Chapter 12
Kassie got in the truck and buckled up. “Scarlett, meet Victoria. She’s part of my family.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said.
“Hello, darling. So you’re the blind redhead my men like to gossip about. At least they have good taste. I can’t say the same for Ivan’s men,” Victoria said with disgust.
“You’ll have to excuse Victoria. She says whatever’s on her mind,” Kassie sighed.
“You act like it’s a crime,” Victoria scoffed. “I firmly believe in telling the truth.”
“I see nothing wrong with that,” Scarlett agreed.
“Good. They’re taking bets on which one can get you out of your panties first. I’m counting on you to keep them on.”
“Victoria,” Kassie groaned.
“I’m giving her fair warning. Your problem will be their sexy Irish accents. But the Russians don’t play by the rules. They’ll whisper in your ear and before you know it, your legs will be hiked up in the air…”
“Victoria,” Kassie exclaimed again.
“Oh, please. Stop clutching your pearls. She’s part of your military. You think she doesn’t know about men when she spent ninety percent of her day with them?” Victoria insisted. “And may I remind you of our sausage…”
“All right, today you’ll meet Miss Edie, Miss Debbie and Miss Barb. They run everything, and if you need anything, those three will ensure you have it.”
“Ignore her, darling. She’s still a bit of a prude in some ways. Since both of us work around men, you understand,” Victoria crooned.
“Last time I checked, Ivan’s Russian,” Kassie reminded her.
“I know. How do you think I know which position she’ll land in first?” Victoria grinned slyly.
Kassie groaned. “She’s a patient.”
“She’s a woman,” Victoria argued. “If they come to speak with you, and they have Russian accents, kick them in the balls. It works every time. My men cover their equipment, but a good yank on the ole’ willy keeps them in line.
I don’t mean to scare you. Our men know not to cross me or Ivan.
Although, some of my husband’s men make me worry if they’ve taken a beating way too many times. ”
“I think you’re phone’s ringing,” Kassie said, pulling into the parking space in front of the community center.
“It’s not mine,” Victoria said, checking her purse.
“I don’t have mine with me,” Scarlett chimed in.
“Oh, mine mustn’t have hooked up to the truck,” Kassie said, pulling it from her bag. “Kassie Winters,” she answered.
Scarlett waited while Kassie listened to whoever spoke at the end of the line.
“Take him to the hospital. Doc will meet you at the ER. Where did you find it? I see,” she said. “I’ll notify the police.” She hung up the phone.
“Give me a moment, Scarlett. Victoria, one of Ivan’s men, stepped on a bear trap at the base of the mountain. He’s getting escorted to the ER. They managed to get it off, but his leg suffered some injuries. Ivan didn’t pick up.”
“When did you start using those?” Victoria asked, picking up her phone and calling her husband.
“We don’t. This time, this person has gone too far.
He hurt someone,” Kassie seethed as she called the police.
“Hi. It’s Kassie Winters. One of our employees stepped on a bear trap at the base of the mountain.
We don’t use them, and the men patrol the area.
He’s in the ER and can provide you with more information. ”
“Ivan’s on his way over. He sparred with Lucas and Nick and didn’t hear the call,” Victoria explained.
“I texted Chase. He’s waiting for them,” she said, closing the truck door and opening Scarlett’s. “I’m sorry you came in time to have some idiot on the loose. Usually, Serenity’s very peaceful.”
“I’ve received nothing but kindness since I arrived. It’s unfortunate someone finds these tricks amusing,” Scarlett said as she stepped out of the truck.
Victoria followed behind them. “I have some ideas…”
“Thank you, Victoria. Why don’t you grab us a table while I introduce Scarlett? I’m anxious to return and check on our new patient. Oh, I’ll call the hospital and suspend outdoor activities until we can check the grounds. Leo’s team can do a sweep.”
Kassie led Scarlett into the building. It smelled heavenly with something baking in the oven, and she heard conversations of people sitting at tables.
“Debbie, Barb and Edie, this is Scarlett. She’s helping you temporarily. I told her you’d lend her a hand if she needs it,” Kassie said to the women.
