Page 23 of Bitter Retreat
“Hey, Wiz. Long time, no see.” Ryan pulled a cooler from the back.
“Hi, Ryan, Erin.”
“Hi!” Erin handed her two thermoses and pulled out a box.
Wiz led them to the patio. She’d made a pot of chicken chili, and Pete was bringing beef stew. Erin put a container in the fridge, probably dessert or a salad. Ryan walked the path around the outside of the house to the lower level. She’d stored the sleds on the patio below the deck.
“Wiz.” Erin closed the refrigerator door. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” She raised both brows.
“Yes.” Wiz nodded, but her head was bobbing a little too fast. “It’s time. I need to move forward.” She did, no matter how nervous it made her.
“Okay, but you let me know if you need some space, right?” Erin wagged a finger, then whipped it toward the house. “And if you need to just disappear for a while, you do that. I’ll ride herd on the ranchers.” She used an exaggerated drawl on the last sentence and pushed up an imaginary cowboy hat.
Wiz laughed. “I think I’ll be all right, but thanks.” She was so lucky to have great friends.
“No problem.” Erin returned to the house.
Wiz checked the security cameras again. Nobody yet, but then Erin and Ryan came up a little early to help set up. She took a deep breath. It really was time to move forward. She’d gotten used to Erin and Ryan being around the house, to the point where she no longer needed to watch their every move. They felt like... family. Part of her. Deb and Sam were pretty close too, but they weren’t quite so much family as just firmly in the “non-threat” category. Now the question was, could she stand to be around a couple of men she didn’t really know at all? And big men, at that?
Stop freaking yourself out, Wiz. You know both of them. They weren’t strangers. Not yet friends, either, but it was possible. She checked her tablet. A side-by-side off-road vehicle drove up the road. Wiz zoomed in—the Rocking B brand was on the side, with Pete in the passenger seat and Tom driving. Deb and Sam were right behind in Deb’s old car; Sam had sworn she wasn’t bringing her fancy BMW up the dirt road again. Wiz opened the gates and passed through the house to greet everyone. Butterflies tumbled in her stomach.
Everyone emerged at the same time; the group was a little overwhelming. Sam greeted Pete and then gave Tom a hug. Wiz watched from the top of the stairs into the house, a little envy adding to her churning emotions. Sam introduced both men to Deb, and they all shook hands. They returned to their vehicles, pulling out boxes and bowls.
Deb lifted a cake box. “You’re my test tasters for a new flavor combination.”
Sam followed her with a wine carrier and a bottle of vodka. “I brought the important part.”
Pete held a crock pot. “Hey, Wiz, I brought some chili along with the beef stew. Figured you had a pretty big crowd, so you might need some additional food.”
“You didn’t have to, but thanks.” Wiz tried to smile but couldn’t quite manage it.
Tom stood two steps below Pete, carrying another crockpot on top of a case of beer. “Hi, Wiz. It’s good to see you again.” He met her eyes, and his low voice rumbled through her.
She shivered and turned away, pointing into the foyer. “Hi, Tom. How’s the ankle?”
He walked inside. “Pretty much good as new. I did everything they told me to do, including all the physical therapy and exercises, so I’ve recovered.” He stopped, looking around her living area. “Wow, this is really beautiful, both comfortable and pretty. Bet one of those western living magazines would love to profile this place.”
Wiz grimaced. “The designer asked, but I said no. I don’t want everyone to know what my house looks like. Besides, some of the art she wanted to add was too much for me. A lot of Native American art, but from the southwest, not here, which made no sense to me, and a bunch of stuffed heads.” She shuddered. “I don’t mind hunting for food, but trophy hunters make me mad.”
He nodded. “I’ll agree with that. Regardless, it looks really nice. Where should I put this?” Tom lifted the case a bit.
“Oh, sorry, keep going straight ahead and past the kitchen. We’re out on the patio.” Tom walked slowly, head turning. “I’ll give you and Pete a tour if you want.”
“Great.” He continued to the patio and put the beer down on the countertop. “It’s cold enough out, there’s no reason to put it in the fridge right now.” He pulled the crockpot off the case, placing it to the side.
Deb plugged it in. “Pour me a glass of that, Sam.” Sam pulled stemless, acrylic wine glasses from the cupboard.
Tom grabbed two beers, offering one to Pete. “Dad, Wiz offered a tour.”
Pete nodded and put the beer down without opening it. “That would be great, Wiz. This is a beautiful place.”
Wiz nodded in return but still couldn’t force a smile. “Thanks. Come on, we’ll start from the top.” She pointed at the back door, and they walked in. She took them to the third-floor observation deck; it was all screened windows, with outdoor furniture. Plus security shutters like the rest of the house, but they were discreetly mounted on the outside. The casual eye would also miss the rifle mounting points and the gun safe in the floor. She’d left her spotting scope out, turned toward the Sapphires, not the Rocking B.
“Beautiful and very secure. If you ever need someone to help you man the watchtower, just give me a call. I’ll be right up.” Tom lifted his arms, like he was peering through a rifle.
Wiz was a little surprised Tom had figured out the real purpose behind the space. She’d expected that reaction from Pete. There was more to Tom than she knew.
“You can double that for me, Wiz. I’m a good shot with a rifle.” Pete smiled.