“It was kinda mushy, not like your horsepoems.I like those better.”
So Sandy had written that after meeting her?No, that couldn’t be.Lily blushed and Jesse yelled, “I want to saygoodbye to Arturo.Be right back!”He ran off to find hisfriend.
Sandy shifted his stance.He shyly lookedstraight into her blinking eyes.“I don’t want to do thisanymore.”
“Do what?”
“Pretend that I’m not attracted to youbecause I am.What do you think about that?”He held his breath ashis eyes roamed her face.
“I’ve… got some… baggage, Sandy.It won’t beeasy.”People brushed by and she stepped out of their way.Sheglanced back at him.
“I can be a good porter if the situationcalls for it.Let’s do something together and see whathappens.”
Lily realized she was looking at him as ifshe was starving and he was a big juicy steak.Maybe her luck withmen was changing.Maybe it was worth it to find out.
“Okay.I mean, yes.I mean -- I sure wouldlike to give it a try.Ah…that is, if you really want to.”Sandytook her hand.The spark between them was becoming more like anelectric current.
“Come to the ranch this weekend like Jessesuggested.We’ll try to make a cowgirl out of you,” Sandy smiledhis broad smile.“Would you like that?”
“… Absolutely!”
“I’ll write down directions tonight and thenyou could drive out Saturday.”
“Okay.Thank you for the invitation.See youthen.”
He smiled so sweetly causing a lump to clogLily’s throat.When was the last time something so corny sounded sogood?And she hadn’t felt this happy in a very long time.Maybe,just maybe he was ready for something else in his life besidescattle…God knows she was ready for something different.
They were parting reluctantly when Jesse ranup and was told of the plans.He yelled, “Yippee, Miss Cable iscoming to visit!”
Sandy tipped his cowboy hat at Lily,“Ma’am.”
Wow!Lily’s heart beat louder andfaster.Jesse and Sandy went one way and Lily went the other.
Someone else had overheard the news: AmyBreen was talking to one of the other cowboy poets when she heardJesse yell out about Miss Cable.Not that many paid attention orcared, but she certainly did.Apparently, Lily Cable, thetroublemaker, didn’t know that Sandy Johnson was hers and hersalone.She narrowed her eyes and began to think of ways to sabotagethis relationship before it could get started.She had done itbefore when Sandy had shown an interest in someone around town andshe could do it again… and would.
* * *
CHAPTER FIVE
This place is a mess…
Her entire house was in dire need ofstraightening and cleaning.Lily had rented a small cottage a fewblocks from the school so she could walk to work.She loved passingby her neighbors’ homes and greeting anyone around as she walked.Her neighbors were friendly and she felt like she was settling in,beginning to belong.
That night after the poetry gathering, Lilyhad paced back and forth in her living room, then kitchen andlastly, her bedroom.She needed to talk to someone, but no one inNaples.Not so close.So Lily called her dad up in Sonoma.SamCable was an astute man who looked a bit like Sam Elliot, theactor.A little graying, very rugged...A life in the outdoors hadseen to that.He seemed surprised yet pleased to hear from her.
“What’s up, Dylan?”
She grinned because he’d called her thatsince her middle school days when she had started writing poetry,playing the guitar badly and listening constantly to Bob Dylan.He’d kidded her no end, of course.
“Dad, how are you?”She nervously began withsmall talk.“How’s that new horse working out?And the vines.Thinkyou’ll get a good harvest this year?”
Lily danced all around the subject until sheran out of breath.Her dad, she knew, would have the good grace towait her out.
When there was a long pause in conversation,he asked her, “How are you really, sweetie?”Lily didn’t knowwhether to laugh or cry.A few sounds bubbled out.
“Take your time, I’m not busy doing anythingright now.”
What a great dad.She was so lucky to have acaring father.Lily took a deep breath, “Dad, I met someone.”Hereyes darted nervously around the bedroom expecting someone to leapout to contradict her.
