Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
S ara excused herself from the shopping trip by saying she needed to wash her hair and she didn’t want to hold them up. Her parents would have waited, but Lani came up with a logical reason to leave ASAP, something to do with traffic.
Good old Lani must have figured out that she wanted to stick around to see Kieran and ask how the nine o’clock phone call with his granny and Lucky had gone. Her sister was coming through like a champ.
Sara already had Lani’s birthday present, which she’d tucked out of sight in a pocket of her suitcase. Lucky and Oksana had located an out-of-print copy of a book Lani had wanted for years.
But she deserved something extra for her kindness and support regarding Kieran. Sara didn’t know what that extra thing would be, but she had until the party on Saturday to brainstorm.
She took a shower and also washed her hair so she wouldn’t be a liar. Washing it wasn’t a bad idea since she’d be seeing Kieran again tonight, but she didn’t linger in the shower because she was starving.
Anxiety about the rendezvous plan had kept her from eating much at dinner last night. Although her sexual adventure with Kieran had started out sweet and slow, after their talk it had become gloriously physical. She’d worked up an appetite.
Venturing into the kitchen, she found Rance at the small table tucked into a corner of the spacious room.
He put down his coffee and looked up from a copy of The Sentinel , Wagon Train’s weekly newspaper. He had a small plate in front of him with nothing on it but a few crumbs. “Hey, there. What’re you up to?”
“Same as you, hanging around waiting to find out how the call went. Have you heard anything?”
“Far as I know, they’re still in Rowdy Roost talking to her. Not surprising. That lady looks like she’d be loaded with questions.”
“You took a shine to her, didn’t you?”
“Damn straight. Like I said, this crew is short on grandmas, and I’m talking about the ones in her age bracket, not Marybeth’s, who’s almost too young to qualify for our bunch.”
“But she treats you like a grandma would.”
“Sort of, but she’s harder on us than the grandma I have in my head.” He peered at her. “I just happened to think. Do you have one you can donate to the cause?”
“Not really. My dad’s folks had him late and they’re both gone. Mom’s parents moved to Florida a few years ago and there’s no way they’d give up their beach house to live in snow country again.”
“Bummer.”
“Listen, I hate to be a PITA and mess up the kitchen, but I’m really hungry. Who should I ask about fixing myself something?”
“You’re looking at him.”
“But you don’t live here.”
“Doesn’t sleeping here count?”
“Shh. Don’t say that so loud.”
“Don’t worry. Nobody’s around. Mom’s in her office writing and Sam’s in there napping. Andy’s down at the Sentinel , also writing. Marybeth’s off on some errand in town. It’s just you and me, kid. And those two jokers in Rowdy Roost.” He stood. “What are you hungry for?”
“Anything.”
“French toast?”
“Oh, God, that sounds wonderful but not exactly healthy. What did you have on that plate?”
“A cinnamon roll.”
“Mmm.”
“Last one. Sorry. C’mon. Have some French toast. I’ll help you make it.”
“Who’s having French toast?” Lucky walked into the kitchen, followed by Kieran. “I want in.” He glanced over his shoulder. “How about you, bro?”
Bro. Sara’s breath caught. The McLintocks used that term for each other, but this was the first time she’d heard Lucky address Kieran that way. Maybe it was her imagination, but she’d swear Kieran reacted like she had, with a quick intake of breath.
His gaze sought hers briefly. He gave her a quick smile before looking away. “I’d love some French toast. I’ll help make it. Granny and I have it all the time back home.”
Lucky and Rance set up an assembly line with her cracking eggs, Kieran mixing, Rance dipping and Lucky frying. She and Kieran were finished first.
“Sara,” Lucky called out. “You’re in charge of plates and silverware since you know where everything is. Kieran, toppings are in the fridge.”
He opened the door. “What qualifies as a topping?”
“Anything you want,” Rance said as he made a fresh pot of coffee. “No rules.”
