Chapter 5 #2
His eyes widened. “Where? In the combine ?”
She smiled like she’d busted him in a lie. “Why not? My grandpa farmed, and I remember combines can seat more than one. I can follow you and hop in, and hop back out when we’re done talking.”
She made it sound so easy. It sounded more like a nightmare to him.
“You can’t tell me you’ve never had a girl in the combine with you,” she teased.
Shock and the urge to run made it hard to comprehend her question. “No,” he managed to get out. “No, I haven’t.”
He backed up as she rose. She fully intended to come with him. Why was he feeling like he was anticipating another date? Why did spending the afternoon with her in tightly enclosed quarters sound so…not awful?
She wanted to discuss her brother. He could respect that, but he couldn’t rehash that experience.
It’d almost destroyed Dillon, and he didn’t want his own thoughts and speculations to harm Abbi in any way.
Right now, she had everyone else to blame about her brother’s death.
Her parents probably held themselves accountable to some extent.
It was natural. But they could blame the army, they could blame the war, hell, they could blame Cash and Dillon and the other guys in their platoon.
If he admitted that “hey, I think your boy got himself blown up on purpose so you could have his life insurance money,” what would it do to them?
Abbi’s tenacity at ferreting out the complete story would only lead to heartbreak.
His mind spun, trying to figure out how to say no. He strongly suspected she’d chase him out to the field.
Suddenly, an idea blossomed.
A slow grin spread across Cash’s chiseled face.
He was up to something. She’d suspected the harvest excuse was just to get out of talking about Perry. Cash had looked like he was ready to keel over at the idea of her accompanying him to work. But now…
“Well, now, I’m sure you’d love to ride in the combine, but it can be a long and boring afternoon. If you really want to come with, you can drive truck.”
“What truck? Your pickup?” Would riding in his pickup jog more memories of their night together?
She was getting snippets, but not fine details.
The memories were full of naked skin and pleasure, but she couldn’t recall exactly how he’d tasted, how hot his kisses had been.
She remembered laughing and enjoying herself, but what had they talked about?
“The grain truck.”
Oh, to drive alongside the combine to be filled. Her dad used to talk about driving the grain truck to haul the harvest to the silos. “Don’t I need a special license?”
He frowned. “I don’t know. You gonna crash it?”
“I might if you keep refusing to talk to me.”
A heavy sigh escaped him. “I don’t have anything to talk with you about, Abbi. I don’t know what you’re looking for.”
She tilted her head and considered him. His tone was so serious, so…withdrawn. No, she believed there was something he didn’t want to discuss. Was it selfish of her to think it was something he needed to talk about?
Maybe if she appeased his panic, he’d open up. “I understand that it’s not a subject you’re jumping up and down about. I get it. But I took vacation and I’m here. Can I come with you and you can at least share some stories about him?”
This deer in the headlights looked even more ready to bolt. The deer analogy made her think of his horse.
“How’s Patsy Cline?”
“Recovering.” For the first time since she asked about going with him, he seemed to inhale fully. “She struggles with bouts of colic. Her old owner sold her for dirt cheap ’cause he was tired of dealin’ with it. She’s the best purchase I’ve ever made.”
Abbi smiled at his dedication to a creature no one wanted. “Good.”
He gave all he had to his horse. Did he offer the same to his women?
She was stricken with indecision. How long was she going to chase after Cash and nag him about Perry? Maybe she should come back another time.
Her hopes fell further.
Should she go home? Should she even bother talking with Dillon Walker? It was one thing to have the nerve to drive up to a strange man’s place, asking about her brother. But would she have been as persistent with Cash if she hadn’t jumped into bed with him first?
Would Dillon be as hospitable to a stranger, or would he run her off?
Maybe she could just ask. “Does Dillon know I’ve come by?”
Cash’s features returned to serious. “Yes, I’ve talked with him.”
“Oh, okay.” She was learning what crestfallen felt like. How dismal returning to Green Bay and her job was becoming. She’d have to move out of Ellis’s place—if he hadn’t already organized, labeled, and packed her stuff.
The room closed in on her. What was she doing here? It was a lost cause. A fool’s errand because she missed her brother. Ellis was right. It had been impulsive. She’d been impulsive and she was intruding on a family and their work.
“I’ll gather my things. I’m really sorry, Cash. I shouldn’t have bothered you. I can see…” She was going to start bawling if she kept explaining herself. She darted to the kitchen instead to gather her tote, which held her car keys and wallet. Cash could keep the rest. He’d been more than generous.
He was right behind her; she jumped when he spoke.
“Where are you going to go?”
Home was on the tip of her tongue, but no. “The Twin Cities aren’t far away. They have a free zoo. Maybe I could go to the Mall of America.” And shop with what money?
“Sounds nice.” Cash shoved his hands in his pockets, took one out and adjusted his hat, shoved it back in his pocket.
She draped the bag’s straps over her shoulder, but he was standing between her and the kitchen door. If he didn’t move, she’d plow him over to leave before the tears fell.
“Look, you’re already here,” he said. “Why don’t you just ride out with me to take over the combine.”
A surge of hope rose, but she feared he’d take it back if she agreed. She clenched the straps of her bag. “I’m not relegated to grain truck duty?”
“I know this is hard for both of us,” he continued. “I understand where you’re coming from, I really do. So why don’t we just hang out and swap Daniels—Perry—stories.”
She snatched up the olive branch. “What do I need to pack?”