A Rich Man for Dry Creek / a Hero for Dry Creek (25 page)

Nicki sure hoped so. Ever since the strawberry kiss she'd felt her appetite slowly leaving her. She'd never had even the smallest dent in her appetite around Lester. Maybe she was catching a cold or something.

“Do you have more of those strawberries?” Garrett asked Linda as he poured some syrup on his heart-shaped pancake. “They're some of the sweetest ones I've ever eaten.”

Linda gave him a strange look. “They're frozen without sugar. Jazz said they were bitter. He wanted to return them to the supplier.”

“I thought maybe they had something on them—maybe that's what Jazz thought was bitter.” Nicki decided her eggs weren't too cold to eat and looked around for her fork. All she had was a spoon.

“What's in the eggs?” Nicki frowned. She guessed it tasted good, it just didn't taste like eggs.

“Jazz added some grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkling of dill.”

“Humm.” Nicki took her second spoonful. They weren't bad. “They kind of set off the pancakes.”

Nicki was beginning to see that married people in Dry Creek might like to have a special breakfast at the café. The breakfast would give them something to talk about at home. It might even change the way everyone cooked eggs. A change might be a good thing. How long had everyone in Dry Creek been cooking their eggs the same way anyway?

N
icki knew she was wrong about the eggs by the time she finished eating them. They sat in her stomach and protested. Maybe there was a reason everyone made their eggs the same way they always had.

She knew she was also wrong about Garrett's tuxedo the minute she saw him wearing the overalls he was planning to buy over at the hardware store. It hadn't been the tuxedo that sparkled. No, the tuxedo was draped over a chair in the stockroom where she couldn't even see it, and her mouth was going dry just looking at Garrett in the overalls. It was him that sparkled, not his clothes.

Of course, he wasn't making it easy for her.

“You'll freeze to death,” Nicki informed him. “Nobody wears those overalls without a shirt.”

Where did the man think he was anyway? Venice Beach?

Garrett could pose for the sexy farmer calendar if they had one that went with the sexy firemen and sexy policemen ones. She looked at him closer. What was a truck driver doing with a tan in November? And muscles?

Nicki had seen her share of haying crews, and the sight of working men with muscles was not new to her. She'd even seen those same men shirtless and her only thought had been that someone was saving on the laundry. She wondered if she had been missing something before. Maybe she just hadn't been paying attention or she was too worried about whatever crop was being harvested. Maybe that was it.

“Just give me a minute,” Garrett said as he frowned and moved his shoulders. “I don't think this shirt is the right size, either.”

Glory had stepped from behind the counter in the hardware store to get Garrett the clothes he wanted. She was walking up to him now with a black shirt in her hand. “Maybe this will fit.”

Glory took the shirt and measured it against Garrett's back.

Nicki frowned. She supposed Garrett liked to have Glory smooth the shirt across his back like that. What man wouldn't? Glory was beautiful. She had copper-red hair and skin that was all white and pink. The people of Dry Creek would always think of her as their angel because of the part she played in the Christmas pageant. Nicki thought she looked the part. Yes, any man would like to have someone like Glory fuss over him.

“Glory's married, you know,” Nicki offered, just in case their was any question on the matter.

Garrett looked over at Nicki, puzzled. “I know. To the pastor, isn't it?”

Garrett smiled at Glory. “I really appreciate all the time you're taking with me. I would be lost without it.”

Nicki frowned.

Glory smiled back. “It's not easy to find things in the store yet. We're working on organization, but we haven't gotten past the bolts. The twins were helping us with them and we got sidetracked.”

“Glory's a mother now, too,” Nicki added just in case Garrett didn't understand what the mention of the twins actually meant.

“And loving every minute of it,” Glory agreed. “They keep me busy.”

“I think this one'll fit,” Garrett said as he took the black shirt from Glory's hands. “I'll just go in the back and put it on.”

Glory watched Garrett step into the back room before she turned to Nicki. “He's a nice man. I'm so happy for you. Jacob and Elmer—” she nodded her head toward the potbellied stove even though the chairs around it were now empty “—they told me how it is.”

