Country Boy vs. City Girl

by Shanna Hatfield

  The swanky goatee he had grown while she was gone was pushing his raw appeal up to a whole new level and drew her attention from his bare chest to his chin.

  Taking another step back to study it, she was trying to decide if she merely liked it or absolutely loved it.

  Josh caught her studying him and stuck out his chin, rubbing his whiskers with his hand. Turning his profile to her, he smiled.

  “What do you think? Does it add to my dashing good looks?” he asked with a roguish grin.

  “You are too cocky for your own good, Josh Carver,” Jenna said in a feigned huff. “Just for that you can get back to work while I go have a glass of cold lemonade.”

  Jenna turned and managed to take one step toward the house before Josh grabbed her around her waist and swept her into his arms.

  “Not without me you don’t,” he said as he carried her into the house. Josh loved holding Jenna close almost as much as she enjoyed being held close to his heart.

  Walking in the front door, Josh set Jenna on her feet then stooped to pull off his boots in the foyer, leaving his soggy T-shirt there as well. Following Jenna through the cool of the house to the kitchen, he was surprised to see a plate of sugar cookies on the counter along with two glasses.

  “Looks like you were expecting company,” Josh teased, raising an eyebrow at the treat. Going to wash up at the sink he suddenly noticed the trail of hay leaves and dust floating behind him. Looking in a bit of a panic, he started to backtrack and apologize when Jenna waved her hand at him.

  “Its fine Josh, wash up and sit down. A little hay and dust won’t throw me completely off kilter,” Jenna said with a smile as she poured the lemonade.

  Surprised, Josh quickly washed up and sat on one of the swiveling bar stools. Jenna usually pitched a fit if he dragged any mess inside the house, but she didn’t seem concerned at all today. Maybe she missed him more than a little bit, too.

  “I want to hear all about your trip,” Josh said, leaning back and munching on a cookie. He listened to her talk about the training, the people she met and places she visited. He sensed there was something she wasn’t telling him, but knowing Jenna, she’d get around to it when she was ready. Glancing at the kitchen clock, he decided he better get back to swathing. The afternoon was half gone and he still had a lot of work to do.

  “Thanks for the break, Babe,” Josh said, putting his dirty glass in the sink and giving Jenna another hug. “I’m so glad you’re home. If you want, I’ll take you out for dinner tonight.”

  “I think I’d rather stay right here with you,” Jenna said as she kissed his cheek. “I can’t tell you how nice it is to be home. I think the peacefulness of your wretched farm has finally gotten to me. I’d forgotten how loud cities can be at night.”

  “That just goes to show what good clean living can do for you,” Josh joked as he walked back to the front door. Running into their bedroom, Jenna snagged a clean T-shirt for Josh while he tugged on his boots.

  “Your other shirt doesn’t look like it will make it through the rest of the day and we can’t have you showing off all your goods to anyone who might drive by,” Jenna teased.

  Josh pulled on the shirt and smiled down at her. “And just who would be driving by since we are the only people who live on this dead-end road? I think you’ve been gone so long, Mrs. Carver, that you’ve forgotten just how irresistible your husband can be and are overwhelmed by his dashing good looks and considerable charm.”

  “Oh, you conceited thing,” Jenna said, giving him a shove toward the door. “Don’t you have some hay that needs your attention?”

  As Josh sauntered out the door, he turned back and gave Jenna another long kiss, their lips tasting of lemonade and sugar. “I love you, Babe. Welcome home.”

  <><><>

  Josh finished cutting the field just before dinner and called Jenna on his cell phone.

  “Hey, Babe, can you come pick me up? I want to move the swather to the field across from the Harold place so it will be ready to go in the morning,” Josh asked as Jenna answered the phone.

  “Yes, I’ll be right there,” Jenna said. “Just let me turn off the oven.”

  Josh drove the swather to a field at the far end of their property. The acreage he’d purchased at the end of the road belonged to a man named Mr. Harold, so now he and Jenna referred to property as the Harold place. In addition to the small acreage, there was a tiny four-room house and a little barn with a corral. When Josh got to the point he could afford a hired hand, he thought the house would come in handy. As it was, he was hoping to hire some help just for the summer and planned to discuss it with Jenna soon.

