Page 40 of Huckleberry Hill
“Guilty. So, if you’re not into trouble, what are you into?”
“Sitting at home, having a bottle of wine, eating charcuterie.”
“What the hell is charcuterie?”
I began to collect the eggs while Declan filled the trough feeders with grain. “Charcuterie are cured meats.”
“You spelled barbecue wrong.”
“Let me guess, you’re also into mircobrews?”
“Mock all you want, but microbrews are actually good.”
I bit my lip as I looked at a green egg before setting it gently in the basket. “Have you been to the Copper Mule yet?”
“No. What’s the Copper Mule?”
“The town’s only bar and local microbrewery,” I said.
“I’ll have to check it out.” He gestured with his chin at the basket in my hands. “How’s the haul?”
“Pretty good. We’ve got happy hens. Thanks for feeding them.”
He opened the gate and held it for me. “No problem.”
We both stood at the coop, neither of us making a move to go about our day.
“So I’ll see you later, I guess,” he said.
“Sure.” I nodded.
“Okay.” Declan turned in the direction of the stables.
“Declan?” I called out.
He stopped walking and turned. “Yeah?”
“I was going to go for a ride this afternoon,” I said. “Dad doesn’t want me on the trail alone until the bear thing is resolved. Would you, maybe, want to?—”
“I’d like that,” he said, a smile blooming across his face. “Four o’clock?”
I nodded.
He winked. “It’s a date.”
Chapter Nine
The Ranch
* * *
“Hello?” came a muffled voice.
“Poet?” I asked into the cell. “Are you okay?”
She sniffed. “Yeah, I’m okay.” And then she promptly burst into tears.
“Hey,” I soothed. “What’s wrong? Where are you?”
