Page 17 of One Summer Day (Prosperity Ranch 1)

Macie nodded. “If you need a break from Ruby, just let me know.”

Rex grinned and waved her off.

Macie grabbed the empty lemonade glasses, and seeing no sign of Holt, she walked back to the ranch house, following a path of fruit trees. Prosperity Ranch was like another world, one that she could imagine herself falling in love with. But she didn’t have that luxury. As she neared the house, the heaviness in her heart returned as she thought about Heidi and her cancer. Macie hated to think of the woman suffering, and now having to put up with house guests.

Was Macie’s presence too much of a painful reminder about Knox as well?

She doubted that he’d repaired his relationship with his dad, and surely that weighed heavily on Heidi. Macie exhaled and smoothed the straying strands of hair from her face. She’d just have to help out as much as possible and hopefully avoid the sticky topic of her and Knox getting back together.

Macie found Heidi in the kitchen peeling potatoes while she sat at the kitchen table. She looked up at Macie with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Everyone loved the lemonade.” Macie set the empty glasses on the kitchen counter. “What can I help with?”

All the signs of cancer were there: the paleness beneath Heidi’s makeup and the weight loss. Macie just hadn’t recognized them.

“Oh, I’m nearly done,” Heidi said, “and the chicken is already in the oven. You’re welcome to go unpack and rest for a while.”

Before knowing what Heidi was facing with her health, Macie probably would have taken her up on the offer. But now . . . “How about I set the table and get the water boiling for the potatoes?”

“If you’re sure,” Heidi said in a hesitant voice.

“I’m more than happy to help and stay busy,” Macie said. “Why don’t you take a break?”

“All right then,” Heidi said. “I wanted to call Knox and give him an update on your arrival. Not that he’ll answer my call, but he listens to my messages.”

Macie tried not to cringe in front of Heidi. What if Heidi’s message led Knox to contact Macie? She hadn’t talked to him for months, and their only communication had been the occasional text. Usually about how he’d be late on child support, again. Macie had long since given up on asking him when he was going to pay. If a check came, then it came. If not, then she made do.

After Heidi left the kitchen, Macie found the pot she needed, then filled it two-thirds full of water and set it to boil on the stove.

Next, she located the dishes, utensils, and napkins, then set a table with five settings. The chair would be too low for Ruby, so Macie found a throw pillow then covered it with a kitchen towel. She’d never cooked for more than a couple of people before, and it was kind of nice to prepare a bigger, fuller meal.

When Heidi returned, her face looked drawn.

Macie didn’t know if it was because she wasn’t feeling well, or if she hadn’t been able to reach Knox. Whatever it was, Heidi was quiet as they worked side by side in the kitchen.

As the minutes passed, Macie grew more tempted to ask Heidi about her health. She had so many questions. But she’d wait. Her very first day at the ranch was probably not great timing.

Macie finished with everything, including chopping veggies for a salad, and Heidi was still peeling potatoes, so Macie found another potato peeler and sat down to help.

“Goodness, you’re so thoughtful,” Heidi said. “If you’re going to do this every day, you’re welcome to stay the rest of the year.”

Macie only smiled.

“Did you cook for Knox?” Heidi asked.

Perhaps the question was innocent, but Macie couldn’t help feeling judged. It would be easy enough for Heidi Prosper to make a long list of Macie’s failings as a wife.

“I did when he was around,” Macie said. The basics, of course. There was even a span of a few months when she was still pregnant that they’d made friends in their apartment complex and Knox grilled a couple of nights a week. Macie didn’t know at the time that those months were the best their relationship would ever be. And even then, things had been unsettled.

“Knox always loved my home cooking,” Heidi said in a wistful tone.

Again, the innocent comment pricked at Macie. She only nodded, because it was the best thing to do right now.

“My mother used to say that a well-fed man is a contented man.”

Heidi’s meaning couldn’t have been more clear. Macie’s fingers felt numb, and she realized she’d peeled the potato in her hand almost in half. The skin was long gone. She had to change the subject somehow, and fast.

“Speaking of eating, Ruby is finally trying new things,” Macie said. “There was a time I either had to bribe or threaten her to eat something other than macaroni and cheese.”

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