October 7, 2023 – 2:05 PM
The laughter inside Maple Creek Café had barely settled before the front door opened again.
This time, the man walking in wore a tan sheriff's uniform instead of a fire department T-shirt.
Deputy Eric Dawson removed his sunglasses as he stepped inside.
Tall.
Lean.
Calm blue eyes that seemed to notice everything without looking like he was trying.
He spotted Helen immediately.
"Afternoon, Doctor Zhang."
Helen smiled.
"Eric."
He nodded politely before looking toward Lin.
"Mind if I borrow your daughter for a minute?"
Helen looked at Lin.
Lin simply shrugged.
"Sure."
Eric gestured toward the front porch.
"Won't take long."
Outside, the afternoon sun warmed the wooden sidewalk while pickup trucks rolled lazily down Main Street.
Eric leaned against the porch railing instead of standing over her.
It felt less like an interrogation.
More like a conversation.
Almost.
"Settling in alright?"
Lin nodded.
"Busy, but good."
"People treating you alright?"
"Everyone's been welcoming."
Eric smiled.
"That's Maple Creek."
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Then...
"You've been keeping Tom Grayson pretty busy."
Lin laughed.
"Is Tom filing reports now?"
Eric chuckled.
"No."
"Tom complains."
"Greg notices."
"Mrs. Porter tells everyone."
He spread his hands.
"Eventually it reaches me."
Lin couldn't argue with that logic.
Eric's expression remained easygoing.
"Mind if I ask what all the construction is for?"
"Glamping business."
"That's what everyone says."
She smiled.
"Because it's true."
He watched her for a second.
Not suspicious.
Just measuring.
"Solar panels."
She nodded.
"Cuts operating costs."
"Water storage?"
"Guests use a lot of water."
"Backup generators?"
"Power outages happen."
Eric smiled slightly.
Every answer made sense.
Individually.
Together...
It painted someone planning far beyond opening weekend.
He decided not to push.
Instead he changed subjects.
"If you ever have problems, call us."
"The town looks after its own."
Lin appreciated that.
"Thank you."
Eric nodded.
Then smiled.
"One more thing."
Here it comes...
"Word around town is you're single."
Lin blinked.
"...That's official police business?"
Eric laughed.
"Thankfully, no."
"Just figured I'd ask before the rumor mill does."
Lin folded her arms.
"Ask what?"
"Would you be interested in dinner sometime?"
There it was.
Direct.
Respectful.
No games.
Lin didn't hesitate.
"No."
Eric looked surprised.
Not offended.
Just curious.
"...That was fast."
"It was an easy question."
He laughed.
"Fair enough."
She smiled apologetically.
"I'm honestly too busy."
"Business."
"Family."
"Construction."
She left out...
Preparing for the end of civilization.
Eric nodded.
"Can't fault someone for knowing what they want."
He extended his hand.
"No hard feelings?"
Lin shook it.
"None."
"Friends?"
"Friends."
He smiled.
"Good."
"I'd rather not make things awkward."
They walked back inside together.
Mrs. Porter looked up immediately.
Her eyes bounced between them.
Then to Helen.
Then back again.
She didn't even pretend to hide her curiosity.
Eric adjusted his hat.
"Well, I should get back on patrol."
He nodded toward everyone.
"Have a good afternoon."
The bell jingled behind him.
The café remained silent.
Exactly two seconds.
Mrs. Porter leaned forward.
"Well?"
Lin sat back down.
"He asked me to dinner."
Three different people leaned in.
"And?"
"I said no."
Mrs. Porter looked personally wounded.
"You what?"
Sophie burst out laughing.
Helen raised an eyebrow.
"Eric's a nice man."
"I know."
"Responsible."
"I know."
"Steady job."
"I know."
"Owns his house."
Lin looked at her mother.
"Mom..."
Helen smiled innocently.
"I'm just saying."
"You're thirty-one."
"He's handsome."
"He's polite."
"He's clearly interested."
Lin shook her head.
"Hard no."
Mrs. Porter gasped dramatically.
"Hard no?"
"Hard no."
Helen gave her daughter an amused look.
"You didn't even think about it."
Lin picked up her coffee.
"Nope."
"Not even a little?"
She took a sip.
"Not even a microscopic amount."
Helen sighed.
"One date wouldn't hurt."
Lin smiled over the rim of her mug.
"Mom..."
"It's a hard no."
Helen studied her daughter for a long moment.
Then slowly nodded.
"Alright."
She held up both hands in surrender.
"I won't push."
Mrs. Porter looked horrified.
"I will."
The table burst into laughter.
Lin groaned.
"I walked right into this town, didn't I?"
Sophie grinned.
"No."
She topped off Lin's coffee.
"This town walked into you."
October 7, 2023 – 2:22 PM
Helen had barely finished her coffee when the café door opened once more.
