A Moment In The Sun
After Tristan Downey was transferred to Burlington, Wyatt enjoyed watching Esme relax into life on the farm.
Even the presence of the second person didn’t weigh on her as heavily.
They hadn’t identified the person and didn’t know if the incident was even connected to Esme or anyone else on the farm, although it seemed likely.
Marcus had deputies checking and nothing new was posted online about Esme being in Phail.
He hoped Downey would leave the state once he was released, and this would be their life. The sex was extraordinary, so that maybe colored his judgment, but he could see them doing the same kinds of things for decades to come.
They spent their nights together, harvested apples, helped around the farm, and worked in his greenhouse. The exterior structure was complete, and he and Esme were adding shelves and worktables to the interior.
“Have you finalized your plant order yet? I can’t wait to see what you’ll grow. Don’t forget you promised to teach me how to graft and splice.”
He grinned at her as he locked up the structure and took her hand for the walk back to the farmhouse for lunch. “I remember. Gray and I finalized it and sent it in while you and Amber set up their baby’s room.”
She squeezed his hand and skipped a few steps. “Good for you. How does it feel to take that next step?”
“Damn good.”
“You and the plants are both putting down roots.”
He chuckled. “I guess we are. And you?”
Her smile blossomed. “Me too.”
Fox bounded out of the forest with his tail wagging.
As always, the Great Pyrenees loped over to them and waited for his rubdown.
The huge white dog was as happy as any animal Wyatt had ever seen.
He hugged Thea and Knox as if he were human and loved the rest of them.
He’d been a vital part of keeping some of them safe, too.
Now that Wyatt was settled here at the farm, he wanted to bring Gomez home. Like most boys, Wyatt had wanted a dog growing up, but his parents hadn’t wanted to take on another responsibility. Having a kid they hadn’t planned had been enough.
He grinned at the thought. They’d been in their mid-forties when he came along and had been good parents, but one high-energy boy had been enough for them.
Fox walked along at their side for a few minutes before barking happily and loping into the orchard.
Esme sighed. “I’ve always wanted a dog. Do you think Gomez would be happy living here on the farm?”
“Great minds think alike.”
She whirled to him. “You want to bring Gomez here, too?”
He nodded. “I’ve been texting Garrett to see how he’s doing.”
“And?”
He laughed at the enthusiasm in her voice and the radiance on her face. He texted his friend and laughed at the quick response. “Scooby suggested we go and see for ourselves.”
Esme bounced on her toes. “Now?”
He sent another text. “They’ve got a new arrival right now, but after lunch works.”
Esme sighed. “Okay. I guess we can wait to see him.”
Laughing, he slung his arm over her shoulder. “Why don’t we head into Phail? I haven’t taken you on a proper date yet.”
Esme grinned. “I guess we haven’t done the typical date thing, but I’ve enjoyed what we have been doing.”
Which meant making love at every opportunity, even in the greenhouse when they’d added the workroom at the back. He knew he’d be smiling every time he entered the room for decades to come.
When he parked in one of the lots surrounding Phail Way Park, Esme looked around with a smile. “This town is unique. I’ve visited a lot of small towns over the past year, and none of them make me as happy as Phail. I’m so glad I spotted the name on the map.”
He leaned across the console to capture her lips. “Me too.”
A few younger kids played in the park with their parents.
No big kids, which meant it was probably a weekday.
When was the last time he’d forgotten to track the days?
Life on the farm meant that everyone worked on their individual projects according to their own schedules.
They put in far more than a typical forty-hour work week, but no one thought of it as a job.
It was fun. Exactly what Wyatt needed after the boring lab job. His parents had loved working in labs, but it made Wyatt’s skin itchy to be stuck inside a sterile environment all the time.
The farm suited him.
Beside him, Esme stiffened. “You okay?”
She frowned and rolled her lips together. “Yes. Seeing the Phail Jail reminded me of Tristan Downey, and I’m wondering when he’ll be released from Burlington. Paparazzi rarely stay in jail this long.”
Wyatt nodded. “That doesn’t surprise me. The trespassing probably helped keep him there for a bit, but he’ll probably be out soon.”
Esme sighed. “I hope he’s annoyed with Vermont and heads back to LA.”
Which was doubtful. The man had been following Esme for years.
Wyatt had searched online for more information about her attack. The paparazzi had gone into a feeding frenzy for months, even after she announced she was leaving modeling. Photos of her attack were on dozens of sites. The more ethical ones didn’t show them, but that left hundreds that did.
