She blinked fast and sat very still, letting the glorious, familial energy wash over her.
“Let’s pray,” Molly said into the settling silence at the table, and everyone seemed to know what to do. They joined hands, and Briar quickly latched onto Bobbie Jo’s on her right and sighed silently as Tarr once again secured her smaller hand in his much larger one.
“Ryder, buddy, you’re up,” Hunter said.
“Please remember it’s Thanksgiving,” Molly said. “It’s not a race to see how fast you can say the prayer, okay?”
Her son grinned at her, and Briar bowed her head as everyone else did. These movements, this thing they all knew, it grounded her. She found herself exhaling as Ryder started with, “Dear Lord, we are so grateful for Thy bounteous blessing in our lives.”
He spoke at a normal speed, and he went through his gratitude for the farm, the horses, the cattle, and their friends and family before he asked for a single thing.
Like a lightning bolt to her mind, Briar knew she needed to be more grateful. Even the little things needed to be recognized, and she lifted her head after Ryder had said, “Amen,” properly chastened.
Tarr took her plate as he stood. “Be right back.”
She stared after him as others queued up to get food too. Tuck and Bobbie Jo remained at the table, and only Cord went with Clint to get something to eat, leaving Jane behind as well.
“You look amazing in purple,” Jane said kindly, and it took Briar a moment to realize she was talking to her.
“Thank you,” she blurted out. “This is one of my favorite sweaters.”
Jane smiled and nodded. “So, are you and Tarr seeing each other?”
Briar reached for her glass of ice, and then the sparkling apple-grape cider. “Uh, no,” she said. “He’s just persistent and irritating and wouldn’t let me stay home today.”
Jane’s smile faltered completely, and she glanced over to Bobbie Jo. “And I thought you were salty,” she said good-naturedly.
Bobbie Jo turned toward them. “Is Briar being thorny?”
“It’s Tarr,” she said by way of explanation.
Bobbie Jo grinned and nodded. “He rubs her the wrong way.” She got to her feet as Tucker did, and she squeezed Briar’s shoulder as she passed. Bobbie Jo was a bit salty from time to time, but she and Tucker were also the cutest couple in the whole world.
He treated her like royalty, and she respected him like a king.
Tarr returned with their plates, and he set a fully loaded one in front of her with the words, “I’m going to go snag the strawberry jam.”
Jane got up as Alaska returned, and Briar wasn’t sure if she could pick up her fork and start eating or not. Despite her reservations about coming, the turkey steamed in front of her, looking juicy and delicious with the gravy and mashed potatoes alongside it.
No cranberry sauce, she noted, but plenty of bread and butter. Tarr really knew how to earn gold stars, that was for dang sure.
“How long have you and Tarr been dating?” Alaska asked as he returned with his coveted jam.
Briar stared at her now, wondering what everyone else saw when they looked at her with him. “I’m sorry, what?”
Alaska sighed. “He knew exactly what to get you—and not to get you. He’s so sweet, the way he took care of you.” She beamed over to Tarr as he tuned into the conversation. “I so need a boyfriend like him.” She grinned, her blue eyes brightening. “Do you have any brothers?”
Tarr, to his eternal credit, blinked at her in apparent surprise. Briar sat frozen, throat tight.
“So, how long have you been together?” Alaska finally put a bite of cooked carrot in her mouth, and Briar almost wished she’d choke on it.
Briar’s heart beat so loud she could barely hear the noise from the rest of the Thanksgiving crowd, most of them returningto the table now, the chatter increasing into a dull roar that made zero sense to her.
Tarr turned to look at her, brows drawn down slightly. “How long have we known each other?” His eyes searched her face, and horror washed through her, because she didn’t know what to say. She didn’thavewords for the way he made her feel sometimes. The way he made herwantto feel.
Tarr smiled, gentle and sure. “We’ll have to work it out tomorrow, while we’re on our breakfast date.” He scooped up a bite of creamed peas and put them in his mouth.
Briar stared at him. “Breakfast? Tomorrow?”
