Page 13 of Solid as Steele
She slid a Tylenol and Ibuprofen bottle toward him. “Take some of these and take the bottles to your cabin for later tonight.”
“Thanks.” He picked up the bottles. “But I was more thinking about carrying food or something like that.”
“Don’t bother asking.” Ryan grabbed his iced tea glass. “Her gran taught her to serve her guests while they recline in comfort, and she continues to be old school.”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but yeah. When you come to dinner at my place, I do the work. You reap the rewards.” She made shooing motions with her hands. “Now off you go.”
Owen followed Ryan, taking his tea to the table set with basic white plates and bright blue plaid napkins. Ryan sat on the far side, and Owen took a seat across the table.
“I’d like to head out at dawn, if that works for you.” Ryan pulled his chair closer to the table, and the legs scraped on the wide wood floor planks.
“Sure thing.”
Mackenzie brought in a platter with a browned roast and vegetables laced with slices of onions. Owen’s mouth watered at the sight, and he couldn’t wait to dig in. She spun and went back to the kitchen.
“Way I figure it.” Ryan eyed the platter. “A night in the wild is likely, and you should bring a change of clothes.”
Thankfully, Mackenzie had bought him two sets of clothing and toiletries. “No backpack to transport things, but I have a bag from the store for my things.”
“I’m counting on you to carry a pack with provisions. We should be able to fit your things in there. If you’re up to carrying the pack, that is.”
Owen didn’t like seeming weaker than this macho outdoorsman, and he especially didn’t want to seem like a wimp in front of Mackenzie. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“His back won’t let him do that.” Mackenzie brought in a plate of thickly sliced wheat bread. “He has severe bruises. I’ll carry the pack.”
Ryan nodded. “You should be fine hauling it. After all, you always hauled a pack around at camp filled with everything but the kitchen sink.”
They laughed together, and Owen felt like a third wheel.
Mackenzie passed the meat and veggie platter to Ryan and the bread to Owen. Ryan filled his plate with hefty slices of beef and browned carrots, potatoes, and onions, and Owen didn’t hold back either. If he planned to hike tomorrow, he needed to gain some strength.
He would carry that pack. No matter the pain. No matter how much Mackenzie argued with him.
She sat and held out her hands. “Let’s pray.”
If Ryan wasn’t a Christian, he didn’t balk at the request but readily took her hand. Owen took the other one. It was warm and comforting as was her prayer for their meal. But she also added a plea for God to be with Owen and help him recover his memory. Despite his lapse in knowing much about himself, the prayer brought him a sense of peace. For a moment anyway.
The perfectly roasted meal melted in Owen’s mouth and filled his gut. He slathered the bread with butter, the soft but hearty wheat tasted simply amazing. He didn’t want to waste time talking between bites, but Ryan discussed his tracking methods and how far he hoped to travel on the first morning.
“We’ll stop for lunch.” He put down his fork on the nearly empty plate to grab his glass. “I’ll evaluate then if we need to spend the night under the stars. I have everything we need except personal items.” He looked at Mackenzie. “I suggest you don’t plan to bring makeup and all those girlie things you carried at camp as the pack is full.”
She wrinkled her nose. “What makeup? This is all natural beauty.”
He chuckled then turned serious as he looked at Owen. “I don’t suppose you remember if you know how to fire a gun.”
Owen chewed his bread and tried to remember. “I don’t know.”
Ryan set down the tea and stabbed his remaining beef, but held it midair. “We could do a little target practice at the crack of dawn. If I think you’re good to go after that, I’ve got a handgun you can use.”
Owen drained his tea and pondered his stance on guns. He had no idea what he thought about them. He knew he didn’t have a problem with Ryan and Mackenzie carrying. Maybe that meant he was fine with guns. The morning would tell.
Ryan faced Mackenzie. “Time for that cake?”
She set her fork down. “I don’t know what it is about that recipe you like so much.”
“Coconut. Cream cheese. Cake. Sweetness overload. What’s not to like?” Ryan grinned.
She pushed back her chair. “I’ll take your plates and get it.”