A small, older woman hugged her. She smelled sweet and syrupy, and like pie. “I’m Miss Edie around here, child. Thank you for coming.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Scarlett murmured, while Barb shook her hand and squeezed it warmly.
“It’s nice to meet you. Have you eaten yet? I pulled individual chicken pot pies from the oven a minute ago,” Barb informed her.
“No, ma’am. I haven’t eaten yet. It smells amazing,” Scarlett complimented her.
“I can’t take the credit on this one. Debbie makes it for Caleb and Faith when they spend the evening with her. It’s always a hit here, too,” Barb explained before rushing off to save her one.
“Hello, I’m Debbie, as you can guess. I’m Caleb, Faith, and Beth’s Gran.” Scarlett heard the love and pride in her voice. “I don’t usually cook. It’s Barb’s domain, and Edie bakes. I like to help the older folks who come in. Have you met Michael and Lizzy yet?”
“I haven’t introduced them. We’ve kept Scarlett busy on the mountain,” Kassie chimed in.
“They adopted my grandchildren, Caleb and Faith. They haven’t left the house since little Beth came home with them, and I volunteered to watch the kids while they spend the evening alone.
It seems like forever since I’ve watched a baby.
I’m baking and freezing a few of their favorite meals.
I’ll pop them in the oven, and we can continue to play. ”
Scarlett smiled, thinking how lucky her grandkids must be. “Yes. It’ll make it easier for you.”
“Why don’t you have a seat and eat lunch? I’ll go over this evening’s menu and what jobs we need to complete while you enjoy your meal. When you finish, I’ll give you the grand tour,” Debbie said, leading her to a small table in the corner.
“Thank you,” she said, sitting with her back against the wall.
Scarlett sighed in relief. At the other hospitals, people treated her differently once they learned of her blindness.
Some thought it meant they must speak louder and slower to her, as if she injured her hearing instead of her eyesight.
Others treated her with pity or, like her parents, jumped to do her bidding without her asking.
It grated on her nerves, and she didn’t know how to stop it.
People here didn’t treat her any differently than anyone else.
She felt her shoulders relax and the tension she felt for months drift away, allowing her to breathe.
Ty noticed Kassie and Victoria walk in, and he rushed to greet them. The two women seemed at odds with one another, which wasn’t unusual with Victoria’s strong personality and Kassie’s sweet one.
“How are my two favorite ladies doing?” he asked as he grabbed menus from the podium.
“Hi, Ty. We’re peachy,” Kassie said, sending Victoria a warning glance.
“I’m just saying, she’s a pretty woman. It’s up to us to warn her before one of those knuckleheads asks her out,” Victoria argued.
“You told her they made bets to…you know. I’m only suggesting you might not be as blunt next time. She’s a new patient and I don’t want her getting the wrong impression of us,” Kassie shot back, sitting inside the booth. Ty handed her a menu and waited until Victoria settled to give her one.
“May I bring you ladies a drink? It sounds as if you need a relaxing lunch,” he suggested.
“I’ll have water with lime unless you have your cucumber and mint concoction,” Kassie said, staring Victoria down.
“I’ll have an Irish whiskey neat, please,” Victoria ordered.
“She’ll have water with lemon,” Kassie corrected her. “No alcohol while you’re still recovering, and I have a sneaky suspicion you cheated when we stayed in Ireland.”
Victoria blinked innocently at Kassie. The gesture appeared so outrageous, Ty bit back a laugh.
“I did no such thing,” she argued. “Did you see me with a glass the entire time we stayed?”
“No. However, I did notice you suddenly found a fascination with those steel tumblers,” Kassie informed her.
“Darling, those things have become a trend. Name one single mom who doesn’t have at least one for each day of the week,” she challenged.
“You. I haven’t seen one since we returned, and when Emma asked if she could have a sip of your water, you said no.” Kassie narrowed her eyes.
Victoria slammed her menu shut. “I’ll have a water with lemon, please.”
