Picnic in Someday Valley (Honey Creek #2)(53)

Brand and Marcie didn’t go together. A loner with a military background and a singer whose last boyfriend was in jail.

Colby almost laughed. These two were even a worse match than he and the mayor were. The only thing the mayor and he had in common was work. They both loved their jobs.

Colby asked for a few hours off on Friday. Before he drove into Honey Creek he planned to drive out to Brand’s ranch.

He leaned back in his chair. Piper had said, “Come home.” Maybe it was time to stop pretending she didn’t mean something to him. He didn’t have to ask her to marry him, but he did need to tell her how much she meant to him.

She might get over being mad. If they still broke up, at least she’d know that she’d meant a great deal to him. More than any other woman he’d dated.

That is, if she believed him when he swore he’d never said I love you to another woman.





Chapter 33


Jesse


The evening was one of those perfect nights in Texas. Cold enough to wear a jacket but warm enough to sit out and watch the stars. Jesse rocked slowly as he studied them from the wide wraparound porch. There had been a time when he knew the names of a hundred stars and constellations. In a few more years he’d get his old telescope out and set it up for Zak. He’d teach his oldest, then Zak would teach Danny, and Danny would teach Sunny Lyn.

He loved his kids. He knew they’d always be a part of him, but someday he wouldn’t be a part of them. They’d grow up and marry and be on their own. Sometimes he thought that the first two to marry would have to pick one of the grandmothers to take on their honeymoon. Either that or both old ladies would move in with him when the kids married.

Who knows, maybe he’d sell the farm and move to town. He knew deep down that he’d never travel or have grand adventures. He’d grow old loving his family, including the grandkids that would be coming someday. He’d go to church on Sunday and live his life by the seasons. His ways had always been simple.

Adalee had given him a great deal to think about lately. But as much as he liked the idea of getting to know one another better, bringing someone else into his life would be too much. He didn’t have time, much less love, left over for anyone else. He took little bites of life, not big ones.

The baker was like a dream he kept all to himself. In his mind he felt like a parallel life was playing out. The real world and the might-have-been. How could a woman be all wrong for him and feel so right?

The phone rang and for a moment he thought it might be Adalee reading his thoughts. Knowing how much he wanted to hear her voice, even though deep down they’d soon be saying goodbye.

“Hello,” he whispered, hoping the phone hadn’t awoken one of the kids.

“Keaton?” a man’s voice snapped.

“Yes.”

“This is Dr. Donovan. You’ve had my daughter’s bay out in your barn since the day before the storm.”

“Yes, sir, I’ve got Princess. Let me know when you’re coming to pick her up and I’ll make sure I’m here to help.”

“I won’t be coming. Not right now.” The doctor’s words dripped with importance.

Jesse always smiled when doctors felt the need to identify themselves by title. He never announced himself as Farmer Keaton, and he bet his day was just as busy as the doctor’s.

“What would you charge to board the horse for another few weeks? My daughter wants to go visit a cousin in Austin.”

“Thirty a day.” Jesse heard one of the guys at the co-op meeting mention that Donovan’s daughter had been expelled. He hadn’t paid enough attention to hear what the problem was. Something about a car wreck with half a dozen drunk teenagers inside.

“Don’t I get a discount?” Donovan complained.

“Nope. The horse eats the same amount every day. Takes up the same stall. Gets exercise every day and has her stall cleaned.” Jesse thought maybe times were hard on the dentist. “I know a few ranchers who’ll keep Princess in a corral with the herd. That could cut the cost in half if you want to move her somewhere else.”

“No, my daughter, Pamela, wouldn’t like that. I’ll pay. I just don’t have time to tend to a horse right now.”

From the looks of Princess when she arrived, no one had been taking care of her properly for a long time. Hooves needed tending, mane and tail matted, and the horse had an infected sore on her left knee joint that Jesse treated twice a day.

Jesse didn’t bother to tell the doc about the horse’s problems. He knew from experience that Donovan wouldn’t care.

“I could cut a bit if Pamela wants to come out and exercise her horse every day.”

“No, she’s busy with soccer right now.” The doc let out a long breath. “Sometimes I wish Princess was a toy horse that we could put in the attic. Pamela still loves the horse. Can’t stand the thought of losing her beautiful Princess, but there’s no time to ride anymore.”

Jesse didn’t ask any more questions. He had a barn full of horses and none of the owners seemed in any hurry to pick them up. “I’ll take good care of the bay.”

“Thanks.” Donovan hung up.

Jesse thought about going back to the porch, but it was getting late. He’d go to bed and think of Adalee. He knew it wasn’t practical for them to ever see each other on a regular basis, but she could fill his dreams. They’d been empty for a long time.