Chapter 23 #2
Kassie laughed. “Welcome to our side, Scarlett. When you walk in here, Samantha acts like a general. We let her do what she wants since she has a talent for this. You’re stunning. Ty will be bowled over when he sees you. You’re lucky. When I arrived, I got a full wardrobe and a complete body wax.”
“You’re kidding,” she exclaimed.
“Nope.”
The bell above the door jingled, and Ty greeted the ladies.
Scarlett took his breath away when he saw her. The ladies smiled as they parted, allowing him to approach her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen your hair down. You’re beautiful,” he murmured.
“Thanks,” she said softly.
“Shall we go?” he asked.
She nodded. Turning toward the women, she thanked them again, took the coat and hat from Samantha, and grabbed her backpack. Scarlett commanded Ice to follow once Kassie handed her the white cane.
Ty stopped, allowing her to pull it out once they cleared the door. She used it gently as he took her to the truck.
“How’s the cane practice coming along?” he asked, helping her inside.
“Half the time, I forget about it. In some places, it works great. Since the fire, it’s not comfortable to hold it, Ice, and everything else.”
Ty stopped, took her backpack, folded up the cane, and gently placed her hand on his arm. “Please allow me to act as your guide today.”
“Thanks,” she said, smiling up at him.
He helped her into his truck, placed Ice in the back seat, and then got inside. “I hope you’re hungry. Lunch won’t take long to fix. I marinated the meat and prepped the veggies.”
“What did you make? Specifically, what did you conjure up for dessert?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise. Do you like horses? After lunch, we can go for a ride,” he suggested, glancing over at her. The new haircut fit her, and the gloss on her lips reminded him of the glaze he added to the top of his desserts, and he desperately wanted to lick it off.
“I’ve only ridden one horse before, and he went round and around on a metal thingy. I don’t know if it constitutes riding one,” she confessed.
“Uh, no. I’m taking you on a real horse, and we’ll see the ranch together.”
“Ty?” she said tentatively. “I hate to break it to you now, but I’m blind. I can’t see anything.”
“Do you remember your colors?”
“Yeahhh,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Then we’re golden. I’ll be your eyes today.
Let’s start with my ranch. We’re about to turn on a long road.
The trees create a canopy leading to my home.
It’s a one-story house, white with a black metal roof.
I like the sound of the rain. Windows surround it, offering a spectacular view of the mountains.
My mom came over and planted window boxes on my front porch.
I know my herbs, but not flowers. They’re red, yellow, and white.
In her words, ‘They add a pop of color.’”
Scarlett laughed as he mimicked his mother’s voice. “Wow. Do you not like them?”
“They’re perfectly fine. She doesn’t understand by the time I do chores, get to the restaurant, prepare the desserts, and make the menus, I don’t have time to water plants.
She’ll come for a visit, shake her head at me, and give me the disappointed mom smirk.
Before she leaves, the boxes will be cleared of the dead, whatever plants, and a new set will take their place. ”
“Awww, she sounds sweet,” Scarlett said.
“My mom worries about everything. Every month, while I served, she sent me boxes. She read somewhere a list of things military people wish they received. In every one, she sent a package of underwear, ten pairs of socks. Ten tubes of toothpaste because she’s sure they don’t carry it in the desert.
At one point, I had enough beef jerky to last me six months. ”
“She sounds wonderful,” he said, turning down the long drive.
“Yes, she is. Since the accident, she’s taken it to a whole new level. I’m not allowed to go anywhere in the house. I feel like the cows. By the time I get home, she’ll have a bell around my neck,” Scarlett said. “I don’t have the heart to hurt her.”
“It sounds like she got scared and wanted to put a bubble around her little girl.” Ty took her hand.
“I grew up in a multifamily household until I turned fourteen. My grandparents and aunt lived with us. She was blind due to a birth defect. They refused to allow her anywhere near the kitchen. My father built an addition on the house for them to live in, and my aunt stayed on our side. In the evenings, he taught her how to cook, sort her laundry, and live on her own. Dad firmly believed in independence.”
“What did your grandparents say when they found out?”
“My grandfather passed away. After losing him, my grandmother never seemed the same. She seemed surprised, but at seeing my aunt happy, I think she figured life was too short,” he said, pulling into his garage.
