3. Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Lydia
A t the library, my good friend, Molly arranges books and other relevant items on the display table. This month’s theme is Nature and Outdoor Pursuits, with a focus on what to do and see in and around Oak River. I stopped by to see if she had time for a coffee, and also because I wanted to ask if she had any insights concerning Sheena and the new cowboy in town.
“She hasn’t mentioned anything to me,” says Molly holding the green cut-out card title in place on the pinboard.
“No. Me neither. It’s just that it’s been at least a month since he moved onto the ranch.” I huff audibly as I pass Molly a brass thumb tack from a jar I’m holding. She secures the ‘O’ of Outdoor.
“Well, they’re both busy,” Molly says as I hand her another brass tack from the jar. “But I’m sure that, if they like each other, they’ll get around to connecting.” She thumbs the tack into the letter ‘P’ of Pursuits. “Eventually.”
“Do you think he’s called her?” Another tack for the ‘N’ in Nature. “Do you think she has called him?”
“Gosh, Lydia. Maybe Sheena believes in taking her time; in letting things just happen… naturally.”
“Well, it’s not like they’re going to run into each other in the street.” I put down the jar of tacks on the table. “Let’s face it, things are not going to just happen ‘naturally’ unless they are made to happen ‘naturally’.” I smooth out the creases in the topographical map of the national park that Molly plans to pin to the board under the title. “Events leading to an outcome need to be coordinated and orchestrated beautifully, if they are going to occur naturally.”
I like the soft colors of the map and the way the contours of the ups and downs of the land are depicted with pleasing concentric lines at varying distances from each other. My finger traces the road from Green Acres Ranch, which is marked by a collection of haphazard squares denoting farm buildings, to Oak River town center, and the library indicated with the label lib .
“Are you planning something?” Molly asks with a quizzical smile.
“Who me? No. Not at all.”
“Remember the song, ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’?” Molly applies dots of glue to the back of the map.
“Yes, but…”
“I know your heart is in the right place, Lydia, and you just want to see people happy…” I help Molly stick the map on a large sheet of brown paper.
“Yes. That’s right. I do. And I think I have an instinct for spotting potential love birds.”
“Like me and Cam?”
“Exactly. I was right about that, wasn’t I? You knew, as I did, that Cam was The One for you.”
“Well, yes, I did. Eventually. But I had this very bossy friend who insisted that we were perfect together.” Molly fixes me with a mock-serious stare. “So, I really didn’t have much choice.” She holds up the map, stuck to the reinforcing backing paper, and pins it to the board. “So, what makes you think that this eligible cowboy is interested in Sheena?” Molly steps back to survey her efforts. She seems pleased.
“Just a feeling.” I pick up a book about tree species and flick through the informative pages. “Also, when I was in the hotel with fresh sunflowers, just the other day, Sheena started telling me about her new kitchen renovations. Then we were chatting about her single status. And I asked, in a roundabout way, how long it has been since she last went on a date, and if there was, perhaps, someone that may be of interest to her romantically.” I close the tree book and return it to the display table. “Sunflowers last very well even in summer heat.” My friend listens patiently. “Sheena didn’t tell me directly that she has her eyes on a special someone. But she kind of went all sparkly and said something, in passing, that gave me a little hint that maybe… And I’m not getting my hopes up, but she said that there might be a certain someone who has made her reassess her single status. Of course, I tried to probe for more details, but our conversation was interrupted by a guest in the lobby, so I cannot confirm my suspicions at this time.” I feel like a detective solving a case. “Could it be a coincidence that Sheena’s new positive outlook regarding romance, has something to do with Mr Tex walking into her life like John Wayne?”
“Alright. It’s possible, I suppose.”
“Yes, Molly. I thought so too.” A library visitor enters so I drop the level of my voice to a whisper. “So, I said to myself, ‘Lydia, this is your latest challenge.’ Here are two very attractive people who need a helping hand getting together.”
Molly laughs quietly and tidies up loose pieces of string, tape, and left-over colored cardboard. “And what makes you so sure they want to be together? Were they flirting?”
“Sheena was professionally courteous, and he called her ma’am.”
“Is that it?”
“No,” I say edging closer to my friend. “Sheena drew a little kiss on the check-in paper.”
“Are you sure she wasn’t just showing Mr Cowboy where to sign his name?”
“Mmmm. You could be right. But I watched how they interacted and I’m sure there was some kind of chemistry. You know, a spark.”
“Okay.” Molly appraises her display. “Well, he might already be taken.”
“No ring. I checked his ring finger for evidence. Nothing. Not even a tan line.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.” Molly laughs. “How about this idea. He could be interested in you. Have you thought about that?”
“No! No.” I blush, although I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s because I remember Luke Maddox’s incredible blue eyes and the slow, easy way he spoke, and the way he looked in jeans.
Molly smiles and says, “Maybe it’s your turn, my friend. How long has it been since your last date?”
“Who me? Nah.” I tut. “I don’t date. Huh. Anyway, I’m far too busy and sensible for anything the least bit romantic. I am the fairy godmother and never the Cinderella. That’s just the way it is.”
“Never say never, Lydia.” Molly winks at me. There’s a beat and then she says, “Ah, yes. I was going to ask. Are you going to Dylan’s gig next Friday?”
“At The Old Oak?”
“Yeah. Should be a fun night. The band has been practicing some new songs. We should go.”
“Great. Yes. I remember Star Rangers’ last gig. It took me a good few days to recover after that night. Phew. We danced so much.”
“Sshhhhh,” hisses Molly reminding me that I’m in the library. “Keep me posted on developments regarding Sheena and the cowboy, okay?” she whispers as she hurries to where an older woman, with a stack of books, is waiting by the counter.
“Absolutely. You’ll be first to know when I get called upon for wedding arrangements.”