Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Stone

Time was flying by too fast. They'd spent two additional days in what they both referred to as Lydia's house. Micah wasn't the only one who felt a little sad this morning when she'd returned the key to the flowerpot. They'd both stood in the middle of the front yard looking up at the dormer window on the second floor. To anyone driving by, they might have appeared to be a bit silly waving goodbye to an empty house, but Stone knew better.

This house hadn't been empty since the moment Lydia had been carried across the threshold by her husband Captain Ethan Rosewood all those years ago. He'd gotten drawn into the research along with Micah, touring the local library as well as the historical society and the museum that honored the events of Fort Davis and the men who'd stood guard and protected America's western frontier. He'd smiled when Micah pointed out that while she wasn't a Rosewood, she still felt an intense connection as her middle name was Rose. He'd held his Little girl when she cried after discovering that Lydia had lost her husband in one of the many battles fought to protect the mail coaches that carried something far more valuable than money, as the only news from families far away came in letters and newspapers carried across the country to the people who'd chosen to make the west their home.

"That's why she stays here," Micah said. "This was where she was closest to Ethan, where she was the happiest."

Stone couldn't argue with that. He knew that if, God forbid, he lost Micah, he'd never fully recover. He'd want to seek out those places where they'd found joy in simply being with each other.

"I'm glad you finished the book, Daddy. It made Lydia happy," she said as he helped her into the Jeep after a final wave goodbye.

"I'm glad I did too. How about we plan on coming back some day?"

"Really? Even if there's not much more to see here?"

"There's always something to see, babygirl. We can sit in the rocker and read another book, and I'd be just as happy as I have been on our daily excursions. All it takes to make me happy is to know you are."

She leaned over and hugged his neck, pulling him toward her and smacking his lips with hers. "I'd love that, Daddy. We can gather more memories together and share them with Lydia the next time we come."

Satisfied that she was no longer as sad, Stone started the Jeep and turned toward their second of three destinations. As he drove, he hoped his Little girl would enjoy the next adventure as much as she had enjoyed Lydia's world.

"Hang gliding?"

"Nope."

"Zip lining?"

"Nope."

"I know! We're going to drive those big three-wheelers up the mountain!"

Stone almost shuddered at the thought. "And find ourselves in traction in some hospital bed? No thank you." She'd been attempting to guess the agenda for the past hour and hadn't yet, though in a way her last guess came closest.

"I give up!" she said with an exasperated sigh.

"Would a pit stop make you feel better?" he asked, spotting a sign up ahead.

Micah obviously spotted it too because she sat up straighter and lifted Mr. Quackers so he could look out the window. "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!"

"Do ducks actually eat ice-cream?" Stone teased, flipping on his blinker to signal a turn.

"Don't worry, I'll help him eat his share," Micah stated. "He wants chocolate but I can't decide between vanilla and strawberry. I guess we'll just have to get three scoops."

"Or one scoop of Neapolitan," Stone suggested.

"What's the fun of that? I mean, squashing my chili burger was okay, but squishing three flavors of ice cream is simply sacrilegious, Daddy!"

Chuckling, Stone pulled into the lot. If the contents of the twin bay-windows were any indication, the store seemed to offer far more than just the "best ice cream east of the Pecos" as the sign had declared. There were two old-fashioned gas pumps out front and, glancing at the gauge of the Jeep, he pulled to a stop in front of one of them.

"Can I go in while you get gas?" Micah asked, unbuckling her seat belt.

Knowing the fumes made her feel a bit sick, Stone looked around the lot and made a decision. "How about I go in with you first and then come back and get the gas?"

"We're not in the big bad city, Daddy," she said.

"Or you don't have to go in at all," he said in a firm voice, adding the quirked brow he knew spoke louder than words.

"Sorry, Daddy. I know you're just protecting me, but?—"

"And I always will," Stone confessed. "Sorry, Webby, but that's the best I can do."

Smiling, she reached over and patted his thigh. "I'm the one who's sorry. We can go in together, and I'll even come help you pump gas."

"That's not necessary, baby, but I appreciate the offer."

Hand in hand, they entered the store to find it exactly as Stone had pictured it in his mind. Time seemed to have slowed to a crawl in this part of the state. He could see everything from rakes to snow shovels as well as hula-hoops and boxes of Christmas ornaments. Of course what captured his Little's attention was the bar across the back of the store where glass-fronted cases were filled with the promised ice cream.

"Wow, it's homemade!" she said, eyes wide as they approached to hear the soft purring of motors as they churned ingredients into creamy concoctions.

"Used to turn it by hand, but this makes it easier on my arthritis."

The words came from behind them and turning, they saw a woman with hair as white as the snow they'd seen earlier in the week.

"It looks delicious," Stone said, stepping forward and offering his hand. "I'm Stone and this is my wife, Micah."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Gloria and somewhere around here is my husband George. Ah, there he is," she said as an even older gentleman joined them.

After another round of introductions, George stepped behind the ice-cream counter. "What tickles your fancy, honey?"

"I'm not sure," Micah said. "They all look so good. What's your favorite?"

Stone left them knowing that his love was in safe hands. "Maybe by the time I've filled the tank, she'll have made her decision," he told Gloria who gave a soft laugh.

"Don't you worry. I'm sure my George will keep her busy tasting every flavor. He's rather proud of our creamery. The milk comes from our cows and the eggs from our chickens."

"I'll be back to pick my own," Stone promised and left the store.

Gloria proved to be one smart woman because when he returned, Micah was sitting on a stool, swinging her legs and licking a wooden spoon before dropping it to a plate he noticed had several others on it.

"Dare I ask which one you've settled on?" he asked, coming up to stand beside her.

"I can't decide. The peach is yummy, but the peppermint is just to die for. It is creamy and crunchy."

"That's because we use candy canes left from Christmas," George informed him, holding a spoon out to him.

Taking it, Stone discovered the roadside sign to be true. The ice cream was fabulous. Before he knew it, he was seated beside Micah, a bowl holding three scoops, none of them found in the popular Neapolitan combo. The quick pit stop turned into an hour-long visit with the elderly couple. Stomachs full of six different flavors as they'd each insisted they share their choices, Stone led Micah back to the Jeep after following her into the only bathroom and washing both her face and her hands.

"I'm stuffed," she moaned as he fastened the seat belt around her.

"Really?" Stone gasped in mock surprise. "I know I only paid for a triple scoop, but I'm guessing you probably ate twice that before I came back inside."

"I did not!" she protested.

"Baby, I saw that plate full of spoons."

She rolled her eyes. "Daddy, those don't count. They were just samples."

"Right. I'm not so sure your horse will agree if you've packed on too many?—"

"My horse! We're going horseback riding!"

Her squeal would have likely sent any horses in close vicinity galloping away. Stone could kick himself. How he'd let that slip he didn't know. Then again, he did. "I think all my brain cells are frozen from too much ice cream," he grumbled. "That was supposed to be a surprise."

"It was a surprise! This is going to be so much fun! You're the bestest Daddy in the whole world… wait, make that the whole galaxy!"

Somewhat pacified, Stone tossed the bag of items they'd purchased into the back with their luggage. Sliding behind the wheel, he groaned and patted his stomach. "I was joking about your horse, but let's hope mine doesn't take one look at me and buck me right out of the saddle."

Laughing, Micah took yet another photo with her phone, capturing George standing with his arms around Gloria's waist in the doorway of their store. "I hope we are that happy when we're old and gray, Daddy."

Looking at the couple as he prepared to turn on to the highway, he grinned. "It would definitely be a blessing, babygirl."