Yesterday, their friends and neighbors finally came to pick the special cherries Elena McAllister had planted in her famed orchards so long ago. Maybe it was the recent tragedy that had struck their community, but everyone seemed even quicker to send a smile or give a longer-than-usual hug.
Hannah had decided to make a special cherry bark tincture to help with coughs and colds as well as one from the cherry fruit, which made a terrific cough syrup. Of course, she’d helped Grams make cherry pies for today, while Reba had made her special tarts and bars dotted with vanilla icingwhen she hadn’t been checking on Ben, who was supposed to be on light duty.
“Hannah, do you think I’ll explode if I eat any more?” Cooper asked beside her, rubbing his tiny belly, looking very much like the happy boy he’d been before Ben was shot. They were all trying so hard to help him recover. “Papa’s bringing over more cherry bourbon ribs, and they’re so good, I want another.”
Hannah glanced over to see Grams and Gramps fight a smile. She was sitting at the McAllister table with Tank’s snores as an ongoing soundtrack to their meal. The puppy was sleeping at the little boy’s feet. “I think you’ll be okay. You might grab me one too. Make sure you slather it in that delicious cherry barbecue sauce Jolene made.”
“You’ve got it,” he announced enthusiastically, swinging his legs out from the bench, waking Tank up with a gigantic chuckle snore.
The dog stretched before following in Cooper’s wake. Ben noticed the boy coming, and she managed to catch his eye. He lifted a giant rib in the air with a grin on his face. Besides being happy as hell to be back in his own bed, as he liked to say, he’d been proud to tell her about using Triple M beef. She’d loved seeing that he and Will had taken over the grilling for the McAllister men, a transition that had occurred while she’d been gone. Even better, she’d loved watching Will be the one to make sure Ben didn’t overdo it, telling his brother the shoe was on the other foot now, so to speak.
Otherwise, the Cherry Festival was the same as ever, filled with the kind of community spirit and neighborly connections she’d always valued living in Sanctuary Springs.
“Where is that Jolene?” Ben’s father asked, finishing off his cherry pie. “I don’t know where that girl’s been hiding that cherry barbecue sauce recipe. Can’t seem to get enough of it myself.”
“It’s a new recipe,” Dylan offered from the next table, proving he still heard everything.
Then again, she was well aware of the Prentice boys being extra watchful and protective around her. Although they’d all told her she was the coolest girl ever for running Owen down with her horse—praise she’d heard from plenty of other townspeople today. So many had also complimented her quick thinking to make the poultice. She used her training to help save her man—it couldn’t get better than that.
“She should put it on the menu at The Lucky Horseshoe,” Gramps called out. “Best darn barbecue sauce I’ve had in some time. No offense, Mother.”
Grams patted him sweetly on the arm. “Can’t take offense when I agree. Her recipe is one I’m asking for. The other is Mae’s new cherry preserves. Something’s different this year.”
Hannah finished the last piece of her flaky tart and licked her fingers. “I already asked. Mae added balsamic vinegar.”
“Well, I’ll be,” Grams mused, putting a finger to her mouth thoughtfully. “Vinegar does brighten things up. I’ll be buying a few jars from her at her store.”
The Cherry Festival had always been good advertising for new treats. Hannah needed to tell Jolene to sell her new barbecue sauce at the restaurant. She’d make bank. Besides, wouldn’t it be nice to sample it again when she and Ben finally went there on a date. Now that their relationship was public, they’d both agreed to find more time to be together, with Cooper coming along sometimes, especially in these critical weeks when they were hoping to reassure him that things would be all right.
Hannah still wasn’t sure about that, given it looked like Amber and Taft had teamed up, but she would focus on all the good stuff, as Ben liked to call it, and not borrow trouble.
Glancing back at the tables of food, organized by type—meat, sides, and dessert—she considered her options, hoping Ben’s grill duty would be over soon so he could sit down andfinally eat. Personally, she had a little bit more room for a treat, and she was going to make it count.
Deciding she was better served looking over the offerings up close, she headed that way, and Dylan joined her along with his brothers.
“We all just shook our leg, Hannah,” Dylan told her, lifting his boot. “We’re good for thirds now. What are you planning on stuffing yourself with?”
She raised a prissy brow. “I don’t stuff myself. I choose with discrimination.”
The Prentice boys started hooting. “Hannah’s a lady,” Ford got out between hysterics.
“You bet I am,” she told them, which only made them laugh harder.
Boys. She scanned the tables, starting with dessert. Everyone’s name was written underneath the dish they’d brought so people would know who to praise and thank—and perhaps request a recipe.
There was a sour cream sour cherry bundt cake that had appealed to her. Tallulah’s cherry crumble was pretty famous. Wanda had brought a beautiful lattice cherry pie. Oh, she wanted to try them all…
Cooper ran over, holding his plate like a Frisbee. “Dad gave you another rib because he said you still looked hungry. Hannah, can you please grab me one of those cherry fizzes? Have you tried one? They’re de-li-cious.”
Smacking his lips, he ran back to the table with Tank in pursuit. Jolene strolled over, patting her belly. “You trying to decide on seconds?”
She nodded. “Your boys were laughing at me calling myself a lady.”
“They’re an uncouth lot, but they’re mine. Want to know my favorites this year?”
“You betcha.”
Jolene led her over to the end of the dessert table. “I abouthad a foodgasm from Scout’s cherry-cinnamon rolls. And did you try the lamb that Skip Jenkins brought over? He rubbed it in cherries before grilling it. I loved it.”
