Chapter Seventeen
The day of the ribbon cutting came with a blistering day of heat and activity. The temperature had reached a record high temperature, but it didn’t keep anyone away.
Dust kicked up as trucks and cars came up the lane and parked in the grass. This wasn’t a formal affair, but from what everyone had said Fin’s Creek townsfolk loved a good shindig. So, they were expecting a large crowd and lots of food.
The air was thick of pine and smoke from the meat smoker, made thicker by the sun’s rays beating down.
Tables were set up neatly in rows, already laden and getting fuller as guests arrived and placed their contribution among the crockpots, casserole dishes, and aluminum pans of delicious home cooking.
Long wooden tables scarred with decades of past shenanigans were set up under tents for respite from the heat and chairs were set up under the shade of ancient cottonwood trees for people to sit, eat and chat.
Lanterns were lit to repel flies, but as the evening came, they would offer soft lighting. Mason jars filled with a variety of flowers were set up on tables and along the pathway between the house and tents. The savory aroma of smoked brisket lingered in the air, making mouths water.
Children chased each other across the yard in bare feet, their laughter a welcoming addition to the low gossip of adults.
In the distance, behind the fence the cattle watched the commotion with mild interest, occasionally swinging their tails or perking their ears, offering a moo as if to join the chatter.
CaDee and Ursula were busy bees as they buzzed around greeting guests, checking the kegs, and making sure there was enough seating.
Margo had met a handful of townsfolk, and all conversation was lighthearted.
The people in the small town weren’t just neighbors, they were family.
They supported each other, bound by a community bond.
“Hi.”
The rich timber greeting made her turn on the heels of her sandals and settle her hungry gaze on Hawkeye. Recalling the night they’d spent together brought warmth to her center. They didn’t make love, but they’d made something, and it was delicious.
Just as he’d warned her, when she awoke that morning with the sun he was already gone. She hadn’t heard him leave so he must have snuck out. Like a crushing teen, she’d dragged his pillow close and breathed in his scent lingering on the linen. She missed the real thing.
Here he was, all six-foot-something, two-hundred-pounds of muscle wrapped in flannel and denim and topped with a sterling silver buckle.
“Hi,” she said, a little bashfully.
“You look beautiful.” His flashed his white teeth.
“You look handsome.” She had half a mind to hug him, even kiss him. But she didn’t.
“Looks like it’s a good turn out,” he said.
“It’s exciting to watch.”
“I wanted to let you know that I looked for any signs that someone had been near the cottage. I didn’t find anything out of place.”
She nodded. “I understand.”
She woke up in full doubt that she actually saw someone. At least she was lucky enough to have Hawkeye in her bed.
Today, as she’d helped CaDee and Ursula with last-minute details for the gathering, she’d become even more doubtful that she’d seen someone lurking around the cottage. It was ridiculous.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“I slept great. How about you?”
“Amazing.” His eyes sparked.
“I’ve met a lot of people already.” She skimmed her gaze across the crowd. “Does the whole town always show up for gatherings?”
“Free food and alcohol will pull anyone out of their homes.” He winked. “They’re supportive. Good people.” A woman with a wide brimmed hat was waving at him from across the yard. “I guess I’d better go pay my greetings. Catch up later?”
“Yes. We can.”
She didn’t know what to do with herself. She’d never felt comfortable in large crowds, especially at gatherings she didn’t know many people.
She walked a path around the crowd and the scent of smoke, mesquite and red oak hung thick in the dry air. The mouthwatering promise had been sizzling since sunrise.
A cowboy staffed the pit with the gravity of a high priest. He wore an old, faded hat that sat at an angle on his head, lifted just enough so that she could see the roadmap of wrinkles as cracked as his old boots.
He had the quiet confidence of a man who’d spent his life working hard.
She found it intriguing watching him turn slabs of beef on a spit over the fire. The meat sizzled and groaned.
He gave her a nod, and she smiled.
“I think I know you,” came the statement from someone behind her.
She saw Bradley Creed. “I’m Margo. We’ve met.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “Ah, yes. I remember. How are you enjoying yourself, ma’am?”
“All this food is making me hungry.”
“You remind me of my wife. She had pretty eyes.”
“Thank you.”
His rugged features turned dim. His gaze narrowed like he lost his train of thought. “I wonder where I put my glasses?” He clapped his hands over his body and looked on the ground.
“Can I help you look?” She scanned the area where he was standing.
