Chapter 49
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
The scent of cherries was rich and sweet in the air.
Hannah plopped another cherry tart in her mouth, thinking coming home had been one of the best decisions of her life. The Cherry Festival was here, Ben was back on his feet, and she couldn’t feel more grateful.
Cooper sat beside her on the picnic table, laid out in the meadow where their community always celebrated. Reba had done her usual, organizing it all after they’d delayed it a week due to Ben’s convalescence, making it the first McAllister Cherry Festival in August.
Yesterday, their friends and neighbors finally came to pick the special cherries Elena McAllister had planted in her famed orchards so long ago. Maybe it was the recent tragedy that had struck their community, but everyone seemed even quicker to send a smile or give a longer-than-usual hug.
Hannah had decided to make a special cherry bark tincture to help with coughs and colds as well as one from the cherry fruit, which made a terrific cough syrup.
Of course, she’d helped Grams make cherry pies for today, while Reba had made her special tarts and bars dotted with vanilla icing when she hadn’t been checking on Ben, who was supposed to be on light duty.
“Hannah, do you think I’ll explode if I eat any more?
” Cooper asked beside her, rubbing his tiny belly, looking very much like the happy boy he’d been before Ben was shot.
They were all trying so hard to help him recover.
“Papa’s bringing over more cherry bourbon ribs, and they’re so good, I want another. ”
Hannah glanced over to see Grams and Gramps fight a smile.
She was sitting at the McAllister table with Tank’s snores as an ongoing soundtrack to their meal.
The puppy was sleeping at the little boy’s feet.
“I think you’ll be okay. You might grab me one too.
Make sure you slather it in that delicious cherry barbecue sauce Jolene made. ”
“You’ve got it,” he announced enthusiastically, swinging his legs out from the bench, waking Tank up with a gigantic chuckle snore.
The dog stretched before following in Cooper’s wake.
Ben noticed the boy coming, and she managed to catch his eye.
He lifted a giant rib in the air with a grin on his face.
Besides being happy as hell to be back in his own bed, as he liked to say, he’d been proud to tell her about using Triple M beef.
She’d loved seeing that he and Will had taken over the grilling for the McAllister men, a transition that had occurred while she’d been gone.
Even better, she’d loved watching Will be the one to make sure Ben didn’t overdo it, telling his brother the shoe was on the other foot now, so to speak.
Otherwise, the Cherry Festival was the same as ever, filled with the kind of community spirit and neighborly connections she’d always valued living in Sanctuary Springs.
“Where is that Jolene?” Ben’s father asked, finishing off his cherry pie. “I don’t know where that girl’s been hiding that cherry barbecue sauce recipe. Can’t seem to get enough of it myself.”
“It’s a new recipe,” Dylan offered from the next table, proving he still heard everything.
Then again, she was well aware of the Prentice boys being extra watchful and protective around her.
Although they’d all told her she was the coolest girl ever for running Owen down with her horse—praise she’d heard from plenty of other townspeople today.
So many had also complimented her quick thinking to make the poultice.
She used her training to help save her man—it couldn’t get better than that.
“She should put it on the menu at The Lucky Horseshoe,” Gramps called out. “Best darn barbecue sauce I’ve had in some time. No offense, Mother.”
Grams patted him sweetly on the arm. “Can’t take offense when I agree. Her recipe is one I’m asking for. The other is Mae’s new cherry preserves. Something’s different this year.”
Hannah finished the last piece of her flaky tart and licked her fingers. “I already asked. Mae added balsamic vinegar.”
“Well, I’ll be,” Grams mused, putting a finger to her mouth thoughtfully. “Vinegar does brighten things up. I’ll be buying a few jars from her at her store.”
The Cherry Festival had always been good advertising for new treats.
Hannah needed to tell Jolene to sell her new barbecue sauce at the restaurant.
She’d make bank. Besides, wouldn’t it be nice to sample it again when she and Ben finally went there on a date.
Now that their relationship was public, they’d both agreed to find more time to be together, with Cooper coming along sometimes, especially in these critical weeks when they were hoping to reassure him that things would be all right.
Hannah still wasn’t sure about that, given it looked like Amber and Taft had teamed up, but she would focus on all the good stuff, as Ben liked to call it, and not borrow trouble.
