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Jacob raised a finger. “I’ll take some peaches, too.”
Sage took out a canning jar with peaches Genny had put up a few months ago and put some into two bowls. She set them in front of Jake and Jacob.
“Thanks honey. Where are your brothers?”
“They took off an hour ago. Said they’d beback by one.”
“They know when to make themselves scarce.”
Ember looked at Genny. “Are you sure I’m doing this right? I’m a terrible baker. I don’t want to ruin your Thanksgiving bread.”
Genny laughed. “You’re doing fine. If you hang around long enough, we’ll make a baker out of you.”
Jake saw the two women exchange a look he didn’t quite understand. But the thought of Ember hanging around was a pleasant one.
Sage set a bagel with cream cheese in front of him. “Eat your peaches.”
“I’m eating.”
After he finished eating, he took a fresh cup of coffee to the front porch. It was a fairly warm day for late November. It was probably in the low forties, but the sun was shining, and there was just a slight breeze. The boys would be having a very nice trail ride and he wished he was with them.
He sat on the porch swing and stuck his hands in his coat pockets and breathed in the air. It hurt his lungs a little, but the sun was angling in on him and it made the discomfort worth it. When Ember came out of the house, he smiled at her.
“Too many cooks?”
“No. They’re making pie dough. I didn’t want to be responsible for a messed up pie. Youknow how someone who can’t grow things has a brown thumb? Well, I have that for baking. A burned thumb, perhaps.”
Jake laughed. “It can’t be that bad.”
She nodded. “Oh. It is. I can cook a few things pretty well, but baking is a no go.”
“Well, at least you can feed yourself. Have you ever tried to make fudge? It’s my specialty. And it’s pretty straightforward.”
“No. And I don’t think it’s that easy.”
“I make fudge every year for Christmas. You can help me if you want. You know. Learn from the best.”
“Wow. You’re so modest.”
“I can do a few things well. Fudge.” He smiled. “Rummy, as you found out the other day. And I can calm a horse down quicker than anyone I know.”
“And that’s it?”
He nodded and took a sip of his coffee.
“Hmm. I’m guessing there are a few other things you’re good at.”
“Maybe.”
She shivered and buttoned the top button of her coat.
“You’re cold. Come sit in the sun.” He moved to the end of the swing.
Ember came over and sat next to him. “Ahh. That sun feels good.”
“What would you be doing if you were in Santa Fe right now with your family?”
“I’d try to help my mom in the kitchen, but she’d shoo me out. So I’d be hanging out with my brother and my nephew. We’d probably be running around outside. And my dad would be watching us from the patio. It’s not nearly this cold. I talked to Scott this morning, and he said it’s about sixty-eight today.
