Her Country Heart (4 page)

“We want two cones, one double scoop of chocolate on a sugar cone and one scoop of strawberry on a regular cone.”

Amy pushed back the new information about Wyatt, Too much to digest, instead she glanced at the teens
. Nothing much for them to do here in the summer or the winter for that matter.
She remembered how bored she was, so ready to get out of town and go to the big city.

Outside the window, the town’s people strolled by. She watched and recognized a few faces. Years earlier she could have named everyone. On the street of San Francisco, she’d usually seen only strangers in the crowds.

Here the people waved to each other and stopped to chat. There seemed to be no rush. It was as if the clock moved slower here, time enough to enjoy each moment.

The little bell on the front door sounded again and Amy glanced up expecting to see the teens leave. Instead, Vanna, her friend, and Sophie’s daughter, rushed through the door. Her long blonde hair pulled into a ponytail, her beautiful face devoid of makeup, green eyes glistening, she waved to her mother. “Mom, is Amy here yet?”

Before Sophie could answer Amy shouted and jumped up to greet Vanna with a hug. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself, Amy.”

“I’ll make you a sundae just like the one I made for Amy,” Sophie shouted, a metal ice cream scoop in her hand.

“Just a diet coke Mom. Thanks.”

“Still watching your weight? You’re fine. You should eat something.”

“I know Mom, but if I don’t watch my weight, no man will want to watch me.” She winked.

“You look great.” Amy smiled. “When I was in San Francisco I saw you on TV in a shampoo commercial.”

“Thanks. My one claim to fame.” Vanna wrinkled her nose and laughed. “So, Amy, how was the city?”

Sophie brought a glass of coke to the table and then left to wait on a new customer.

“I loved San Francisco. It’s beautiful. A great place to visit, but it’s awfully expensive to live there. And I learned there’s too much country left in me to live in any city. I missed all the things I thought I wanted to escape, open spaces, blue skies and hot nights and hotter days, even nosy people, who know your business.”

Amy took a spoon of the melted ice cream and savored the chocolate flavor. “I’m so tired of busy people who won’t give you the time of day if you can’t do something for them first. Who won’t take the time to get to know you and are always looking for an angle. Sorry, if I sound bitter. I don’t mean too. Never mind. Like I said, I’m just tired.”

“Listen Amy, I just came from the wilds of the Los Angeles with its freeways and second stage smog alerts and millions of people clogging the streets. Everybody’s rushing to make a buck so they can afford to stay in LA instead of going back home to some Podunk town. I’m with you. I was never so glad to beat a retreat home.

They both laughed.

“You’re so talented you should be a star in Hollywood.”

“Yeah, I was going to set the world of show business on fire.” Vanna took a sip of coke. “All I got was a Los Angeles sunburn. Oh, and I discovered I was no different than the ten thousand other blondes from all over the country that came by bus, plane and train to make it big in Hollywood.” She laughed without humor.

“But you’re talented and beautiful too.”

“Thanks. It’s hard to have an ego when you’re in a room full of beautiful women just as talented as you are. And every year they seemed to be younger, taller, and thinner than I am.”

She finished her coke. “Anyway, I got sick of the smog, traffic, and crowds. Too much country in me too I guess.” Vanna smiled. “I didn’t much care what my clothes cost, or if they were made by the latest “fad” designer. Didn’t pine to own an imported sports car or live in Bel Air or Malibu. I woke up one day and realized I just didn’t much care about anything anymore. That’s when I knew it was time to come home.” Vanna glanced out the window.

“Well here we are sitting in the same chairs at the same table in your mom’s shop. I guess we’ve come full circle.” She held up her half empty sundae glass and tapped Vanna’s glass of diet coke. “Here’s to us and a new start back in the old home town.”

They both laughed.

“It’s so good to see you Vanna.”

“Same here Amy—darn good.”

***

Amy stayed at the ice cream parlor until Vanna had to return to work at the local daycare center at the Methodist Church.

As the director of the program, Vanna had promised there was space for Bobby. That was a great relief because until that moment she hadn’t been sure how she’d have time to run the farm and give Bobby the care and entertainment he needed and still earn enough money to pay the bills.

On the way home she stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things for the next couple of days. At the check stand about to pay for her food, she looked up and saw Mike Donnelly walking toward her.

In high school everyone called him “Big Mike”. Not because he was so big, though he was six feet tall, but because his younger cousin was called “Little Mike”, though he was six feet tall as well.

