“That’s fine. I’ll take you out to dinner and we can celebrate.”
“There’s a problem. On the evening of the last day, we have a big carnival. The whole town shows up. It’s sort of a big deal, and this year they’ve even managed to get a real carnival company to set up rides. Everyone’s looking forward to it.”
“So we’ll attend the carnival.”
That sounded good, except for one thing. “I’m working the cotton candy machine.” She’d taken that task the year before, too. While it’d been a lot of fun, she’d worn as much of the sugary pink sweetness as she’d managed to get onto the paper tubes.
“Not to worry, I’ll find something to occupy myself while you’re busy. If the school needs another volunteer, sign me up. I’m game for just about anything.”
“You’d do that?” This was better than Joy would have dreamed. “Thanks! Oh, Josh, I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear from you.”
“I feel the same way.”
“I’m sorry about you and Lori,” she said, carefully broaching the subject.
His hesitation was only slight; still, Joy noticed. “Yeah,” he said. “Too bad it didn’t work out.”
He didn’t supply any details and Joy didn’t feel it would be right to question him. Later, when they were able to meet and talk face-to-face, he’d probably be more comfortable discussing the circumstances of their parting.
“How’s life in cowboy town?” Josh asked, changing the subject. When she’d been offered the teaching position, he’d discouraged her from accepting it. Josh had told her she shouldn’t take the first job offered. He was convinced that if she waited, there’d be an opening in the Seattle area. He couldn’t understand why Joy had wanted to get away from the big city and live in a small town.
The truth was, she loved her job and Red Springs. This was the second year of a two-year contract and, so far, she’d enjoyed every minute. That didn’t mean, however, that she wouldn’t be willing to move if the opportunity arose—such as renewing a promising relationship, with the hope of a marriage proposal in the not-so-distant future.
“They seem to grow cowboys by the bushel here,” she said with a laugh. “Most of the kids are comfortable in the saddle by the time they’re in kindergarten. I like Red Springs, but I’m sure that to outsiders, the town isn’t too impressive. There are a couple of nice restaurants, the Mexican Fiesta and Uncle Dave’s Café, but that’s about it.”
He murmured a noncommittal response.
“The town seemed rather bleak when I first arrived.” She didn’t mention the disappointing relationship with Lonny Ellison—then or now. “That didn’t last long, though. It’s the people here who are so wonderful.” With one exception, she mused. “We’ve got a motel—I’ll make a reservation—a couple of bars, a great church, a theater and—”
“Do you still play the church organ?”
“I do.” She was surprised he’d remembered that.
“Anything else I should know about Red Springs?”
“Not really. I’ll be happy to give you the grand tour.” The offer was sincere. She’d love showing off the town and introducing him to the friends she’d made. “Maybe we can visit a real working ranch—my friend Letty’s, for example. We could even do that on horseback.”
“Don’t tell me you’re riding horses yourself?”
“I have,” she answered, smiling. “But I don’t make a habit of it.” Getting onto the back of a horse had been daunting the first time, but Joy discovered she rather enjoyed it. Well…she didn’t hate it. Her muscles had been sore afterward and she hadn’t felt the urge to try it again for quite a while. She’d gone out riding with friends three times in the last nine months, and that was enough for her.
“I don’t suppose any of those cowpokes have caught your interest,” Josh said casually.
Lonny Ellison instantly flashed across her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, unnerved by the vividness of his image.
“So there is someone else,” Josh said when she didn’t immediately respond.
“No.” She nearly swallowed her tongue in her eagerness to deny it. “Not at all.”
“Good,” Josh said. It seemed he’d decided to accept her denial at face value, much to Joy’s relief. She wasn’t interested in Lonny Ellison, so she hadn’t lied. Annoyed by him, yes. Interested? No, no, no! “I’ll be in touch again soon,” he was saying.
“I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.” Joy could hardly wait.
Chapter Five
Saturday morning, Lonny woke in a surprisingly good mood. For some reason, he’d dreamed about Joy Fuller, although it’d been several days since he’d run into her. He was reluctant to admit it, but he hadn’t been as annoyed by their confrontation as he’d let her believe.
He frowned at the thought. Could it be that Letty was right and he was still attracted to Joy? Nah. Still, the possibility stayed in his mind. One thing was certain; he’d felt invigorated by their verbal exchanges and he seemed to think of her all too frequently.
He poured his first cup of coffee and stepped outside, taking a moment to appreciate the early-morning sunlight that greeted him. A rooster’s crowing accentuated the feeling of peace and contentment. This was his world, the only place he wanted to be.
The one thing that troubled him on what should’ve been a perfect spring day was the way Joy Fuller lingered in his mind. He couldn’t stop remembering how pretty she was and how animated she got when she was all riled up. He shouldn’t be thinking about her at all, though. He had chores to do, places to be and, most importantly, cattle to worm. But with Tom’s help, they’d make fast work of it. Chase had already done some of the herd the day before.
It was unfortunate that he and Joy had gotten off on the wrong foot, he thought as he scattered grain for the chickens. He discovered a dozen eggs waiting for him, and that made him smile.
But he was irritated when he found himself continuing to smile—smiling for no real reason. Well, there was a reason and her name was Joy Fuller and that was even worse. He was a little unnerved by his own amusement at her reaction to his outrageous comments. He’d never had any intention of contacting his insurance company or hers. In the light of day, he realized how irrational he’d sounded, and even if he knew he wasn’t following through with that threat, she didn’t.
He nearly laughed out loud at the image of her sputtering and gesticulating the day of their accident. Okay, incident. She wasn’t likely to forgive him for making such a fuss over that fender-bender.
He collected the eggs and returned to the house. With an efficiency born of long practice, he scrambled half a dozen eggs, fried bacon and made toast. In the middle of his domestic efforts, Tom came in. They sat down to breakfast, exchanging a few words as they listened to the radio news, then headed out.
The morning sped by, and they finished the worming by eleven o’clock. Lonny drove into Red Springs to do errands; normally Tom liked to join him, but he’d been keeping to himself lately. During the past few days, he’d seemed more reserved than usual. Whatever the problem, the boy chose not to divulge it, which was fine. If and when he wanted to talk, Lonny was willing to listen.
Tom didn’t have much to say at the best of times. The kid put in a good day’s work, and that was all Lonny could expect. If Tom preferred to stay at the ranch, that was his business. Come to think of it, though, Tom had been mighty eager to get into town every chance he got—until recently. Lonny suspected Michelle Larson at the feed store had something to do with that. He couldn’t help wondering what was going on there. It was probably as obvious