Loaves & Wishes

by Maddrey, Elizabeth

  “They’re around somewhere. Jonah said something about getting an extra bulletin and the twins tagged along.” Which was weird, now that she said it out loud. What were they up to? She cleared her throat. “I was thinking Tuesday? Does that work?”

  A grin split his face, causing little dimples in his cheeks. Her heart fluttered. It was potent. “Yeah. Tuesday’s great. Five?”

  She nodded, her mouth suddenly dry.

  “There you are.” Jonah slipped his arm around Ruth’s shoulders. Micah and Malachi arranged themselves behind her.

  Ruth fought a wince. They’d formed the protective circle. “I told you I’d be right here. Guys, this is Corban DeWitt. He owns the farm across the road from the B&B, which his mother actually started. Corban, my brothers.”

  Jonah stuck out his hand. “Jonah. Pleasure to meet you.”

  Micah and Malachi followed suit.

  “Can I take you all to lunch as a welcome to town? I know your sister’s happy to have you here. She’s been missing you.”

  Ruth chuckled. He’d just rolled right along with things. Most guys went running when her brothers started. “Now that they’re here, I can’t remember why that was.”

  “Family’s good to have around.” Corban nodded to the men ranged around her. “Especially when you’re as tight knit as the four of you clearly are. I think it’s great you came out.”

  “Me too. And I’d love to go to lunch with you.” Ruth turned to her brothers. “You coming?”

  “I like to eat.” Micah jabbed Jonah with his elbow. “Lead on.”

  “Have you been to The Jukebox yet?”

  Ruth shook her head. “I’ve heard it’s good though. It’s one of the few positive comments Jaden’s made.”

  “Head down Main. You can’t miss it. The front of the building is a giant neon jukebox.”

  Jonah winced.

  Corban shrugged. “The food’s better than that suggests.”

  Ruth headed for her car, not bothering to check if her brothers were following. She’d avoided the third degree yesterday, but it was coming. Jonah’s expression made that clear. With Dad gone, Jonah took the idea of head of the house very seriously. Shouldn’t that make him happy about the prospect of his sister marrying and having a family? Her hand stilled on the handle of her car door. Marrying? She and Corban hadn’t even been out on a real date. And yet...she could picture it. He was exactly the kind of man she’d been praying for her whole life.

  “So. Farmer next door?” Jonah shook his head. “Could you be any more of a cliché?”

  “How is that a cliché?” Ruth checked traffic before zipping onto the road.

  “You moved to Idaho and fell for a farmer. That’s pretty much the definition of cliché.” Micah shifted in the back seat. “That said, he seems nice enough. And he likes you a lot and doesn’t bother to hide it, which is major points in my estimation.”

  Ruth’s heart raced. Was that true? She didn’t see it. Was she not looking? Or was she so busy trying to make sure he didn’t see just how interested she was that she missed signals he sent? She wet her lips. “Glad I have someone’s approval. Can you mind the fort on Tuesday so we can go out?”

  Micah laughed. “You owe me twenty, Jonah. But yes, the three of us will be happy to mind the store.”

  “You bet on me?” Ruth glanced at Jonah. “What was the bet?”

  Malachi touched her shoulder with the gesture he used when he knew she was going to be annoyed.

  “Tell. Me. Now.” She pulled into a parking spot in front of the restaurant and cut the engine before turning to glare at Jonah. “You bet I was making up the date, didn’t you?”

  Jonah shrugged. “It didn’t seem all that likely that you’d actually have a date this soon.”

  “I oughta make you walk home.” Ruth pushed open the car door.

  “Hey.” Jonah touched her arm. “I’m sorry.”

  She thawed a little. But not completely. “You’re still buying my lunch.”

  Jonah chuckled. “If Corban lets me, you’re on. But I’m betting on him. Micah’s not wrong. And that’s the only thing that kept me from squeezing his hand off at church. He likes you. A lot. So if you like him back, you might want to let that show.”

