Page 56 of Book and Ladder
Cass packs up after lunch. Winona and I take to sorting through shelves. Effie comes in to man the front counter. There are only two customers here, so I gather a small stack of books we’ve had on hand for a while that aren’t selling and carry them into the office to put in a box we keep for library donations.
Then I grab my laptop and walk out onto the back porch of the shop, inhaling a deep breath of cold autumn air. The wind passes through the trees lightly swaying the branches. I glance to my north, toward the open field where I ran in the tall grass as a child. That unkept pasture has always been a source of peace—a reminder that we don’t have to build on every square foot of land we see.
Settling on the top step of the porch, I crack open my laptop.
My phone pings. I pull it out to look at it.
Unknown number:Hi, Daisy. My name is Chet. I work at theBuckners’ ranch. I got your number from Carli. I’d like to take you to coffee or lunch if you’re available.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
I can’t even count the number of days and nights I spent wishing I had more romance in my life. I’m pretty sure I got a guardian angel like that one inIt’s a Wonderful Life.My guardian angel must’ve flunked out of training. I’m stuck with the celestial equivalent of a juvenile delinquent on work release—slipping chaos into my life like it’s his side hustle.
My phone rings. It’s Carli.
“Hey!” she says when I answer. Then she rushes to say. “Sorry, not sorry! I gave your number to a cute new ranchhand of ours, Chet. Don’t judge by the name. He’s really sweet.”
“Carli,” I sigh. “Cass already told me. I know you mean well. Just don’t give my number out again without my permission. Okay?”
“I know. I know. That was a total friend fail. I won’t do it again. This guy’s cute, though.”
“So was Ted Bundy.”
“Ted who?”
“The serial killer.”
“I’m not setting you up with a serial killer. He’s a rancher.”
“Ranchers can’t be serial killers?”
“I never heard of one, have you?”
She’s got a point. And how are we even discussing this?
“He just texted,” I tell Carli.
“Well? What are you going to say?”
“I don’t know.”
“Just go. It’s one meal. You might actually have fun.”
I sigh. I don’t have it in me to be pestered. And this guy already did the heavy lifting by asking for my number and reaching out.
“Okay,” I concede. “I’ll text him back and say yes.”
Chapter 16
Patrick
There is too little courtship in the world.
~ Vernon Lee
I thoughtit was hard hiding my podcast from friends and family. Now I’m in the regular habit of checking my inbox to see if M&M messaged me. Not only am I hiding a part-time occupation, but I’m in a clandestine online friendship. The best parts of my life are ones I can’t share with anyone I know.
I pull my laptop up before I head into work. I’m finishing breakfast while I check emails. There’s one from my hosting service, and another from one of my sponsors. I skip those, hunting for the one I hope to find.