  Shutting down the swather, he climbed out and walked across the culvert at the entrance into the field. Starting down the road toward home, it wasn’t quite two miles, but he was tired and didn’t relish the thought of walking in the heat. He’d gone about a quarter-mile when Jenna came tearing down the road on their four-wheeler. He grinned just watching her.

  The first time he tried to get her to drive it, she refused to go faster than ten miles an hour because it stirred up too much dust. Now, here she came with dust billowing around her, like she was in some kind of race and planned to win. Whipping around, she stopped in front of him and slid back so he could drive.

  “I thought maybe you forgot about me,” he said as he shifted into gear and drove home. “Either that or you decided to make sure I was good and exhausted by the time I got in the door.”

  “Neither one,” Jenna said as she hugged him around the waist. “Callan called just as I was walking out the door and I couldn’t hang up on her.”

  “Well, why not?” Josh questioned jokingly. “It’s not like the two of you don’t talk every day as it is.”

  Stopping by the back door, Josh gave Jenna his hand as she climbed off the four-wheeler. Stepping off and stomping his boots to dislodge some of the dust, they walked into the mudroom where he took off his boots, socks and T-shirt before walking into the house.

  “Do I have time to take a shower?” he asked as he paused in the kitchen where Jenna was washing up at the sink.

  “If you make it quick. Dinner is more than ready. I’ll have it on the table in a minute,” she said, hurrying to dry her hands and push a pan back onto a warm burner.

  “Quick, got it,” Josh said as he hustled into their bedroom, jumped into a shower and washed away the dirt and grime of the day. He might not mind being hot, sweaty and dirty most of the time but there was enough of his years spent in the city still in him that he liked to be clean when he ate dinner and spent time with his best girl.

  In five minutes time, he was back in the kitchen, dressed in clean jeans and a T-shirt, smelling of soap and his after shave. Jenna wondered how he could have possibly shaved that fast and quickly looked to make sure his goatee was still in place. To her relief, it was. She might have to mention to Josh how much she was coming to like it.

  Placing their plates on the counter, they sank onto the bar stools and Josh gave thanks for their meal.

  “So, what did that sister of mine want,” Josh asked as he picked up a piece of warm buttered bread and took a bite.

  “She had some good news,” Jenna said excitedly. “Some very good news.”

  “Is it final, then?” Josh asked, setting down his fork and bread and looking at Jenna. “It’s all finished?”

  “Yes, they got the paperwork finalized this afternoon, Josh. Isn’t it amazing?” Jenna sighed in happiness over the good news Callan had shared.

  For the past sixteen months, Callan and Clay had been guardians to their two young nieces and spent the better part of the last year trying to adopt the girls. The proceedings would have gone smoothly and ended quickly except for the involvement of Callan and Josh’s brother Bob and his wife Donna, who fought the adoption every step of the way.

  Bob and Donna’s only child, Melanie, ran off with a drummer she met in some club in Portland. She left behind signed divorce papers as well as notarized
documents given all parental rights for her two daughters, Audrey and Emma, to her husband. Ted tried to keep the girls for a few weeks and finally asked Callan and Clay if they could watch them for a while until he got back on his feet. Another month went by before he signed over parental rights to them and moved away.

  Callan and Clay were thrilled. Not that the girls had been abandoned by their parents, but that they would finally be able to give Audrey and Emma a stable home. Unable to have children of their own, they had often taken the girls on fun outings or invited them to spend the weekend. Wanting to make the change permanent and legally binding, Callan and Clay filled out the necessary paper work to adopt the girls.

  With parental rights already signed over by both parents, it should have been a simple process, but Bob and Donna, for reasons no one could understand, refused to let it happen. They didn’t want to care for the girls, but they were adamant that Clay and Callan not adopt them. So they had been tied up in court and red tape for months on end.

