“Making my intentions clear.” Audy reached up and smoothed her hair from her shoulder. “I like it when you wear your hair down, Brooke. You have the softest hair.” He lifted one thick strand of hair and twirled it around his fingers.
“You said I needed to make up my own mind.” She tugged her hair from his fingers. “Don’t you think you’re making that a little difficult?”
“Did I say I was going to make it easy?” Audy grinned. “I want you to make up your own mind. But I figure having me around shows you what you’d be missing out on if you decide not to give us a chance.” He shrugged. “Also, I kinda like looking at you.”
“Stop.” She wanted to be angry with him. She wanted him to stop making a spectacle of the two of them. And she really, really wanted him to stop looking at her like that. “Please stop, Audy.”
“Stop what?” He stepped closer, those blue eyes blazing.
“Stop looking at me like that. Stop moving closer...” She shook her head.
“Okay.” He let go of her hand and stepped away but he was still focused on her.
“Still doing it.” And she liked the way he was looking at her. He’d said she was beautiful. And when he looked at her like that, she felt beautiful.
“I can’t help it.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “But I’ll try. I know you’ve got things to do here. I’m here to help, so put me to work.”
Brooke gave him a long look. “Okay.” After all, the more hands the better.
The two of them headed back across the field, toward The First Tree. She tried to pretend like all eyes weren’t tracking every move she and Audy made, but the complete silence that greeted them on their return was hard to ignore.
Kelly Schneider and Mabel had taken over putting clipboards together. They didn’t acknowledge her and Audy’s arrival, and Brooke was thankful for that.
“Here.” She shoved a stack of clipboards into Audy’s hands. “Take these to the people wearing red aprons. And see if they need help. I’ve got things covered here.”
Audy grinned, taking a long, leisurely look at her before he nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” With a touch of his cowboy hat, he carried the clipboards to the waiting red-apron wearers.
“So...” Kelly said.
“Yeah. That was something.” Mabel was smiling. “I can honestly say I’ve never seen Audy act that way.”
“Did he really say he was sweet on you?” Kelly kept assembling clipboards.
“He’s just...being Audy.” And even though she was mortified over the scene he’d caused, there was no denying seeing him had made the morning brighter. He’d noticed she’d worn her hair down.
“It seems to me that boy is staking his claim.” Kelly straightened the stack of papers. “And how do you feel about this?”
“Um.” Brooke shrugged, even though she knew exactly how she felt about this. “I feel like we need to concentrate on our work.”
The rest of the morning sped by. After all the clipboards had been distributed, the signature collectors departed, and Brooke started making posters. The city council was meeting next Tuesday and Martha was planning an anti Quik Stop & Shop parade. Hundreds of poster boards, poster paint and glitter were put to good use. The JV football team was surprisingly good at lettering. At noon, when supplies were running low, most of the volunteers went off to find food.
“There’s enough, right?” Tess asked, opening the cooler she and Brooke had packed that morning.
“Yes.” Brooke knew that Tess had checked their cooler at least four times before she put it in the back of the car. Not only had she checked it, she’d repacked it at least twice. “But if he has other plans...”
But Beau Briscoe was headed across the field, straight for them... Straight for Tess. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Tess’s voice wavered.
Brooke waited, looking back and forth between the two of them, but neither one of them said another word. “Beau, would you like to join us? We have plenty.”
Beau looked legitimately surprised. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” Even though there was plenty of room on the picnic blanket, Tess moved over for him.
Once the food and drinks had been distributed, Brooke pulled out the lunch she’d packed for Joy.
“Are you hungry?” She smiled as Joy nodded. “Good. I brought carrots and some yogurt and some teething biscuits.”
“And don’t forget the roast chicken.” Tess hobbled across the blanket on her knees, rifled through the cooler and pulled out the small Tupperware container. “Here.”
“What are we having?” Audy dropped down on the blanket beside them.
“There are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Turkey and cheese. Some sliced apples, pretzels, grapes and some granola.” Tess sat back on her heels. “What would you like?”