“I told them a dozen times Garrett doesn't know me. He just drove my mother up here and he's hanging around until she's ready to leave. He'll be back in Vegas before the tuxedo is due back at the rental place.”

Glory smiled. “If he's hanging around, that's something. I was only hanging around when I met Matthew, and look what happened.”

“Yes, but Matthew—he wanted to get married.”

Glory arched her eyebrow. “Not when we first met. He thought I was some kind of a freak because his little boys thought I was a real angel and he thought I told them I was.”

“Yes, but it didn't take him long to change his mind when he saw how pretty you are.”

Glory straightened a shovel as she walked back to the counter. “Well, you're pretty, too, so maybe Garrett will change his mind.”

Nicki wondered if anyone in Dry Creek ever really looked at her or if they were just all being overly polite. “Well, I'm healthy. And I suppose my teeth are all right.”

Glory stepped behind the counter and laughed. “Don't sell yourself short. It's not just your teeth. You could be a striking woman if you wanted to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“You've got the bone structure and your eyes are dramatic with all those greens. A little touch of makeup here and there and you could have any man you wanted eating out of your hands.”

Nicki sighed. “I've been thinking I should marry Lester. It's the practical thing to do.”

“Not if you don't want to marry him.” Glory stepped out from behind the counter again. “Let me show you what I mean about that makeup. I've got all my stuff over at the house, but if you watch the store here for a minute or two I'll go get it. It won't take but a few minutes. Everybody's still over at the café anyway so no one will probably even come by.”

Glory was right. Nicki could see out the window of the hardware store and into the open door of the café. The café windows were all fogged up from the breathing of the dozen or so people inside. And the people weren't just breathing. Nicki could see them shaking with laughter. “Wonder what they're talking about.”

“Matthew said your mother was telling them stories about her Vegas dance days. I'm surprised you're not there listening, too.”

Nicki smiled tightly. “I don't think I'd find those days as funny as everyone else does.”

Glory nodded and walked over to where Nicki was standing by the window. “You missed her.”

“I did fine.”

Glory looked out the window toward the café. “I wonder why she left.”

“Things here just weren't pretty enough for her.” Nicki swore she could hear her mother from across the street. Or maybe Nicki was just remembering her mother's soft pleasing laugh. Her mother had always liked fine things. “I suppose that's what she liked about Vegas. All those dancers in those pretty costumes.” Nicki turned to Glory. “Have you ever been to Vegas?”

Glory nodded. “It's not all that pretty. I like Dry Creek a lot better.”

Nicki shrugged. “I've never been there. I thought about it a time or two, but it always seemed too complicated. What if I saw her on the street someplace?”

“Well, I'm glad she came back to Dry Creek.” Glory gave Nicki a hug. “She should get to know you.”

“Oh, there won't be time enough for that.” Nicki backed away a little. She didn't want all of Dry Creek to go sentimental on her. “I don't think she's staying long.”

“Who's not staying long?” Garrett walked out of the back room with the black shirt all buttoned up.

“My mother.”

Glory waved goodbye from the doorway before she left the store.

“I had thought we were just going to be here for a few hours. But now with Chrissy coming—” Garrett realized he wasn't in as much of a rush to get back on the road as he had been. “I know it's an imposition since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, but I'd like to stay another day if that's all right with you? Chrissy should be pulling in sometime tomorrow. Your mother will probably want to stay in the house, but I can stay in the limo tonight.”

“It's too cold for that. Reno won't mind if you stay in his room.”

Nicki hadn't thought about the sleeping arrangements. Reno truly wouldn't mind if someone slept in his room while he was away, but that meant her mother would have to sleep in her father's old room. Neither Nicki nor Reno had seen any reason to change the room after their father died and her father hadn't given it much thought when he was alive. The last person to hang a picture or pick out a rug had been her mother. It would be like stepping back in a time warp for her.

“If you're planning to have anyone over for Thanksgiving or anything we can be gone for a few hours.”

