Page 52 of The Other Side

“It’s just a bruise. I’m okay,” Thea said.

“Oh, good.” Abby pointed to Thea’s crutches. “And you have four legs!”

Thea looked down at the crutches before smiling up at Abby. “I do. Hopefully, I’ll get back to just two soon.”

“Miss Cheyenne and Miss Hadley’s mom has a carriage. It has wheels. You should get one of those. Then I could push you around!”

Thea tapped her finger on her chin. “That sounds like a good idea.”

Hadley stepped up beside Thea and wrapped an arm around her. “Let’s get to the food before Abby has you bedridden.”

Brett flipped Abby over his shoulder, and she squealed in delight. “We’re ready to eat. Let’s see what’s on the menu.”

Abby giggled and kicked her legs as he strode toward the serving bar. When he set her on her feet, she bounced up and down. “That was fun!”

Brett reached for a plate and handed it to Abby. “You can make your plate yourself?” Abby’s independent streak had been showing out lately, and that usually meant he’d be trailing behind her to pick up the mess she left.

“Yeah,” Abby said.

“That’s yes, sir!” Remi shouted from the other end of the buffet line.

“Yes, sir,” Abby whispered.

Brett took another plate and moved to stand between Abby and Thea. “I’ll make your plate.”

Thea took her hands off the crutches and flopped them back down to her sides, realizing she couldn’t hold a plate and move both crutches. “Thanks. I hadn’t even thought of that.”

“I want to help Miss Thea!” Abby said.

Brett’s brows lifted, but he stepped back, letting Thea stand near Abby.

“Thanks so much. You’re sweet to help.”

Abby brushed her long hair behind her shoulder. “I like to help.” She pushed up onto her tiptoes to see over the bar. “What do you want first?”

Thea scanned the bar. “I don’t know. It all looks so good. What’s your favorite?”

“The blackberry cobber. It’s yummy,” Abby said.

“Cobbler!” Ben shouted from the closest table. “There’s an L in it.”

“Who is that?” Thea asked as she bent down closer to Abby.

“That’s my brother. His name is Ben.”

“Will you introduce me later?” Thea asked.

“Yeah! I can tell you everybody,” Abby said.

Thea reached for a serving spoon in the mashed potatoes, but Abby reached up at the same time.

“I can do it!” Abby said.

Thea pulled her hand back and let Abby wrestle with the big spoon.

Brett piled food on his own plate and watched Thea and Abby. It seemed he wasn’t needed. He took a seat at a table next to Colt and Remi, and Thea and Abby joined him a few minutes later.

Abby held Thea’s attention through the whole meal. Without a chance to get a word in, Brett’s plate was clean first, and he waited while Thea listened intently to Abby’s chatter about living at the ranch.

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