Chapter Twenty-two #2
pickup, took another sip of coffee, then put the rig in reverse.
Sawyer told him word was that both Fetterly and Grafton would be
formerly charged in the morning.
All good, but all he really
wanted—needed—was time with Laney.
***
Delaney lay on the couch with a
blanket over her legs, rubbing Callie’s ears as the old dog lay her
head on a cushion next to her. Clara rested in her easy chair,
seemingly lost in thought. Oscar sat on the end of the couch and
spoke in his accented English, assuring her the crew could handle
opening the farm to the public on schedule. “You got to take it
easy, girl. Don’t feel like you have to be working if you’re not
feeling up to it. We got it covered.”
“We’re still five days off
from opening day.” Delaney raised a hand to stop his objection. “I
know I have to take it easy, but I’ll be recovered by
Friday.”
“You’ll only be going back
to work when the doctor clears you,” Clara declared.
Delaney slumped back against the
couch. She hated being an invalid, and worse, she hated not knowing
what was going on.
She hadn’t seen Walker since he’d left
the hospital room that morning. He’d retrieved his phone, but
Fetterly had destroyed hers, so she couldn’t text or call
anyone.
Walker had snuck into her room at the
hospital, and now she wondered if that had more to do with him
feeling responsible for her than anything else. She couldn’t stand
constantly second-guessing their relationship, but she didn’t know
exactly what their relationship was. Unresolved issues loomed
between them, but she wanted to believe they were heading to a
place where they could be together.
Cam came out of the kitchen, a dish
towel draped over her shoulder. “Franny made a big pot of beef stew
for when you’re hungry. The rest of us ate while you were napping,
and I baked another batch of cheddar biscuits. There’s plenty for
leftovers for tomorrow.” Delaney hadn’t been hungry earlier, but
now the thought of beef stew and biscuits sounded about
perfect.
Clara rose from her chair. “Thank you,
Camilla.”
Delaney glanced at her grandmother,
then at Cam. There was something about how Clara emphasized Cam’s
name that seemed to imbue it with special meaning.
Cam sent Clara a startled look, her
face turning slightly pale.
Before Delaney could consider what
that was about, Franny spoke in her typically cheerful manner. “We
wanted food on hand for you and Clara for the next few days. Cam
also brought a Dutch apple-berry pie she baked earlier, so you’re
all set for food.”
“Thank you both. I feel
well cared for.”
As much as she loved her people,
Delaney was thankful when Keeley began shooing everyone but Clara
out the door. Clara, more demonstrative than she’d ever been,
kissed Delaney on the cheek before climbing the stairs to her
room.
Keeley sat beside her on the couch.
“Guess you’re the lucky one. That cute new doctor in town has
agreed to make house calls to check on you. I should break a leg or
something.”
“You sound like Antonia.
She calls him Doctor Delicious.”
“He is. Certainly more
delicious than broody Owen Hardesty. Isn’t it interesting some
people have amazing personalities, they’re open and friendly, and
others act like they’re doing you a favor just by sharing the same
air as you?”
“Owen doesn’t strike me
like that. He’s a decent guy. Quiet, but decent.”
“You only say that because
he likes you, in a friends-only way of course, because he knows
you’re Walker’s.”
“There’s nothing official
between Walker and me.”
Keeley smirked. “Okay, let me state
the obvious. Wowza fireworks when you kissed at Easy Money. He
searched all night and went into a mine to find you, refusing to
wait for backup.” She used her fingers to tick off her points. “He
went kinda berserk at the hospital when no one would tell him if
you were dead or alive. Then he checked himself out of the hospital
against doctor’s orders so he could sit by your bed all night. The
guy is head over heels. And as we’ve been friends since forever, I
know you feel the same.”
“We had sex,” Delaney
blurted.
“What? And you’re only now
telling me? You’ve proved my point, by the way.”
“I didn’t tell you because
it didn’t end well.” She couldn’t help laughing at Keeley’s
incredulous expression. “That
part ended spectacularly, but we had an argument
and weren’t talking, so your point is not proven.”
The sound of tires crunching on gravel
carried into the house. Keeley craned her neck to look out the
window. “If you say so. But FYI, your not-a-boyfriend has arrived
with his hot brother.”
“I wish your dates with
hot brother had worked out.”
“Right? But as hot as
Sawyer is, and as amazing as I am, we’re doomed to the friend zone.
Dating him was like dating my brother.”
Keeley crossed the room to open the
door for Sawyer and Walker. Walker’s gaze locked on Delaney. The
air between them pulsed with unspoken emotions and she was forced
to concede Keeley’s point.
She and Walker were
something.
She wasn’t sure what, but they were
something.
“You kick everybody out?”
Sawyer asked her.
Delaney had a hard time pulling her
gaze from Walker’s. “Keeley did.”
“Good. You need rest. We
all do. It’s been a rough coupla days.”
“Thank you, Sawyer, for
everything you did.”
He moved to the couch and bent to kiss
her on the forehead. “You’re family, Laney. I’ll check on you
tomorrow. I’m going home and sleeping for the next ten
hours.”
“Wait, Franny put some of
the stew in individual containers so anyone who wanted could take
some home. I’ll get that for you.” Keeley disappeared into the
kitchen, returning a minute later with a paper bag she handed to
Sawyer. “Beef stew and cheddar biscuits. Enjoy.”
“Excellent. Thanks, Keel.”
He moved to the door, clapping a hand on Walker’s shoulder. “Later,
brother.”
“Yeah, later.” Walker
seemed to give himself a mental shake.
Keeley spoke in an overly bright
voice, “I’m staying at my parents’ house if you need anything,
Delaney. See you all later.”
She followed Sawyer out the door,
leaving Delaney and Walker alone in the suddenly quiet
house.