Lila’s arms still tingled from the friction of Seth’s big hands rubbing away her goose bumps. She’d never heard of a snowy owl attacking a human, but having one snatch something as she reached for it left her heart thundering all the same. Yet if she was honest she’d admit the second kick of the organ happened after the owl had flown away. Her heart sped markedly after Seth got all protective and cradled her and Rory with his solid body. And it had felt nice.
“Mom, can I take my glove and new bat to school tomorrow? I want to show them to Kemper. And I’ll have them if Seth comes by the café when school’s out.”
Her son’s request interrupted Lila’s musings. “How about if we put your name on the mitt and on one of the baseballs to show they’re yours? You’ll be riding your bike from school to the café. Carrying a bat might be too awkward.”
“Yeah. I wish I had two bats. I could leave one at Memaw’s. Kemper has three.”
“Young man, you’re lucky to have one. Nothing good comes from being greedy.”
“But I thought you said we can always make wishes.”
Surprise flowed happily through Lila, knowing her son had not only listened to her but had apparently grown up enough to digest some of what she’d said. “It doesn’t hurt to wish. How about you shower and hop into bed? I’m going to phone Jewell. I’ll come shut out your light when she and I finish talking.”
“Okay, but I wanted to call Kemper to tell him about my baseball stuff.”
“I left my phone in the kitchen. I’ll go get it and bring it to you. It’s a school night, though. So you can’t talk long.”
“Yay. I only wanna tell him about my new mitt and how I’m catching better with it. I am, aren’t I, Mom?”
“Definitely. I saw that in the short time we played catch.”
He ran off to his bedroom. Lila couldn’t tame her smile. She loved seeing him so happy. What she was less sure about—how much that joy depended on Seth, a guest they all knew was very likely just passing through.
In the kitchen, she set a mug of water in the microwave for tea before she picked up her cell phone. It surprised her to see she’d missed three calls. All were from Jewell. Rarely was anything important enough going on among the Artsy Ladies to warrant so many attempts to reach her.
The microwave dinged. She dipped a tea bag several times in the hot water, then shut out the light and carried the mug and her phone back to her bedroom. With guests who could arrive home any minute and stop by the kitchen, Lila wanted to make the personal phone call in private.
Kicking off her shoes as she sat on the bed, she heard the upstairs shower connected to Seth’s room go off. Savoring a sip of tea, she brought up Jewell’s number.
“Hi, it’s Lila. What’s up?”
“Tawana’s in the hospital. I ran into Eddie Four Bear at Ralston’s ranch. He said she had a severe gall bladder attack. Apparently it’s not her first. She went to the reservation clinic and the doctor sent her to the hospital for surgery tomorrow.”
“That’s awful.”
“Yes.”
“Weren’t you two going to Washington, DC, soon?”
“Heavens, I may have to go alone,” Jewell murmured. “I’m trying to get my scheduled appointments caught up first. I know how busy you are, Lila, but do you think you’d have time to visit Tawana and take her flowers from our group? Myra’s pickup is in the shop and Zeke is helping a neighbor brand calves all week. Shelley is firing ceramics and can’t leave her kiln. Mindy still hasn’t bought a car.”
“Sure, I’ll figure something out. Seth Maxwell suggested helping Rory practice ball after school tomorrow... I can ask if he’ll bring Rory home so I can visit Tawana. How long will she be in the hospital?”
“I’m not sure. Like I said, she’s had other attacks. You know she never complains. The MRI didn’t look good was all Eddie said—Seth Maxwell is playing ball with Rory?”
“Yeah, he picked up some baseball equipment for Rory today. We all played catch tonight, which is why I missed your calls.”
“Oh, really? How come Seth got Rory baseball equipment? Are you two getting cozy?”
Lila thought about how she’d felt having Seth’s strong arms around her. Cozy came to mind. But that reminded her why she’d intended to call Jewell, even before seeing the missed calls. “Zeke mentioned Seth played a lot of baseball growing up. According to Zeke, their family thought Seth might make a career of baseball. Lord knows Rory needs practice if he has any hope of joining Kemper’s team. That’s a short version.”
