“How’s your leg?”
“Huh?”
“Is it dead? I’ve been told I’m solid.”
Dusty laughed, his low rumble tickling my ear. “Whoever told you that was a wuss.”
“He was kind of a wuss, now that you mention it.”
“Don’t worry, I’m doing just fine. I’ve only been better one other time.” He adjusted me slightly, pulling me back against him, his hands lingering on my waist a bit longer than necessary. Or that could have been my active imagination. It was getting hard to tell.
“What time was that?”
“About that kiss…”
“Dusty Bennett!” I slapped his thigh in secret delight.
He only chuckled. “Alright, you try now.” He pointed out the window in front of us. He had scooted most of the snow off the manger, except for a small patch toward the end of the line.
Showtime.
It was difficult acting like I needed a refresher course. It was like riding a bike. My hands knew exactly where they should go. I attempted to make myself bumble around, but only so he would place his hand on top of mine to help. Did I feel bad about deceiving him? Maybe a little, but then he would shift his weight and adjust his hand and pull me closer, and I would get a distinct impression that he was enjoying this ride as much as I was. I’d hate to disappoint him.
All too soon my lesson came to an end. I hopped out of the tractor and opened the gate, blocking the cows from escaping while he moved the tractor out of the corral. We moved hay bales into the newly cleaned mangers, and the cows were pushing and shoving each other to get to the food. I tried to think of the last time I had done any physical labor outdoors. Growing up, as a kid working the farm in my minuscule way, it had always been the land that called to me, not so much the actual labor. Now as a grown woman living in an apartment and working inside all day, I was surprised how good I felt out here. It was as if my limbs were made for movement much more natural than cardio at the gym. The cold breeze nipped at my nose but filled my lungs with clean air that filled the cracks deep inside my soul. I bent and picked up a large chunk of hay to throw in the manger, shoveled snow, busted up ice, and worked more muscles in my body than I remembered having, and it all felt wonderful. I had never appreciated the feeling as a teenager, but now I was beginning to crave it. To clarify—I was craving the work. Not the man beside me. We finished with frozen fingers and red cheeks.
“Are you hungry?” I asked him.
“Starved. Does this motel have a bedandbreakfast?”
“You’re in luck. We have a great selection of gluten-free options.” We began a comfortable walk back toward the house.
“Now that’s the kind of food a man wakes up early for.”
“I should also mention that with no electricity we can’t heat anything up.”
“Ah.”
“And no running water may also be a problem.”
“Please tell me you saved a few of those pancakes from last night.”
“I thought we could use them as hockey pucks later if we get bored.”
The sudden switch from cold to warm as I entered the house caused my glasses to fog. The roaring fire inside had slowed to soft flames, but the entire house felt warm and inviting after the frigid morning. Or perhaps the warmth was Grandma’s delighted gaze as she watched the two of us coming in together, her hands clasped over her mouth. I said a prayer right then and there that she would be able to hold her tongue and not humiliate me.
“The Lord must have heard my prayer to send us a storm so I could see a young handsome cowboy around here again. Lucy must have been praying too.”
I closed my eyes and imagined a large hole I could fling myself.
Dusty laughed, shrugging out of his coat before edging around me. As he passed by me I felt two light squeezes on my upper arm before he stepped around me to greet Grandma.
“Well, if it isn’t the drug dealer herself.”
Grandma slapped his shoulder before pulling him in for a hug. “You stop that talk! Bob’ll be down any minute and he can’t find out.”
“I could be bribed for my silence.”
“Oh, you naughty boy. You know I’ll make you a chocolate pie the second the electricity comes back on. I could never resist a handsome face.” She reached up and pinched his cheeks lightly.