  * * *

  Ruth sank her hands into the bowl and squeezed the ingredients together. They gradually formed into a ball and she turned it out onto the floured counter before pushing with the heels of her hands, flopping it back onto itself, giving it a turn, and repeating the process. It was mindless now, her hands and arms already accustomed to the motions, which left her free to think.

  Her brothers had been great at lunch. They seemed to genuinely like Corban. And he them. They’d all gone over to the farm. Apparently Corban had some video game they were desperate to try out. Who knew the man played video games? Was that just something everyone with a Y chromosome enjoyed? Ruth had come home, changed her clothes, and freshened Jaden’s room since the woman was out and there was no sign on the door. But the sun dried tomatoes she’d found at the store were calling her name, as was the jar of Greek olives. Should she mix them together or make individual loaves? There was enough dough here for two, but not for three. She’d do them separately this time. Maybe tomorrow, if she had enough left over, she’d try combined.

  The kitchen door opened and Jonah strode in. “Need a hand?”

  “I thought you were playing video games with Corban?”

  “The Ms are still over there. I thought I’d make sure you were okay. Besides, I figured you’d be making bread. I may be on vacation, but I’m still used to being on the line. I don’t know what to do with myself if I’m out of the kitchen for too long.” He washed his hands at the sink and grabbed the towel off her shoulder. “Give me a job.”

  Ruth nodded to the jars on the counter. “You can rough chop those if you want.”

  “Separate or together?”

  She sighed. “I was just debating that. Let’s go separate for today.”

  Jonah popped an olive in his mouth, his eyebrows lifting. “These are good. Where’d you find them?”

  “There’s a little gourmet market in town. I wasn’t expecting it, either. But they have some good stuff, better than the big chain.”

  He nodded, still chewing. “Have any garlic?”

  “Please. Do you know me at all?”

  Jonah chuckled and opened the pantry. “Aha.”

  “What are you doing with it?”

  He broke the cloves off the head and popped them smartly with the flat of the knife he’d taken from the block by the stove. “Those olives need garlic. Mix them together? It’ll be great.”

  “You’re sure?” She eyed the dough and gave it a few more kneads before shaping it back into a ball and dropping it into her oiled bowl. She flipped the dough around in the bowl so it was coated and set it at the back of the counter before draping it with the towel.

  “Here.” Jonah took chunks of olive and garlic and offered them to her.

  Ruth popped them into her mouth and lifted her eyebrows as she chewed. “I should know better than to doubt you. Remind me why you don’t go to culinary school.”

  His hands stilled. After a moment, he set down the knife and sighed. “I don’t know. I was learning everything I thought I needed, working my way up on the job. But I didn’t actually get vacation to come out here. They fired me.”

  Her stomach dropped into her shoes. “What? Why?”

  Jonah shrugged. “New owners, new management. They have their own staff—people they’ve worked with for years—that they’re bringing in. They’d said at first it was likely we could all keep our jobs. But I guess they changed their minds.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  Jonah picked up the knife again and started chopping. “I was actually thinking I might move out here and keep you company. If you could use the help?”

  Ruth watched her brother. He didn’t look up, his gaze fixed on the olives and garlic. Maybe that was a k
nife safety thing but...it wasn’t like him. Did he actually think she’d say no? “Even if I couldn’t, I’d want you here. You’re sure though? What about your friends? Melissa?”

  “Melissa and I aren’t...we haven’t been together for a while. Since before you left, actually. Most of our friends seem to have gone with her. I didn’t know how to mention it, so I didn’t.”

  “I’m sorry. Except...kind of not. ‘Cause breakfast around here just got a lot yummier. I’ve been making do with simple things like pancakes and scrambled eggs. But I’m guessing you can fancy us up quite a bit.”

  He scoffed. “If you want me to, sure. But I’m also happy to be a general helper. I know how to scrub a toilet.”

  “Please. Why would I keep making breakfast when I have you here? I bet we start getting guests simply for the food.”