Glancing back at the tables of food, organized by type—meat, sides, and dessert—she considered her options, hoping Ben’s grill duty would be over soon so he could sit down and finally eat. Personally, she had a little bit more room for a treat, and she was going to make it count.
Deciding she was better served looking over the offerings up close, she headed that way, and Dylan joined her along with his brothers.
“We all just shook our leg, Hannah,” Dylan told her, lifting his boot. “We’re good for thirds now. What are you planning on stuffing yourself with?”
She raised a prissy brow. “I don’t stuff myself. I choose with discrimination.”
The Prentice boys started hooting. “Hannah’s a lady,” Ford got out between hysterics.
“You bet I am,” she told them, which only made them laugh harder.
Boys. She scanned the tables, starting with dessert. Everyone’s name was written underneath the dish they’d brought so people would know who to praise and thank—and perhaps request a recipe.
There was a sour cream sour cherry bundt cake that had appealed to her. Tallulah’s cherry crumble was pretty famous. Wanda had brought a beautiful lattice cherry pie. Oh, she wanted to try them all…
Cooper ran over, holding his plate like a Frisbee. “Dad gave you another rib because he said you still looked hungry. Hannah, can you please grab me one of those cherry fizzes? Have you tried one? They’re de-li-cious.”
Smacking his lips, he ran back to the table with Tank in pursuit. Jolene strolled over, patting her belly. “You trying to decide on seconds?”
She nodded. “Your boys were laughing at me calling myself a lady.”
“They’re an uncouth lot, but they’re mine. Want to know my favorites this year?”
“You betcha.”
Jolene led her over to the end of the dessert table. “I about had a foodgasm from Scout’s cherry-cinnamon rolls. And did you try the lamb that Skip Jenkins brought over? He rubbed it in cherries before grilling it. I loved it.”
“No, I stuck to Triple M beef. Ben kept piling my plate with the food he’d grilled.”
“He looks good for someone who took two bullets to protect the woman he loves,” Jolene said for only her ears as she put her arm around her. “If it wasn’t so terrifying, it might be romantic.”
“Except there’s nothing romantic about bullets,” she replied quietly.
“I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears out for you two and saying some prayers.” Jolene gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Everybody is. If Amber or Taft so much as sneezes, we plan to know.”
Their heightened security, along with the other measures Logan and Ben had agreed to, made her feel better at night. Except she still locked the door every night, even with Will back in the house, and told herself not to feel sad that their former sense of safety was gone.
“I meant to ask. Is there any word on when Neil returns? Too bad he’s missing our festival.”
Hannah had thought so as well, but Neil had to close out his life in Edinburgh before returning to Sanctuary Springs permanently.
He’d even decided to transfer his nursing license from Minnesota after recent events.
Still, she liked hearing the special note of interest in her friend’s voice.
“He was bummed too, but there was too much for him to take care of. Don’t worry. He’ll be back soon.”
“Will said Paul agreed to fix up the old logging cabin on the Flying K and let him stay there,” Jolene remarked. “Paul seems to be working overtime to make up for the actions of his children. Not that he thinks he can, but still, it’s something. Thank God Taft and Amber didn’t try to crash today.”
Ben and Logan had decided to post some ranch hands around the Triple M out of caution just in case Taft got “lost” again. “Taft is probably smoking a fancy cigar, planning his next move, while Amber walks around in a string bikini or something.”
“We’re not wasting another word on those jackals, not when we could be eating ourselves silly.
” Jolene loaded another cherry tart onto her plate with a wink.
“Speaking of…I want to grab a little of the sour cherry salad dressing before my son drains it. It was delicious with Reba's pasta salad and some of Pippa Lockwood’s spiked cherry lemonade. See you later. Dylan Prentice! You use a fork to pick up a pastry. Not your grubby hands.”
Hannah tried and failed to stop laughing.
“Did you try the bacon-and-cherry brownies yet?”
Hannah stilled and turned around slowly.
Her father stood before her, hands folded in front of him. “Hello, Hannah.”
She still wasn’t sure what to make of their relationship.
Maybe it had been calling him first. Maybe it was seeing another doctor praise her abilities.
