Free Garden of Dreams by Patricia Rice Page A

the bouquets, and we can snip some of those feathery ferns you like. If you see anything else that will work, just holler. You know Aunt Hattie likes sharing her garden.”
    Dottie kept glancing over her shoulder. “Dear...,” she said nervously, “there’s a man back there. I think he’s coming this way.”
    Drat the man. She’d thought she’d made it perfectly clear that she didn’t want his company. How in the name of heaven could she face him in front of Dottie? The dear old lady would have talk all over the town, not from anything she knew but just from her dreamy speculations. And Nina really didn’t think she could face him without turning red under any conditions.
    Weren’t computer people supposed to be antisocial nerds or something? The computer part must be one more lie, Nina decided as JD propped a hand on her shoulder. She didn’t believe for a moment he needed the support for his lame foot. She wanted to glare at him, but she still couldn’t look at him. She wished him away, but the silence was growing a little thin as Dottie stared at JD, and he waited expectantly for introductions. If he dared to try selling Dottie a new roof or something, she’d throw him in jail herself.
    â€œDottie, this is John David Smith, the man whose truck was knocked off the road yesterday. JD, Dottie Henson, from our church. She makes the most delightful bouquets.”
    â€œPleased to meet you, ma’am.” Clenching the walking stick in one hand, he took Dottie’s with the other. The old lady’s eyes lit as if she’d just walked into a ballroom.
    â€œMy, oh, my, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smith. Will you be staying in Madrid long? We’d love having you at church Sunday.”
    Nina felt a certain satisfaction in the way JD began a hasty back step. Men of his ilk and churches did not go hand in hand.
    â€œMiss Toon has graciously agreed to let my brother and me rent some rooms until our truck is fixed. We’ll see what our plans are by Sunday.”
    Dottie’s eyes grew even wider as JD made his farewells and limped up the walk to the house. When he was safely inside, she turned expectantly to Nina. “My, he’s a handsome rogue, isn’t he? Are you sure you know what you’re doing, dear?”
    Remembering that kiss, Nina didn’t think she had any idea at all what she was doing. But she fully intended to correct that situation shortly. She might be backward around men. She might not speak her mind as often as she should. But that didn’t mean she didn’t have a mind at all. JD Whatever-his-name-was would get a piece of it as soon as she summoned the courage.
    * * *
    Jackie had sprawled across the spacious couch and turned on the TV by the time JD returned to the house.
    â€œThere’s no cable,” he complained. “She doesn’t have any video games. What am I going to do all day around here?”
    â€œMake your bed. Wash your dishes. Offer to mow the lawn or whatever manly task needs doing. Once I see what condition the computers are in, I’ll take you down to the lake, and we’ll see what’s happening there. Get off your butt and do something useful in the meantime.”
    â€œYou sound just like Mom,” Jackie grumbled as he flicked off the TV. “Do this, do that,” he mimicked. “This is supposed to be a vacation. I shouldn’t have to do anything.”
    â€œFive-year-olds don’t do anything. No one said you get a free ride for life.” JD circled the front room, checking for electric sockets. He found a tangle of extension cords plugged into an ancient ungrounded socket behind the couch. Swearing at the fire hazard, he located an even older single-socket outlet behind the TV. Wondering if he could trade his rent payment in exchange for updating the wiring, he limped toward the room he’d slept in last night.
    At one time the wide room