The Ranger's Passionate Love

"He really is way too much fun to watch leave," said Caitlin with an impish smile. "You sure you can handle that much man, Ash?"

Kyara had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Ashley favored Caitlin with a wry look, but K broke in.

"From the look of it, it's not Ashley who'd got her eyes on him," said K, her tone light. Kyara felt all three sets of eyes lock onto the jacket currently protecting her sensitive skin. Ashley's eyes practically burned.

"What?" said Kyara. "Oh, no. I'm not ... I don't want ... I'm way too busy with the restaurant right now. I just didn't dress right. He was trying to save me from myself, is all." Kyara felt herself getting warm.

Ashley sniffed.

"Not that busy from what I hear." The blond turned back to the bush, acting casual.

Bitch. Kyara felt her fists clench.

Caitlin, her eyes wide, stepped between them.

"So, uh, Kyara, let me show you what we were doing. With four of us, we can have two groups of two," said Caitlin desperately.

K crossed to Ashley and bent, whispering something in her ear with a stern expression. Kyara saw Ashley flush, and she had the grace to look embarrassed.

OK, at least Caitlin's trying to make nice, and I could use a friend old enough to drink. I'll play nice, for now.

Kyara turned her attention fully to Caitlin, asking "Alright. How can I help?"

As the two settled in to work, Kyara pulling back branches, Caitlin sawing at their bases, the two women chatted. Well, really Caitlin chatted, chattering along to fill the now frosty silence.

"So," said the rotund little woman. "You're probably wondering how you get two women in the same tiny town with the same name."

"I hadn't really thought about it," admitted Kyara.

"It's a funny story, really," said Caitlin. "Both our mothers have lived here basically forever. They were pregnant at the same time. Well, both of them wanted to name their daughter Caitlin. It turned into a big thing, with rumors flying about who had stolen the name from whom, and so on. It was pretty much the talk of the town for months, from what I hear.

"Anyway, I was born first, and, of course, my mom named my Caitlin. C-a-i-t-l-i-n. Not to be outdone, K's mom also kept the name, but she named her daughter K-a-i-t-l-y-n, insisting that it was totally different. Our moms basically haven't spoken since. But, obviously we wound up going to the same school in the same grade, and we became basically inseparable. It still drives our mom's crazy to this day."

Kyara let out a little laugh, both of the other women now working on the patch across from them looking up. Kyara gave them a shy smile, and admitted,

"Something like that happened in my father's church. Except the two women both wanted to call their daughters 'Yazmeen.' I'm guessing that name doesn't get as much competition up here."

There was a beat, followed by laughter all around.

This could be okay, thought Kyara, tugging at the branches in front of her, the girls still laughing at the names. I think this could really be okay.

"Kyara, someone wants you in the dining area?" called Crystal.

Oh, no. Did I screw up the food for my only customer? wondered Kyara, quailing inside.

"Tell them I'll be right out," said Kyara taking off her work apron.

Kyara hustled into the dining room, the door swinging behind her.

Mrs. Waite sat alone at a table in the dead center of the dining area. The woman was tiny and hunched. She sat, looking like nothing so much as a little bird, her beady little eyes darting around the room. A plain chicken breast, rice, and some peas sat virtually untouched on her plate.

"What seems to be the trouble, Mrs. Waite?" asked Kyara as she approached the table.

Mrs. Waite looked up at her, wisps of snow white hair bouncing as she did. The old woman's eyes stayed on Kyara's lips, watching them carefully when Kyara spoke.

Her hearing must be going Kyara realized.

"You are," announced the old woman, he quavering voice managing to sound definitive despite its age. "Now have a seat."