  A few weeks ago, Callan and Josh’s dad, Big Jim, had a little talk with Bob and Donna. Josh wished he could have been there to hear what was said. Whatever it was, Pop had driven his point home because Bob and Donna suddenly decided it would be just fine for Callan and Clay to adopt the girls and the judge had made everything legal and official today.

  Josh was excited not only for Clay and Callan, but also for Audrey and Emma. Melanie and Ted had been unfit parents in every sense of the word and, despite what he, Jenna, Clay and Callan tried to do to help the girls, he knew they would probably always have some emotional scars from the time spent with their natural parents.

  “Babe, that is awesome news,” Josh said, picking his fork back up and taking a bite of the tasty casserole Jenna made. “We should celebrate this weekend.”

  “Callan is one step ahead of you, as always,” Jenna said with a teasing grin. “They are planning a big barbecue at their place tomorrow evening and I said we wouldn’t miss it. I think we need to get a little present for the girls. What do you think?”

  “That’s a great idea,” Josh said, chewing thoughtfully, trying to think what would be an appropriate gift for a 6-year-old and 9-year-old who just found themselves with a new set of parents. “Did you have something in mind?”

  “I do, but I’m not sure we can find it in town. I may have to run into Portland to get it,” Jenna said, stirring the food around on her plate. “I don’t suppose you could take the day off tomorrow and come with me. We could have lunch and just enjoy the day.”

  “Babe, I wish I could but the hay won’t cut itself,” Josh said, watching Jenna’s big brown eyes fill with disappointment. Although he knew he shouldn’t, he changed his mind. “You know what, one day won’t hurt. I’d love to spend tomorrow with you.”

  Jenna’s eyes lit up and she gave his hand a squeeze. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, “I’m so glad, Buck. I promise to make it worth your while.”

  Josh turned his full attention to his wife. She nicknamed him Buck, short for buccaneer, right after they wed. Once she’d gotten over the fact that he truly was not a city boy and had a bit of a wild rugged streak, she informed him he could have come right out of some pirate movie. One of these days he’d have to find an eye patch and see what she thought of that. In the meantime, he enjoyed hearing her use the name. She didn’t say it very often, but when she did, it always worked in his favor.

  Giving her a slow, easy smile, Josh let himself fall into the warm chocolate depths of her eyes.

  Jenna could feel the warmth start to pool in her belly and spread out to her fingers and toes when Josh turned the full power of his smile on her. Mercy, she didn’t know if she could handle him with that goatee. Maybe she didn’t want to take him with her tomorrow. She wasn’t sure she could stand to see other women gawk at him all day. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to her cooling dinner.

  “Eat your dinner, Josh, it isn’t going to get any warmer or better,” she said, taking another bite of her salad.

  Continuing to stare at his wife, Josh watched a blush color her cheeks and wondered what was going through that pretty head of hers. It hadn’t taken him long in his role as a husband to realize that this woman’s thoughts would remain a mystery no matter how hard he tried to understand her. And he was okay with that.

  Returning his attention back to his own dinner, he asked Jenna more questions about her new job, the training and when she would have to start traveling.

  “I’m not scheduled to go out on the road for a couple of weeks. I guess they figure by then I should know what I’m doing,” Jenna said with a laugh. “Or at least that is the hope.”

  “You’ll do great,” Josh said, knowing whatever Jenna did, she would do well and give it her best. “You’re extremely intelligent and very talented, so don’t sell yourself short.”

  Looking at her husband with love and admiration, Jenna said a simple “Thank you.” Her travel schedule was going to be hard on them both, but she appreciated Josh letting her follow her dreams. She knew he had some lingering guilt over dragging her out to live on the farm when she was a confirmed city girl. That guilt worked to her advantage because she did pretty much whatever she wanted with Josh’s encouragement and support.

  The truth of the matter was that she liked the farm and the country. She loved how relaxed, open and real Josh was on the farm. Jenna realized now that in the city Josh was like an actor doing a splendid job of playing his part. But here on the farm, he was in his element, where he belonged. And she knew she belonged with Josh, wherever that may be.

