by E. A. West
“And online, thanks to the website you helped me build.” Meghan pulled another box from her truck. “That reminds me, I need your help updating the site sometime next week. I have some new photos to add and some descriptions to revise.”
“Just let me know when you want to work on it.”
Basir approached, uncomfortable with what he was about to do, yet knowing it was an expected part of American society. He took a deep breath and reached for the box Meghan held, reminding himself that initiating conversation with her wouldn’t kill him. Ryan wouldn’t kill him for it, either. “Let me carry that for you.”
“Thanks, Basir.” Her smile lit up the afternoon and lifted his heart as she relinquished the box.
It was lighter than he’d expected given its size. He stepped onto the sidewalk beside Ryan as Meghan pulled one more box from the truck.
“Sheesh, Megs,” Ryan said as they headed down the sidewalk. “How much yarn do you think Julia needs?”
“She asked for every bit of what we’re carrying. According to her, people have been coming in from nearby towns to check out the locally produced alpaca yarn.” Meghan grinned, her eyes shining. “She said she can’t keep it on the shelf.”
“That’s awesome! Congratulations!” Ryan glanced at Basir, almost as excited as his sister. “Meghan’s going to be famous before long.”
“Well,” she said before Basir could speak, “my yarn will be famous, anyway. Of course, if sales keep rising, I’m going to need more help. Taking care of the alpacas, shearing them, prepping the wool, spinning it into yarn and packaging it, plus taking care of everything else around the farm that needs to be done already takes up most of my time. If I need to increase production, I’ll have to find someone to take over some of my responsibilities.”
“That’s a good problem to have,” Ryan said.
“Maybe, but where am I going to find someone to hire around here? This town is the size of a peanut, and everyone I know who knows anything about farming and livestock is already busy with their own operations.”
Before he could consider the consequences, Basir spoke. “I could help you with the farm. I come from a rural area and know much about coaxing the land into providing for us. If you wanted, I could help more with the alpacas as well. I have sheared many sheep in my life, and alpaca wool doesn’t seem to be that different.”
“I’ve never sheared a sheep before, but collecting the alpaca wool isn’t that difficult once you get the hang of it.” Meghan paused outside the door to a shop and studied him. Her gaze, although much more direct than he was comfortable with from a woman, warmed him all the way thorough. And when she smiled...
Father God, help me keep my thoughts pure.
“If you want to give it a try,” Meghan said, “I’d be glad to have your help. We don’t need to worry about wool until spring, but there’s still plenty of other work to do.”
“Then I will work on your farm doing whatever you need me to do.”
“And now your problem is solved, Megs.” Ryan shifted the box to one arm and opened the door, setting a strip of bells jingling merrily.
Meghan smiled as she passed through. “Thanks.”
Basir followed her inside, scanning the store’s interior. Fabric, yarn, thread, and many more items he couldn’t identify filled the space. The products had been neatly arranged in attractive displays and aisles that invited shoppers to wander through them. An older woman with graying brown hair looked over from where she spoke with a white-haired woman by a wall lined with shelves of brightly colored fabric.
“Hi, Meghan!” she called with a friendly smile. “Just take everything to the back counter, and I’ll meet you there.”
“Will do.” Meghan led the way around a display of plastic boxes and down an aisle of beads to a glass display case by the back wall of the shop.
Meghan set her box on the glass surface as the woman who had spoken arrived and wrapped her in a hug.
“You are a lifesaver,” the woman said as she stepped back. “A knitting group is planning to be here later, and if it’s anything like last time, they’ll try to buy me out of yarn.”
Meghan laughed and took the box her brother carried. “Well, if you need more, let me know.”
“I love having a local supplier.” The woman turned to Ryan with a warm smile. “Hi, Ryan. How are you?”
“I’m doing well.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” She shifted her gaze to Basir, who hung back feeling out of place. “Hello, there. You’re a new face to me. I’m Julia Day, the owner of this little shop.”
