Page 39 of Cowboy Falling Hard

“You were being honest. I was being a dork. We will call your brother if the four-wheelers break down.”

“Thanks. Let’s hope they don’t.”

His smile was easy, and it made her feel good that he could laugh at himself. That he could recognize there was a problem and try to fix it.

“You know, you can call me out if I do something dumb,” she said, hoping it sounded casual, like wanting him to understand that she knew she was just as likely to make a mistake or be inconsiderate as anyone else.

“I haven’t had that experience yet.” He shrugged his shoulders and gave her a glance. While his eyes were crinkled, there was humor on his face. “I can’t imagine it happening.”

“No. That’s ridiculous. You’re not allowed to put me on a pedestal. I make just as many mistakes as the next person.”

“I guess I don’t care.”

His words made her heart beat harder. Could it be possible that she actually found someone who would love her despite her faults? Would he really look at her and see the very best, rather than the very worst?

Maybe it was just a new person kind of thing. Where once they got to know each other and his rose-colored glasses fell off, he’d realize that her faults really did bother him.

She tried not to allow the negative thinking to bring her down but instead went back to the mindset that she was going to enjoy her day.

They started the four-wheelers, with the two girls riding with Orchid, and Owen riding with Dwight.

“You better go first, since I’m not sure how to get to the Browns’ from here.”

“I can. It’s not far. Five minutes or so.”

She and Daphne had been there hundreds of times as they hung out together growing up. The Browns’ two boys were a few years younger than they were. Old enough to be out of college and moved out of the house, although neither one of them were married.

They pulled into the Browns’, waving to Mr. Brown who was walking into the barn as they passed. Orchid continued to the house. She was sure that was where Mrs. Brown would be. It had been a while since she visited with her.

They pulled up and parked beside the Browns’ pickup, near the front walk.

“I’m gonna run in. Mrs. Brown’s probably in the kitchen.”

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to walk out to the barn and introduce myself to Mr. Brown.”

She didn’t mind at all. Probably her smile gave her away, but she was thrilled that Dwight was going to get to know the neighbors.

She nodded, and their eyes met and held, just a fraction of a second longer than they needed to, before she turned away.

“Girls, you can let your kites sit on the four-wheeler while we go in and talk to Mrs. Brown.” She had already strapped the picnic basket down on the front rack, and she gave it a glance before she turned and started up the walk, Kendrick on one side of her and Powell on the other. The girls chattered across in front of her, talking about the things they wanted to do, with Powell telling Kendrick all the times they’d been at Mrs. Brown’s and how much fun they’d had here on the farm.

Orchid listened, smiling. The girls were so cute together. They were almost the same age, with Kendrick being a little younger than Powell, and they got along well and seemed to be able to find plenty of things to talk about. She wasn’t sure they’d stopped chatting since they left the church.

Thinking how sweet it would be if the girls became best friends because of today, Orchid walked up the steps to the back porch and knocked on the door.

She’d been here enough to know that the Browns seldom used the front door. And definitely not for neighborly visits.

“Come on in. It’s open.”

Orchid opened the door and stepped inside the big country kitchen. Mrs. Brown sat at a large wooden table, a five-gallon bucket of beans in front of her and two more sitting beside her. A pan sat in her lap, and she held a knife in one hand and a long green bean in the other.

“Orchid! It’s been ages since I’ve seen you.”

“I know. It’s been far too long.” Orchid walked across the kitchen floor, glancing at the stove where large pots of water sat and at the counter which was filled with jars. When she reached Mrs. Brown, she leaned down and gave her a hug. Mrs. Brown raised the hand that had the bean in it, keeping the one with the knife lowered.

“It looks like you’re busy today.”

“I sure am. Mrs. Hanson gave me this huge crop of beans. She’s getting too old to be able to put them all up, and I need to get them done before they go bad. I’d hate to lose them. With the price of groceries, we can use them.”

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