“I thought you liked Doc Jones,” Annie said, as she dumped the softened shortening into a large bowl.
“Don’t dislike him,” Rose replied, turning the page of the Granby newspaper and then smoothing it flat on the kitchen table. “All I said was that he sure has been hanging around here more than usual lately.”
“Twice, besides taking me for my checkup. Both times he said he was checking on Okie as a favor to Will.”
“Checking on you is more like the truth. Will has a fancy horse vet for Okie now.”
Annie shrugged. “Ryan’s lonely. He’s happy for conversation and a glass of lemonade.”
“Tell that to Will.”
“Why should it bother Will? In fact he was fortunate Ryan was here last week when that girl was tossed. She hurt herself and the horse.”
Rose merely made a “harrumph” under her breath.
“Maybe I should put pecans in this batch,” Annie commented. “It might dissuade Will from eating them so fast.”
“Will? Ryan has had a good share, too. If Will finds out he’s got competition for your oatmeal cookies he’s going to grouse loud and long, and you can count on that.”
Annie cracked an egg and disposed of the shell. “What is it about Ryan that bothers you?” she persisted, determined to get to the bottom of Rose’s attitude.
“I don’t begrudge Ryan the conversation and lemonade. Just want you to keep in mind that he’s a man on the rebound.”
“His engagement was over almost ten years ago.”
“Not in his heart.”
“What does that mean?” Annie chuckled and tried to find a grain of logic in the statement.
“It means he’ll be thinking of another woman all the time he’s courting you.”
“Courting? Who said anything about courting?” She waved the spatula in confusion.
“Don’t have to say the words out loud for them to be true.”
“Rose, really. We’re just friends. Nothing more.”
“Annie, you’re the first woman who has had his interest in all these years. Just don’t forget that Ryan’s heart is still promised to another woman.”
Had Rose heard a word she’d said? Ryan was simply a friend. Annie paused and stared down at the floor. “Tell me about this other woman.”
“Kait Field. You look a lot like her, except she had that exotic look of Cherokee heritage. Those high cheekbones. And her hair was black like Will’s not chocolate brown like yours. She and Ryan were sweethearts all through high school and college. She took off the night of college graduation.”
“What happened?”
“Some think the high-and-mighty Jones family sent her on her way.”
Annie stopped what she was doing to listen to Rose. Poor Ryan. He really was a tortured soul. She stirred the batter slowly as she contemplated the fate of the young lovers.
“Do you believe in true love, Rose?”
“True love? Not sure I understand that word. Sounds like the emphasis is on the romantic.”
“Isn’t love supposed to be romantic?” Annie asked.
“Love is a lot of things. You’ve read Corinthians. Doesn’t get more plain than that.”
“Love always hopes. Love never fails.”
“That’s a big challenge right there,” Rose said.
“I never thought about it like that.”
“You ought to. Romance is a wonderful thing, but when push comes to shove, love is just like faith. A step in the dark. A choice.”
“You’re right, Rose. How’d you get to be so smart?”
“I’m old as dirt. You don’t get to be my age without a few hard lessons along the way.”
“Have you ever been in love?” Annie asked.
Rose glanced at Annie, a beatific smile appearing on her face, transforming her countenance. “Oh, yes. Still am.” She cleared her throat. “Enough about me. Now, what is it we were discussing?”
“Ryan and his broken heart.”
“Pshaw. Don’t you worry about Ryan. The Lord has a plan for him, too.”
“Do you think so?”
“Of course. In the meantime you be careful not to encourage him.” She scoffed. “That man is much too handsome for his own good. And those bedroom eyes.”
“Bedroom eyes?” Annie’s head jerked up. She laughed loudly this time. “Now how did I miss that? And for that matter, what are bedroom eyes? I mean, as opposed to kitchen eyes or bathroom eyes.”
Rose removed her glasses and folded up the paper. “Men don’t talk like women, Annie. You have to read their eyes. Now our Will, for example, has kitchen eyes.”
“You can say that again.”
“Say what again?” Will asked, tossing a straw cowboy hat on a chair.
The inviting grin he shot Annie sent tiny chills through her. She focused on stirring the batter.
Will leaned over and examined the bowl. “There’s nuts in there,” he complained.
“We said that if you eat any more cookies you were going to start looking like one,” Annie said. She gently slapped his hand away.
Will patted his flat abdomen through the denim shirt. “Six-pack abs. Comes from hard work, not some fancy gym.”
“What a cowboy thing to say.” She shook her head and spooned out dough.
“Do you have time to help me with that paperwork?” he asked.
“Sure. Soon as the cookies are done.”