“Hello. I am Basir Hamidi.” He glanced at Ryan and wished he wasn’t so uncomfortable with such outgoing behavior from women.
Ryan took the box from his hands and set it with the other two as Meghan spoke. “He worked with Ryan in Afghanistan.”
Basir removed his sunglasses and hat and endured the scrutiny of the woman who apparently knew Ryan and his sister well.
“Pleased to meet you,” Julia said with a friendly smile. “So, are you just visiting or have you moved to our lovely town?”
“I live here for now.” In a way, he wished he could give a more definite answer on his plans, but sharing that much about his private life with a stranger didn’t sit well with him. He wasn’t even sure how he felt about Meghan telling her he had worked with the Americans in his homeland.
“He’s going to be helping me with the farm, so I’ll have more time to make yarn for you,” Meghan said with a laugh.
“Wonderful!” Julia studied her, curiosity shining in her face. “Does this mean you’re finally going to expand your alpaca herd like you’ve talked about?”
“Maybe. I’m definitely going to give it some serious consideration, anyway.”
“If your yarn keeps gaining popularity, you’re going to have to do it just so you’ll have enough wool to keep up with the demand.” Julia laughed and patted one of the boxes. “Now, let’s see what you brought, and I’ll write you a check.”
Meghan pulled a folded piece of paper from her back pocket. “I printed up an invoice to make it easier.”
“Bless you, child,” Julia said as she accepted the paper and unfolded it. “I love it when people make my job easier.”
Basir was impressed with the casual yet professional way the two women handled business. It drove home the point that Meghan was indeed self-sufficient and independent. Although he wasn’t used to seeing women conduct business deals, the fact that she did so with ease made him admire her.
Ryan’s hand landed on his shoulder, bringing him from his thoughts.
“Since we’ve completed our task as delivery boys,” Ryan said, “let’s get out of here and leave the ladies to their work.”
Basir nodded and looked away as Meghan turned toward them.
“Have you guys decided yet whether you’ll be home for supper?”
Basir glanced at Ryan, leaving the decision up to him. Ryan briefly met his gaze and then looked at his sister.
“Yeah, we’ll be there.”
“All right. I’ll see you back at the farm.” She returned her attention to Julia, who was opening one of the boxes.
Basir followed Ryan to the front of the store, pulling on his hat and sunglasses before stepping outside. As they headed down the sidewalk, Basir glanced through the shop window for one last glimpse of Meghan. The question that had popped up several times since he met her rushed to the front of his mind once more.
Why wasn’t such a kind, talented, and beautiful woman married?
~*~
“He’s handsome,” Julia said as soon as the door closed with a jingle.
“Who?” Meghan already had a pretty good idea, but sometimes playing dumb was the best option in a small town. It helped keep the gossip at bay.
“The new guy. Basir.” Julia stopped examining the yarn. “But what happened to his face? Those scars look fairly recent.”
“I’m not sure what happened. My brother just said he was
injured, and now that he’s done with physical therapy and everything, he needed a place to stay.”
“Poor guy. I take it he doesn’t have a family to go back to?”
“No.” Meghan wasn’t going to divulge what little she knew about Basir’s lack of family. She’d probably already said too much, although she hadn’t given any details. Not that she could even if she wanted to. The men living in her house seemed to enjoy keeping everything inside and being as vague as possible.
“Well, I’m glad he has you and your brother to help him get back on his feet.” Julia pawed through another box of yarn and then stopped and met Meghan’s gaze. “You know, I think he likes you.”
Startled, it took Meghan a second to think. “Who? Basir?”
“I certainly don’t mean Ryan,” Julia said with a laugh. “You don’t need to look so shocked by the idea.”
“I just met him a few days ago.”
“So?” Julia abandoned the box and laid a hand on Meghan’s arm. “You’re a beautiful person, Meghan. It doesn’t take long for anyone to see that. I’d be surprised if a single man like your friend, Basir, wasn’t attracted to you at least a little.”
