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The barn sat several miles outside Bear Creek, with a gravel lot already crowded with trucks and cars. Music carried through the open doors and strings of lights glowed beneath the rafters.

“That is more people than I expected,” Kate said.

“It usually gets busy. If it’s too much, we can find somewhere quieter.”

“I’m not asking to escape. Yet.”

Wes smiled and held out his hand. “That’s a relief. I’m a little nervous myself.”

Kate slipped her hand into his. “That does make me feel better.”

“Me too.”

They walked toward the barn together. Inside, long tables had been pushed against the walls to leave most of the floor open for dancing, with food along one side and a makeshift bar at the other. Kate had barely unfastened her jacket before a man spotted them and crossed the room with a woman beside him.

“Kate, this is Gabe Roper and Mara Benton,” Wes said. “Gabe owns Mountain View Bakery.”

“Good to meet you,” Kate said.

Gabe offered to get them something to drink, and Kate asked for cider. Wes went with him to the bar.

“How are you finding Bear Creek?” Mara asked. “Gabe said your parents bought the orchard next to Wes’s.”

“They did,” Kate said. “I think I’m finally beginning to believe my parents know what they’re doing.”

Mara smiled. “Bear Creek can make perfectly sensible decisions look questionable from the outside. I learned that pretty quickly.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“Very much so,” Mara said. “I came here for ten days and decided to stay.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Mara glanced across the room to where Gabe and Wes were waiting at the bar. “Gabe had a lot to do with it.”

The men came back with the drinks, and the four of them talked for a few minutes until someone called Gabe’s name from across the room.

Mara glanced after him before turning back to Kate. “We should get together for coffee sometime if you’re free.”

“I’d like that, thanks.”

“Good,” Mara said. “I’ll see you later.”

Kate watched her follow Gabe. She hoped Mara meant it.

She finished her cider and set the cup down as the band began another song.

Wes turned to her. “Do you want to dance?”

Kate looked at the couples moving into place. “I should probably warn you that Penny may have been right. It’s been long enough that I might have forgotten how.”

Wes held out his hand. “Then we’ll work it out together.”

Kate placed her palm against his. The first few steps were awkward, mostly because she was trying to copy everyone around them. Wes adjusted without making a fuss when she moved the wrong way, and after the second time she nearly stepped on him, he leaned closer so she could hear him.

“Don’t look at everyone else. Look at me.”

Kate did, only to discover that looking at Wes was even more distracting. How was she supposed to think about her feet with him watching her like that? He wasn’t looking at her feet at all. He was looking at her face, as if nearly being stepped on twice was no trouble at all. His hand rested lightly at her waist while his other held hers. She stopped worrying about the correct steps and let him guide her.