Should he ask Bridget if she wanted to practice driving with him or not? Mac sat at the counter in Brewed Awakening Wednesday evening. Kaylee was in the back room getting her stuff. Bridget was nowhere to be seen.
As far as he knew, Bridget hadn’t gotten her license yet. More practice wouldn’t hurt her. Even if she had gotten it.
Clearly, he was looking for an excuse to spend time with her.
Bridget appeared in the doorway leading to the back room. With an easy smile, she strolled behind the counter to where he sat, cocked her head to the side and pointed to where his fingertips were tapping the counter.
“Want a coffee for the road?”
He flattened his fingers on the counter, not taking his gaze off her. “Will it keep me up half the night?”
“It might.”
“Then, yeah, why not. Time to live dangerously.”
“Coffee at five thirty is living dangerously?” She laughed as she pivoted and took hold of the coffee pot, then filled a take-out cup. She slid it over to him and placed a lid next to it.
“To me it is.” He ignored the coffee and instead, drank her in. Half of her dark brown hair was pulled back into a high bun, and the other half fell over her shoulders. She wore her typical work outfit. The sparrow necklace drew his attention. He was sure there was a story behind it.
“Have you gotten your license yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Want to get more practice in?”
“Actually, yes, I do. I know I’ve got the basic skills down, but I’d feel better if I could get behind the wheel a few more times.”
Just what he’d been hoping. “Well, Kaylee and I are grabbing a bite to eat before I drop her off at the church for choir practice. Why don’t I swing by after?”
“I have a better idea,” Kaylee said coming up to him. She let her backpack rest near her feet as she zipped her coat. “Why don’t you come to the restaurant with us, Bridget? Then you guys can drive while I’m at choir.”
“Oh, um.” Bridget stared at the counter for a moment. Then she looked at Kaylee, then him, her nose crinkling. “I’d better not. I should—”
“You need to eat supper.” Kaylee hiked the backpack onto her shoulder.
Mac held his breath. He wanted her to join them. He wanted it a little too much.
“Okay. Let me throw my apron in the back and finish closing up.” She hurried to the back room.
He stood, the steaming coffee in hand. “How did school go?”
“Meh.” She dragged her toe along the ground. “I wanted to call you so bad to pick me up during Lit class. My head was throbbing.”
He stiffened. Ever since she’d started working here, Kaylee hadn’t missed any school.
“Did something happen?”
“No, not really. I don’t like the book we’re reading. And when Mrs. Deacon drones on and on, my mind starts wandering, and my stupid head drifts back to this summer. You know, to before the plane crash.”
He shouldn’t be surprised or relieved, but he was both. Surprised she was bringing up the crash; relieved her headaches weren’t due to something more. Something he’d know if he wasn’t so lousy at this parenting thing.
“We don’t have to talk about it if it upsets you.”
Her cheeks grew splotchy. “It does upset me. All I can think about is how I wish I could hug Mom one more time. I wish I could tell her about all the things that are happening. I wish she and I were doing the choir again tonight—together.”
He set the cup on the counter and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.
“I’m sorry, Kay. I wish all of that for you, too.” He held her for a minute before she backed away. He bent to look in her eyes. “Next time, call me and I’ll come pick you up.”
“I can’t skip school. I’ll lose my job.” Her throat worked. “I went to the nurse and got a Tylenol like you told me to.”
“Hey, you don’t have to keep it together all the time. If you’re not feeling well or you’re upset, I’ll pick you up. Don’t ever think I won’t.”
“I know.” She nodded. Then she looked away. “The parade is this weekend. Our float is pretty chill.”
He debated saying something more. He wanted her to know that this coffee shop job wasn’t the be-all and end-all. She could miss school now and then without worrying about losing her position. Was she putting too much pressure on herself?
“Thanks for waiting.” Bridget strolled over, wearing her winter coat and pulling on her gloves. “Ready?”
Well, this was a nice change. Bridget held up the laminated menu at Bubba’s, the barbecue joint on the outskirts of town, and reviewed her options. Burger and fries? Grilled chicken breast? Or pulled pork? They all sounded amazing. And best of all, she wouldn’t be eating alone.
As the muffled conversations carried on around them, she glanced at Kaylee, to her left, and to Mac, sitting across from them. He was dunking his straw into a large soda, and Kaylee was pretending not to be interested in a table near the corner. Tanner was there with a few other boys and girls Bridget recognized. They waved and called Kaylee over.
“What do they want?” Mac flicked his thumb their way.
“I don’t know.” Kaylee’s voice was high.
“Why don’t you go find out?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. They obviously want to talk to you.”
“Okay.” She slid out of the booth and picked her way over to them.
Mac met Bridget’s eyes. “What’s that all about?”
