bread, she heard steps behind her. Turning, she saw Grant.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” She pushed peanut butter to the corner of her mouth to speak. She hadn’t seen him in a couple of days. They still hadn’t set a date for her to ride. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing much.” He sank down beside her. “I’ve been busy with the horses. And customers. Took out two parties yesterday,” he remarked with pride. “You just now eating lunch?”
“Mmm-hmm…I was busy in town. Want a bite?” She held out her untouched half, peanut butter oozing. It was her comfort food.
He glanced at it, but said, “Nah, I had lunch.”
“How’s business?” She swallowed, took a swallow of the ice water she had in a plastic glass, and picked up her other sandwich half.
“I’ve got two morning rides lined up for Saturday, and one for the afternoon. If my summer rides keep up for one more month, I’ll be okay this year. Better than last year, anyway. After that, I’ll make a profit.”
“Mmm…that’s good, isn’t it? That means your business is building.”
“Yep. Want to go for a boat ride?” Grant’s gaze was warmly inviting.
A soothing boat ride… She wished she could—to find more peace, to feel the breeze against her skin. She glanced back up to her office. She’d been out all day.
“Maybe later. I don’t think I should leave the office again just now. Besides, I’ve got work to do.”
“Oh, that’s always there.” His gaze followed hers, back over his shoulder, then coaxed, “Come on, it would do you good. Cool you off.”
“Yes, it sounds wonderful, but I shouldn’t, not just yet. Thanks anyway. When are you going to give me that ride we talked about?”
Did he hesitate?
He hastily said, “How about tomorrow? I have a party of four coming at nine. You could do it then.”
At nine, hmm? “Maybe. Let me see how this afternoon shapes up. I’ll let you know this evening.”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.” He rose and strolled down to the docks. He fiddled around at his boat awhile, then put-putted away, back toward his land. Sunny stared longingly for a moment, took a deep breath, then briskly picked up her lunch leavings.
Time to get back to work. The elderly couple was leaving tomorrow, and two more customers would arrive. Customers in cabins five and two were staying until Monday. That left cabin one for Dell and Tracy.
She’d have to check cabin one again if the kids were to have it, she thought as she sauntered back up to the office. She wished she could make the cabin a little less impersonal for them, but her own cabin wasn’t in any position to be called “Sunny’s apartment,” was it? It was only the office. All the cabins were impersonal and out of date.
That was something to think about, she mused. If she were to stay the whole year, shouldn’t she have some personal items about? More than just her clothes? Make the apartment more hers?
Shouldn’t she do some updating for all of the cabins? She knew the beds needed new mattresses, and the screens needed redone. She hadn’t pursued that.
She hadn’t been thinking of this place as her home, she mused. She’d been thinking of it as temporary living quarters. Even her clothes were temporarily hung or stuffed in that small chest of drawers. She’d been living as though she’d move tomorrow.
But if she’d learned anything in her years of passing from family to family, it was to have something of her own, something no one could take away from her in place. She should have something now.
Out of the blue, she wanted to talk to Jessica Larson. And little Lori, too. She’d been too busy to talk with them all week, and she missed them. This life was made up of meeting people only to see them go the next week.
Was that why she’d been so dependent on Grant? Or, more to the point, why she’d held him at arm’s length?
She’d like to believe that she didn’t find him so attractive, but his quick easy grin seemed to send her nerves into a free-for-all.
Pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind, she went inside. The office was quiet now, so she settled into the office chair and dialed the long-distance number. Talking to her old friend and mentor would settle her nerves.
“Hi, honey.” She could hear weariness in Jessica’s voice.
“Hi, Jessica. I was feeling a little homesick, I guess. How are you? And Lori?
They chatted about ten minutes, then she saw Dell and Tracy through the window as they parked their old car.
“Okay, I have to go,” she said, watching the two haul themselves wearily out of the car. Yet there was an air of excitement about them. “I’ll call again in a couple of days.”
“Oh, Sunny, before you go, Dr. Jensen’s office called.”
“They did? What did they want? When?”
“Yesterday, and they wanted your phone number. I didn’t give it to them. I thought you should call them.”
“Yeah, I’ll call them. Don’t worry, Jessica.”
But it was something, Sunny thought as she hung up. She bit her lip. She’d taken a leave of absence, not knowing when she left exactly what she faced here in Missouri. But she couldn’t ask them to hold her job for a whole year. She’d have to resign.
Letting go of her job gave her a funny feeling. She wanted to clutch at it, solid and steady. She’d worked so hard for the position.
Never mind that. She’d call tomorrow—it was the only thing she could do.
She walked out of the office to see about the kids.
