Page 22 of Her Cowboy Baby Daddy
“They seem competent.”
“They’re lovable smart-asses and totally dependable.”
“Good.” Spence shifted his weight. “I need to get going soon. Do you need help loading anything for the Farmer’s Market?” The first of which was the next day. Hayley had already put up her canvas canopy, checked it for mildew and holes, then packed it away again.
“I have things under control. Andie is coming with me and”—she sucked in a breath and glanced over at her garden before looking back at him—“I’ve got this. It’ll be fun.”
“Good. I may see you there, since there’s also a horse sale.”
“Sounds good.” Hayley cleared her throat.
“Right.”
They stared each other down for another two or three seconds, then Spence turned and headed toward his truck, wondering why he suddenly felt like a junior high kid. It made no sense at all.
But it was kind of intriguing.
*
Marietta’s first Farmer’sMarket was held in conjunction with a stock horse sale at the fairgrounds. Because it was early in the season, the farm booths were, for the most part, scantily stocked with greenhouse produce, fresh-cut flowers, and seedlings ready to plant in home gardens. The artisan booths, however, were something to behold. Having had the winter months to produce inventory, the stock of wooden toys, blown glass, wrought iron, and leatherworks were something to behold, and the artisans were enjoying brisk sales.
With Andie’s help, Hayley had set up early, then settled in to watch the other booths go up, occasionally helping with an uncooperative canopy or chatting with a friend. After setup, Andie got a horse sale catalog, then settled in the chair next to Hayley and perused the offerings with Greta curled up on her lap.
“That’s a nice-looking animal,” Hayley said, reading over Andie’s shoulder.
“If only I had the money,” Andie said with a sigh. She turned the page.
“Do you own a horse?” Hayley asked the obvious question that she’d never thought to ask.
“The horse I grew up with lives with my grandparents in Great Falls. All the colts that I’d bought and trained, I’ve sold.” One corner of her mouth quirked up. “I got good money for them, but I’m holding off buying a horse until I have a place to keep it.” She stroked Greta. “Which is where this one comes in. Not quite a horse, but great company and a better foot warmer at night.”
Hayley had more questions about her temporary hire, but rather than pelt the girl with them all at once, she held off, figuring that they probably had the summer to get to know one another. In that regard, she was lucky because she’d received no hits on her help wanted posts. Everyone, it seemed, already had jobs nailed down for the summer. By fall, though, when some of those summer hires needed winter jobs, she’d have more luck. In the meantime, she had Connor, Ash, and Andie. And Spence, of course, but she didn’t count him because once the pipe corrals were finished, his dad would have surgery, and he’d be back on his own ranch taking up slack.
She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the feel of the late May breeze on her face. Her eyes opened at the sound of a familiar voice.
Spence. It was almost like she’d somehow conjured him up.
“Hey.” Spence appeared in front of her booth with his brother Reed. “How’s it going?”
“I’ve sold several six-packs. Plants, not beer,” she said when Reed frowned. “But the big money is going to the woodworkers and jewelry makers. Those are the kinds of things out-of-towners buy. Most don’t want to deal with seedlings.”
“Understandable.” Spence looked at Reed. “I think you need petunias in those window boxes of yours.”
“Yes. Yes, I do,” Reed said with a quick dark look at his brother, who grinned widely. He looked at the selection in front of him. “Any bright-pink ones? My daughter loves neon pink.”
“These will be bright pink with white dots and splashes,” Hayley said, pointing to a six-pack. “And these will be the same, only purple. I also have stripes and some kind of variegated ones.”
Reed pulled his wallet out of his pocket. Hayley caught Spence’s eye and her stomach did an odd little flip and drop as he winked. She put her hand on her abdomen where it was free-falling, then immediately put it back on the table.
The consequence of the thoughts you’ve been thinking about the man.
No doubt.
But... he didn’t know about those thoughts, and she wasn’t about to tip him off, so she met his gaze and gave him a confident smile. “Horse shopping?”
“Just browsing,” Spence said.
“And socializing,” Reed added. “Seeing Spence in the area is like spotting Bigfoot, and people are taking advantage.”
