Page 13 of Honoring Freedom
“He never does.” She shrugged out of her jacket and hung it on the hook. She shivered and rubbed her hands together. “Think you can start a fire, cowboy?”
“Do penguins mate for life?”
She elected to ignore the question.
“I’m taking the bedroom upstairs to the right and you can choose yours, but I highly recommend you take the one downstairs.”
“The one we…?” He paused in stacking the logs.
“Yes, that’s the one.” She took on the daunting task of dragging her suitcase up the spiral stairs. The gentleman in him thought he should be kind enough to help, but she’d only turn him down. Freedom had more independence than would be considered healthy for her own good.
By the time he had the fire started, she’d made it back downstairs. She’d changed into a V-necked loungewear set that fit her curves nicely. She didn’t say a word as she sashayed through the great room, in her socked feet, and pushed through a swinging door that he remembered led to the kitchen.
Keller swore he wouldn’t follow, but he did.
The kitchen had been one of the remodeled rooms. The countertops with white and grey veins, the copper pots hanging from hooks, and the high-end stainless-steel appliances all screamed of a chef’s paradise which was a bit funny since the family had a cook. None of them knew their way around a skillet.
He found everything a person could want, but he didn’t see Freedom.
Inside the walk-in pantry, she was pushing around supplies on one of the shelves as if in search of something important.
“Daddy believes his stash is still a secret,” she remarked, revealing an unopened bottle of whiskey from behind jars of pasta sauce. “He’s not supposed to be drinking because of his heart.”
“Hey, you shouldn’t pour that out.” Keller recognized the expensive label.
She laughed and as she turned sideways to pass him in the narrow doorway, their bodies brushed. Their gazes met for a mere breath, and she continued shimmying past him. She was taking down glasses when he entered the kitchen. “I’d never consider tossing out Daddy’s Woodford collection. He might not have good taste in the rules he makes for his daughters, but the man is an expert when it comes to whiskey.” She removed the cap and poured a small amount of whiskey into each short glass. “You’re not one of those cowboys who prefers his cut, are you?”
“What do you think?” he said.
She handed him one of the glasses. “Cheers to Daddy’s good tastes in cabins and whiskey.”
They touched rims and he sipped, squinting as the liquid fire burnt its way into his stomach. He hadn’t had good whiskey in years. The bottle was above his pay grade.
Freedom placed the glass on the counter before pulling herself up to perch on the granite countertop. Her untamed hair framed her flushed face, her radiant skin untouched by makeup. When she noticed his gaze, her eyes met his with a striking blend of warmth and intensity.
“What do you think?”
“About?” he asked.
“Does it feel like old times?”
“Minus the deer heads and whiskey, yeah.”
She ran the tip of her finger around the rim of the glass as she stared at the ceiling. “I remember how we used to spend New Years here. Daddy always went to the country club's fancy events while my sisters and I played hide and seek, indulged in too many sweets, and hosted our own spa parties. Those were the good old days. I think we’re overdue for one.” She pointed a finger at something beyond his shoulder. “In that cabinet. Grab the other stash.”
He opened the glass door, rummaged around jars of sauces, and saw what she referred to. “No way. I love these things.” He took out the packaged brownie and tossed it to her. “You used to bring those to me all the time.”
She opened the plastic, broke off part of the brownie and popped the bite into her mouth. “There’s plenty more. Help yourself.”
“I think I will.” He leaned forward and broke off a bit from hers. “Mm. Still delicious.”
Her cheeks turned a blushing shade of pink. She set the brownie aside and rubbed her hands together. “You’re doing what you always said you wanted to do, Keller. I’m proud of you. It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were those two wild and crazy teens who had dreams they chased like tomorrow wasn’t promised.”
"You're doing great too, Free. You've really helped the local library. Raising money is tough, but you managed to get enough to build a new building and stuff it with books. I hear your after-school reading project for kids is benefiting the entire town. Not to mention your thoroughbreds are going to be triumphant in the breeding business."
She gave a curt shrug. “I’ve decided to leave the library, at least for now. I’d like to focus on the breeding industry.”
“As long as you’re happy. That’s what matters.”