Page 43 of Second Chance with the Rancher

She wasn’t needed anywhere.

Eventually, the tears subsided, and she fell asleep.

She didn’t mean to, but after sleeping on the hard ground of Callie’s stall last night, her body was sore and tired.

A gentle rap at her bedroom door pulled her from her dreamless slumber. Wiping the drool from the side of her mouth, she groggily went to open the door.

Triss looked worried. “You okay? Nate said you disappeared after helping them catch Fumble, then you didn’t answer the door when he knocked.”

“What time is it?”

“It’s five.”

Mieka’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God. I slept the day away.”

Triss shrugged. “So?”

“So, I shouldn’t be doing that when people need help around here. When there’s so much to do.”

Triss’s smile was small, but knowing. “They’re okay. They manage just fine when you’re not here.” That feeling of uselessness and being inconsequential crept back into her heart and made everything turn cold.

Triss didn’t seem to notice. “Help me with dinner?” she asked.

Determined not to spend too much time in her one-person pity-party, Mieka slapped on a half-decent happy face and nodded. “Can I shower first? I smell like goat.”

Triss sniffed. “I can’t tell. But then again, everything smells like horse and goat now, so …” She shrugged. “Shower, then come help me.”

Mieka nodded and closed the door when Triss walked away.

The shower helped brighten her spirits a little, but not much. By the time she emerged, with fresh clothes, and her caramel-brown hair in a long Dutch braid down her back, there were more voices in the house than before. The squealing pipes kept her from hearing anyone else come into the house, but the deep rumbles confirmed it was Asher and Nate.

Her belly clenched tight as she entered the kitchen and met Nate’s eyes.

Concerned filled his gaze and she could tell he was itching to ask her if she was okay and what happened earlier. But he didn’t. He just followed her as she moved across the room to the kitchen counter, picked up the knife and started chopping up a bell pepper for the Greek salad Triss was making.

“I’m planning dinner for seven o’clock, boys, so you have time to do whatever you need to do,” Triss said, her hands coated in raw chicken as she slid marinated chunks onto wooden skewers.

Asher kissed the side of his wife’s cheek, then headed for the door.

But Nate lingered, still watching her.

After a moment, he made his way over to Triss, bent his head to her ear and whispered.

“Oh, that’s a great idea,” she said enthusiastically. “I’ll try to stay awake for it.”

Nate grinned, nodded then headed back outside, casting one final curious, worried look at Mieka before he disappeared.

“What was that about?” Mieka asked, using her elbow to cover her mouth when she yawned.

“Nothing,” Triss said with a big smile.

Mieka rolled her eyes. “What are you two scheming?’

“No scheming,” she said innocently. “He just asked me something, and I responded. No secrets. No scheming.”

“Me thinks the lady doth protest too much,” Mieka said sarcastically.

“Chop the veggies, Mieks,” Triss ordered, but not unkindly. “And let’s come up with ways to get you out of your funk. Because clearly, you’re in a funk. Feel free to tell me why, or don’t, but either way, let’s get you out of it.”

---