Page 37 of Bear Haven
“In the cabinet to the right of the stove.”
In her mother’s kitchen, it had been kept in the same place. On the bottom shelf in the cabinet to the right of the stove. It sat in the front within easy reach.
Bex knew the recipes it contained by heart, at least the important ones. She grew up making those dishes with her mom to feed the guests who stayed at the inn. It was one of her favorite things and those were among her most cherished memories.
She didn’t need the recipe tin for the recipes it held. She needed it for the link to her past and the link to her mother.
“Much of the flooring is gone from in front of the doorway, so you’ll have to step wide to avoid falling through,” Gus explained, leading her up the steps. He hadn’t been exaggerating. There was a hole where once hardwood had been.
Careful on her toes and with Gus’s help, she was able to move forward through the destruction.
And her new antique stove? It was in rough shape. The side where the gas line came into the house was caved in and metal was bent and misshapen much the way the vehicles outside were. Water and fire damage had left nothing untouched. Every surface was littered with ash or had been turned to ash. “I loved that stove.”
“I know. Are you going to be all right for a second?”
“Yeah. Go on.”
He lifted her hand and placed a kiss to her wrist. “Holler for me if you need help with anything. Don’t climb on top of the counters and don’t put weight on anything. I don’t want you falling through the floor or anything collapsing beneath you.”
“Okay.”
Gus walked out of the kitchen on his toes. If she weren’t concerned for his safety, she’d have found it humorous. Instead, tears pricked at her eyes as she turned in a small circle, taking in as much as she could, committing it all to memory.
Just as she began to blink them back, one fell. The cabinet still hung on the wall, or what was left of the wall. The door was still closed and she inched her way toward it. She held her breath and reached for the knob. Sitting inside, exactly where she’d left it was the recipe tin, with its bright teal flowers and bright orange edges.
“I can’t believe it,” she whispered. More tears tracked down her face as she grabbed for it with shaking fingers, then holding it close to her chest.
“Gus?” she called. There was no answer, but she could hear voices outside and she turned toward the backyard, but her foot slipped. She grasped for the edge of a counter that was no longer there and lost more of her footing. The box fell from her fingers and she grappled for it, but both she and it were snatched and hoisted up and carted unceremoniously outside.
Wolf.
Luke.
“Just couldn’t resist the chance to manhandle me at least once, could you?”
“A simple thank you would do.” He held out the box. With still unsteady fingers, she took it from him.
“Th-thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
“Bex?” Gus appeared in the doorway behind Luke.
“I slipped, that’s all,” she told the two men staring down at her with varying levels of concern etched on their faces.
“God, baby,” Gus breathed. “I leave you alone for a few seconds and you try to hurt yourself.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“She shouldn’t have been in the house in the first place. Neither of you should’ve been. She’d have been seriously injured if I hadn’t gotten to her. There are too many jagged pieces of wood. She could’ve been stabbed if she’d fallen.”
“Looking for a pat on the back, Wolf?” Gus didn’t wait for an answer before he gave Luke a solid slap between the shoulder blades.
“You’re an ass,” Luke snarled.
“Nope. A bear. There’s a difference.”
Unable to help herself, Bex laughed. It was the first time since yesterday with Gus and she had to admit it felt good. After finding the house on fire, she wasn’t sure when she’d laugh next.