  Working in the city, she didn’t really miss any of the conveniences she thought she would. Josh still took her to plays, concerts and museum exhibits on occasion. Once in a blue moon they both summoned the strength and fortitude to attend one of Phil and Amelia’s parties, after which they would stop at their favorite steakhouse and enjoy a nice dinner out.

  Snapping out of her musings, Jenna noticed Josh had finished eating and was cleaning up the dinner dishes. Looking down at her half-eaten plate, she realized she wasn’t really hungry. Now that evening was settling in, she was mostly tired as jet lag caught up to her. She leaned her chin on her hand and watched Josh expertly load the dishwasher, cover the leftovers and store them in the fridge then wipe off the stove. She had trained him well.

  Coming back to the counter, he saw her plate and gave her a questioning look. “You not feeling well, Babe?” Putting the back of his hand to her forehead, he decided she didn’t have a fever.

  “I’m fine, just tired. The time difference is starting to catch up with me,” Jenna said, trying to stifle a yawn.

  “Well, three hours difference can throw you for a loop,” Josh said, picking up her plate and scraping her uneaten dinner in the garbage before putting the dish and her utensils in the dishwasher. Wiping down the counter, he tossed the rag in the sink and then looked around the orderly kitchen.

  “Do I get a gold star for my exemplary efforts?” he asked, coming to stand next to her barstool.

  Looking up at him with sleepy eyes, she smiled warmly. “Maybe two, if you are a good boy.”

  “Oh, I’m always good,” Josh rumbled in his deep baritone as he picked her up and carried her to their bedroom. “Very, very good, Mrs. Carver.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Josh couldn’t stop staring at his wife. He missed her so much while she was gone. He had no idea how he was going to handle her new travel schedule once it started.

  For now, he watched her sleep thinking he should get up but managing to talk himself into staying beside her for a few more minutes.

  Finally, he determined if he quietly got up he could get his morning chores done and be back inside before she even missed him. Sliding carefully out of bed, he grabbed the jeans and T-shirt he’d left on the floor last night, pulled socks out of his chest of drawers and softly shut the bedroom door. Getting dressed in the kitchen, he drank a glass of milk then ate a banana as he walked into the mud roo
m, tugged on his boots, picked up his gloves and settled his ball cap on his uncombed hair.

  Hurrying outside, he pushed the four-wheeler toward the barn so the noise wouldn’t wake Jenna. He finished up his chores and irrigating then decided he could get in a bit of swathing before he went back inside.

  Josh made two rounds around the outside of the field, creating a back swath, and knew he was making good time so he started cutting rows. Looking at the position of the sun, he determined he better get back to the house or Jenna would have his head.

  Pulling up at the back door, he left his boots, gloves and cap back in the mudroom, before washing up in the kitchen, half expecting Jenna to be sitting at the table impatiently tapping her foot. The house was still eerily quiet.

  Looking at the clock confirmed it was now after nine. Jenna was usually an early riser so he was surprised to return to their bedroom and find her still sleeping. She must be exhausted from her trip. Josh decided the bed looked pretty inviting and pulling off his jeans and shirt, climbed back under the covers, snuggling close to Jenna. Before he knew it, he was asleep as well.

  An annoying chirping sound woke Josh from his peaceful slumber. Sitting up, he realized it was Jenna’s phone. Jumping out of bed, he grabbed it off the nightstand and hurried into the bathroom. The caller ID came up Dennis Gillman. Josh had no idea who Dennis Gillman was and decided to answer.

  “Hello, Jenna’s phone,” he said, sounding sleepy and half awake.

  “May I speak with Jenna?” a male voice asked.

  “She isn’t available. May I help you?” Josh asked.

  “Tell her The Gillman called,” then the line disconnected.

  Josh stood staring at the phone. Just who, exactly, was The Gillman? What a jerk. Turning the phone off and walking back into the bedroom, Josh was surprised to see the clock read ten-thirty. Setting the phone on the nightstand, he climbed back in bed and tried to remember the last time he’d lazed a day away like this.