Chapter 4

Samantha

“You really didn’t have to drive me home,” Aubrey says from the passenger seat for the fourth time. “I could have made room in the back and ridden home with Mom and Jane.”

“Are you kidding? They took home even more stuff than they brought with them.” I glance over at her and smile. “I can’t believe you’ve made so many friends in the short time you’ve been here.”

Her cheeks turn a little pink and she waves a dismissive hand. “Please, most people are curious who I am. I’m like the shiny new toy at Christmas, the fascination will wear off soon. Besides, most of them probably only wanted to see how far along I was so they could do the math in their head and figure out if Kenny and I had to get married.”

I sigh as I flip on my blinker to pull into her driveway. “Unfortunately, you’re probably right. But you wouldn’t be the first person around here to be pregnant at their wedding. My grandpa used to say the first baby can come any time, the second one takes nine months.”

Aubrey giggles at the saying. “Your grandpa sounds like a character.”

I can’t help but smile as I remember him. “Oh, you have no idea.”

As I pull in behind Miss Jane’s SUV, I see all the Hutchinsons, along with Aubrey’s parents standing outside. “Huh, I wonder what’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” Aubrey says, concern lacing her voice. “Who are they talking to?”

I strain to make out who the stranger is but come up empty. “I don’t know.” I turn off the vehicle and smile at Aubrey. “Guess there’s only one way to find out.”

By the time we both are out of the car and have closed the doors, Kenny is at Aubrey’s side. He wraps an arm around her waist and kisses her. “Hey, Blondie, how was the shower?”

“It was amazing. Wait until you see all the gifts.” Aubrey waves her hand toward the group standing by the barn. “What’s going on over there?”

Kenny smiles at her excitement as he laces his fingers with hers. “I can’t wait to see everything. Come on there’s someone I want you to meet.” He looks around Aubrey to me. “You too, Sam.”

Knowing better than to argue I follow the two of them over to the group. Kenny steps up beside the stranger and as soon as he turns, I immediately know who it is. Cameron Hutchinson.

With his hand on the small of Aubrey’s back, Kenny introduces his wife to his cousin. “Aubrey, this is my cousin, Cameron. Cam, this is my wife, Aubrey.”

Unsure of how to greet her, Cameron offers Aubrey his hand, and she stares at it like he’s offering her a live fish. Aubrey being Aubrey opens her arm and wiggles her fingers. “Get in here big man, we hug in this family.”

Cameron laughs loudly as he leans in and hugs her gently. “I’ve heard a lot about you,” he says as he steps back. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Cameron’s eyes flick over to me, as Kenny motions in my direction. “And you remember Samantha Kincaid.”

He offers me his hand. “I do. Nice to see you again, Samantha.”

I place my hand in his and a zing of excitement works its way through my body at the contact. My eyes find his and Cameron raises a brow, the only indication maybe he felt it too. “You too, Cameron. I wasn’t sure you’d remember me.”

He chuckles and grins. “Hard to forget the girl who beat me out for Grand Champion my senior year.”

I wince. “Sorry, no hard feelings, I hope. Being raised on a dairy farm I kind of had an unfair advantage.”

He laughs again. “Yeah, we’ll go with that,” he says with a wink.

“If it makes you feel better, I beat these guys too.”

“Hello,” Aubrey says, waving her hand eyes bouncing between me and Cameron. “City girl here, what’s a Grand Champion?”

I smile forgetting not everyone was raised in the country. “In high school, we were all members of FFA, the Future Farmers of America. Every year we had to raise livestock as part of our grade and show them in the county fair. We all raised steers. Each steer has to meet certain criteria in order to be considered, winning Grand Champion is the ultimate prize.”

“What she isn’t telling you,” Craig says, “is along with Grand Champion comes a premium price at auction.”

“So, what I’m hearing is,” Aubrey says, looking at each one of the Hutchinson men. “When our baby is in FFA, Aunt Samantha gets to be their mentor.”

Everyone howls with laughter, and I top it off with an exaggerated curtsy. “I would be honored.”

Cameron shakes his head and points at Aubrey. “Now I see what Momma and Dad were talking about you being a breath of fresh air.”

Kenny pulls Aubrey into his side and kisses her cheek. “My life is definitely better with her in it.”

Aubrey lays her head on his shoulder. “Aww, right back at you Country.”

I smile at the love radiating between them. “Well, I better get going,” I say.

Kenny looks my way. “You’re not staying for dinner?”

I shake my head. “No, but your momma and Miss Chloe took care of dinner for us, so, I need to get home and heat everything up for us. ”

“If you’re sure,” Aubrey says as she steps forward and hugs me. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome,” I whisper before I step out of her embrace. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I turn to Cameron, “Cameron, it was great to see you, welcome home.”

“Thank you, Samantha, it’s good to be home.”

“Bye, Craig.”

“See ya, Sam,” Craig says as he stands next to his brother.

I say goodbye to Kenny and Aubrey’s parents as I walk to my car and climb behind the wheel. With one last wave, I pull out of the driveway and turn toward home.

Alone with my thoughts, Cameron Hutchinson is the first thing to come to mind. Talk about the most changed since high school. As a boy, Cameron was always good looking, with his dark hair and hazel eyes. His athletic build and agility made him one of the best football players Dogwood County has ever seen. There wasn’t a teenage girl, me included, who didn’t appreciate the way he looked in his football uniform. The boy I knew all those years ago is long gone and has been replaced with a man twice his size. It’s fair to say milk isn’t the only thing that does a body good; the Army seems to have been very good for Cameron’s body as well. Broad shoulders, biceps so big I almost felt sorry for the T-shirt stretched around them. When he grinned and winked at me it took all my will to stay upright and not melt into a puddle at his feet. What I wouldn’t have given to have a little of his attention during high school.

