Page 94 of Saving Grace

“Sure. What do you need?” She could tell me now.

She taps her lips with a finger. “Later, babe.”

“Okay,” I say with a smile.

Ruby walks over to where Louisa is eyeing a hand-woven basket, and Addy leans in. “Wonder what that’s all about?”

“Guess I will find out this afternoon?”

“Knowing our Rubes, it’s something awesome.”

Those two are like sisters. I envy them. They are so close. For a tiny moment, I wonder if I will ever be considered a sister to them. If things go the way I want them to, at least. And like it has been all morning before Don filled my head with dreams, Mack fills my mind. It’s odd not seeing him all day. He will be doing his first workout around this time.

Ranch work after lunch. He’s still easing into it. But I know he’s itching to get back to everything he did before.

“Grace, you’ll be just what this town needs,” Louisa says, walking toward me with the basket.

“I hope so.”

“No hoping, Gracie. You’re gonna smash this.” Ruby steps in beside Louisa, a small handblown glass vase in one hand, a red crocheted scarf hanging from the other. Addy appears at her side with a book on flower arranging.

“You don’t have to buy things because I’m here,” I say softly.

Addy tilts her head and glances at her best friend and mother-in-law. “I’ve been meaning to come in here for ages. I want to set those wildflowers right. So, yes, I do.”

“Same goes for us,” Louisa says, nudging Ruby with her shoulder.

I ring the items up for each of them and place them in brown paper bags before handing them over.

“See you later, Grace,” Ruby calls as they head through the doors.

“See you then.” I wave and watch as they walk down the sidewalk, chatting, laughing. They disappear from view, and I sink back onto the stool and start my work rewriting the lessons.

First up, oils.

An hour later, Don finds me, head down and tail up, rearranging the handmade goods on the front stand.

“Grace, would you be okay with a small write up in the local rag?”

“Oh, sure, anything to help raise interest in the classes.”

“Great, Billy from the paper will be around in ten. An article will go up tomorrow. Online and in the weekend gazette. You okay if we use your name, etc.? Locals like to know the folks who front places like ours.”

“Of course. Consider me part of the town.”

“Wonderful.”

Billy floats through the entrance doors not even five minutes later. I pose for a photo by the wall of art that caught my attention on my first visit here. Don and I smile and a flash snaps, our picture immortalized, ready for print.

“This is going to be something good. I can feel it,” Don says before walking Billy to the door, thanking him for making the effort.

Now it feels like the next chapter of my life.

Pride swells alongside the excitement I’ve been carrying for the entire day.

R & R Ranch will never cease to impress me. I drive under the overarching sign inscribed with Reed’s & Ruby’s names. The mountains around me remind me how magnificent this land is. How small we are in comparison to Mother Nature out here. It’s humbling. Grounding. Fulfilling, just taking it in.

Nothing could take this day down.

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