Page 51 of More Than This Land

“Home in a cup.” Eli raised his own cup and tapped it against Luke’s. “Never gets old, does it?” He gestured at the crowds huddling up and his slow smile widened. “I’m glad. Enough things change in life. It’s nice to have one thing, one place or feeling or whatever that stays the same.”

“Not sure I’ve ever heard you say that many words at once before.” Luke sipped the coffee, surprised when it tasted smooth and fresh instead of the usual bitter stuff he choked down.

“Yeah, well.” Eli shrugged. “Not always time to talk. Lots of time to think, though.” Pastor Mark joined them, and the conversation ran through its usual course.

“Glad to hear you brought back the community freezer program. Lots of happy folks chatting about that last week.” The pastor’s eyes gleamed when he slapped Luke on the back, bringing him back into the conversation before he could slip out the side door.

“Before I forget.” Eli motioned at Luke with his cup. “There’s a problem on the north fence that needs fixing. I thought I’d head out tomorrow. One of the cowboys reported it. Said it’s not broken down but might be close. They didn’t have the tools or the time to go back right then.”

“Any cows at risk of getting out?” He finished his coffee and threw the cup away.

Eli shook his head. “Nah. It’s the far north. The one they grazed last year.”

“Good.” He knew which one the man meant. One of the new things he’d implemented was a rotating grazing schedule to keep the pastures from all running down. “You want me to take care of it?”

“No need. I could use the ride.” Eli took his hat from the shelf by the door and held it to his chest, not even pretending to put it on his head until he reached the outdoors.

One of the older women would surely smack it right off if he even joked of such a thing. That was life in Covenant Creek.

A series of goodbyes rang out from the front door. Luke raised his hand and waved, adding his voice to the chorus that answered the families walking out.

Time for him to go too.

He reached for his hat and set it against his hip, his hand on the push bar of the door when movement in the parking lot sent a flitting shadow across the narrow window beside the exit.

Claire stood near her car, keys in her hand, talking on her phone. She’d turned away from the building, her free hand moving in a slow arc as she spoke. She wore a gray coat he hadn’t seen before, her hair loose and falling around her shoulders.

She’d been at the prayer meeting.

He hadn’t seen her. Not that he’d really looked for her, but lately he seemed to find her even without trying. She must have sat on the side of the room he’d positioned himself not to face.

He had not done that on purpose.

Well. Maybe he had. He had noticed that she preferred that corner of the sanctuary, except for the time when a few of the older women had all but dragged her down to sit behind him and his family.

Okay, so he’d absolutely sat with his back to the corner on purpose.

Self-preservation. That was all.

He pushed through the door and into the cool night air.

Claire turned at the sound. Her phone came down from her ear. She said something into it quickly and quietly and pocketed it. They stood ten feet apart in the parking lot with the church light behind him, her car behind her, and approximately a thousand unsaid things occupying the space between.

“I didn’t see you inside.” His voice came out steady, which was either a skill or a problem.

“Back corner.” She tucked her keys into her coat pocket. “I got there late. Granny Mama needed help with her medications before I left.”

“She doing okay?”

“Better.” Her chin lifted as she eased her hands into her coat pockets. “Her doctor is happy with her numbers, and she’s been doing her exercises.” A pause that might have lasted into infinity when a tiny smile crept out. “She’s stubborn about it. Does them exactly as instructed, not one repetition more or less.”

“Sounds familiar.”

Her gaze dropped to the pavement, the smile going with it before she lifted her head. “How’s the calf?”

“Integrated with the herd last week and doing really well.” Like her, he stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. “You’d never know he started out rejected.”

“That’s good.” She nodded. The night air carried the soft smell of rain that hadn’t fallen yet. Weather was building in the distance, bringing a hopeful beat.