If he didn’t know, she wasn’t going to be the one to fill him in. She smiled and shrugged. Kaylee rushed back.
“Is it okay if I eat with them? I don’t have to, but they asked, and...” She twisted her hands together.
“Go ahead. Eat with your friends. Bring me the bill when you’re done.” He waved her off, and she beamed before working her way back to the table.
After a waiter took their orders, Bridget took a moment to get a better look at the place. Booths lined the walls. Wooden tables took up the rest of the room. A country song played through the speakers, and a large television was mounted near the bar. Best of all, it smelled delicious, like comfort food.
“Are you ready for the open house this weekend?” Mac asked. “The parade kicks off at ten. Kaylee’s going to Lydia’s Friday night, and they’re getting to the parade early so they can hand out candy next to the float. I told her I’d be there watching for her.”
“I’m ready.” Yesterday, she’d asked Joe if he’d help her out on Saturday since she assumed it would be really busy. He’d assured her he would and had even given her ideas for a few new coffee drinks. He’d also warned her that Riley was setting up a coffee and hot chocolate stand on one of the corners.
Competition. She’d make the best of it.
“Mac, just the man I wanted to see.” A burly man wearing a pair of jeans, a basic white shirt, a large buckle on his belt and a navy sports jacket clapped Mac on the shoulder. “Have you had a chance to think about the pavilion?”
“Hi, Glen. No, I haven’t. Been pretty busy.” Mac’s face, usually open, closed like the shades she pulled over her front window every night.
“I understand. The cattle take up a lot of time.” He rocked back on his heels. “Well, listen, I got a quote and...”
The man droned on for several minutes, but after the first few sentences, Bridget tuned out. Why was he expecting Mac to pay for a pavilion for a private fishing organization? Shouldn’t they pay for it themselves? And why did he think it was okay to interrupt their supper like this?
“I’ll think about it.”
Bridget looked up at Mac’s curt tone. It was one she hadn’t heard before. Well, that wasn’t quite true. She’d caught a hint of it when he’d been speaking on the phone with the woman wanting money for the booster club—Janet’s daughter-in-law, if she remembered correctly.
“Great, great. That’s all I ask.” Glen seemed to realize Mac wasn’t alone and turned to Bridget. “Well, if it isn’t our new coffee gal. I’m Glen Slate.” He slid a card out of his wallet and handed it to her. “You need insurance? Call me. I’ll set you up.”
“Thank you. I’m taken care of.” She glanced at his card, then slipped it into her purse. She was all set on business insurance, and she’d had to buy auto insurance before taking the driver’s ed class. Another reason she needed to get her license soon. Why pay for insurance if she wasn’t using it?
“No problem.” He held his palms out near his chest and backed up a step. “If something changes...”
The waiter arrived with their food, and the man left.
“Does that happen often?” She squirted a blob of ketchup next to her fries, then took the top bun off her burger and swirled ketchup on it, too.
“What?” He shook pepper on his baked potato.
“People randomly asking you for money?”
“They’re not...well...yeah.” He tilted his head as if to say go figure.
“Why?” She dipped a fry in the ketchup and took a bite. Crispy and delicious.
“There are a lot of good causes and not enough money to fund them all.” His diplomatic tone didn’t fool her. He didn’t like it, either.
“Why do they ask you?”
“Because I have money.”
“Yeah, so?” She picked up the burger in both hands and bit into it. Mmm, yeah, that was good.
He finished chewing a bite of his pulled pork sandwich and regarded her thoughtfully. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Just thinking.” Just thinking she wouldn’t like people expecting her to fund all their pet projects even if she did have money, which she didn’t. Maybe that made her stingy. “Does it bother you?”
“No.” His jaw tightened. He met her gaze. “Yes.”
“It would bother me, too.” The more she thought about it, the more it irritated her that Mac had to deal with this on an ongoing basis. “Are you going to give him the money?”
He grew very interested in his plate of food.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business.” Regret soured her stomach. She didn’t like when people nosed into her private affairs. She wished she could take the words back.
“No, it’s all right.” His gray eyes were clear again. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve been putting off the requests for a long time. I don’t want to deal with them.”
“I wouldn’t want to, either.” She continued eating her burger.
“If you were me, what would you do?”
Bridget almost choked on her bite. If she were him? Respected, well-liked, wealthy...kind?
“I guess it would depend.”
“On what?” He wiped his mouth with his napkin and gave her his full attention.
“On where my heart was at.” Why was he so attractive? Why did she feel like the restaurant disappeared when he looked at her like that? “What’s a cause close to your heart?”
He sipped his drink while he reflected. Bridget kept munching on her fries.
