Whisper in the Dark by McCartney Dianne

Author:McCartney, Dianne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC027110 FICTION / Romance / Suspense
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Published: 2024-02-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Brook spent the night tossing and turning, waiting to rise in the morning until she finally heard Gideon’s car leave. A cool shower woke her up and persuaded her sluggish body to get moving. She padded down to the kitchen in sock feet to find Henry and Tess making pancakes.

“Good morning.”

“Morning, slowpoke,” Tess answered, wiggling a spatula in the air. “We were going to send Abe upstairs to wake you. You can’t miss Henry’s pancakes. They are to die for.”

The enticing aroma convinced her to indulge. When they were ready, Tess set a stack of them on the table and the three of them helped themselves. They had real maple syrup, too, not the cheap kind—the very definition of comfort food, much needed this morning. “I wish we could convince Gideon to eat breakfast,” Henry said, “but good luck with that.”

“He wouldn’t have been so grouchy this morning if he did.”

“Why? What did he say?” Brook couldn’t help a flare of guilt.

Tess made a face. “Well, he never really complains about anything, but I can always tell when something’s up.” She finished a bite. “He gives new definition to the word, ‘stoic.’ ” Lifting the jug of maple syrup, she dripped looping designs on her pancake. “Didn’t you guys have fun last night?”

“Yes,” she answered. “But he spent way too much on this painting I admired.”

“Don’t worry about that. Gid really likes giving people gifts. I hope Amelia noticed he bought it for you.” She hadn’t seen the woman after that initial tussle which she now told Tess about. Clapping her hands, she said, “Wish I could have seen that one. Serves her right.”

“I must say, that woman was never one of my favorites,” Henry said in his usual understated style. There was no polite way to respond, so Brook kept quiet. The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence. When she and Tess offered to help clear the dishes, he shooed them away. They headed upstairs, Brook waving her ahead. “What should we do today?”

“Do you still like horses?”

“Yes, but I haven’t ridden in a couple of years.”

“Doesn’t matter. There’s a riding group close by who gives equine therapy to people with disabilities. They always need helpers. Are you game?”

“I’d love that.”

“I know the woman who owns the farm and she’ll let us go for a trail ride afterwards if we want. There are always horses who need exercise.” Changing into jeans, boots and T-shirts, they were on their way thirty minutes later.

They had a wonderful, exhausting day, helping with the children, then having a long ride on some picturesque trails that looped the outskirts of the sprawling farm. The work and exercise calmed Brook and allowed her to recall how much the company of her friend meant to her. Returning to the house afterwards, smelling of horses, they had showers and emerged to find the guys had arrived home.

Gideon was inspecting the auction painting which had been delivered that afternoon. Tess oohed and ahhed over the brilliant colors and Brook told her the story about him outbidding Ethan for it.

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