Over the past year, the frenzy had slowed, but her name still popped up.
As did photos of the places she visited.
He wondered if Downey had paid people for those photos.
And how pissed he was that everyone spoke positively about Esme.
Dirt sold better than anonymous donations for small-town projects.
“Why don’t we go into the Saloon for lunch this time? We already know the No Fail Diner is fabulous, but I think Falcon would be pissed if we didn’t try his and Branna’s place.”
Esme shot a final look at Phail Jail and then nodded firmly. “Sounds good. I’m not letting thoughts of him ruin our date.”
“That’s my girl.”
She rolled her eyes. “I haven’t been a girl in a very long time.”
He laughed. “That’s my woman.”
Her nose scrunched up. “That sounds weird, too.”
He took her hand again. “My charm is failing me. Let’s see if I can redeem myself over some beer named after my friends.”
When he opened the Saloon’s door with a flourish and bowed low with a gesture for her to enter first, a laugh sparkled out of her. “Your charm is more than adequate, Wyatt Foisy.”
The room reminded him of the old westerns his dad had enjoyed. Apparently, his grandfather had been a huge fan. He would approve of Wyatt’s callsigns.
An extensive bar ran the length of the room, with bottles on glass shelves in front of the mirror behind it.
A whoop had him turning to the man striding through one of the doors at the edge of the bar. “Gunslinger. We’ve been waiting for you to show up.”
Sean Falcone strode across the room and engulfed Wyatt in a back-slapping hug.
“Hey, Falcon, you’ve got a great place here.”
“We do, and now that we’ve got our very own gunslinger in town, the setting is complete. Branna, come meet our very own Wyatt Earp.”
A pretty redhead crossed to them after delivering a tray of drinks.
Wyatt took Esme’s hand in his. She’d proven she was comfortable with strangers even before he’d officially met her, but he wanted to ensure she felt part of the group.
Holding her hand felt like he was claiming her in public.
Her smile assured him that she approved.
Falcon dropped a kiss on Branna’s hair as he hugged her into his side. “Wyatt Foisy, I’d like you to meet my wife, Branna. Branna, this is Earp, Slinger, Gunslinger, or High Noon, depending on the day and who’s doing the talking.”
Laughing, Wyatt shook Branna’s hand. “Nice to meet you. This is Esme Garcia. She’s staying out at the farm with us.”
Branna grinned. “Hi, Esme. I’m so glad they caught the guy bothering you, and I hope he rots in jail for the rest of his miserable life. I love your small-town posts. Piper shared some of them with me, and now I’m hooked.”
Esme returned the smile. “I’m hoping you’ll allow me to take a few videos in here. I adore the pioneer vibe you’ve created. It’s a marvelous place.”
“I’d love it. Video away. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it out to help with the harvest, but the Saloon’s been hopping. I’ll be back in a few minutes to get your order. Menus are on the chalkboards.”
Wyatt held out a chair for Esme, then motioned for Sean to join them. Sean shook his head. “I’m heading out to work on a friend’s barn, but I’m glad you came in. We’ll have a day where we can all get together and catch up. How’s the greenhouse working out?”
Wyatt grinned. “It’s exactly what I wanted.”
“Perfect. I’m glad you’re happy with it. My favorite beer, obviously, is the blonde ale, and you can’t go wrong with Branna’s fish and chips or the bangers and mash.”
Esme grinned at Wyatt as his buddy strode out the door. “This place is wonderful. I need to take a video of the beer menu. After what Sean said, I bet there’s a story behind each of the names.”
After checking to ensure she wasn’t bothering anyone, Esme walked to the board. She grinned at him when he joined her.
Then she pointed her camera and began. “Hi, everyone. This is Esme. I’m here in an Irish pub called the Saloon in the town of Phail.
I’ll show you the entire place in another video.
It won’t be what you’re expecting, but it’s fabulous.
For today, let’s check out the beer selections.
I’m betting there’s a story or a local connection behind each of the names. ”
He watched her pan the board as she read the names.
“Epic Phail Pale Ale, Falcon Blond, The Pilsner of Oz, Slick and Smooth Dark Ale, Scooby’s Sweet Porter, Straight Arrow Stout, and Seamus’s Guinness.
They all sound good to me. Which one would you try first?
Let me know in the comments. Take care of yourselves and everyone around you. Talk soon.”
She grinned as she turned to him. “This is amazing.”
He captured her joy with his mouth. “Yes, you are.”
He kept the kiss light, and they returned to their table. It was an excellent start to their first date.