By Tuesday afternoon it seemed like a lifetime since Saturday, when Ryder had run into Lorri at the market. So long that he was beginning to wonder if he’d imagined it. He should’ve nailed down specifics right there on the spot. Instead, it had been torture waiting to make the call. He’d been tempted to text her every day, but he’d said Wednesday.
Thank goodness the weather held out. If that line of storms hadn’t made that easterly turn he’d have had to postpone until the weekend, and honestly, he didn’t want to wait that long to talk to her again.
Ross and Reece gave him a tour of The Wedding Ranch that afternoon. They’d completed the transformation for the big contract.
“I’m not just saying this because I’m your uncle. This place looks like a million bucks.”
“I know,” Ross said. “Reece, you still amaze me.”
“It wouldn’t matter how pretty it looked if the rest of the stuff didn’t go to plan. It’s your plans that make the magic happen,” she said. “Which, by the way, Uncle Ryder, your old friend Mayor Blevins called us. She’s coming to tour this afternoon.”
“Well, you’re putting your best foot forward. It looks great,” Ryder said.
“But we’re focused on this project right now.” Ross opened his computer and reviewed the project plan with Ryder.
“I was worried,” Ryder said. “I’ll admit it, but I don’t see how this event can be anything but a success. Traffic flow plans are genius the way you’ve scheduled arrivals in intervals with a three-hour pre-wedding jam session to entertain guests during the security screening. The town will be none the wiser.”
“That’s the plan,” Ross said.
“Wonder if I’ll be able to hear the music down at the creek?” Ryder didn’t mind some good music on a sunshine day.
“You can always come up and listen.”
“No. That’s not appropriate. This is a private event, and that means no outsiders, not even uncles. Besides I’m all moved in down at the Rest Stop.” He’d parked his living quarters—a horse trailer—next to the great room he’d built his first summer home from college. The roof line was angled so he could pull his trailer right up to it, making it bigger than some houses in this town when the slides were out, expanding the living room and sleeping quarters. “I don’t know why I haven’t done this before.”
“I’m so glad. I hated asking you to let us rent the house, but we appreciate it so much.”
“My pleasure, kiddo. In fact, I’m going to head there now. You two know you can call me if you need me for anything. I’m available.”
“Yes, sir.” Ross shook his hand and Reece hugged his neck.
He drove down to the creek and rolled out the rug under the awning. Twenty feet long, tan with a brown running horse in the middle, it would keep him from tracking in dirt and the dew that settled on these muggy summer nights. He was looking forward to the week of peace and quiet and limited chores.
He set two chairs next to the firepit. Maybe that was a little optimistic, but he thought Lorri might enjoy sitting around a fire at night. If she didn’t stay, he’d still enjoy it.
This was something he should’ve been doing all along. Every man needed a place to quiet thoughts and be grateful for all he had. He hadn’t focused on being grateful enough lately. This was a good place to do that.
He’d gotten all his hay baled and up in the barn yesterday so there wouldn’t be any farm equipment noise during this week’s events. Thank goodness the weather had held out to allow that to happen, else he’d have had to disappoint the twins, because although he wanted their business to flourish, he still had a farm to run.
Stepping his toe against the back of his left boot, he slid his foot out and then took off the other, standing them next to the front door. He pulled off his socks and laid them across the top of his boots.
Cell reception was lousy down here, so he removed the phone from his pocket and set it on the bar in the trailer, which was the only place he did get service.
He walked down to the water enjoying the tickle of the tall grass beneath his bare feet. This region hadn’t had much rain, so the creek bed was low—a ripple over the smooth rocks that was noisier than normal.
Sun sparkled in dots of light in the shallow water as shiny minnows darted in and out from the bank looking for food before they became something else’s meal. The food chain. Some folks grimaced at the thought. He liked the order of it all.
A bird called from a nearby tree, and a busy woodpecker tapped a rhythm in the distance. He stepped into the chilly water, then bent forward to grab a handful, rubbing it behind his neck, cooling himself from the intense heat.
Later he’d bring Thunder down to walk the creek. Ryder liked the sound of the horse’s hooves slapping at the water with each step.
Trees on both banks arched from one side to the other, creating a canopy. It was cooler under the shade here. A good place for a break.
And there she was again. In his mind. Lorri. Invading his quiet time.
He wondered if she’d ever ridden a horse. They could trail ride most of the way down to the mill on the creek trail, then tie the horses at the fence and hike the rest. It would make for a longer day that way. But it was so much more peaceful on horseback than on the Ranger UTV.
Pump the brakes. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
He’d promised to show her the mill, not spend a whole day with her. Maybe he longed for companionship more than he’d realized.
Tomorrow the first guests would arrive to the wedding venue. If he was going to move horses down, he needed to go ahead and do it today. Unless something went wrong, or they needed an extra hand, he’d be staying out of the way down here. Better to have options. He climbed back in his truck and drove up to the barn to get the horses.
He rode Thunder down to the creek, ponying Dottie, a black-and-white paint that was more of a babysitter horse. Even if Lorri had never ridden she could ride Dottie.
He tied the horses to a picket line, then started the long walk back to get his truck. He’d made it as far as the tobacco barns when he saw the black town car pull in front of the barn. He stopped just out of sight and watched as Reece and Ross came into view to greet their guests. It seemed like yesterday the twins were six years old and getting ready for their first day of school in matching outfits. They didn’t need any help these days. They knew what they wanted, and were smart enough to make it happen.
