Callaway Country. Annette Broadrick

no, ma’am. I’ve never been married.”

      “Really?” She tilted her head and looked at him as though trying to solve a puzzle. “Don’t you miss having a family?”

      He smiled. “Oh, I have a family. I was the oldest of several kids. We had a tough time surviving on the farm. I did whatever I could to make sure we all had enough to eat. I figured no woman would be willing to live that way if she could help it.”

      Katie looked down at her hands folded on the table. “I suppose you have little use for people like me, who never had to go through something like that.”

      He grinned, amused by her attitude. “Not at all. I don’t wish that kind of life on anybody.” He knew he needed to get going, but he hated to leave her without getting some kind of signal that she might want to see him again. Since he didn’t have a clue how to do that, Sam continued to sit there feeling helpless, staring at her.

      The waitress soon returned with her order. Sam sipped on his coffee while she ate. He asked her casual questions, hoping to learn more about her.

      She mentioned a much older brother—almost sixteen years’ difference in their ages—plus twin brothers three years younger. He got her to tell him about growing up in Texas, about meeting her husband while she was in college and getting married not long after her graduation.

      Before he knew it, he was also answering questions about his early life. She seemed to be sincerely interested. So he told her what it was like being the oldest of six children, about losing his dad when he was nine, and doing what he had to do to hang on to the farm and make sure his mom and the children were taken care of.

      He didn’t tell her that his biggest reason for joining the army was to be able to send his money home to the family.

      When Katie glanced at her watch and announced the time, Sam was surprised to discover how long they’d been there.

      “I really need to be going,” she said with what he hoped was regret coloring her voice. “Thank you for letting me join you this morning.”

      He picked up her ticket. “Let me get your breakfast for you.”

      “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” she said, obviously flustered.

      “I want to, Katie. I hope to see you again.”

      “Are you planning to come to Austin?”

      “As a matter of fact, Clay invited me to spend some time at the family’s condos in Austin.”

      “Oh!” She smiled with obvious delight, causing him to swallow hard. “Well, in that case,” she said, digging into her purse, “Let me give you my phone number. Be sure and call and I’ll have you out to my place for dinner some evening.”

      “A home-cooked meal sounds like something I only dream about.”

      Katie laughed and handed him a card that she’d hastily written on. After he took it, carefully inserting it in his pocket, he stood with her, took her hand and shook it, causing her to blush.

      He felt as if he’d received an electric shot, himself. Reluctantly he let go and watched her turn away. She gave him a little wave before she hurried out of the restaurant.

      Sam tossed some money on the table for the waitress and went up to the cashier to pay for the meals.