“You ever think of opening your own match-making business?Matchmaker Muddy.”
“There’s an idea.”She smiled.“I’m happy for you both.”
“We’re not telling anyone yet.I mean, we’d like to wait until after Poet’s wedding if we can.And Lenni really should be the first to know.”I bit my lip as worry overtook me.
Muddy patted my arm.“Give her some credit, yeah?”
“What do you mean?”
“You knowexactlywhat I mean.Lenni’s a tough cookie.And I think you might be surprised by her reaction.”
I hugged her to me.“Thank you.”
“What for?”
“Just being you.”
She squeezed me tight and then released me.
I headed toward the barn.Lenni was sitting on a bench, drinking something out of a dark brown glass bottle while Brooks showed Archer a horse’s hoof.
“Hey,” I greeted, my eyes darting around.
“Hi.”Lenni smiled.“Archer said you guys missed me and that’s why you came back early.”
“He is completely correct on that.”I took a seat next to her.“What are you drinking?”
“Muddy’s homemade ginger beer.”She held it out to me.
I took the bottle and had a little sip.
“That’s amazing,” I said.
“I know.I had an upset stomach earlier,” she said.“Now I feel fine.”
Her words, so casual, so meaningless to anyone else, had my heart stuttering.
I met Archer’s gaze and sighed.He nodded slightly.
“You want to go for a ride?”I asked her.“You, me and Archer?There’s a secret spot I want to show you guys.”
Archer cleared his throat.
I glanced at him and frowned in confusion.
“Maybe we should take a side-by-side?”he suggested.
Brooks’ gaze bounced from Archer to me.“Why would you take a side by—oh ...”
“Oh?Oh what?”Lenni asked.
I glared Brooks into silence.He effectively clamped his mouth shut.To Lenni, I said, “You ever ridden in a side-by-side?”
“No.”She frowned.“It’s kind of like a golf cart, right?Can I drive it?”
“I doubt your feet could reach the pedals,” Archer said.
“Okay but when they do, can I drive one?”Lenni asked, all too eager to grow up.
