Chapter 11

Gabriella

Gabriella spent the next few days going over Dirk's cookbook, trying to find recipes for Thanksgiving. She had never experienced a Thanksgiving meal before, let alone cooked one. It was bad enough that she was to cook the meal for just Dirk and her, but now the sheriff and his family were coming over, as well. She just hoped that what she cooked was edible.

Determined to make a good impression, Gabriella rose early Thanksgiving morning, dressed, and headed into the kitchen.

"Ahh!" Gabriella screamed. In the sink lay a dead turkey.

Dirk ran in from the bedroom, his eyes wide with panic. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Gabriella's heart pounded as she tried to catch her breath, pointing to the dead turkey in the sink.

Dirk tried to keep from smiling. "It's called a turkey."

Gabriella placed her hands on her hips. "I know it's a turkey! I just didn't expect to see one lying in the sink!"

Dirk laughed. "Don't worry. I'll show you how to dress it."

"Dress it?" Gabriella's eyes widened in disbelief. "I hope you don't plan on putting anything on it—"

"Nothing other than stuffing." Dirk smiled as he walked over to the sink. "I'm not going to put a dress on it."

She huffed. "Oh, I know that!"

"By dressing it, I meant that I'll show you how to clean off the feathers and take off the feet." It was obvious that Dirk was enjoying her discomfort a bit too much.

Gabriella lifted a wing, pinching it between two fingers. "I tell you what. You dress it and I'll cook it."

Dirk smiled. "Sounds reasonable. But I'll show you how to do it anyway, just in case I'm not here to do it for you." Dirk thought for a moment and then asked. "What did you do before if you never dressed a turkey?"

She shrugged. "My Uncle Charles or my cousin, Albert, ordered the meal and the servants cooked it."

"You have a lot to learn about country life." He chuckled.

Gabriella lifted an eyebrow. "And you said you would teach me, right?"

"Yes, I did." Dirk smiled at her affectionately, enjoying seeing life through her eyes. "So, let's get started."

Dirk began the lesson on how to dress a turkey and soon Gabriella was helping him pull the feathers off, something she had never thought she would do. But she found that she enjoyed working beside Dirk. He was so kind, thoughtful, and patient—the most patient man she had ever met.

After the turkey was thoroughly cleaned and washed, they placed it in a ceramic Dutch oven, seasoned it, and slid it into the oven.

"Now, we'll wait," Dirk announced when he closed the oven door.

All of a sudden, there was a knock at the front door. Dirk's eyebrows pulled together in concern. "You wait here, and I'll see who it is."

Gabriella's heart fell, knowing that it might be the Dougherty Boys, coming for her again. "Be careful," she murmured, grabbing his arm.

Dirk glanced down at her hand digging into his arm and she quickly released it. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

"If they're back, don't open the door." Gabriella's voice was merely a whisper.

He looked into her eyes. "Don't worry. I don't intend to. I'll be right back."

He walked into the living room, took his rifle down from its perch on the wall, cocked it, and headed toward the door. Gabriella picked up a butcher knife and listened.

"Daxton! Happy Thanksgiving!" Dirk chimed in recognition.

When Gabriella put away the butcher knife and walked around the corner, Daxton was standing in the doorway.

"You're a bit early, but come on in." He stood back to let Daxton in. "We just put the turkey in the oven… where are the kids?"

Daxton let out a deep breath. "I just got a lead on the Dougherty Boys. Colton can't come with me, so I was wondering if you would. Ellis and a few other men from town are going, too, but the more guns we have, the better."

Dirk nodded. "Yes, of course. I'll be out in a minute." He turned around and looked in Gabriella's eyes. "I'm so sorry to have to leave you now, but I have no choice. Lock the door and don't let anyone in."

Gabriella nodded, knowing that catching the men who had kidnapped her was the top priority. "Be careful out there."

He nodded as he slid into his coat and hat. "I will." Then he headed out the door as she followed. Outside, several armed men were on horseback, waiting. Dirk looked up at her, his eyes filled with concern. "Lock the door."

Gabriella smiled and did as he asked. When she headed into the kitchen, she placed her hands on her hips and sighed. "Well, I'd better get started making everything else if we're going to eat on time."

She got out Dirk's mother's cookbook and tried to follow the recipes, but they soon became Greek to her. She put the cookbook aside, deciding to just do the best she could. She peeled the carrots, but had peeled away most of each carrot, leaving skinny sticks. She knew they didn't look right, but they would have to do. She poured some water and sugar over them and placed them on the stove to boil. Next, she washed the green beans, broke them, and placed them on the stove beside the carrots. She continued working her way through the vegetables that Dirk had set on the counter, but soon she ran out of room on the stove.

