Chapter Nine
CHAPTER NINE
When Helen joined Andy in the shower, they joked around as the water splashed over them, but as they climbed into his truck and started down the road he noticed a worried frown cross her brow.
“Are you okay, darlin?”
“Um…aren’t we going into town?”
“Nope, I’m takin’ you to the restaurant at the campgrounds.”
“Really?”
“Don’t you like it there?”
“Yes, of course, it’s fabulous. I’m just surprised.”
“Hey, this is a special night and it calls for a celebration.”
“You’re right,” she replied, smiling as she leaned across the console and kissed him on the cheek. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”
“Anything for my girl.”
“Wow, I’m your girl?”
“You’d better not be anyone else’s,” he replied with a grin.
Though she smiled back, he still sensed there was something on her mind but decided to wait until they were seated before asking again. It was a short drive, and they were soon being led to a table by a window offering a magnificent view of Moonshine Lake and the mountains beyond.
“Wow, this is fantastic,” she said with a happy sigh, “and being here at sunset is such a treat.”
“Sure is nice to have a break. There was a lot to do gettin’ ready for this group.”
“Are you done?”
“Pretty much, though there are usually last minute things that come up.”
“You know I’m ready to help if you need me.”
“Thanks, darlin’. Actually, there is something. There are six people comin’, and they each get a welcome gift when they arrive. I’ll be puttin’ all the bits and pieces together tomorrow.”
“What a great idea. What does it include?”
“A small bag of low sugar horse treats, a hoof pick, the double-sided groomin’ mitt I like to use, and a few other bits and pieces. It means they each have new groomin’ equipment, and I write their names on everything so there’s never any confusion.”
“That’s brilliant.”
“Thanks. The first time I held the event I realized it needed to be done. Anyway, the delivery should have come today, but Mack over at the feed store called and asked if it would be okay if they brought it tomorrow. Apparently they had a problem with one of their trucks.”
“Tomorrow? What time?”
“Around two-thirty, and here comes our waitress. What would you like to drink? How about we get a bottle of champagne? Though I guess you’re used to that.”
“Not really. We save champagne for special occasions at our house too.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Andy, really,” she replied with a giggle.
“Okay, let’s do it,” he said as the waitress stopped at the table. “We’d like a bottle of champagne. Is Brady bartendin’ tonight?”
“He sure is.”
“Great. Tell him Andy Baker wants him to make the choice for me. ”
“Will do. My name’s Becky, and here are you menus.”
* * *
Though Helen was deliriously happy, the meeting with Kenny hovered over her like a dark cloud. She’d promised not to say a word, and the last thing she wanted to do was lie to Andy, but she couldn’t be in two places at once,
“Hey, darlin’, what’s goin’ on?” Andy asked, lowering his voice as he leaned across the table, “And don’t say nothin’. I can feel it. There’s been something on your mind ever since you joined me in the shower. What have I done or said to upset you?”
“You haven’t done a single thing,” she replied earnestly. “I swear, you are the absolute best and you’ve made me so happy.”
“Then what is it? Maybe I can help.”
“I wish I could tell you but I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone anything.”
“Him?”
“This friend of mine. Someone I know from Dallas.”
“A friend,” Andy muttered skeptically.
“Yes, honestly, he really is just a friend. I’ve never dated him and I never would. Ever.”
“Darlin’, you’re sexy as hell, and—”
“No, it’s not like that, I swear.”
“Not for you, but I’d be willin’ to bet he sees it differently. Wait! Does this have anything to do with that call?”
“Yes,” she mumbled with a sigh. “He wants to see me, but I promised not to say anything about it.”
“And I’m guessin’ he wants to meet up with you tomorrow afternoon.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Did he tell you why?”
“No, just that it was really important, and…uh…”
“To keep it a secret. I don’t like the sound of this, but, hey, if you want to meet up with him then you should. Do you have to go into the city?”
“No, he’s coming here.”
“Well, that’s a relief. Hopefully he won’t take up too much of your time.”
“Sorry…I’m ruining everything,” she mumbled as she spotted the waitress leaving the bar with a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket.
“Hey, darlin’, I love you, and nothin’s gettin’ in the way of this dinner,” Andy assured her, taking her hand. “Forget about—what’s his name?”
“Kenny.”
“Forget about Kenny. Tonight is about us. Everything else takes a back seat and we’ll deal with it later. Okay?”
“Yes! For sure! Thank you, Andy.”
“For what?”
“Being who you are.”
“Back at ya, darlin’. Don’t worry. If it’s bad news we’ll deal with it together. Okay?”
“Okay. Thank you again. I feel better now.”
* * *
Though Andy smiled up at the waitress when she popped the champagne cork and poured the bubbling wine into their glasses, he couldn’t ignore the wave of anxiety rippling through him. He needed to find out who Kenny was, and why he was coming all the way out to Smoky Hill just to see Helen.
Something was horribly wrong.
He could feel it.