“Wow!”
“I actually planned to phone you tonight, anyway. While we were playing catch, a snowy owl swooped down and made off with one of Rory’s new baseballs. You should’ve seen it. The bird plucked it right out of the air. Did you know some of the owls stayed here?”
“Yes, two pair at least. Zeke said the guys saw a male carry off a rat near where you put your SUV in the ditch. I rode out to Leland’s timber this morning and took photos. One of the four is a bird I’d banded. The fact they didn’t all migrate validates our urgency to secure a preserve. I sure hope that’s what the committee concludes.”
“Good luck. Are you traveling there, presenting and coming straight back?”
Jewell stammered a bit. “N-not really. I have a couple of other errands planned. Pete Cooper is covering my practice in case you need a vet for any of your animals.”
“Okay. What a great place to sightsee. I’d love to take Rory to all the museums and memorials. Bring back pictures to share.”
Jewell remained silent another moment. “Uh, don’t count on that, Lila. I’m driving to a stud farm in Maryland in my free time. Mark Watson wants to raise a different type of saddle horse. There’s a part-Morgan sire on a farm there he’s asked me to see and, if he checks out, buy sperm.”
“No kidding? That’s like work. Jewell, you can’t go to DC and not take any time for yourself.”
“You’re wringing this out of me, Lila. And if you share this with another soul I’ll be upset with you forever.”
“Don’t you know me better by now? I’m no gossip.”
“I know, but I’m all muddled. Last week Leland asked me to stop by. When I did, he said Saxon has a concert not far from the horse farm where I’ll be. I checked. They’re close. It shocked me that Leland mentioned Saxon. He never has before. Then I wondered if, like your mom said, maybe he’s more ill than we know. Otherwise why would he give me a ticket to Saxon’s concert and ask me to deliver a letter? He wants Saxon to come for a visit. He must want reconciliation. Not sure how that’ll sit with Saxon. Those two never bonded.”
“Ouch! Jewell, are you sure you want to put yourself in the middle of their conflict? I mean everyone thought you and Saxon—uh, it’s none of my business. Just don’t let him break your heart again.”
“What makes you think he broke my heart?”
“Come on, Jewell.”
“I gave him up because he couldn’t really stay in Snowy Owl Crossing. I thought I’d hidden my true feelings. I meant for everyone to think he and I simply went our separate ways after college.”
“More like we all felt you were too hurt for us to ask what had happened.”
“I had no idea. Honestly, Lila, I loved him once. I’m not sure I’m strong enough yet to contact him. I did look online and this concert in Maryland is one of many. As big a deal as he’s become in country music, he probably has handlers who keep his crazy fans at bay. But maybe I can give one of them Leland’s letter.”
“Is that what happened? Did he get too friendly with fans?”
“Nothing like that. Our falling-out really was more my fault than his.”
“Well, what I do know—what all your friends would swear to—is that without your encouragement when Saxon was in junior high and high school, he’d never have begun to play guitar, let alone write or sing songs. Did he get too big for his britches?”
“No. Maybe. I don’t know. He needed to be in Nashville. From the time I saved my first injured animal I was bent on being a vet in Snowy Owl Crossing. If you ever fall in love again, don’t give the man you love an ultimatum, Lila. It’s devastating if he doesn’t choose you.”
“So true. I tried that with Kevin over mining. Had he listened to me I wouldn’t be a widow and Rory would have his dad. I should have insisted he not go into the mines regardless of how much money they paid. Thankfully I’ll never have to choose again. But don’t assume Saxon was right to be pigheaded. Maybe he was selfish.”
“No, but you’re good for my ego. Thanks for the pep talk. Hey, tell Tawana I’ll call her from DC. And, Lila, please don’t share our discussion with anyone. When Saxon and I split, I couldn’t bear being the talk of the town. The thought still makes me shudder. I may yet hand my concert ticket to a stranger on the street and ask them to deliver Leland’s letter.”