“Hey Amy.”

“Hi Mike.”

“I heard you were back.”

“Yeah, just got here. You’re the manager right?”

“Yep, for a couple of years now. I’ll help you out to your car.”

“Thanks.”

He carried her groceries to the wagon and put them in the back of the old Volvo.

“Well—nice to see you Amy. You’re looking good.”

“Thanks.” She got into the driver’s side of the car.

“See you around.”

“Yeah.” She waved goodbye. Big Mike had grown into a handsome guy with wavy blonde hair, hazel eyes, and an easy grin. Unlike Wyatt, there was nothing brooding about him. He was just as open and friendly as she remembered from high school.

On the way out of town she stopped at Andy’s General Store and picked up a couple of puzzles and a coloring book with farm animals inside, a welcome-to-your-new-home gift for Bobby.

She’d hoped Wyatt’s truck would be there when she drove into the driveway of the old farmhouse. No luck. She’d better face the fact he wasn’t coming back to help her.

She parked the car near the barn and locked the driver’s side door. Wyatt had use of the barn, but she still owned it. She had the right to enter the place and see if there was anything of value in the old building.

It had been years since she’d been in there. With a yank on the barn door, she dragged it open. The large room smelled of hay and horses. A breeze blew through the door unsettling the dust and she sneezed. It took a second for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. The horse stalls were empty, but new hay filled the loft. She grimaced recalling the day she’d jumped off the loft and nearly landed on a pitch fork covered in hay.

In the back right corner of the room equipment loomed casting dark shadows. From where she stood, she couldn’t make out the apparatus. As she slowly walked toward it her foot kicked something and glanced down to see the floor was covered with black rubber matting.

A string hung from the rafters. She pulled it. A florescent light sputtered and blinked on, lighting a full state of the art workout room with a stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical, free weights and a bench and more, Wyatt’s gear. He must have spent a lot of money on this setup. Did he have so much cash he would walk away from all this stuff just because he was pissed off at her? Where the hell was he? Was it any of her business?

CHAPTER 6

The
sun sent a jab of daylight through the bare window and woke Wyatt. He threw off the cotton blanket and sat up on the sofa in his brother’s one bedroom apartment in Sacramento. With a deep breath, he stretched the crick out of his back. Then wrinkled his nose and glanced at the open plan kitchen piled high with dirty dishes, old pizza boxes and empty beer bottles. Hot air blowing in from the open kitchen window didn’t do much to mitigate the smell.

Where did Wes keep the coffee? Wyatt rummaged through the cupboards. A bag of ground Italian roast beans and the French coffee press sat in the corner of the bottom shelf.

Slowly the aroma of hot coffee began to replace the stale odor in the room.

For no reason he could understand, an image of Amy stretched out in front of the fireplace, her eyes warm, and her full lips smiling at him flashed in his memory. His body tightened. The thought of touching her, kissing her, increased his temperature. She probably wondered where he was and why he had disappeared after they shared dinner together.

He could have told her he was leaving to visit his brother, but explaining his movements wasn’t something he did easily. After spending the evening together, he’d felt something for Amy. He wasn’t about to figure out what. And he’d seen desire in her eyes as she smiled at him. It would have been easy to stay and get even closer. She wasn’t a virgin after all.

He shook his head. It was better he left for a couple of days and got his mind back on track and his head on straight. Getting well so he could get back on the rodeo circuit was all he needed in his life now.

Wes came into the living room wearing only his boxers. Wyatt smiled. His little brother had grown. Damn if he wasn’t almost as tall as his own six foot height. Wes ran his hands through his short brown hair.

“I didn’t think you’d still be here.” Wes yawned. “I don’t want to be inhospitable, but I’ve got plans and they don’t include an older brother hanging around the living room. If you get my drift.”

“Subtlety isn’t your strong suit bro. Don’t worry. I’ll be out before your woman gets here.” Wyatt laughed and then wrinkled his nose as the heat of the day increased the smell of beer and stale food. “If I were you, I’d get rid of the beer bottles and air out the place before your woman lands on your door step.”

“Don’t need too. She loves the real me and I don’t want to spoil her. She enjoys cleaning up after me.”

“You’re a pig.”

“Yeah, but women think I’m hot.” Wes grinned.

Wyatt couldn’t help but smile too. His younger brother was twenty-seven going on eighteen. Was he ever that cocky? “I’m going to take a shower. I made coffee. Wes, don’t drink it all. I want another cup.”

