Page 17 of Honey Bee Hearts

Gunnar’s eyes meet mine and the corner of his crinkle. “I have a pretty nice collection of necklaces and bracelets.”

“I bet you do,” I laugh.

“Oh, before I forget, tomorrow, you’ll be with me. I’ll take you around to meet the rest of the animals if you’d like,” he offers.

“Would I ever!” I say, grinning. “I can’t wait.” I take a bite of the burger and blink. “Oh, wow. Mel, this is really good.”

“Thanks, darlin’,” he answers where he takes a seat down the table and assembles his own burger. “Special spices.”

“Best burger I’ve ever had,” I tell him, before taking another bite.

I sit there, amongst strangers, and yet feeling more welcome than I’ve felt since. . . God, since before Jinx died. I don’t get up until everyone else does.

The loneliness eases just a little.

After dinner, I wander out to the white picket fences around the house and stare out at the sight of the mountains. The air out here is clean and free from the smog that fills the air back home. There’s no humidity in the air. Instead, it feels more like the first taste of autumn, but considering it’s the beginning of September, that makes sense. Back home in Florida, it’s still at record highs. Out here, I almost need a light jacket. The wind gives me chills as I lean against the fence and study the scene before me.

“You were right, Jinxy,” I whisper into the open air. “This might have been what I needed after all.”

“Of course, I was right, Everhart. I always am.”

When I turn to look, I don’t see Jinx, not like I normally do, so I just smile and enjoy the sight. The screen door opens and slams at the house and I glance in that direction just in time to see Trent trailing down the steps and heading toward the largeshop. I watch until he disappears and shortly after, the sounds of metal against metal ring out across the property. Like a hammer on steel. I tilt my head, but I don’t go bother him. Instead, I take another deep breath and head back to my cabin for the night.

The tension I’ve been carrying in my shoulders relaxes.

Chapter 11

Fable

The next morning, I’m on my porch at seven exactly, already dressed in one of the few pairs of clothing I’d purchased for this trip. I hadn’t had the heart to make anything, but I couldn’t very well show up without at least some clothing. So today, I’m wearing a pair of Wrangler jeans and a button-down plaid shirt. The boots I’m wearing are better suited to a renaissance fair than to a ranch, but they’re my most comfortable and suitable pair, so I pull those on. I top off the whole look with a cheap, beige cowboy hat I’d purchased online. It’s a terrible option, but it was the only one I could manage before coming out here. I figure there will be places in town where I can get a decent hat if I need one.

When I walk into breakfast, Gunnar looks up and whistles.

“Look at you lookin’ every inch a cowgirl,” he says with a grin. “I approve.”

I flush and take a seat. “Thank you. I did the best with what I had available. I know the hat sucks.”

“Nonsense. A hat’s a hat,” Rhett says as he sits down, but then he wrinkles his nose. “I take that back. It’s not even holding its shape.”

“I know,” I flush. “It’s the quickest I was able to get to me before I flew out here.”

“We’ll remedy that at some point,” Gunnar reassures me. “No worries.”

Breakfast consists of heaps of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and what looks like hundreds of pancakes piled high. Again, it’s family style where everyone gets their own share and eats. Most seem to rush through breakfast and hurry in and out. Even Gunnar quickly eats before hopping up.

“I gotta take Callie to the bus stop, but I’ll be back for you, Fable,” he says before disappearing out the door with his daughter.

“You should eat more than that,” Mel exclaims when I finish up a pancake. “A long day needs some good sustenance.”

Flushing, I take another pancake. “Of course.”

I end up stuffing myself with three of them before he nods his head in satisfaction. About that time, Gunnar pops back in with a smile.

“Ready to go, cowgirl?”

“Yep,” I say, standing to put my plate away.

“I’ve got that, Fable,” Mel instructs. “You just go have fun. Don’t let Gunnar work you too hard.”

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