Mrs. Porter glanced over automatically.
Then her entire face lit up.
"Oh!"
She practically waved both hands.
"Perfect timing!"
A man stepped inside carrying two burlap sacks over one shoulder.
He was easily six-foot-three, broad across the shoulders, with sun-bronzed skin that only came from working outdoors every day. His dark hair needed cutting, a few days of stubble shadowed his jaw, and his faded denim jacket had clearly seen better years.
Work boots.
Calloused hands.
The sleeves of his flannel were rolled to his forearms.
He looked like he'd walked straight out of a farm equipment catalog.
Sophie looked up from behind the counter.
"Afternoon, Adam."
He smiled easily.
"Hey, Soph."
His voice was low and relaxed.
He set the burlap sacks beside the counter.
"Potatoes for tomorrow."
"Fresh this morning?"
"Still had dirt on them an hour ago."
Mrs. Porter looked between Adam and Lin with entirely too much interest.
Helen noticed.
So did Sophie.
Both women sighed at exactly the same time.
Mrs. Porter ignored them.
She stood.
"Adam!"
He turned.
"Mrs. Porter."
She beckoned him over with the enthusiasm of someone about to cause trouble.
"Come here for a second."
Adam walked over without suspicion.
Big mistake.
Mrs. Porter smiled proudly.
"Lin, this is Adam Walker."
She turned dramatically toward him.
"Adam, this is Lin Zhang."
Adam offered his hand.
"Nice to meet you."
Lin shook it.
His grip was warm and solid.
"Likewise."
Mrs. Porter clasped her hands together.
"Adam moved here about six months ago."
Adam looked embarrassed.
"You make it sound like I'm on display."
"You are."
He sighed.
"Again?"
Sophie called from behind the espresso machine.
"Good luck."
Adam laughed.
"Thanks for the warning."
Mrs. Porter continued as if no one had interrupted.
"Bought the old Miller property."
"Runs nearly four hundred acres."
"Wheat."
"Corn."
"Beef cattle."
She lowered her voice dramatically.
"And he's single."
Adam closed his eyes for one brief second.
"...Mrs. Porter."
She ignored him.
Again.
Helen pressed her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh.
Lin smiled politely.
"Nice farm?"
Adam visibly relaxed.
Finally.
A normal question.
"Needs work."
He shrugged.
"Spent most of the year repairing fences and replacing equipment."
Lin nodded.
"Sounds familiar."
That caught his attention.
"You're the one fixing up Hawthorne Hotel?"
"That's me."
He smiled.
"Been wondering who had enough courage to take that place on."
"Or poor judgment."
Adam laughed.
"Little bit of both?"
"Probably."
For a few moments, they actually had a normal conversation.
Renovations.
Contractors.
Weather.
Supply shortages.
It was surprisingly easy.
Mrs. Porter watched them like someone enjoying her favorite television show.
Finally...
She couldn't help herself.
"You know..."
Adam sighed.
"Here it comes."
Mrs. Porter smiled sweetly.
"You two have a lot in common."
Neither of them answered.
She continued anyway.
"Both hardworking."
"Both new in town."
"Both own too much land."
"Both single."
Adam rubbed the back of his neck.
"Mrs. Porter..."
Lin raised a hand.
"Before this goes any further..."
Mrs. Porter looked hopeful.
"Yes?"
Lin smiled pleasantly.
"It's still a hard no."
Mrs. Porter blinked.
"I didn't even ask anything yet."
"You were about to."
Adam burst out laughing.
A genuine laugh.
The kind that caught him completely off guard.
He looked at Lin.
"You know..."
He chuckled again.
"I've only been standing here three minutes and I completely understand."
Lin smiled.
"Thank you."
He picked up his potato sacks.
"For what it's worth..."
He nodded toward Mrs. Porter.
"...you handled that much nicer than I usually do."
Mrs. Porter looked offended.
"I am simply encouraging community spirit."
Adam started backing toward the door.
"And that's my cue to leave before she starts planning a wedding."
The entire café laughed.
As he reached the door, he looked back at Lin.
"Good luck with the hotel."
"Thanks."
"You'll need it."
The bell jingled as he stepped outside.
Mrs. Porter watched the door close before looking dramatically at Lin.
"Firefighter..."
She counted on one finger.
"Deputy..."
A second finger.
"Farmer..."
A third.
She sighed theatrically.
"You are making this very difficult for me."
Lin took another sip of coffee.
"Good."
Helen couldn't hold it in anymore.
She laughed so hard she nearly spilled her coffee.
Even Sophie had to turn away from the counter to hide her smile.
Mrs. Porter crossed her arms.
"Fine."
She nodded once.
"I'll simply have to find someone even more handsome."
Lin groaned.
"Please don't make that your life mission."
Mrs. Porter smiled with absolute confidence.
"Too late."