Page 106 of Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance

KELSEYISFINEALLFINE

The evening of the hayride is warm and breezy. I decide to walk from the homestead to the tree farm, a journey through the forest that no longer makes me nervous, having traversed it several times in the last two days.

I helped sort inventory, put on price stickers, steam tablecloths, and organize displays.

The brothers cleared the path of the hayride, fortified the tents, and borrowed a second cart and a pair of horses from a neighboring farm to double the number of rides they can sell tickets for.

And Randy and I hit Hallmark movie second base: the almost-kiss. We were admiring his grandfather’s hand-carved bird ornaments, looked at each other with misty eyes over his being lost too soon, like my mom, and leaned in.

Only to have Gina stomp into the room, upset that the Grinch-themed Christmas mugs she ordered weren’t going to make it in time for the tea.

The way Randy grinned at me when we were thwarted mademyheart grow three sizes.

As I walk along the pine-scented path to the tree farm, I totally understand the urge to burst into song. I’ve enjoyed Carrie’s companyas we worked side by side. Even Gina, who seemed abrupt when we first met, has grown on me.

When I step out of the woods, Ol’ Blue spots me right off and bounds down the row to greet me. Somewhere along the way, she must have decided I’m all right. It might have been the bits of chicken I’ve started keeping in a plastic bag to feed her.

I’m not above bribery.

Randy looks up from where he’s stringing lights along the edge of the second cart. “Hey, Kelsey! You ready for a wild night in Glass?”

I laugh. “I think so.”

He pauses to take me in. “You sure look pretty in that pink dress.”

I turn in a circle. “I didn’t have anything Christmassy.”

“It’s perfect.”

“Can I help?”

“Sure.” He moves to the back of the cart to help me up. I’m better at it now. Hay bales have been placed all along the walls of the cart. “There’s some red ribbons to tie on the sides.”

I pick one up and sit on the hay to wire it in place.

Carrie comes out of the food tent. “Good to see you, Kelsey. That cart sure did need a woman’s touch.”

“I’ve got it!”

Randy’s father, Jed, emerges from the building. We met yesterday. He’s a slightly larger, somewhat redder-faced version of his sons. “You got power in the food tent?” he asks his wife.

“Yep. The cider’s heating,” Carrie says.

Jed frowns. “I guess hot cider makes sense.”

“It’s not good cold.”

He nods, then notices me and raises a hand. “Heya there, Kelsey!”

“Hello, Jed.”

Randy grins at me. “You fit right in, my lady.”

“I kind of do, don’t I?” A happy trill goes through me. So what if it’s been only a few days? Who says this has to be hard?

And we’re still on Hallmark time. Randy hasn’t kissed me yet. We haven’t been alone. It’s been busy since that first day.

But tonight, he’s promised me a solo ride after all the others are over. I feel like a young lass fromLittle House on the Prairie, waiting on her beau to make her his girl.

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