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“The steaks are done. We should let them rest a bit before digging in. Why’d you buy so many, anyway?” Ryan ripped foil from a roll.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. We’re taste-testing, so we need to cut each steak into pieces. That’s why they have markers.”
“Taste-testing steak?” Erin chuckled. “That’s a new one on me.”
“Yes. I’ve got a variety from different producers, conventional, grass-fed, and organic. I got curious because Tom Borde told me was trying to get his dad to change ranching methods, but he didn’t want to. I thought we’d do a comparison.”
Ryan pulled a cutting board from her rack. “You want me to cut each steak into thirds?”
“You can have one-half of each steak, and Erin and I will each take a fourth.” She looked at Erin to confirm, and she nodded. “You can take any leftovers home. Make sure you cut them in approximately the same way, and give us the same pieces from each steak. There’s two more numbered markers for our servings.”
Ryan waved his serving fork back and forth. “Trust you to bring science to a dinner party.”
She nodded. He grinned, then turned to the steaks. Erin joined him at the counter. Wiz followed, pulling the flatbread and veggies out of the oven and placing them on the counter next the steaks. Erin tossed the salad and opened the wine. She poured a glass and turned to Wiz with raised brows.
Wiz looked at Erin’s glass, full of deep red wine. She nodded, feeling safe enough to have one glass with food. It had been a very long time since she’d had alcohol of any kind. She rolled her shoulders to relieve the sudden tension. “I, uh, downloaded a taste-testing checklist. You can use it or not. I’m more curious about overall impressions rather than the details.” She wasn’t sure why she was doing it at all. She wasn’t a cattle rancher, and she wasn’t friends with the Bordes. Although, supposedly, there were health benefits to natural methods, and staying well was important. She’d spent too much time with health professionals. She forced herself back to the present and gave herself permission to simply enjoy, rather than analyze. “Serve yourselves.”
Erin and Ryan loaded plates and carried them to the dining table. Wiz followed, choosing a chair across from them. At the table, Erin tapped the checklist. “Wow. This is pretty elaborate. I think I’ll stick to tenderness and general taste.”
Wiz sat. “That’s all I wanted, but when I found this, I thought it was interesting that people go to this much trouble.”
Ryan and Erin smiled at each other, then grasped forks and knives. Wiz tried to cut an equal piece off of each steak, eat it slowly, considering the taste, and then eat a different food to clear her palate. She tried to forget she knew which steak was which. After they’d taken initial bites, she asked, “Which one do you like the best?”
Erin twisted her fork in her fingers. “They’re all good but different. Any of them are good for dinner. Overall, I like number one the best. Number four is the most tender, and number three the tastiest but a little tougher than the others.”
Ryan swallowed. “I liked number two best. I agree four is the tenderest, but they’re all good.” He grinned. “I think this is kind of lost on me. Steak is good, no matter which kind.”
Wiz almost laughed. “And I agree with Erin. So, number one is grass-fed only, number two is a local cattle rancher’s that’s grass-fed, grain finished, number three is a certified organic farm, and number four is conventional but also local.”
“That kind of makes sense from what I’ve heard. But they’re all great. And I’m going to be way too full if I finish them.” Erin took another bite.
“There’s Deb’s cupcakes for dessert.”
Ryan groaned. “Later. I want to enjoy this now.”
Neither she nor Erin could finish their portions. Erin told her about her latest vehicle project while Ryan kept eating. Wiz put the leftovers in containers and stuck them in the fridge. Erin refilled her wine glass and got Ryan another beer, then they sat near the fireplace. They took the couch, while she chose a chair at the end.
Erin sipped. “Since Tom brought up the steak, are you going to tell him the taste test results?”
“No.” Wiz held back her shudder.
“Why not?” Ryan’s brow wrinkled. “I think he’d be curious about a non-rancher’s opinion.”
She grimaced. “He might be, but I’m trying to discourage him. He keeps calling and emailing me, trying to get me to go riding or come to dinner or a half a dozen other things. I told him he was welcome for the rescue, but that doesn’t seem to have satisfied him.”
Erin and Ryan looked at each other, then turned back to her, Ryan scowling. “Do you want me to go have a talk with him? If he’s bugging you, I’ll be happy to put a stop to it.” He clasped his hand and grasper together and stretched his arms out in front of his body.
Wiz slashed a hand through the air. No reason for Ryan to go all caveman; she could take care of herself. “No, no. He’s not hostile, he’s a good enough person, and his dad’s ranch is well-respected. It’s just...” She grimaced again. “He wants to be friends, and he’s too scary to be friends with.”
Erin’s lips pursed like she’d eaten a lemon. “What makes him scary?”
“He’s really big. And I think he...” She paused, not wanting to reveal her feelings. But she should; Erin and Ryan were safe. “He sees too much.”
“Ah.” Erin looked at the fireplace, then turned to Ryan. “Why don’t you light the fire? If you don’t mind, Wiz?”
“No, go ahead.” Erin obviously wanted to talk to her, without Ryan listening.
Ryan got up slowly and gathered paper and kindling, crinkling the paper into balls. Erin scooted closer to Wiz and lowered her volume. “What makes you say that?”
