Chapter 4
Brianna couldn’t believe she’d been in Sweetwater almost a week now – time had flown.
The kettle whistled sharply from its perch on the gas hob, slicing through the stillness of her cosy kitchen, rattling her wandering mind like a wake-up call to the senses.
She shifted her gaze from her fidgeting fingertips to where the late-afternoon sun filtered through the gauzy curtains, casting warm amber stripes across the wooden floor.
Pushing from the dining chair, she hurried over to the kitchen bench, grabbed the incessant kettle, flicked the gas off, then poured steaming water over a teabag.
The air floating through the louvred windows had the slow, mellow quality of a day’s end, thick with unsaid things, the kind that tugged at her attention as the shadows grew long.
Beside her, Sherlock pawed impatiently at the back door.
‘Okay, buddy, hold your horses.’ She leant over and opened the door, letting in a gust of late-day country air.
Sherlock darted out with purpose, nose to the ground as soon as his paws hit grass, then with his initial mission complete and the deed done, his tail wagged like a flag of contentment as he continued his doggy adventure.
Brianna watched him out the window with an affectionate smile before she followed him out with her steaming tea.
She was not quite ready to let the evening claim her, to surrender to the quiet hours ahead, but no longer felt the need to cling to her hectic day either – a cow with colic, a dog with what she’d discovered to be a false pregnancy, calls from anxious owners that never seemed to stop, and endless demands on her attention.
Not that she minded a bit – she thrived on the demands and was happy that her mobile business was booming, and she was taking each day in her stride.
With the world slowing, and the day slipping into the arms of twilight, she sank into a wicker chair, allowing the stillness to wrap around her like a warm coat.
Yet beneath the peace, the air still felt charged with that same unresolved tautness that had lingered since she’d met the very tempting, hazardously attractive, Hayden Pierce.
Flashes of Bella and her labour, her own hands working desperately to guide Maverick into the world, and the tense silence breaking with that first unsteady breath filled her mind.
And it was in that pivotal, magical moment, with Hayden’s gentle assurances helping to steady the chaos, when he’d looked at her with his eyes full of things she’d tried to pretend she didn’t like, that she felt the world beneath her boots shift.
Even now, the stillness of the hour carried emotional weight, the sensation of it pushing on her chest. And as much as she wanted the feeling to go away, she also liked it.
It made everything feel impossibly close and distant at the same time.
Real, but also not. Reachable, but also inaccessible.
A slow exhale escaped her lips.
She really needed to stop fantasising over some horse trainer.
So, taking a long sip of her sweet Earl Grey tea, Brianna tried to push those swirling thoughts aside.
They weren’t helpful, not when she’d come to Sweetwater to focus on her future.
And the foreseeable future, she reminded herself firmly, didn’t involve a man.
She was just hitting that thought home, driving it into place like a fence post, when a sharp, unexpected knock rattled the front door.
Her heart jumped, then steadied.
Molly?
She stood quickly, already halfway to the door, hope rising in her chest like steam off a mug of hot chocolate. It had to be Molly. Who else would drop in unannounced? When she swung the door open, relief washed through her like a warm breeze.
‘Evening!’ Molly beamed, framed in the soft light of dusk.
‘Hi, Molly.’ Brianna stepped back instinctively, her shoulders loosening. ‘Come on in.’
Molly swept into the cottage, her bohemian scarf trailing behind like a banner, her sandalwood perfume curling into the air like incense. ‘Have you eaten yet?’ she asked, her expression amused as if she already half-knew the answer.
‘Not yet. Why’s that?’
‘How about we head to the pub for dinner tonight?’ Molly proposed brightly, eyes sparkling with the promise of good food, small-town chatter and better company. ‘My shout.’
Brianna hesitated, but only for a heartbeat. The idea of warm lighting, clinking glasses and the comfort of someone who got her, even a little, was more appealing than she expected.
‘That sounds wonderful,’ she said with a real smile. ‘I’m tired as, but getting out might do me the world of good.’
