Chapter 5: Gabrielle

Chapter 5 – Gabrielle

“All this is organic and local?” I’m pointing at bins of fresh berries. I’m impressed that a lot of the produce here is grown locally, and much of it is organic. “If I give you an order for a week’s worth of food at the beginning of the week, do you think you can fill it?”

“It shouldn’t be a problem. And if there’s anything in particular you’re looking for, just give me a couple days’ notice, and I can probably source it for you. I know all the ranchers and growers around here. They’re more than happy to accommodate special orders. Especially when they know there’s a new restaurant in town.”

“This is fantastic, Maggie. Thank you.”

Maggie’s son comes out of the storage room pushing a cart filled with a mountain of toilet paper packages. He rolls the cart right up to us. “You’re Gabrielle, right?” he asks.

“Yes. And you’re Ryan? Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Maggie says. “I didn’t properly introduce you two. Gabrielle, this is my oldest son, Ryan. Ryan, Gabrielle is the new restaurant manager at the lodge.”

“Nice to meet you, Gabrielle,” Ryan says. He offers me his hand.

John comes out of the storage room as we’re shaking hands. When he shakes his head at us, I feel like I’m missing out on something.

While I’m here, I pick up some ingredients for a quick meal I can make this evening—fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken. Besides the chicken and the pasta, I grab parmesan, butter, heavy cream, and fresh garlic to make garlic bread. I buy out Maggie’s entire stock of French bread. She kindly offers to keep my perishable groceries in a refrigerated case until we’re ready to return to the lodge.

John joins us at the sales counter as Maggie rings up my purchase.

“Here you can use my card,” John says, handing Maggie a credit card. “It’s for the business. I’ll remind Killian to give you one, too.”

John picks up my sack of nonperishable groceries and carries them out to the truck, where he sets them in a large plastic tub in the bed. He points to our right. “This way to the butcher’s.”

We walk two blocks to Ed’s Meat Shoppe, passing a dry cleaner, a realtor’s office, a thrift shop, and an antiques shop. It looks like they’ve got a little bit of everything here.

When we reach the butcher’s shop, John opens the door for me. “Ryan Emerson is a senior in high school,” he says tersely. “Just thought you should know.”

“Okay.” I’m taken aback by his comment, not sure why he’d feel the need to tell me what grade Ryan is in. Unless—oh, my God.No way. He couldn’t possibly think I’d have any romantic interest in a teenager.

A man standing behind the tall glass counter smiles at us. “Hi, there. I’m Ed.”  He’s wearing a white apron over his street clothes. “Welcome. You must be the new chef at the lodge. Have a look around. See what I’ve got in the cases. If there’s anything in particular you’re looking for, just let me know and I’ll see if I can get it for you.”

“Thanks, Ed.” I give him a smile before I start perusing the inventory.

While I’m looking around, John and Ed get into a conversation about fly fishing, all of which goes right over my head.

After I’ve looked at everything on display, I return to the two men. “I’m hoping I can send you a weekly order for fresh meat for the restaurant.”

He nods. “Absolutely. I’ll be happy to have your business. I work with all the local farmers, so if there’s something particular you want, just let me know, and I’ll get it.”

“Thanks. I’m primarily interested in organic fed and pasture raised. Can I find that around here?”

“Sure you can. Local, free range, grass fed, grass finished—not a problem.”

Ed hands me his business card, and I tuck it into my purse. I’ve made two important connections in town so far. Things are looking good.

After we say our goodbyes to Ed, John and I head back outside.

“What’s next?” I ask.

“I’m supposed to introduce you to Jennie and Ruth. They’re both real good friends of Hannah and Maggie. I know Hannah would like you to meet them. You know, sisterhood and all that.”

It’s just two blocks back the way we came to the diner and the tavern. Conveniently, they’re located next to each other in the center of downtown, right next to Maggie’s grocery store. When we arrive at the diner, John opens the door for me, and I step inside. Immediately I’m in heaven. It smells incredible in here.

It’s three in the afternoon, so there’s not a huge crowd. It looks like we’re between the lunch and dinner rush.

“Hiya, Burke!” calls a pretty brunette from behind the counter. She smiles at John, and then her curious gaze drifts over to me. She’s in the middle of refilling a customer’s coffee cup. “Hold on. I’ll be right with you guys.”

The woman comes around from behind the counter. She’s wearing a pink-and-white striped apron over her blue jeans and a floral top. She smiles at me like we’re long-lost friends. “Gabrielle.”

I nod. “Yes.” I expect her to shake hands, but no.

She pulls me in for a hug. “I’m Jennie Lopez,” she says. “Any friend of Hannah’s is a friend of mine.” After she releases me, she asks John, “How’s everything out at the lodge?”

He nods. “Just fine. All guests were accounted for at lunch.”

Jennie laughs. “I should hope so.” She looks at me. “The joke around town is that if Hannah and Killian lose any of their guests in the mountains, they can send their own search and rescue team out to look for them.” She winks at me. “Sounds like a conflict of interest to me.”

Jennie returns to the other side of the counter. “How about some coffee and pie? It’s on the house. Or a donut? I’ve still got a few left over from this morning.”

I sit on a counter stool covered in sparkly red vinyl. “Do you make them yourself?”

She nods. “The donuts? The pies? Cakes? I sure do.” She nods to a three-tier glass display case. On the bottom shelf is a plate holding several iced donuts. The other two shelves hold slices of pie and cake on dessert plates. “Baking is my passion.”

“I’ll have some of that,” John says, pointing to a slice of what looks like coconut cream pie.

Jennie opens the display case, pulls out the plate, and hands it to John. Then she hands him a set of silverware rolled up in a white paper napkin. “How about you, Gabrielle?” she asks.

