“Ha! I had one just like that.”
Lilene set her fork down. “I know you’re not talking about me.”
Norman rolled his eyes. “She’s still a know-it-all.”
“Norman! That was not nice. And on Thanksgiving.” She shook her fork at him, and then blew him a kiss. “I can’t help it if I’m always right.”
“Sad thing is… she usually is right. I can’t even debate it,” he admitted.
“Wouldn’t do you any good anyway,” Miss Rose said to Norman. “How’re those giant horses of yours doing, Mike?”
Mike buttered a hot yeast roll. “Great. We won the nationals and that really helped us bring in top dollar with the young horses we sold this year. It’s been a very good year.”
“Mike raises draft horses,” Lilene said to Vanessa.
“Percherons,” Mike added.
“They’re beautiful,” Vanessa responded. “The day I arrived I saw him riding through town. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes.”
Norman laughed. “Sometimes he’s got eight horses at a time clomping down Main Street.”
“Guilty.” Mike jammed a forkful of stuffing into his mouth. He’d really rather not talk about himself today.
Miss Rose then directed her questions to Vanessa.
“I take it you’re not all that familiar with horses. I used to love to ride.” She swatted Mike playfully on the shoulder. “Not big horses like his, but I used to go trail riding with my friends right up the mountain line here. I had the prettiest bay horse. That was a long time ago.”
“I’ve never ridden,” Vanessa said. “I think I’m okay with that. I don’t think I want to be on top of something that weighs as much as my car but has its own moods and opinions.”
There was a murmur of agreement around the table, and somehow that made Mike feel a bit alienated, like they’d chosen to be on Vanessa’s side instead of his. Even if they had no idea that he was harboring ill will toward her at the moment.
Finally, the conversation slowed as everyone got serious about the food.
Lilene’s brother, Larry, put his fork down and turned to Vanessa. “While you’re in town you should get Mike to show you around his barn. It’s really amazing how he has things set up to handle everything with limited help.”
“Don’t be impressed. It’s nothing really,” Mike said. “It was out of necessity.”
“But it’s ingenious!” Larry said. “And wait until you get close up on those horses. They are so gentle, and he can answer any question you can think of about them.”
“Well, I’ve lived with them my whole life.”
“Seriously, you have to ask him to take you over there.”
Vanessa pressed her lips together. “No. I couldn’t. I’m really busy. I have a lot to get done before the first of the year.”
“Yeah, she’s a busy lady. She’s been here less than a week and has already done a few layoffs.” Mike swirled his fork in the air. “Even let my mom go, didn’t you, Vanessa?”
“Well…”
“It’s okay. I’m sure everyone has already heard anyway.”
“I really don’t want to ruin Lilene’s lovely Thanksgiving gathering, Mike. I’m sorry you don’t understand—”
“Oh, I understand.”
The air in the room seemed to almost vibrate. Norm and Lilene both looked like they were afraid to interject, and then one by one everyone except Miss Rose left the table.
“You’re not the least bit sorry, are you?” Mike said to Vanessa.