“I haven’t really thought about it, but I’d have to say cancer. Losing my mom so young was something I don’t wish on anyone.”
Her heart squeezed for him. And it brought to mind Ken and Tess and what Sawyer had told her about treatments being so far away.
“I feel bad for Tess having to drive Ken over an hour away for all his treatments.”
“Huh.” His eyebrows furrowed. “I’m surprised the family practice in town doesn’t accommodate him. It’s not as if Ken’s the first resident of Sunrise Bend to get cancer.”
“From what I hear at the coffee shop, the family practice is busy enough as it is, and they don’t have the equipment or the personnel for his treatments.”
“I suppose you’re right.” He opened his mouth to say something, then shut it just as quickly.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “I was just thinking... I still have a lot of people pinning their hopes on me. I need to take care of it all soon.”
Take care of it all? “The requests?”
“Yes. I’ve got decisions to make. And I’ll be honest, I dread making them. Sometimes I wish it was like it was before my dad died. But then I remember how my hands were tied at the ranch, and I don’t want that. I must sound pretty pathetic, huh? Complaining about my life.”
“I don’t think so. Why would you say that?”
“Poor rich guy.” He let out a snort. “I have so much more than most people.”
A sprout of shame burst through her. She’d thought as much several times in the past. But it wasn’t true. His wealth didn’t define him.
“You’re so much more than your money, Mac.” Heat rushed up her neck. She wasn’t used to being this honest with anyone.
He caught her eye. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”
Kaylee returned and handed Mac her bill. She was positively glowing.
“Have fun?” Bridget asked.
She nodded, smiling brightly.
“Are you ready for choir practice?” Bridget asked as Kaylee slid into the booth next to her. “Nervous at all?”
“Yeah. I haven’t sung since last year, and I’m not used to singing without Mom.”
“It might be hard at first.”
Mac looked up then. “If it’s too hard, call me. I’ll come get you.”
Bridget refrained from glaring at him. She wouldn’t ruin the moment. But didn’t he realize he wasn’t helping his sister by constantly giving her a way out of uncomfortable situations? The girl needed to work things out for herself instead of cutting and running at the first hint of conflict.
Kaylee could handle choir. Even if Mac was afraid she’d fall apart.
“Thanks for the tour, man,” Blaine said.
Mac strode next to him. It was Friday morning, and he’d just shown Blaine his newly improved storage system for the winter feed. They’d moved outside where the sun broke through the thick clouds every now and then.
“How’s it going now that you’re running your own operation?” Mac stopped in front of the main horse paddock, where the majority of his horses were grazing. “Have you figured out what you want to name your half of the ranch?”
“South Mayer Canyon Ranch,” Blaine said. “Jet’s changing his to North Mayer Canyon Ranch.”
“Keeping it in the family, I see.”
“That’s right.” Blaine hooked his cowboy boot on the bottom rail of the fence. “Life sure changed in a year, huh?”
Mac leaned his forearm on the top of the fence and kept one eye on the horses, who were snorting happily in the chilly air, and the other on Blaine, who looked like he had something on his mind besides the winter feed storage. “You can say that again.”
“Life sure changed in a year.” Blaine grinned.
Mac laughed. Goofball.
“Seriously, though,” Blaine said. “I feel out of sorts. Jet’s always with Holly, planning their wedding. Erica’s married and living far away, and Reagan’s constantly making candles. On top of that Randy’s engaged, and Austin has a kid. What in the world happened? A year ago, it’s the six of us hanging out watching football, single as can be, and now everyone’s paired off. What is going on?”
Mac was taken aback. Blaine was nothing if not even-tempered. Where had all that come from?
Blaine shook his head. “I mean, I’m happy for them and all, but we haven’t had a guys’ night in months. It’s couples and babies and toddlers and females. I miss Monday Night Football with you guys.”
He hadn’t thought about it much—probably because he hadn’t had time to think with Kaylee’s schedule keeping him so busy—but Blaine was right. He missed their guy time, too.
“Let’s plan on getting together Monday,” Mac said.
“Really?”
They discussed their favorite teams, the injured players, the coach that was recently fired and who they wanted to win in next week’s matchups. This was one of the things Mac liked about Blaine—their friendship wasn’t complicated. Football and ranching were enough for them both.
“Mom told me Kaylee joined the Christmas choir at church.” Blaine shoved off from the fence. “Said she’s a really good singer. How did you talk her into that?”
“Believe it or not, it was Kaylee’s idea.”
“I thought she was shy. Is she still missing school?”
“It’s not so much shy as reserved with people she doesn’t know well. And, no, ever since she started working at Brewed Awakening, she hasn’t missed a day.”
“That’s good.” They walked past the stables. “Jacob—my new ranch hand—told me his little brother seems to like her.”