“You hire Annie as your secretary, Will?”
“More like all round gofer,” Annie said.
“What can I say?” Will asked. “I interviewed three others but she was the only one who could do CPR and bake cookies while she filed invoices.”
Rose laughed. “Oh, you’re joshing me now.”
“Annie tell you we won’t be here for dinner?” he asked.
Rose nodded. “Singles supper and concert at the church. Yes, I heard.”
“I’m still not sure I want to go,” Annie said, as she opened the oven door.
Rose turned and her gaze connected with Annie’s. “That’s because you overdid yourself at Margaret’s party. You haven’t been out of the house hardly at all since then. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you know the names of all the characters in my soap opera.”
This time it was Will who burst out with a hard laugh.
“Hey, I’m having lots of fun,” Annie said. “Joanie has me exercising the horses. And I’ve helped cut the grass on the riding mower. Tomorrow Chris is going to let me do the entire thing by myself.”
“That’s your idea of fun?” Will asked with a shake of his head. “Last time we discussed fun, I ended up at the mall. Now you’re talking about a riding mower like it was a lap at Indy.”
“I also went to Binding Stevens three times this week.”
“Buying flowers doesn’t count either,” Rose said.
“But don’t they look nice?” she asked. Rose gave her free reign with the color scheme for this year’s perennials and ignored the fact that Annie had gone overboard filling every container she could get her hands on with soil and small plants. It had been so satisfying to pick out the flowers and plant them.
“The yard looks lovely, but you need to have some real fun,” Rose said. “Soon enough you’ll be back to work and wishing you’d taken more time to relax.”
“Work?” Will asked, perking up. “Do you know something I don’t know?” He glanced at both Rose and Annie.
“No, but I’m trying to be realistic. Annie isn’t one to sit still, and the doctor told her he’d give her a release after eight weeks. That is coming up here soon.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this from you, Rose,” Will said.
“I didn’t say she could move out of the Tulsa area or anything.”
“Still, that’s a mighty mature attitude,” Will said.
“Mature?” Rose laughed. “That’s another word for old, isn’t it? Which reminds me. Since you both are going to be out of the house, I thought I’d take the opportunity and have a few of the church ladies over. Ellen is coming by to help me get things ready.”
“You won’t be kicking up a row again, will you? Gets embarrassing when they call the sheriff,” Will said, eyeing the cookies through the glass window of the oven.
“He’s in rare form, isn’t he?” Rose looked to Annie.
“I thought it was something you put in his oatmeal. He’s been like this all week.”
Rose glanced out the window. “There’s the mail truck.”
“I’ll get the mail,” Annie said.
Will followed right behind.
“Getting your exercise?” she asked, noting his strides matched hers down the drive.
“Walking pretty good these days, aren’t you?” Will countered. She increased her pace, but he still kept up.
With a grin Annie began to jog away from him.
“Hey, I want to talk to you.”
At the road she pulled open the mailbox and gathered the periodicals and envelopes. “The amount of junk mail you get is incredible.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed ‘Resident’ gets more mail than I do. Sure beats bills, so I’m not complaining.”
“What did you want to talk about?” she asked, handing him a small package.
“Well, I was thinking maybe we should all go together.”
“Together?”
“To the supper.”
Annie nodded. “And which ‘we’ are you referring to?”
“Margaret asked me to escort a friend of hers. Joan or Jill? She’s new in town and her father is negotiating a contract with KidCare. And I thought, well, since Ryan is picking you up and we’re going to the same place, why not?”
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He stared at her for a moment, before his eyes widened. “You want to spend time alone with Jones.”
“No, that’s not what I mean at all,” she said, with a flash of irritation at his words. “I keep telling you we’re only friends.”
“Tell him.”
“I don’t need to tell Ryan. He and I communicate quite nicely.”
“That right?” Will narrowed his eyes. “So if you two communicate so well, then what’s the problem?”
The problem was it would pretty much kill her to be forced to sit around and watch as some friend of Margaret’s fawned over Will. Not her idea of a good time.
“Annie?”
“Fine,” she huffed. “We can all go together. Whatever.”
“You don’t sound like it’s fine,” Will grumbled.
“Don’t push your luck, Sullivan. I said it was fine.” She leafed through the rest of the mail, handing things over to Will one at a time, but holding back a large envelope which she stuck under her arm.
“What do you have there?”
“This is probably the preliminary paperwork for my next trip.”
“Mexico again.”
“Maybe. But you knew it was coming.”
“Yeah. And I also know you don’t have to go. You do have a choice. Correct?” He said the last word slowly.
