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He didn’t breathe after that. And didn’t hear any of the lesson.
With Cheyenne so enamored with Resa, how would he resist her?
And more than that, how would he keep his secret?
* * *
Cheyenne’s slight weight got heavier as she drifted off. Resa could get way too attached. Especially since the shy little girl seemed drawn to her.
Deep down, she was glad Colson had come to Bible study this evening. She just wished he’d chosen another church. She wasn’t ready to forgive him.
She was stuck working with him until Christmas. Forced to count on him to keep her ranch running smoothly. But none of that trumped that he’d once broken her heart. And even though she understood his reasons now, she couldn’t allow herself to let her guard down around him. He wasn’t here to stay this time, either.
Colson. In her parents’ house. In her office. In her store. And now in her church. How had her life come to this?
Amens echoed around her and she raised her head. She hadn’t heard a word of the closing prayer. Or the study, for that matter. Why was he so...distracting?
“Let me take her.” He scooped Cheyenne out of her arms.
The brush of his fingers against her arm sent goose bumps over her.
Burden lifted, she stood and made her way to the aisle, as a hand clamped on her shoulder from behind.
“Resa.”
“Evening, Jed.” She turned and gave him a quick hug over the pew. “Remember to bring your wares soon. Open house is this weekend.”
“I appreciate you including me.”
“Are you kidding? Your stuff brings customers in.”
“Glad to hear it. Say, reckon you could come on over tonight? I’ve got two walking canes, three table lamps and half a dozen candlesticks. It would be easier on me if I didn’t have to load it all.”
“Of course. I didn’t even think about that.”
“Maybe the Kincaid boy could help,” Marilyn suggested. “Might get his little girl comfortable with me. Enough for her to come to my class next week.”
“I knew I married you for more than your beauty.” Jed winked at his wife.
“Colson,” Marilyn called as he neared the exit. “Could you help us out?”
“Sure.” He strolled toward them with Cheyenne still sleeping on his shoulder.
“Oh, I didn’t realize she was asleep. Never mind.” Marilyn stroked the little girl’s hair.
“I was just trying to wake her.” Colson’s narrowed gaze settled on Resa. “I don’t usually let her sleep through church. And if she naps this late, she won’t go to bed.”
And she was supposed to know that? “You remember Jed, don’t you? He probably visited the Bandera store back when you were training with your dad.”
“It’s been a while.” Colson clasped the hand Jed offered.
“I’ve got some carved items ready for delivery to Resa’s store.” Jed clapped him on the back. “We were wondering if you could follow us to the house and load up.”
“And I was hoping to get to know this little darling.” Marilyn smoothed her hand down the sleeping child’s back.
“I’d be happy to help.”
Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. “Thank you, Colson. It’s settled then—you can follow Jed there.” And Resa would go straight home.
“But Jed has something he needs to show you.” Marilyn clasped her elbow.
“Now, Marilyn, I told you they’re not ready.”
“Oh, pooh.” Marilyn waved her husband’s protests aside with her hand. “I don’t know how they could get any more ready.”
“You’ve got something new?” Resa’s insides warmed. She’d known Jed since she was a kid. And had mourned with him when arthritis threatened his work.
“Wait till you see them.” Marilyn’s smile broadened. “He always second-guesses himself, but I’m trying to talk him into going on a bigger scale with these.”
“She don’t need to see. They’re not ready.”
“Please, Jed.” Resa’s voice blended with his wife’s.
“Aw, shucks.” He turned crimson. “I reckon. But if you don’t think they’re up to par, just say the word. Nothing amateur is going under the Rusticks name.”
“Oh, good.” Marilyn clapped her hands. “I’ve got a dessert I’ve been dying to thaw. That Mrs. Edwards sure can turn out a mean turtle pie.”
“I’m in.” Colson let out a low whistle.
“Y’all could ride together?” Jed suggested.
“No.” The protest ripped from Resa. “I mean—we’d just have to come back here and get my car. It’s easier if we both drive.”
“All righty then.”
She wanted to see Jed’s newest creation. Wanted to encourage his one-of-a-kind craftsmanship. But it was bad enough that Colson was coming, too. Bad enough that she had to share pie with him. No way would she share a ride with him, as well.
* * *
“How about we go see the chickens.” Marilyn offered her hand.
