Page 13 of Daddy's Little Farmer

“Okay.”

They walked into the store, and she grabbed a cart. She was checking out the apples when she glanced at him. He was looking around in amazement.

“Haven’t you ever been in a store before?” she asked.

He smiled at her. “Not like this one.”

“That’s true. You live in a big city, right?”

He nodded.

“These country stores don’t have a third of the things in the grocery stores where you live. I’ve never seen a kiwi or pomegranates here.”

He chuckled. “I think whatever we get will be fine.”

She got a kick out of watching him study things, and some of his questions were hilarious.

“Is this place ever busy?”

“Yes, but during the daytime hours. That’s why I always come at night.”

She stiffened when they turned the corner to find the sheriff standing there like he’d been waiting for them.

“Good evening, Miss Mara.”

“Hello, Sheriff.”

“Are you going to introduce me to your friend?” Sheriff Connelly asked.

She must have shown her anxiety because Rafael stepped closer and put his arm around her.

“Rafael, I’d like you to meet our town sheriff. Sheriff Connelly, please meet Rafael, my…”

Rafael chuckled. “It will get easier to say, honey. I’m her boyfriend, for lack of a better word.”

Rafael held out a hand. The sheriff paused for a moment before reaching his hand out to shake Rafael’s.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Rafael said. “Mara and her sister had nice things to say about you.”

She had to turn her attention to her list and bite the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing.

“Well … yes. We’ve all lived here most of our lives,” Connelly said. “Where are you from?”

“Southern Arkansas.”

“And how did you two meet?”

“A mutual friend,” he said.

Mara was getting very uncomfortable with all the questions.

“I’m sorry, Sheriff, we’d like to stay and talk, but we need to get this done and go home.”

The sheriff’s eyebrows rose. “He’s staying with you?”

Mara’s teeth snapped together. “Yes, but that is none of your business, and I don’t appreciate all the questions.”

“I’m just looking out for you, Mara.”

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