“To have enough?” Brooke knew they had more than enough, but she couldn’t resist teasing Audy.
“I’ll have what she’s having.” Audy nodded at Joy. “That chopped-up chicken looks delicious. But only if I get some of that sweet potato baby food, too.”
Brooke laughed. “If you’re sure that’s what you want.”
“I’m sure.” But Audy’s voice wasn’t teasing anymore. His tone was deep and rich and just enough to catch Brooke’s attention. “I know exactly what I want.”
“Are you sure?” Tess made a face and handed Audy the sweet potato baby food.
But Audy wasn’t looking at Tess, he was looking at Brooke. She was vaguely aware of Tess holding out the jar of baby food for Audy before she put it on the blanket and scooted back to Beau’s side.
“Dee?” Joy said, patting Audy’s arm.
“You want me to feed you? You got it.” Audy lifted Joy into his lap. “Afterward, maybe we can get Brooke to take a walk over to the playground with us?” He flashed Brooke a smile.
And Brooke gave up the fight. She didn’t want to fight him. She didn’t want to fight this. Maybe Audy was right, maybe she did have a little risk-taker in her, after all.
* * *
AUDY PARKED IN front of the community center. He was ten minutes late but it couldn’t be helped. Somehow, Webb had gotten stuck on the windmill platform. How the ladder had fallen was a mystery, but that was the way most things went with Webb. Now that his brother was safe on the ground, there was nothing stopping Audy from attending the infant CPR class with Mikey and Brooke.
“What are you doing here?” Martha Zeigler, a gym bag over her arm, stopped on the sidewalk to glare.
“Evenin’, Mrs. Zeigler. I’m here for the infant CPR.” Audy tipped his hat. “Want to make sure I can do right by Joy.”
Martha Zeigler put a hand on her hip. “Are you really?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded. “I’d do just about anything for that one.” Which was the truth. He held the door open for the woman but she stopped in the middle of the doorway.
“And you and Brooke Young? I’m hearing things, Audy.”
“Yes, ma’am, that tends to happen. Especially when I make sure Miss Ruth hears what I want people to talk about.” He couldn’t help but grin at the sly smile spreading on Martha Zeigler’s face.
“You are a clever one.” Martha shook her head. “Well, now that you let the whole town know that you’ve set your cap on Miss Young, you’ll have to make good on that. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am. I certainly do.” And now that he’d shown his cards to Mrs. Zeigler, anyone who hadn’t known his intentions toward Brooke would now.
“I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. You’d best do right by that girl.” But the bite wasn’t there anymore. And Martha Zeigler was smiling at him. “I guess we’ll see how this plays out.”
“I’m hoping for the best, ma’am.” He chuckled, following her inside the building.
Mrs. Zeigler headed
to the door with the Jazzercise sign and he followed the trail of printer paper with arrows and “CPR” written on them. He reached the end of the hall and turned, entering the open classroom. He’d wondered if this was some orchestrated effort on Mikey’s part—just he and Brooke and nobody else. But, Audy was wrong. There were at least seven other people in the classroom.
Then again, Mikey is a good guy.
“Sorry I’m late.” He slipped into the room and sat at the table right beside Brooke.
“You came.” Brooke sounded happy to see him. She looked happy to see him.
“You said it would be best if we both took the class.” He shrugged. “Here I am.” He glanced Mikey’s way and gave him a little salute.
Mikey’s smile was pinched but, Mikey being the decent guy that he was, he said, “Glad you came. Better if you’re both certified.”
“The class is bigger than I expected,” Audy said, looking around the room.
During class, Mikey was all business. Audy took notes and alternated between the terror of Joy needing the Heimlich maneuver to the assurance that he’d be able to help her, should the need ever arise. When it was all done, Mikey congratulated them and gave them signed certificates and cards to put in their wallets.
Brooke said her goodbyes, packed up her notes and waited for him at the door. “It meant a lot to me that you came tonight, Audy.”