“Sure. I’ll take a slice, too.”

“Coconut cream, apple, or cherry? I’m fresh out of the peanut butter. That one’s always a big hit, but it’s gone by the end of lunch.”

“I’ll have the coconut, if you don’t mind.” She hands me my pie, and I take a bite. “Ohmygod.” I moan as I savor my first bite. “This is so good.”

I can hear John chuckling.

Jennie pours us each a cup of coffee. “Cream and sugar are on the counter.”

“Will you sell me some of your baked goods?” I ask. “Why reinvent the wheel, right? I’d love to buy some for the lodge.”

“Sure, I’d be happy to bake for you. Just give me a few days’ notice, and I’ll bake extra.” She pulls a business card out of her apron pocket. “Here’s my number. Just text me your orders. I can bake pies, cookies, cakes, whatever you want.”

“You need to try her carrot cake,” John says. “It’s wicked good.”

After we finish our pie and coffee and thank Jennie for her generous hospitality, we head next door to the tavern.

“Tell Ruthie I said hi,” Jennie says as we walk out the door.

This time of day, there aren’t many people in the bar.

“Hey, Teddy,” John says to the young man mopping the wood floor. “Is Ruth in?”

The kid turns toward the back of the bar and yells, “Ruth! Burke and some lady are here to see you.”

“Gee, thanks,” John says to the boy. “I could have done that.”

The boy shrugs as he continues mopping.

A set of half doors behind the bar swings open, and out walks a stunning woman with a single long braid of silky black hair. Her skin is burnished a deep golden hue with hints of auburn. Her eyes are as black as obsidian. Clearly, she’s Native American.

“You must be Gabrielle,” she says to me in a low, sultry voice. Like Jennie, she doesn’t stand on ceremony. She pulls me into a brief hug. When she releases me, she looks me directly in the eye and says, “Welcome to Bryce. We’re glad you’re here.”

I feel the sincerity behind her words. “Thank you.”

“Can I get you two something to drink?” Ruth asks. “It’s a bit early, but who cares? It’s five o’clock somewhere, right?”

“Not for me, thanks,” John says as he pats his stomach.

I laugh. “Can I take a rain check? I just had a slice of pie and some coffee next door. I’m stuffed.”

Ruth nods. “Any time. And I certainly understand. I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to have a slice of one of Jennie’s pies.” She gestures back toward the bar. “If you don’t mind, I’ve got some beer mugs to dry.”

John and I sit on barstools while Ruth takes her place behind the counter and gets to work. There’s a TV on in the back corner of the bar playing a baseball game, but the volume is off.

“So,” Ruth says to me. “You left the big city to come out west to the mountains. What do you think so far?”

“It’s beautiful out here. And from what I’ve seen of the lodge, it’s incredible. I haven’t seen much of the mountains yet, mostly just forest.”

Ruth nods to John. “You heard her, Burke. Take her sightseeing up in the mountains.” She looks at me. “Do you ride?”

“Horses, no.” Laughing, I shake my head. “Only in my childhood fantasies.”

Ruth gives John an enigmatic smile. “Then you’ll have to teach her how to ride, Burke.”

“You know, I think I’ll take you up on that beer after all, if you don’t mind,” he says. “Tap.”

“Sure thing, cowboy.” Ruth fills a glass and hands it to him.

Ruth and I chat, and she invites me to come with Hannah to the next GNO—girls’ night out.

After he finishes his beer, John checks the time. “I guess we’d better get you back to the restaurant so you can make your dishes in time for supper.”

We thank Ruth and head back out to the truck.

As we’re walking back to the truck, I cross to his left side. Now I have an unrestricted view of the left side of his face. Even shaded as it is by the brim of his hat, I can easily make out the tight, puckered skin that covers his cheek and jaw. Parts of his beard are missing on that side of his face. I imagine the hair follicles were destroyed. Whatever happened to him, it only affected his left side. When he catches me looking at his face, he frowns.

Without a word, he unlocks my door first, then walks around to the driver’s side. He still looks unhappy when he climbs up into the driver’s seat. Without a word, he starts the engine and backs out of the parking space into the road.

Would it be wrong of me to ask what happened to him? I don’t know the proper etiquette in a situation like this. Would that be rude? I’m curious about him, and I want to know more, but I don’t want to offend him or make him uncomfortable.

“Are you okay to drive?” I ask, instead of what I really want to ask—what happened to you?

He side-eyes me. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You drank a beer.”

He chuckles. “It was just one. I assure you, I’m fine to drive.”

“Okay. I was just asking. Thanks for the tour and for introducing me to your friends.”

He nods. “No problem. And they’re Hannah’s friends, not mine.”

“I don’t know about that. They seemed to like you well enough. I’ll be placing some orders soon with Maggie and Jennie. When they’re ready, would you mind driving me into town to pick them up? Assuming the Jeep isn’t available yet.”

“Sure,” he says, sounding more than a little reluctant. “I’ll check on the Jeep. See if I can do anything to hurry it up.” He points down the road. “It’s at Micah’s Auto Repair, which is half a mile down the road.”

“Thanks.” Unfortunately, I can’t help feeling like he’s only too eager to be rid of me.

We’re back at the lodge in no time. John parks near the front doors, and I hop out. He meets me at the back of the truck and retrieves my grocery bags.

“Do you need help carrying those in?” he asks.

“No, I’ve got it. Thanks. And thanks for the ride.”

He nods. “No problem. I guess I’ll see you in the mornin’ if you still want a ride to the farmers market.”

Oh, right. I’d forgotten about that. I’m surprised he even brought it up. “I do, thanks. If you don’t mind taking me.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t mind.”

I watch as he walks toward the barn. His limp is more pronounced now.

“What happened to you, John Burke?” I murmur to myself.