Though her eyes filled with wonder, Cheyenne clenched Colson’s fingers tighter.
“They can’t get out. They’re all safe in the coop,” he prompted. “I’ll be right here in Jed’s workshop.”
Her grip loosened, let go, then latched on to Marilyn.
Maybe the kind women of small-town Bandera were just what Cheyenne needed. Even though this broadening of her horizons was good for her, letting her go was hard on him. He refocused.
Smooth wood, perfect gloss, no imperfections. Colson opened the lid of the box. Black velvet-lined compartments. The smell of cedar filled the workshop.
“This doohickey comes out.” Jed lifted the top tray to reveal more compartments. “And there’s a card with my number, so they can order a silver plate with their name engraved on it.”
“For an extra charge?” Resa inspected the card.
“Nope. If they buy the box the engraving is free. I figure they’ll have to come back to the store to pick up the plate and maybe they’ll buy something else.” Jed carefully set the tray back in place. “Tell it to me straight. No two-steppin’ around it.”
“They’re beautiful.” Resa’s voice was filled with awe and appreciation.
“You think?” Pride warmed Jed’s smile.
“As beautiful as the one you gave me for graduation.”
“Wait, you’ve made these before?” Colson set the cedar jewelry box down among the others. “Do we carry them in the store?”
“It’s been a long time since I made any. Did one as a gift a few years back. Gave me a hankering to make some more.”
“The one you gave to Landry.” Resa’s eyes glistened. “I saw it. Such a sweet gesture and it meant the world to her.”
“She’s obviously biased.” Jed rubbed the back of his neck. “You sure they’re good enough quality, Colson? You’re not just trying to make an old man feel good?”
“You should feel good about these, Jed.”
“Can we show them at our open house?” Resa propped her hands in a steeple, a visual plea.
Jed inspected the row of boxes on the shelf in his workshop. “If you’re sure they’re ready.”
“They’re ready. I’d stake the reputation of Rusticks on them.”
“I reckon you’re doing that.”
She stood on tiptoe, kissed his grizzled cheek, which quickly turned scarlet.
“Let’s go have some pie.” Jed gestured them to the door.
“Where’s the chicken coop?” Colson trailed Resa as Jed turned the light off. Eager to retrieve his daughter, he stepped outside, searched the yard by the glow of Christmas lights lining the house. No sign of them.
“Looks like they already went inside.”
Cheyenne never warmed to anyone that fast.
Five strides and they stepped into the cozy kitchen, where Cheyenne sat beside Marilyn at a farmhouse table with log legs. Five saucers, each bearing a generous slice of pie, waited. A Christmas tree with multicolored blinking lights, decorated with small American Flags and ornaments in red, white and blue, captured Cheyenne’s attention almost more than the pie.
“I don’t think I want any pie made from turtles, Daddy.” She scrunched her nose.
“That’s just what they call it, darling.” Marilyn patted the small head. “It’s really made from yummy stuff.”
“I think you’ll really like it.” Colson settled on her other side.
Everyone placed their drink orders and Resa helped Marilyn serve.
Chocolate, caramel and whipped cream melted on his tongue, complemented by the crunch of pecans. The only thing better than the pie was seeing Cheyenne blossom. And having Resa seated beside him. Still clueless about his daughter’s parentage.
Cheyenne spooned a minuscule bite into her mouth and her eyes rounded. “You’re right, Ms. Marilyn, it is yummy.”
“I’m glad you like it. This is nice.” Marilyn sipped her coffee. “Having young folks around. Since our kids got grown and moved to the city, it’s just us old folks milling about most of the time.”
“They remind me of us, when we were dating.” Jed shot Resa a wink.
“We’re not dating.” Her voice quivered.
“You will be.” Jed set his cup down. “I can spot it. Called it with Landry and Chase. When I been knowing a young’un for so long, I can tell.”
“Stop it, Jed.” Marilyn rolled her eyes. “You’re making her turn the color of those plums.”
Colson resisted the urge to see how purple looked on her. Partly because his face felt just as warm.
“What’s dating?” Cheyenne popped another bite of pie in her mouth.
“I’ll explain later.” Colson focused on Jed. “How long have y’all known each other?”
“I was friends with her granddad. Knew yours, too.” Jed shot her a wink. “Known her since she was born.”