When he came back into the living room Wes was dressed in jeans and was just pulling on a white t-shirt, still no shoes. But the pizza boxes and the beer bottles were gone. Though the dirty dishes were still piled high, maybe there was hope for him after all.

To glance at his brother, Wyatt turned too quickly and felt a shooting pain in his back and grimaced again.

“Hey, how’s your back?” Wes asked. “Guess sleeping on my couch didn’t do it any good.”

“I’m fine.”

“Wyatt, when you going go back on the circuit? It’s no fun unless I have someone good to beat.”

“Win against me? Only in your dreams little brother. Enjoy it without me cause when I come back I’ll kick your ass.” Wyatt laughed.

“Yeah right.” Wes smirked. “Bring it on anytime, I’m ready.”

Wyatt went to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee, then sat at the kitchen table. Dressed in blue jeans, he buttoned the blue chambray shirt, tucked it in and bent down to pull on his boots. Just the small action of reaching for his boots sent pain into his back and right shoulder. He groaned and looked up to see if his brother noticed. Wes didn’t need to know how badly he was hurt. No one did.

He’d ignored his injury until the pain had finally forced him to see a doctor. The doc told him he was lucky to still have full range of motion. His right shoulder could have frozen up not to mention it could increase the injury to his back.

The medic had given him specific exercises to strengthen his back and shoulder and written him a prescription to dull the ache. But how much time and exercise would he have to endure before the doctor told him he could get back on a horse? When would he be cleared to compete again?

He had to exercise every day, but his equipment sat in Granny’s barn. How was he going to use it? Damn it, he didn’t want to see Amy right now.

“I’ll scramble some eggs for us and then you need to get out of here.” Wes’s voice broke into his thoughts.

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Wyatt.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m glad you came by. I don’t see enough of you these days.”

“Then come up to the farm and visit. It looks like I’m going to be stuck there for awhile.”

***

The sun was setting when Wyatt drove the Ford F150 into the driveway of Granny’s farm. He parked next to the old 740 GL wagon.

At the sound of his pick-up he thought Amy might look out the window. When she didn’t come out of the house, he took his groceries and went into the cottage, relieved that he didn’t have make small talk with her.

After tossing the food in the cupboard, he went to the barn to work out and get rid of the excess adrenaline pumping through his veins.

***

The berry patch was larger than Amy remembered. Granny had taken the berries to the health food store every year. She would do the same. A little extra money was dearly needed.

She’d been in the patch since eight in the morning and found it took longer to get the fruit ready for market than she’d thought. As she wiped the sweat from her brow Granny’s worn straw hat slipped off her head. She grabbed it before it hit the ground and plopped it back on her head. How many times had she seen her grandmother working in the patch wearing the old-fashioned Panama?

She gazed up at the sun. It had to be past noon. The hottest time of the day was still ahead of her. She wiped her brow again, took a deep breath and wished she had a cold drink.

The raspberry and blackberry bushes were bursting with fruit. A great crop if they got to the store in time. While she was working in San Francisco, raspberries had been out of her budget. They were her favorite berry, but she didn’t buy them. Her son had never had one. He was in for a real treat. She smiled and set aside a couple of small boxes for him, and popped one of the organic raspberries in her mouth. Her taste buds sprang to life and she moaned with pleasure.

This morning she’d called Tom the owner of the health food store. He was happy to have the fruit, but the berries had a short shelf life. She needed to get them to the store before it closed today. She’d have to put the fruit in the Volvo and be ready to go soon. She stretched and went back to selecting the best berries, not too green and not over ripe.

Manuel and his crew would pick the apples soon. With the money from the apples and the berries, she hoped there’d be enough to get through the next couple of months. While she lived on that money, she’d tend to Granny’s pumpkin patch and Christmas trees. The cash from those crops would keep them going.

“Ouch.” She pricked her finger and automatically brought it to her mouth and sucked on it.

With her hands held out in front of her, she glared at her fruit stained fingers and broken fingernails. So much for the manicure she’d splurged on for just before she left San Francisco. Then she noticed a drip of blood on her hand and saw several scratches.
Damn the berries are fighting back.
She smiled at the thought
.

One more row of berries and she’d be done. As a kid it had been such fun to help Granny in the berry patch. Of course then she’d eaten as much fruit as she picked. When it got hot or she got tired, she’d walked away leaving her grandmother to finish to the job.