“I’ll be back. I have a cat. He’s used to the dogs on the ranch, but they sleep outside to watch the herd,” he told her, before going into the house.
He returned a minute later. Opening the door, he released Ice, who waited for Scarlett. She slid from her seat and right into his arms. His hands slid down her back, thinking she belonged there, before he stepped back, handing her Ice’s leash.
“Welcome to my home, Scarlett,” he murmured. “We’re in the garage. You’ll find the entrance to my house to the left and forward.”
She followed his directions until she found the knob and turned the handle. An incredible scent drifted from the kitchen. “I’m starving. Whatever you made smells delicious,” she gushed.
“To the left, you’ll find my living room. To the right, you’ll find my kitchen. As you can imagine, I love dabbling at home. It’s my favorite part of the house.” He led her to a stool at the island. Ice sat at her feet. Ty opened the fridge and poured something into a glass.
“I didn’t know if you drank alcohol or not. I made you a mocktail.” Placing it in her hand. “The counter’s directly in front of you. Do you like bruschetta?”
“Yes. I’m not a picky eater. I love trying new foods,” she said, sipping her drink.
“If you don’t like anything, don’t eat or drink it. It’ll hurt my feelings more if you eat something you don’t like,” he said, adding olive oil, salt, and some garlic to the slices of bread and placing them onto the grill on his stove.
She held her hand up in the air. “I solemnly swear always to give you my honest opinion about your food. By the way, this drink tastes refreshing.”
“My mom loves it. Sorry, I swear I’m not a mama’s boy.
She lives near Seattle. When Dad died, she struggled with keeping up the house and everything.
I built this when I purchased the land, thinking she’d move in here.
She declined to live with me, stating no woman wants a man who lives with his mama.
But she usually comes down for dinner once a week. ”
“What’s wrong with showing a little love for your parent? I’m close with both of mine and my brother. We lived in a farmhouse in Indiana. My dad planted corn, and I loved riding the tractor,” she informed him.
He plated the bruschetta. “Open your mouth, Scarlett. I don’t want you to get tomato or olive oil on your bandages.” Ty moved between her legs and held something close to her lips. They parted, and he held the toast while she took a bite.
Scarlett’s eyes closed, and she slowly chewed, savoring the flavors. He watched, almost mesmerized, imagining her in his bed with the same expression on her face.
“May I have another bite?” she asked softly. “Did the tomatoes come from your garden? They taste fresh, and you toasted the bread to perfection.” He brought it to her mouth again. When she swallowed, he used his thumb to wipe away the oil at the corner of her smile.
“Do you prefer shrimp or chicken?” he asked.
“I like both. Surprise me. Every time you do, I always come out the winner,” she said.
“I’m making Tuscan shrimp pasta,” he told her as he moved toward the stove, pulling the faucet from the wall and adding hot water to the pasta pot. He pulled the fresh shrimp from the fridge and the spinach when he noticed Scarlett grew quiet.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, refilling her drink.
“Pasta’s a bit difficult to eat. I have a hard time figuring it out on the fork,” she admitted, her smile disappearing. “I don’t want to embarrass myself.”
“Will you forgo pasta forever?” he asked, leaning on the counter beside her.
“No. This still feels new, and I’ve learned some foods can be messier than others. I’m sorry, but I did promise to tell you honestly.”
“Instead of shutting it down. Tell me how you feel. Do you like pasta and shrimp?” he asked gently.
“I do,” she said, nodding uneasily.
“Then, let’s think about ways around the problem instead of going without.
I know this happened to you recently, and you’re still on a learning curve.
If you ever saw me cook, my jacket resembles a paint palette by the night’s end.
How about I cut your pasta? Then, you don’t have to worry about the fork?
” Ty suggested feeding her another slice of the bread.
Her nose scrunched, making her appear annoyed. “I don’t like depending on people.”
“Let me ask you something. How many people did you save during your tour in Afghanistan? It seems your buddies, Sledge and Rocker, leaned on you. During your brief time at the community center, did families rely on you to ensure they received frozen casseroles to feed their kids? Most importantly, Edie, Barb, and Debbie counted on you to get out of the apartment building with those precious babies. Can you tell me why it’s not all right for you to receive a helping hand? ”