Chapter 16
This was most definitely another one of those moments. A moment where Ellie found herself smack in the center of a Hallmark show.
Only it wasn't a scene of fiction; she was experiencing this kitchen full of laughter, light, and women that Ellie had already grown very fond of in the last few weeks. In fact, this, like the other gatherings she’d enjoyed with the Copelands, was a glimpse of what life would look like for whoever was lucky enough to marry Nash.
Thank heavens they’d been able to fit this time in before production started.
No matter how things went with Nash in the months ahead, Ellie would forever cherish the time she’d spent on Copeland Brothers Ranch.
Her eyes had been opened to a way of life she never imagined, and Ellie knew she would chase after its equal until she found it.
After last night’s get-together at Cash and Belle’s place, Jackie invited Ellie to can peaches with them today while the men made stew and cobbler in the fire pit out back.
“It’s tradition,” Jackie had said, “and we’d like you to be a part of it.”
That had warmed Ellie’s heart, indeed. Still, she hadn't exactly known what to expect.
Would she flutter around the women at work, nervously trying to stay out of the way while learning a new thing or two?
Or would they tell her to take a seat at the counter with Rosie and chat with the ladies while they did the bulk of the chore?
Ellie had been pleased to find, though, that that’s not what Jackie had in mind. In fact, the moment she’d stepped into that kitchen, Jackie spun Ellie around, looped a lacy, floral apron around her neck, and tied it up with a bow.
"There you go, dear, now, you're ready to get to work."
Also donning aprons were Grandma C, Abbie, Belle, Taja, and her adorable daughter, Rosie, who was in charge of measuring out the sugar and keeping an eye on Jane, who played happily with a set of toys in the playpen at Rosie’s side.
They’d spent the morning slicing, processing, and canning enough peaches that each couple would take more than a dozen quarts home as they left. Currently, the quart jars stood setting on top of Grandma C’s kitchen hutch, rows of bright gold basking in the sunlight.
A large portion of today's peaches, however, had been set aside for pies, dozens of pies they planned to freeze and enjoy throughout the year. That’s where Rosie’s portioned sugar came in.
They’d created an assembly line of sorts.
Rosie would measure the sugar, hand over the bowl, and in would go the rest of the ingredients to fill three pies.
The cinnamon seemed to be the star of the show, its spicy aroma making Ellie’s stomach growl.
She couldn’t wait to try the cobbler Nash had told her about. Already, the aroma melded with the wonderful scents of the smoky bonfire wafting in from out back, where the men tended to the fire with a few drinks and a whole lot of laughter over Ellie hadn’t known what.
She looked forward to the moments she and Nash would share on the way home, where they’d relay parts of the conversations the other had missed.
Ellie would get to tell him about the story Abbie shared of how Thatcher special ordered a jar of pickles the “size of a house” to keep up with her cravings because he bought the local grocery store out clean.
Taja spoke about some of her cravings, too. Belle had curiously asked questions about their pregnancies, which reminded Ellie of the fact that Jane wasn’t biologically Belle’s.
“Oh,” Belle had gone on to say, “I hope I get to experience that one day. How exciting.”
Ellie had sensed there was a story there, but she hadn’t pressed. She, herself, hoped to experience pregnancy and motherhood too. And what a magical place to raise a child this would be.
"Now for my favorite part," Grandma C said as she sprinkled flour over the countertop and urged Ellie to do the same. “Rolling the dough.”
Ellie dunked her fingers into the shallow flour pan and pinched out a portion of her own. She tossed it over the countertop as Grandma C continued.
"You saw how I put a bit of vinegar in the crust,” she said while measuring out a ball of pie crust dough the size of a softball and plunking it onto the floured surface. “That’s my secret to making the crust extra flaky –"
"And extra delicious," Nash finished from behind.
Ellie glanced over her shoulder, pleased to see him striding into the kitchen from the mudroom. Her heart fluttered at the mere sight of him. He didn't wear an apron, per se, but he had something akin to it wrapped around his jeans to hold a set of outdoor cooking utensils, spices, and hot pads.
