If Amber wasn’t looking for a baker, Mara would move on, but this farm was tugging at her heart.
A whoop turned her attention to the forest where Ford and Jolie jogged toward her, a copper and white mottled dog loping along beside them. Soon, her brother’s strong arms lifted her and spun her in a circle. “I’m so glad you’re here, Mara. Thanks for coming.”
Then Jolie hugged her. “It’s so great to meet you in person. Welcome home.”
The warmth of their greeting made her eyes water, but she blinked back any tears. “Thank you. I’m happy to be here, but you have to promise to tell me if I overstay my welcome.”
Jolie laughed. “Not a chance. We’re hoping you’re going to love it, and never want to leave.”
Ford nodded and pulled her in for another hug. “And we’re hoping you’ll tell us whose ass we need to kick.”
“What?”
Ford stood back, but kept his hands on her shoulders. “We all know something happened back in New York. Dan and Nate wanted to show up at your last address and start pestering neighbors for information. Then they’d head to the bakery if they didn’t find out what they wanted to know.”
Her mouth dropped open as she stared at him. She thought she’d hidden things well.
“Relax. Dad talked everyone down for now, but they’re all happy you’re here and away from whatever happened. We’ve all got your back, Mara. Jolie can bundle up the ducks and get your vengeance that way if you prefer.”
She laughed. “The ducks?”
Jolie nodded. “If we put snails in the pockets of whoever hurt you, the ducks will be all over him.”
Laughing at the image of someone covered in snails and hungry ducks, they grabbed her luggage and headed to the farmhouse. Anson would be terrified.
In the mudroom, they kicked off their footwear, and Jolie handed her a pair of moccasins. “Here’s why we asked for your shoe size. Our friend Nimii makes these. We all wear them inside. Keeps the floors cleaner and our feet warm. Amber’s got a bunch on order for guests to use at the inn, too.”
The moccasins were gorgeous and made her feel like a welcome part of the family.
When they walked through the door, the kitchen smelled like home, and she grinned at Ford. “Enchiladas? Dad’s recipe?”
He laughed. “Got it in one. Even used the same sauce he always buys.”
Their dad had been all about finding fast and healthy meals for his huge family. Enchiladas had been a favorite.
Upstairs, Mara had a choice of rooms. Ford was upgrading the farmhouse, and he led her to a bedroom overlooking the orchard. “I hope you like this one. I got this bathroom upgraded over the winter. We’re leaving the one with the pink fixtures until last in case Burke decides to move in. A few of the others are finished, too, but I think this one has the best view.”
The room was perfect. Almost as big as the entire studio apartment she’d rented back in New York.
Ford hugged her again. “Take a few minutes to get settled. When you hear the dinner bell, come on down to meet everyone else in person. Thanks for coming.”
She hugged him back and then sat on the bed and breathed in the space that would be hers. For how long she didn’t know, but she hoped it could be long enough for her to figure out her life.
She hummed the “Start of Something New” again as she unpacked. She would make it work. Somehow.
Anson and New York were in the past. Time to start figuring out her future.
Seth Walters, Babs to his army buds, hoped like hell he wouldn’t regret his latest choice. He didn’t need any more regrets.
He’d planned on being a lifer in the army. As a man without a family, he’d never regretted signing up, and had re-upped at every opportunity.
Strangely, there’d been less pressure and more camaraderie in the Army than there’d been in the kitchen of Perfection back in LA. When the backstabbing of the sous-chefs and the incompetence of the owner had become too much, Seth had joined the Army for a complete change.
It might seem like an odd switch to most people, but Seth had friends who’d found their place and themselves in the service. The annoyances of being a twenty-year-old head chef in a fancy restaurant had sucked the joy out of the job, and a drastic change had been in order.
He’d spent over a decade with the teams. They’d done a ton of good and helped people who had no one else. Seth had made good friends, and he’d wanted to do it forever.
Until a series of IEDs had shattered his new team, the one hand-picked by General Majumdar. They’d only been together for a few months, but the General had aimed them straight toward the worst of the worst. He’d wanted to take down the insurgent leaders and figured Seth’s team would be the ones to do it.
