Page 4 of Savage Secrets

A high-pitched giggle carried through the kitchen from the other room where Rainie and the little girl from next door were playing.

Kirsten, the child’s mother, turned her head at the sound, a smile on her face. “Those girls are going to miss each other.”

Opal’s heart was already low, but it dipped lower at the words. “Kirsten—”

Her friend threw her arms around Opal. “You know I support all of your decisions. Even the dumb ones.”

They shared a smile.

“Moving to the ranch is going to be good for you. Of course I’m going to miss you, but we’ll see each other.”

She squeezed Kirsten. “Of course we will. We’ve always helped each other out with babysitting.”

“And the family meals where we took turns cooking. Can’t forget about those.”

She gave a short laugh. “I’ll never forget about your homemade lasagna. If you think I’m not coming to your place for lasagna, you’re crazy.”

Kirsten stepped back and slapped on a bright expression. “You’re welcome anytime, Opal. Really. Now.” She settled her hands on her hips. “These boxes won’t pack themselves.”

“It’s difficult to think about packing anything because there’s already so much stuff at the ranch.”

“But you can’t leave your pottery dishes. You saved up for them forsolong!”

“You’re right.” She plucked a dish from the shelf. “I don’t know why I was hesitating. I guess…decisions are just more difficult right now.”

“Oh, honey. Of course they are. You’re grieving.” Kirsten’s hugs were the best, and Opal let herself relax into her friend’s arms.

A peal of giggling preceded the little girls as they raced into the kitchen, circled the boxes, then rushed under the table that served as their hideout in a flurry of messy ponytails and bare feet.

As they chattered to each other about things important to kids, Opal and Kirsten got to work packing up the kitchen. Opal didn’t own much, but all the boxes looked daunting when stacked around the space.

She brushed a wisp of dark hair out of her eye. “This is going to take me a lot of trips, even with the SUV.”

“I’ll take some in my car.”

Opal looked past her at the kitchen window. Kirsten’s compact car was parked outside on the street. She picked up asmall box and placed it in Kirsten’s hands. “This will be your first trip.”

They shared a laugh that was much lighter. It was going to be okay. Opal would still see her friend often. Rainie and Paige would still be best friends. She wasn’t losing her support system—just moving a few miles away from it.

It wasn’t as though she hadn’t wanted to live on the ranch with her father. But her dad insisted that Opal go off, make her own life. He claimed the ranch work was too difficult for her, and no daughter of his would spend her life performing backbreaking labor.

She never saw it that way. She loved growing up on Springvale and wanted the same for Rainie when she came along.

Now she was claiming her place on the ranch the hard way.

“Have you heard from the rangers you work with?” Kirsten reached for the tape to seal another box containing pots and pans.

“Yes. They’ve all reached out to me. Smitty brought cupcakes from Sprinkle Sparkle the other day.”

“Ilovetheir cupcakes.”

“So does Rainie. She licked the frosting off every one of them.”

They both aimed their attention at the girls sitting under the table, pretending it was their fort. It seemed impossible that one small child could devour so much frosting without getting sick…or feed big cowboys cups of toilet water.

Amusement mixed with embarrassment. She hadn’t shared the story with Kirsten. Somehow, it seemed private.

Zach had been there for her after her father was discovered. He personally fetched Rainie from Kirsten’s house to make sure she was safe with Opal.

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