Xavier snorted. “I think that aligns with Hattie’s master plan.”
True wrinkled her nose. “I thought the master plan was to leave Yukon Cider and her other holdings to you and your brothers. Are there more layers to this situation?”
“And I thought you knew Hattie.” The sound of his deep-throated laughter filled the truck. “She’s sentimental. And she’s not just trying to settle her business affairs. She wants to patch up her family.” He cleared his throat. “Kind of like a deathbed wish.”
“Do you think that’s possible? I’m sure Hattie would be over the moon if it happened.”
He heaved a tremendous sigh. “Honestly, I don’t need that type of pressure. We already have to learn the ropes at the company, which frankly is a lot harder than I imagined. That’s about all I can handle at the moment.”
Although she wanted to ask Xavier about his agreement with Hattie, True knew that might be overstepping. She was curious, though. Had he signed ownership papers for Northern Exposure, or would he simply inherit the tavern after Hattie’s death? Was there still a chance for True to make a bid for the business? Or had the opportunity already slipped through her fingers?
“Well, here’s our first stop,” True said as she turned down a wooded, tree-lined road. After traveling a short distance, they reached a clearing. True parked and got out of the truck with Xavier right behind her. Seconds later a rushing waterfall appeared. She heard Xavier let out a loud gasp, which was just the reaction she wanted. The roaring, whooshing sound as the water cascaded over the jagged rocks was a musical treat.
“Whoa! This is incredible,” Xavier said. The expression on his face was one of reverence and pure joy. His reaction aligned perfectly with how True had hoped he would receive this amazing sight.He got it!
“That rush of wind against my face feels good,” he said, lifting his chin so he could get the full effect.
The wind from the falls was one of the main reasons True loved this spot. She always felt like she was experiencing a caress from Mother Nature.
“Doesn’t it?” she asked, closing her eyes and stretching out her arms to receive the blessing. “So is this bringing back any memories?” she asked. Odds were that he had been to this very spot as a child. But, from what he’d told her earlier, most of his memories of Moose Falls were hazy.
He nodded. “I do recall being here. I remember beingreally happy. Maybe we came here in the summer and had picnics.” His brows were knitted together as he focused on drawing out the image in his mind.
True could easily picture it since once spring and summer arrived, more folks headed out to the falls. She felt good knowing this place held happy memories for Xavier. Bringing him to this spot had been a good decision.
“The falls is actually where Moose Falls gets its name.” Most folks didn’t make the connection between the two, but she loved this fun fact.
Xavier let out a low whistle. “I can see why. It’s pretty spectacular.”
The waterfall, set against a cerulean-blue sky and craggy mountains, provided a stunning landscape. In her estimation, nothing was better than this stunning vista. It really was her happy place, where absolutely nothing could go wrong, and everything was serene. “It’s my favorite place in town, other than Northern Exposure.”
“You really love that place, don’t you?” Xavier asked, his gaze intense as he looked at her.
How could she put into words what the tavern meant to her? As a young woman raising her brother after a tragic loss, the tavern had served as a lifeline. Being hired by Hattie, then rising up the ranks to manager, had allowed her to stay in the family home and provide a decent life for Jaylen. It represented what hard work and dedication could result in if a person gave it their all. Sometimes her goal of owning the tavern felt so lofty and out of reach. She struggled to feel worthy of such an undertaking.
“I’m going to tell you a secret. I’ve been dreaming of buying the tavern from Hattie for a long time now.” She crossed her arms across her chest and said a little prayer that Xavier didn’t laugh in her face.
“Why is it a secret? Shouldn’t you be shouting it from the rooftops?”
“That’s hard for me,” True admitted. “Because once I put it out there, I can’t take it back. Do you know what I mean? I’ve cherished this dream for so long that I’ll be crushed if I fall flat on my face.”
“Have you approached Hattie?”
“No, not yet. With her terminal illness, I didn’t want to seem predatory. And it’s a little bit more complicated now that she’s handing over the reins of Yukon Cider to her three grandsons.” She was tiptoeing around a bit, hoping Xavier might give her some intel about the future of the tavern. All she was working with at the moment was speculation. “For all I know she has plans to put the three of you in charge of the tavern as well.”
“Hattie is pretty private about her estate planning, so I can’t confirm or deny any of that, but I say go for it, no matter what. I’m guessing no one loves the place like you do. That’ll work in your favor, along with your passion.” He reached out and squeezed her hand. The gesture was intimate and tender. Not to mention he was providing reassurance.
Xavier was right. By hiding her ambitions, she gained nothing. And even though she still wasn’t in a position to buy the establishment outright, perhaps she could reach some amenable terms with Hattie. Or dig deeper into business loans that could help her out.
Once they were back in the truck, True turned toward Xavier. “I’d like to broach the topic with Hattie on my own terms, so please don’t mention it to her.”
He made a zipping motion on his lips. “I wouldn’t dream of saying anything. I believe in you. You’ve got this.”
“Thanks,” she murmured, buoyed by Xavier’s vote of confidence.
True headed toward their next destination, pointing out landmarks along the way. She drove slowly as they approached a “Moose Crossing” sign. She grabbed Xavier’s arm when she spotted a moose in the distance. “See. You never know when you’re going to come across a moose or two. If you have the misfortune to hit one, you might not survive the collision, because they weigh over a thousand pounds. In general, it’s always wise to give them a wide berth.”
“Fun fact. Guess I’m not in Kansas anymore,” Xavier quipped, his gaze trained on the moose.