“Or maybe he’s just trying to figure out his friend’s sister. I think I’m a bit of an enigma to him.”
“No, I don’t think that’s it. I take it you didn’t notice the glances he kept stealing toward you? Trust me. Those were not the looks of a man trying to figure someone out. Those were the glances of a man who sees a pretty woman he would like to get to know better.”
Meghan couldn’t deny the ring of truth in her words. Hadn’t she wondered off and on if Basir found her attractive? The times she’d caught him looking her way couldn’t all be a matter of curiosity...could they?
The smug expression on Julia’s face kept Meghan from admitting to her own suspicions, however. “You’re not going to try to play matchmaker again, are you?”
“Moi?” Julia lifted a hand to her throat, her eyes wide with false innocence. “How could you ever suspect such a thing of me?”
“Um, let’s see.” Meghan tapped her chin, pretending to be deep in thought. “Do the names David Lowenstein, Brad Turner, and Mark Holcomb ring a bell?”
Julia laughed and lowered her hand. “Maybe one or two. But you can’t fault me for wanting to see you happily married.”
“No, I can’t. You just need to realize that the happy marriage will come in God’s timing, regardless of how many dates you arrange for me.”
“Oh, I’m perfectly aware of that.” Julia opened the third box of yarn and winked. “And I promise not to set you up with anyone else until I see whether it works out between you and Basir.”
“There’s nothing between us, Julia. We’re barely even friends at this point.”
“Give it time.” She lifted out a skein of soft blue yarn. “I have a feeling your denials will fade soon enough.”
Long after Meghan left the craft shop, Julia’s words continued to echo in her mind. “Those were the glances of a man who sees a pretty woman he would like to get to know better.” Since her dear friend had noticed the looks as well, Meghan could no longer pretend they didn’t mean anything. The question now was what exactly they did mean. Or maybe a better question was what, if anything, she should do with that knowledge.
Normally, she would seek advice from a friend, but that didn’t seem like a viable option in this situation. With Basir’s native culture being so different, any well-meant suggestions could easily offend him or cause him to get the wrong idea about her. If it were any other Afghan man, she would talk to her brother about it and see what he recommended. But since Ryan appeared oblivious to Basir’s surreptitious glances in her direction, she was afraid to say anything for fear of harming the close friendship between the two men.
Meghan let herself in the back door of her house, thankful her brother’s car was still gone. She needed more time to figure out how to handle everything before the guys came home. Praying God would give her the wisdom to see the path she should follow, she tried to let go of her worries so she could concentrate on preparing the sauce for that night’s spaghetti.
3
As Meghan dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, she heard soft footsteps pass by her closed door. Judging by the direction they came from it was likely Basir, but why was he up so early? Every other morning, she had fed the alpacas before the guys appeared. She brushed her hair into a ponytail and continued pondering as she headed downstairs. Maybe Basir rose earlier on Sundays than any other day. Or perhaps he wasn’t sleeping well. Ryan had kept strange hours for a few weeks when he first moved in. It was possible Basir would do the same thing. She could only pray he had an easier time adjusting than her brother. There had been many long nights listening to him wander restlessly through the house.
By the time she arrived at the back door and pulled on her barn shoes, she still hadn’t seen any sign of her brother or Basir. Maybe she’d imagined the footsteps passing her room. They had been rather quiet, and she hadn’t heard either door of the house. She chalked up the mysterious footsteps to her imagination and went outside.
The early morning quiet of the barn surrounded her as soon as she stepped inside. The only sounds came from the alpacas as they shuffled around their pens and waited for their breakfast. Meghan took a deep breath of the wood shaving and animal-scented air, relaxing in the familiar peaceful atmosphere. Then, she turned toward the feed room and nearly jumped out of her skin.
“Basir!” She placed a hand over her thundering heart as she took in the man standing in the doorway, a bucket in either hand. “What are you doing out here so early?”
