Chapter 5
Jose
Istared at the people in my kitchen, having a beer on my account. And normally, I would have a problem. I should have a problem. But I don’t. Because if they hadn’t stepped up today, I wouldn’t have my cattle. There was no way those posts were going to get done.
It’s not perfect, but it will hold until I can really do it. And though I was loath to admit it, I owed a huge thanks to Vicky for getting everyone here.
Honestly, I'm not sure what I would have done without her.
With that thought, my eyes drifted towards her talking to Tim.
I was never a jealous sort, prided myself on giving my women their space, and it wasn’t like Vicky was mine, but seeing her talking to Tim was really lighting something under my ass.
Even worse when I always claimed I didn’t like that personality of hers; the one that was bubbly and friendly.
How many people would have stepped up if I asked versus her asking?
“Go talk to her.”
I turned my head to look at my dad who had a smirk on his face.
“Why would I talk to her?” I asked.
“Because you’ve been staring at her since you walked through those doors. And now that the rain has ceased, and everyone will be leaving soon, it wouldn’t hurt to say thank you.”
I rolled my eyes at him, but I found my legs walking towards her. I licked my lips and set my beer on a counter, lightly tapping her on her shoulder when I stepped behind her.
“Hey, Jose. Everything okay?” she asked, turning around and offering me a smile.
I shouldn’t feel that down in my chest, but I did. In fact, I wanted to see that smile a whole lot more than I should. That couldn't be good, right? This went against everything I was as a grump. And certainly, as a recluse.
“Everything is fine. Just wanted to say I owe you, Vicky. Thank you.”
“Say what? He said something nice to me.” she teased.
I rolled my eyes at her, but her laugh kept me in place when I wanted to leave. Again, this was
not a good thing.
“I’m not always that grump,” I muttered, making her laugh all the more.
“You are, Jose, but it’s okay, maybe it’s something I like about you? And you’re welcome. It’s what a community is for, getting help when we need it the most, even if we don’t want to say anything.”
“I know. My dad would have asked.”
She tilted her head as she regarded the man who was talking to a few people before looking back at me.
“Why would you want to do life alone rather than having a few friends help you?”
That was an excellent question, and one I didn’t have an answer for.
“How about I take you to dinner and we can talk when everyone leaves?”
Her brow raised in question, but her lips lifted up into a smirk that I wasn’t sure I wanted answers to or not. But like everything else, it did something to me and I was trying to figure out how to get more looks like that out of her.
Thirty-five minutes later, as we sat in the diner, I wished I could take back what I thought. That smirk was doing things to me that I shouldn’t be thinking.
One, still a recluse.
Two, she was how much younger than me? But I couldn’t ignore that something was making me shift in my chair and I didn’t quite know what to do with it.
Don’t go thinking I was a virgin, I was not.
But this feeling, it went beyond just desire or lust, and that’s what scared the shit out of me.
That’s me wishing I could turn tail and run back to my house and lock the door, never letting anyone in again.
But I had a feeling she was going to change the very rules on me now and I really didn’t know how I felt about that.
“So, why be a loner?” she asked, fiddling with the straw in her strawberry milkshake.
“I know you won’t let me slide with the simple statement that it’s easier, but it just is.
I guess growing up, being a lifer here, I just had so many people who knew my family’s business before I even did, and I was over it.
It sounds dumb, I know. But it’s how I felt.
Almost intrusive so by the time I got control of the ranch, I was ready to be done with people.
I talked to those that were helping me maintain the land, and that was it. ”
“I can understand that. But is it really easier? I mean, it’s a small town, no matter what, so everyone is going to know everything in days. But days like today, and season like now, is it really easier to do it all on your own?”
I took a sip of my ice tea. I wanted to tell her yes, it was, but the truth was, no, it just wasn’t.
I didn’t want her to get a big head over the idea, but it felt nice to see the people I kept at arm’s length rallying behind me to help.
I wasn’t sure they would have come if I asked, but they did it for her.
“You don’t have to pretend with me, Jose.”
My eyes lifted to her and she smiled, making something odd happen in my chest again.
“No, I guess it’s not easier. But I’m not the type to be all friendly like you. Which is so annoying.”
“It might have been, but I’ve grown on you. You can admit that.”
“Not really.”
She giggled before she tilted her head.
“Today, the people came because you asked. They wouldn’t have if it was me asking.”
“And that, Mr. Vasquez, is where you are wrong. They would have come if you asked. We’re a community, we pride ourselves on helping each other out. If you had swallowed just a bit of pride and said, ‘I need help’, no one would have judged and all would have come running.”
“We’re a community. Vicky, you haven’t lived here that long.
And yet you talk as if this place is your home, as if you wanted to be here.
How is that possible? And though I give you crap about learning from books, I’ve caught a tour or two.
What you talk about isn’t in a book. So why not enlighten me as to how you really came by your information and why you feel like this is your community. ”