‘That’s the spirit; you only live once.’ Molly linked her arm into Brianna’s. ‘Let’s go make some memories at the local.’
‘Yes, let’s.’ Energy surged from some hidden reserve within Brianna, awakening from its slumber and shaking off the day’s weariness as she began to anticipate the evening ahead. It would be a welcome change from her usual routine of solo dinners and reports to write.
A night at the pub with Molly might just be the spark she needed, a reminder of life beyond work and obligations. ‘Do I have time to freshen up first, though?’ she asked, her eagerness undampened by the prospect of getting ready.
‘Yes, of course.’ A smile flickered across Molly’s face, and she landed theatrically on the corner of the lounge chair. ‘Take all the time you need. There’s no hurry at all!’
After having a quick shower, Brianna swiftly towelled off then headed to her bedroom to get dressed.
Deciding on speed over primping, she raked a brush through her wet hair as she rummaged within her wardrobe with purpose.
She was grateful for this unplanned invitation, for the chance to shed her workday and slip into something more carefree, but the surprise of it left her slightly flustered and fighting to regain some sense of composure.
She considered her options, shaking out tops and jeans as she pondered how much effort to put into the evening.
Finally, she pulled an olive-green tee from its hanger and tossed it onto the bed, knowing she could dress it up or down depending on her mood.
Her hands moved quickly, laying out a pair of dark jeans next to the shirt.
The outfit was simple, casual, and perfect for a night out at the Gum Boot Hotel.
Dressing, dusting on a little bit of make-up, including her favourite pink lip gloss, then glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she decided to leave her hair down.
Why not? It was always tied up for work.
A bit of mousse and some frantic fluffing, and she was ready as she’d ever be in such a short amount of time.
She hoped her outfit wasn’t overdone, or undone. She hoped she looked just right.
Far out, why in the heck was she worrying so much?
It was just a night out at the local country pub.
Hayden expeditiously came to mind, but she mentally shoved his image away as she tucked Sherlock in for the night on his beloved blanket, before she made her way back to the living room. ‘I’m ready,’ she almost sung.
Molly’s eyes lit up at the sight of her. ‘Wowsers, looking good, Bri!’ she exclaimed with a grin. ‘The blokes are going to be liking the sight of you, especially being a newbie to town, and single, and smart, and the list goes on.’
‘Oh, stop it.’ Brianna returned Molly’s grin, feeling a lightness in her chest that had been somewhat absent lately. ‘You’ll give me a big head.’
‘You deserve the compliments, my friend.’ Molly stood, and led the way to the front door, a little skip in her step. ‘Follow me, and I’ll show you the way to fun times.’
Given Molly’s friendly, exuberant nature, Brianna didn’t doubt that for a second.
Ten casual minutes later, Brianna swung open the heavy wooden doors of the most popular pub in town, and the sounds and smells of the bustling establishment washed over her and Molly like an inviting wave.
The air was thick with the mouth-watering aroma of sizzling steak and the earthy tang of tap beer, mingling with the joyful cacophony of laughter, clinking glasses and lively conversation.
Eyes drawn to the three-piece band rocking it out on stage, she stepped eagerly into the heart of it all, pulled in by the buzz and laughter.
In an instant, the music wrapped around them, and Brianna felt a rush of happiness flood her chest. Just like that, her earlier apprehensions dissolved.
It was as if something unseen had stitched her into the rhythm of the room – the beat, the banter, the easy camaraderie.
And she liked it. Even more than she’d expected.
The warm glow of low-hanging lights cast a golden hue over the wooden tables scattered throughout.
Along the walls hung photographs of Sweetwater through the ages, each one whispering tales of bygone years.
It felt as though each sepia-toned image held within it the very heartbeat of the town.
And she felt blessed to be calling such a wonderful place her new home.
‘Feels like stepping back in time, doesn’t it?’ Molly remarked, her voice tinged with nostalgia as she led Brianna through the throng.
‘Uh-huh, or perhaps into a family reunion,’ Brianna mused, her gaze darting from face to face, each one a potential chapter in her unfolding story here.