“Feeding the alpacas.” He lifted the buckets and then lowered them again as a crease formed between his eyebrows. “Do you not want me to feed them?”
Meghan let her hand fall to her side and drew in a steadying breath as her pulse slowed. “No, it’s fine if you want to feed them. You just startled me. That’s all. I didn’t expect to see anyone until breakfast.”
“I said I would help you with the alpacas.” He glanced toward the buckets in his hands. “That is what I am doing.”
“I know, and I appreciate the help. I just didn’t know you planned on caring for them this morning.” Meghan picked up on Basir’s discomfort about the same time she realized this was the longest conversation they’d ever had—the longest they had ever been alone together. Remembering everything Ryan had told her about the cultural expectations Basir was working to overcome, she decided to leave him to his work so he could relax. “Well, if you’re going to take care of these guys, I’ll go start breakfast.”
Basir nodded and shifted his weight. “Do you want me to put them in the pasture after they eat?”
“Yes, please. They enjoy the time in the fresh air, and it makes cleaning out their pens easier.” Meghan laughed, hoping he would crack a smile. It didn’t work.
“All right.” He looked as serious as ever as he passed her on his way to the alpacas.
Meghan watched him dump the first bucket of feed into the trough surrounded by eager animals, and then she headed for the house. Since she was up so early and didn’t have to care for the animals, she could make a more elaborate breakfast than scrambled eggs and toast. Possibilities floated through her mind as she opened the back door. The sound of dishes clanking ignited her curiosity. She kicked off her barn shoes and padded sock-footed into the kitchen.
Ryan set a mixing bowl on the counter and closed the cabinet before turning around. He grinned when his gaze fell on Meghan. “Oh, hey. I thought you’d be in the barn for a while longer.”
“Not this morning. Basir volunteered to take care of the herd for me.” She studied her brother, wondering if she’d missed something. “What are you doing?”
“Getting ready to make breakfast. Why?”
“You never cook.”
“I cook occasionally.”
Meghan rolled her eyes. “The two or three times you’ve been here during
mealtimes and I haven’t don’t count.”
Ryan laughed. “You have such a suspicious mind.”
“I grew up with you, remember? I have every right to be suspicious when you do things out of the ordinary.” She crossed her arms. “So, why the sudden urge to cook this morning when I haven’t seen you this early on a Sunday morning since you moved in?”
“I’m trying to be nice, Megs.” Ryan combed his fingers through his hair and sighed. “Basir and I have been talking a lot, and I realized how little I’ve done to help you out around here. You shouldn’t have to do everything, and I’m going to make sure you don’t have to as long as I’m here.”
“So you’re going to take over cooking?” Skepticism filled her. This was the man who had spent eight years in the Marine Corps, living in barracks, eating whatever slop they served in the mess hall or he could buy at a restaurant. Admittedly, he had picked up a few culinary skills over the years, but she doubted he knew how to cook more than a handful of dishes.
“I don’t plan to cook all the time, but I can take care of a meal here and there just so you can have some time to relax.” He stepped close and laid his hands on her shoulders. “You work hard. Too hard sometimes, especially with me and now Basir living here. I think you get so busy taking care of us, the alpacas, and your business that you forget to take care of yourself. Basir and I are going to make sure you have time for yourself. You deserve it.”
The sincerity in his eyes brought tears to hers, and she wrapped her arms around him. “How did I get such a great brother?”
“Blame it on Mom and Dad. They raised me.”
“I think I can also thank the marines.” She stepped back and smiled. “They helped you become an even better man, Ryan.”
“They taught me what’s really important in life, anyway.” He glanced toward the bowl he had set on the counter and then returned his gaze to her. “So, are you going to let me fix breakfast this morning?”
Meghan debated for a moment, but then she saw how much it meant to him. “Sure. Go ahead.”
“Thanks, Megs.” Her brother’s smile was worth feeling a little lost with no responsibilities for the first time in years. “Now, get out of here and go take a bubble bath or something.”
