“Had to pick up a tire and change it out. Gonna wait until morning because it’ll be a crazy route to avoid the flooded roads. Everyone ’round here with livestock has been cooperating to get all the animals evacuated safely. The farms in the lowlands will be inundated in the nextfew days, so we’ve all been taking turns helping each other get those horses to high ground. Got mine out yesterday but the tire blew. Stable owner’s a great gal and we’ll get her remaining horses out tomorrow when I bring the trailer.”
It was good to hear that the locals took care of each other. Bullseye’s evil couldn’t stamp that out. Kevin had switched tasks and was shoveling some grounds into a coffee filter in the top of a machine and filling the reservoir with water.
The rich scent was finer than the expensive perfume Aaron had given their mother for her sixtieth birthday. Gideon wouldn’t be impressed since he was some kind of coffee snob who actually roasted his own beans and infused his milk products with vanilla and cinnamon, but she didn’t think he’d complain under the circumstances. Plus, he had manners, even under extreme duress.
“So you’ve got stables in town? An airport too, I heard,” she added casually while she folded paper napkins and mentally urged him to hurry the food along before she stuck a fork in the pot and helped herself.
Kevin quirked a brow, and she knew the comment had struck him as overly nosey.Watch it, Mackenzie.
“Yeah,” he said. “An airstrip six miles north. Mostly for small cargo planes and such. Some charters and a few fishing adventure flights do a regular business from there. Nothing much that would interest anyone in weather like this.” He finished his coffee preparations. “You’re not thinking about flying out of here, are you?”
“That seems like the fastest way with some of the roads closing and now the bridge damaged.”
“Maybe, but it’s heavy weather for flying. Don’t think there’s much air traffic in and out right now. Not even sure how you’ll get your car salvaged from the river with the roads closed.”
“It’s Gideon’s car. I was riding with him.” She’d spilled some unnecessary facts yet again, but she had to offer Kevin something.
“He your husband?”
Her face warmed.As if!“No. Just, uh, friends.” They weren’t friends. But if there had been friendly feelings way back in their youth, they would all be blotted away since she’d almost gotten him killed repeatedly of late. She didn’t blame him for being angry at her, even if he had inserted himself in her business.
Kevin pursed his lips. “So, you said he was here teaching a wilderness class, and you didn’t want to take it?”
“No. I’m a gal who likes her creature comforts. Mints on the pillows, you know.” Her joke didn’t take him off the scent.
“Then why did you come here if it wasn’t for the class? We’re a little short on comforts at the moment.”
The conversation was definitely becoming more pointed. “Meeting another friend.” Which was actually the truth ... sort of. “But I heard Gideon was here and I stopped to see him.”
“What friend?” Kevin pushed the button to activate the coffee maker. It gurgled and spat. “I probably know them. Small place. Everyone knows everyone else.”
There was no way she was going to risk Lorraine’s safety any further by revealing her name. She was saved from having to answer when Gideon emerged, limping,hair curling slightly from the moisture, clad in a pair of jeans that hung low on his narrow waist, and a tee with a bowling ball and pins on the front. His eyes sparkled as he inhaled deeply.
“Did I miss dinner? It smells amazing.”
Kevin brightened. Maybe he was merely a typical nosy small-towner. He certainly seemed welcoming, but she’d come to suspect everyone. What a way to live. She felt a sudden longing to let it all go, put her roots down again in a locale like this where people looked after each other.
You don’t have any roots left. You’re adrift.
Kevin’s expression was dreamy. “Yep. Lynn’s an incredible cook. I don’t like much fancy food, but she can make a pot roast that would bring tears to your eyes. And her mashed potatoes ... She adds something to them, I dunno what it is.”
Mackenzie felt as though she could easily weep over the meatballs and sauce.
They took places at the table. Gideon let out a groan as he lowered himself into the chair. Kevin said grace.
He plopped large portions of pasta and meatballs onto their plates, served with buttered white bread and mugs of coffee.
“Dig in,” Kevin said.
They needed no urging.
All three focused on the meal, and Mackenzie was sure she’d never eaten anything so delicious in her life. Saucy, savory, warm perfection. She fought to keep herself from flat-out gobbling the food. The pleasure of the feast spread through her stomach until she felt almost thawed, except for her toes.
Gideon was making a point not to look at her. Suited her just fine. They all had seconds on pasta and bread and refills on coffee.
Kevin finally pushed his plate back, and they thanked him again.
“What a meal. Your wife is a winner,” Gideon said.