While she waited, Gabriella headed over to the window at the back door and looked outside. The snow was falling harder than it had been before Dirk left. As each hour passed, she became more worried about Dirk. She just hoped that nothing had happened to him.

As night began to fall, smoke started rolling out of the oven. "The turkey!" She quickly pulled the oven door open and black smoke rolled into the kitchen, so thick that she could hardly see the vegetables cooking away on the stove.

Gasping for air, she flung open the back door and walked outside, coughing and hacking.

After she caught her breath, she ran inside and reached for the ceramic Dutch oven. "Ow!" In her haste, she had forgotten to slip on the oven mitts. She looked down at her throbbing hands and they were already turning red.

As quickly as she could manage, she placed a dishtowel hanging nearby on the counter, slid on the oven mitts, and lifted the heavy turkey out of the oven and plopped it onto the counter.

Gabriella coughed as black smoked rolled off it.

She turned her attention to the vegetables. The potatoes were mush, the cranberries were cranberry soup, the carrots were burned, and the turkey and stuffing were charcoal. Nothing… not one thing… had turned out right.

She was busy pulling everything off the stove when a man's strong arms wrapped around her shoulders.

Gabriella let out a blood-curdling scream, but collapsed into sobs when she saw that it was Dirk. "I tried, Dirk! I really tried, but everything is ruined! The sooner I go back home, the better!"

"Shh," he cooed, stroking her hair. "It was my fault. I thought I'd only be gone for a little while, but it took a lot longer than we thought."

Daxton cleared his throat behind them. "I'll just be going. The kids and I can eat at the restaurant."

When she realized they weren't alone, Gabriella hurried to dab at her eyes with the end of the apron she was wearing. "I'm so sorry, sheriff—"

"There's nothing to apologize for," he cut her off. "It is I who should apologize. I'm sorry I kept Dirk away for so long."

Gabriella shook her head. "No, I should have—"

"Mrs. Jenkins is a local woman who loves helping the new brides… er… young ladies… who come into town." Daxton's voice was soothing and soft. "I can ask her to stop by sometime, if you like. Maybe she could teach you a few things?"

Gabriella laughed through her tears. "I think she'll need to teach me more than just a few things."

Daxton bit his lower lip, obviously trying not to smile. "Dirk, I'll talk to you tomorrow." He nodded toward Gabriella. "Ma'am."

She smiled through her tears. "Thank you, sheriff."

"Call me Daxton. And don't be so quick to leave. Whiskey River takes a while to grow on you. But grow on you, it does." Then he glanced over at Dirk. "I'll see myself out."

Dirk smiled his thanks.

"Happy Thanksgiving," Daxton said as he slipped on his cowboy hat and headed toward the front door.

Dirk pulled a clean dishtowel from a drawer and swiped it lightly across her cheeks. "There. That's better."

Gabriella looked up into Dirk's eyes. "I'm so sorry."

Dirk smiled. "Don't worry." He wiped her other cheek, trying not to smile.

"What?" She raised a hand to her cheek. "I must look a fright—"

Dirk held up the dishtowel and black streaks covered it. "I think you got more on you than on the turkey."

"Don't bet on it."

Dirk laughed. "I'll tell you what. Go get cleaned up and we'll go to the restaurant for dinner."

She looked at him sheepishly. "You wouldn't mind?"

He shook his head and then looked over the kitchen. "I really don't think we have any other choice."

"I'm so sorry—"

He took her into his arms, causing her heart to jump. "I was only teasing. Believe me, I've seen worse."

"I couldn't imagine."

More smoke rolled off the stove, causing them both to cough. "Go and I'll take care of this."

She bit her lower lip. "Are you sure?"

Fire suddenly blazed from the top of the stove. "Go before the house burns down. I'll take care of this."

"Thank you." She hurried off into the spare bedroom, wondering how she was ever going to learn how to take care of herself… let alone a home.

Gabriella cleaned up as quickly as she could and changed into a burnt orange dress and brown shoes, not feeling very festive. Within moments, she walked into the foyer wearing a long brown coat and topped it off with a burnt orange scarf. Gabriella couldn't help but think how lucky Dirk's ex-wife had been to have a man who would dote on her and buy her fine things such as these. Sure, Gabriella had many fine things in Monaco, but she wouldn't expect to find such things in the wilds of the West.

