Barbara, like the good friend she’d been over the years, sat there listening, not interrupting, just letting her spill her regretful thoughts all over the garden lawn. When she did make a move it was to shift on the bench and slide an arm around Peggy’s shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up about a decision you made when you were young. You thought it was the best decision and it worked out in your favor in many ways.”
“When I got back he’d left town,” Peggy said, hardly hearing what Barbara was saying. “He’d joined the army. I got on with my life, thinking he’d be back some day. He never did come back. Last thing I heard from his old aunt, he’d gotten married and had a family. He was the one man I ever loved and I let him walk away, just like that.” She sighed again then shook her head. “The stupidity of youth.”
For a while there was silence, Peggy lost in thought and Barbara letting her be. It was Peggy who broke that silence with a matter-of-fact click of the tongue. “But enough of that,” she said, her voice full of forced cheeriness. “That’s all in the past. Right now it’s time to look to the future. Blake’s future.” She hopped up onto her feet and when she looked down at Barbara she was smiling. “And I want to make Blake happy.”
But Barbara wasn’t smiling back. Gaze narrowed, she pointed a finger at her friend. “Peggy,” she said, her tone terse, “I’m warning you. No meddling.”
Peggy only laughed. “Who’s meddling? I’m only ensuring the happiness of my semi-adopted daughter. I just want her to have a chance with Ryder. All she has to do is check him out. After that, she can reject him if they don’t mesh. But I want her to have that chance.”
“Peggy, what did I tell you?”
“Ryder’s right for her, Barbara. I can feel it. Right here.” She stabbed a stiff thumb into the middle of her chest. “It’s the same feeling I had with Jeff. We have to give this thing a chance.”
“What thing? This is of your own invention.”
“Good afternoon, ladies. Mighty fine afternoon, isn’t it?”
Both women whipped around to see Ted Granger coming up the driveway. As usual he was dressed in boots, jeans and the same brown Stetson he’d been wearing for the past ten years. The poor hat was way past the retirement stage but would the man get rid of it? He was so attached to the thing, if he’d had a wife she’d be jealous of the relationship.
“Hey, Ted,” Peggy and Barbara said in unison then Peggy slid her hands into the back pocket of her jeans and straightened. “What brings you by?” She gave him a suspicious look, not quite a glare, but she knew Ted like the back of her hand. After so many decades of living in the same town with him she knew that the wider he smiled the more careful you’d better be around him. And, for some reason, today’s grin looked mighty suspicious.
“Oh, not a whole lot.” By this time he’d reached close enough for them to get a whiff of his cologne. Old Spice. As always. “I just came by to see if you’d heard about the surprise birthday supper they’re having for old Ezekiel. Are you going?” He slid both hands into the back pockets of his jeans, mimicking Peggy’s stance.
She frowned. “Of course I’m going. It was my idea to throw him a surprise party.”
“Oh? I didn’t know that.” He’d raised his eyebrows in surprise but then he smiled. “But I should have guessed, shouldn’t I? So, you want me to come get you tomorrow?”
“No.” Her answer was quick and brutal. “I know where Ezekiel lives. I can get there by myself.”
Barbara cleared her throat and then she threw Peggy a cutting glare but, to her credit, she didn’t say a word.
Still, the look had the effect Barbara intended. Peggy felt suitably chastised. She’d given a biting response to a simple question and that had been uncalled for. She’d been touchy with Ted but lately he just seemed to rub her the wrong way. She sighed. Time to be nice. “I’ll probably have to make a stop on the way to Ezekiel’s,” she explained. “I’ll see you at the party.”
“No problem,” he said with a shrug. “Maybe we can take a walk another time.” He glanced across at Barbara who sat watching from her seat on the bench. He gave her a bow then tipped his hat. “Enjoy the rest of the afternoon, ladies,” he said then turned and sauntered off, back down the pathway and around to the front gate, whistling as he went.
“He likes you, Peggy. A whole lot. But I’m sure you already know that.”
“Excuse me?” Peggy turned from how she’d been standing, staring after Ted, and glared down at her friend. “What in the dickens are you talking about?”
“I’m talking romance. Love. It’s in the air.” Barbara had a glint in her eye and a satisfied smirk on her lips.
“Not in the air around me, it’s not.”
“Well, it’s in the air around Ted. He’s smitten. Can’t you see that?”
“Not by me,” was Peggy’s sharp retort. “I’ve known Ted all my life and from day one he’s been nothing but a troublemaker.”
Barbara rolled her eyes. “Just because he stole a kiss when you were five years old. That was over five decades years ago. Get over it.”
“He’s done lots more over the years-”
“And all because he likes you. Why don't you give him a chance? He might be the one to stir those old embers of yours.”
“Who? That messy old coot?”
“Oh, you be quiet. He’s all of six months older than you are.”
“Old enough for me to call him an old coot. Forget about him.” She waved a dismissive hand. “It’s those kids I want to talk about. Blake and Ryder make such a handsome couple.” She took two steps to the bench and dropped back down onto it beside Barbara then leaned toward her friend.
“I’m going to make Blake happy,” she said, her voice vibrating with determination, “if it’s the last thing I do.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Jerome Slater had the slimiest of smirks on his lips as he leaned back in his chair. He hadn’t even shown the courtesy of getting to his feet when Blake entered the office. In fact, as she stood there in the middle of the room glaring across at him, he lifted his arms and, as casual as you please, he folded them behind his head and raised his feet to prop them on the edge of his desk.