I flip on my blinker and turn down the road leading to the farm. Pulling up beside the house, I see Momma and Daddy sitting side by side on the porch swing. I switch the ignition off and climb out of the car. “Hey, you two,” I call up to them as I open the back door to pull out the dinner Miss Jane and Miss Chloe sent home for us.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Mom says from her place beside Daddy. “How was the shower?”

“It went really well,” I answer as I step up onto the porch. “Aubrey was so surprised to have Janine, Dianne, and Lisa there through video chat. She got a lot of nice gifts and so many clothes.”

Momma laughs. “She’ll need all of those and more. Did Aubrey like the quilt we made her?”

“I didn’t take it with me since you weren’t there. I told her we would be over to visit later this week, so we’ll take it then. Aubrey said to tell you she missed you being there.”

“I’d like that,” Momma says with a smile. “She is so sweet, I’m so glad she and Kenny found each other.”

“Me too.”

Daddy points to the bags in my hands. “Whatcha ya got there?”

I lift the bags, and reply, “Miss Jane and Miss Chloe sent dinner home for us.”

“That was nice of them,” Momma says. “I’ll give them a call later and thank them.”

“Well, I’m going to go warm this up, I’ll let you know when it’s ready.”

Once everything is reheated,Momma, Daddy, and I gather around the table. We say grace before we begin filling our plates. “We got a little surprise when I took Aubrey home. Craig’s brother Cameron is home from the Army.”

Daddy places a piece of fried chicken on his plate. “Is that right?”

Momma passes me the plate of biscuits, “Is he home on leave?”

I place one of the biscuits on my plate then set them between us, “I’m not sure, but it was nice to see him. I’m sure Aubrey will fill me in later. I do know Craig couldn’t quit smiling.”

Daddy nods as he breaks open a biscuit and adds a pat of butter. “I’m sure; those boys were thick as thieves growing up.”

“Still, it would be nice if he was home for good, especially with Aubrey expecting,” Momma says. “Kenny will be occupied for the first few weeks.”

I laugh. “Aubrey is going to have more help than she knows what to do with.”

Momma laughs. “I’m sure you’re right. When are her parents moving down?”

“They’re in the process of closing down their psychology practice, I think they’ll be fully moved by the end of September.”

After dinner,Momma helps me clean up and put away leftovers, while Daddy checks on the cows one last time. Momma and I stand at the sink, her drying while I wash. “So tell me, is Cameron Hutchinson as good looking as he used to be?”

Her question surprises me, and I laugh as I chastise her, “Momma!”

She swats me with her dishtowel. “Don’t Momma me, young lady. I may be old, but I can still appreciate a handsome man when I see one.”

I shake my head and smile. “Well you could definitely appreciate Cameron then. He’s about twice the size he was in high school.”

“Oh my,” Momma says quietly.

“Yeah, oh my, is right. I was surprised he remembered me.”

“I don’t know why; you all grew up together.”

I hand her the last plate to dry. “True, but he was older than me, and barely gave me the time of day back then.”

“Maybe so, but you’ve grown into a beautiful woman. He’d have to be blind not to notice you.”

I shake my head. “I’m not looking for love.”

Momma hangs her dishtowel up to dry. “I didn’t say anything about love, but a little companionship might be nice.”

“It’s too soon, and I do have friends, you know.”

“I know you do. All I’m saying is don’t close yourself off to love.” She pulls me in for a hug. “Alan would want you to be happy. You know as well as I do, we don’t get to decide when it comes back into our lives.”

I close my eyes and lay my head on her shoulder. “I know.”

She kisses my cheek. “I’m going to watch a little TV before bed, want to join me while we wait for your Dad?”

I smile softly at her. “Yeah, I’ll be in shortly.” I watch as she makes her way into the living room and takes her usual spot on the couch. Daddy will join her when he comes in from the barn, and they’ll hold hands as they watch television, the same way they have every night for as long as I can remember.

I wipe down the kitchen counter and the top of the stove before hanging the dishrag across the sink to dry. I glance out the window and watch as the lights go out in the barn one by one until the light above the barn doors is the only one competing with the moonlight.

I walk into the living room and take a seat across from Momma. Daddy steps into the room and takes his seat beside Momma on the couch. “Got everyone tucked in for the night?” I ask.

“Yep, and I’m not far behind them,” he says as he takes Momma’s hand in his and lifts it to his lips.

I smile at the love between them. “Why don’t you go on, I’ll make sure everything is locked up,” I offer.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I have a little work to catch up on before I head to bed anyway.”

“I believe I’m going to take you up on your offer,” Daddy says as he grips the armrest of the couch and stands before helping Momma to her feet.

“Goodnight, sweet girl,” Momma says as they start for the stairs.

“Night Momma, night Daddy.”

Once they are upstairs, I check to make sure both the front and back doors are locked and turn off lights as I head to the office to pay a few bills and update payroll. When I finish, I head up to my room, slip into my nightshirt, and crawl into bed. Closing my eyes, I drift off to thoughts of hazel eyes and the sexiest smile I’ve seen in quite some time and hope I’ll see it again soon.