Page 61 of When Sparks Fly

“Of course!” She tips her head up to me, unintentionally teasing me with those sweet lips set in a grin. I wonder if they’ll taste like caramel today. “I’ll be here, snapping away all day. I really appreciate you doing this.”

Does she know I’d do anything she asks? “Yep,” is all I can manage. “I’ll be back.” I reach up and grab the end of her ponytail hanging over the front of her shoulder and give it a playful tug. Her eyes light up.

I’m so fucked.

Mama’s booth is stationed in the same place it is every year. Behind her table is a collapsible shelving piece Dad built for her especially for these events. Her tiny jars of jam look so typically-country organized by color on it.

“Mama.” I kiss her head as I approach from her side, wrapping an arm around her waist.

“Hi, sweetheart.” She leans into me, wrapping her arms around my middle for a moment, before pulling away and hurrying around again. “I didn’t expect to see you so early.”

I’m not interested in having a personal conversation within earshot of everyone in town, but Mama is known to keep at something like a dog with a bone. “I took something to Maci.”

I don’t miss the glow that accents her face, but all she says is, “That’s nice.”

A woman walks up then and inquires about the flavors of jams. Mama sets to work, offering her samples and selling her heart out.

She stays busy as things pick up throughout the morning, so I wander around a bit. Nick mentioned that he’d be out here doing some community outreach-type things, and when I spot a Birds of Prey show, I decide there probably isn’t a better place to find him.

Sure enough, Nick is stationed at the far end of the area sectioned off for the bird show. It seems too early for sessions and he’s chatting with a family, handing out stickers and pamphlets. When they thank him and move away, I shake his hand in greeting.

“Hey, man,” he says happily. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to see you out here.”

I nod, cross my arms over my chest, and peer out at the passersby. “Yeah. Maci needed to borrow a trailer so I dropped it off a little bit ago.”

His eyebrows raise. “Nice. I like her.” As if processing the latter, his brows furrow. “What’d she need a trailer for?”

I smirk. “She’s using it as a prop for a photoshoot.”

“She knows cows have actually shit in there, right?” He matches my stance.

“That’s what I said.”

“You tried to clean it up, didn’t you?” It’s not so much a question. His mouth quirks to one side. I don’t even need to answer.

“It’s a lost cause.” He knows I tried anyway.

His chest shakes gently with a laugh. “You make it out to hunt, yet?”

“No. Hoping these yahoos can keep it together one day this coming week so I can get away from the ranch. Dad’s checking on things today.”

“You still thinking of expanding? You’re gonna need to hire someone else to be you, if so. That’s a lot to do.”

I chew the inside of my lip. “Yeah, that’s the plan. I’ve got some things in the works. But it’s true, I’m going to need more manpower.”

“Would Terrence’s crew stay on?”

I shake my head. “We haven’t gotten that far. I set up a meeting with him this coming week.”

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help out.”

“Always.” I spot a family making their way by and someone is getting set on the stage with stands for the birds, so I decide to head back to where Maci is. “We’ll catch up later.”

Nick throws me a two-finger wave as I walk away. “See ya.”

Maci’s setup has caused a backup of people watching her take photos of kids and families in the trailer. The seasonal feel she was going for is evident and pretty damn cool. No one has any idea there are stains beneath the blankets and pillows inside. The pumpkins spill out onto the ground playfully. Everything looks a little put together and a little haphazard, which makes it perfect.

I hang back, taking in the sight. The sign-in sheet on her table is almost full with a small portfolio and business cards set off to the other side.Southern Grace Photography.

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