A burst of laughter bubbled up Andie’s throat, the sound of it blending with Betty’s, Emmitt’s and the ranch hands’ too.
The boisterous sound was a spot of hope. One that said shewouldheal and shewouldmove on.
How long that would take, Andie wasn’t sure. But she believed that she would, and that was a good place to start.
* * *
Andie gripped the handle of her refrigerator door, staring at the mostly blank shelves while the cool air met her skin. Sure, she’d had a productive day, but upon entering her cabin, the gloom and heartache of her situation threatened to push her back under the covers at a mere six o’clock in the evening.
She’d hoped a warm shower might wash away the stubborn ache that clung to her body; instead, the heated spray washed only the tears that—for the first time in hours—she felt safe to release. Don’t be discouraged, she reminded herself. Tears, she’d learned, were a healthy and necessary part of the grieving process. Tears equaled acceptance. And acceptance, well, heaven knew that was an accomplishment in itself.
“I’m starving,” she said as her eyes wandered from one empty corner to the next. A sudden knock sounded at her door, the unexpected clamor making her jump.
Andie shot a look in that direction. She could pretend to be gone. Or asleep…
“Andie, we know you’re in there,” came Emmitt from the other side of the door.
A groan sounded in her throat as she let the fridge close. “No, I’m not.”
“Come on, Andie. We are not going to let you sulk all night.” The wordwecaused Andie’s ears to perk. Enough that she realized the second plea wasn’t from Emmitt at all. Richard had come along with him. She hadn’t expected that.
She looked around her cabin, glad she’d paid housekeeping to come take care of her mess while she was out in the yard. What did her brothers have in mind? Her stomach wanted to know if it would include food.
“I’m hungry,” she blurted while approaching the door.
“We figured as much,” Richard replied.
Andie pictured her brothers standing on her porch with two of Mable’s picnic baskets. One holding sandwich stuff with all the fixings, and another filled with fried chicken and an array of savory sides.
She flung open the door and quickly surveyed the scene. Richard’s hands were empty. So were Emmitt’s.
“You don’t have any food?”
“No, but we know where we can get some,” Emmitt assured.
Andie groaned a second time. “I don’t want to go anywhere. Can’t you guys just bring it back here?Please?”she added as they looked to each other in question.
“Just come with us,” Richard urged. “Fill up a plate at the buffet. If you don’t feel like staying, we don’t have to stay.”
“Did you saywe?”Andie challenged. “You’ve never showed up for the parties before.” A spot of warmth seeped into her heart. Her ornery older brother really did care.
Richard shook his head, a sheepish grin at his lips. “So I’m not very social. But I’m willing to go tonight if you’ll come too.”
Her stomach let out a growl as she considered. “Just for the food?”
“Just for the food,” Emmitt promised. “But we don’t have to announce that when we show up.”
Andie chuckled against her will. “I’ll leave myonly-here-for-the-foodshirt home then.”
“I’ve been wondering where that is,” Richard said.
Andie grabbed her pink cardigan hanging by the front door and shrugged into the sleeves. She stepped into her canvas shoes next, then lifted her gaze to Emmitt and Richard—a picture of her family. Family who was, for the first time in a long time, acting like family.
The warm thought tugged at the corners of her lips. “Okay,” she said. “Let’s go.”
A chant of sorts ran through Andie’s head as she and her brothers walked to the inn.You can do this. It won’t be so bad. The food will make it all worth it.
Only as they neared the action, the setting sun warm on her back, Andie spied a man in a cowboy hat among the crowd. Her heart nearly sank to her feet. It wasn’t that cowboy hats were rare around here, but that particular one looked a whole lot like Trenton’s. At first, anyway. She realized quickly enough that it wasn’t him or his hat, but that didn’t stop the physical forces already set into motion.
