Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
I sat on the rocker, mentally going over a list of what I had to do later. Luckily, it was Sunday, and I tried to keep things to a minimum. I had a few chores—laundry and inside tasks. The farm was taken care of, aside from feeding the animals again later. It would be a quiet day, something I normally enjoyed. But somehow, today, it felt solitary. I knew I could drive to Laura’s and spend the afternoon there, but the truth was, it wasn’t what I wanted to do, and Laura wasn’t the woman I wanted to see.
I had just shaken my head at the strange thoughts when I heard a car, and I glanced up, expecting my sister. But it wasn’t her vehicle pulling up to the house. It was an SUV I recognized. When Quinn stepped out, stopping to help Abby from the back seat and pulling a huge hamper from the trunk, I felt the stirrings of something in my chest. Pleasure. Happiness.
I stood, a smile pulling at my mouth. I walked to the edge of the porch. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Quinn said with a smile, while Abby grinned at me, jumping foot to foot.
“Hey, Pumpkin. You got ants in your pants?”
She laughed, the high-pitched sound making me chuckle with her.
“No, Farmer John! I’m excited!”
I stepped off the porch. “About?”
She flung herself at me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “My swing! I love it!”
“I’m glad.” I bent and lifted her, hoisting her to my chest. “Have you tried it?”
Quinn made an amused sound. “Tried it? I could barely get her off it last night, and she was up and on it this morning before six.”
“I love it! I can go high, and the seat is big enough that Enid and Fluffy can swing with me. Except—” she looked me in the eye, serious “—they keep falling off. Can you make them a seat belt, Farmer John?”
Quinn shook her head, and I smirked. “I can do that.”
“Yay—I told you he could, Momma. He can do anything.”
I met Quinn’s gaze. It was gentle and warm this morning. Our eyes locked and held, that warmth in her expression flowing between us.
“What’s in the basket?” I asked.
“Momma and me made a picnic.”
“A picnic?”
Abby nodded enthusiastically. “To say thank you.”
“It’s for you,” Quinn explained. “For lunch or dinner—whatever you want.”
“Fried chicken,” Abby added. “And tato salad.”
“Any pickles?” I asked with a wink.
“Lots,” Abby assured me.
“And you ladies will stay, of course.”
“As long as we’re not interrupting. Otherwise, we’ll leave it for you whenever you want it.”
Abby rolled her eyes. “He asked us, Momma. You said you hoped he would.”
Quinn’s cheeks reddened, and once again, the sight of her blush brought forth a rush of desire and protectiveness. It was disconcerting, yet somehow, I didn’t mind it.
“It’s settled, then,” I stated firmly. “We’re having a picnic. And I know the perfect spot.”
Abby threw up her arms. “Yay!”
Quinn and I shared an amused look, not saying anything, but inside, I was throwing up my arms too and celebrating.
Suddenly, the day didn’t seem as desolate.
Quinn looked around, entranced. “It’s so pretty here!”
I had to agree with her. “Laura and I loved it here as kids.” I chuckled. “My parents loved that we loved it. Close enough for us to be safe, but far enough away to give them some downtime.”
“Your parents lived nearby?”
“Just down the road a little closer to town. I cut through the fields so often, I wore down a trail.”
“Is the house still there?”
“No, we sold it after they passed, and the new owners tore it down and built a new place.” I shrugged. “I loved the farmhouse and Laura wanted her own place without the memories. It was best to sell it. But this spot is filled with memories for us.”
I watched her excitement, feeling the stirrings of pride. The little creek was just behind the house to the left, bordered by trees and grasses. My dad and gramps had brooked up a small area that gave us a place to swim. It was about four feet deep at the shallow end, dipping into eight by the other side, and twelve feet around, and it was heaven on a hot day. The water flowed over the edge, making a small waterfall that was fun too. I had added some decking beside it a few years ago and put in a firepit. There was an old table and chairs that had seen better days, but they worked. Cody loved coming here, and the spot was well used. Swimming, barbecues, fires complete with marshmallows.
And today, the company of the cute kid and her mother, who was somehow proving to be irresistible.
Quinn unpacked the food, and my mouth watered at the fried chicken, potato salad, and the brownies she put out. The container of pickles made me chuckle, but I knew they’d be tasty.