Kieran chuckled. “I like it.”
Happiness flooded through her. Kieran had never experienced the joy of having siblings. His relaxed smile and the sparkle in his eyes said more than words that he was enjoying the hell out of it.
Nobody had brought up the phone call, not even after the four of them were seated at the small kitchen table, elbows almost touching as they dived into their feast. Sara vowed not to be the first one to ask about it. She was counting on Rance.
He did not disappoint. “Hey, show a little mercy, you two. Sara and I are dying to hear about the phone call. Must have been a long one.”
Lucky glanced at Kieran. “Not so long. We hung up about twenty minutes ago. We needed….”
“The truth is, we bawled like babies on that call.” Kieran’s cheeks turned pink. “We needed to pull ourselves together. Good thing nobody was there but Lucky and me.”
“A very good thing. And then, when I said I’m Lucky , she thought I was being disrespectful. It wasn’t luck , it was the hand of God, and I shouldn’t imply otherwise.”
Sara couldn’t help smiling. “I’ll bet that’s not the only time your name’s caused you trouble.”
“No, but she’s my most stubborn case so far. I couldn’t convince her it was my name, not my opinion. She finally believed me when I told her I was born on March 17 th .”
“By that time we were laughing and crying.” Kieran shook his head. “It was a holy show.”
“But good.” Lucky grinned. “Very good. In the end, she was happy about my name and my birthday. She’s a riot. I can’t wait to meet her in person.”
Rance jumped on that. “She’s coming over?”
“No. I promised I’d go over there.”
“Did you ask her to come?”
Lucky exchanged another glance with Kieran. “You know, after talking with her, I think Kieran’s right. A trip to Rowdy Ranch could be hard on her. I was afraid even asking her to come would stress her out. So I didn’t.”
Rance sighed. “Yeah, okay. I can see how bringing that up when she’s still adjusting to the idea that you exist would be bad timing. She also needs more info about this place.”
“Oh, she wants pictures,” Kieran said. “I’ll text her some today. And she asked if Desiree could please be on the call tomorrow, so she can thank her. She’s writing her a letter right this minute, but she wants to talk to her, too.”
“Mom will love talking to her.” Lucky pushed back his empty plate. “She usually starts writing by nine but since her deadline isn’t looming, I’ll bet she’ll make the time tomorrow. I’ll advise her to bring tissues, though.”
“I also told Granny I’d take a picture of the grave.” Kieran looked at Rance and Sara. “Do either of you know what’s happening with the headstone?”
“I don’t,” Rance said.
“Desiree has more information.” Sara hesitated. Was she the one who should be telling him about it, though?
“Like what?”
“Fixing it won’t be as easy as she thought.”
“Then it might not get done before I leave?”
“Maybe not.” Definitely not, but that wasn’t her news to tell.
“Well, then.” Lucky glanced around the group. “Kieran said he’d send her a picture today, so what should we?—”
“I’ll text her and say it’ll be another day. I shouldn’t have said that I’d?—”
“We need to fake it.” Rance put down his coffee mug. “I had a feeling this could be an issue. It’s a picture. Everybody alters pictures these days. Surely someone in this family can handle that.”
“Molly,” Lucky said. “With all the PR she’s doing for Mrs. J’s B&B, she’ll have a photo editing program on her computer.” He stood. “Let’s clean up the dishes and then Kieran and I will go out to the cemetery and take the picture.”
Sara got up and grabbed her plate and mug. “You need flowers.”
“You can add those digitally, too,” Rance said.
“We’ll not be adding them digitally.” Kieran held Lucky’s gaze. “Right?”
“Absolutely. We’ll stop by the Wagon Train Market on the way.”
“I’d tag along,” Rance said, “but I’m due at the Buffalo.”
“Can I please go?” Inviting herself was cheeky, but she wanted to be there.
Kieran’s warm glance confirmed it was the right thing to do. “I was hoping you would, lass.”