Page 7 of Resisting the Lumberjack

"You stole my sandwich, brought a replacement, and showed up two days later with another one. That is not predictable behavior."

"Very predictable. Stole it, felt bad, fixed it. Twice. That's a pattern. You can set your watch by my guilt."

She almost smiles. Corner of her mouth going to war with the rest of her face. The scowl trying to hold the line while something warmer pushes from behind. The scowl wins, but barely.

"You should go load your truck."

"Already loaded."

"Then go do whatever lumberjacks do."

"Right now, what this lumberjack does is talk to the woman at the feed store." Standing up, hat goes back on. "Gabe's putting together a fall festival at the ranch. First weekend of November. Pumpkins, bonfire, the whole deal. Anna's been planning it for months. Hayrides, cider, pumpkin carving, live music. Building the whole thing from timber I dropped myself. We could use help setting up."

"That sounds nice. For other people."

"Good way to meet folks."

"I moved here specifically to avoid meeting people."

"Gonna be tough in Wild Peak. There's maybe forty of us. You'll meet every single one by December whether you want to or not. Might as well get it over with."

"I'll take my chances."

Two taps on the counter. Becoming a thing. Her eyes track the motion like it means something. Maybe it does.

"Same time Saturday, Selene. I'll bring the sandwich."

"You don't need to..."

"Three times a week. Clockwork." Hat tip at the door. "Set your watch by it."

The bell jingles behind me. And I swear I hear her laugh. Small, involuntary, bitten off fast like she caught herself breaking a rule.

My truck sits in the lot with the engine running and October pouring gold through the cab. She's at the counter through the window. Picking up the sandwich wrapper. Folding it into a smaller square. Putting it in her purse.

She kept the wrapper.

Luke:

You get the feed order?

Me:

Loaded and coming. Also made a friend.

Luke:

Is the friend why you're forty minutes late?

Me:

Worth every minute boss.

Luke:

Don't call me boss. And bring sandwiches next time. Anna says she's tired of soup.

Chapter Four