Dinner Guest

Kashi grunted as she helped her uncle unload the last of the groceries from the pickup. “Why would you buy this much flour? Are you planning on feeding the whole town?” She lugged yet another sack of the flour up the three stairs, down the hall and into the kitchen. She was probably being dramatic, but the flour grew heavier with every step.

“Ask your Aunt C.” He shrugged, carrying three bags to her one. “Though, as far as food for the town, she is selling her famous pies at a booth at the summer fest in a couple weeks.” Her uncle sighed. “Well, get going. I don’t want to make you late for dinner with your dad. Tell him I say hey.”

“Will do!” She was already halfway out the door, snagging her keys off a new hook screwed to the wall just for her.

Her dad was more perceptive than her uncle. She’d have to be more careful with bringing the photos and newspaper up. Felix, annoying as he was, would be the key to getting her dad to talk. If he was interested in something, he didn’t know how to drop the subject. Besides, her dad was always trying to tell them about the adventures of his youth. Hopefully Kashi could get some insight into this.

She parked her truck into its old spot, hopping down to the gravel. There was another, much older, pickup there as well. Its green paint was tinged with rust. The passenger side door was massively dented.

The screen door swung open. Her dad smiled at her. “I missed you, kiddo.”

Despite herself she smiled, meeting her dad in a hug. “Missed you too, dad.” He squeezed her a little tighter than she remembered.

“How’s life as a ranch hand?” He pulled on one of her signature braids with a smirk.

Scowling and swatting his hand she recounted a few backbreaking tasks that had become her least favorite chores. “But it’s kind of, well, fulfilling.” Kashi shrugged as she walked inside with her dad.

Someone else was on the sofa. “Carr?”

“Hey Kashi.” He waved, seated next to Felix in the living room. They were playing cards.

“I invited company, hope you don’t mind.” Her dad chuckled. “Though it sounds like you two have already met each other.”

Kashi nodded. “I bumped into him in the library a week or two ago.” She left out the party and her midnight jaunt to the barn. “I was getting another one of my novels.” She looked pointedly at Carr as if daring him to contradict her.

But he didn’t say a word about it. He just offered her a sly grin. “Yeah, she and… Sierra, right?” Carr looked at Kashi who nodded. “They were in the library with some cake from a diner I just had to try.”

Her dad’s entire demeanor lit up at the mention of Belle’s diner. “Oh, that woman knows how to bake a mean butter cake. She’ll give the recipe to anyone who asks, but it never turns out as good. I think it’s some advanced marketing technique of hers. She’ll draw you back in for that one-of-a-kind dessert.”

“Dad and I went yesterday.” Felix piped up, an unusually pleasant smile on his face. “Belle gave us a whole cake to take home for free!”

Kashi whipped around to her dad who had turned red. She raised an eyebrow, a bemused smile rising on her face. “Really?” she asked, drawing out the vowels, turning to Felix, her eyebrows darting up and down. Felix choked on his water, laughing and coughing at the same time.

“Kashi that’s enough.” her dad chided half-heartedly. His face was still red.

Carr threw a card at Felix, resuming their game. “You’re awfully good at this for your age.” he frowned at his cards. “Is it too late to take back that five dollars that I bet you?”

“Hey, it’s your fault for underestimating a fourteen-year-old.” Felix said, laying down his cards smugly.

“I forgot you were coming today, Kashi. I wouldn’t have invited him over. Sorry about that,” Her dad said sheepishly when she joined him in the kitchen. He was stirring something that smelled divine on the stove.

“Nah it’s all good.” Kashi grabbed the bowls from an upper cupboard, smiling at the familiar design. “I’m just stopping by to ask how you’re doing. Believe it or not, I missed you. And don’t tell him, but I almost missed Felix too.”

As if he’d heard his name he started yelling. Kashi laughed. It appeared that he had won the five-dollar bill from Carr.

“Look, Kashi, I didn’t mean to drive you away, or be so hard on you.” Her father said, somewhat awkwardly leaning on the counter.

“No, I got that dad.” She kissed him on the cheek, setting the dishes down. “Besides, I kind of like what I’m doing. And well, no offense, Auntie C. makes way better pies.”

She chuckled, dodging the towel her dad tossed her way. “You’re the one that taught me not to lie!”

“Alright, alright.” He laughed, setting the spoon in its rest. “Let’s eat.”

They were quiet for the first few minutes during supper. Kashi was almost upset. He’d never made food this good while she still lived here. Felix, who had definitely grown since she’d seen him last, was spooning himself a third helping.

“Chill out there with the food little man, you’ll grow a second head.” Carr said, conveniently forgetting to mention that he too was on his third bowl.

“True. It would be one more head to kick your ass with.”

“Felix, watch the language!” Her dad chided. Kashi was trying to hide her grin.

“I’m just copying you dad.” He shrugged. “The other day when you were talking to Whit, I overheard you tell him that he was being a—”

“Alright! Alright I shouldn’t have. But you shouldn’t either.” Their dad chuckled. “How come you never copy any of the good stuff I do?”

“Hey dad,” Kashi said after the laughter died down. “I’m curious, why didn’t you ever do any expansion or make some deals with other companies and such to industrialize your land or get shareholders? You could make a lot of profit.” She met Carr’s eyes before taking a sip of the broth as nonchalantly as possible.

“Oh, I did. Your uncle and I tried to when we were younger, much younger. We met this guy from what, Chicago, I think? But it didn’t work out. Your uncle got spooked and didn’t pull through.” Her dad shook his head. “Why? Did your uncle tell you something?” his tone immediately revealed his suspicion.

“I mean, he mentioned something about a business deal that didn’t work out, but nothing else besides that.” Kashi shrugged.

Carr nodded, “I was reading some of the old newspapers the other day just for fun. Catching up on the town’s history. My great grandma lived here from birth to death. I came across a picture of you and your brother, sir. It looked like a deal actually did happen.”

James Thomson paused for a moment. “Well, it did happen. But there were more things going on than just that first agreement. My brother jumped ship and cost us both a lot of money. He buried the other man in debt as well.”

Felix’s brows shot up, his spoon clanking loudly. “Is that why you’re so mad at Uncle Hudson? Because he cheated you out of that deal?” Kashi nodded to herself. This was exactly what she was hoping Felix would do. “Why did he leave if you were going to be rich? What happened to make him leave? Is that why—”

“Felix! Yes, your uncle grabbed his portion then backed out and Hughes and I were left to pick up the slack, alright? Now, go put your dishes in the sink if you're done. It’s your turn to clean up after supper.” He stood abruptly, grabbing his dishes.

Kashi’s brain was flying. Hughes. Hughes. She knew that name, where did she know that name? Her eyes met Carr’s for a second. He could tell that she found something the moment she remembered.

Jeremy Hughes! She met him again with her uncle one of the first days she was working on his ranch! What were they doing together? She looked over to her dad who had seemed to relax a little. How much did he know about what was happening now?