“I’LL PICK UP the parts I need. You go grab us some burgers at the Shack. I told Dan I’d have you back to the ranch by two.” Mason headed off down the sidewalk leaving Ben to enter the local fast food joint near where they’d parked. Just past noon, the Burger Shack was full and he saw he’d have to wait in line. His foot already ached from standing all morning while Mason struggled to fix the tractor. Then he’d jerked his sore ankle when he’d dived across the barn to save Aaron from the scythe. Now he’d need to stand some more. Once again he pushed down his impatience. He’d been through worse during his time with the SEALs. Besides, waiting in line gave him time to scope out the crowd for a potential date. He wanted that revolver and he’d risk rejection for the chance to acquire it.
Chance Creek was growing on him and the Burger Shack illustrated what he liked about it most—the sense of community he saw everywhere. Customers chatted away in line and the counter personnel greeted most of them by name. Laughter erupted from the tables behind him from time to time, and children raced around freely. Ahead of him, a matronly lady with white hair held a baby to her shoulder. The child’s wide eyes gazed at him unblinkingly, reminding him of Aaron back at the ranch, who had now been safely restored to Regan. This baby was decidedly female, however, in her pink outfit. Even her tiny features were feminine.
“What are you looking at, Lottie?” The woman turned around, saw him and smiled. “I knew she had made a friend. Lottie’s the most determined flirt I ever met.”
“She doesn’t eat hamburgers, does she?” Ben asked as the line inched forward.
“Oh, heavens, no.” The woman laughed at him. “Not for another few months, I’d think. I’m Ellie by the way. Ellie Donaldson. I own the bridal store in town.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ben Warren. I’m afraid I don’t know much about babies’ feeding habits.”
“That’s all right; someday you’ll have your own and then you’ll learn. Won’t he, Lottie?” She gave the little girl a kiss and bounced her gently in her arms.
“First I’ll need a wife. I can’t even manage to get a date for the Harvest Dance.” He figured Ellie knew lots of women in her line of work. Maybe she’d know a potential partner for him.
A gleam kindled in Ellie’s eyes. “If you’re looking for a date, I know the perfect person. Caitlyn, you don’t have a date for the dance, do you?” She nudged the woman ahead of her in line, who so far had shown no inkling that she’d been listening to the conversation. As she turned his way, Ben’s interest grew. She wore a tailored skirt and jacket and classic pumps, a far more formal get up than most people in the restaurant. But it wasn’t her clothes that caught his attention; it was Caitlyn’s delicate beauty. She had wide eyes, a tumble of chestnut hair and fair skin that flushed under his gaze.
“I already told you, Ellie. I’m not going to that dance. I have better things to do. Nothing personal,” she added to Ben.
A minute ago he hadn’t wanted to go, either. Now he’d changed his mind. “What’s so important that you have to do?”
“I don’t know… laundry. Shopping. Washing my car.”
“Caitlyn.” Ellie tsked. “Excuse my niece. She doesn’t get out much these days.”
“I can see why. Her evenings are packed with excitement as it is,” he teased.
Caitlyn looked annoyed. “It’s none of your business how I spend my evenings.” Her flush deepened.
“I just don’t see why you’d turn me down.” He meant it as a joke, but he must have gotten it wrong, because Caitlyn’s temper flared.
“Why? Because you think I’m that desperate?”
His good humor vanished in an instant. She didn’t need to remind him it would take a desperate woman to be attracted to him. “I guess you looked desperate enough I thought I’d try my luck.” He turned on his heel and walked away as quickly as he could.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t very fast.
“YOUR MAMA RAISED you better than to make fun of an injured man,” Ellie said.
Caitlyn watched Ben retreat in horror. She hadn’t realized the handsome stranger was lame until he’d walked away. He must think she’d been taunting him deliberately. With his good looks and confidence she’d assumed he was the one taunting her. What a stupid mistake.
Not that he deserved her sympathy; not after his crack about her being desperate. Just because she was a single mom didn’t mean she was there for just any man’s taking.
“I didn’t mean it like that. You know it.”
“Then go say you’re sorry.”
“It’ll just make it worse.”