It was easy out there on lonely county roads to sometimes get the idea you were all alone in the world. It was one of the reasons Dan liked patrolling, but it sometimes led people to do stupid things.
He glanced at the clock and realized it was time to get over to Lena’s. The burst of activity rearranging the house had died down, or at least any part that might involve him. Lena had been all in a rush to get rid of furniture, enough of a rush that she’d labeled it all, but nothing on that front had happened since.
Of course, the other night he’d overheard Vicki saying she couldn’t make any more decisions. He kind of understood that feeling, too. The way he had dithered about buying his own house...hell, it was a wonder the real estate agent hadn’t thrown him out on his butt.
Now to go pretend he didn’t feel attracted to Vicki, when in fact she was the first woman he’d felt attracted to since Callie... Didn’t that beat all?
It also made him uneasy. Was he responding to Vicki especially, or was he just waking after a long period of quiescence? He didn’t know. Dangerous ground, either way.
* * *
Krystal wanted to answer the door. Lena immediately said, “Let her. The worst thing that ever showed up on my doorstep was a guy selling life insurance.”
So Vicki stayed in the kitchen with the delicious aromas of Lena’s homemade mac and cheese—made with white cheddar and sausage instead of hot dogs—and tossed the salad.
She heard Krystal practically shriek, “Dan!” Then her daughter was off and running, relating everything she could about Peggy and the park. A short time later, Vicki heard footsteps approach and Dan’s voice saying, “Howdy.”
She turned and nearly gasped when she realized he’d picked Krystal up and was carrying her on his hip. “I want a horsey ride,” Krys said. One of Hal’s friends had taught her that, crawling around the floor on hands and knees while Krys straddled his back. Vicki’s chest tightened a bit.
“Maybe we can get you a real horsey ride soon.” Gently, Dan put the child down. “How are you ladies tonight?”
Their answers were drowned out by Krystal. “A real horsey? A big one?”
Dan squatted. “Maybe not so big for the first time, Krys. A deputy friend of mine, name of Sarah? Her husband has a horse ranch. He’s got some ponies that might be great for your first ride. But only if it’s okay with your mom.”
That diverted Krystal straight over to Vicki, who, despite feeling a twinge of fear about what might happen to the girl if she fell from a horse, couldn’t help laughing at her daughter’s excitement. “We’ll see,” she said repeatedly. “We’ll see. But don’t bug me about it, kiddo.”
Krys turned to Dan. “Bugging is bad.”
“Yes, it is,” he agreed, straightening. He looked at Vicki. “Did I put my foot in it?”
She shook her head with a smile. The offer had been intended kindly, and she wanted Krys to have every possible good experience. Vicki could endure the inevitable pestering.
“Go wash up for dinner,” she told Krys. But her eyes seemed to have locked with Dan’s, and she felt a warm tingle inside, accompanied by a slight speeding of her heart.
She turned swiftly back to the salad, resisting her response to the man. She’d cataloged his attractiveness at the very beginning, but it had been only that: noticing it but not responding to it. Now that she’d caught up some on her rest, her body seemed to be taking a different attitude.
She didn’t want it. She absolutely did not want it. She wasn’t ready for another man, any man, and least of all one who risked his life on a regular basis. One trip through that hell had been quite enough.
“Do I smell your famous mac and cheese?” Dan asked, returning everything to normal, especially for Vicki.
“That you do,” Lena answered from the sink, where she was washing the cheese grater. “It’s almost ready. Why don’t you set the table?”
They gathered around the big round table in the kitchen instead of using the dining room. Krys was ravenous, and at first said very little. A couple times Vicki told her to slow down so she didn’t get a tummy ache. Krys slowed down, but not for long. Her only comment was “I like white mac and cheese better than orange.”
“A hit.” Dan smiled. He was doing a pretty good job of eating his portion. “So, are you planning to go to the county fair this year?”
Lena shook her head slowly. “Hadn’t thought about it. Krys should go, though. She’d probably like the rides. And, Vicki, I think you’d love the crafts. Some of the women around here make amazing quilts, and the knitting...well, if I could ever knit even stitches, I might go over to Cory’s place and join one of her classes.” Lena explained that there was a sewing and knitting shop just down the street from the diner. “You might like that, too.”
“I might,” Vicki agreed pleasantly, but her mind was back on the county fair. Had Lena just attempted some matchmaking, saying Krys and Vicki should go to the fair? The suggestion was hanging there as if she’d wanted Dan to say he’d take them.
But he didn’t, and Vicki relaxed again.
“I’m not sure if I’ll be working the fair or not,” Dan said, after a bit more discussion from Lena. “The schedule is still up in the air, but since most of the deputies with kids want to take them, the rest of us will probably plug the holes.”
Which, thought Vicki, was a good explanation for not offering to show them around, even if Lena had been trying to encourage it. Astonishment filled her as she realized she felt mildly disappointed. Steady, girl. No point in bargaining for trouble. “How long does it last?”
“It’s a whole lot of setup for three days,” Lena answered. “Friday afternoon through Sunday evening. The rodeo’s on Saturday. And of course, one of those traveling carnivals always shows up.”
“Why so short?”
“Most folks around here are awfully busy on their ranches,” her aunt replied. “But summer is the time for fairs. What can I tell you? Imagine holding one when the weather turns cold.”
“It’s just a small fair,” Dan explained. “We pretty much get overshadowed by the state fair, which offers a whole lot more for people who can get the time to go. Here it’s...a community social, basically.”
“Good description,” Lena said approvingly. “Anyway, in one afternoon you can see everything you want to see, and fit in the rodeo, too. Now, I like our rodeo. It’s mostly local cowboys who compete, not pros who are on the circuit, although we occasionally get one or two.”
“That would be interesting. I’ve been to the one in Austin, but the rodeo is professional, and so is the entertainment.”
Dan laughed. “You might hear a few local country musicians here.”
“Don’t forget the old guys with their fiddles,” said Lena. “Always gets my foot tapping.” She eyed Vicki. “A good place to meet people.”
“Speaking of meeting people,” Dan said, “I presume the Peggy that Krys was telling me about was Janine Dalrymple’s little girl?”
“Yes, it was,” Vicki replied. “They both came over this afternoon, and before I could even invite them in, the two girls were running down the street toward the park. We dashed to keep up. I like Janine.”
“I thought you might,” Dan said. “Salt of the earth.”
“Did you ask her to come?” Vicki didn’t know if she liked that. She preferred to think that Janine had come because she wanted to.
“Of course not,” Dan said. “I passed her on the street and she asked about the rental