“Who is it?” Mac stilled.
“Tanner Voss. You know, the one on the rodeo team?”
Mac pictured him instantly. He was a good-looking kid. He’d been in the town’s paper several times for bull riding and barrel racing. Now that he was thinking about it, hadn’t Tanner been one of the kids at the restaurant the other night? “He’s too old for her.”
“How old is she?” Blaine scratched his scruff.
“Fifteen.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure Tanner’s a junior, so I don’t think he’s robbing the cradle or anything.”
“She’s too young to be dating.”
“No one said anything about dating.”
“Good. She’s got more sense than to go for a rodeo hound, anyway. She would have told me.”
Blaine guffawed. “You think she’s going to tell you when she’s got a boyfriend?” The look he sent his way oozed skepticism.
“Why wouldn’t she?” Mac glared. “We’re close.”
“You’re dreaming. If she’s going to tell anyone it’s her best friend. I know how girls her age work. I have two sisters.” Blaine’s boots crunched on the gravel as they reached the stables.
Best friend. Lydia would know. Bridget would likely know, too.
“You look mad. I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
“Knew what? That some kid on the rodeo team has a thing for Kaylee? They aren’t a couple or anything. There’s nothing to know.”
“Okay. Whatever you say.” Blaine slid open the door to the stables. “Hey, did Dina Jones ever get a hold of you?”
“Only about a million times. Why?” He strode inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. The rows of stalls were kept tidy by his staff of ranch hands. It smelled like hay and manure, like ranching, his life.
“She asked me to donate money for the new football uniforms, and then she told me to mention it to you. I didn’t see why that was my job, so I told her—nicely, mind you—to call you herself.”
“She’s hitting you up for money, too?” What a relief. For a while there, he thought he was the only target for donations in town.
“I gave her a hundred bucks. Mostly to get her off my back.”
“And that worked?”
“Sure did. Mom drilled it into my head over the years how important it is to chip in to fundraisers around town. But she also told me to set an annual budget for it and to not feel bad about saying no when the funds run out.”
Smart woman. Mac doubted the same rules applied to him, though. His funds were practically limitless.
His funds? Make that Dad’s funds.
It didn’t feel right touching them.
“Are you going to the parade tomorrow?” Mac hoped he would say yes. If not, he’d have to watch with the rest of the guys, and as Blaine had mentioned, they all had girlfriends, wives or kids. Normally, it didn’t bother him. But now?
His mind wandered back to Wednesday night and eating supper with Bridget. She’d looked so fresh and vibrant, and she got him in a way few did. When she’d said he was so much more than his money, he’d wanted to believe her.
He still wanted to believe her.
But he didn’t.
“Nah,” Blaine said. “I’ve got a lot of work to do around the ranch. If you’ve seen one Christmas parade, you’ve seen them all.”
“Kaylee helped decorate the sophomores’ float, so I’ll be there.” Had she been decorating it for other reasons, though? Like to see this Tanner kid?
“I heard Riley Sampson is setting up a coffee stand on the corner of Main and Third.”
“Really?” He strode toward the offices at the end of the wide hallway separating the stalls. “Why would she do that? Bridget’s place will be open all day.”
Blaine shrugged. “Who knows? I never liked going in there much when Riley took over the shop, but maybe she’s got a new brew or something.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“I stopped into Brewed Awakening last week and got one of the double-espresso mochaccinos. Don’t make fun of me. I needed caffeine, and it delivered. It rocked my world, really. Bridget’s easy to be around. It’s not hard to see why her shop is doing well.”
Mac bristled. Did Blaine like Bridget or something?
“I’m not surprised, either. She knows her stuff.”
“Randy told me Joe’s been spending less time at the tackle shop now that he’s working for Bridget. I teased him that he should give Bridget a bonus, but he got a funny look on his face. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Randy misses having Joe around.”
“Yeah, the last time I ran into Joe, we talked for a few minutes and he was the one who cut the conversation short. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but it is a definite change from a few months ago. I actually enjoyed chatting with him.”
“Maybe working there has him all talked out.”
“Maybe.” And maybe the fact Bridget treated Joe like a friend instead of a pest she needed to get rid of had made a difference.
A sliver of shame wiggled down his back as he thought of how Bridget treated everyone with dignity. Could he say the same for himself?
He’d been avoiding a lot of people around town lately. Acting as if every request of theirs was a nuisance—and these were people who’d been good to him his entire life.
He needed to get his act together and figure out which causes to donate to before he became someone to avoid, too. He just didn’t know how.
Maybe Bridget was on to something about donating where his heart was at.
He thought back to the idea her words had sparked. A phone call to Hannah’s brother, Dr. David Carr, might clarify things.