A Baby for Dry Creek and A Dry Creek Christmas: A Baby for Dry Creek. Janet Tronstad

you and Jazz are planning to get married any time soon?”

      Linda’s smile tightened. “Jazz and I are no longer engaged.”

      “What?” Chrissy said. “Why didn’t you say something? Here we’ve been chatting away about all my problems and—oh, I’m so sorry.”

      “Don’t be sorry,” Linda said. “We just realized we have incompatible goals. It’s really for the best that we found it out now, before we went to the trouble of getting married.”

      “How incompatible can your goals be?” Reno had always pictured Linda and Jazz as a sensible engaged couple who agreed on what they wanted out of life. “I thought you two were planning to buy the Jenkins place and raise cattle. Isn’t that what this café is about? Saving up enough money for that ranch?”

      Linda lifted her chin and then bent to rub Justin’s back some more. “There’s more to a marriage than which piece of land to farm and what cattle to buy.”

      “Well, of course, but—”

      Reno was interrupted by the sound of a loud scraping that came from outside on the porch.

      “What’s that?” Chrissy said.

      Reno could see the shape of a man through the glass on the café door. Something about the shape looked familiar, but it didn’t look quite right.

      The door opened, and Lester Wilkerson stepped inside the café.

      “What’s with him?” Reno had never seen Lester in a suit before. He didn’t even know the man owned a suit. Yet here he was, wearing a black suit and a tie. He was holding a metal bucket. Lester had slicked his red hair back and shaved his face so close he’d nicked his chin. The metal bucket was dented in a few places and obviously old, but Lester was holding it out in front of him as if it was a grand bouquet.

      “What’s this?” Reno asked. Now that he’d gotten a closer look at the bucket, he could see it held what looked like a small bush.

      “Flowers,” Lester announced as he took a deep breath and smiled. “Well, not yet, but Mrs. Hargrove told me there will be some soon—geraniums.”

      Lester held out the bucket to Chrissy. “I know women really like their flowers and there aren’t any blooming in Dry Creek right now because of the rain—well, and winter, of course—but there should be some flowers on this plant soon. They’ll be red, according to Mrs. Hargrove.” Lester paused as though to remember something Reno figured he had memorized, and then continued after clearing his throat. “The way I see it, if one flower says welcome to a woman, a whole plant should say it ten times better—so welcome to Dry Creek, Chrissy Hamilton.”

      “Why, thank you,” Chrissy said as she accepted the bucket and held it in her lap. “I’m touched.”

      Reno wasn’t touched. He was astonished.

      “I know women like them fancy bouquets,” Lester continued. “But I figured you might like a plant to keep in the kitchen window. Sort of a homey touch.”

      Chrissy blinked. “I think that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

      Reno wondered if she had forgotten he had just driven over two thousand miles to bring her and Justin back to Dry Creek. “Yeah, it’s sweet. That’s Lester for you. As sweet as they come.”

      “I just wanted to welcome you to Dry Creek,” Lester said again nervously. Now that he didn’t have the bucket to hold, he used one hand to smooth back his hair. “I’m sure you and your baby will be happy here. I heard you’re thinking of taking the job I posted for a cook—”

      “She’s not taking the job,” Reno interrupted. “She’s going to work on the Redfern Ranch bottle-feeding the spare calves.”

      Chrissy moved the bush so she could give Lester a soft, apologetic smile. “It’s only because I think family should stick together, and Reno says we’re practically cousins.”

      Lester grinned. “Oh, well, that’s okay then. I can see why you’d want to help out your cousin. Cousins, huh?”

      Lester turned to Reno and winked before turning his smile back to Chrissy. “And I bet your cousin told you what a good neighbor I am.”

      Reno forgot Lester had asked him to put in a good word for him. “He’s the best—but about this cousin business. Actually, it was Mrs. Hargrove who said—”

      “Ah, yes, Mrs. Hargrove. Wonderful woman.” Lester grinned even wider. “Besides, my place is just next door to the Redfern Ranch. I’ll be seeing you almost every day as it is. I usually pick up the mail for both places and bring it out from town.”

      Justin was starting to cry. Reno didn’t blame him. The little one couldn’t see his own mother through all the leaves that went into that plant. Linda moved the baby so he cradled against her shoulder and could see everyone.

      Reno frowned as he turned back to Lester. “I thought you stopped getting our mail when Nicki got married. I haven’t seen you around, and the mail’s always on the counter when I go to town.”

      “Yeah, well.” Lester shrugged. “I’ve decided I should be more neighborly, so I’m starting up again. The Bible says to do unto others you know.”

      Reno had never heard Lester quote from the Bible before.

      “It also says it isn’t good for a man to be alone,” Lester added as he dipped his head for a pause. “I used to enjoy those morning visits with Nicki before she got married. She’d always cut me a big piece of her coffee cake and pour me a cup of coffee.” Lester managed to look forlorn. “It was more than the food. I kind of miss that womanly touch—being a man on my own isn’t easy.”