  “We’ll see.” He set down the knife and wiped his hands. “Thanks. I...I don’t want you to do this if it’s going to make things harder for you, or out of some kind of obligation.”

  “When have I ever?” If anything, she was more likely to refuse help even when she needed it. That was part of what happened to the first inn she’d run. It had contributed to the failure. She wasn’t going to let this one fail.

  8

  Corban ran a hand down his cobalt blue tie. Was he too fancy? His mother had always said there was no such thing but...he was a farmer and much more comfortable in jeans and t-shirts than khakis and a tie. And yet, this mattered. Ruth mattered. She shouldn’t. Not at this early stage in the game. But the fact remained that she did. Dad had always told Corban he’d know when he found the right woman. “Turns out, you were right, Dad. As usual.”

  His heart constricted. Would he ever stop missing them? How many times did he pick up the phone only to have to set it back down and fight back tears? Manly tears, of course. But tears, nonetheless. He swallowed the lump in his throat and forced a smile as he pushed open the door of his truck.

  The bushes out front were settling in to their trimming, new buds were popping up along the cut edges. The tulips and crocuses he’d spent hours digging in with his mom were just starting to nose greenery out of the earth. When everything bloomed, the front gardens were a jumble of color. His mother had called it noisy, but he liked the carefree disorganization of it. It was a contrast to the straight, even rows that crops demanded.

  He raised a hand and knocked on the front door of the B&B. Should he just walk in? Did the guests knock? Or ring the bell? Was there a protocol he should know?

  “Hey, man, looking fancy.” Micah tugged open the door and waggled his eyebrows. “Did Ruth know you were wearing a tie?”

  Corban hunched his shoulders. “I’m not sure I mentioned that. I can take it off, if I’m overdressed.”

  Micah slapped him on the shoulder. “I’m just giving you a hard time. You’re fine. If I know my sister—and I do—she’s in a dress. She loves to get all polished up. Come on in. The other thing I know about her? She’s always at least five minutes late.”

  “Okay.” Corban tucked his hands in his pockets as he looked around the foyer. “How’s it going?”

  “Good. Two new couples checked in yesterday, so we’re stuffed to the gunnels. But Jonah took over breakfast, so we’re feasting like kings. I scrubbed toilets today for the first time in awhile. So that was fun.”

  Corban snickered. “You have a roommate who does yours at home or something?”

  Micah shrugged. “Nope. I mostly don’t bother. I give everything a good scrub couple of times a year. Figure that’s enough. It’s not like I’m bringing people over.”

  Malachi wandered into the foyer at the tail end of his brother’s speech and rolled his eyes. He tapped Micah on the shoulder and signed quickly.

  Micah snorted. “It’s not that bad.”

  Corban cocked his head to the side. “What’s not that bad?”

  “Mal here says that my bathroom’s only lacking a soul or it could stand in as roommate with a nasty personality.”

  “Nice one.” Corban shook his head. Maybe he had missed out on something by not having siblings. The four Baxters, at least, seemed to be good friends as well as relatives. He was about to speak when Ruth came down the hall. His breath caught in his lungs. The deep purple knit dress clung to her curves in all the right places. It was an alluring combination of modest and enticing.

  She finished putting in her earring and looked up, a shy smile forming on her lips. “Hi.”

  “Hi. You look amazing.”

  Malachi jammed his elbow into Micah’s side and jerked his head toward the kitchen.

  “You two kids have fun. We’ll hold the fort. Jonah said something about a new dessert bread he was playing with this afternoon. We’ll try to save you a slice.” Micah grinned and turned to Malachi, his hands moving as they began a silent conversation.

  “Thanks. You look...I wasn’t expecting a tie.”

  “Is it too much?” He stroked the tie as butterflies took flight in his stomach.

  “No.” She reached out and touched his hand. “It’s nice.”

  He offered his elbow. “Shall we?”

  “Absolutely.” She cast a look over her shoulder, visibly straightened, and turned back, a smile on her face.

  “Nervous about leaving the B&B in their hands?” Corban held the door.

