Page 75 of Spilling the Tea

“Yes, and I love waking up each morning to a fantastic view of the lake.” She’d texted Chance to tell him where she was; however, he hadn’t bothered to respond. That had been three days ago.

“I know how much you like riding. Did Chance bring one of his horses for you to use?” Felicia Laverne asked.

“No. I texted to let him know I was staying at the cabin but haven’t heard from him.”

“Probably because he left Monday to move a portion of his herd to parts of Whispering Pines. Doing so requires him and his men to sleep on the range where phone reception isn’t good.”

“Oh.” Chance hadn’t mentioned that when they were together on Sunday. Did he forget, or had it been intentional?

Felicia Laverne took a sip of her tea and then said, “I understand you’ve had a busy week, Zoey.”

A smile curved Zoey’s lips. “Yes, I have. In addition to moving into the cabin on Tuesday, I met Kenna, Skye, Mac, and Sam for lunch on Wednesday. I like them.”

“And from what I hear, they like you. Did you see the Madaris Building that Blade and Slade’s construction company built?”

“Yes, I did and thought they did a wonderful job. I love the architecture. It’s very impressive. I also saw Laverne Park, which I understand was named after you. It’s gorgeous.”

“Thanks, and I think so, too.”

Zoey sat down her glass of iced tea on the table. “There’s something I wanted to tell you about that occurred this week.”

Felicia Laverne lifted a brow. “Oh? What?”

“On Sunday, I connected with a woman who was my mother’s best friend. They went to college and medical school together.” She then told Felicia Laverne what she’d been told about her newborn baby brother also dying in the car accident, and her aunt lying about Zoey’s memory.

“I wonder why your aunt would keep something as important as that from you, and why would she lie about the chances of your memory returning?” Felicia Laverne asked, frowning.

“I wish I knew.” After taking a deep breath, she asked. “I’d like to ask you a couple of questions.”

“And what do you want to know, dear?”

“On Sunday, Chance took me riding, and one of the places we rode to was the fruit grove. It is beautiful. He said it runs straight through the middle of what used to be Satterfield property and Whispering Pines. How had that happened?”

Felicia Laverne leaned back in her chair. “It happened because of two ten-year-old boys who were best friends—myhusband, Milton Madaris, and your great-grandfather, Waylon Satterfield. Milton told me that planting those fruit trees to encompass both properties was their way of solidifying their friendship. They knew that one day they would be the heads of each of their lands.”

Zoey’s lips widened in a smile. “That was a smart idea.”

Felicia Laverne nodded. “At the time, they thought so. I doubt when they planted those first fruit trees, they had any idea how big the grove would one day become.”

“Tell me about him. My great-grandfather Waylon.”

A thoughtful expression appeared on Felicia Laverne’s features. “Waylon was a very handsome man who was liked and respected by many. He was best man to Milton at our wedding.”

“What about my great-grandmother Deedra? Did she attend your wedding, too?”

“No. Waylon hadn’t met Deedra yet. They didn’t marry until five years later.”

Zoey lifted a brow. “Why? Was my great-grandfather Waylon a ladies’ man who wasn’t ready to settle down?”

Before Felicia Laverne could answer, there was the sound of a loud bell ringing. “That’s the lunch bell letting the ranch hands know it’s time to eat at the bunkhouse.”

“This ranch is magnificent,” Zoey said.

“It is. I will never forget my first day arriving here after marrying Milton. I thought I was in heaven.”

“I can understand why.”

“Before that bell rang, I was about to tell you about Deedra. She was a beautiful woman with a heart of gold.”

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