“I get that it’s something I need to know. Just in case.” Though he hoped he’d never have to use it.
“That’s it? That’s the whole reason you came?” She was studying him closely.
“Yes.” He wasn’t sure what she was looking for so he said, “I’m not lying to you, Brooke. I haven’t lied to you. I won’t. This is important to you, which makes it important to me.” He loved it when she smiled like that.
“Do you want to see Joy?” She adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. “Maybe, have some dinner? We could talk?”
“If you’re asking, I’m not saying no.” His fingers itched to smooth the braid from her shoulder. “Tess keeping an eye on her?”
“Yes. And Alice. And Stephen. And...Beau.” Her shrug was almost apologetic—and more adorable than he could put into words. “Just call me Cupid.”
Audy burst out laughing, holding the door open for Brooke.
“Audy! Audy Briscoe.” Across the street, RJ Malloy stood outside the Buttermilk Pie Café. He waved his arms and yelled out again, “Audy. Hey, you see me?”
Audy shook his head. “I see you. Flapping your arms and yelling like that? Kinda hard to miss, RJ.” RJ was his drinking buddy, no doubt about it. But out and about, when there wasn’t any beer involved, he was a little hard to take. And right now, Audy wanted to spend time with Brooke and Joy.
“Hold up.” RJ came jogging across the street. He stopped just short of Brooke. “I swear, Brooke Young. You get better looking every time I see you.”
Brooke’s smile was tight. “Thanks, RJ. I should get going. Joy. And all that.” She glanced at Audy.
“RJ, I’ve got plans tonight—”
“I am starving, Audy. Plumb starving. I was gonna have a bite to eat but there’s a forty-five-minute wait. A man could starve waiting that long.” He rubbed his stomach to emphasize his point.
“You could go on down to Buck’s,” Audy suggested. “It’s early yet, they won’t be too crowded.”
“Come on, now. You know I don’t like to eat alone.” RJ glanced at Brooke. “Oh. I see. Your...plans, huh?” RJ bobbed his eyebrows. “I won’t get in the way of that.”
Brooke looked dumbfounded by RJ’s dramatics. “We’re having dinner. That’s all.”
“Sounds good.” RJ smiled. “I won’t eat much. But it’s been a while since I enjoyed a home-cooked meal.”
“RJ, I know you’re short on manners, but you can’t just invite yourself to someone’s place for dinner.” Audy had never been so embarrassed.
“If all you’re doing is eating, I don’t see why feeding one more is such a big deal?” RJ looked at Brooke and asked, “Am I right?”
Brooke frowned. “You’re right. I’ll see you two at home.” She didn’t look back.
“Now, that right there—” RJ shook his head “—that is what you call a real woman. I can see why you’d think about playing house.” He winked and ran across the street to his truck.
Five minutes later, Audy was parking in front of Brooke’s. RJ pulled up behind him, his truck’s diesel engine roaring and kicking up black smoke as he choked it off.
“Sweet little place.” RJ nodded at the house. “Her mama died, right?”
“Yeah.” Audy gave RJ a long, hard look. “Might be best not to bring that up over dinner. Anything else you want to know before we go inside?”
“Oh, I’ve got a long list of things I want to know about Brooke.” He elbowed Audy in the ribs.
Audy shook his head and led RJ up the steps. He knocked, already dreading the evening ahead of him. And when Tess opened the door, things only got worse.
“Who’s this?” RJ turned on the charm.
“Brooke’s sixteen-year-old little sister. Can you stop making a fool of yourself?” Audy shook his head. “Tess, this is RJ. Brooke took pity on him and is feeding him dinner.”
“Hi.” Tess stood back to let them in as Beau came up behind her.
But what was more interesting was Beau’s reaction. He stood, half shielding Tess, to glower down at RJ.
“Look at you, boy.” RJ clapped Beau on the shoulders. “All grown-up. Rough and tough, too, I’ll bet.”