“I’d lose my head if it wasn’t attached.”
The ringing of the food bell signaling chow time made Margo look up as cowboys were filing in from all directions like a herd of rushing bulls. She got caught up as one man passed too close and he apologized with a wink and a smile.
When she turned back to say something to Bradley, he was gone. The man was quick for his age.
“Hello, Margo.”
She waved at Sin who had his plate piled high with a little bit of every casserole available. He hurried off with his treasure.
Bear and Arrow had gathered with long forks and thick gloves to pull the tender meat off the bone. They loaded a platter full and just as quickly they needed to reload it.
Tansy came and whisked Margo away. “Come eat with me.”
“Okay.” Margo was glad to have someone to sit with.
They grabbed plates and made their way through the line. There were so many delicious choices Margo had a tough time choosing. After leaving the line, she and Tansy sat at a picnic table under an oak.
“So…I don’t want to be nosy or anything, but you and Hawkeye looked very cozy on the dance floor last night,” Tansy said in a whisper.
Margo made train tracks in her potato salad with the tines of her fork. “I had an amazing time.”
“Oh, I’m sure you did.” Tansy bit into her corn, sending a spray of buttery juice splattering the air. “I hope Hawkeye sweeps you off your feet so you’ll stay here. You fit right into our group. We’ve all said so.”
Draining half her bottle of water, Margo thought over her next words carefully.
“Hawkeye is a lot of things, but I don’t think he’s the type to sweep any woman off their feet.
” Although, his kind gesture with the cake and then staying all night with her did show kindness and thoughtfulness. Would she move for any man, though?
“I think you’re wrong. He looks at you the way those cowboys admire the pig roasting on the spit. They want to sink their teeth into the hot, juicy meat.”
Margo saw Hawkeye. He was watching her and she smiled at him. He touched the brim of his hat and grinned. Her inner thighs warmed. He could turn her on his spit any day of the week. She felt her cheeks burn in humiliation at the cheesy thought.
“See what I’m saying?” Tansy said. “Girl, hang on for dear life because that one is definitely a keeper.”
*****
After the sun had gone down and the guests were starting to dwindle, Hawkeye went in search of Bear finally finding him out from the crowd sitting on a bale of hay, his back leaned against the wall of the barn, his hat teetering on his bent knee.
“Care for some company?” Hawkeye asked.
Bear grinned. “Pull up a bale.” He cradled a bottle of beer in his hand.
Hawkeye dropped down and stretched his legs. “I have about an hour of tolerance for large crowds and then I’m ready to go back to my peaceful existence.”
“I second that.” Bear looked a bit frazzled.
“Where have you been lately?”
“Just around,” Bear said.
Hawkeye could see that something was bothering his buddy more than just the day’s hustle and bustle of activities. They’d been working their asses off to get the sprawling ranch finished and chasing bad guys and hadn’t had much opportunity to sit down to shoot the shit about life.
“Doing okay, man?” Hawkeye asked.
“Right as rain. Want a beer?”
“Sure. I could use one.”
Bear took out one from the cooler.
Hawkeye chuckled as he shook off the half-melted ice from the bottle. “You must be feeling some sort of way. You broke out the good stuff.” He popped the lid off the fancy beer.
“Sometimes a man has to live a little.”
“Are you celebrating?” Hawkeye stared down the hill where a father and son tossed a football. He envisioned himself passing a ball with his own child and instead of feeling strange, he felt a sense of curiosity.
Bear plucked a piece of loose hay free from his jeans and rolled it between his fingers. “Celebrating? Nah. Deep thinking.”
Hawkeye stretched his gaze further where people had gathered around to listen to the last few songs of the band. He instantly found Margo. She stuck out like a diamond among glass. He wasn’t sure what all these emotions were creeping into his gut, but he wasn’t stopping them.
CaDee and Sharp’s son, Carsen, had taken a liking to Margo. They were sitting together on a log, and the little guy was showing her something in his hand. She had her focus on him, listening intently.
She’d make a good mother.
Hawkeye wondered if she wanted kids. Didn’t most people want kids? Hell, he wasn’t even sure he wanted kids.
What did it matter though if either of them wanted children? After her safety was assured, she’d be going back to San Antonio and taking up her life where she left off. Hawkeye would be left with…what?
What if she didn’t go home? What if she called Fin’s Creek home?
“What’s new with you, buddy?” Bear asked.
“Living the dream,” Hawkeye said.
“Is that what you call it?”