Page 31 of Follow My Heart

Ryder merely shrugged. “The kids who lived in town were popular. But we didn’t care. We had acres to run. When we dated, we could drive the pickup to a spot away from prying eyes and look at the stars.”

I wanted to ask if that was all he did, but Faith was listening to us now. She bounded ahead of us, clearly excited about choosing a tree.

I would have liked that freedom to escape when things were tough at home. It was always, Why can’t you be more like your sister? How hard is it to focus and study? What do you think you’re going to do when you grow up?

If I could have disappeared into a line of trees for a few hours, it would have made all the difference. Other than hiding in my room, there weren’t many places to disappear to.

“We have a few varieties of trees in this field. The Frasier Fir has blue-green needles with a silvery undertone, a good scent, and strong branches for decorating. The needles turn slightly upward and can hold medium to heavy ornaments.” Ryder’s fingers brushed over the needles, showcasing the silvery undertones.

Ryder moved to a tree in another row. “Fifty percent of our sales come from the Douglas Fir which get a nice pyramid shape, have blue or dark green leaves, and sturdy branches.”

“How long do you have to wait for the trees to be full-grown?”

Faith was running around a nearby tree, and I wondered if she’d heard this speech from her father or uncles before.

“It takes seven to ten years to produce an eight-foot tree.”

There was something about Ryder talking Christmas trees that got me hot. He didn’t look like a nerd, but it was attractive when a man knew what he was talking about. And he’d grown up here, lived and breathed the facts he’d just relayed.

It was evident from his tone that he was proud of what his family had built. In the truck, he’d regretted that he hadn’t been more involved with the farm the last few years. I wondered if he would be now that he was living here again.

“Do you have a preference?” Ryder’s gaze settled on me.

“I love the blue-green color.” There was just something about the shade with the silvery undertone that drew me in. I wanted to display it in the shop window.

“That narrows it down.” Then he yelled to Faith, “We’re looking for a Frasier Fir.”

“On it,” Faith called out.

“She knows all this already?” I asked him as we followed her down the line with her mumbling, “Too short, too thin,” her fingers brushing the needles as she passed.

“She was interested in what our family does here. I think she would have liked to live closer.”

I carefully stepped over tree roots and branches on the ground. “Mmm. But you’re here now.”

Ryder glanced down at me. “That’s true.”

I didn’t know how long he’d be here, or if he’d stay, but I was planning to enjoy my time with him.

“What about this one?” Faith had stopped in front of one that was tall and fairly narrow. “You don’t want a fat one in the shop. It will be too hard to move around it.”

“I was thinking of putting it in the window.” There’s a bump-out by the window where it will fit perfectly, and everyone can see it when they walk past.”

“Then I’d get this one.” Faith hopped quickly over to one that was shorter and wider.

I’d collected ice-cream ornaments over the years but never had a place to hang them. They’d be perfect for the shop. “I love it.”

“We’ll cut this one, then look for one for the house. Remember what to do?” Ryder asked Faith.

Faith nodded seriously as she reached for the tree. I helped since I wasn’t sure she’d be able to hold the weight by herself.

Ryder got on the ground with the saw he’d grabbed from the back of his truck and began cutting through the trunk. The tree swayed to the right, and we held onto it until Ryder stood and grabbed it from us.

“I’ll put this one on the path while we look for more.”

“How many trees do we need?” I asked him, amusement tinging my voice.

He ticked it off on his hands. “One for me and one for you.”

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