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Authors: Vicki Lewis Thompson
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surprises, not sweet certainties. If that time in her bed was all they ever had, she’d consider herself blessed.
After a long and reviving shower and two cups of coffee, she felt a little more fit for company, namely Grandma Bonnie’s. As she was about to head out the door, her cell phone rang.
Her first thought was always about her grandmother, one of the few people who called her regularly, and the person whose welfare most concerned her.
Instead it was Josie. “Logan came to talk with me this morning,” she said. “He seems to think you’re headed for burnout if you don’t get the afternoon off.”
Warmth spread through Caro. Logan was watching out for her, and that was a great feeling. “He might be exaggeratinga little.” She crossed her fingers. “If you need me to work my shift this afternoon, I’ll be happy to do that.”
“Actually, I contacted Steve to see how he’s faring after his stomach problems last night. He seems fine, and he’s volunteered to take your shift.”
“Thank you, Josie. I admit a break would be terrific.”
“So you and Logan are going riding this afternoon?”
Excitement bubbled in her veins. She managed to sound reserved even as she mentally turned cartwheels at the prospect. “Yes, if that’s okay.”
“Sure, that’s fine. I’ve wanted to get you out here to ride, but you’ve been so busy. It promises to be a beautiful day, and we’ll saddle up a couple of cooperative horses for you and Logan. If I know Mary Lou, she’ll insist on fixing you some snacks to take along.”
It took Caro a moment to remember that Mary Lou was the cook at the Last Chance. “I’d hate for her to go to any trouble.”
“No worries. She’d be upset if I didn’t let her do that. You probably don’t remember seeing her, but she was at the reception last night, and she noticed that you were working extra hard. She’ll want to treat you right.”
“Well, then, that sounds fabulous. Thank you, Josie.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Logan. He’s the one who brought it to my attention that all you do is work and visit your grandma.”
Caro groaned. “Please don’t think I was complaining to him. I have a wonderful situation. I love working for you, and I love my grandmother. I would never—”
“Relax, Caro. He emphasized that you weren’t complaining, that you’re the most positive person he’s ever met. But I think he has a point. I realize that your grandma needs a lot of emotional support while she’s in this transition period, butshe’ll think you’re working. You should grab the chance to have some fun while you can.”
“Okay. I just didn’t want you to think I bent Logan’s ear about how sad my life is, because it’s not.”
“I don’t think that at all. Anyway, I don’t know if I’ll be around or not, so if I don’t see you, have a wonderful ride. Here’s Logan. He wanted to double-check something with you.”
Caro’s pulse kicked up a notch as Logan came on the line, his tone casual, as if he hadn’t had to tear himself away from her a few hours ago. “So it’s all set.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
She remembered the last time she’d heard him say that, and a zing of awareness made her tingle all over.
“Listen,” he continued, “as long as you’re coming out here, you might as well stay for dinner. Sarah suggested it.”
“How nice of her.” Caro had always admired Sarah Chance, who’d raised three fine sons and had handled her husband’s sudden death two years ago with courage and grace. She was another woman who understood the meaning of resilience.
“Then you’ll stay for dinner?”
“I’d love to.” She made a mental note to bring lipstick along on the trail ride, in case he kissed it all off. It wouldn’t be classy to appear at dinner looking as if she’d spent the afternoon making out with Logan. But she hoped she would end up doing exactly that.
“Great. I’ll see you around two-thirty,
After a long and reviving shower and two cups of coffee, she felt a little more fit for company, namely Grandma Bonnie’s. As she was about to head out the door, her cell phone rang.
Her first thought was always about her grandmother, one of the few people who called her regularly, and the person whose welfare most concerned her.
Instead it was Josie. “Logan came to talk with me this morning,” she said. “He seems to think you’re headed for burnout if you don’t get the afternoon off.”
Warmth spread through Caro. Logan was watching out for her, and that was a great feeling. “He might be exaggeratinga little.” She crossed her fingers. “If you need me to work my shift this afternoon, I’ll be happy to do that.”
“Actually, I contacted Steve to see how he’s faring after his stomach problems last night. He seems fine, and he’s volunteered to take your shift.”
“Thank you, Josie. I admit a break would be terrific.”
“So you and Logan are going riding this afternoon?”
Excitement bubbled in her veins. She managed to sound reserved even as she mentally turned cartwheels at the prospect. “Yes, if that’s okay.”
“Sure, that’s fine. I’ve wanted to get you out here to ride, but you’ve been so busy. It promises to be a beautiful day, and we’ll saddle up a couple of cooperative horses for you and Logan. If I know Mary Lou, she’ll insist on fixing you some snacks to take along.”
It took Caro a moment to remember that Mary Lou was the cook at the Last Chance. “I’d hate for her to go to any trouble.”
“No worries. She’d be upset if I didn’t let her do that. You probably don’t remember seeing her, but she was at the reception last night, and she noticed that you were working extra hard. She’ll want to treat you right.”
“Well, then, that sounds fabulous. Thank you, Josie.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank Logan. He’s the one who brought it to my attention that all you do is work and visit your grandma.”
Caro groaned. “Please don’t think I was complaining to him. I have a wonderful situation. I love working for you, and I love my grandmother. I would never—”
“Relax, Caro. He emphasized that you weren’t complaining, that you’re the most positive person he’s ever met. But I think he has a point. I realize that your grandma needs a lot of emotional support while she’s in this transition period, butshe’ll think you’re working. You should grab the chance to have some fun while you can.”
“Okay. I just didn’t want you to think I bent Logan’s ear about how sad my life is, because it’s not.”
“I don’t think that at all. Anyway, I don’t know if I’ll be around or not, so if I don’t see you, have a wonderful ride. Here’s Logan. He wanted to double-check something with you.”
Caro’s pulse kicked up a notch as Logan came on the line, his tone casual, as if he hadn’t had to tear himself away from her a few hours ago. “So it’s all set.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
She remembered the last time she’d heard him say that, and a zing of awareness made her tingle all over.
“Listen,” he continued, “as long as you’re coming out here, you might as well stay for dinner. Sarah suggested it.”
“How nice of her.” Caro had always admired Sarah Chance, who’d raised three fine sons and had handled her husband’s sudden death two years ago with courage and grace. She was another woman who understood the meaning of resilience.
“Then you’ll stay for dinner?”
“I’d love to.” She made a mental note to bring lipstick along on the trail ride, in case he kissed it all off. It wouldn’t be classy to appear at dinner looking as if she’d spent the afternoon making out with Logan. But she hoped she would end up doing exactly that.
“Great. I’ll see you around two-thirty,
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