The Cowboy's Return by Susan Crosby

Author:Susan Crosby
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-06-17T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Late the next morning, Annie approached the shed where Austin and Mitch were installing the new parts in his truck. She could hear Mitch describing what the part was, what it did, where it fit and what connected to it. They’d already picked all the produce for the farmer’s market, then loaded it and the buckets of flowers plus her booth setup parts in her truck, which was parked in the shade. They would leave right after lunch.

She wished Mitch would come with her but knew he wouldn’t. He’d been in a strange mood since returning yesterday—quiet and distant. She wondered where he’d gone. The same place as the day before?

To see a woman, maybe? That possibility didn’t seem likely, considering his obvious attraction to her, but then, she barely knew him. Anything was possible.

“How’s it going?” she asked.

“We’ll find out soon,” Mitch said, straightening and wiping his hands with a rag. “I could end up replacing every part, one by one, until I’ve got it fixed, I suppose.”

“Lunch is ready. Can you stop?”

“I’d rather keep working. And I’m not really hungry yet.”

He’d barely touched his breakfast, which was totally unlike him. He and Austin usually consumed hearty amounts.

“What time do you think you’ll be home?” he asked.

“The market’s open from three to seven, then we have to take down our canopy and stow the booth. Sometime around eight, depending on how much we all talk after. There’s chili in the fridge you can heat up, if you want. I’ll wrap your sandwich up now and put it in there, too.”

“Thanks.” He stuck his head back under the hood.

“Can I eat my sandwich while we’re driving?” Austin asked. “I want to keep helping Mitch.”

“Sure.”

Half an hour later, Annie and Austin headed for town, first to the building supply store then to set up their site. It wasn’t a big marketplace. Only about fifteen people set up booths on a regular basis, but it was in a good location with lots of traffic and easy parking nearby. One of the biggest draws was the barbecued sausage sandwich booth, which moved each week according to which way the wind blew. Many residents came just for that, then ended up buying homemade beef jerky or table flowers or farm-fresh eggs. Local musicians took turns on a nearby corner.

Annie and Austin set up their pop-up canopy in minutes, then hung their sign from the back. They put three tables in a U-shape, where they placed a bushel of two varieties of baby potatoes, a bunch of pickling cucumbers and an ice chest filled with baby lettuces. The buckets of bouquets sat on the ground beneath the tables, except for a couple placed on the tables. Annie wore a cash apron with plenty of change.

Early birds usually showed up for first selections, and today was no different, including the organic restaurant owner, Brenna James, who’d become a regular already.

“Hey, Annie, how’s it going?” Brenna asked. The petite brunette with shiny long hair and near-black eyes shook hands.

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