“Yes,” she answered, knowing he was leading her somewhere she would probably regret going.
“Would you at least check out some of the hospitals here? Please?”
Annie released a breath. “Sure, Will. I’ll do that.”
“That was way too easy,” he said, as they strolled back up the driveway.
“As it happens, I’ve already set up interviews at several hospitals. One of my good friends from nursing school is now a recruiter. We’re meeting for lunch next week. I’m also preparing to send some résumés out.”
“Why didn’t you say so?”
“I guess because I’m trying to turn this over to God, not to Will.”
He stopped short. “Is that how it seems?”
Her eyes met his but she didn’t answer, not eager to offend him but unable to lie.
“I sound like a pretty heavy-handed guy.” His voice reflected surprise at the observation.
“The word stubborn came to mind. Possibly even a little manipulative.”
“Whoa. Wait a minute there. Stubborn I can maybe see. Sort of. Manipulative? How do you figure?”
“I spoke with the associate director of the medical missions program.” She stopped and narrowed her eyes in challenge. “Apparently he’s called on multiple occasions.”
“I told you he called.”
“Not numerous times.”
Will rubbed a hand over his face and through his hair. “Busted.” A dark curl dared to unfurl onto his forehead, and Annie barely resisted the urge to reach out and push it back in place.
She sighed but said nothing. When they reached the porch steps, Will turned to face her. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you? Or would you do it again given the opportunity?”
He considered her words and shrugged. “Probably, but I’m still sorry. You know I’m just trying to protect Rose.”
“Oh, Rose. So that’s your story.”
“Not going to forgive me?”
“Not going to let you off the hook.”
Will groaned, his eyes tightly closed in mock pain.
“Look, Will, you’re you and I’m me. You may be stubborn—”
“And manipulative,” he added.
“And manipulative. But what was it you said I am? Impulsive? I think that was the word.”
“I said that?”
“Maybe not verbatim, but you did say I tend to run through all the doors without stopping to see what God’s plan for me is.”
“My words sure get a lot of mileage, not to mention coming around to bite me in the backside,” he mumbled.
Annie smiled. “Your words were a wake-up call. I said I was letting God in, but it was only on my terms. I kept such tight control on the situation there was no way I could have heard Him.” She glanced over at Will and noted the confused expression on his face. “Uh-oh, now what are you thinking?”
“About what you just said.”
Annie cocked her head. This time she was the one confused.
“You know, control and letting God in.”
“I do know. It’s my greatest downfall.”
“Then we’re a lot alike, you and I, Annie. Because I know I deal with the same thing on a daily basis.”
“I supposed that’s why we’re such good friends, we’re a lot alike and we can be honest with each other.”
“Honest, huh? I think we’re just two hardheads.”
Annie laughed. “Maybe. But you should be flattered I’m taking your advice.”
“My advice?”
“Sure. Because of your advice, I’m very conscious to attempt to make this decision prayerfully, not with my head or my heart.”
“I guess I ought to try taking my own advice.”
She bit back a smile. “I’m not touching that.”
This was by far one of his dumbest ideas yet. Will continued to peruse the dessert menu as the waitress took orders around the table.
He slid his chair a bit closer to Ryan and away from Jillian, but the woman seemed to have edged toward him yet again.
“You get any closer and people will start talking,” Ryan muttered.
Will glared at him.
What was he thinking when he suggested going together? Avoiding one-on-one had been the original plan. Keep anyone from thinking this was a real date.
Instead the woman kept talking on and on as though they were an item. The whole thing was giving him a headache. Will was also pretty sure that his dentist would object to the amount of jaw-grinding he’d done so far tonight.
He glanced over at Ryan, who’d had a perpetual smile on his face since the moment they’d left the ranch. It was downright embarrassing how the guy hung on every word Annie said.
Will prided himself on his control and couldn’t understand why he kept having an urge to slug the guy and wipe that smile off his face. Every time he looked over and saw Ryan’s arm loped over the back of Annie’s chair, his fingers brushing against her shoulder, Will twitched.
The waitress snapped her order book shut and stepped aside to allow the hostess and a parade of incoming patrons access to the back room of the popular eatery.
After dinner and the concert, the women had voted for dessert and coffee. If Will had his way, he’d have headed home hours ago.
At least they’d chosen one of the best pie places in the area. The restaurant and bakery was packed tonight, as usual. Will inhaled deeply, appreciating the aromas of fresh pastries.
“Glad you suggested this place, Annie. They serve the best pies in town,” Ryan commented.
“Second-best,” Will said. His words were echoed at the same exact moment by Annie. When his gaze connected with hers they laughed.
