Chapter 7
Millie
I wake up with Wrath’s arms wrapped around me. It isn’t until that moment that I realize how lonely I’ve been. I’d poured so much of myself into my job I haven’t left room for myself. After quick showers, we head to The Loveless Cafe for breakfast. I called last night and made reservations and a to go package. I thought I’d treat my family to lunch by bringing it with us.
“This place is crazy busy,” Wrath says.
“Because their food is to die for. I’ve had everything on the menu. My family vacations in the Smokies nearly every year. We always stop on the way down and the way back. I’m addicted to their biscuits.”
“We’ll have to order extra for breakfast.”
“We can get the build your own breakfast sliders. They're fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese is to die for.”
The server takes us to a booth. I slide in and Wrath slides in on the same side and puts one arm on the back of the booth. I scoot closer to him, and we read from the same menu. I love the coziness.
I order half a fried chicken with scrambled eggs and hash brown casserole. Wrath chooses sausage and country ham with the fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese biscuit sliders, and for his main meal he chooses the country fried steak breakfast with all the fixings.
We both clean our plates. Okay, he helps me clean mine by eating half my fried chicken. After he pays, he insists I go to the takeout counter and tell them I’m here to pick up. They need a half an hour to complete the order. That gives me time to shop.
“Do you mind if I pick up some things from their shop while we wait?”
“What did you order?”
“Lunch. It’s a surprise for Lisa. She thinks we’re all going to the Brown County Inn when we get in town. They haven’t had a family vacation in Gatlinburg for the past couple of years. Lisa loves their food. Plus, they have jams, jellies, smoked meats, and mixes in their shop. I can get some supplies for her, so to speak.”
“Anything you think my mom will like?”
“Plenty. We can get it now or pick it up on the way home?”
“Good plan. We can stop by on the way back. That’ll give me time to consult Willow for what Mom will want the most.”
We spend the next thirty minutes holding hands and shopping. I drop way too much money in the store, but I had to get that whole country ham when I saw it.
Thankfully, our order is ready. Wrath helps me get everything packed in the SUV. We lay down the third-row seat to make room. I drive this leg of the journey, taking us up I-65 North from big Nashville to little Nashville. My parents live in a big log cabin up on a hill off Bear Wallow Road.
Wrath
T his area of the country is gorgeous. I had no idea. Indiana is one of the few states I haven’t been to before. The roads are curvy. The area is heavily wooded and hilly. Millie expertly drives the curves towing the trailer with my sled like a pro.
“Have you hauled a trailer before?”
She smiles and nods. “We have horses. As the oldest sibling, I drove the truck and trailer any time we wanted to have a play day or take the horses somewhere. We’ve taken them to the Smokies before.”
“My brother Dakota has property less than an hour away from the clubhouse. He and a few others have horses there.”
Her eyes light up. “Really?”
“Yes, I can take you riding sometime if you like. Although I admit I don’t have much experience.”
Her smile widens. “I have enough for both of us. If you can ride a sled, you can ride a horse. The important thing to remember is the horse is looking for you to be in charge, so they feel safe. Establishing a baseline of trust is important. I’ll introduce you to Soldier, he’s twenty now and mostly retired, but he still lets me climb on his back whenever I want.”
Millie turns on the blinker and pulls onto a gravel road. A mile later, she pulls into a tree-lined drive, and we head up a steep hill. She drives the truck and trailer like a pro up the hill. The trees open to reveal a sprawling acreage that goes beyond what I can see from here.
A large three-story log cabin is to our left. A group of people are gathered on the front steps waving. Two men a few years younger than me take off into a sprint when we get closer. As soon as Millie pulls to a stop, her door is pulled open, and she’s pulled out. I didn’t even see her undo her seat belt. The men engulf her. I undo my own seatbelt and look up to see her parents coming our direction.
It takes me a second to put all the faces to the pictures Millie showed me last night. Micah is the one that pulled her out of the truck. Tyler opens the door. I’m surprised that her parents come to my side first. I greet them by the front of the SUV.
Brian Barnes sticks his hand out at the same time Lisa Barnes throws her arms around me. I do my best to hug Mrs. Barnes and shake Mr. Barnes' hand. I succeed, mostly.
“It’s good to meet you, son. My girl says you go by Wrath. Is that what you’d like us to call you?” Mr. Barnes asks.
I chuckle. Millie approaches with her brothers.
“You can call me Wade. Wrath is my club name.”
Millie surprises me, slipping her hand in mine when she reaches my side. I wrap our fingers together. The two men with her are nearly identical, with dark brown hair and forest green eyes.
“These are my brothers, Tyler, and Micah. Brother’s this is Wrath. Given name Wade.”
I extend my hand and shake each of her brothers’ hands. They both give me the once over but smile in the end.
“It’s about time you two got here. I’m starved,” Tyler whines.
“Good thing we brought food with us then,” Millie says with a laugh.
Her dad is the only one who doesn’t look surprised.
“It’s in the back of the SUV in special containers,” I say.
“Lead the way,” Mr. Barnes says.
I use the remote to open the back of the cage. The Barnes’ men and I grab the food containers, taking them into the house and putting them on a long counter.
“Why don’t you unload the suitcases,” Lisa says. Then adds, “Boys show Wade where the guest cottage is. The two of you can stay there. At least for tonight, though I’d love it if you’d stay the whole vacation.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Barnes.”
“None of that Mrs. Barnes stuff. Lisa or mom.”
Lisa gives me another quick hug before ushering us to the back door. Which is in the kitchen. Where we carry the food inside a few minutes earlier. I followed Mr. Barnes outside.
“Do you mind if I drive?” he asks. “Then we can put your bike in the garage and drop off the trailer.
“Fine with me, sir.”
“Brian is fine. I wouldn’t mind dad or pops one day either,” The older man says with a wink.