“Cross my heart I won’t breathe a word. Do what you can to get us an owl habitat.” Lila heard Jewell mumble goodbye.
For a moment she sat holding her phone, replaying the personal parts of their conversation. It didn’t surprise her to hear Jewell all but admit she’d loved Saxon Conrad—and maybe still did. Love was so unpredictable. The why, the how, the who anyone chose to love could be painful.
Sparing a deep sigh for her good friend, Lila slowly climbed off her bed. She took her phone to Rory’s bedroom. Apparently she’d talked too long. He had fallen asleep. She felt guilty, but he could call his friend in the morning.
Rory lay on his side with his cheek on his new ball mitt. She leaned down and tenderly touched his mussed, damp hair before easing the mitt away so its laces wouldn’t leave grooves on his face. He stirred but didn’t wake.
Lila set the prized mitt on his side table then exited the room, reaching back in to shut off his light. She returned to her bedroom, remembering what her mother had said a few months ago: that Rory would flit from wanting to play baseball to soccer, or if he shot up another foot, to basketball. Yet his allegiance to baseball hadn’t wavered.
Because she operated from sticky notes, Lila jotted herself a reminder to buy Tawana flowers, which cued her to picture the lovely rosebush Seth had bought her. No one had ever given her gifts for no reason. In her slice of the world even gifts for birthdays or Christmas tended to be practical. Flowers were reserved for funerals or hospital stays.
So why did one beautiful, blooming rosebush give her shivers of pleasure? Lila didn’t want to dwell on it. It made no sense that a single guest at her B and B could waltz in and in short order make her feel fuzzy headed. She’d rented out rooms since before Rory was born. This was the first time in memory that she daydreamed about a guest and in so doing felt young again and giddy.
Fortunately she heard her two other sets of renters enter the house. They laughed together and went into the kitchen and back out, then climbed the stairs. Their trip to the kitchen reminded Lila they’d left her a note on her chalkboard asking her to fix them a picnic lunch tomorrow. It was a service she enjoyed providing. She’d never gone on a picnic, but had a romantic view of them and so wrote that on her to-do list. Then she set her alarm for an hour earlier than normal so she could bake cookies.
* * *
IN THE MORNING Seth swung open the kitchen door and nearly hit Lila, who had omelets and sausage patties on a tray to take into the dining room for guest breakfasts.
“Sorry,” he said, steadying her. “I came to ask if it’d be okay to take Ghost out to the barn while I feed the horses.”
Her cell phone played a tune, stopping her from immediately answering. Rather, she shoved the tray of plates against his chest. “Can you put these under the warming lights so I can see who’s calling me so early?”
“Sure.” He took the tray and crossed the room to unload it, but paused as he heard Lila shriek.
“Mom, talk slower! How did you fall?”
Seth quickly set down the tray and returned to stand near Lila. Her brow furrowed, she put up a hand as if attempting to rub the wrinkles away.
“But you are mobile, right? Can you call Arnie Fitzwater? Either he or his son will drive you if they aren’t out on a tow job. Rory’s still in bed. I need to get him up and fed before school.”
Lila stopped talking, listened and then said, “Mom, if you have no feeling in your fingers and arm, and there is pain in your neck and shoulder, you need to see a doctor. I know... I’m a fine one to talk. I can come take you to the clinic, but who will open the café for breakfast?” Her troubled gaze met Seth’s. “I don’t know what we’ll do tomorrow. Let’s get through today.”
Seth dug car keys out of his pocket and dangled them in front of Lila’s eyes. “I’ll go take her to Emergency. You handle what needs doing here.”
“I’m in the kitchen making picnic lunches for a group going on a trail ride today. You hear Seth Maxwell. He stopped to say he’d feed the horses. Now he’s offering to drive you. Just let him, Mom. Maybe he’ll wait there and bring you back to the café. Then we’ll decided what to do next.”
