What very creative ideas you have there JC…

“What very creative ideas you have there JC, are you sure you’re not a marketing guru in craftsman disguise?” Kat rushed in. “I’m sure Jessie could really build on those ideas, would you like some more cobbler honey? Here let me take that.” She stood up and picked up her plate, Jessie’s and JC’s. “These are just gorgeous plates.”

“Oh they are,” Claudette chimed in as she started to clear away the children’s plates. “I just adore them JC,” she cooed as she elbowed Jessie in the back on her way past.

The Turnbull boys all dutifully cleared their own places as JC got up and the children ran off to the bathroom to wash sticky cobbler faces.

“Claudette,” JC said for the first time with some warmth in his voice, “thank you for sharing your table with me, it was delicious. I hope you enjoy using the stoneware half as much as I enjoyed making it.”

As Claudette gave him another big hug Kat walked over to wipe the table but instead leaned down and pinched Jessie’s arm, “Walk him out and go make nice. He’s cute.”

“He’s a know-it-all,” Jessie whispered back fiercely.

As Kat scooped up crumbs into her hand she said in a sing-song whisper, “Takes one to know one…”

JC shook Percy’s hand and waved to Kat and the fellows and turned to head out the front door.

“I’ll show you out,” Jessie mumbled.

As JC walked out the screen door and trotted down the front steps, Jessie stopped at the top of the steps, Buck glued to her side. JC was reaching for his car door when Jessie exasperatedly tossed her hands up. “Okay, I’ll be the bigger person here,” she said loudly and took a few steps down, “Sorry for speaking so tersely to you, but you’re whole attitude toward me has been really hard to read.”

JC stopped with his hand on the door handle, “Um…okay.” He opened the door and started to get in.

“Hello, don’t you have anything to say?”

“Have a nice day?” JC said as he started the engine.

Jessie stalked up to his car door as he closed it with Buck on her heels. “Or how about sorry for telling you to pull your head out of your butt when I’ve only known you for an hour and a half and talking to you like you’re a four-year-old that colored her picture the wrong color.”

“I would never correct a four-year-old’s coloring.” JC said bluntly, “And I didn’t tell you to pull your head out of your butt.”

“Well you said something about my butt or my nose and it wasn’t nice,” Jessie said and put her hands on her hips. “I mean really, where do you get off talking to me like that when you don’t even know me, know anything about me, my family, my business or what I have or have not considered. I mean really…”

It was then that she noticed a low rumble coming from Buck and a slight twinkle in JC’s eye.

She stopped dead. She let her hand slip off her hip and idly scratch Buck’s ears.

“You are actually trying to get me riled up?” she asked.

“Nope, I’m doing it,” he said as he put the dusty SUV into reverse. “Hey, I can’t stand people focusing on the negative, and it sounded like you were complaining about Chancy. So I thought I’d shake you up.” The SUV started to roll back and he turned and waved.

She could have sworn she heard him say “have a nice day” as the gravel crunched under his tires. Jessie looked down at Buck and just shook her head. “What was that?”

She was still wondering what kind of nutter had got her all riled up, made her friend dishes and gave her some of the best ideas she’d had in weeks all in one afternoon.

“I asked why you were trying and not doing,”…

“I asked why you were trying and not doing,” JC blandly asked while he moved his plate to tackle a heaping portion of Claudette’s cobbler.

“Oh, well, um,” Jessie stumbled by his rather abrupt question, “I am doing. Your cousin, who is just so charming” she intoned sarcastically, “has helped me really tune up the house. Just trying to figure out what’s my marketing hook to draw in some business.”

“Ol’ Bette always had a houseful during the festival,” James added as he reached over for more rolls.

“I know,” Jessie said, “But I’d like to have some business year-round. So I’m looking for some packages to put together. Thing is, the more I think about it, I’m not sure how to draw in clientele without a lake nearby or attractions like museums, gourmet services or spas. And I don’t have any horses, and don’t want the responsibility of keeping livestock. I’m just not sure what anyone would do for more than a stay-over if they’re visiting relatives.”