When the last of the berries were lugged to the car and set into the back of the Volvo wagon, she glanced at the old Timex watch that belonged to her granddad. Just enough time to get the fruit to the store before it shut for the night.

She dug out the car key from her cut off jeans, jumped into the driver’s seat, and tired to start the engine. It made a grinding sound, but it wouldn’t turnover. When she tried again it didn’t even groan. It just clicked.

“If you keep pumping the gas you’re going to flood that old engine.”

She startled when she heard Wyatt’s deep voice. She hadn’t noticed him come out of the cottage and stand next to the driver’s side door. Grateful, she pushed back questions about where he’d been for the last couple of days. None of her business, he owed her no explanation. She had to remember that, even though she was curious.

“I have to take the berries to the Tom’s store before it closes.”

“Let me try to start the car.”

She slid to the passenger’s seat.

When he turned the key she heard the click, then nothing.

“Did you leave the lights on last night?”

Don’t be stupid.
Of course I didn’t leave the lights on.
She swallowed her first thought. “The lights were off when I parked last night. When I first started to drive, my grandmother told me to always check the headlights before I left the car. I never forgot that.

“Okay. I’ll take a look under the hood.”

Amy wandered back and forth next to the car, waiting for Wyatt to peek out from under the hood. She wasn’t going to make it to the store if she didn’t leave within the next five minutes.

“That battery is as old as the damned car. I’m surprised it started at even once. It’s obviously not charging properly.”

“Can’t you get it going just one more time? I have to take the berries to the store before it closes. I promised. Tom is waiting. If I don’t get there he might not take them.”

“The old work horse isn’t going anywhere until you buy a new battery. In fact the car ought to be checked out by a mechanic before you drive it again. Doesn’t look like anything’s been done to it in a long time.”

She let out a grunt of exasperation. There was no time, not to mention money for that. “Right now, the berries and my reliable reputation are at stake.”

“Get in the truck. I’ll drive you and the berries to town.”

She watched him load the bushels into the pick-up, and then he grimaced and rotated his right shoulder before jumping into the cab.

She yanked off the old hat and used it as a fan. She must be a sight. Unexpectedly self-conscious by the nearness of Wyatt, a wave of desire shook her confidence. She scooted closer to the passenger door, smoothed her hair, pulled on her shorts, and put her berry stained hands in her pockets. “Uh—thanks for helping me.”

Without answering, he threw the transmission into reverse and backed the truck out of the driveway.

She released her ponytail holder and shook her head to let her hair fall down her back, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She was going to make it on time because of Wyatt.

He’d helped by fixing the bathroom and now she was in his debt again. After her divorce, she’d vowed to never again be obligated to another man. Was she making a mistake to take Wyatt’s help? Would he use her indebtedness to him against her?

***

The next day, impatience caused Amy to pace. She had to wait until Nan brought Bobby to the farm tomorrow. The moving van had already brought his furniture. Just as she’d thought the navy plaid bedspread and curtains looked wonderful in the pale blue of the newly painted bedroom.

She unpacked his favorite toys and placed them in the toy box. Bobby’s brown bear “Ted” sat on the bed waiting for him. He probably missed Ted, but he still had Billy the Duck with him. A smile pulled her lips as she remembered seeing her son under the covers asleep with Ted and Billy on either side of him.

She should feel good. The will was being probated and everything seemed to be going as planned. Tom, of Sierra Health Food and More, was happy with the berries. The apples were about to be picked and would be on their way to market. She had a little money in the bank and as long as there was no unforeseen expense… She crossed her fingers and didn’t think about the old Volvo with its dead battery that still sat in the driveway. She’d deal with the car later. She wouldn’t let it dampen the joy she was feeling now. In a short while, Bobby would be here.

The old screen door squeaked and she knew Wyatt had entered the kitchen. They were going to survey Granny’s property. There were many acres she’d never seen. Even as a kid, she’d stayed around the old farmhouse and only occasionally wandered into the orchards to pick an apple. She hadn’t realized how big the property was until Monday’s meeting in the judge’s office and she’d seen a map of the orchards and the surrounding land.

Wyatt seemed to know Granny’s place well and had suggested they view it together.

She was surprised when he drove the truck into the driveway pulling a horse trailer.

He jumped out of the cab and grinned at her. “I thought the best way to look at the place was by horseback. Granny told me you used to spend most of your summers riding.”