“Amy made sangria for us, but I imagine you’re still on meds,” Rebecca said gently. “I can make you a mocktail.”
“Actually, I haven’t taken my meds for the last few days. I can have a glass,” Riley said, thinking she needed some liquid courage to spend time alone with Garrett after what the women told her.
“Oh, great. I’ll grab you a glass,” Rachel offered. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. I don’t know what a broken bone feels like, but when I first arrived in Texas, I discovered fire ants. They bit me all over my body, and I thought I’d die. Luckily, Matthew and Mac heard me screaming from the garden and came running. I could’ve drunk this entire pitcher of sangria and still felt the sting.”
“Fire ants are the worst,” Riley commiserated.
“Broken bones can’t be too far behind. Take care of yourself, Riley, and don’t push the healing process,” Rebecca advised as Rachel handed her a full glass of the sangria.
“Thanks,” Riley said, accepting it and taking a sip. She rarely drank, especially around Tara, but the fruity flavor went down easily. “Amy, this tastes delicious.”
“Thank you, it’s my mother’s recipe,” Amy said, smiling. “We’ve passed it down to all the women in our family. My mother used to say it’s how she got my father to marry her,” she giggled, and the other women joined her. “Where are you from, Riley?”
She hesitated as Rebecca and Rachel waited for her to respond. “We moved around quite a bit, but mainly from here in Texas.”
“Tara said you used to own a ranch and know how to make goat’s milk butter and soaps. I’d love to sit down and talk to you about my little farm stand business. We bought a little place down the road and have a few goats, chickens, and cows. It won’t make us rich, but every little bit helps,” Amy said, refilling Riley’s glass.
The idea sounded amazing to her ears, but she and Tara didn’t plan on staying in Embers. As soon as her limbs healed, she planned to use the last of their funds for bus tickets. “I’m sorry. We’re not planning to stay in the area.”
Amy frowned. “Oh, that’s too bad. The girls seem to get along, and after what Kara went through, I’m glad to see her coming back to herself.”
“Oh, I didn’t know anything happened to her. I’m sorry to hear it,” Riley said, surprised.
Rebecca sent Amy a slight shake of the head, and the older woman stood.
“I made some appetizers. Rachel put them in the oven for me. I’ll go check them,” she said, heading toward the kitchen.
“I didn’t know you planned to leave,” Rachel said, sending her a scowl. “Rebecca’s gone all the time saving the world. Delaney, the ranch cook, turns crankier by the day. She’s pregnant and has lost her patience trying to teach mehow to cook. I make one little mistake with pancake batter, and I’m the worst.”
“What did you do?” Rebecca asked, sipping her sangria.
“She told me to pour it on the griddle and wait for the bubbles. I poured it, and it went everywhere. All over the counter, the floor, and the cabinets. Apparently, the wordpourit on the griddle meantladleit. She knows better than keeping instructions vague,” Rachel said, shaking her head.
“How many pancakes have you seen as large as the griddle?” Rebecca asked, laughing.
“She sometimes makes them in the oven on a cookie sheet. Of course, I assumed it came from the griddle and did as she told me. She told me not to report to the kitchen until she called me. She’s getting ready to have a baby and can only clean up after one of us. How rude can she be?” Rachel said, cracking a grin. “I’m rather poor at cooking, and I freely admit it. Delaney sees it as a catastrophe. I rather think it falls to my favor. Usually, Matthew offers to cook, or we go out for dinner.” She tapped her finger to her head. “And Delaney says I have the brain of a bird. I rather think I’m sly like a fox.”
Riley laughed out loud, the wine relaxing her. “You can’t make pancakes?”
“Honey, I’ve mastered three things in the kitchen, but Matthew prefers I master other things,” Rachel said cheekily.
Rebecca shook her head. Riley felt curious. “Like what?”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “You know. If you can’t keep him happy in the kitchen, then do it in the bedroom.”
Riley didn’t know. Between babysitting her father, raising Tara, and caring for the ranch, sex became the farthest thing from her mind. She didn’t want to do the deed with one of her hands on the ranch and she never left Taraalone. Loneliness filled her as she finished the rest of her wine.
Amy returned, carrying a tray of mini empanadas. “I’ll see if the girls want any,” she said, crossing over to the office.
Riley glanced down at her dress. “This must be the ugliest piece of clothing in the entire world. Even sadder, I think I own all of its relatives in my closet.”
Rachel slapped her knee. “I know, right? I apologize if I seem rude, but it’s hideous. I’ll be right back,” she said, jumping up and running upstairs.
Tara and her new friend, Kara, entered the living room with Amy. “Riley, Kara taught me about makeup. What do you think?”
She took in her little sister, noting the perfectly blended blush, the light application of mascara, and a bit of lip gloss. These were things her mom might have taught her if she lived. Riley didn’t think about teaching Tara. She seemed to grow up before her eyes. “You’re beautiful and look like Mom.” Her eyes turned misty as she dabbed at them.
The doorbell rang, and Rebecca went to answer it.