The Turnbull boys just nodded and chewed while Kat patted her hand, “You’ll do just fine once you put your mind to it.”

Jessie sighed a bit, “That’s what I’ve been doing while you’ve been here. I mean, let’s face it, past breakfast I can’t cook like you or Claudette- so gourmet dining is out. I think Creekside is gorgeous, but it’s not a luxury spa destination… I don’t know. I thought I did, but I’m not so sure now.”

“Hmph,” JC muttered quietly under his breath.

Jessie was getting a bit perturbed by his demeanor and cut him a look out of the corner of her eyes. What is this guy’s problem?

She put on her best smile and took a sip of tea, “Sorry to talk shop at the dinner table Claudette.”

“Well I luuuuv it here,” Kaylie said as she topped her mashed potato mountain with a black eyed pea. She then proceeded to smash and start consuming her potatoes. “It’s tumms off fum.”

“Yeah!” said Kyle. “Cousin Jimmy said next time we was in town at the station he’d let me give a shout out to my peeps. But I told him I ate ‘em all at Easter.”

That got a smile out of JC. “Looks like you’ve underestimated Chancy,” he said to Jessie.

“Really?” Jessie half turned in her chair. “I adore this town, just how have I underestimated them?” She was about to get riled up with these monotone comments of his. Her tone made everyone at the table pause before their next bite.

“Well, as a local artist, I find it a bit insulting that you say there are no artistic attractions. Both Case and I are opening small showing rooms. And who better to teach you to cook or heck cook for you than these two women,” he waved down the table toward Claudette and Kat, “And as far as spa services, I don’t know of any experiences a resort might have that Carlene couldn’t bring out to your guests given the chance.” He put down his fork and wiped his mouth.

“And if you thought a little out of the box I’m sure there are plenty of farmers or ranchers around that could use the extra income for offering hayrides or riding on their property. You’ve got a goldmine right under your nose if you just pulled it out of your pre-packaged idea of what a business should be.”

“Well…I…um…” Jessie stuttered.

The entire Turnbull clan, Jessie, Kat and her brood and JC rounded out the big family table…

The entire Turnbull clan, Jessie, Kat and her brood and JC rounded out the big family table with one chair empty next to JC. Of course it wasn’t really empty; Buck was under the table with his head resting on the seat. He wasn’t taking his eyes off JC. The conversation was a lively mix of cobbler recipes, peanut crop talk and Kaylie’s adoration of the “cutest lil’ baby pig in the whole wide world she ever saw.”

Jessie was taken a bit off guard when JC turned to her and said, “So what are you doing?”

Jessie looked back at her plate and her fork full of black eyed peas that were strategically impaled on each tine of her fork. She was trying to break her record of 16 peas on one fork when JC had asked that question. She blushed and held her fork up, “Well since I was little I’ve always tried to get as many peas on my fork as possible – no squishing, and as you can see…”

JC held up a hand, “Um, I meant in Chancy.”

“Oh!” Jessie quickly ate the non-record breaking fork full of peas and gulped.

“I’m trying to re-open my family’s bed and breakfast,” she said as she reached for some tea.

“And it’s going to be fantastic sugar!” Claudette chimed in with a wink from a few seats down.

Jessie smiled a little weakly and took another sip of tea. She was still mentally kicking herself for talking about pea piling her fork. How lame can you be Hathaway? Like he cares about your peas? Now he’ll think you’re some nutter and totally dismiss you. Who knows what he’ll say to his cousin or Lord help me his Aunt and Uncle. The whole town is going to think you’re touched in the head by next Tuesday!

Her mental diatribe was cut short by a wave of Kat’s hand in front of her face. “Anybody home?” she asked.

“Hehe,” Jessie took another scoop of peas and looked at Kat.

“JC asked you something,” Kat said while giving Jess a quizzical look.

Jessie turned to JC, “Sorry…what did you say?”