After making sure all the horses were inside, fed, watered, and happy, I fed the dogs. The girls liked to stay at the stable overnight, thought of it as their space to guard, but Bucky followed me to my cabin almost every night. I’d installed a doggy door, and if the weather turned, I found Bucky on his dog bed with one or more of the barn cats curled up with him by the plug-in radiator I had for the colder seasons.
Once the dogs were happy, I walked across the yard to my place. There were two cabins by the patch of trees that lined the property next to the pond. An oak grew between the cabins, shading them both during the hottest months, and providing privacy despite the buildings being quite close to one another.
They’d been built as guest cabins, but I had claimed one when Ruth had insisted I stay. I liked the house well enough, but I preferred my own, separate space. I kicked off my boots on the little porch, then hung my ball cap on the hook by the door inside.
When I closed the door, I felt as if the world was left behind. Despite the road being right on the other side of the pond, even the occasional sound of a car driving past didn’t bother me here. The cabin was my safe haven, and I’d be heartbroken if in a few months, Lake would choose to sell Twin Star and I would have to move.
Maybe I could bide my time and convince Lake to keep the place, and if he didn’t want to run it, maybe he could put someone else in charge while still being the owner? Or had Ruth’s will been clearer than that? Damn, why hadn’t I paid more attention to the exact phrasing? Knowing my best friend, it was strict but fair.
I got undressed and went into the shower, my mind swirling with possibilities. I should probably start to figure out my next move in case Lake sold the place, right? Sure, I’d be fine money-wise, if that happened, because of Ruth’s generosity. But I wasn’t a freeloader and having all that money just gifted to me like that felt…wrong. Even if Ruth had wanted it. I didn’t want that money, no. I wanted my salary and my home and the horses and dogs and the rest of Twin Star.
Feeling grumpy again, I dried myself and got dressed in comfy jeans and a T-shirt. When I glanced out of the window, I realized the wind had picked up, and added a flannel on top. I ran my fingers through my hair a few times and scratched my jaw. I should probably try and make my beard neater tomorrow, appear a bit sharper for when the new volunteers showed up.
Soon enough, it was time to go. I hadn’t asked Lake if they’d be eating something someone at the house would cook, or something from Cook’s almost-ready or frozen meals.
I patted Bucky and told him to stay in his bed as I left the cabin to jog across the yard. I didn’t bother with my cap, so the wind tousled my hair enough for it to be annoying. I was scowling when I opened the front door and stepped inside.
“Well aren’t you cheery,” River quipped, having been doing something by the coat closet.
“Wind’s picking up,” I grunted.
River closed the closet door and led the way. “Lake’s in the kitchen. We found some premade stuff in the fridge. That was the cook guy, right?”
I chuckled. “His name is actually Cook. Well, it’s Jack Cook, but he’s gone by his last name long before he decided to become a chef.”
“Oh, well that makes sense.” Lake pulled a casserole dish of some sort from the oven. “Kid, how’s the table?”
“All done!” Rey called, bouncing to us. The difference in the boy was significant. “We just need drinks and the casserole.”
“What can I get you?” River asked, me, obviously in charge of the drinks.
“Water is fine. I prefer it with food.” I felt awkward, I was used to helping Ruth with setting the table at least, whenever I came over to eat with her.
Lake seemed to notice and smiled at me. “Please go sit. I’ll bring this right over.”
“All right.” I went to the table that had been set for us. “Rey, where do you want to sit?”
All three guys looked at me, but Rey was the one who flushed lightly.
“I’d like to sit with my back to the window, please.”
I smiled. “Works for me.” I sat on the chair next to the one by the window.
Soon, we were all eating one of Cook’s macaroni and chicken casseroles. It was incredible, as usual.
“I would’ve made a salad, but there wasn’t anything fresh in the fridge.” Lake shrugged. “I’ll go get groceries tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I thought there was stuff in there, but I guess Cook cleaned it out before he left. He’s a stickler for ingredients being fresh.”
“I guess you haven’t had a need to have the fridge stocked anyway,” River commented, then hummed happily when he took a bite of his food.
“Not really, no. Cook’s incredibly efficient. He always has a list of stuff he needs for whatever he’s about to cook, so there’s very rarely anything left over once he’s done batch cooking.” I smiled sadly. “Ruth used to say that he saved so much money for her that she never wanted to let him go to his yacht jobs for the summer.”
We ate in silence for a bit, then Lake cleared his throat. “So, Sierra came by and we talked about the money situation a little. She seems to feel responsible for Mr. Moneybags pulling his donations.”
I grimaced. “She does, yeah. It wasn’t her fault, of course not, and Ruth and I both told her so over and over again, but…”
“But she loves this place,” Rey said quietly.