Seth gave Lila an awkward one-armed hug and she hugged him back. He didn’t wait to hear more of the conversation. He already knew Lila’s mother had reservations about him, although he wasn’t sure why. Maybe if the two of them were confined in his car she’d tell him.
* * *
TRAFFIC WAS NONEXISTENT. In less than fifteen minutes Seth knocked at the café door. It surprised him to have Doreen open right up and step out. Her right arm was pressed tight to her chest. With her left, she fumbled a jacket, purse and a ring of keys.
“Here, let me help.” Seth draped the jacket around her shoulders and took the keys. “Okay, the door is locked. Let me help you into the car.” Doreen grimaced when Seth got in on his side and fastened her seat belt.
“I missed hearing how this happened. Do you think your arm is broken?”
“Coming out of the walk-in cooler, I slipped on a spot of water. I went down like a rock and hit my elbow on the tiled floor. Of course, I’m right-handed.” She fretted. “I can’t cook and serve up plates at the window without using both arms. I don’t know what we’ll do if my arm is broken. Feeling is coming back into my fingers. That’s good, isn’t it?”
“Hmm...probably. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to direct me to the doctor’s clinic.”
She told him where to turn then eyed him warily. “You’ve become real handy for my daughter.”
In his peripheral vision Seth saw her frown. “Lila juggles a lot of chores, as do you,” he said. “Is my chipping in a problem?”
“Depends.”
“On?” Seth asked. “Do you have something against me?”
“It’s nothing personal, but I’ve seen a lot of men come and go around here. Life’s already handed Lila enough lemons. I’m just saying...”
The local clinic came into view and Seth spotted the Emergency entrance. He certainly got Doreen’s message, but didn’t know how to respond. “I’ll pull up to the door, come around and help you out. I’ll park while you check in. I can help if you need me to fill out any forms.”
“Why are you being so nice? I just accused you of being a lemon in my daughter’s life.”
“Zeke, Myra and Lila all tell me this is a neighbor-helping-neighbor town. My time is my own at the moment,” Seth said, guiding the woman out. Holding her purse, he walked her through the sliding doors. “This way you didn’t have to wait on a cab. And it frees Lila up to open the café on time.” Smiling, he draped her purse strap over her good arm.
Afraid it was going to be a long, tedious morning in Doreen’s company, Seth nevertheless hurried to park. His phone rang before he could enter the building.
“How is she?” Lila asked.
“I let her out at Emergency, parked and now I’m headed in to fill out papers. She injured her right arm. I’ll call you or have her do it after she sees a doctor. Try not to worry.”
“Her right arm. Oh, geez. You probably think we should’ve covered this base in advance since she and I rely so heavily on each other. It’s never been necessary. We’ve both been in excellent health, don’t take vacations and work holidays. Unfortunately we both run our operations on a shoestring.”
From the wobble in her voice Seth imagined she barely held back tears. “You have friends I’m sure you can call on. But let’s get a report first, okay?”
“I do have friends. Jewell leaves for DC soon and has her work piled up until she leaves. Myra’s car is in the shop. Tawana’s in the Wolf Point hospital scheduled for emergency gall bladder surgery. In fact, I’m supposed to check on her and take her flowers today from the Artsy Ladies because Shelley and Mindy can’t.” Her voice held a modicum of hysteria. “Now, I don’t know how I can do that. Perhaps I can have them delivered. But that’s so impersonal.”
Seth paused at the ER door. “Tawana’s having surgery? Hunter had big plans to show her and Jewell around DC. Do you think someone will call him? Or will she still be able to go with Jewell?”
“I don’t know. Shall I add that to my growing out-of-control to-do list?”
“I’ll call him later. The guys all gave me their numbers in case work took me in their directions. Listen, I see your mom talking to a receptionist who just handed her a clipboard. Need to go. I’ve got this end, Lila. I can probably take Tawana flowers. Stay cool, okay?”
“I think you’re an angel in disguise,” she said, followed by a quick “G’bye.”
