Saving Grace

Chapter 18: Grace

We pulled up to the ranch house with the directions Laura had given me. It was a charming white home with a wrap around porch, a pale blue door and shutters to match. The stables on the property could have been its own house with its massive size, and the way it matched the house in front of me. The acreage was massive, and I could see cows grazing in a pasture off in the distance. It was such a gorgeous view.

As soon as I stepped out of our car, Mrs. Walker came onto the porch, dressed in an adorable checkered apron, and waved to me with the rag that was still in her hand. I smiled and walked up to the porch to greet her. I gripped the white railing as I made my way up, quickly glancing behind me to see Mark rounding the car.

"Your home is very beautiful Mrs. Walker, thank you so much for inviting us."

"It's Emily, dear. No need for those pleasantries. We're all family here." She smiled and pulled me in for a tight hug. When she let go, she looked toward Mark. "It's nice to see you again Mark without all the nervous haste surrounding us."

I looked over to Mark, slightly confused. He noticed my questioning glance.

"We met when you were lost, and I was trying to find you." He explained, wrapping his hand around my waist.

Of course they did. It made sense they had already met, I wasn't sure why I had been surprised. I was just glad we now had the chance to know each other in a better situation.

"Come inside, you two. Dinner is about ready."

We followed Emily inside, making sure to wipe our shoes on the entryway rug. Stepping out of the foyer and into the living room, I was immediately in awe of her modern country decor. It felt as if I stepped into an interior design magazine.

The white ceiling was vaulted with wooden beams running across. The tall windows seemed to stretch down from it, letting in a beautiful amount of light that cascaded across the living room. Subtle touches made it feel so homey like the plush, red plaid blanket thrown over her cream colored couch, what looked like children's artwork on the mantle above the gray stone fireplace, and the canvased family pictures that hung on the walls. I smiled at a picture of a toothy grinned Colt tightly hugging what looked like a yearling.

"Colt was only seven there. That's his horse, Pretty Girl. She was about two in that picture. They were inseparable. Still are as a matter of fact." Emily appeared by my side and smiled fondly at the picture I had been caught staring at.

"I love this picture. It reminds me of one from when I was little of me and my horse Sunshine."

"You had a horse?" Mark's voice interrupted my reminiscing. For a moment, I had forgotten he was there.

"Yes. I've mentioned it before, but I guess not often enough." I answered with irritation. "It's not something I talk about anymore, I suppose."

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Emily's quizzical stare bore into the two of us, but she kept whatever she was thinking to herself. Instead, she cleared her throat and began walking again.

"The kitchen is this way. I hope you both brought your appetite."

We followed her into the massive kitchen that the chef in me instantly swooned over, and the delicious smells immediately surrounded me. I breathed in and could make out light notes of garlic and butter.

"It smells absolutely delicious in here. What are you making?"

"We are having chicken, and I am trying my hand at parmesan risotto. I hope it's alright. I heard you love it."

I tilted my head in surprise. "I do, but how did you--" A memory of Colt and I in the cave abruptly flashed through my mind as I recalled one of my cravings for parmesan risotto.