Grandma had patiently helped her focus on happy things before she closed her eyes at night.It had taken time, but she’d finally reached a point where she was having happy dreams.That was, until Becket-freaking-Weston had walked into her store, and into her dreams every night since then.
It was ridiculous.She just needed something to take her mind off him.Yarn.She’d think of all the lovely new colors of yarn in her shop before she went to sleep.Happy with her plan, she hurried to where Janice was waiting for her.
*
By half pastseven it was clear Roxy had had too much to drink.He’d tried to pace her, but she wouldn’t hear of it.Becket phoned Cooper for an assist.As soon as he saw his brother heading their way, he put an arm around Roxy.
“Time to get you home,” he said.He was fed up and angry, mostly at himself.He shouldn’t have accepted Roxy’s invitation; they had absolutely nothing in common.
Sighing, he rubbed his face.It had always been easier to have meaningless flings with women he barely remembered, than to let his heart get involved.Lately, though, these experiences tended to leave a bitter taste in his mouth.
With Cooper’s help, he got Roxy to his truck.
“I guess we’ll see you tomorrow.”Cooper grinned as he closed the door.
“I don’t think so,” Becket said.He’d seen Ellie Campbell earlier.She hadn’t looked at him but her slightly colored cheeks suggested she’d noticed him and his date alright.
For one crazy moment there, he’d wanted to go after her, ask her if he could sit with her, before he’d remembered he was there with someone else.
By eight o’clock, after he’d seen Roxy safely home, he was back at the fairground looking for his family.The sun was low and a light breeze had cooled down the day.It was still more than an hour till sunset.
He heard his sister’s laugh before he saw her sitting with their mother.Only as he reached them, did he notice Janice O’Sullivan and Ellie next to them.
He swallowed a grin.She was not going to be happy to see him.He bothered her, he could tell.Usually women didn’t mind being bothered by him, but Ellie Campbell didn’t like it one bit.
And, yeah, the main reason he hadn’t driven back to the ranch was Ellie.For some reason he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since Wednesday, when he’d briefly held her in his arms.Normally he quickly forgot about a pretty face, but Ellie’s had somehow managed to ingratiate itself in his every thought over the last few days.
The musicians were taking a break and people were milling about, buying more food.
His mother noticed him and waved.“Hi, Becket.I didn’t think we’d see you again.”
As he approached them, Ellie was getting up.
“Becket, hi!”Janice called out.“Be a dear and escort Ellie to her car.She wants to get her jacket.”
Before Ellie could say a word, Becket took off his own jacket and put it around her shoulders.“Just use mine, I’m not cold.”Without looking at her again, he took a seat on his mother’s blanket, making sure he was close to Ellie.“Is Coop still here?”he asked Willow.From the corner of his eye, he noticed Ellie finally sitting down, still with his jacket around her shoulders.
“Yes, here he is now,” his mom said as Cooper joined them.“Hayden and Laura decided to stay home—they’re still on their honeymoon, Hayden said.Hopefully they’ll be able to get away for a week or two by the end of the year.”
“I didn’t think you’d be back,” Coop said to Becket.“Want a beer?I have an extra one.”He gave Becket a beer before he handed Ellie a cold drink.“This okay?”he asked her as he sat down next to her.
“Thanks, yes,” Ellie said.“I won’t be staying much longer…”
“We can’t go yet,” Janice pleaded.“My favorite band is playing after the break.Look, they’re getting on stage.By the way, Ellie, I mentioned to Vivian and Aiden that you were looking for a place to rent and apparently their neighbor on the other side, Gloria Morris, is moving to live with her kids in Miami.She doesn’t want to sell right away.Maybe you should talk to her?I’ll text you her details.”
“Oh, that’s great.Thanks, Janice.”
“Yes, Gloria told me she’s moving,” his mom said.“It’s a lovely house, Ellie.Gloria and her husband had it renovated about a year ago, just before he passed away.You only want to rent?You’re not interested in buying?”
“Oh, no,” Ellie said.“Marietta is just a temporary stop, an interruption of my journey.I lived with my grandma since I was five and she didn’t like to travel.There’s a whole world out there I want to explore before I finally settle down in a white house with a big porch and bright blue shutters.”
“That’s very specific,” his mom laughed.
Ellie smiled.“Something I dreamt about when I was a little girl.I want to sit on the porch with my cats and dogs and watch the world go by.”
“Oh, well, we’re so happy that you’ve decided to stay here, even if it is only for a little while.”His sister smiled.“Have you seen Rose lately?”
“I stopped by on Wednesday to ask her to join Janice and me tonight,” Ellie said.“She’s fine, but not ready to go anywhere yet.”
