Chapter Thirty-Six
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN NONE of them can come?” I ask, hands on my hips.
Maeve tries to smile, but it looks more like she has a stomach cramp. “No matter what date I mentioned they all said they were busy. I got the impression that they weren’t really, though.”
“How? How did you know?”
Maeve sighs heavily and sinks into a chair at the kitchen dining table. “I talked to Janet, one of their mothers first. She assured me her daughter was free, but then when I talked to her daughter, she told me she was going to be at Janet’s for the entire day. I called Janet back and she said it was news to her.”
My eyes narrow to slits and I shake my head as I realize how far Hannah’s poison has spread into the town. “She is going to be so sorry…”
“Who?”
“Never mind.” I grab my jacket off the back of my chair and put it on as I head down the hallway.
“Where are you going?” Maeve asks, calling out from the kitchen.
“Into town. I’ll be back in an hour or so.” Storming out of the house, I head right for the barn. Ian is coming out the door when I get there.
He takes one look at me and goes on the defensive. “Whatever it is, I’m not responsible for it.”
“I need you to take me into town and back me up if necessary.”
“Back you up?” He laughs. “You want me to bring my rifle?”
“Yes, if you think it’ll help.”
Ian grabs my hand as I try to walk by.
“Hold up there a second.”
I stop, but only because he’s making it impossible for me to get any traction on the snow. “What, Ian? I’m kind of in a hurry.”
“That’s what worries me. That and the Terminator look on your face.” He pulls me into him and looks down at me. “What’s going on? What can I do to help?”
Some of my anger leaves, replaced by more of those mushy feelings Ian keeps making happen inside me. I have to blink back tears that jump into my eyes for some reason. I’m so confused.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say, pulling away from him. “I’m fine.” I use the tip of my glove to wipe under my lower lashes. I can’t have my mascara leaking all over the place when I’m about to throw down, country style. “I just need to go have a chat with Hannah.”
“Hannah? Why? What about?”
“I’ll tell you when we get there. Can you drive me?”
Ian looks out towards the back pastures and then at the trucks. “I suppose, if it won’t take too long.”
I turn to go to the truck. “Won’t take long at all. Just take me to the diner and we’ll have our little chat and then you can take me home.”
Ian looks at his watch as he draws up next to me. “It’ll be lunchtime then. They get slammed every day at noon. She probably won’t be able to talk to you until after two.”
“Oh, don’t worry. She really just needs to listen, so we’ll be fine.”
I get to the truck and climb in without thinking about it. I’m too focused on teaching Hannah a thing or two about city girls to worry about falling or looking graceful.
Seconds after, Ian and I are sitting side by side in the truck. I’m staring out the window waiting for it to start, but it doesn’t, so I look at him and ask, “What’s the hold up?”
“You sure look cute climbing up into my truck,” he says, grinning.
More of my anger at Hannah and her b.s. falls away. “Stop trying to manipulate me into doing what you want.”
He laughs. “Is that even possible?”
“No. So stop trying.”
He chuckles halfway down the road leading to the highway as I work on getting all the straw out of my hair.