Nash looked her up and down for a moment before meeting her gaze. A flash of heat rippled through her once more, infused with longing and an ever-growing amount of love.
"My, my, my,” he rasped, smelling of campfire and aftershave. He scratched his scruff-covered jaw. “Don't you look pretty?"
The ladies let out a round of ahs in response.
"Do I look pretty, too?" Rosie asked as she hopped off the chair to spin in place.
Nash lifted his hat and tipped his chin. "You sure do, sweetheart." He turned his attention back to Ellie as he stepped closer. "What have we got going on here, ladies?"
"I'm just about to teach Ellie here how to roll a perfect piecrust," Grandma C said.
She lifted her rolling pin and began wagging it at him.
"And I'll tell you this: I don't tell just anyone about the secret ingredient in my pie crust. Once that's done, it's done, so you best be planning on making this one a keeper, Nash. "
A grin spread over Nash’s face, and suddenly, he began striding determinedly toward Ellie.
A thrill washed through her as he grabbed her hips and spun her in place. With his eyes locked on hers, that scent of his pleasing even more of her senses, Nash replied.
"Oh, don't you worry, Grandma. I'm not gonna let this one go.
" With that, he moved in and kissed Ellie boldly on the lips.
Not a short, modest kiss she might expect with everyone watching, either.
No, he dipped her low, leaning her back to lengthen the kiss as their apparent audience began to cheer.
Nash had barely set her upright when he dipped a finger into the flour pan and ran a powdery streak down the bridge of Ellie’s nose. He tapped the tip with a wicked grin. "Scrumptious." He reached in and snuck another peck to her lips.
Jackie came right up beside him and swatted him with a hand towel. "You scoundrel," she teased. "Now get out there with the men and leave the lady be.”
A rash of thrills flushed through Ellie as she watched Nash pinch the dough, pop a pebble-sized portion into his mouth and shoot her a wink. "See you later, sugar."
“Bye,” she managed, face flushing as she bit her lip. Deep elation sprung from every fiber in Ellie's core. She’d never known happiness like this. And giddiness; she was worse than a school girl with her first crush.
"Oh, I know that look all too well," Taja said knowingly.
"I was about to say the same thing," Abbie chimed while sprinkling flour on the countertop before her.
"Yep,” Belle said, "she's in love, folks."
"She's not the only one." Jackie nodded to Ellie. “That boy is crazy about you, hon."
“Well, of course, he's in love," Grandma C said. "He’d be a fool not to be.” She jabbed the rolling pin toward the dough ball, waiting for Ellie. “Now, you gonna roll out that pie crust or what?"
Laughter filled the space as Ellie nodded and took hold of the pin. "Yes," she said, delighting in the moment that had just taken place, a moment she was enjoying even still. Being here at the Copelands felt just like a dream, one Ellie never wanted to end.
Ellie found herself on the set of her new movie, but the odd thing was nobody else was there.
A strange, melodic tune sounded in the distance, soft at first, but then it grew louder as Ellie searched for the source.
At last, she recognized the sound and the melody too. It was her mom’s voice, and she was singing an old song she used to sing to Ellie.
"Mom!" Ellie cried out as she spun in place.
Her mother stood there in a long, plum-colored gown with her arms stretched wide.
"You did great, baby. Real good. You've done good on all of your movies.
I know I never tell you that anymore, but I've been there. I hope you’ve been getting my bouquets.
I've been showing my support the only way I can while keeping a safe distance. "
"Yes," Ellie said with a nod, an image of the purple roses coming to her mind.
"I've gotten them, Mom. I’ve gotten every one.
And I knew they had to be from you." Ellie had made a point to snap a picture of the bouquets, then post it on her social media story, thanking the generous person who seemed to welcome her onto each new set.
"I'm glad you liked them." Only her mother’s voice came out sounding raspy and deep.
Suddenly, her mom began to transform, morphing from a woman on two legs into an animal on all fours. It tipped its head back and called out a mighty cry. The action made the light fade and the earth around her turn black, lit only by the pale, full moon hanging low in the distance.
Fear surged through her as the Wolf locked its hungry, yellow eyes on her and licked its lips. Before Ellie could even think to run, the silver wolf charged.