10. Fable

Chapter 10

Fable

I wander around the ranch for a few hours, petting every animal I can find. So far, I've run my fingers through the manes of three very excited horses, down the back of one pig that really wanted to eat my fingers, and a bloodhound. I spent the longest petting the bloodhound, her gentle bays and tail wags making it impossible to leave her. In fact, I only stop petting her because I check the time on my phone and realize dinner will be starting in ten minutes. I tell her goodbye and head off to my cabin to wash my hands and make sure I'm not too dirty. Then I rush to the main house.

It's only a minute after six when I pop open the screen door and step inside the large house, but it's clear I'm the last one in.

"Hey, Fable! I saved you a seat right next to me," Rhett calls as I step inside.

The dining room is larger than I expected, a long table filled with people already sitting down. These must be everyone who works at the ranch, and there are far more than I expected.

"Everyone say hi," Rhett instructs.

I'm met by a chorus of "Welcome," and "Hey, Ms. Fable," followed by too many people offering their spots.

"She's sitting next to me," Rhett orders. "In the VIP spot, no less."

"This particular chair is the VIP chair?" I ask as he holds out the chair for me and helps me scoot in.

"Any chair next to me is the VIP chair," he fires back.

"Evening, Fable," Gunnar says from his seat across from me. "I hear you've been showing the animals some love."

I smile. "I pet three horses, a pig, and a bloodhound so far. Tomorrow, I plan on petting everything else."

The woman beside me bumps her shoulder with mine. "A woman after my own heart. Please tell me Rhett told you not to pet the donkey?"

"He did," I reassure her.

"Good. Don can be a bit of an. . . well, an ass." She offers her hand. "I'm Marge. I handle the commercial accounts and am the resident bread baker."

She's an older woman and gives off a motherly air. Everything about her makes me feel as if she'd be willing to tell me a story if I asked and that I'd enjoy every moment of it.

"Oh! You must have made the banana bread in my basket! It was amazing. I tried a bite of it and I'm dying at how amazing it is," I tell her.

She beams under my praise. "You can have as much of it as you'd like. Rhett likes it, too, so I'm often making it at least once a week, if not more. I had to beat him off with my rolling pin to make sure I had a loaf for you."

"Almost snuck into the cabin to steal it, too," Rhett says unapologetically. "Marge's banana bread is worth all repercussions."

I chuckle. "Agreed. It's damn good."

Marge pats me on the shoulder, her face flushed with happiness, as a man comes in through the doorway carrying a large tray.

"And I'm Mel," he announces. "I know you're probably hungry after your long trip, so I'll wait until after to really introduce myself. I hope you're not a vegan. I didn't think to ask about meat preferences until after I'd already made the burgers. But if this isn't okay, I can go make more?—"

"No, no," I interrupt, holding up my hands. "I'm not vegan or anything like that."

"Allergies?"

I shake my head. "Nope. I can eat anything."

He visibly relaxes. "Oh, good. I was frantically trying to think of meals that would fit a vegan diet and was coming up with nothing. We don't exactly have many vegans out here, but that doesn't mean I couldn't have managed." He comes over and pats me on the head. "Let me know if there's a topping you'd like that isn't out on the table. Sometimes, old Mel forgets something."

"This is perfect, thank you," I tell him.

"VIPs first," Rhett instructs. "You get the first burger."

"Oh," I say, immediately reaching for a hamburger bun so no one is waiting for me. I use the tongs to grab a patty. The moment I grab one, everyone else reaches in and takes what they want. The table is set up family style, so everyone just serves themselves and there's something charming about it. I can't help watching them all as they settle into conversation. Laughter fills the room, and it feels just like. . . it feels like a family.

" It's nice, isn't it? " Jinx whispers in my ear. " To see someone else living the dream? "

Jinx had been my family, and I hadn't realized until now how much I missed our dinners. Sometimes it was just leftovers heated up in the microwave. Sometimes it was takeout. But we always sat together and told each other about our day. Every night. We made a point to have dinner together. We may not have been sisters by blood, but we were in every other way it mattered. When I lost her, I lost that, too.

Smiling, I reach for the cheese and toppings and build my burger. I listen to the conversations, joining in when I'm able. Rhett is clearly the life of the party, but Gunnar is a close second. At one point, when Rhett isn't looking, he sticks something on Rhett's plate and holds up his finger for me to be quiet when I notice. Rhett turns back and screeches when he sees the rubber roach sitting on his burger before he scowls and throws it at Gunnar.

"Very funny, asshole," he growls. "You're trying to make me look bad in front of Fable."

"I would never," Gunnar laughs, winking at me. At that point, a little girl comes prancing into the room. Gunnar perks up and scoots his chair over so she can drag up a chair. "Fable, this is Callie. My daughter." Her eyes are bright as she waves at me excitedly before building her own burger.

"Nice to meet you," I say, smiling gently at her. Amongst everyone in what I'd consider western wear and comfy clothing, Callie is all glitter and princess sparkles. Her hair is adorned with big sparkly bows to match. She doesn't look much older than eight.

"Nice to meet you, too," she replies, taking a seat next to her dad. "I like your necklace."

I reach up and touch my fingers to the small locket there. "Thank you. My sister gave it to me."

"It's pretty," she gushes before pointing to her own beaded necklace. "I made this one."

"You did?" I say, leaning forward. It's strung with pretty matching beads and charms. "You did a great job. It's very pretty."

"Thank you!" she beams. "I'll make one for you if you want."

My eyes flick up to Gunnar where he sits smiling at his daughter. It's clear he adores her. "I would absolutely love that, Callie," I tell her honestly. "I like to make things, too."

She perks up. "You do?"

I nod. "I do. I'll have to show you sometime."

Gunnar's eyes meet mine and the corner of his crinkle. "I have a pretty nice collection of necklaces and bracelets."

"I bet you do," I laugh.

"Oh, before I forget, tomorrow, you'll be with me. I'll take you around to meet the rest of the animals if you'd like," he offers.

"Would I ever!" I say, grinning. "I can't wait." I take a bite of the burger and blink. "Oh, wow. Mel, this is really good."

"Thanks, darlin'," he answers where he takes a seat down the table and assembles his own burger. "Special spices."

"Best burger I've ever had," I tell him, before taking another bite.

I sit there, amongst strangers, and yet feeling more welcome than I've felt since. . . God, since before Jinx died. I don't get up until everyone else does.

The loneliness eases just a little.

After dinner, I wander out to the white picket fences around the house and stare out at the sight of the mountains. The air out here is clean and free from the smog that fills the air back home. There's no humidity in the air. Instead, it feels more like the first taste of autumn, but considering it's the beginning of September, that makes sense. Back home in Florida, it's still at record highs. Out here, I almost need a light jacket. The wind gives me chills as I lean against the fence and study the scene before me.

"You were right, Jinxy," I whisper into the open air. "This might have been what I needed after all."

" Of course, I was right, Everhart. I always am ."

When I turn to look, I don't see Jinx, not like I normally do, so I just smile and enjoy the sight. The screen door opens and slams at the house and I glance in that direction just in time to see Trent trailing down the steps and heading toward the large shop. I watch until he disappears and shortly after, the sounds of metal against metal ring out across the property. Like a hammer on steel. I tilt my head, but I don't go bother him. Instead, I take another deep breath and head back to my cabin for the night.

The tension I've been carrying in my shoulders relaxes.