Page 7 of Wolf It Down, Knot Me Up

A shiver zips down my spine as I can’t say I’ve heard that story, but it sounds ominous. “Well.” I scan the beige room. “I made it to see you and survived. So I must have made the right decision.”

She laughs and pats my good arm. “I’m so glad you did.”

“The doctor also says I’m good enough to head home today. So, I can finally go to the lodge and help out Ethan.”

“Good. But for now, I get you all to myself. I appreciate you coming so quickly to help out.” She squeezes my hand and reaches for her phone on the nightstand with her other hand. “Let me text Ethan. He can come up and fetch you.” Then she puts on her glasses and texts him.

And just like that, the first uncomplicated, good feeling of the last few days spreads through my chest. “I miss his food.”

“You know he runs the lodge kitchen now, and the guests always compliment his biscuits. With me stuck in the hospital, he’s managing the entire place, though thank the gods it’s quiet this week.”

Her phone chimes and she lifts it to read. “There. He says, ‘Coming now, and tell the troublemaker to behave. I’ll bring the good truck since one of the roads opened yesterday.’ ” She peers at me over her glasses. “He means you.”

I laugh. “I’ve missed him too.” Then his words linger with me. “So, if the roads were open yesterday, why didn’t Roman just drive me there?”

She shrugs. “Maybe he didn’t know?”

Her lips pinch tightly, and she’s staring at her phone again. She stabs a button on the screen with a finger, listens to something, then hangs up. “Roman’s not answering. The man’s been loyal and very honest with me, so his behavior sounds slightly odd. I do hope he’s not injured somewhere.”

I shrug, remembering that he gave just as good as he got to the stranger yesterday.

“The main thing is you’re safe.” She smiles at me and leans in closer, hugging me. “I hope you plan to stay for a while because two years has been too long. You’ve left your job, so stay with me at the lodge. You can work there, maybe do some event planning to bring more tourists into Rusty’s Bend.”

“But I thought the lodge was mostly for convicts working there for community service?” I breathe heavily.

“Hm,” says Grandma with a smile. “Things have changed. We’ve expanded the main lodge for adventure tours, while still continuing our half way house program. We have two couples there now, enjoying the great outdoors. I invested some of my savings. And those working for their community services are still there, but located in the older huts closer to the woods.”

“Oh, you never told me you did that,” I say, nudging her gently.

She grins cheekily. “I intended to surprise you after I planned to invite you home for Christmas. But you’re home earlier, so now you’ll get to see what I’ve been working on.”

“I can’t wait to see the place. Anyway, I meant to ask you, how do you even know Roman? You sure he’s trustworthy?”

She scratches her head, worry shadowing her eyes.

“He’s always been honest, Lucy. He completes all the jobs I give him.” She folds her hands. “I’ll get the truth out of him.”

She collects the tart box off the table. “I need to eat one of these, as I keep smelling the lemon curd.” She hands me the box, and of course I take one. And soon enough, both of us are devouring our tarts.

I’ve popped the last bit into my mouth when a figure steps into the doorway.

“Eve Rose! Looking better every single day!”

Grandma flinches, then laughs at herself as we both stare at the six-foot-tall man in a striped suit entering the room. An explosion of cologne floods the room, and for the life of me, I don’t know this man.

“Mayor West,” Grandma says, and out comes a smile I know very well. The one she keeps polished for health inspectors. “How kind of you to pay me a visit.”

When I left two years ago, the mayor was an ancient named Whitlock who spent more time fishing than managing the town. This one must be new, I’m guessing.

“And who,” the mayor says, swinging his gaze toward me, “is this?” His attention sweeps over the wheelchair, my bandage and face. His smile widens. “No. Don’t tell me. The resemblance! You have to be the granddaughter.”

“Lucy,” I say and offer my good hand.

He shakes it, and his palm is smooth. “Lucy! Just wonderful that you’ve come back to help your grandmother through all this.” He turns his gaze on her. “It’s always wonderful when family comes to help, especially if you’re looking to divest yourself of that lodge.”

“Divest?” Grandma says, her eyebrows furrowing together.

“What with the weather making it more difficult to reach the place, and how the smallest accident landed you in the hospital…”