20. Montana

-Islands in the Stream-

Iwas coming out of the bakery carrying a box full of mini cherry muffins when I ran into Jesse Craven.

“Hey, Jesse,” I greeted.

“Shall I help you with that?” he asked, moving forward to take the box out of my hand.

“Thanks, but it’s not heavy.”

“You alright?” he asked, shifting from one booted foot to another.

“Yeah, I’m alright. Send my regards to your ma,” I said and moved on.

“Montana,” he called.

I turned back. “Yeah?”

He adjusted his cowboy hat uncomfortably. “Will you be my date to the Summer Festival dance?”

The sun was in my eyes and my dad was waiting in the truck for me. “Sorry, Jesse, but I don’t think I’m going to the dance this year.”

“That’s a shame.”

“Look, I got to go. Dad’s waiting for me.”

“Let me know if you change your mind.”

“Yeah, sure.”

He tipped his hat at me. “See you around.”

“See ya.”

I walked back to the truck and Dad looked at me funny. “Why was that kid sniffing around you?”

I carefully balanced the box on my lap. “He wasn’t sniffing around me.”

“Well, what did he want?” he asked grumpily.

“He asked if he could take me to the Summer dance, okay?”

“What did you say?”

“I said I didn’t think I was going.”

“Good,” he replied heartily.

I turned to look at him curiously. “I thought you liked the Cravens and their boys. Don’t you like Jesse?”

He swung the truck out into the street. “I like him well enough. He’s just not good enough for you.”

I wound the window down and hot wind rushed into my face. “Apparently, no one’s ever going to be good enough according to you.”

“One day you’ll understand that being choosy isn’t a bad thing.” Dad switched on the radio and country music filled the air.

“Any news for the week?” I asked.

“We have a new student, a girl, coming in on Monday,” he replied.

“What? Why is she coming in halfway through the term?”

“Well, her dad paid for her to be in school from about three months ago, but talk is they only arrived in town two days ago. Single dad and very easy on the eye, I hear. Word has it, yesterday’s baking club meeting had to be terminated early because of spinsters and their mothers being catty to each other.”

I smiled. “To be expected, I suppose, when fresh meat is thrown into a pool full of piranhas.”

He glanced at me. “He’s not much older than you, I believe.”

I actually felt sick to my stomach at the thought of being with a man again. I just couldn’t. Not after that night with Cole. I stuck my palm out towards my father. “Oh no … don’t go there. Please Dad.”

Dad sighed elaborately, and on the radio, Dolly Parton started singing Islands in the Stream.