Page 139 of Always Meant for You
The man squints. “Ma’am, are you okay?”
“Yes . . . no.” I shake my head.
Blessedly, Cal steps in.
“We need a few quick hands to write a letter on these cards,” he says, tone calm and clear. “We’ve got thirty minutes to make it happen.”
The coach looks between us. “You’re serious?”
“I am,” Cal says. He shifts the box under one arm and shakes the man’s hand. “I’m Cal Horner. This is Mabel.”
“Shaun Haystead,” the man replies, his tone clipped.
“Didn’t your family used to farm off Route Twenty-Six?” Cal asks.
“Yeah,” Shaun replies, his expression softening. Then his gaze cuts to me. “Is she all right?”
Cal looks my way and winks in a gesture that says, I got this. “She’s good. We’re in a bit of a crunch and could use some local help.”
Shaun studies us. “You two are with Eat Elverna, aren’t you? My wife follows your posts.”
Hope flares. The tide might be turning.
“That’s right,” I say. “We co-lead the initiative.”
Cal slips an assport from the box and offers it to Shaun. “The Elverna Farmers’ Market launches soon. We’re running a stamp-card passport activity, but there was a misprint. We’re hoping your team can help us fix it.”
Shaun glances at the page. “That’s unfortunate, but . . .” He hands the sheet back, looking ready to send us packing, when a woman in loafers and a ball cap shrieks.
“Kathy Haystead, look, girl! It’s him! It’s Farmer Cal!”
Cal stiffens. I don’t blame him. A group of women—ponytails swinging, reusable mugs in hand—rush toward us with barely contained glee. The one leading the charge in a white visor looks exactly like CougarMomKathy4456’s profile picture.
I glance at Shaun—Shaun Haystead.
The cap and loafers lady just called KathyKathy Haystead.
Kathy and Shaun must be married. This is the break we need.
“I’m your biggest fan,” Kathy coos, trailing a hand along Cal’s arm. “Your farmer videos, especially the ones with those adorable kittens and the baby goat, really do something to me. Remember the video I showed you, Shauny-poo?”
Kathy looks at the man through her lashes.
“I do,” he answers, a touch of a blush on his cheeks.
“Remember what happened after we watched those videos last week?” Kathy purrs.
Shaun winks at his wife, and Cal’s eyes nearly pop out of his head.
“And those shots where he’s all sweaty and dirty get me going,” the cap and loafers lady chimes, practically salivating.
“Oh, those are my favorite,” a third woman agrees.
A ripple of sighs moves through the group.
I turn to Cal and, just to be cheeky, give him a wink of my own. “Go with it, Farm Porn,” I whisper.
His expression pleads for rescue, but he’s in the perfect position to take one for the team.
