Picnic in Someday Valley (Honey Creek #2)(58)

“Nope. She died when Sunny was born.” He kept his tone level. Just tell the facts, nothing more, even if it did hurt inside. Sometimes talking about Beth hurt less than not talking about her.

To his surprise, Star didn’t make any comment. She simply nodded, and headed toward the bathroom.

From down the hall she yelled, “I’m guessing the room decorated in unicorns is Sunny Lyn’s.”

“You found it.”

Jesse pulled the pizza from the oven when Star walked in wearing a blue sweatshirt and jeans. The jeans were two inches too short and the shirt a bit too big, but they’d do. He handed her a pair of red boots.

She made a face. “I’m going to look like a damn cowgirl.”

“It’s that, or the mud boots, or your tennis shoes covered with your favorite word.”

“What’s that?”

“Shit.”

She sat at the table and put on the warm socks, then pulled on the red boots. “They feel pretty good,” she said more to herself than him.

“You can have the boots if you want them,” he said as she studied them.

“I do. They fit like a glove.” When he didn’t comment, Star added, “I’m sorry about your wife, mister.”

He handed her a bottle of Coke and changed the subject. “How’d you learn to ride, kid?”

“When I was in grade school my best friend’s family had horses. We rode every day during the summer, but I never had to care for them. Would you show me how you clean the hooves? I’m going to own horses one day.”

“Sure, that reminds me, I want to ask you about something.” He passed her a plate with three pieces of pizza. She suddenly seemed much more interested in the food than talk.

Jesse picked his questions carefully. “If you leave after lunch, you won’t get to the next town before most of the buses have gone. Might even be a chance you’d have to get a hotel.”

Between bites she explained what a dumb idea that was. “I can’t get a hotel. I only have money for a bus ride, and I don’t know if it’s enough to get me out of this state.”

“So you’d sleep on the street?”

“No, I’d curl up in a doorway. I saw people do that all the time in New Orleans.”

“Did you see any little girls sleeping on the street?”

“No. So what? I can take care of myself.” Her words were determined, but he saw doubt in her eyes.

“I know you can, Star, but how about you stay around here for a few days, maybe a week, and help me out with the horses. I’d offer room and board and twenty dollars a day for helping me. By then you’ll have a hundred dollars to get you down the road, and most of the horses will be gone. You could sleep in my daughter’s room on the extra bed. Only, there’s one rule, you got to let your sister know where you are.”

“I knew there was a hitch. My sister will never let me stay here. She’ll come get me one minute after I call.”

“Think about it, kid.”

“She’ll never let me stay. She thinks she’s in charge of me. She’s not my mother. We’re sisters, that’s all.”

Jesse took a big chance on Adalee. “How about I promise if she doesn’t let you work for me, I’ll drive you to the nearest bus terminal before she has time to get here.”

He knew she didn’t have much choice. He’d bet she didn’t have twenty dollars on her, but she bargained anyway. “You got any food besides pizza? That stuff’s not even good pizza.”

“I got a freezer full, but I can’t cook much. Beth’s mother comes over once a month and cooks ahead a few dishes.”

“Then, if I stay, one rule. No, that’s not right. This is my first rule. I have a feeling others will come along. Number one: I get to cook supper.”

“You can cook, kid?”

“Duh, I grew up in a bakery.”

Jesse smiled. “You got yourself a deal. How about we go feed the chickens after we eat?”

“You’ve got chickens? That means you’ve got eggs. Why are we eating bad pizza?”

He laughed. “I got guineas too, and goats, and bees a half mile down near my fields.”

“Holy moley! This place rules. I love animals, but I never had one. Bakeries and pets don’t go together. Please talk my sister into letting me work here.”

“I’ll work on it.”

When he drove into town, he left Star playing with Zak’s pet rabbit while she sat beside a pregnant goat.

He told Star not to leave the goat’s side in case she went into labor.

“What’d I do if it does?”

“Watch,” Jesse answered.





Chapter 36


Jesse


Adalee was closing the bakery early when Jesse walked up.

“Evening.” He touched the hand she held on the half-closed door.

“Good evening.” She didn’t step away.

He smiled. “I thought I’d drop by and tell you a plan I’ve come up with, if you have a minute.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t. My little sister will be home any minute and I feel like I have to be there. Maybe another day.” She looked truly sorry.

Even turning him down, she was beautiful. “It is about your sister,” he said in a low voice. His fingers brushed hers as if comforting her.