Ernest was Cal’s best friend. He’d always trusted him with everything, so it caught him a little off guard when Ernest wasn’t at the home place like he’d said he would be. Ordinarily, he would have moved heaven and earth to hunt him down to make sure he was okay, but he had other commitments. He accepted that his friend might already be on his way to the school as he started his Chevrolet up the drive to the main road.
Driving the car to supper just wasn’t something he was ready to do. Tiny nickered as soon as Cal walked through the barn door anticipating an evening ride. The truth was he was always ready to get out – the stall was no more a place for a horse than it was a cowboy.
Cal saddled quickly and rode out into cool late afternoon air. Sunset would be in just over an hour, and winter would be a few days after that at the rate the leaves were changing and the days were shortening.
The open door on the teacher’s cabin gave Cal a glimpse of the new school teacher, a table set with china plates, and a whiff of baked bread and beans that made his mouth water.
The setting sun behind him cast him in silhouette as he walked up to the little home and took his hat off. She looked at him the same way he was sure he looked at her.
“I hope you like beans. I baked some bread, too.”
His smile was the best answer he could have given her.