Cedar Hollow by Tracey Smith

here? Had he been an orphan too?
    “Ben was only a child?” Cassidy asked casually, hoping Mrs. Owens would elaborate.
    “A teenager really, but a lost soul. Coming here was good for him.” Mrs. Owens nodded her confirmation of the statement. “He was headed down a dark path.” She shook her head sadly.
    “What do you mean?” Cassidy leaned forward with interest.
    “Oh well, you know teenagers.” Mrs. Owens dismissed waving her hand in the air. “But he’s grown into a fine young man.” She smiled pleasantly and Cassidy got the impression that she wasn’t going to get any more information on that subject, at least not for now.
    “What was my great-uncle like?” Cassidy asked, changing tack.
    “He was a very… particular man.” Mrs. Owens expression grew harder.
    “Mr. Woodard described him the same way. What does that mean?” Cassidy probed.
    “He had his ways.” Mrs. Owens answered vaguely. “Would you mind grabbing some squash and zucchini from the ice box?” Mrs. Owens asked changing topics.
    “Of course.” Cassidy answered heading for the fridge. She opened the door and was surprised by the sheer volume of vegetables that filled it.
    “Bottom shelf.” Mrs. Owens instructed.
    Cassidy looked through the bottom shelf and located a bushels worth of squash and zucchini stacked in the back corner. “How many ?” she asked with her head still buried in the fridge.
    “Two of each should be plenty.”
    Cassidy retrieved the vegetables and then watched as Mrs. Owens showed her how to slice and quarter them properly. She chopped vegetables and watched as Mrs. Owens worked over the stove making some sort of chunky tomato sauce.
    “What are we making?” Cassidy asked to break the long silence that had ensued.
    “Vegetable spaghetti.” Mrs. Owens explained as she began feeding the thin sheet of dough through a contraption that sliced it into thin strips. Cassidy realized she was making the pasta. She’d never seen anyone make pasta before. She felt in awe of Mrs. Owens and the miracles she could work in the kitchen.
    Cassidy hadn’t even realized how much time had passed until the back door opened and a dirty, sweaty Ben came sauntering inside. Despite being covered head to toe in dirt and having his brown hair plastered to his forehead with sweat , he looked surprisingly appealing. She was sure she hadn’t looked nearly as attractive after having spent her few hours working in the gardens.
    “Dinner in ten .” Mrs. Owens said without turning from the stove. Ben nodded as he headed out of the kitchen, but he paused eyeing Cassidy with what looked like appreciation, then he exited without a word.
    Cassidy exhaled in relief after he’d left the room. She wasn’t entirely sure why she’d immediately gone on guard when he’d entered the room. She told herself it was because she was preparing for another fight, but even she doubted the validity of that excuse. In truth his mere presence did things to her that no man had ever achieved. It was confusing and unnerving.
    Her mind argued that he was mean and rude and completely uncivilized. Not at all her type. Her body argued; Have you seen him with his shirt off? She flushed at the memory. She’d never been one to drool over a handsome man before, but somehow that description just didn’t seem…enough. Ben carried himself with a raw sexuality that spoke directly to something deep and dark within Cassidy. Something she’d never really examined before.
    “Thank you for your help tonight.” Mrs. Owens interrupted her impure musings bring ing her back to the present.
    “I really enjoyed it.” Cassidy responded honestly. She noticed that Mrs. Owens had prepared her signature covered tray to carry to her room.
    “Thanks for dinner, Lucy.” Ben said entering the room looking clean and fresh, water still glistening in his wet hair.
    “Cassidy helped.” Mrs. Owens said winking over at her. “Cassidy, dear, do you mind serving up the plates for