The thought of any sort of beef was no longer tempting. “I’ll have to pass on steak.”
“You don’t like it?”
“I used to love it, but I’ve been looking into the cows’ big brown eyes for nearly three weeks. How could I eat one?”
“I guess the same way you ate hamburgers at our barbeques when you were a kid.”
She slumped in her seat. “But now they’remycows. They depend on me for everything. It’s like I’ve become their mother, and stop shaking your head. This is different than killing pigeons.”
“Right. Pigeons don’t taste good. Which reminds me, do you want me to come over and take care of the ones in your barn?”
The answer to that question wasn’t going to reassure him. “You don’t need to. Right now they’re not stealing the animals’ feed because I’ve sprinkled the outside of the barn with stuff from the pantry that I’m never going to eat.”
“You’re feeding the pigeons?”
“Do you know how many boxes of expired frosted shredded wheat my grandfather had in his house?”
Landon paused. “So a vegetarian place for dinner?”
“I can still eat chicken. I don’t like them all that much.”
He laughed and shook his head.
She turned in her seat to better see Landon. “Do you think I’m too soft?” Her grandfather had. After she’d come into the house sniffling after the pigeon incident, he’d told her grandmother, “Heaven help us if the younger generation had to fight a war. They’re too soft to shoot a bird, let alone a combatant.” Her grandmother had been the one who comforted her and pointedly told Grandpa that the world didn’t need more combatants.
Landon reached over and squeezed Kate’s arm. “I think you’re about the right amount of softness. Although, to be certain, I’ll have to do a more in-depth analysis.”
That was an analysis she’d look forward to. She wanted to take hold of his hand and keep it in hers, but supposed he had better keep both hands on the wheel.
“Later when you’re not around,” he continued, “I’ll come over, take care of the pigeons, and you’ll be none the wiser.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be, except you just told me your plans.”
“Don’t fret about it. When I said I’d take care of them, I meant I would relocate them to some kindly pigeon farm where animal lovers will feed them all the frosted shredded wheat they like.”
Kate made a tsking sound. “Liar. I can see I’m going to have to put spikes along the beams in the barn, or I’ll have more pigeon carnage on my hands.”
“I’ll come over and help you.” He grinned. “In fact, I reckon you’ll need a lot of help at Coyote Glenn. I might need to come over several times a week to see you.”
She liked that idea, and then remembered the need for secrecy. “I definitely want to see you several times a week, but Dewayne can’t know about us. He’ll tell my parents and…” She still didn’t know the most tactful way to explain the situation. “They… don’t think I should date anyone while I’m here.”
Landon glanced at her, eyebrows cocked up. “Anyone or me in particular?”
He’d cut to the heart of the matter quickly enough. She didn’t bother denying the implication. “They’re worried that if I date you, it will cloud my judgment.”
He clenched his jaw, then let out a slow breath. “I guess it’s only natural for your parents to worry about you. But what’s your opinion? Are you afraid I’ve got ulterior motives?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I did.”
He relaxed a bit. “Good.”
She nudged his leg with hers. “Did you think I came with you tonight just for the kissing therapy?” She looked upward, considering. “Although that is a big draw.”
The comment earned her a smile, but it fell from his lips quickly. “You want our relationship to be a secret?”
“Just from Dewayne.”
“If anyone in town knows we’re dating, it will get back to him. So if you don’t want him to know, we shouldn’t be seen together at a restaurant or out dancing.”