Chapter 16
16
R eva wasn’t exactly sure how she’d been roped into this.
Perhaps it was Capri’s comment about her stress levels at the hospital or Lila casually mentioning how great yoga was for mobility as you age. “It helps maintainflexibility, balance, and strength, which are key to preventing falls and keeping joints healthy,” Lila informed them.
And now here she was—standing barefoot on a thin mat in the Thunder Mountain community hall, surrounded by women who looked far too eager to twist themselves into human pretzels.
“Alright, ladies!” Lizzy Barton chirped from the front of the room, her ponytail bouncing as she adjusted her mic headset. Dressed in neon pink leggings and a matching sports bra, she radiated energy Reva could only describe as aggressively peppy .
“This is a gentle yoga class,” Lila had promised.
Lila was a liar.
Beside Reva, Dorothy Vaughn huffed, tugging at the hem of her oversized T-shirt. “I don’t see why we couldn’t have done this in chairs. Chair yoga is very popular, you know.”
Betty Dunning adjusted her headband, squinting at Lizzy. “I’m just saying, if I go down, someone better be ready to haul me up. Last time I got stuck in a position, it took my Harold and a snow shovel to get me out.”
Lizzy clapped her hands. “Okay, ladies, let’s start with Sun Salutations ! Stand tall, reach for the sky, and breathe in all the positive energy!”
Reva lifted her arms halfheartedly while Oma Griffith, standing to her left, grumbled, “I’d rather breathe in a cinnamon roll.”
Lila, naturally flexible, followed every move with ease. Reva, on the other hand, was already reconsidering every decision that had led her here.
“Now,” Lizzy continued, stepping between them. “Let’s flow into Downward Dog .”
Reva bent forward, placing her hands on the mat, only to realize she had zero core strength. Even after chasing a toddler for months. From the sounds of struggle around her, she wasn’t alone.
Dorothy wheezed, “If I go down any further, someone call my chiropractor.”
Betty let out a loud oof as she attempted to shift into the pose. “This is how I looked trying to get out of my clawfoot tub last week.”
Oma, in the middle of her own battle with gravity, suddenly sighed. “Well, ladies, since we’re all practically folded in half, might as well tell you—my Jason’s getting married.”
That got everyone’s attention.
Lila peeked over her shoulder. “Jason? I didn’t even know he was dating.”
She exchanged glances with Reva, who raised her eyebrows in her direction. Jason was certainly impulsive. After years of dating Charlie Grace, he suddenly, and without any warning, proposed to her. And in public.
Of course, Charlie Grace realized they were not a good match and soon broke off the relationship.
“He’s engaged?” Reva asked Oma, trying to confirm what she’d heard.
“That’s right.” Oma grunted, shifting to find a more comfortable stance. “Took long enough, but my Jason finally found a woman smart enough to snatch him up.” A hint of wistfulness flickered across her face as she added, “Could’ve been Charlie Grace, but I guess some things aren’t meant to be.”
“Well, that’s wonderful!” Betty said, though her voice wobbled as she tried to keep herself upright.
Dorothy, still struggling to hold her half-squat, let out a breath. “Well, bless her heart. Jason’s always been…a lot.”
Oma beamed, oblivious. “She’s an accountant—smart, capable, and lucky to have him. They met at his bookstore. They share a love of bird watching. And she adores his cat, Agatha Christie.”
Betty and Dorothy exchanged a knowing glance but nodded in agreement, tucking away the truth for the sake of their friend.
Just then, the side doors burst open, and Charlie Grace came running in, her hair windblown, her cheeks flushed like she had sprinted from the ranch.
“Sorry I’m late!” she announced, dropping onto a mat near Lila and Reva.
Lizzy beamed. “Welcome, Charlie Grace! We’re just moving into Pigeon Pose .”
Charlie Grace blinked. “Yeah, I’ll be skipping that.”
Reva, who had given up entirely and was now just sitting on her mat, raised a brow. “What’s got you so flustered?”
Charlie Grace grinned. “I have news.” She paused dramatically, looking around at the group. “ Treasure Pickers is coming to the ranch to film an episode.”
For a second, there was silence. Then the Knit Wits exploded.
Betty gasped. “On your ranch? A real TV show?”
Dorothy clutched her chest. “This is the biggest thing to happen in Thunder Mountain since they remodeled the bakery!”
Oma nodded sagely. “I’ve watched that show. They seem to make a big fuss over nothing. TV folks love to overdramatize things.”
Charlie Grace quickly nodded. “I’m counting on it. But I’m getting paid handsomely, no matter what they find.”
Betty wiped her forehead with her forearm. “Well, as long as it’s not bad news—like the IRS showing up or something.”
Charlie Grace laughed. “Nope, just a reality show invading my barn.”
Lizzy, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, suddenly clapped her hands. “Ladies! Let’s focus! Warrior Pose!”
Reva groaned as she pushed herself off the mat. “I’d rather battle a real warrior than do this again.”
Charlie Grace just laughed, stretching her arms as if she had no intention of actually participating.
Reva sighed. Maybe yoga wasn’t so bad after all—especially when it came with a front-row seat to good gossip. For once, Nicola Cavendish had missed the scoop, and that alone made enduring downward dog almost worth it.