He took the dirt path over to the barn then called Lorri. She answered on the first ring. “Lorri? Hey, it’s Ryder. You up for the old creek mill tour?”
“Sure, when were you thinking?”
“Tomorrow if that still works for you. I can pick you up at your house.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Not at all, besides, I’d kind of like to meet that big dog of yours.”
She gave him the address. “It’s the fourth house on the left. Sage green. Last name’s on the mailbox too.”
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He disconnected the call, then dialed Joe. “Hey, man, can I get you to make a picnic lunch for two for pickup tomorrow at ten thirty?”
“Sure. What’s the occasion?”
“No occasion. Just lunch.”
There was a pause, but Ryder let it hang.
Finally, Joe asked, “How about a Tuscan Turkey and one Hammer, homemade pasta salad, a charcuterie tray, and a bottle of red?”
“A couple tall bottles of water too, please. And dessert.”
“I’ll have it ready.”
“Thanks, Joe.” He hung up before Joe had the chance to ask any questions. With any luck he’d be too busy to chat tomorrow with the early lunch crowd.
Wednesday morning, he put a small cooler in the back of his truck and drove into town to pick up his order from Pastrami Joe’s. When he walked inside, Gladys was standing there grinning at him.
Great. And I was worried about twenty questions from Joe.
“Hey, Gladys. Picking up a to-go order.”
“So I hear.”
He pretended not to notice her accusatory tone.
She turned and put a large brown sack on the counter, then slipped a bottle of wine and two large bottles of water into a four-pack carrier, tucking cups, utensils, and napkins into the other slot. “Here you go. All set.”
“Thanks, Gladys.”
“You’re very welcome. You have a really nice afternoon.”
“Okay.” He started to leave, but he couldn’t without asking first, “So what makes you think this isn’t something for the twins or one of their customers?”
She leaned her arms on the counter with a grin. “Because when Reece was in here an hour ago picking up a deli tray, I flat-out asked her if this order was for them. She said no.”
“That would explain it.” He hurried out the door. Why did he ask? Now she’d be speculating for sure.
He drove over to Lorri’s house feeling incredibly ill-prepared.
Just friends, he reminded himself. Relax.
He pulled into her driveway and shut down his truck. Something he rarely did, it being a diesel, but somehow leaving it running in the driveway seemed like he was rushing things and he didn’t want to give her the wrong impression.
He’d stayed as far away as he could from this neighborhood until now. He had to admit, her house was very inviting. He liked the big stained timbers on the front. Kind of a farmhouse-meets-mountain-lodge look. The sage green was nice against the landscaping too. Every house on the road looked well maintained. The five-acre lots were deeper than they were wide, so it still had the feeling of a neighborhood to him.
He rapped his knuckles against the solid wood door. A deep woof gave him a start, followed by quick footsteps, probably hers.
The door swung open and Lorri stood there smiling in western boots, jeans, and a blue and white blouse. “Hi, Ryder. Come on in. Meet Mister.”
“Thanks.”
He stepped inside. The mastiff sat at attention about six feet back from the entry way. “So you’re Mister?” He held out his hand for Mister to check him out. “I’d have called you Ranger, short for Lone Ranger, with that black mask you’re wearing, but Mister suits you fine.”
Mister stood, sniffed his jeans, then pushed his forehead under Ryder’s hand.
“He likes you,” she said.
“I like him pretty good too.” He rubbed Mister under the chin. “Big as you are, folks better call you ‘Mister.’”
“You ready to go?” she asked.
“Yeah. Sure.”
She grabbed her purse, then dropped a kiss on the top of Mister’s head and made him promise to behave before following Ryder outside.
She walked down the sidewalk to the passenger side of his Ford F-450 and reached for the door, but he was right there behind her and he grabbed the handle first to open it for her. Something he’d always done for Valerie.
Lorri smiled at the gesture, then stepped on the running board and hopped in.
It’s not a date. His jaw tensed. Feels like a date. Maybe I should’ve let her open her own door. This is harder than it should be.
He went around to the driver’s side and got in.
“I’ve been looking forward to this all morning,” she said.
“Me too.” Only honestly, he’d been looking forward to it since Saturday. He backed out of the driveway, then turned west, taking her to the far side of his property, opposite The Wedding Ranch to be sure they didn’t stumble into any of the goings-on over there today.
He pulled in front of a bright blue pole gate.
“Are we allowed to be here?”
“Of course. I come here all the time.” He got out and opened the gate, then drove the truck through it and then hopped out to close and latch it behind them. “The paved entry used to lead to the old mill. The state has long since taken it off their maintenance list, but it remains in good shape.”
Lorri seemed to be enjoying the ride. “Look, there’s cows.”
“Just some young feeder calves,” he corrected her. “They won’t bother us.”
She kept an eye on the small herd as he drove down the overgrown path to the creek. The fescue was dotted with soft purple aster and bellflowers, and an occasional shot of goldenrod. Queen Anne’s lace peeked its head above the grasses too.
“I picked up some lunch. I’ve got my horse trailer up here at the Rest Stop.”
“Rest Stop? Like on the side of the highway.”
“Not exactly. Just a little place I built. I call it that because it’s in the middle of a field along the creek. The perfect spot to rest. There’s some chairs and an awning, or we can go inside where it’s air-conditioned. I thought we’d eat and then hike or ride down to the mill.”
She didn’t ask for further details. “I like the sound of that.” Her easy smile made it hard to take his eyes off of her.