“Hi, Sunny. I got the car back, as you can see.” Dell grinned from ear to ear, tossing his keys. Tracy hugged one of her pillowcases of clothes. “The old buzzard thought he had me over a barrel, but…” Dell shrugged. “You really helped us out, y’know. I won’t forget it.”
“That’s okay, Dell. Just prove me right, okay?”
He looked up at the sun, then down at his watch. “I’ll put in a couple of hours in the yard right now, okay? Tracy, you take whichever cabin Sunny says, and get us unloaded. I’ll be in after a while.”
Sunny gazed at the meager holdings. It wasn’t much with which to start a new life or career. She’d started with about the same, many years ago now, with a new job and determination to make something of herself shining out for all to see.
The Larsons had cheered her onward and upward. Now these kids needed that kind of encouragement.
“Never mind that, Dell. No more work tonight. You kids take cabin one. It’s empty for now. Get settled. I’ll cook something for supper and we can eat at my place. Then first thing tomorrow, Dell, you can begin. Okay?”
“Sure thing, Sunny. Bright and early, you betcha. I’ll go into town and hire on somewhere, soon as possible. Tracy will, too…” he turned to check with Tracy, and at her nod, added, “and we’ll make out.”
Sunny turned to Tracy. “Nope. Tracy is now working for me, you understand? She’ll clean cabins to pay the rent. You don’t mind that, do you, Tracy?”
“Uh-uh. Not a bit,” Tracy said, her eyes wide. “If you show me what all you want done, I’ll do it. We’ll make out.”
“All right. Now get yourselves settled, and come on over after you do. About six, I think. We’ll have something…I don’t know what, because I didn’t get to the grocery store today.”
She’d have to remedy that tomorrow.
The two scooted the fifty yards to the first cabin, and eagerly disappeared inside. Sunny stood in the back doorway of the apartment and watched the lights go on in cabin one as they checked each room. It didn’t take long. Tracy appeared at the door, Dell behind her.
“It’s just perfect, Sunny. It’s great!” Tracy called. She fixed her gaze earnestly on Sunny, suppressing tears. “Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”
Not me, sweetie. I see the Lord’s hand in this, Sunny thought to herself. “See you at six then.”
Sunny went inside and right to her cupboard and refrigerator. There wasn’t much there. She’d been buying for one person, and she often didn’t eat much, existing mostly on frozen entrées and salads. And peanut butter sandwiches.
She made a face. She ate those too often.
There were eggs. And a little milk, thank goodness. Was it enough? Omelettes and toast came to mind. She had all the right ingredients—except butter. She’d need butter. She sucked on her fingernail.
Never mind. She’d just ask Grant.
Thirty minutes later, Grant spotted her at once while he was yet out on the lake. As he slowed his boat and carefully lined up with the dock, she caught his rope, and dropping to her knees, she began securing it to the ring provided.
“Hi, Sunny,” he said and glanced up at her. “What’s up?”
“Nothing much. I want to borrow some butter, if you don’t mind.”
“Butter?” He was astounded. He climbed out of the boat.
“Yes. I need it for dinner.” She rose from her stooped position. “I’ll just follow you home for it and you won’t have to come back this way. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Um, no…no, of course not.” He secured his boat. “I’ll have to call and let…Buzz know. I—hmm…look, Sunny, with guests coming, you must be busy. Why don’t I just run home and get some and come back? Butter all you need? And how much? If you’re wanting it for dinner, you’ll need it right away, won’t you?”
“Yes…but I don’t want to trouble you.”
“It’s no trouble. I’ll do it right away. What are you making, anyway?” His curiosity ran high.
She laughed. “Omelettes and toast. I…er, have guests that I wasn’t prepared for and eggs are all I have on hand.” She thought a moment. “I’m not much of a cook. Perhaps it would be easier if I just took them to a restaurant in town.”
“Oh, don’t do that…run all the way back into town? You’ve been gone all day.” He appeared to think faster than a runaway truck. “I have an idea. My assistant, Buzz, is making a big pot roast tonight. And vegetables. Why don’t I just get it and bring it up? We can all eat together…”
“A pot roast?” The idea of a pot roast made her mouth water. She couldn’t think of anything better as a welcome dinner for Dell and Tracy. “That sounds delicious.”
All at once, she hesitated. It would be asking a lot for Grant to feed three unexpected guests. And how did Grant know she’d been gone all day, she thought fleetingly. He must’ve called, and found the office empty. But her thoughts flew back to dinner. “Are you sure you don’t want us at your place? It’s a lot of trouble to transport a whole dinner, don’t you think?”
“Well, that would be a lot easier.” His eyes were speculative. He glanced beyond her, and up the hill. “I’ll just call Buzz and tell him to expect us. Let him put on a few manners.”
