A cup of coffee, Danish and a thirty-minute car ride later found Rachel in a completely different world. Not that a country fair was all that foreign to her. Lord knows she’d been to enough festivals back in Bay City. One thing they all had in common was their air of friendliness—if you saw someone you knew you stopped and said hello. Often you spent more time socializing than seeing the sights. And that was exactly what she was experiencing at that very moment. Only this time the smiles and backslaps were all for Carl.

It was a new experience, somewhat unsettling.

Not that she begrudged Carl the attention. It was just so….unusual. Back home people had only spoken to him when in her company. Not that he ever seemed to care. In fact, she’d always envied his total disregard for public opinion.

In Apple Creek however, it appeared he was known by every last Tom, Dick and Harry—and he enjoyed it! Since parking, they’d met one neighbor after another and he had taken time to talk to every single one. Meanwhile, they’d barely glanced at her. The shoe was on the other foot and it wasn’t very pleasant.

At the moment he was deep in conversation with one of the orchard workers about who knew what. Norie sat cradled contently on one of his arms, not daring to make a peep. Not many young children could remain so still for so long.

Which brought her to the subject at hand—just who was Norie and did it really matter?

Rachel wanted to say no, it didn’t matter in the least. Which was partially true. She knew if she let it matter too much, then there’d be no chance with Carl. If indeed she wanted a chance at a future with Carl. Letting the potential of the little girl’s paternity come between them virtually guaranteed her a chance at squat. So, that left Rachel one option.

"Rachel? Hey Rachel!"

"Ronda?" The tug on her arm was quite insistent. "Hi Ronda."

"I thought it was you. I haven’t seen you since the auction. I can guess what you’ve been up to," Ronda smirked. For heaven sake, Rachel thought, the woman was literally drooling!

"It’s not like that," Rachel warned. "We haven’t been engaging in anything. Believe me."

"Is that disappointment I hear?"

Disappointment? Try regret. Regret for choices made and paths not taken. If only she could gain a little insight. Right now, anything that could shed a little light on their situation would be heaven sent.

"Let me tell ya Rach, that Carl is one fine catch. The woman who’d let him get away needs her head checked."

"It’s not like I haven’t considered it," she muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing. Tell me Ronda, what do you know about Carl? He hasn’t exactly been very forthcoming."

The shades of small town paranoia fell over her new friend’s eyes. "What sort of info?"

"Where’d he come from? Why here?" Rachel scrambled to piece together decent questions. "Who is Norie?"

"Well, that’s quite a tall order. It’s not like I’m close to the Hutchins or anything," Ronda said.

"Surely there’s been gossip."

"Some. Mostly, we stay away from discussing Carl. You see, he’s done so much that…"

"What has he done?"

"For starters, he bought the old orchard which was in ruins. A big corporation was looking to buy the lot and put a shopping center there. Carl bought it though and he lets the town care for it. We turn a nice profit too. Of course, he probably already told you some of that." She glanced over Rachel’s shoulder to see if Carl was still out of earshot. "There’ve been lots of checks written since he’s been here. An anonymous donor sends them and that's all we know. We think it’s Carl’s doin’."

"Really?"

"He literally saved this town Rachel. He’s a good guy. Why, he even takes care of that darlin’ girl, and she isn’t even his!"

Ah ha! "But he calls her his daughter."

"That may be, but any fool can look at her and tell she’s the daughter of another man."

Such a simplistic solution hadn’t occurred to Rachel. Stupid! If she’d open her eyes! Still…Carl was the master of manipulation and Ronda wasn’t exactly a sophisticate. Good Lord, but she was still in a predicament.

"I’m sorry darling," Carl began at he finally joined her, "but Pete insisted upon talking business. Not that I’m directly involved in running the orchard mind you. Hallo Ronda. How’s the family?’

"We’re all good. Well, gotta go."

"It’s always good to see Ronda. She has a wonderfully talented daughter. Ready to see the sights?" And then he smiled at her. Nothing spectacular, just an everyday smile that made her tingle from head to toe.

*(*

He hadn’t been able to concentrate on her as much as he’d intended. Nearly an hour at the fair and it had been consumed by small talk with neighbors. He didn’t begrudge the time, but he didn’t exactly desire it either.

His first few months at Apple Creek had been difficult adjustment wise. Never accustomed to unconditional societal acceptance, he’d balked at the friendliness others showed him. Where was the distrust, the universal dislike he’d faced in Bay City? Even as Rachel’s husband he’d never known the warmth he knew now.

"The orchard? I wasn’t aware you were in the fruit business."

"I’m not. When I first came here, the orchard was overgrown. As I settled in, I came to learn of Apple Creek’s proud heritage and how the property’s previous owners had fallen upon bad times. Upon acquiring the house and the land, I made the town an offer."

"One they couldn’t refuse?"

"Something like that." He held out his spare elbow for Rachel’s use. If it was possible, she looked even lovelier than she had just an hour ago. The sun had warmed her freshly washed hair and her familiar scent was teasing him to no end. "Let’s not talk about such drivel as business Rachel. Surely we’ve better things to do with our day."

"What’s there to see?" She took his arm, sending a welcome shiver coursing through his body. He’d worried that he frightened her the night before. She should know him by now he supposed--all bark and only the occasional bite.

"What we have here is your typical fair." He listed all the attractions he could remember while she stared up at him with those luminous blue eyes. As if in slow motion she blinked, then smiled, and he found himself lost in a tumble of words. Uncharacteristically, he scrambled for his next thought.

"Carl?" She laughed. A husky, sexy laugh that made him wish they hadn’t been interrupted yesterday.

"Sorry," he said. "I got lost for a moment."

This time their laughter mingled together, and Carl had the sensation that they’d never parted. All at once everything was old and familiar and right. Yet, at the same time, it was shining and new. Almost like they’d never walked this path before. He found himself anticipating all the twists and turns that awaited them.

*(*

"I can’t believe Lorna baked that." They stood together in the baking cook off tent surveying Lorna’s handiwork. "I know her and her mother. I also know that neither of them has ever baked anything in their lives. But….Felicia wouldn’t believe this."

"I agree. Imagine my surprise when Lorna up and announced she was entering this year’s contest. We’ve endured the most horrendous mistakes the last nine months. I hope they have emergency staff on hand," he laughed.

"Nine months?"

"It all began before Christmas. It’s a long story, really."

"I’d like to hear it."

"Later, perhaps."

Rachel felt his hand slip into hers. She squeezed it gently and didn’t let go. The last pleasant hours had passed for too quickly for her liking.

"Norie! Come here little one."

The child came running through the tent. "Hi Daddy. Hi Angel."

"My heart, her name is Rachel."

"It’s okay Carl, I don’t mind."

"Daddy, can we ride the Ferris wheel?"

"Again?" Rachel felt him sigh. "Shouldn’t you be hungry by now?"

"No."

"Me either," Rachel chimed in. Poor thing, he looked like a man with one too many women on his hands. "Actually, I think I’d like to ride the teacups again."

"Yeah!"

"No, no, no. Not on an empty stomach!"

"You mean your empty stomach?"

"Precisely. I am hungry so my vote counts for three. Norie…"
"Daddy…"

"I’ll hear no arguments. Why don’t you lead Rachel to the picnic area while I fetch the picnic basket."

"Ah, a basket full of goodies."

"Indeed," Carl smiled. "And thank goodness not one of them was made by Lorna."

….to be continued…at last…