N. Walters - Erin's Fancy

Hurrying downstairs, she started a pot of coffee while she popped a couple of slices of bread in the toaster. The quicker she got to work, the quicker the day would pass.

“So will you cover for me?” Holding the receiver with her left hand, Erin absently chewed the fingernails on her right hand, as she waited for a reply. Carly had been too busy to talk lunchtime, so she’d been forced to wait until late in the afternoon to call her back. The two of them had been friends their entire lives, but not once in all that time had she ever asked her friend to lie for her.

“Sure I will.”

Erin sighed in relief at her easy agreement. “Thanks.” Twisting the cord in her hand, Erin really didn’t know what else to say. “This really means a lot to me.”

“I know and I expect payment. You’ll have to tell me all the juicy details.” Carly called out to someone in the distance before she continued. “He must be quite a guy if you’re willing to risk your brothers’ wrath to date him. I hope he’s worth it.”

“Yes,” she whispered softly. “He’s worth it.”

“That’s good enough for me, but honey, please promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I will,” Erin promised.

“Tell him that if he hurts you, I’ll beat the crap out of him up.”

Erin laughed, as her friend knew she would. Carly Ames was only five-foot-three and looked like an angel, but behind her angelic exterior was a strong woman with a wicked sense of humor and a penchant for mischief. It made her perfect for overseeing the operation of the family diner, Jenny’s, which was named after her mom who’d run it for over thirty years. Now that her parents had retired, Carly managed the whole operation and spent many long hours working as a waitress, as well as handling all the business aspects of running a successful diner.

“Have you seen Nathan lately?” Erin teased. Her friend had had a huge crush on Erin’s youngest brother since she was a teenager, but she’d never approached Nathan to ask him out. Nathan, on the other hand, spent many hours perched on a stool in the diner watching Carly work, staring at her as if he wished she was on the menu. Neither one was willing to make the first move, although it was obvious to everyone who knew them that they were crazy about each other. It was funny, ridiculous, and slightly sad.

“He was here for lunch.” She sighed and Erin could picture her friend with that goofy half-smile she got on her face whenever she talked about Nathan. “I know you’re worried about Jackson finding out that you’re an actual grown woman who has a sex life, but I think Nathan could handle it.”

Erin laughed. “You think Nathan could walk on water.”

“No, I don’t,” she protested. “I’m well aware that the man has faults. He just has so many good qualities that the faults don’t matter.”

Erin sobered at the note of longing in her friend’s voice. “Ask him out. You’ve both wasted years circling and sniffing each other.” It hurt Erin to see two people who were obviously so right for each other, hiding their attraction behind polite façades.

“Maybe I will.” There was a determination in her voice that Erin had never heard before. “If you can do it, so can I.” Erin heard someone calling to Carly. “I’ve got to go. We’re getting busy again. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered for tonight. I plan on curling up in bed with a good book and a chocolate bar tonight.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Erin promised her.

“You better. See ya.”

The phone went dead in Erin’s ear. Slowly she placed the receiver back in the cradle, thankful for having such a great friend. Carly had agreed to help her no questions asked. You couldn’t ask for more than that.

Now that she’d taken care of her alibi, she started to get excited about this evening. She’d already stashed the magazine in a bag under the seat of her truck so she wouldn’t forget it. Butterflies were beating against her stomach, which was ridiculous. They’d already had sex together, for heaven’s sake! It wasn’t like Abel hadn’t seen her naked. No matter how many times she told herself to be logical about the coming evening, she could barely contain her excitement and her nerves. He was cooking her supper. It was almost like having a real date.

The back door slammed and Erin turned. It was time to begin her performance. Jackson was tromping through the kitchen, heading towards the upstairs bathroom where he always took a shower before supper. He was rubbing the back of his neck as he went and rolling his shoulders to work out the kinks.

“There’s fried chicken in the oven and potato salad in the refrigerator.” Casually, Erin walked to the sink and filled the coffeepot with water. “I’m going over to Carly’s for the night.”

“This is a busy time for you right now.” Leave it to Jackson to state the obvious.

“Yes, but I’ve got at least another week before we can start picking blueberries. If I don’t go now, I may not get a chance for at least a month.” Erin kept her back to her brother, filled the coffeemaker and turned on the machine. “I’m going to take a change of clothes and go straight to work in the morning from Carly’s. I’ll be home in time to make lunch.”

“Oh, for god’s sake, Jackson, lighten up.” Without either of them hearing him, Nathan had come home and now stood leaning against the back door watching them both. “Erin works harder than either of us and deserves to have a night out.”

Jackson scowled at them both. “I’m not an ogre, you know.” His voice was gruff, but the look in his eyes softened. “Go and have a good time.”

“Thanks.” Erin knew that Jackson worried about her and often treated her more like a daughter than a sister. Since their mother’s death when Erin was little more than a toddler, he’d been more of a parent to her than her own father, who had been, at best, aloof. Whenever she’d hurt herself as a child, it had been Jackson she’d run to for comfort. It was Jackson who’d bandaged her hurts and kissed her boo-boos. Her father couldn’t be bothered with her minor problems.

Plus, Jackson had been responsible for the farm since he was a teenager. It was very telling that none of them missed their father since he’d remarried and moved to Florida. They hadn’t heard from him in over a year since they’d made the last payment to him to buy the farm. It belonged to the three of them now. Their years of hard work had paid off, but Erin worried about the toll it had taken on her oldest brother. Jackson needed more fun in his life. He’d never really had a chance to be young and carefree as he’d always had the responsibility for his younger siblings and the farm.

Jackson was almost out of the kitchen before he stopped. “I really do appreciate all that you do, Erin.” His back was turned and his shoulders were tense.

“I love you too, Jackson,” she said softly. He nodded once and continued up the stairs.

Nathan sighed and slung his arm around her shoulder. “I worry about that boy.”

“Me too.” Erin squeezed his arm before sliding out from under it. “I have to get going, but the chicken is warming in the oven and there’s some fresh biscuits in there too.”

Nathan patted her on the behind. “Get going. I’ll make sure Jackson gets fed.”

Giving him a grateful smile, she grabbed her knapsack with her change of clothes and hurried out the back door. All of a sudden she was very hungry, and it wasn’t just for food.

Abel glanced at his watch for the fifth time in the last five minutes. It was almost six and he expected Erin any minute. It was the first time in years that he found himself looking forward to something so much, and although the feeling was strange, he liked it.