Page 20 of Falling

“Are you a Cory Wong fan?” she asks.

“I’ve never heard of…them.”

Her smile grows and she starts a song from her phone. “He’s a guitar player and always has a great band.”

It’s a high-speed jazz funk that I have to admit is pretty damn catchy. As soon as Dolly hears the song, she pauses to look back at Ruby and I swear she smirks before she takes off across the yard, looking like a tipsy dancer. Irene harrumphs next to me like she’s above it all, which makes Ruby cackle. Delphine tries to corral Dolly into one area, always the little enforcer when it comes to everyone but herself, but Dolly keeps doing her little run-dance, her eyes never wandering too far from Ruby.

“Lot of energy,” I note.

“Right? You’ll never lack exercise if you hang out with emus.”

“You’ve always owned them?”

“For as long as I can remember. Uncle Pierre actually helped start the business—did you know that? Hence his restaurant, The Dancing Emu…an homage to the family business.” She holds her hands out toward Dolly. “And this dancing delightfulness.”

I run my hand over my jaw. “It all makes sense now.”

“I’ve never gotten to go, never visited Uncle Pierre here in Landmark Mountain…he always comes to us for the visits.”

“Good food.”

I don’t add that I’d enjoy frequenting The Dancing Emumore if it weren’t for the godawful karaoke that everyone in my family but me loves.

“Hey there,” a voice calls and I groan.

I turn to see Wyatt walking toward us, the smile on his face too obnoxious for words.

“Wyatt Landmark, this guy’s younger brother,” he says, looking at Ruby but pointing to me. He waves a bag up in the air. “Heard you got a pretty bad burn last night and I brought some supplies over.”

Dolly stopped running the minute Wyatt came into sight and she pops up between Wyatt and Ruby.

I snort. Serves Wyatt right, sneaking here under the guise of doctorly concern.

“Hello,” he says to the emu, chuckling and backing up when she takes a step toward him.

“Oh, that’s so nice of you,” Ruby exclaims, turning her full-wattage beam on him and then me. “Dolly, step back.”

Dolly listens, taking a step back, and Wyatt turns to me, sending me a look.

“That is an exceptionally well-behaved emu,” he says. “Delphine and Irene could stand to learn a few things from…Dolly.” His voice sounds choked, like he’s barely holding back his laughter.

“Thank you,” Ruby says earnestly. “But Delphine and Irene have been nothing but lovely to me and my girl.”

Speaking of Irene, she’s sidled up next to Ruby and Ruby reaches out to rub between her ears.

“Callum got me all set up last night with antibiotic cream and gauze—” Ruby says.

“I’m sure he did a great job too,” Wyatt says, his eyes full of mischief when he looks at me.

“Wyatt’s a doctor,” I mumble.And a nosy son of a bitch.

“I brought an antibiotic cream that’s more concentratedthan what you can get over the counter. Where are the burns?” he asks.

Ruby flushes and does a wave over her chest and stomach area.

Wyatt grimaces. “Brutal.”

She nods.

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