Page 46 of Tattered and Torn

The trio disappear into the lodge, presumably returning to their rooms to clean up and change for dinner. I plan to do the same before I head up to the restaurant and start cooking.

“Are you eating dinner in the restaurant?” I ask John as he turns toward the barn.

He pauses and looks back. “I thought I’d shower and grab a bite to eat in my cabin. Why?”

I realize if I want a chance with John, I’m going to have to make the first move. His natural inclination is to distance himself from people. To be alone. “I thought maybe we’d have dinner together.”

He stares at me like I’m speaking a foreign language—one he doesn’t understand. “You want to have dinner with me?” He actually sounds shocked.

“It’s not a date or anything.” Grinning, I parrot back his words from yesterday. I shrug. “I just thought it would be nice to sit and relax over a good meal.”

His posture eases as he contemplates my suggestion. “Yeah, okay. I’ll come in for dinner. But I do need to take care of the horses first and then get myself cleaned up. Can I meet you at six?”

“That would be perfect.” It’ll give me time to make sure dinner is going well.

He doesn’t even crack a smile. “You did good on the trail today. It was nice having you along.” Then he disappears into the barn, leaving me speechless.

Will wonders never cease? John Burke just gave me a compliment.

* * *

John takes a sip of his black coffee. “Did you come along on the ride today to protect my virtue?”

“Guilty.” I grin. “You should have heard how those women were talking about you at dinner last night—like you were a piece of meat. They were calling dibs.”

He shakes his head. “I doubt any of them really want a piece of me.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.” I pop a piece of grilled chicken in my mouth and chew. Mm. The seasonings are spot on, if I do say so myself. Everything turned out well. The garlic mashed potatoes are flavorful, and the steamed broccoli is cooked to perfection.

We’re seated in the restaurant dining room enjoying tonight’s special. He’s drinking coffee, and I’m having a glass of white wine. The dining room is nearly full tonight, and the guests seem to be enjoying their meals.

Word is getting out that the restaurant is about to undergo a transformation. Once the new equipment is installed and the new menu implemented, I think we’ll see even more diners coming from town.

Brittany and her friends walk into the restaurant, dressed up like they’re going to a Hollywood premiere. Fortunately, Tammy seats them on the other side of the dining room. I’m tired, and I really don’t want to deal with their theatrics right now.

“Have you always been around horses?” I ask John. He’s such a mystery.

He nods. “Born and raised with them. My mom breeds horses—well, she’s retired now. But yeah, I grew up with them. Zeus is one of my mom’s horses. So is Loki. She specialized in Quarter Horses for show and trail. When I departed the military, I moved back to the family ranch while I was recuperating. Once I was able to start working again—here—I was able to bring some of my horses with me. I’ve known every horse in these stables since they were born.”

“Whose idea was it to name them after Norse gods?”

“That was my idea,” he says. “I was always fascinated by mythology as a kid. I wanted to be Thor. I used to carry a hammer around with me, pretending it was Mjolnir. I wanted to be a superhero. That’s why I joined the military—to protect people.”

I’m glad he brought up his military experience. “How long have you been out of the military?”

He frowns. “Going on ten years now.”

“How long have you worked here?”

“Since they opened the lodge six months ago. Before coming here, I worked on my parents’ ranch just tryin’ to rebuild my strength and stamina. Caring for horses requires a lot of physical effort.”

“Hey, guys, how’s it going?” Killian approaches our table carrying a tray with two plates of food and two bottles of beer.

“Grabbing some dinner?” I ask.

Killian nods. “Hannah and I are camped out in the office tonight working on quarterly taxes. I just came up to grab some food. How was your ride today?”

“Good,” John says. “Everyone made it back in one piece.”

---