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Andy didn’t answer. He figured his father would be out on the ranch somewhere. Draven pulled his phone out of his jean pocket and sent a text to his father’s lead ranch hand, Buck, to let him know he was not coming in to work this morning. At first he was just going to be late, but he’d decided he would take the entire day off. He slipped his phone back into his pocket and headed to the kitchen. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee assaulted him.
“Draven, is that you?” a singsong voice called out.
He arrived to the kitchen and found Miss Bee standing by the stove. The kitchen had recently been renovated a few years back. She had complained to his father that she needed a kitchen that was up to date in this century. Miss Bee, or Belinda Butler, was a robust woman with a huge personality. Her warm brown skin practically glowed.
She smiled, and two dimples were revealed. “How are you this morning?”
“I’m good, Miss Bee,” he replied. Draven paused and thought about how he really felt, and it was true. The couple of hours he’d slept at Cashea’s was the best sleep he’d gotten in years. He walked over to the counter where the freshly brewed coffee sat.
Bee moved around to the cabinet and snagged him a traveling mug with the ranch’s logo on it.
“Really? That’s good to hear.” She handed him the filled mug then moved back over to stove.
Draven took a sip of the coffee and exhaled. It was as he’d expected. Miss Bee had a secret ingredient she claimed to put in the coffee that made it addictive.
“Do you have a minute or are you headed back out on the ranch?” she asked.
“I actually have to go into town for something,” he replied. He leaned back against the counter and took another sip.
She turned around, and it was then he saw she was in the midst of plating freshly baked muffins. His mouth immediately watered.
“How about I just fix one of these to go foryou?” She arched an eyebrow at him and waited for his response.
“Yes, ma’am.” He moved over toward her so he could see what kind of muffins they were.
She chuckled and placed the plate on the island. He inhaled and was greeted with the sweet smell of bananas. Draven had a weakness for banana muffins. She even had walnuts on top of them. His stomach rumbled from the aromas in the kitchen.
“I’ll take two, please.”
“But of course, dear.”
Draven may have business to handle in town, but he would wait for these muffins. He’d eat them in the truck.
She rushed around the kitchen and wrapped his muffins up and placed them in a small paper bag. “If you are looking for Andy, he’s out back.”
“Thank you,” Draven took the bag from her and tipped his head to her. He spun on his heel and headed toward the door that led to the back porch. He stopped at the door and thought of something. He hadn’t really spoke with Bee lately. She was a staple on the ranch, and he should make time for her. He paused and turned back to her. “Um, are your girls doing well?”
Bee’s face lit up at the question. Draven almost felt ashamed that he didn’t sit down with her more and have conversations. His brother had breakfast with her and their father often, but Draven never really joined them. Ridge always got on him about his anti-social personality, but since coming home, he’d just wanted to be left alone. He wouldn’t make good company and was told he could be very blunt and insensitive at times.
“They are doing fabulous, honey. I thank you for asking.” Her smile was wide as she watched him. Bee’s daughters were grown and in their early thirties. He’d met them once when they had come to visit and he’d been home on leave. “If you get hungry tonight, stop by and pick you up a plate, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled. Maybe he would call his brother and see what he was doing and tell him to come over to the house, too. It would be good to spend quality time with the old man and his brother. Bee was a sweet woman, and he didn’t mind being around her. He headed out the door. He stepped out on the porch and took in his father walking back to the house. He went down the stairs to meet him halfway.
“Morning,” Andy called out. The older mantook his time walking across the yard toward the house. His stark gray hair looked slightly wet, and the ends were curling up. “I see someone didn’t get home until early this morning.”
“Hey, Pops.” Draven ignored his father’s observation. He wasn’t going to get into where he had been. If he told him he had been with a woman, the old man might start making assumptions that Draven was involved with someone. Cashea’s face came to mind. The way her features softened when she’d smiled at him while they’d lain together in the bed. Her smile had been the last thing he’d seen before he’d drifted off to sleep. He loosened his grip on his bag, not wanting to tear it apart and risk losing his muffins to the ground. He lifted his mug to his lips again.
“I hear you aren’t coming to work today.” Andy reached him and came over by him and gave him a firm pat on the back. He had always been a caring father who Draven and Ridge could turn to. He ensured his boys never wanted for anything, financially, mentally, or physically. “Everything all right?”
“I have some things I need to handle in town.” Draven shrugged. There was something he had to take care of that wouldn’t be able to wait long. Thearoma of Bee’s banana muffins was summoning him. He couldn’t wait to dive into them. He was sure they were still warm, moist, and buttery. That woman had a gift, and the ranch was lucky to have her.
“Well, your message sent Buck in a tizzy. You know he hates technology and the text messaging.” His father chuckled. He nodded toward Draven’s hand. “I see you’ve visited with Bee.”
“Yeah, I needed some coffee.” Draven took another sip. He started to feel guilty about dipping out on them. Maybe he should hurry back and saddle up to help out. “When I get back, if y’all still are out there, I’ll come and join you.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll be fine. There are good men working this ranch. This is the small herd. It shouldn’t take too long out there. I was just coming to the house. I left my darn phone. I need to call your brother and have him come check on one of the calves.” Andy ran a hand along his face and eyed Draven. “You sure everything is okay?”
“Pops, I promise I’m good. I’m just going to town to go to the hardware shop.”
