Thats a good question. Ill try and figure something out, okay?
Okay. He stared off down the road. Maybe we wont be here long.
Maybe. Simon didnt know that they would be leaving only after her father died. Sorrow burned behind her eyes, which was unexpected considering how shed once loathed her dad with every fiber of her being. She checked her rearview mirror for traffic out of habitof course, there was none, not on this rural roadand flicked her gaze to the pavement ahead. Farmland spread around her like a patchwork quilt in irrigated greens, dried ambers and barn roofs glinting in the sun.
One more corner and they zipped past the little row of rental houses, bright with new paint, where her one-and-only love had lived. Was he still there or had he moved on to bigger and better things? Maybe hed left town entirelythats what she dearly hoped. The last thing she wanted was to run into him, face-to-face. Pain seared her heart, tender after all these years.
Why did it still hurt to remember Hunter McKaslin? She didnt knowit was a mystery she might never solve.
Did you go to school there? Simon asked, pointing toward a squat gray block building hugging the outskirts of town. The windows were dark. Students wouldnt fill those classrooms for another month.
Yes, I did. I jumped rope in that courtyard. And see that last door right there? Thats the library where I spent every rainy recess.
It looks awful small, Mom.
Welcome to life in Prospect, Montana, she quipped. Where everything is small.
This is the main street? Simon scratched his head, looking around with a wrinkled nose and a slight look of dismay. Hed been asleep on the drive from the Bozeman airport. Milton had met their plane, a tiny prop that lurched and swayed with every gust of wind. She dreaded getting back up in the air for her return trip.
I know it doesnt look like much, but its the quality and not the quantity that counts, she said of the town.
What does that mean? More is better, Mom. You know it is.
I was talking about the people. Thats what makes the difference anywhere. She swung into a lot, yanking hard on the wheel. Boy, did she miss power steering. It was all she could do to grapple the big truck into a parking space. At least she hoped shed managed to fit between the lines. Who knew? She was afraid to pop open her door and take a look. Good thing there was plenty of room in the nearly empty lot. The engine shuttered to a stop, she tossed the keys into her purse and unbuckled.
A hot, dry wind puffed over her as she led the way into the store. The grocery hadnt changed much. It was still family owned, sporting fading posters in the front wall of windows, and the automatic doors gave a long pause before they wheezed arthritically open.
Just get in and get out, she thought as Simon tromped alongside her. If she hurried, then maybe no one would have time to recognize her and see what had become of her.
Ill grab a cart! Simon leaped forward to pick apart the wire carts and took charge of one, steering it by its red handlebar. He stopped dead in his tracks when he looked around. This is it?
Im afraid so. They were used to a large chain store in Portland bursting with selection. This little place had ten aislesshort aislesand hadnt been remodeled since shed left town. The fifties decorating scheme added charm, but it didnt come close to impressing her son. She smiled and rubbed his shoulder encouragingly. Maybe their pizza selection isnt too bad. See the refrigerated cases along the back wall? Why dont we go check em out?
Okay. Leading the way like an intrepid explorer who just discovered the terrain was much more perilous than expected, Simon shoved the cart ahead of him.
Millie? Millie Wilson? Is that you, dear? An elderly voice quivered with excitement.
Millie skidded to a stop. Up ahead of her, Simon did, too. He turned around with curiosity bright in his dark blue eyes. So much for getting in and out of here without running into someone she knew. Mrs. Hoffsteader, how are you?
Fine, just fine. I cant believe my eyes. Little Millie, all grown up. I almost didnt recognize you. The white-haired lady tapped up with her loaded cart, her cane hanging on the handlebar. Her smile turned serious. I suppose youre back in town to help with your father.
Yes. She nodded at Simon, letting him know to go ahead without her. Not only was the pizza case in plain view, but she was a little afraid of Myra Hoffsteaders sharp gaze. What if someone recognized Simons dimples and dark blue eyes a shade lighter than his fathers?
Whip has his faults and hes the hardest man Ive ever met, but I hate to think of anyone ill. Compassion wreathed the womans lovely face. It has to be hard for you, too.
Ill be fine. Wherever I am, Im not alone.
No, God is watching over us all, and thats the truth. Myras gaze narrowed, perhaps eager to bring up a certain subject. Hes still in town, you know.
