Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Katie examined a spoon absently and tossed it in the sink. "The one of you at the county fair . . . with Tessa."

Carmen stared at her. "Why? Of all the pictures . . . I thought you were going to throw that picture away. It was sweltering hot and my tank top and shorts were displaying too much cleavage and bare leg, remember? We both agreed. If you wanted to send him a picture of me . . ." It hit her like a sack of corn. Of course. How could she be so blind?

"You are playing matchmaker."

Katie blushed. "I am not," she declared hotly. Anyway, that picture wasn't so bad. Even Josh thought it was a good likeness of you."

There was no point in arguing. But what about Alex? Did he suspect? She gave Katie a level look. "Don't start playing cupid on me. I've got enough to do on this farm without looking after a pretty boy."

Katie gasped. "Alex isn't a . . ." She flounced into a chair, elbows on the table and chin in her hands. "What's the use? Once you get something into your head, dynamite couldn't blast it out." She stared sourly at Carmen a moment. "Anyway, being good looking doesn't disqualify him from physical labor. I seem to remember you moaning one time that Josh viewed you as nothing more than an arm ornament." She shook a finger at Carmen. "I sure hope you like crow, 'cause you're going to be eating a bunch of it before Alex leaves."

Carmen glanced around the table and shook her head. Maybe Alex was no pretty boy, but he was certainly accustomed to more lavish surroundings. Maybe it was time they started paying more attention to the aesthetic value of things. She stood and scooted her chair up to the cabinets. Using it as a ladder, she climbed on the counter, stretching from her knees to reach the top shelf.

"Now what are you doing?" Katie asked, hands on hips.

"Getting some serving bowls. Those pans are all black on the bottom and . . ."

"So who cares? I thought we agreed there was no point in using your mother's old dishes when we could just serve our food from the pans we cook it in? Why dirty up more dishes? Who are you trying to impress?"

Carmen frowned down at Katie. "I'm not trying to impress anyone. It's fine to skimp on manners when it's just the two of us, but we don't have to look like complete rednecks in front of our guests."