“You don’t live out at the ranch?”
“Haven’t since I got married.” Kate shook her head, another wince flashing across her face. It was gone as quickly as it appeared. Didn’t keep Trish from feeling a little nervous, though.What if Kate goes into labor?“Ty and I have a house in town, right on the edge. Big yard. Small pasture for a couple of horses we want once Ty retires from the military for good.”
Trish caught a glimpse of a dreamy look in Kate’s eyes. Had she ever had that look about Henry? She didn’t think so.
“So, is it just Wade and your grandma?”
“Allen and Chet’s parents live there too, when they’re home. Aunt Tabby’s a motivational speaker. She’s picked up a lot of recent popularity. They’re in Europe while she’s on tour.” Kate dug through her purse until she pulled out a pink-cased cell phone. She skittered a text with her quick fingers. “I think it’s hard for Grams to have such a quiet house. That’s why I’ve been staying out there a lot while Ty’s gone. This retreat, it’s good for her.”
In a couple of miles, they crested the rolling hill and at the base sat the town of Starlight. It didn’t look like much from up here. Someone had said something about twelve thousand people. Quite the change from Omaha, but it reminded Trish of the smaller towns she’d lived in. Some much smaller than Starlight.
“You live here all your life?” Trish asked.
“Yep, except a couple of years that I dabbled with photography classes in college. It’s home, you know?”
Trish didn’t know how to say she didn’t, so she just smiled.
“Take a right at the stop sign. Mable’s is three blocks down from there, on the corner. Can’t miss the big red sign.” Kate typed out another text, this one longer than the first. “If you’re into pancakes, Mable makes the best in Wyoming.”
Trish found a parking spot not too far from the door, despite the number of cars parked along the street. She didn’t want Kate to have to walk far. “I’m afraid you’ll have to let me and Shadow both out.”
They found a small table in the patio’s remote corner, which was perfectly fine with Trish. She’d grown so used to the solitude on the ranch that she wasn’t eager to be in the middle of a crowd. After they placed their pancake order, Kate jumped right in with a blunt question. “So, what’s up with you and this Henry guy? All the other writing gals talk about him, and I can’t say any of them sound like fans.”
“Recent ex-boyfriend.” Trish stirred three packets of caramel creamer into her coffee. The sweeter the better this morning. “We dated for about six months. Really thought we were on track to get engaged. Married someday.”
“Rumor has it he’s not a fan of you becoming a romance author.”
Trish tapped her spoon gently against her mug before setting it on a napkin. “That’s one way to put it.” She took a cautious sip until she was sure her coffee wasn’t too hot.
“Do you love him?”
Nearly choking, Trish set the mug down and rested her hands in her lap. It was going to be a long day if coffee betrayed her. Shadow came to her rescue then, her chin resting in Trish’s lap. “What’s that?”
“A simple question,” Kate said. “You either love the guy or you don’t.”
The question felt like a trap, but Trish couldn’t pin down why. “I thought I did.” She rubbed Shadow behind the ears. “Thought I could anyway.” The realization created a weird twisting in her chest, as if she’d just discovered a lie.
“So, no then.”
Two plates of pancakes slid onto their table, along with a variety rack of syrups. Trish found herself drawn to the strawberry and almost laughed. Would Wade think she was being too fancy if she used strawberry instead of good old maple syrup?
“What would you do?” Kate continued, spreading butter on her pancakes. “If he begged you to take him back? Would you do it?”
Maybe this breakfast had a little less to do with filling in for a busy cowboy and a little more to do with interrogation. Trish felt practically naked across the table from Kate’s assessing eyes.
She knew the answer Kate was looking for, and she suspected it was because of Wade. She couldn’t remember who was older, but Kate was sure acting like the overprotective big sister. Did she know about their kiss? “I thought that was what I wanted, even though everyone told me I was better off without him. But after some distance . . .” And a certain kiss that left her toes curled hours later . . .
“Change can be scary,” Kate said in a way that was less overprotective big sister and more compassionate friend. “Sometimes it’s easier to stay miserable because it’s familiar. Comfortable in an odd sort of way.” Kate’s fork circled over her pancakes. “Take my brother, for instance.”
Trish perked up at the mention of Wade, curious what his sister might divulge, yet not wanting to appear eager for information. “Wade?”
“He’s convinced he wants to be alone. It’s what he’s used to, so he doesn’t give anything better a chance.” Kate stuffed in a forkful of pancake, her eyes closing in delight. Once she swallowed, she added, “You’re already doing something brave, Trish.”
“I am?” Trish felt about as far from brave as it got.
“Chasing your dream of being a writer. Most people would stick to their nine-to-five no matter how much they hate it because they’re afraid to take a chance. But you’re here. That counts for something.”
“You’re pretty good at boosting egos,” Trish said. She slipped a scrap of bacon under the table. She’d seen Wade share a graham cracker the other night and figured bacon couldn’t be off limits. Shadow rewarded her with a lick to her fingers. “Why does Wade want to be alone?” The question might be too bold, but she didn’t think Wade would ever tell her himself.
