Open house ended and the parents and students began to leave. Aliya shook everyone’s hand and thanked them for coming.
Kolby and Marissa were two of the last to leave.
“It was nice meeting you,” Kolby said, shaking her hand again. “I’m very pleased with the things you have taught Marissa.”
“She’s a delightful student,” Aliya said, drowning in those blue eyes. “You should be proud of her.”
“I am,” Kolby said. “Are you coming to the church social on Saturday?”
“Maybe,” Aliya said, realizing he was stalling for time. “Maybe I’ll see you there.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Kolby said. He waved goodbye. He and Marissa left holding hands.
How cute
. She made a mental note to be at the church social on Saturday.
§§§
“What do you think of Marissa’s teacher?” Genieva asked Kolby after they’d arrived home.
Marissa had gone up to bed and Hale had gone into town to visit his parents; now he and his sister sat in rockers on the front porch drinking coffee.
“She’s pretty,” Kolby answered. “She was the one I told you about before. The one whose skirt I accidently looked up when I got knocked down in that bar fight.”
Genieva laughed.
“You’re kidding?”
“I’m afraid not,” Kolby said laughing with her. “I think she knows it was me, but she didn’t let on.”
“Aliya’s a very down to earth person,” Genieva said. “She probably thought it was funny.”
“I sure hope so,” Kolby said. “I wouldn’t want her to get the wrong impression of me.”
“I think you like her a lot,” his sister said. “I knew the two of you would be perfect for each other from the moment I met her.”
Kolby scratched his head.
“I figured as much. I saw you come in her class earlier and take her out in the hall. This is one time I don’t mind you trying to fix me up with someone. I like her smile and her accent. Where is she from?”
“New Orleans,” Genieva answered as she rocked in her chair. “She just threw her things into her car and drove straight here after she got the job offer from the superintendent to replace Marissa’s teacher, when the woman left suddenly to take care of her sickly mother.”
“So is this her first trip to Texas?”
“Yes,” Genieva answered. “I don’t think Aliya’s ever seen a cow before except maybe in a book or on television.”
“This isn’t the type of place for a greenhorn,” Kolby said. The ranching life was hard and it took the right kind of person to stick with it.
“Aliya’s tough,” Genieva said in her friend’s defense. “I’m sure she could learn to be a good ranch wife.”
“Whoa!” Kolby said. “We haven’t had our first date yet.” He was a bit old fashioned and he wanted to take things nice and slow.
“But you do intend to see her again, don’t you?”
“She might be coming to the church social,” Kolby said. “We’ll see how that turns out.” It’d been so long since he’d been interested in someone he’d forgotten what to do. He supposed it was just like riding a horse. If you fell off you just got right back on the horse again. “Do you think she’d go out with me?”
Genieva laughed. “Are you kidding? I would definitely say yes. She thinks you’re gorgeous.”
Kolby’s heart melted a little inside. He had to admit he had been shocked to see Aliya again after their disastrous meeting a couple of evenings ago. But now that he’d really seen her he couldn’t forget that pretty face or those beautiful brown eyes. Her being black wasn’t an issue. He and Harry had been looked down on as kids because they were Native American Indians, but now he was grown and things like that just didn’t matter to him anymore.
“I was thinking about inviting Aliya to our barbeque next weekend,” Genieva said.
“You’re trying too hard,” Kolby said.
“I just want you to be happy,” Genieva admitted.
“I am happy, Sis. I have a beautiful daughter, a good family, and a roof over my head. What more can a man ask for?”
Genieva stopped rocking.
“Companionship. You need love, Kolby. Meredith was a good wife, but she’s gone. It’s time you go on with your life.”
He really appreciated the sentiment, but only he knew when it was time to move on.
“We’ll see,” Kolby said. Meredith had been the love of his life and she would be hard to replace.
“Don’t let life and opportunity pass you by,” Genieva said, rising. “I think Aliya’s lonely too.”
“You think she’s suffering from a broken heart?” Kolby asked.
“Yes,” Genieva answered. “She hasn’t told me anything, but I can see it in her eyes.” His sister headed toward the door. “Don’t stay out too late.”
“I won’t,” Kolby said.