In the living room, the smoke had cleared. When she stepped into the kitchen, Dirk had put nearly everything away—or had thrown it away—and the kitchen was clean. A draft rushed in through the backdoor.

"I thought I'd air it out a bit more." Dirk was dressed in a black suit, vest, and trousers, with a white shirt and a western tie, and his collar-length brown hair was combed to perfection.

"You look very handsome," Gabriella blurted out without thinking. The sight of him dressed so nice awakened something inside her that had laid dormant since her parents had passed… a sense of home. But she pushed the thought aside. After all, she would be leaving soon, once the pass clears.

He smiled as he adjusted his vest. "Thank you. I thought I'd dress for the occasion."

"The occasion of my disaster?" Gabriella asked, her voice filled with sarcasm.

Dirk smiled. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You tried. That's all that matters. If anyone is to blame—"

"Please, do not tell me it was your fault." Gabriella let out a deep breath. "I should have learned how to cook long ago."

Dirk's smile faded. "Well, it's never too late to learn." He extended his arm. "Shall we? We don't want to keep everyone waiting."

Gabriella's head snapped up. "Everyone?"

One corner of his lips curled into a smile. "Let's go."

She gave him a small smile and took his arm to let him guide her outside.

Dirk gently patted her hand. "Wait here. I'll be right back."

She nodded and watched as he disappeared around the corner, headed toward the barn. Gabriella took in the snow-covered forest that stretched out before the house. The sun started to set, sending shoots of orange, pink, and purple across the sky through the snowflakes. A moment later, Dirk pulled around with the sleigh, reminding her so much of Santa's sleigh that it was uncanny.

"Whoa there, Winter," Dirk said as he brought the pure white stallion pulling the sleigh to a stop. He jumped out of the sleigh, walked up the wooden stairs, and offered her his hand.

"Where's Angel?" Even though Gabriella hadn't known Dirk for long, she could see how attached he was to his horse.

Dirk smiled as he slid into the sleigh beside her. "After today's journey, she needed to rest."

A crease formed between Gabriella's eyes. "Did you find them?"

He let out a deep breath. "We followed them for a while, but then we lost them. It started snowing again and covered their tracks."

"It's a good thing that it's not coming down so hard now." Gabriella's eyes were filled with concern. "Do you think it's wise to go into town tonight? We might get snowed in—"

"Harrison usually has extra rooms available."

Gabriella nodded.

They rode in silence for a while and then Dirk broke it. "Would you mind if I ask you a question?"

Although she knew she may regret it, she nodded. "It just depends upon what it is."

Dirk chuckled. "Fair enough." Dirk thought for a moment and then asked, "Earlier, did you really mean it when you said that you couldn't wait to go back home?"

Gabriella looked away. She did at the time, but now…. "I was just upset."

Dirk nodded but didn't look at her. "But you'll leave as soon as the pass opens?"

She let out a deep breath. It was a good question. And as for the answer, only time would tell. "My uncle is probably worried."

Dirk nodded. "Yes, of course… your uncle."

They rode in silence the rest of the way, both lost in their own thoughts. Originally, she wanted to go on adventure. But now, it was turning into something more… although she wasn't sure what it was just yet.

When they arrived at the restaurant, the snow was falling harder than it was before.

"I'll pull up to let you out at the restaurant and I'll be there shortly," Dirk announced, a reassuring smile coloring his lips.

But Gabriella placed a hand on his arm. "No, I'll wait with you, and we can walk to the restaurant together."

Dirk studied her for a moment and then smiled. "If you insist."

"I do."

When he stepped down, his suit coat opened, revealing a gun belt holding two revolvers strapped down to his legs. When he saw that she noticed, he smirked. "Just in case."

She nodded as she forced a smile. Seeing his guns reminded her of the danger still lurking. Gabriella just hoped that Dirk and the sheriff had scared them off earlier and that her kidnappers would leave her alone.

"Happy Thanksgiving!" Millie greeted them both when they walked into the restaurant and then gave them both a hug. "Sheriff Clark and his children are saving places for you, if you'd like to join them."

"Over here!" Daxton smiled when he saw them walk in and motioned for them to come over. "We saved you seats!"

Dirk looked over at her and raised an eyebrow. "Shall we?"

Gabriella grinned and nodded. "Yes, of course."

As they took their seats at the table with the sheriff and his children, Gabriella was surprised at how welcome she felt in this town, as if she was finally home.