“Jed was the main crafter here at the Bandera store.” Resa scooped another bite of pie on her fork. “Before your dad.”
“Until the arthritis hit. I couldn’t keep up after that.”
“But Resa and her dad encouraged Jed to do what he could, keep crafting at his own pace.” Marilyn’s gaze, full of love and respect, rested on her husband. “They’ve sold a lot of Jed’s work through the years. And won’t even take a commission.”
Resa stayed focused on the table. “Jed put his hours in for us. Sold a lot of furniture for us. Just returning the favor.”
“I’m trying to talk him into building hope chests again.”
Resa’s gaze bounced up to Jed, her excited smile lighting a sparkle in her blue eyes. “You have to do it. I never got one.”
“I’ll make you a deal, young’un.” Jed shot her another wink. “You get married and I’ll make you one.” His scrutiny shifted to Colson.
Colson shoved the last bite of pie in his mouth, took a swig of coffee. “It’s getting late. We best be on our way.”
“Look what you’ve done with all your teasing, Jed.” Marilyn clucked her tongue. “You’ve run them off.”
Running scared. The last thing Colson needed to ponder on was marrying Resa. Because even though he didn’t trust women, and had vowed to never remarry, after a mere four days Resa was starting to look good to him all over again. In a permanent sort of way.
She pushed her plate away. “It’s probably getting close to Cheyenne’s bedtime and I’ve got an early morning trip to San Antonio tomorrow.”
“Do we have to go, Daddy?” Cheyenne yawned, despite sleeping through church.
“You can come back anytime.” Marilyn patted her hand.
But not with Resa. From now on Colson had to avoid her at all costs. Only work-related contact. Period. And unfortunately, there would be a lot of that over the next three weeks.
“Thanks for the pie, Marilyn.” Colson stood, pulled out Cheyenne’s chair and took her tiny hand in his.
“Maybe I’ll see you in my class next week.” Marilyn patted the little girl’s shoulder.
“Maybe.” Cheyenne blushed.
Resa hugged their hosts and Colson opened the door for her.
Thousands of stars and an almost full moon lit the sky as they stepped outside.
“What time is Juan’s surgery?”
Her eyes widened. “Eight. You remembered.”
“The reason I’m here.” How could he not remember? He’d come prepared to stay until Juan’s return. If her dad didn’t let him off the hook, his six-week calendar officially started ticking tomorrow. “I met a breeder from San Antonio at the sale barn yesterday. I have an appointment with him tomorrow to check out a bull, so I thought I’d see about Juan while I was there.”
“I get to go, too.” Cheyenne yawned again. “You should ride with us, Resa.”
“Oh. I don’t know.”
So much for avoiding her. “I guess it really doesn’t make much sense for both of us to make the drive. We could drop you at the hospital, then go meet the breeder, check on Juan, pick you up and head home.”
“But I want to stay until he’s out of surgery.”
“Not a problem. Cheyenne is always up for killing time at the zoo.”
“Please, Resa.”
He watched the softening of her eyes as Cheyenne melted her resistance.
“Okay. I guess I’ll see y’all in the morning.”
“Six thirty-ish? In case traffic is bad.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She got in her vehicle as he settled Cheyenne in her car seat in the back of his truck.
By the time he got on the road, she was asleep.
An hour’s drive with Resa in the morning. And another back home. At least he wouldn’t be hanging out at the hospital with her all day. He needed to figure out a way to teach Cheyenne not to invite her along in the future. Even though he’d taught her to be kind. He still had three weeks of navigating around Resa. And the time couldn’t pass fast enough.
* * *
How had he ended up at the zoo with Cheyenne—and Resa?
“I can’t believe they haven’t gotten Juan into surgery yet.” She checked her watch again. “It’s almost ten.”
“Must have been a serious emergency for the hospital to get off schedule so badly. I can take you back. You didn’t have to come with us.”
“Yes, I most certainly did.” She smiled down at Cheyenne between them, her hands in each of theirs, fascinated by the alligators and crocodiles. “She asked me. But what about the bull?”
“If I buy him, I have no desire to keep a bull kicking around in the trailer for any longer than I have to. I told Mr. Mendez I’d call him once Juan went into surgery. That way, by the time he gets out, I’ll be back to get you. Bull or no bull.”
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