Page 25 of Tattered and Torn

Gently, she brushes powdered sugar off my mustache. “There, that’s better.”

“Hey, Gabrielle!”

We turn to find Chris Nelson coming up behind us. He’s wearing blue jeans, a sweatshirt, and a pair of shiny black leather boots. Clearly, he’s off duty.

Gabrielle waves at him. “Hi, Chris.”

He reaches us, a bit breathless, and runs his fingers through his hair. “Imagine meeting you here.” He peers into the basket I’m holding. “Potatoes and carrots? Making something special?”

“Yes,” Gabrielle says. “Pot roast is on the menu this evening.”

Chris’s blue eyes widen. “Really? I think I’ll have to stop in for that.”

Chris hangs out with us for the rest of the time we’re at the market. I have no right to be annoyed, but I am. I have no doubt he’s interested in Gabrielle. And why shouldn’t he be? She’s amazing. I should be happy for the both of them.

The sheriff ends up carrying some additional purchases for her, and I follow along like an aimless pack mule.

“I guess we should be going now,” Gabrielle says to me as she checks the time. “We’ve still got to stop at the butcher’s before we return to the lodge. And I should help with the lunch crowd.”

Chris walks with us back to my truck and deposits the items he carried for her in the back. I wish I could hate the guy, but I can’t.

“Thanks, Chris,” she tells him.

Chris nods. “My pleasure, Gabrielle.” His gaze is locked on hers. “I guess I’ll see you around, then.”

Gabrielle nods. “Don’t be a stranger. Remember—pot roast tonight.”

She gives him a smile, and I can’t tell if it’s a friendly smile or a come-hither smile. If it were up to Chris, I think he’d want it to be the latter kind.

Chris leaves and we climb into the truck.

“That was amazing,” Gabrielle says, sighing as she leans back in her seat. She laughs as she wiggles her feet. “My feet are killing me.”

“You probably should have worn sneakers instead of those sandals. They don’t offer much support.”

“I know.” She laughs. “But they sure do look good.”

True.

On the drive home, we stop at Ed’s, and Gabrielle buys several roasts for dinner tonight. Then we return to the lodge, and I help her carry everything to the kitchen.

It’s close to lunch time.

“Do you want to stay for lunch?” she asks me.

My pulse picks up, and I want to say yes so badly. But I can’t. “Thanks, but no. I’m taking some folks out on a trail ride this afternoon. I have work to do beforehand.”

Her smile falls. “Oh. Okay. Maybe I’ll see you at dinner then.”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

As I walk out the lodge doors, I’m still processing the fact she seemed disappointed that I couldn’t stay. It’s been a long time since anyone cared whether I showed up for something or not.

Chapter 9 – Gabrielle

As soon as I’m back in the kitchen, I start on the pot roast. That’s going to take a while. I sear the roasts, transfer them to Dutch ovens, add the broth, seasonings, and prepped potatoes and carrots, and then pop them into the ovens.

“You know what would go well with the pot roast?” I ask Hannah, who watched me get the meal started.

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