Or maybe it was her admission that she hadn’t been cut out to be a doctor.
A truce seemed in the offering. “Hello, Dad,” she said instead of the more formal term of “Father.”
“Your mother wasn’t up to coming, but she wanted to send something,” he explained, reaching for his glasses and pulling a cloth to clean them. “She remembered how you loved the sweet and salty flavor of these brownies.”
Her lips twitched, knowing he didn’t approve of such desserts. “And how I never turn away—”
“Chocolate,” he finished with a soft smile. “Ben is improving rapidly. I imagine you’ve had a hand in that.”
She had to keep her brows from shooting to her hairline. Every herbal concoction and salve imaginable, wishing she could do more. “I have.”
“Good.” He nodded, putting his glasses back on. “Keep it up. His scarring is minimal given his injury. Well, I’d better make a few rounds before I go home to your mother. I didn’t tell her much of what happened, but she’s still worried. If you have time, we’d be glad for a visit.”
Her throat grew thick with emotion. “I’ll come by this week.” He was turning away when she laid a hand on his arm, making him glance back. “I know you aren’t much for dessert, but Ben and Will’s barbecue is delicious. You could have some and sit with us at the McAllister table.”
Their gazes held a moment before he nodded. “Thank you for the invitation.”
She watched him wander away, stopping to talk to people he knew.
Well, Daddy, seems I was right to call you in more ways than one.
She felt a warm breeze wrap around her and thought of her sister.
Maybe all my healing isn’t done yet, huh, sis?
She wandered along the tables until she found the dessert her mother had baked.
Cutting herself a slice, she surveyed the remaining cookies.
Her choices were slim at this point. A few cherry oatmeal cookies sat alongside a cherry fruitcake that seemed more fitting for the holidays than the festival.
She was reaching for a piece of Gertie Frazier’s sour cherry coffee cake when someone covered her eyes with their hands. Since she felt the big masculine body pressing up against her, she knew exactly who was behind her.
“Were my eyes playing tricks on me, or were you and your father having a civil conversation?” Ben asked softly, his warm breath tickling her ear.
“We were. Surprises abound, apparently.”
He wrapped his good arm around her, his other one holding her hip, and leaned his chin on her shoulder. “I’d like to say it’s the community spirit of the Cherry Festival, but he’s been different since you called him for help,” he murmured near her ear.
“Have you been hinting I’ve been aiding your speedy recovery on your checkups?”
He laughed. “Every chance I get. I’ve come to value harmony and peace even more in my life, and if there’s a chance to bring it to something out of whack, then I will.”
“Out of whack.” She snorted. “My parents and I are more than out of whack, but I see your point and appreciate your help. I am remaining open.”
“Like Grams says, you always were a smart cookie.” He kissed her cheek. “It’s a good day. It feels right, seeing you here among everyone, sitting at the McAllister table.”
“I admit to there being a certain thrill. Before I was tucked away with my parents and had to sneak off to see you. My, how things change. Speaking of… You’ve turned into a pretty great grill master.
Have you been holding out on me, Ben McAllister?
I remember you burning fish when we used to go camping. ”
He played with the ends of her hair. “Dad and Gramps set me and Will aside when they gave up their duties and told us their secrets. We had to keep up the family standard, so Will and I practiced for a time until we had it right. You should have seen the first few sets of meat I grilled. Charred on the outside. Still raw on the inside. Disaster. But we’ve mastered it now. ”
“I’d say,” she drawled, spinning around and kissing him on the cheek, discreetly checking his color to see if he was overdoing it. “Are you planning on sitting down and finishing your meal?”
“Stop your worrying, sweetheart. I’m fine.”
So far, she had been more traumatized by the incident than he had, but he mostly humored her need to hover. “I have some desserts to enjoy, and I’ll share some with you if you’re good.”
“I’m always good.” His gorgeous eyes danced with mischief, and she was glad no shadows came into his eyes. “I had something else in mind. Can you drag yourself away from your food for a bit?”
Since he looked so boyish, she couldn’t turn down his request. Besides, she was curious what he had up his sleeve.
After all, this was Ben McAllister—the man who’d captured her heart years ago and managed to win it back.