He’d tried working again while she rested, but he’d been worried about her and what she’d remembered. Then he’d been tense the entire time Emily talked to Daniel.
Finally, after Daniel had his medicine and guitar, and Emily helped him search for guitar tutorials on-line, Jake escaped the house. After checking in with Zane, he saddled Thor and went for a badly needed ride.
It helped clear his head and ease the tension, but he’d been in his office, ever since dinner, working on the blasted paperwork for the solar power project. He contemplated sleeping for a couple hours before going out to bale hay. Sometimes it was easier to go without sleep.
A strange noise caught his attention; a bump followed by a thud, then it repeated. He stepped out of his office to find Emily shuffling down the hall with her crutches.
“Can I help you with something?”
“I’m fine,” she said with a sigh. “Can’t sleep. I keep thinking about that SUV and wondering what it is I’m supposed to know, and what kind of evidence the men are looking for. And how did I get mixed up in this?”
“Would you like some hot cocoa?” Jake asked. “That’s what my mom used to make for me when I couldn’t sleep.”
“Sounds good, but I don’t want to bother your mom.”
“We won’t bother her. I’ll make it. Let me get your wheelchair.”
She scowled at him. “No.”
He thought about arguing with her, but she stared him down. His mom was right. Emily was independent and stubborn. He couldn’t blame her though. It was difficult being so dependent on others.
Biting back a smile of admiration, he led her to the kitchen, pausing to hold the swinging door for her. He guided her to the counter where she sat on a barstool. Getting out a small saucepan, he poured milk into it and set it on the stove on low heat. Then he set out cocoa powder and sugar.
Emily’s eyebrows rose. “When you suggested hot cocoa, I thought you meant stirring store-bought hot chocolate powder into water.”
“No, that stuff is fine when you’re camping, but it’s not as good as the homemade stuff. I may be a bachelor, but I’ve learned how to do a few things for myself.”
“A few? Do you cook anything besides cocoa?”
“Well, Lottie leaves me leftovers when she won’t be around to cook, and I’m competent with the microwave.” He shot her a cheesy grin.
“But do you actually cook?”
“I can make spaghetti and chili. Sometimes, I make soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.”
“Grilled cheese? That’s complicated. Let me guess, your spaghetti sauce, chili, and soup all come from a can?”
“I did mention I’m a bachelor, right? A very busy bachelor I might add.” He waved a whisk in the air as he defended himself. “I can grill a mean steak, though.”
“Steak, huh? I’d like to try your steak sometime.”
“You will. Tomorrow. He went to the magnetic white board on the side of the refrigerator, wiped off the lasagna listed for Tuesday’s dinner, and wrote steak. Then he returned to the stove to stir the sugar and cocoa mixture into the steaming milk.
Emily had hardly touched her dinner. Had her injuries affected her appetite? Or was it concern about the memories she couldn’t recall? Of course, the memories she’d recalled today were enough to affect anyone’s appetite.
Turning to the fridge, he retrieved a jar of salsa and poured some into a bowl then grabbed a bag of tortilla chips from the pantry.
“Try Lottie’s homemade salsa.” He placed both in front of her before returning to the stove again.
“Is it spicy?” Emily hesitated before putting the chip she’d dipped in her mouth.
“A little.” Jake grabbed a chip, scooped up some salsa, and shoved it into his mouth.
She took a bite. “Mmm.” She grabbed another chip. “Do you always eat dinner with Zane and Lottie?”
“They’re like family. We’ve shared dinner a lot over the years. It was pointless for Lottie to cook here then go home to fix another meal for her family.”
“They’re nice, and Lottie is an amazing cook. Daniel seems like a good kid too, despite his struggles.”
