AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I want you to stay where you are. Can I sit on your bed?”
“Of course. Just don’t disturb Rosie.”
“What a good dog she is.”
“She’s afraid I’m going to disappear again.” He looked at Ember. “I assume you’ve heard rumblings about my extended trip?”
She nodded. “Sage told me a little. I’m sorry you’re going through that.”
“I’d be fine with it if my mind would just accept the fact I can’t remember. But it keepsteasing me. Dangling the memories just out of my reach. Throwing little tidbits at me. Damn frustrating. But I don’t think I killed anyone. And I don’t think I was in jail. So there is that. I must’ve been lying low.”
“I’m sure wherever you were, you were staying out of trouble.” She climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged next to Rosie’s head.
He smiled at her. “Deal those cards.”
Chapter thirty-two
"Is that turkey I smell?"
Jake woke up to wonderful smells wafting up the stairs from the kitchen. It was Thanksgiving morning and Genny was already hard at work, making a feast for the family. Jacob would be helping her at some point. He wouldn’t be as helpful as he usually was, but he’d want to help, just the same. Sage would help, too. Sawyer and J.T. always steered clear of the kitchen on holidays. They were probably on a morning trail ride. Or would be soon.
Jake had slept in. He was feeling better. Not quite back to normal. But definitely on the mend. He still had a cough, and he felt weak and still slept a lot. But the fever and the pain in his chest were gone. He no longer got out of breath going up and down the stairs. And yesterday afternoon, he’d made it to the barn. He’d spent some time with Chief and Button, then went back to the house and took a nap.
He took a shower and dressed in a redplaid shirt to mark the beginning of the holiday season. Genny called it his Paul Bunyon shirt. He slipped on his well-worn ostrich skin boots and headed down the stairs. He hoped Ember would be over soon to help. It’d be good to see her.
He reprimanded himself again for thinking about her in a way he shouldn’t. There’s no way that pretty young woman would be interested in him. Yet there seemed to be something going on between them. He just wasn’t sure what it was. He also wasn’t sure what he’d do if something did develop between them. Was he ready to go there? He held up his left hand. The tan line was gone. There was no evidence he’d ever worn a wedding ring. But he had. And ten years ago or not, it was hard to think about moving on. Was there room in his heart for another woman? Rachel still seemed to take up so much of it.
As he crossed the living room, he heard the women in the kitchen. He picked out Genny and Sage’s voice. And then he heard Ember. She was already there. He went in and found the women at the butcher block counter in the middle of the kitchen, kneading dough. Jacob was at the table with a cup of coffee. He was shelling a bowl full of pea pods from the greenhouse.
He looked up and smiled at Jake. “Morning, son.”
“Is it still?”
Jacob checked the clock on the wall. “According to the clock, yes.”
Jake looked at the clock, too. It was almost eleven.
Genny came over to him with flour and sticky dough on her hands. She leaned toward him and he bent a little so she could kiss him on the cheek.
“Happy Thanksgiving, brother.”
“Is that the turkey I smell?”
“Yes. A twenty pounder. It’s been in for two hours. And we’re working on the bread. Then we’ll start in on the pies.”
Ember smiled at him. “Good morning.”
Sage added, “Morning, Dad.”
“Ladies.” He went to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup of coffee, then joined Jacob at the table.
Sage went to the sink and washed her hands. “I’ll make you something to eat.”
“Not too much. I want to save my appetite for turkey and everything else.”
She went to the refrigerator. “How about a bagel and cream cheese? And some peaches.”
“Sounds good.”