  “No. Well. Maybe a little. But they’ll be fine. The two newlywed couples are both out to eat in Twin Falls. One said something about the Magic Valley Symphony. The other...I can’t recall what their plans were. But they’ll be out late. And they have a key to the front door as well as a room key. Jaden’s up in her room, last I noticed. I don’t know what she does up there. I’ll be glad when she leaves. Is that terrible?”

  Corban shut the passenger door of the truck and rounded the hood. He slid onto his seat and snapped on his seatbelt. “No. I don’t think so. From everything you’ve told me—and the little I’ve observed, she’s odd. And there’s something off about her being here.”

  “Having the guys here has helped. And the new guests, honestly. I don’t feel like I have to look over my shoulder all the time. You know?”

  “I do. I like your brothers.”

  She grinned. “They’re pretty great, aren’t they? When they’re not annoying me, at least.”

  “I think the annoying is only because they love you. ‘Cause that comes off them in waves. You’re lucky to have family like that.”

  “I am. Having them when mom and dad died made it so much easier. Still hard, mind you, but I wasn’t alone.” She winced. “Sorry, that came out—”

  “No, I know what you mean.” He reached over and took her hand in his. He tried to ignore the warmth that settled over him at the contact. “Almost there.”

  Ruth’s eyebrows shot up as he turned into the parking lot of what looked like a small bungalow. “This is a restaurant?”

  Corban nodded to the elegant sign in the lawn. “L’Aubergine, which is supposed to sound French and fancy, but most of us mangle it pretty badly, came to town two, three years ago? No one understood why they didn’t find a place in Twin Falls. We’re used to driving into the city if we want something upscale. But this is where they wanted to be. I’m not sure they’re doing more than struggling along, but they source local and the things they do with their food. I’ve been known to come by myself now and again when I’m in the mood for something a little different than what I can whip up.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  He smiled and gave his name to the hostess who led them immediately through the first room where a few parties were already seated and into the mostly-empty second. She seated them at a small table in the corner by a bay window that looked out on a back garden.

  “This is lovely. And so clever, to keep most of the original footprint of the house and make separate dining rooms like this. It makes it cozy.”

  Intimate. That’s the word Corban would have used. The lights in the room were dim, and the candlelight intensified th
e romantic atmosphere. Was this too much for a first date? Or third, depending on how you counted. He swallowed and dragged his attention back to Ruth, who had continued talking. What had he missed? The food. She’d been asking about the menu. “I don’t think you can go wrong, no matter what you choose.”

  She smiled and flipped the leather folder closed. “Then I’m set.”

  “That was fast.” He looked down at the menu, his mouth watering as he read the options. “What are you getting?”

  “The special with local sausages.”

  He nodded. Nico Delis made good sausage. It was nice to see another local restaurant picking up on that. “Good choice. Just made my decision easier.”

  The server appeared and filled their water glasses. She took drink orders and, when Corban mentioned they were ready, their food as well.

  “Quick. And quiet. I never heard her coming.”

  Corban chuckled. “I think they give them special stealth shoes.”

  She laughed and his heart lifted.

  What a sound. He didn’t want it to ever end. “I could’ve used those growing up when I was trying to spy on my brothers.”

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Of course.”

  “Has Malachi...I mean, when did he...”

  “His hearing?”

  Corban nodded. “I wasn’t sure if it was insensitive to ask. But you all seem so comfortable signing, I wondered.”

  “He was in an accident when he was five. He had a major head injury and for the longest time they worried he’d have brain damage, but when all was said and done, he just lost his hearing. They tried an implant, but it didn’t help enough for him to think it was worth the obvious equipment. It made him so self-conscious. I’ve often wondered if he’d try again now that he’s older, but I don’t ask. I figure he’s happy, so why push.”

  “Is it hard to learn sign language?”

  “I guess that depends on how good you are at learning languages. It’s a lot like any foreign language. You just need to practice.”

  There were probably books at the library. He’d go look. Seemed like it would be worth doing. Malachi was an interesting guy.