MacKenzie Fire(74)

“We will. I plan to go do a little cleaning, some laundry and some cooking. You’re welcome to join me. I hear you’re an amazing cook.”

My face goes a little red. “You did? From who?”

“Ian. I’m sorry Angus and I missed out on your spaghetti. Maybe you can make it again before you leave.”

“Sure. Anytime.” Aaaand the panic sets in…

The pot of coffee is dripping, filling the silence. It does nothing to calm my nerves now that I know my non-existent cooking prowess is about to be tested once again, only now for the entire family. Andie will totally poop a brick if she finds out what I’ve been telling these people about my skills. I better warn her ahead of time. Note to self: Pay Andie to say I’m an expert chef.

Maeve breaks into my thoughts. “So, do I get to know what the big mystery is, or is it a secret?”

“Actually, I’m glad you asked, because you need to know the mystery in order to help me fix things.”

She wraps her hands around her mug and smiles. “Ooo, this sounds good.”

She glances up at my forehead. I try not to look up to see what has her attention, but I can’t help it. It’s possible I’m going cross-eyed as I start telling her my plan.

“It is good. I think. Anyway, I noticed since I’ve been here that Andie doesn’t exactly have many friends.”

Maeve loses her smile. “Yes, I’m afraid that seems to be the case. I’ve never seen her spend time with anyone but us.”

“There’s a reason for that.”

Maeve’s eyebrows go up. “There is?”

“Yes. Apparently, there are rumors going around town that Andie is the reason why Ian lost Ginny and Hannah lost Mack. I guess Andie’s the town harlot or the town husband stealer or something.”

“That’s utterly ridiculous!” Maeve’s pissed. “Neither of those women had a claim on my boys. Andie had nothing to do with either of them missing out on whatever they felt entitled to.”

“You must have heard this stuff before, though, right?” I ask, kind of pressing her. “I mean, you live here. You belong to that rancher lady club or whatever. This isn’t news to you, I’ll bet.”

She stands to get the pot of coffee, a lot less relaxed and calm than she was two minutes ago. She might even be shaking a little. I’ve never seen her like this. She’s always so self-possessed.

“I hate to say it, but I’m about as friendless as Andie at this point.” She brings the pot over and fills our mugs, letting out a long breath of air. “I lost my two best friends to cancer. Another good friend left and moved to Seattle with her new husband. As for the rest …” She shrugs as she adds two lumps of sugar to her mug. “…I suppose we don’t talk about those things relating to Andie. Probably because they worry what I’d think.”

“You’re not much of a gossiper, I take it.”

“No, not at all.” She smiles, but doesn’t look that happy. At least she’s not shaking anymore. “I don’t have time for it. And it’s all a bunch of nonsense anyway. I’ve got better things to do with my time.”

“Well, no need to worry. I’m an expert gossiper and I’ve got the scoop.” I wink at her to assure her that she’s in good hands. “My guess is that Hannah The Big Butthead Banana has been spreading lies around, either because she’s just bitter or she’s fooled herself into thinking that Mack will break up with Andie eventually and then he’ll be free again. Either way, we’re going to put an end to it and find Andie some friends.”

“We are?” She doesn’t sound very enthusiastic, which is disappointing since she was going to be a major player in my scheme. I’m going to have to go for the hard sell.

“Yes. We most definitely are. I can’t leave Baker knowing that my best friend is going to be all alone out here in coyote-lion-rattlesnakesville without someone to chat with or talk baby stuff too. I’m not always available by phone, you know.”

Maeve smiles. “I hear you’re quite busy at your salon. Do you like having your own business?”

Any other day of the year before I came here, my answer would have an enthusiastic yes. Now, this lukewarm feeling comes over me and it bleeds into my answer. “Yeeeesss. I mean, I do love it. It’s just … it takes a lot of my time away from other things.”

“Other things? Like what? Hobbies?”

“Well, no. I mean, hair and fashion are my hobbies. It’s just …” I stare at the floor as I try to put into words what’s going on in my heart. “I guess since I’ve been here I’ve never really thought about what else I’d like to have in my life, but now I’m starting to think of those things.”

“What kinds of things? Cows?”

I laugh, but then images of my baby cow Candy come to mind with Ian and I wrestling around in her stall, and it doesn’t seem so silly. “Kind of. Maybe more the way of life you have around here. With husbands and babies and chickens and stuff.” My husband can touch their butts. I’ll just make omelets. I’m sure there are recipes online I can follow.

She laughs. “You have pretty much just summed up my life in one sentence.”

My hand shoots out to rest on her forearm. “No! I didn’t mean it like that. I didn’t mean to sound like I was demeaning it or anything.”