H-Hunter? She gulped for air, nearly choking over the name she hadnt spoken aloud in so long that it felt foreign on her tongue. The one name shed once loved most of all.
In fact, there he is, walking this way. She nodded her silver head in the direction of the front windows where a tall, wide-shouldered man stalked across the parking lot, his Stetson brim tipped to hide the sun. All she could see of his face was the firm, unyielding line of his mouth and the square manly cut of his jaw.
Hunter. Her heart rolled slowly in her chest, flipping upside down. Hunter, here, after all this time. And so close. She stumbled a few steps back. Her first instinct was to run. She cast her gaze down the aisle where Simon stood in front of the glass doors, fist to his chin in thought.
There was no reason why Hunter would suspect, she told herself. But those words didnt comfort her. Mrs. Hoffsteader, its been good seeing you, but honestly, I dont want to be standing here when Hunter walks through that door.
I understand, dear. He broke your heart. Sympathy softened her voice. I suppose youve got a lot on your plate tending your father. Thats enough adversity for a girl to deal with. You go on now.
It was good running into you. Millie backed down the aisle, taking refuge between the tall shelves of cooking oils on one side and spices on the other. Ill see you Sunday?
Absolutely. Ill keep an eye out. Were having a church picnic. Rumor has it that you are a Christian now. Be sure to come.
Ill try. She glanced toward the doorit whooshed open, meaning Hunter was almost in sight, so she took off. No way would he recognize the back of her as she skedaddled down the aisle.
They had pepperoni. Simon smiled, dimples flashing, holding up the box. Its the large size, but thats okay. The coupon covers it.
Good boy. She glanced at the price tacked inside the case, but it was hard to concentrate with her heart drumming a thousand beats a second.
I found a coupon in there for cookie dough. Simons gaze slid sideways to the rolls of premade tubes sitting in bright yellow packages. Its okay if we cant afford it, but they just look good.
Yes, they do. Impulsively she yanked open the door and snagged a roll of chocolate chip, Simons favorite. She heard a mans boots thud nearby, a gait shed know anytime and anywhere, it was sewn into the fabric of her being.
Yes, they do. Impulsively she yanked open the door and snagged a roll of chocolate chip, Simons favorite. She heard a mans boots thud nearby, a gait shed know anytime and anywhere, it was sewn into the fabric of her being.
Hunter. His step hesitated directly behind her. Her blood pressure rocketed into the red zone. He tugged at her like a black holes gravitational fielda force she had to resist. Her palms went slick. She slowly set the dough tube in the cart. Maybe if she didnt make any sudden movements, he wouldnt look her way. Let him go on with his shopping without noticing her. That way she wouldnt have to look him in the eye and feel her heart break all over again.
Mom? Simon grasped the bar and gave the cart a shove. Whats next?
Uh She stared at Hunters reflection in the glass refrigerator case. He was tall enough to steal a womans breath, well-built in a country sort of waythose were solid muscles beneath his T-shirt. His dark hair, still thick, tumbled over his forehead. Her fingers remembered the silken feel of those locks. If he wasnt wearing that Stetson, his hair would stick up just a hint at the crown, where a cowlick whirled.
She swallowed hard, feeling a bump against her elbow. Simon. She saw her reflection, too. Not the youthful girl shed been when Hunter had loved her, when the most handsome man in the county had chosen her as his girlfriend. Time and hardship had worn their way onto her face. Faint creases marked the corners of her eyes, the plane of her forehead and bracketed her mouth. No, she was so not the girl shed been.
That wasnt the reason she didnt answer her son right away. What if the sound of her voice drew Hunters attention? She pointed to the dairy case. Simon turned the cart with a rattle and headed toward the egg cartons lined up in the next case over.
There was a thump behind her as something landed in Hunters cart. Wheels squeaked and boots knelled on the tile. Thank the heavens above, he walked away in the opposite direction. Thank You, Lord.
Relief blasted through her. She risked a glance over her shoulder just as he turned down the next aisle, his attention on his shopping. Iron jaw, granite features, hed become a man who looked harder than shed rememberedthe father of her son.
Chapter Two
Guilt wrapped around her as she faced the little boy checking the prices on the various egg cartons.
This is the best price. Simon slipped it into the basket. I got a carton of milk, too. The generic stuff. We dont have coupons for either of em.
Thats okay. We need bread and peanut butter next. And ice cream, she remembered through the rattled terrain her brain had become.