Genieva went inside leaving him alone. It was a little past ten at night and things had settled down on the ranch. Someone in the bunkhouse had country and western music playing and the cicada and crickets made sounds from the oak trees. Kolby had sat out alone on the porch many a night just thinking about things. He often wondered what his life would be like right now if Meredith hadn’t died. They had talked about having another child. He wouldn’t mind having a son and Marissa could use a sibling.
The blueprints for the house he planned to build for them still rested on the drafting table in the barn where he’d left them. She wanted a little garden where she could grow herbs and he wanted to erect a swing for Marissa in the backyard. Everything had come to a screeching halt after he got the word that Meredith and her parents had been killed by a drunk driver that rainy afternoon in April two years ago. Life did stop for him too at that moment. Maybe Genieva was right. Maybe it was time that he moved on and dated someone. He didn’t know if Aliya Harris could be that special someone who could take the hurt away. But he was willing to find out. If Aliya showed up at the church social he would make it a point to ask her out on a date.
Chapter Four
Aliya added her covered dish donation to the other bowls already on the huge banquet table in the recreation room of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. The place was already filling up with young people from the community. Aliya hardly recognized any of them. She walked back over to a group of teachers from the elementary school and joined them. She expected to see Genieva since she had been the one insisting that Aliya should come out and participate.
“Have you seen Genieva Christian?” she asked Ellen Marshall, one of the second grade teachers.
“No,” Ellen answered. “But she’ll be here. Her and Hale never miss one of these socials.” Ellen looked toward the door. “Oh, there she is now.”
Aliya glanced over. She saw Genieva enter with a guy in his thirties. He dressed like most of the other guys in slacks, a plaid shirt, and dress shoes. And he walked like they hurt his feet. She would bet he preferred to wear his boots.
Genieva carried a casserole bowl over to the table while Hale stood by her like a dutiful boy scout.
Someone decided to put on some country and western music. Some of the people got up to dance while others formed a line by the banquet table.
“Hey, it’s Kolby and Harry,” Ellen said, pointing toward the door.
Aliya unconsciously smoothed out the material of her dress and then felt her hair to make sure it stayed in place.
“Who are you primping for?” Ellen asked.
“No one,” Aliya said innocently. She watched Kolby and the guy name Harry walk over to meet with his sister and brother-in-law.
“Oh, which one of the cousins do you like?” Ellen asked.
“What cousins?”
“Harry and Kolby. They’re both fine-looking men and hard workers.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Aliya said.
“Sure you don’t,” Ellen said sarcastically. “You’re simply drooling.”
Aliya rolled her eyes.
“I am not.”
Genieva finally saw her and waved.
“Excuse me,” Aliya said to Ellen. She left and headed toward Genieva and her family.
“Whoa,” the one named Harry said on her approach. “Who is this lovely lady?”
Kolby rewarded her with a shy smile.
“Aliya Harris, this is my husband Hale and my cousin Harry Ansara. You already know Kolby.”
Aliya shook both of the men’s hands.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Aliya is Marissa’s teacher,” Genieva explained.
“So, that’s how you know Kolby,” Harry said. “I’m surprised he didn’t mention you.” He nudged his taller cousin in his side.
Harry wore his long black hair pulled back in a tail. All the cousins resembled each other with their high cheek bones and slender noses. Harry was shorter than Kolby by a couple of inches. Like his cousin, Harry dressed in standard cowboy fashion, jeans, plaid shirt, and boots.
“Let’s go find a table and then we can get something to eat,” Genieva said.
Harry found a table and then she and Genieva left the men to get some food so they could save their seats.
“You look so cute,” Genieva said, admiring Aliya’s blue skirt and matching blouse.
Aliya had decided to wear a pair of sandals since she’d just gotten her toenails done and the weather was warm.
“I didn’t know exactly what to put on since we’d be in a church.”
Genieva wore a pretty peach pantsuit and strappy sandals.
“Everything is sort of laid back and comfortable here,” Genieva explained. “Your outfit is perfect for dancing.” She paused. “You can dance, can’t you?”
“I have rhythm if that’s what you’re asking. And I know a couple of line dances.”
Some of the ladies of the church manned the buffet line.