Smiling, Seth pocketed his phone and went inside.
Doreen met him. “I’ve never been helpless like this. Why are you grinning? Do you think this is funny?”
“No, ma’am. Lila just phoned. I’m smiling because I think...hope I calmed her concerns. Shall we sit? I’ll write if you tell me what to say.”
“I hate a stranger knowing my private business,” she grumbled.
“In ten minutes I’ll have forgotten it all.” He let her choose a chair then sat beside her. Only one other man sat in the waiting room. “Okay, they start by asking insurance info. Do you have a card or know the numbers off the top of your head?”
She dug in her purse and removed a wallet. “You’ll have to find my card. It may be behind my business license.”
Seth retrieved the card and swiftly worked through the general health questions.
“You have nice handwriting for a man,” Doreen said. “My husband’s writing looked like turkey tracks. But he started to work in the mines at sixteen and never finished high school.”
Secretly Seth thought that was sad. But in countries where he hunted gems, kids even younger than that frequently did difficult jobs. He completed the four forms. “Do you feel like returning this to the clerk or shall I?”
“Do you mind? Strangely how I’m sitting causes less pain to my neck and shoulder.”
“Then stay. They may want to run a copy of your insurance card. I’ll bring it right back.” He stood and went to the counter.
The receptionist scanned each sheet. “Everything’s in order. I don’t need the card.” She handed it back. “A nurse will take your mother to X-ray now.”
“I’m a family friend,” Seth said. “I’ll wait over there.” He pointed. He’d barely sat and returned the card to her wallet when a nurse came over with a wheelchair.
“I can walk,” Doreen declared.
“House rules,” the nurse said and glanced at Seth. “The clerk tells me you aren’t a relative, so please wait here.”
“Good.” Seth sank back in his chair. He took out his phone and texted Zeke, bringing him up-to-date. His twin texted right back saying Myra would have her car the next afternoon and could help Lila at home or at the café.
Seth phoned Hunter Wright to let him know about Tawana.
“Thanks, but I spoke to her last night. We’re both sorry she won’t be able to come to DC, but she’s ignored prior attacks. Now tests indicate her gall bladder may be gangrenous. So if one of the ladies in their group visits her I’d appreciate knowing that she’s following doctor’s orders. I sense she’s super independent.”
“That description fits several of the women in their group. I may take her flowers from them today.” He went on to explain about Lila’s mother and the other women’s problems tying them down. “How are you? Have they given you a new prosthetic?”
“I just had another surgery. Hopefully I’ll get the new leg soon. When are you leaving Snowy Owl Crossing?”
“I don’t know,” Seth murmured, picturing Lila as they’d played ball with Rory. “I’m following up on the sapphires Gavin mentioned. Tomorrow I may take a look at one of the mines. I applied for a permit to hunt gems, but it’ll take time for the state to consider my request.”
“So, hey. If you strike it rich you may still be around when I whip this leg into shape and come back there.”
“Maybe. Odd how many of Zeke’s groomsmen like it here. Hey, Hunter, I’m in a hospital waiting room and the receptionist is giving me the stink eye.” The men signed off. Expecting a long wait, Seth sorted through the magazines. Most were old. They ranged from farm news to hunting and fishing, to a couple of dated women’s magazines. He closed his eyes thinking he’d grab a nap. And he did nod off until voices jarred him awake.
A doctor in a white lab coat was speaking with Doreen, whose right arm was in a sling.
Seth didn’t see a cast and she wore a smile. Rising, he checked to make sure his shirt was tucked in before he walked toward them.
The doctor tore a prescription off a pad and handed it to Doreen. She resisted taking it, but the doc tucked it in her purse.
“I recommend filling it to have on hand.”
“I thought I could use ice. You said I have a high tolerance for pain.”
“You do, but you gave the elbow quite a whack. It’ll hurt to flex.”
She thanked him and turned to Seth.
“So, you got good news?” He took out his key and stepped aside to let her exit first.