Sunny stared at him in wonder, thinking he was a mighty easygoing kind of guy. Sometimes.
Then it dawned on her. He didn’t know who her guests were. He wouldn’t like it…or them.
Disappointment slid over her, but she pushed it aside. Perhaps she’d just borrow the butter after all. He’d fuss, but he’d get it for her.
“Um, Grant—”
“Hey, Grant!” A tall man, carrying fishing poles and a tackle box came down the concrete walk. Mr. Locke. From cabin four. “Long time no see, buddy! How’s it going, anyway?”
“Rick, how are you?” Grant turned, and the two men shook hands. Both men grinned like Cheshire cats. “Haven’t seen you since my days with, um, a couple of years, anyway. Since that fishing derby, if I’m not mistaken.”
“That’s right, that’s right. Say, whatever happened to that girl you were engaged to? Heather?”
Grant was engaged?
“Oh, we, ah, broke up. She went on to New York, I think.”
The information made Sunny first catch her breath, then let it out in a long slow sigh.
Grant paid no attention, busy exchanging information with his old friend. “I guess you haven’t heard that I own a riding stable now, just down the road. Grant’s Retreat.”
“No! I’ve seen your flyer, but I didn’t know it was you. Well, whatdaya know…” Rick looked impressed. “Did old Nathan sell you the land after all? He sure didn’t want a noisy playmate kind of place, did he? Rabid about what was to come. Must say, the quietness of this cove is one reason we still come here.”
“Yeah, he did. Sold me the piece with an option on this place when… Well, Nathan has—had his own way of doing things. He helped me get Grant’s Retreat started.” Grant turned to Sunny. “This is Nathan’s granddaughter, Sunny. She recently inherited Sunshine Acres.”
“Oh, hi ya, Sunny. Met you when I came in, didn’t I?” The surprise on Rick’s face didn’t hide his sadness. “So old Nathan is gone, is he? I’m sorry. He was a mighty nice man, as I’m sure you know. Didn’t know about his demise.”
Sunny glanced at Grant while his friend was talking. He stared at the far trees, his look almost blank.
“Well,” Rick continued. “I’m sorry for your loss. Guess I’m behind the times. My wife made the reservations while I was busy, and I didn’t question anything.”
Sunny hardly knew what to say. “Thank you, you’re very kind to say that. I hope you enjoy your stay here, Mr. Locke. We plan to keep the resort understated.”
“Well, nice to see you, Grant. I used to ride once in a while. Guess I can call you and we can do it any day I’m here?”
“Sure enough, Rick. Just call for reservations.”
“Okay. I’ll be seeing you.”
Rick went on his way down the hill. Sunny and Grant watched him until he was out of earshot.
“Um, Grant?”
Grant took a step up the hill. “Yeah?”
She started after him. “I don’t think I should accept your invitation for supper.”
Grant turned, still walking. “Why not?”
“Well, my guests…” She hurried to keep up with him.
Grant stopped dead in his tracks. A suspicious gleam entered his gaze. He twisted his mouth, then relaxing it, said, “All right. Who are your guests?”
“Dell and Tracy.”
His eyes drifted shut and he nearly groaned. “Uh-huh.”
Sunny shifted her stance, opening her mouth, but before she could say anything else, he continued.
“Yeah, that would figure.” His tone was one of long-suffering patience. “Dell and Tracy. Well, I suppose I can’t stop you from making friends, but you’re asking for trouble.”
“They may be trouble, but somebody’s got to help those kids, Grant.” Her voice went a level higher. “They’re now without a home or family or—or anything. I don’t suppose you know what that’s like, do you? It’s like you’ve dropped into a big hole with nothing to grab. No way to climb up and out….
“Unless someone helps, someone cares…. I was lucky. Blessed, actually. I found the Larsons—or rather they found me when they took me as a placement from Social Services—but not until I suffered some dreadful temporary places…lost all of my dignity and nearly my sense of who I am…almost my virginity—”
Shocked at what she’d let slip, she suddenly clamped her mouth shut. Grant couldn’t know.
He stared at her while her cheeks flushed scarlet. She dropped her lashes. “I’m sorry I said that. Please forget it, will you? Please? Um…may I still borrow the butter?”
After a long moment, he shook his head. His grave stare, full of heartfelt compassion, told her he had missed none of her diatribe. Not the telling bit.
Embarrassed, she looked at her sneakers. But he spoke only about dinner.
“Nope. The invitation for dinner still stands. I don’t have anything against the girl, and maybe, as you’ve said, Dell has grown up some.”
“Her name is Tracy,” she insisted.
He nodded. “Tracy. I’ll remember. I’ll just go and phone Buzz to expect company.”