Jesse had eaten quite a bit and had given thedogs a few kabobs under the table.“I’m ready!”The dogs perked uptheir heads.More food?
“I don’t think I could eat another bite.Maybe I can take a slice home,” said Lily.She couldn’t rememberwhen she had last eaten such a big meal.
After dessert, Jeanne and Jesse went into thefamily room to work on his puzzle, while Sandy and Lily didcleanup.This was nice: A family eating and conversing together…Lily didn’t even have a cat to talk to at mealtimes.Maybe she waslonelier than she thought.
Sandy glanced at Lily and wondered what shewas thinking.It had been wonderful to have her join them.He foundout more things about her: She was a good conversationalist, lovedanimals, books, movies, and loved food.Her metabolism must helpher out or she jogged; her figure was too good for her to eatdinners like this all the time.
She had a love for the works of Jane Austen.Sandy promised he would readPride and Prejudice,herfavorite.She had called him Mr.Darcy once and his mother hadsmiled at her.He definitely needed to find out what that wasabout.
“Sandy,” began his mother.“Would you mind ifJesse came home with me tonight?I promised to help him with hishomework.”
“His homework?”asked Lily.
“He has a poem due Monday and I know histeacher would be very disappointed if he didn’t finish what he hadstarted.”Jeanne winked at her.
Smiling, Sandy nodded.“Jesse, go get yourstuff for a night at Grandma’s.That okay?”
Jesse was already running down the hallway tohis bedroom.“Sure,” he called over his shoulder.
When Lily went to freshen up in the bathroom,Sandy cornered his mother.
“What are you doing, Mom?Lily’s not stayingthe night.For Pete’s sake, we just met!”
“I know that, darlin’, but you will get toknow her a bit better if little Jesse is not underfoot.Right?You’ll have plenty of time for her to get to know him.You two needa little private time,” The big smile on her face seemed to begrowing.
“I always worry when you start smiling orsmirking.”
Just then Lily came around a corner.“Whatare you smiling about, Jeanne?”Lily glanced from Jeanne toSandy.
“Just that I am thrilled to have met you,Lily dear.I hope to see much more of you in the future.After all,you do work occasionally at my friend Millie’s candy store.I amsure we will meet again.”
“Bye, Miss Cable,” sang Jesse.“Thanks forcoming to ride horses with us.Wasn’t it fun?”Lily gave him a bighug and looked longingly at him.
“Bye, Mom, thanks again,” said Sandy asJeanne took Jesse out to her car.As they took off, Lily and Sandylooked at each other.With her black hair, she was nearly swallowedin the darkness.Sandy opened his mouth to say something andCRACK!
Lily anxiously jumped.“What in the world wasthat?”
“That’s called thunder in Nevada, Lily.Whenit starts, it really starts.We’d better get ready for a storm.They happen suddenly and stop just as suddenly.”
They ran around closing windows.Lily hurriedoutside to roll up the windows of her car.When Sandy was satisfiedthat the house was ready for a storm, he called his mother.She andJesse had made it safely to her house and were also gettingready.
The thunder had warned of the lightning thatwas coming.A sudden flash of light brightened the landscape aslightning sparked in the distance.The rain came quickly and fellhard.“It doesn’t rain like this in San Francisco, I bet,” Sandyteased as he moved quickly through the house.
CRACK!There went the thunder again soundinglike a plane had just hit Mach 1.The howling wind crept up andscreamed around corners of the house.
“We’d better get out to the barn and checkthe horses.I want to make sure Anna is all right,” Sandy yelledover his shoulder to Lily as he ran out the back door.Rain pelletsbeat at them as they made their way.Hail mixed in with water hurtwhen it hit their bodies and the wind made staying uprightdifficult.
“Cover your eyes, Lily!”Sandy grabbed her,shielding her with his jacket.Maybe only twenty steps to the barn,but they were already soaking wet.
Once inside, Sandy closed the big doorsheltering them from the wind and rain that continued a relentlessstaccato rhythm on the roof.He went over to inspect his horse.
“Damn!It really rains here, doesn’t it?”Lily was wet through and shivered.She tried to wring out herblouse and jacket.“It doesn’t seem to make much difference in mydegree of wetness, does it?”she laughed.
Sandy looked her over and smiled.She wasbeautiful even when wet.She didn’t seem to mind and, for somereason, that pleased him.
“How’s Anna doing?”
“She’s definitely in labor.Of course, in themiddle of a sudden storm, she goes into labor.Doc Walker won’t beable to get here in time, so we’re on our own,” Sandy paused forher reaction.