“Nothing’s broken. I hit squarely on my crazy bone. The fatty tissue swelled. That’s why I couldn’t feel my fingers. My shoulder and upper arm are bruised. It caused the pain to radiate into my neck. But, basically, I lucked out.”
“Great. Once we get in the car I’ll ring Lila on my cell so you can ease her mind.”
“I’m not sure how eased she’ll be. The doctor said I can’t stir or lift anything over two pounds for a week. I’ll be able to carry plates, one at a time, to customers, but Lila will need to cook.”
Seth unlocked the car and helped her in, wondering how Lila could add that to running the B and B. Shouldn’t her mother see that?
Going around the hood to get in, he clipped her seat belt and followed through on his promise to dial Lila.
“This won’t take long,” Doreen said, taking the phone. “She’ll be busy with the breakfast crowd. I’ll let her know we’ll be there in a few minutes. When the crowd thins, I can fill her in.”
True to her word, she announced they were on their way then said goodbye.
“Do we need to find a pharmacy to fill your script?”
“It’s a painkiller. I’m not filling it. Every one I’ve ever had messed with my head. All I need is to miss a step and fall down my stairs.”
“It’s your call. I prefer to go with something over-the-counter myself.”
“Do you get hurt a lot hunting gems?”
“Some. Rocks slide.” Seth was reluctant to bring up the dangers of climbing in or out of old mine shafts, since both Doreen’s and Lila’s husbands had died in them.
Seth drove slowly toward the café. He thought he might have to double park to drop her close to the café, but it was his lucky day. A car very near the front door pulled out, leaving him the perfect spot.
“You don’t need to go in with me,” she said when Seth turned off the motor. “Thanks for driving me to the hospital, but I’m sure you have other things to do.”
Her tone sounded dismissive to Seth, making his response a tad sharp. “Yes, I do have things to do. One is to run an errand for Lila. Jewell asked her to take flowers to Tawana. But maybe you weren’t aware that she had gall bladder surgery today.”
Doreen frowned. “Why is Lila in charge of flowers? And why would she ask you to buy them and not one of the other women in her craft group?”
He ticked through the reasons keeping the other Artsy Ladies from going. “So I’ll walk in with you and see what kind of a bouquet she has in mind. And ask if she needs anything else done at the B and B while she’s busy filling your shoes.” But as he circled the car and opened the passenger door, he saw how hard it was for Lila’s mother to protect her arm and climb from the vehicle. He underwent a pang of regret over his tone. She didn’t know him, after all.
Suddenly solicitous of her condition and what had to be concern for her only child, Seth settled Doreen’s handbag on her uninjured shoulder and rushed to open the café door.
At once customers left their tables and gathered around her, commiserating over her injury and asking about her prognosis.
Seth slipped past them and went into the kitchen, where Lila hovered over a hot grill sizzling with bacon, pancakes and fried potatoes. She wore a too-big apron tied with a sagging bow in the back, and her pretty dark hair was covered by a tan net affair. Even viewing her slender frame from behind spread warmth through Seth’s body. Tendrils of her hair, which had escaped their confines, moved him to loosely span her waist with his hands and brush a kiss on the exposed flesh below her ear.
She yelped, spun around and almost decapitated him with a large, greasy spatula. “Seth! You scared me half to death. Did you kiss me? Why? And where’s Mom?”
Smiling indulgently, Seth released her. “I kissed you because you look so kissable in that getup. But you’d better see to someone’s food before it burns. Your mom got waylaid by customers. I expect she’ll be here soon.”
Lila turned immediately to dish up the breakfast items. “Do you know Joe Watson? About your age but beefier. Black hair. I think he’s wearing a red-plaid shirt. Could you deliver this and freshen his coffee? His brother just came in, stuck his head in the window and ordered the same thing but with double bacon.”
Because she was obviously frazzled, and he still tingled from the kiss, Seth took the plate, grabbed the coffeepot off the warmer and found the man he had met once at his brother’s wedding. “Joe, Lila sends this and hot coffee. She’s starting on your brother’s meal.” Seth set the plate down in front of the surprised man and deftly topped up his coffee.