“We need three plates for Kolby, Hale, and Harry,” Genieva told them. “Aliya and I will come back for ours.”
It was more food than Aliya could imagine eating once she and Genieva got their plates. Harry volunteered to go over to the ice chest for drinks. He returned a few minutes later and distributed them.
“Thank you,” Aliya said. She was lucky enough to be seated between the two handsome guys.
“Where are you from?” Harry asked.
“New Orleans,” Aliya answered.
“I’ve been there,” Harry said. “It’s a nice place.”
Although she was holding a conversation with Harry, her body was well aware of the guy sitting on the other side of her. Kolby’s cologne had her nostrils wide open and the closeness of their legs had her skin tingling.
“Do you work at the Patterson Ranch too?” she asked Harry.
“Yes, I’m a cattle handler,” Harry answered.
“What is a cattle handler?”
“I keep the cows and bulls in line,” Harry answered. “We make sure they’re fed and tend to them when they’re sick, and sometimes we drive them up the range where grass is more plentiful so they can hang out with their cow friends.”
Aliya chuckled at Harry’s joke.
“You have a nice laugh,” Harry said.
Uh oh
. Maybe she was paying too much attention to the wrong cousin.
“Are you a cattle handler too?” she asked Kolby.
“I do that sometimes,” Kolby answered. “But not as much as I used to before Marissa was born.”
“Kolby mostly takes care of the running of the ranch now that our father has retired,” Genieva said.
“When he’s not on the rodeo circuit,” Hale added.
She was speaking to Kolby, yet everyone else was answering for him. Could it be that the hunk next to her was a bit shy?
“That sounds exciting,” Aliya said directly to Kolby. “Are you good with horses?”
“He’s the best,” Hale answered. “Kolby is a champion rider.”
“I do alright,” Kolby finally answered. “Do you ride?”
“No,” Aliya said. “The last horse I rode was attached to a carousel.”
Both Hale and Harry snickered.
“What?” Aliya asked chuckling with them.
“You’re a greenhorn,” Harry said.
“There aren’t many horses where I come from unless you count the ones used by the mounted policemen.”
“Kolby can teach you how to ride,” Genieva said.
“I don’t know. I passed a couple of horses on the way to Texas. They seem awfully big.”
Hale and Harry laughed again.
“I wouldn’t let anything happen to you,” Kolby said. “I’ll start you off on Rosie. She’s one of our gentler mares.”
“Would you ride her with me?” Aliya asked, imagining her behind him on Rosie and pressing the side of her face into Kolby’s back. She would hug him tightly around the waist.
“Yes, at first so you can get the feel of things,” Kolby answered. “We’re having a barbeque at the ranch next Saturday. You’re welcome to join us. I can begin teaching you then.”
“I’d like that,” Aliya said without realizing what she’d done. Kolby had his eyes on her and she got kind of distracted. “Is there anything I need to bring?” She never liked to go to a person’s home empty-handed.
“Just an overnight bag and some comfortable clothing,” Genieva said to her. “Our barbeques normally last until midnight and it will be too late for you to drive back to your apartment.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to put anyone out,” Aliya said.
“No excuses,” Genieva said. “We have plenty of room. And we all go to church together the next morning, so you might want to bring an outfit for that too.”
All the information raced around in Aliya’s head. She didn’t have any immediate plans for the weekend so it appeared that she was going to be spending it with Kolby and his family.
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll be there. Oh, I almost forgot. “Shouldn’t you guys clear this with Marissa first? She may have a problem hanging out with her teacher all weekend.”
“Are you kidding?” Genieva asked. “Marissa will love having you there. She can show you her tree house that Kolby built for her.”
Chapter Five
“What time is Ms. Harris coming?” Marissa asked her aunt.
Genieva made the potato salad while her mother Sonya pulled a pan of cornbread out of the industrial oven.
“Soon,” Genieva answered.
Marissa sat at the table playing with unshelled peas.
“I can’t wait to show her my room.”
“I don’t know what all the fuss is about,” Sonya said. “We’ve had guests before.”
Genieva loved her mother dearly but Sonya had a very abrasive personality and she always spoke her mind. So Genieva wasn’t stupid enough to mention that she planned to fix Aliya up with Sonya’s precious oldest child.