Ty bit his tongue trying to contain his laughter at the comical spectacle between the two women. He handed the waiter their drink order, and Kassie scooted over to allow him to share the booth.
“Besides Victoria causing trouble, how’s everything going? Where are those cute munchkins of yours?” he asked pleasantly.
“Bear and Julie asked to watch them. I volunteered to bring Scarlett to the community center and thought Victoria might enjoy a pleasant lunch,” Kassie explained. “What do you have for specials today? I heard a rumor Scarlett got dibs on one of your new desserts.”
Ty’s stomach flipped when he recalled feeding her a bite of his chocolate cake. “She fell in front of my restaurant. I felt she deserved a bit of a treat.”
“Uh huhhh,” Victoria hummed, narrowing her eyes at him. “I find her rather refreshing. I overheard her talking to those two friends of hers before the rocker dude left. Scarlett knows how to give as much as she gets.”
“Rocker’s his name. He seemed very nice,” Kassie said, taking the water from the waiter.
“He came in with her and Sledge. Are they together?” Ty asked nonchalantly, hoping he didn’t seem too eager. Since Scarlett visited his restaurant, he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind.
Kassie turned, assessing him. “No. They worked together and I recall him mentioning he has a wife and two boys at home. What do you have planned for next Saturday? Taco and Tess will be home from Spain, and we’re throwing a going-away party for the boys.
” Kassie picked up her napkin and dabbed her eyes.
Victoria rolled hers. “Good grief. They’re going into the military, not abandoning us. It’s not as if they won’t be safe.”
Kassie glanced at Victoria. “You never know where they’ll get stationed after they finish basic. It might be halfway across the world. Plus, the guys have worked with them and they’re bound to stand out.”
“Ty, I don’t care what she says. Bring me an Irish whiskey neat. If she starts blubbering again, I’m having her see Claire.”
“I’m not depressed. I feel like we only found José and met Lucas,” Kassie sniffed. “The time went by too quickly.”
“I’m not sending you there for depression. She’ll listen to you for ten minutes and prescribe us all medication to deal with you for the next few months,” Victoria said flatly. “The boys know what they’re doing. No one will get even close to them.”
Kassie’s head shot up, searching Victoria’s face. “What did you do?”
“Darling, you have an overactive imagination,” Victoria said, finding a sudden interest in her menu again. “I’m still weak from my coma and haven’t found the time to get into any trouble yet.”
Kassie snorted before turning to Ty. “If you’re free, why don’t you come? I’m asking Scarlett to join us,” she added with her eyes twinkling.
“What time shall I drop in?” he asked.
“Everyone will arrive at six. We planned an earlier dinner with the kids, and then the teens will watch the babies while the adults and kids enjoy a bonfire. Lucas mentioned he’s never roasted marshmallows or made s’mores. We’re introducing him to the tradition,” Kassie said, swiping her eyes.
“I made chicken carbonara with a tossed salad for my lunch special today and grilled salmon. What can I put in for you?” Ty said, giving Kassie a light squeeze.
“I’ll take the pasta,” Victoria announced.
“May I have the garden salad with grilled chicken, please?” Kassie asked.
“I’ll get those in for you. Will Scarlett be working at the community center tonight?” Ty asked. “I have some business with Leo and can bring her home after I finish.”
“Thank you, Ty. Let me have one of the Grans ask her and see if she feels comfortable with the arrangement. Victoria warned her against the Irish and the Russians. She may have some hesitancy to ride with any man she doesn’t know.”
“I’ll drop by later and ask her. If she doesn’t appear comfortable, I’ll let you know,” he volunteered.
“Then it’s settled,” Kassie said, winking at him.
Ty rose from the booth and placed their orders.
He glanced at his dessert trays and debated whether Scarlett enjoyed warm brownies with fudge or his salted caramel and chocolate chip cookies.
His heart pitter-pattered at the thought of seeing her again.
With her red hair and bright green eyes, she captured his attention.
But her quiet continence and funny banter drew her to him.
Determined to make an impression before the Irish and Russians, Ty made his plan.