Page 89 of The Wedding Ranch
“Are you ready to get back to town?”
“I hope the party is over.”
He pulled out his phone and texted someone. “They are cleaning up. You’re home free.”
He settled the bill with the woman, then walked Lorri back out to the car. “How did you get to The Wedding Ranch this morning?”
“I took the back road. The way we went when we went horseback riding.”
“Aren’t you clever. You walked through that field? That’s a hike.”
“I was determined.”
“Was it worth it?”
“Not really. No, I take that back. If that’s the humbling road I needed to take to get us to here… I’m glad I did it.”
“Me too. Plus, I kind of like this adventurous side of you.”
“It’s new.”
He drove her to her car. “It was a good day.”
“It was. I guess now I can remember this day as our day, not his.”
“Me too. Mind if I come by tomorrow evening? I want to take you to dinner.”
“I’d like that.”
He watched her drive off, then sat down in the grass, listening to the creek in the distance and letting nature happen around him. It was nearly dark by the time he got into the old car and put it back in the garage.
The next day he drove over to Lorri’s. He planned to clarify some of those early vague answers he’d given her before. Herapped on the wood door next to the colorful fall wreath she’d recently hung. He wasn’t usually a fan of that girly kind of stuff, but this wreath was void of ribbons and ruffles. Vivid maple leaves in a range of colors swirled around a twig base, and wheat, cotton pods, and even dried soybeans filled the circle. All it lacked were a few golden tobacco leaves; maybe he’d bring her a couple, or ask her to make him one.
“You’re early. I love that about you.”
“Dad always said if you’re going to be late don’t even bother. I guess he drove that into me.”
“A good habit, but I think I’d rather have you late than not at all. Come on in. I’ll let Mister out and we can leave.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I thought we were going to dinner?”
“Yes, we are, but I’m cooking for you. At my house, and Mister is invited.”
“Well, how about that, Mister?” Her mouth dropped, surprised, but pleased. “He’ll love it.”
He’d let her think he lived down at the creek; this was one of those vague pieces of information he needed to correct. “Yeah, about the Rest Stop. That’s not where I live.”
“No?”
He shook his head. “That’s my hideaway. The kids needed my place for your friends to stay while they were in town.”
“Cody and Kasey?”
“And their son, yes. So I stayed down there for the week while they used my place.”
“You reallyarea good sport.”
