Page 19 of Cowboy Falling Hard

She hated that her first instinct was to duck away when she recognized Dwight.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like him. She actually liked him more since they’d gone out, but there had been no doubt in her mind they weren’t compatible. She did her best to try to have fun, even though hanging out at a bar wasn’t her thing. She’d never danced in public before or sung karaoke, and everything felt odd and uncomfortable.

Still, she didn’t see any point in sitting around upset that they weren’t doing something she wanted to or complaining about the plans he’d made and the fun he was trying to have, so she’d thrown herself into whatever they were doing, trying as hard as she could to have a good time.

It hadn’t been terrible, but it certainly wasn’t anything she wanted to repeat. She supposed she could see how people enjoyed stuff like that, and it was fine. It just wasn’t for her.

If those were the kinds of things Dwight enjoyed, they would have a hard time finding a middle ground, since it wasn’t something she wanted to do on a weekly or even monthly basis. In fact, she didn’t care if she ever repeated it.

Her unwillingness to go out again hadn’t really been all that, though. It had been more the idea that he was very stuck on himself. And again, she couldn’t quite figure out if it was just because he was trying so hard to impress her, or if he was really like that all the time. Just talking about himself and showing off. It was fun and funny in a way, but she knew if it was something he did on a regular basis, she would get tired of everything always being about him.

She didn’t need to have everything be about her, and she didn’t want it to be. She was definitely comfortable letting him do most of the talking, anyway, but she didn’t particularly want to be married to someone where being with him every day was an exercise in becoming more like Jesus, because she constantly had to give up everything she wanted for him.

Still, she couldn’t deny she liked him and felt drawn to him, and as she suspected, their date made that worse.

Hoping he would pass with her just nodding and giving him a small wave, she looked back down at the kitten that Powell was petting.

But Powell had heard the noise, and she looked up.

“What’s that?” she asked, her eyes coming back to Orchid, obviously expecting Orchid to explain what was making the noise. Orchid had always made a point to take the time to explain in as much detail as Powell wanted everything that was going on.

Over the years, that had paid off, and Powell was a great help wherever they went together, whether it was the sale barn or baking cookies in the kitchen.

“That looks like Mr. Dwight, and he’s pulling the pressure washer behind him. I’m guessing he’s going to be pressure washing the loading docks, but I could be wrong.”

By that time, he’d reached them, and seeing them both look at him, he’d stopped.

“That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“Do you work here?” Powell asked, standing up, unafraid. She’d always been treated with loving care by all of the Baldwin family, and she felt just as much at home at the sale barn as she did in her own house.

“I do. Just started today.”

Orchid knew her face showed her surprise. It was several seconds before she could control it.

“I work here sometimes too. Sometimes Mr. Coleman even pays me.” Powell stated this like she was talking to a coworker. And technically, she was.

“That’s great. Then you can show me the ropes tonight. Have you ever pressure washed anything? You could help me with that too if you want.”

Powell shook her head, looking sad. “Maybe I can watch for a little bit?”

“You sure can. As far as I’m concerned, you can help, if it’s okay with Miss Orchid.”

“Sure,” Orchid said, standing up and brushing off her pant legs.

“Mr. Coleman said I’m supposed to be spraying off the loading docks. And I have to admit I’ve never used a pressure washer before, so you’ll have to bear with me.”

Dwight looked at Powell when he spoke, which Orchid liked. He was giving her attention and treating her like an adult, which made Powell feel good and made Orchid feel like he was good with children.

He chatted with her as they walked to the loading docks, Powell walking beside him, peppering him with questions which he answered with a patience and thoroughness that impressed Orchid.

She trailed behind, watching them, loving the way Powell seemed completely at ease and how Dwight seemed to enjoy her company. They had guys who worked at the sale barn before who made Orchid uncomfortable when they were around children. They didn’t seem to feel protective toward them and viewed them as more of a nuisance and bother.

Orchid totally understood that, because sometimes children did get in the way, and sometimes they were a bother. But they were little humans and they needed to be trained, nurtured and loved, taught and helped. Some people seemed to naturally understand that, and some people were far more interested in themselves and not being bothered than they were in reaching out and helping.

For as much as she felt like Dwight was a little stuck on himself, was a bit arrogant and maybe a show-off, he definitely had a good way with Powell.

They reached the loading docks, and Dwight stopped, looking around. “He said there would be a hose spigot around here somewhere.”

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