“No, I stuck to Triple M beef. Ben kept piling my plate with the food he’d grilled.”
“He looks good for someone who took two bullets to protect the woman he loves,” Jolene said for only her ears as she put her arm around her. “If it wasn’t so terrifying, it might be romantic.”
“Except there’s nothing romantic about bullets,” she replied quietly.
“I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears out for you two and saying some prayers.” Jolene gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Everybody is. If Amber or Taft so much as sneezes, we plan to know.”
Their heightened security, along with the other measures Logan and Ben had agreed to, made her feel better at night. Except she still locked the door every night, even with Will back in the house, and told herself not to feel sad that their former sense of safety was gone.
“I meant to ask. Is there any word on when Neil returns? Too bad he’s missing our festival.”
Hannah had thought so as well, but Neil had to close out his life in Edinburgh before returning to Sanctuary Springs permanently. He’d even decided to transfer his nursing license from Minnesota after recent events. Still, she liked hearing the special note of interest in her friend’s voice. “He was bummed too, but there was too much for him to take care of. Don’t worry. He’ll be back soon.”
“Will said Paul agreed to fix up the old logging cabin on the Flying K and let him stay there,” Jolene remarked. “Paul seems to be working overtime to make up for the actions of his children. Not that he thinks he can, but still, it’s something. Thank God Taft and Amber didn’t try to crash today.”
Ben and Logan had decided to post some ranch handsaround the Triple M out of caution just in case Taft got “lost” again. “Taft is probably smoking a fancy cigar, planning his next move, while Amber walks around in a string bikini or something.”
“We’re not wasting another word on those jackals, not when we could be eating ourselves silly.” Jolene loaded another cherry tart onto her plate with a wink. “Speaking of…I want to grab a little of the sour cherry salad dressing before my son drains it. It was delicious with Reba's pasta salad and some of Pippa Lockwood’s spiked cherry lemonade. See you later. Dylan Prentice! You use a fork to pick up a pastry. Not your grubby hands.”
Hannah tried and failed to stop laughing.
“Did you try the bacon-and-cherry brownies yet?”
Hannah stilled and turned around slowly.
Her father stood before her, hands folded in front of him. “Hello, Hannah.”
She still wasn’t sure what to make of their relationship. Maybe it had been calling him first. Maybe it was seeing another doctor praise her abilities. Or maybe it was her admission that she hadn’t been cut out to be a doctor. A truce seemed in the offering. “Hello, Dad,” she said instead of the more formal term of “Father.”
“Your mother wasn’t up to coming, but she wanted to send something,” he explained, reaching for his glasses and pulling a cloth to clean them. “She remembered how you loved the sweet and salty flavor of these brownies.”
Her lips twitched, knowing he didn’t approve of such desserts. “And how I never turn away?—”
“Chocolate,” he finished with a soft smile. “Ben is improving rapidly. I imagine you’ve had a hand in that.”
She had to keep her brows from shooting to her hairline. Every herbal concoction and salve imaginable, wishing she could do more. “I have.”
“Good.” He nodded, putting his glasses back on. “Keep itup. His scarring is minimal given his injury. Well, I’d better make a few rounds before I go home to your mother. I didn’t tell her much of what happened, but she’s still worried. If you have time, we’d be glad for a visit.”
Her throat grew thick with emotion. “I’ll come by this week.” He was turning away when she laid a hand on his arm, making him glance back. “I know you aren’t much for dessert, but Ben and Will’s barbecue is delicious. You could have some and sit with us at the McAllister table.”
Their gazes held a moment before he nodded. “Thank you for the invitation.”
She watched him wander away, stopping to talk to people he knew.
Well, Daddy, seems I was right to call you in more ways than one.
She felt a warm breeze wrap around her and thought of her sister.
Maybe all my healing isn’t done yet, huh, sis?
She wandered along the tables until she found the dessert her mother had baked. Cutting herself a slice, she surveyed the remaining cookies. Her choices were slim at this point. A few cherry oatmeal cookies sat alongside a cherry fruitcake that seemed more fitting for the holidays than the festival.
She was reaching for a piece of Gertie Frazier’s sour cherry coffee cake when someone covered her eyes with their hands. Since she felt the big masculine body pressing up against her, she knew exactly who was behind her.
“Were my eyes playing tricks on me, or were you and your father having a civil conversation?” Ben asked softly, his warm breath tickling her ear.
“We were. Surprises abound, apparently.”
