Page 22 of The Sheriff's Mistletoe Bride
Jillie didn’t need to be told twice.She was off in a flash.Matt stepped into the entryway and took the hall more slowly.“Thanks for being a sport about this.”
“Jillie can come visit anytime.Although, with her being here during the week or whatever, she might grow tired of it.”
Jillie and Teddy were busy with a ball that had been a new purchase for Teddy’s homecoming.Ally and Matt watched for a few moments.
“Is something burning?”Matt looked in the direction of the kitchen.
“Oh no!My cookies.”Ally moved quickly down the hall, with Matt following a few steps behind.Grabbing her oven mitts, she opened the oven door and reached inside.She was in a rush and the edge of the mitt allowed a strip of skin to come into contact with the side of the oven.That caused her to drop the cookie sheet onto the open door and send cookies sliding onto the floor.Luckily, half of them stayed on the pan on the oven door.In a split second, Matt had grabbed her elbow and moved her to stand in front of the sink, cold water rushing over the site.
“Burn ointment?”
Ally got her mind back in focus and nodded under the sink.“I saw some under the sink earlier and a small first aid kit.It’s okay, it was just a shock, and I can handle it.”
But he was already gently tamping off the water from the site with a paper towel.Then he opened the tube of ointment and spread some on the burn.He blew on the area gently to lessen any sting.It made Ally jerk her arm at the unexpected sensation on her lower arm.It was surprising and strangely pleasant.He looked up at her, still holding her arm.Ally wanted to say something, but nothing came to mind, which made her feel silly.
“We can put light gauze over it or let it breathe for a while.It’s painful but that will fade soon enough.”
“I feel so clumsy.And the cookies…just a few left that are edible.I know they’re Jillie’s favorite…thanks to your sister…and wanted to have them for tomorrow for my first time taking over her after-school care.”
“That’s thoughtful of you.But don’t beat yourself up over it.You have a few and that will be fine for Monday and probably the next day, too.Nothing has changed about your plans.”
“Is this why people think you make a good sheriff?You stay calm when others do not.You know first aid, and you know how to deal with a woman who suddenly makes little sense on how far a half dozen cookies will go.Nice defusing of a potentially hysterical cook.”
The grin he gave her, so up close and perfect, allowed her to note the deep grooves on either side of a strong male mouth above a squared chin that was drawing her attention and doing things with her brain waves.She was seeing why he was high on so many women’s lists.
“All in a day’s work,” he responded.“Tori called and said she had talked to you about meeting you at the school and just making sure you met teachers and such.She’ll come there right after her checkup, but she should be on time.”
Ally’s elbow was hers again and she picked up a spatula and began plating the surviving cookies.It gave her something to focus on besides the man leaning against the cabinet watching her.“No problem.She’s really being so helpful.I hope she won’t worry about Jillie and me too much.In spite of burning myself and ruining most of the cookies, I really am trustworthy.”
“If either one of us felt you were anything less, you wouldn’t have been our choice, no matter the alternatives.But your references spoke very highly of you and you have experience with kids.So a few ruined cookies won’t be a deal breaker.Now, I need to get my daughter home and ready for another week at school.”He pushed away from the counter and headed back down the hall and she followed.
“Okay, Jilliebean, let’s get moving.I’m sure you’ll see a lot of Teddy.”
“Bye, Teddy,” she said giving her furry friend a last hug.“I can’t wait for Monday, Miss Ally.It’s going to be awesome having you come to my school.”
“Bye, Jillie,” she replied, following them both onto the porch.“Be careful and see you tomorrow!”She returned Jillie’s wave as the truck backed from the driveway.
She didn’t return to the house right away.Dusk was falling and streetlights were beginning to glow.Leaves were being picked up from along the street and chasing each other over pavement and sidewalks.There was a definite drop in temperature, and she folded her arms against the chill.The smell of woodsmoke from chimneys brought thoughts of her life back east.And thoughts of Annie and their time together.A sense of loneliness in the strange new place where she’d traveled to fulfill a woman’s last wish mingled in the quiet night.A remembered warmth on an elbow stayed in the recesses of her mind, chasing the gloom away.Tomorrow would come without fail.
Just as she had done each evening since Annie left her, first in New York and then in Destiny’s River, she paused beside the table near the front window in the parlor of the inn.The carved box sat there where Ally would gently run her hand over the wood and close her eyes and send a simple prayer and good night to the woman she had promised to return to Destiny’s River.Her promise would soon be complete.
*
“There she is!There’s Miss Ally.”Jillie’s hand went up in a wave.“Here we are!”
“I was afraid I’d be late,” Ally said, as she reached the trio watching her approach.
“You’re right on time,” Matt responded.“Ally Jones, this is Mrs.King, Allie’s homeroom teacher.”
“Hello, Mrs.King, it’s nice to meet Jillie’s teacher.”The two women shook hands.
Matt caught the look of surprise at his presence as she had walked toward them.“I know Tori was supposed to be here with you, but she’s in the hospital.Her doctor did the routine checkup, but he sent her right over to the hospital.Her BP was elevated, and he wanted to be on the safe side so close to her due date.So I’m her stand-in.”
“I totally understand.I hope she and the baby will be okay,” Abby told him.
“They’re in good hands.”He then looked at his daughter who had moved to stand beside Ally, a proud grin on her face.“How about you show her where your classroom is and then where you’ll be when she picks you up?”
“That is a good idea.”Mrs.King smiled.“And we can visit a few minutes afterwards.”
