“She’s married to Tom’s brother.” Kitty waves a hand. “There’s a whole family tree. You’ll figure it out eventually. Or you won’t. Either way, there’s pie.”
“Okay,” I say slowly.
Kitty glances around the cabin with the familiarity of someone who’s been here before. “You landed in Tex’s place. Interesting.”
“Interesting how?”
“He’s not exactly known for spontaneity.” She shoots him a look. “No offense.”
“Some taken,” Tex says mildly.
“He’s not always easy,” Kitty adds gently. “But he's solid. He shows up, even when he doesn’t know how to say the right thing.”
Tex lifts his head from where he’s hovering near the pie. “Standin’ right here.”
Kitty ignores him, tilting her head as she looks at me. “We need women like you out here. Keeps the men from turning into grumpy statues.”
Tex’s eyes narrow. “I’m not grumpy. That's Wyatt’s default mood.”
Kitty shakes her head. “No, his is brooding.”
I choke on a laugh.
Tex’s mouth twitches.
Kitty smiles. “Anyway, welcome to Havenridge. I live up the hill if you need anything—coffee, conversation, or someone to vent to about emotionally constipated cowboys.”
“Amen,” I mutter without thinking.
Tex raises an eyebrow.
“I have three brothers,” I explain. “I know the type.”
Kitty steps closer, lowering her voice like she’s telling me a secret. “And Jane?”
“Yeah?”
Her expression softens. “You don’t have to earn your place here.”
The words hit somewhere I wasn’t expecting. “What?”
“I see it,” she says quietly. “The way you’re already trying to figure out how to be useful. How to make this worth everyone’s time." She squeezes my arm gently. “You don’t have to. Just showing up is enough.”
My throat tightens. “Okay.”
Tex is watching from the kitchen doorway. When I glance at him, he looks away, but not before I catch something in his expression, as if Kitty just put words to something he’d already noticed.
Kitty takes that as her cue to go. “All right. I’ll let you two settle. Tex, don’t scare her off with your ‘I organize my thoughts alphabetically’ energy.”
“I don’t?—”
But Kitty is already out the door, warm laughter trailing behind her.
The cabin settles again as the door shuts.
I look down at the pie dish in my hands. “She seems?—”
“Kind and caring?” Tex finishes.