“What’s the joke?” Jillian asked with a thin smile.
“Rose’s pies are the best,” Annie explained with a wink to Will.
He smiled back and looked beyond Annie to a familiar figure. Lulu Parson, with a man Will recognized as the retired Granby high school principal, Howard Reynolds, at her heels. Her fire-engine-red high heels.
Will couldn’t help but notice that the years had not been as generous to Howard as they had been to his date.
Lulu stopped suddenly as her gaze met Will’s. Howard nearly collided with her backside.
“Why, Will, how nice to see you again,” Lulu smiled. “Taking your lovely wife out on the town I see.”
Warmth crept up Will’s neck, no doubt turning him the same shade of red as Lulu’s lipstick. He didn’t dare spare a glance around the table. “Good to see you, too, Ms. Parson.”
“And Ryan Jones. How are you? Still as handsome as ever, I see.”
“Hi, Ms. Parson. You’re looking especially lovely tonight.”
“Ryan, you never change.” Lulu brushed a hand over her dress pleased at the compliment. She turned to the man at her side. “Howard, you remember Will Sullivan and Ryan Jones, don’t you? I don’t believe either of them spent any time in your office. They were such nice boys.”
Annie’s laughing eyes met Will’s across the table; her expression told him she knew better.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to the young lady?” Lulu asked Ryan.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ryan said. “This is Annie.”
Lulu waved a white-gloved hand at Ryan. “I’ve already met Mrs. Sullivan. Howie, this is Annie. You remember I told you about her? She’s the nurse.”
A confused Ryan gave Will a look, begging his intervention. Dry-mouthed, Will picked up his water glass, only to be elbowed by Ryan midswig. Will gulped and nearly choked on his water, quickly setting the glass down. “Ms. Parson,” Will said, “This is my friend Jillian.”
Lulu offered Jillian a hand. “Pleased to meet you, Julie. You may call me Lulu.”
Will cleared his throat. “It’s uh, Jillian.”
“Will’s wife has enrolled in my yoga class at the Y. You’re more than welcome to join us, Julie,” Lulu continued without pause.
An amused Jillian took Lulu’s proffered hand.
“Ms. Parson, would you and Mr. Reynolds care to join us?” Will asked. The courtesy smacked of disaster but was required etiquette nevertheless. “Maybe we could all move to a larger table.”
“Oh, no, wouldn’t dream of intruding. Besides, Howie and I want to be alone tonight. We’re celebrating our engagement.” In a loving gesture, she placed a hand on Howard Reynolds’s arm.
“Engagement?” Annie spoke up. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
Howard straightened and gazed adoringly at Lulu. He had a pronounced rhythmic tremor to his head and upper extremities.
“Yes, we were sweethearts when we were young, and drifted apart. But we were meant to be. Fifty years later and we still have that old spark,” Lulu said proudly.
“I’m a l-l-lucky man,” Howard stated, a heavy stutter evident, but overshadowed by the gleam in his eyes.
“Oh, that’s so romantic, Ms. Parson,” Annie said, her eyes dreamy as they focused on the couple.
“Isn’t it?” Lulu agreed. “Fifty years is a long time to wait for true love. But Howard was worth the wait.”
“Come along, Lulu, love, we’ll leave these young people alone.” Again the stutter was evident in Howard’s speech.
“Congratulations, again,” Will said, as the couple de parted.
“Thank you. We’ll send you all invitations to the wedding,” Lulu said, as she left them.
“Oh, my goodness. What was wrong with that man?” Jillian asked Annie in a low voice.
Will’s gut clenched at Jillian’s repulsed tone.
“Parkinson’s disease, I imagine,” Annie replied quietly.
“How tragic to marry a man with a disease like that. Did you see how he shook, and his speech?”
“Tragic? For who? Lulu doesn’t seem to notice anything but Howard’s heart,” Annie said with a thoughtful smile. “Isn’t that what love is all about? What’s inside. Not what’s outside.”
Jillian contemplated Annie’s comment. “You’re a nurse, so I suppose it’s easier for you.” She sipped her water and turned to Will. “Lulu seems to be a little confused. What was all that nonsense about Annie being your wife?”
“We’re all out of lemon meringue,” the waitress announced, a tray filled of desserts and a carafe of coffee in her arms.
Saved by the pie, Will realized.
Ryan leaned over to Will and spoke in a whisper, “Speaking of pie. If I were a betting man, I’d bet you’re in deep cow pie. Hope you’re wearing your old boots.”
Will glanced down at the floor with regret. “I seem to be a cow pie magnet these days.”