Page 36 of Quiver

“Something the two of you have in common.”

“Hey now.” Fletcher laughed. “We haven’t gone even a hundred yards, and already you’re zinging me?”

Gram patted her leg. “Don’t pretend you don’t like that. I know your surly sense of humor. But I’m grateful to you for paying me a visit. I even brought you a little present.”

“Oh?”

Gram rummaged under the blanket for a second before pulling out two flasks.

“Hey, now you’re talking.”

“It’s nothing too hard. You can’t be drinking and driving my pretty boy, but I figure with your constitution, a little hot, mulled wine won’t hurt.”

“I’m not sure what you think of my constitution, but pass it over.”

Gram handed her the metal flask, still warm to the touch, and Fletcher gave over the reins so she could open it.

“Aren’t you going to tell me not to make him go faster?”

“Would it do any good?”

Gram chuckled and gave a gentle slap, which Winston was all too eager to heed. They picked up speed, but not to the point where Fletcher worried about any of them … or spilling her wine as her horse trotted happily along.

“That’s good stuff. Rich with a hint of orange at the end.”

“Yeah, Isaiah mulled it for me.” She mentioned Ava’s brother with a hint of pride in her voice. “It makes me want to curl up under a heavy blanket, stare at the fire, and reminisce.”

She could understand the impulse, even if she didn’t want to indulge it for herself. “You always were a deep thinker.”

“You are, too.”

She shook her head and sipped the flask once more as the warmth of her first few sips hit her stomach and began to spread through her system. “I spend most of my time trying not to think.”

Gram nudged her shoulder. “How’s that working?”

She shrugged. “Maybe not as good as usual.”

“I figured as much if you came looking to take an old woman for a ride. You know what I thought about when you pulled up?”

“What?”

“The line in the Bible, when God is making the world and it says, ‘it’s not good for man to be alone.’”

“I reminded you of the Book of Genesis?”

“Just one line, which struck me as off, because I’ve honestly come to believe the world would be a better place if more men were alone a little more often. Might solve a few problems if they had to sit with themselves for a bit, but when I saw you all hunched up and dour at such a pretty, young age, I thought, that one’s alone a little too much.”

Fletcher reached over and took the reins, as if wanting to steer at least one thing about this exchange. “Dour, huh?”

“You know what I mean. You’re always brooding, alone even with people around.”

“Maybe I enjoy my own company more than most other people.”

“You probably do, not that I blame you. I prefer your company to a lot of other people, too, but you’ve gotten used to things being a certain way. Your way. And just because you’re used to something doesn’t mean it’s the best thing for you.”

The comment made her remember Kylie’s parting barbs about habits, particularly the ones they’d developed with each other. She could at least admit she’d probably built a few unintentional ones, but some of them had been put there with purpose and a strong protective instinct. She’d damn well earned both where Kylie was concerned.

As if sensing an argument building, Gram cut her off by saying, “You always seemed a little alone even when you were with Ava.”