Page 19 of The Unbuttoned Ranger
“Do you like dinosaurs?” Carsen asked.
“I think dinosaurs are cool.”
“Come on, Carsen.” CaDee motioned for him.
He jumped out.
“Don’t forget this one.” Sharp handed Carsen the toy.
“I appreciate your help,” CaDee said as she grabbed her bag from the seat.
The dog didn’t budge.
“What’s his name?” Sharp asked. She didn’t answer.“He does have a name, right?”
“Of course. His name is Milo.”
“Come on, Milo. You’re home.” Sharp clicked his tongue. The dog continued to stare.
“Milo, come,” CaDee called. He jumped out.“He can be stubborn.”
“Hello!” came the greeting from the porch.
Sharp waved at the rail-thin, silver-haired woman whose leather, wrinkled skin told a story of all the years of working her farm. The sadness in her eyes told another story. The one of a woman who lost both her husband and son in a tractor accident. Sharp remembered the funeral and how devastated Piper was. It had triggered his own memory of losing his mother when he was ten.
“You must be CaDee.” Piper pulled her hands out of the front pockets of her bibs to give CaDee a firm handshake.
Sharp watched the exchange seeing her guarded expression. He felt a bit protective and wasn’t sure where that emotion came from. He’d known CaDee less than thirty minutes, but he knew a woman like her wouldn’t last long there. He’d give her two weeks at the most. Fin’s Creek was a small town that consisted of the basic shops. Although, a coffee shop opened last year, and he heard rumor that Nellie Smalls moved home from Florida and started renovating a downtown building to open up a women’s clothing store. Fin’s Creek was going places but probably not where someone like CaDee wanted to go.
“You an Uber driver now, Sharp?” Piper said jokingly.
“Your guests’’car broke down up the road. I just happened to be driving by.”
“I’m sorry to hear about that. Sure glad Sharp happened along when he did,” Piper said.
“I was heading out here anyway.” Sharp was anxious to get his day started. “Do you have a moment?”
Piper nodded then said to CaDee,“Why don’t you two run on up to the porch where it’s cooler. I have a pitcher of lemonade on the table.”
“Again, thanks for the help,” CaDee said to Sharp. He could see the worry in her eyes, and he had a hankering to tell her everything would be okay. Piper would look out for them. Far as he saw it, Piper needed the company as much as CaDee needed a job.
“How’s your pa, son?” Piper drew his attention off the lady as she headed up the porch.
“He gets more stubborn every day.”
She laughed.“Have some patience. He’s earned being a bit stubborn.”
“I guess you’re right.” He leaned a hip against the side of the beat-up truck.“What are we going to do about your cattle,Piper? Your cows have been wandering over into Pa’s yard and getting into trouble.”
“I’m sorry, Sharp. They break the old fence faster than I can repair it. That’s why I hired the girl to help me keep up with things around here.”
He narrowed his gaze on CaDee and her son who were sitting in the porch rockers sipping lemonade. He’d caught her staring at him, but she quickly turned away.“I’m not one to put my nose where it doesn’t belong, but I don’t think she’s probably going to mend fences.”
Piper’s shoulders slumped some as if she already knew that.“I’m doing my nephew a favor. He said she needs a job in a bad way. Ain’t like I was getting any interests in any takers for the position.”
“What’s her story? Did he tell you?”
“No, just that she’s a good friend of his and can be trusted.”
