Brynna frowned. “That seems kind of forward.” Maybe he really was a stalker.
“Yeah, I sort of thought so too. But he told me his campsite doesn’t have a firepit.”
“So?”
Jan shrugged. “So, I agreed.”
“And you’re okay with it? You’re not worried he might be a creep or something?”
“I know how to defend myself.” Jan picked up the ax with a threatening look.
Brynna felt her eyes grow wide.
“Just kidding, Brynna. But, no, I’m not worried. He seems okay. And he did give us this firewood.” She returned to chopping kindling. “So did you enjoy your walk around the campground? Was it a real blast from the past?”
“It was pretty interesting.” Not ready to talk about it, Brynna glanced around the well-organized site. “Looks like you got everything under control, but is there anything I can do to help?”
“Not out here. I got the trailer jacks down and everything leveled and the wheels secured. The water and electric are hooked up. Easy breezy.”
Brynna didn’t think it sounded that easy. “Well, next time I’ll be sure to stick around and learn how to do that stuff.”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
Brynna felt guilty. “I don’t want to be a freeloader. There must be something I can do to help.”
Jan’s brows arched hopefully. “How are you at cooking?”
“Cooking?” Brynna considered this. “To be honest, Dirk didn’t appreciate my cooking skills. But, then, he was a very picky eater. He’d prefer powdered protein drink to a hot bowl of homemade chili.”
“You’re kidding. I love chili.”
“Me too.” Brynna smiled. “And I actuallyliketo cook.”
“Well, I hate it.” Jan made a face. “How about you take that chore?”
“Okay...” Brynna glanced toward the trailer with its pint-size kitchen.
“Really?” Jan brightened. “You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not if you don’t.” Brynna couldn’t handle any more criticism over her culinary skills. It was one of the best things about Dirk leaving.
“I’d be relieved to leave the cooking to you,” Jan assured her. “The kitchen is all stocked. Well, at least enough for a few days anyway. We can hit grocery stores along the way as needed. And there’s a camp store here if you’re missing anything vital.”
Brynna still felt uncertain. What kind of expectations would Jan have? What if she was used to fine cuisine? Or worse, what if she was a picky eater like Dirk? “Honestly, I haven’t cooked much. I mean since my divorce. And I’ve never been what you’d call a serious foodie.”
“That’s okay. And I don’t mind doing dishes. That’s how Burt and I used to do it. He’d cook something great, and I’d clean up afterward.”
Something great?What did that mean? Brynna flashed back to Dirk and how he’d throw a fit if she cooked something with onions or garlic or celery. Plus, he hated all vegetables. Sometimes he’d even claim food allergies just to get out of trying a new recipe. It made her hate the kitchen. “So, uh, are you a picky eater?”
“No, not at all. Burt had a rule. If I complained about the food, I’d have to cook the next meal. I learned to keep my mouth shut. But honestly, I like almost anything.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“And if you like to grill, there’s a little fold-down propane barbecue right there.” She pointed to the side of the trailer. “Grilling was Burt’s job too. Not because I didn’t try. But when I grilled, the food either turned out raw or blackened. Burt finally told me to forget it.”
“Grilling sounds like fun.” Brynna suddenly felt hungry. “Guess I better check out the kitchen.”
“It’s small.”
