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He heaved out a breath. “Yeah.” He turned to go but turned back to Tate. “You need me for anything right now?”
“No. Get some rest, we’re on tonight.”
He nodded. “Thank you, Dylan.”
Dylan nodded. “You’re welcome.”
He stomped to his truck and huffed out a big breath once inside. He took a long drink from his water bottle then drove out of the construction site and toward the parking lot across from the tree where they’d exchanged the basket.
Settling in, he watched the road and the activity in this section of town and found it rather empty. He swallowed before jumping from his truck and striding across the road. He crossed the road and stepped into the vines at the edge of the road and lifted them. No basket. He looked around it a bit in case she set it somewhere else. Nothing.
He tried not letting the disappointment wash over him. So far today was a sucky day.What do you do on a sucky day? Go back to bed, that’s what.
ChapterFourteen
Elena swallowed as she reminded herself Craig was cagey. He probably meant to set her nerves on edge.
Grateful she had a covering on her face, she replied. “I just love this part of the brewing process is all. I allow myself the privilege to immerse myself in it.”
It was total bullshit. And he must not have liked the answer all that much because he turned and stalked away. She set out to stirring her pots again and adding water where needed until it was time to let the water rest.
As dusk neared, she stretched her shoulders and her back and set the lids on the pots for the night. Using a long metal rod, she dispersed the wood under the kettles so only a few embers remained, though the heat would last for a few hours. By morning when she came out here, they’d likely still be warm, though only to the touch. Of course it was cooler right now than when she normally brewed, so it could be a bit different. But it wouldn’t change anything with the brew.
After she finished with her chores, she pulled her gloves off, cleaned up the workbench she used and collected her knives to wash. Striding across the brewing grounds toward home she glanced around to see if people were milling about. Most of them would stay inside tonight because of her brewing. Tomorrow would be another day as they’d all feel like the danger was over and they’d be watching her.
Entering her cabin, her mom sat at the table with a plate of food in front of her. “Hi, Mama. How are you feeling?”
“Better. I got quite a bit of mending done today. Theresa made you a supper plate. It’s on the counter.”
Elena hung up her jacket and washed her hands in the wash basin. Taking her plate to the table, she lifted the towel laying over it and inhaled the fresh aroma of baked beans and smoked venison.
“It smells good. She’s a good cook for such a young one.”
“I bet she’s been cooking for years already. Her ma is always working.”
“You’re probably right, Mama.”
She ate a few bites of her venison and savored the flavor of the beans.
“How did your brew go today?”
She swallowed her beans. “Good. It’s always peaceful the first day.”
“It is. Hard work, though.”
“Yeah. I can feel it in my back today.”
Her mom said nothing so she continued to eat. “I saw Craig watching you today.”
At the mention of his name her tummy twisted. “Yeah.” She scooped another spoonful of beans up. “Why do you think he did that?”
Her mom pulled her venison apart with her fingers. “I don’t know. I also don’t like it.”
She ate her spoonful of beans. “I don’t either.”
Her mom finished supper and took her plate to the wash basin and washed it. Elena finished her meal but before she stood to wash her plate her mom took it from the table and washed it for her.
“You’ve had a hard day. I’ve got this.”