Hunter. She wanted to get a better look at him and see how deep that rock-hardness went. Hed been tough but tender in their teen years, but it looked as though time had hardened him more.
Maybe he was too harsh for anyone to reach. She didnt have to wonder if hed marriedhed been very clear on his opinion of matrimony. Nothing but a ball and chain for a man and misery for a woman, hed told her. Theres not one thing on earth that would ever make me do something that stupid.
Sure, hed been twenty-two at the time and embittered by his fathers betrayals. She hadnt seen, until too late, how shed been attracted to a man similar to her fathertoo remote and unfeeling to ever soften, a man who became more unreachable as the years went by.
Her heart broke a little walking away.
Mom. Simon held up a loaf of bread. Score.
Good job. She grabbed a pint of ice cream, not bothering to check her coupons.
Mom? Simon clunked a jar of peanut butter into the cart. What else?
Crackers. She plucked several cans of her dads favorite soup off the display.
Roger, captain! Simon made a jet-engine sound as he spun the cart around and headed off for the saltines at the end of the aisle.
Her mission had changedto get everything they needed and get out of the store before Hunter recognized her.
Okay, weve got everything, right? Simon dumped a box in the cart. There wasnt much there, just enough food to get them by for a couple of days. It would have to do.
Thats it for this run. Lets get out of here. She grabbed the cart by the basket to get Simon moving faster.
Howdy there, a friendly older lady Millie didnt know tossed them a genuine smile from behind her register. Nice day, isnt it?
Yes, it is. She unloaded her cart as fast as she could, breathing a sigh of relief when she dropped the last itemthe cracker boxonto the conveyer belt. Simon shoved the cart through while she unzipped her purse.
Did you find everything all right? The checker scanned in each item with a beep. Her name tag read Enid.
We did. The familiar beat of cowboy boots on the tile distracted her. She resisted the urge to look over her shoulder as Hunters quick, no-nonsense cadence knelled louder.
He was coming this way. Panic licked through her. A wheel squeaked as his cart pulled in behind her. Her skin prickled like a storm the instant before lightning struck as Hunter began unloading his cart.
At least he hasnt recognized me yet. She sorted through her coupon envelope, doing her best not to look. He still smelled the samelike pine, hay and summer sun. Her uncooperative gaze slid sideways to sneak a peek. A black T-shirt hugged his powerful physique that had matured impressively. Muscles rippled as he dumped paper plates, paper towels and hamburger buns onto the conveyer, working fast, concentrating solely on his task. Not a man to look aroundthe Hunter shed always known.
Oh, I have coupons, she told Enid and handed over the cluster.
Okay, deary. The older lady sorted through them before she scanned them in, one by one.
Hunters foot tapped impatiently. Hed finished unloading his cart. She could feel him standing behind her, radiating heat and pent-up male energy.
Every breath she took was torture. Knowing Hunter, his mind was probably somewhere else. Maybe he wouldnt notice her, ordid she dare hope?recognize her. Was that too much to ask?
Sorry, deary. This ones past date. Enid handed over one of the coupons.
She feared the attention would draw Hunters scrutiny. Her hand shook as she took back the coupon. Please, dont recognize me, she prayed.
Thatll be seventeen oh three.
Her hands shook so badly that she had trouble pulling out dollar bills. It took a beat before she realized her budget had been fifteen dollars. She searched through her change, but didnt have it. Heat flooded her face. Uh, can you take off the box of crackers?
Sure thing. Enid kindly took back the box and beeped it over the scanner.
Oh, for goodness sake. Hunter flipped two dollars onto the conveyer belt. Enid, take it. Im done with waiting
She felt his gaze rake over her like a cold hard punch. He froze, finally really looking at her. Recognition snapped through him as his entire body went rigid. His jaw dropped, leaving the rest of his thoughts unspoken.
Hi, Millie, someone called out from behind his big hulking presence. Hunters brother, Luke, peered over to smile at her. Good to see you in town again. Hows your dad?
Hunter kept staring at her blankly, stiff with shock. She couldnt help maneuvering a little, trying to hide Simon from him. It was easy to lift her chin, holding on to her dignity for all she was worth and push away Hunters two dollars. They lay awkwardly on the conveyer belt, their crumpled ends ruffling in the breeze from the air conditioner.