“You’re Zeke Maxwell’s twin,” Mark Watson exclaimed and held up his cup for more java. “Waiting tables is a far cry from roofing Zeke’s barn.”
“Yeah. Guess I’m a jack-of-all-trades. Truthfully—Zeke’s helping someone brand calves. I’m staying at Lila’s B and B and offered to help when her mom slipped and fell this morning. You’re lucky she didn’t ask me to open the café. I’m the world’s worst cook.”
Lila stuck her head out the opening and called to Seth, “Can you give Mark his plate since you’re out there?”
“I wonder what she did before I showed up,” he joked at large.
“She called customers to the window to pick up their plates. I can get mine,” the younger Watson said and did just that.
Seth filled coffee cups on his meandering return to the kitchen.
Doreen had managed to break away from her sympathizers. She entered the kitchen ahead of Seth and, because it appeared Lila had a lull in orders, launched into relaying what the doctor had found. She wound down saying, “I can only wait tables for a week, but I’ll only be able to carry one plate at a time. You’ll have to cook and handle cleanup, honey. We’re lucky I didn’t break anything.”
Lila looked aghast. “Mom, I have four fishermen booked next week for the steelhead contest. They’ve rented from me the past two years and expect breakfast and boxed lunches, and like their rooms cleaned daily. Plus, Rory has his heart set on playing on a Little League team and practice starts soon.”
Seth watched Lila rub her temples, and he wanted to ease her tension. But both women seemed to have forgotten he was there until he spoke. “Is your high school student available? Can she help wait and bus tables? Cooking, though? I don’t have any suggestion for that.”
“This is something for Lila and me to work out. Weren’t you taking Tawana flowers?” Doreen said pointedly.
“Geez. I totally forgot about that.” Lila retrieved her purse from a cabinet. “I need to give you money, Seth, for flowers and for the ball equipment you bought Rory. Oh, I hate to ask, but can you go by the Owl’s Nest and unlock Ghost’s doggy door so he has the run of our enclosed yard? I lock the door at night to keep him in and away from the risk of wild animals. I flew out so fast this morning, I forgot. My bad.”
“Give me a limit on flowers. I’ll use my credit card. We can settle up later.”
Lila blinked. “Thanks. Oh, one other thing. Rory’s afraid with what all I asked you to do that you might not be here this afternoon to play catch with him in the park. And, truly, I’ve imposed on you too much.”
“I said I would play catch with him this afternoon. Of course it’d be more fun if you joined us like you did yesterday.”
Doreen flashed a glance between the two. “Lila, you played catch with them? Whatever for? You’re a businesswoman. What might your other guests think if they see you out chasing after baseballs?”
“That I’m a mother first,” Lila said. “The Owl’s Nest is our home. Why wouldn’t I make time to play with my son?”
Her mother delivered Seth a dark look. “It’s unseemly to cavort around your yard with a renter. If word gets around that you’re too chummy with one, it’ll give folks a bad impression.” She continued to pin Seth with her gaze. “You’ve never said exactly how long you plan to be in Snowy Owl Crossing until you go back to rock hunting. I’m sure you’ll want to have a care to not ruin Lila’s reputation.”
Lila gasped. “Mo...th...er!”
Seth held up a hand. “I’ll leave you ladies to discuss how to handle your workload. After I see to Ghost, I think I’ll ask Myra to help me choose flowers for Tawana. Lila, tell Rory I’ll be back to go to the park no later than three.”
He still wasn’t sure what he’d done to irritate Lila’s mother, who clearly wanted to drive a wedge between them. Too bad. The more time he spent around Lila, the more he wanted to see what might develop, and he was equally determined to not let her mother spoil that.
Lila’s face softened. “Seth, I hope you know the rose you gave me says you don’t need help picking flowers for a lady.”
Lila’s comment would surely set her mom off again, but it made Seth smile as he left.