“Dinner is ready.” Brooke leaned around the kitchen door, her expression mostly blank. “Hope you like spaghetti.”
Audy wasn’t sure how this all had happened. While he appreciated her generosity, he resented that RJ had put him in this position. He’d never intended for his two worlds to meet. Especially not like this.
“Spaghetti.” RJ shrugged. “That’ll do.”
Conversation was stilted, but Brooke managed to steer them into neutral territory. RJ had been a couple of years older than them in high school but they still shared quite a few memories. RJ even got a little choked up talking about Kent, and for a brief moment, RJ was human.
“You know Austin is coming up.” RJ spun his fork, winding up the last of his spaghetti noodles. “Tad Heffron? He dropped out. That means the number two spot’s open.” He picked up his garlic bread and pointed it at Audy. “Means the odds are good, Audy. The odds are good.”
Audy knew exactly what it meant. Sterling Dunn would be there. Audy didn’t normally let smack talk bother him. But Sterling was a different story. It might be wrong, but Audy really wanted to put that kid in his place. And now he’d have that chance. Earn some points. Put Sterling in his place. And win some money, too. It was kinda hard to say no to that. Even though he was a Briscoe and money wasn’t an issue, he preferred earning it on his own. And this was the only way he could do that.
“When is it?” Brooke asked.
“Friday.” RJ stared into his bowl. “Any more? I’d be mighty appreciative.”
Brooke stood and carried the pot of spaghetti back to the table. She used tongs to refill RJ’s bowl but her gaze wandered to Audy. “The community picnic is Saturday.”
“Community picnic?” RJ laughed. “Is that what it’s come to? Audy Briscoe, hanging up his spurs for diapers, community picnics and the like—just so you can play house?” RJ turned to Audy, looking confused. “Are you telling me you gonna pass up the chance to go toe to toe with Sterling? If he ever found out, you’d never live it down.”
Audy had to grit his teeth on that one. His pride mattered to him. And Sterling had done a good job dinging that. He had to admit, he’d love to see the look on Sterling’s face when he showed up to ride.
“Even if you did go, you could probably get back here.” RJ shrugged. “If
this community picnic is as important as you boosting your standings, that is?”
That was the question.
He wanted to be here. Not just because it was important to Brooke, but because it was important to Garrison. He wanted Joy to grow up in the shade of The First Tree. He wanted to make memories with her there. But he’d made himself a promise years ago, one he’d kept. If you’re going to regret not doing it, then do it. And as much as he hated to admit it, he’d regret not riding against Sterling Dunn. It wasn’t just about the standings. It wasn’t just about the money. It was about showing that kid what real riding looked like.
“I might.” Audy leaned back in his chair, avoiding Brooke’s gaze. He knew how she felt about bull riding. He knew she was probably shooting daggers at him, right then and there. But he could make it up to her—later.
“Boy-howdy. I knew you’d see it that way.” RJ nodded. “Aren’t you glad I came over for dinner now?”
Audy chuckled in spite of himself. If RJ hadn’t bulldozed his weight in here, he wouldn’t know that Tad was out and he had a chance to ride against Sterling. “I guess so.”
RJ stood. “That was good eats. Thank you, Brooke.” He patted his stomach. “I’m probably going to head on over to Buck’s now, if you wanna come?” He grinned. “Unless the missus will pitch a fit over it?”
Audy heard Brooke’s exasperated mumble and risked looking at her.
“Oh, no, I insist.” She smiled at RJ. “You two go on and have fun. It sounds to me like you have a lot of catching up to do. Since poor Audy’s been stuck here with diapers and playing house and all.” She wouldn’t look at Audy. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to give Joy her bath. Y’all have fun.”
Audy stood, hating the tension between them. “You need any help?”
“No, Audy, I don’t need help.” Her tone was razor-sharp but she still didn’t look up. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of Joy on my own. You go take care of whatever it is that you feel you need to take care of.” It was the first time in a long time she’d used that tone with him. The judgy tone. Like he was letting her down—as expected.
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