Page 30 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
She nodded at his question, heard therefrigerator door open and close, then the metallic snick of apocketknife opening. A moment later, an opened package slid ontothe countertop next to the butter.
A third skillet joined the others, and shecracked, then beat eggs into a froth. After dropping a spoonful ofbutter into the skillet, she waited for it to pop and spit beforestirring the scrambled eggs onto the hot surface, sprinkling cheeseover the yellow mix.
They worked together like that until themeal was prepared. He’d retrieved place settings for two, arrangedon either side of the island. Syrup sat alongside two cups ofcoffee, with sugar and cream nearby, and there was room between forher to set the container of food. Einstein busied himself withsomething on his phone while she served herself, then took thetongs from her to do the same.
“Thanks for cooking.” His head bent over theplate as he efficiently cut the pancakes with the edge of his fork,fingers lifting a strip of bacon to his mouth.
Marian nodded, following her mouthful offood with a swallow of coffee she’d doctored just right, two spoonsof sugar and a dollop of cream. “Thanks for getting everythingready.”
“No big deal.”
He laid his phone on the table, eyeing thescreen. The rest of the meal passed in silence, scraping of forksagainst plates interspersed with his phone vibrating against thetable. Marian’s seat allowed her to look out the big window towardsVanna’s house, and she watched a steady flow of people trek fromthe field to the house and back again. Engines rumbled in the neardistance, and Einstein’s head lifted, listening.
“Sounds like some of them are about ready tohead out.” He made no move to rise, stealing another slice of baconfrom the container. “Did you get to meet everyone yesterday?”
“A few.” She drained her coffee, arrangingher fork across her plate. She picked up the lid and slid thecontainer closer to him. “Want anything else? I’m going to put itin the oven to keep warm.”
He took another pancake and a scoop of eggswith a grunt. “Thanks. I got here after the festivities.” Randy thedonkey brayed in the distance, and his mouth twisted sideways.Einstein chuckled. “Do you know what the deal is with Gunny andthat donkey?”
She’d found out yesterday that Randy hadbelonged to Sallabrook. While Myrt hadn’t been attached to theanimal, Thad had developed an affection over the course of the dayshe and Luke had spent at the man’s farm. On their drive to Florida,Gunny had listened to the boy’s stories, really listened. Duringone stretch when her brothers were sleeping, she’d overheard Gunnycall a local sheriff’s deputy, Heame Junior, and arrange to havethe beast brought down. The truck and trailer had arrivedyesterday, and the expression on Thad’s face when he saw the donkeybeing unloaded had been pure joy. Somehow Gunny had instinctivelyknown the donkey might be pivotal to Thad’s healing. Theover-the-top gesture was one of the most touching things she’d everwitnessed. When she’d asked him about it later, Gunny had laughedand said sometimes animals were better listeners than people. Forhim it had been dogs. They’d gotten him through a tough time,something he’d categorized as “a fuckin’ dark and despairing periodin my life.” The expression he wore while watching Thad, the boy’smouth running a mile a minute as he led the donkey around, told herGunny’s dark days might not be completely behind him.
“He found out Randy meant something to mylittle brother Thad.” She didn’t qualify the explanation.
“Got it. Gunny’s a good guy.” Finished withhis breakfast, he followed her example and arranged his fork acrosshis empty plate. “Definitely one to have in your corner.”
Stacking their plates, she rose and went tothe sink, rinsing off the remaining syrup before loading them inthe dishwasher. When she turned around, she was surprised to seeher coffee mug had been refilled, the top swirling with just theright caramel color to say cream had been added. When she sippedthe hot liquid cautiously, she found it was also sweetened. “Thankyou.”
Einstein’s shrug barely lifted one shoulder.“No big deal.”
Footsteps approached the stairs, and Marianlooked up to see Bane with his arm wrapped around Myrt’s shoulders,his mouth pressed to her temple in a sweet kiss. Partway down, theypaused, and Myrt sprinted back upstairs, Bane watching her with afrown before turning back to come down the stairs. Once on the mainfloor, Bane turned them towards the kitchen, grinning. “I smellbacon.”
“I ate it all.” Einstein’s flat delivery hadBane’s smile dimming. “Just kidding. Marian made plenty.”
“Pancakes and eggs too.” She stood andopened the stove. A man’s hand reached past her and gripped the hotcontainer. She took a step back and turned to watch Einstein placeit on the island counter. He opened a drawer with one hand to pluckout two forks while pulling a cabinet door wide and scooping up twomore plates. She retrieved the roll of paper towels and ripped offtwo sections. He reached out a hand without looking, and she passedthem over, amusement bubbling in her chest. She didn’t want themoment to go without comment, so she murmured, “Thanks again,Einstein.” He flashed her a grin over his shoulder just as aclinking sound made her glance at his hands. There was a broad bandon one finger, a golden, gleaming wedding ring.No wonder he’sso handy in the kitchen. His wife’s a lucky woman.She turnedaway to ask, “Did you sleep okay, Bane?”
The blush that overtook his face made Marianstare long enough for Einstein to snicker. The sound made Marianrealize what might be so embarrassing, and she dropped her gazewithout asking anything else.
“Yes,” the man finally squeaked out, thesound nearly as damning as the blush had been.
Okay, time to change the subject.
She opened her mouth only to close it whenEinstein asked, “Bane, do you know what the plans are for today?”He’d seemed to have the same thought, and she smiled herappreciation at him, surprised when his brows drew together. Shebarely had time to think,What did I do?before hecontinued. “I heard something about a cleanup in town?”
Bane held up one finger and swallowed,reaching back to grab a coffee mug, pouring it full, using the sameextended stretch that allowed him to stay seated. “Yeah, we’ve gota clubhouse now, but it needs a fuckton of work. We’ll welcome anywilling set of hands, because it’ll be a lot for the three of us.There’s more members incoming, but some won’t be here for a week ormore.”
“Worth everything in the end. Having a placewhere everyone can come is key to keeping the cohesiverelationships you need for a good club, a good charter. I gotnowhere to be, and anything I can do to help, I’m happy to.”
Nowhere to be?
Einstein’s words were a curious puzzle, butthe rest of their discussion had nothing to do with her, so aftergiving the two men a tiny wave, Marian made her way to the stairs.They continued to talk behind her, their voices trailing after herall the way upstairs. Sounds in the boys’ room told her they werewaking, smells of bacon and pancakes lingering on the air doing thework. Sounds in the bathroom attached to Myrt and Bane’s bedroomtold her the scents hadn’t been kind to her sister.
The bunk beds the boys were using hadyouthful coverings, and the framed posters on their walls wereperfect for them. She smiled at the memory as she closed the doorof the bedroom she’d been using, looking around at the neutralfurnishings. This was more of a blank canvas, and the idea made herpause.Will I be here long enough to warrant decorating?
Then the reality of her situation hither.
As it had each time, the knowledge that shehad no money, no job, nothing to offer anyone—took her breath away.Her very existence here was dependent on charity. Truck, Vanna,Bane, Myrt—they belonged here, making an extended family throughthe men’s relationships, and the mothering nature of Vanna. Theboys would be okay. Marian couldn’t imagine anyone turning themout. Myrt alone would fight tooth and nail for them, and her pairedwith Gunny were all the champions their brothers needed.
Me?She was less confident that thesame kind of grace would be applied to her situation.