“We're not celebrating Thanksgiving at the ranch this year.”

Garrett smiled. “In that case, the turkey soup is on me—if there's a store around here to buy a few cans.”

“There's no point in driving into Miles City for that—”

“Well, I'd buy a pumpkin pie, too.” Garrett walked over to the window and looked across the street. “Maybe two pies if Chrissy is here and your brother.”

“Reno should be back early morning. I guess he'd want to sit down to eat with—our mother.” Nicki wasn't sure Reno was any more ready to see their mother than she was, but he deserved the chance to find out for himself how he felt about it. Nicki hoped he stopped at a pay phone on his way back and called, though, so she could warn him about their guest.

“I should go home and dust.” She knew it was hopeless to expect her mother to have any good feelings about the home she left, but Nicki wanted the old place to be at its best.

Garrett turned back from the window. “I think it's breaking up over there. I was hoping the pastor would come back so I could pay him for the clothes.” He already felt more like himself. The overalls were a little stiff, but they would do.

Garrett heard the sound of footsteps on the porch before the door to the hardware store burst open and a half-dozen people stomped inside. He was glad to see that the pastor was one of them. “I need to pay you for these.”

The pastor walked toward the counter. “Before I work up a bill, let's figure out a good time to talk. I understand Jacob and Elmer tried to sign you up for marriage counseling a little prematurely.”

“We're not getting married.” Nicki wanted to be sure there was no lingering misunderstanding on that point. “I'm not sure I'll ever get married.”

“I thought you were interested in Lester,” Elmer said as he walked over to the potbellied stove and sat down in one of the chairs. “I was almost going to start looking through
Woman's World
for wedding gift ideas.”

Garrett wondered where on the long highway he'd be when Nicki settled down and tied the knot with her Lester.

“She's not marrying Lester.” Garrett glared at Nicki for emphasis. He sure hoped she wasn't fool enough to marry that man. Not that it was any of his business. But it did seem a waste if she was. Besides, he just remembered—“He hasn't even asked.”

“Well, not in so many words. But when he does I just might say yes.” Nicki glared right back at Garrett.

“Good,” the pastor said before either one of them could carry the argument further. “Then you're both interested in getting married—just not to each other.”

“You can't do marriage counseling with two people who are going to marry other people.” Nicki looked over at the stove where Elmer now sat, looking innocent. “Did he put you up to this?”

“Me?”

“Well, I don't see why it wouldn't work.” Garrett decided the pastor was on to something. This way he could prove to Nicki that she should not marry Lester. “I'm sure there are times when people go in for counseling and then decide not to marry each other.”

Garrett looked to the pastor for confirmation and the man nodded.

“So what's different with us? If we're not going to marry each other, then we just know that up front instead of later. But we still get to think about all the questions.”

“Besides,” Elmer said from his chair, “your mother is over talking to Mrs. Hargrove and then Jacob wants to talk to her. She won't be ready to go home for another hour. You might as well give the pastor some practice on his counseling technique.”

“Oh.” Nicki hadn't thought of it that way. She supposed Matthew did need to practice once in a while. “Well, sure. I don't see why not.”

“The two of you can sit over here,” Elmer said as he got up from his chair. “I need to be getting home to do some chores anyway.”

“I didn't think you did chores anymore since you retired.” Nicki eyed the chair warily. “Don't leave because of us.”

“People should have some privacy when they have marriage counseling.” Elmer started to walk toward the door.

“That's only when the counseling is real,” Nicki said, but she was too late. Elmer had already opened the door.

“It's a good thing Lester isn't here.” Garrett went over and sat in one of the chairs. He liked the way they were grouped around the open stove that had the fire smoldering inside. “He might think it's a little insulting that his bride doesn't care if she talks about their marriage in front of the whole town.”

Nicki's eyes started to spark just like Garrett had intended. He held back his smile. He didn't know which warmed him more—the fire to his left or Nicki's eyes to his right.

“I'm only going to be talking about marriage in general.”