Chapter 106 Part 106
Asher
Fall gradually turned to winter and Asher had grown accustomed to Emerson sleeping beside him every night. When he walked into the kitchen at night, dinner was always ready, and he helped her clean the kitchen afterwards. On the days when he didn’t drive out with Blair, he banished her to the living room, and cooked dinner for her.
His workload lessened dramatically, and he spent a lot of time with Emerson on the couch watching movies, and just talking. He discovered that she loved sushi, her favorite color was yellow, because sunshine was happy and baby ducks were adorable.
She liked to read fantasy romance novels, and she proceeded to tell him that no novel hero could ever compare to him. He had to admit, his ego liked the compliment.
Some days, Emerson would just sit and sketch. She didn’t want him to see what she drew, and said it was a surprise. Other days, they’d walk around the ranch, and Asher would explain how their operations worked, and how exactly they made money.
She spent a lot of time with Eden, and it was on one of those days when Eden sent him a text to say they were all having a family dinner at the main house. It had been a while since they’d all eaten together. Finn had worked a month of night shift duties at the Sheriff’s Department, and Dylan and Colt always seemed to be busy.
He realized it that afternoon. He was relaxed and care-free, and the idea scared him a little. He couldn’t let his guard down too much. Bad things usually happen when you do.
He read another text on his phone, and grinned. The wood he’d ordered had arrived, and he headed outside to his truck. He glanced at the main barn as he drove and took the turn to leave the ranch.
He was humming along to the radio as he drove into town, and headed to the hardware store. Mike Olsen had been the owner for close to 40 years, and his father before him, who had run it for 60. Mike’s grandfather had opened the store and made it a family business. Asher parked his truck in the back and opened the tailgate.
“Hey, Asher,” Mike greeted him as he walked into the store.
“How are you, Mike?”
“Good, good. You planning on building something?”
“Yeah, Emma likes to draw, so I want to build her a drawing table she can put in the guest room,” Asher said.
“Draw? Like portraits and stuff?”
“You want your portrait done, Mike?” Asher chuckled a little.
“Me? Are you kidding? This mug is too ugly to draw.” Both men grinned, and Asher shook his head.
“If I asked her nicely she’d probably make you look like Burt Reynolds.” Mike laughed loudly, and placed his hands on his hips.
“Funny. Let’s get you loaded up,” Mike said, and pointed to the sheets of wood.
Asher loaded the wood onto the back of his truck, and Mike handed him the screws and varnish he’d ordered. Lastly, Asher placed the plastic square sheet on the back, and shook Mike’s hand.
“Thanks, Mike, let me know about that portrait.” Asher laughed again, as Mike shook his head.
Back at his house, he unloaded everything in the shed, and started cutting the wood to the measurements he’d already made. The plastic sheet had been ordered pre-cut, and Asher felt a sense of peace as he got to work.
His alarm went off, and he quickly silenced it. There was a small pile of wood shavings on his work bench and at his feet. He wiped most of it from his clothes and locked the shed. He had ten minutes before he had to be at the main house, and he quickly rushed inside to shower and change.
He was the last one to walk into the dining room, and he smiled when he sat down. “Sorry, I’m late.”
“It’s just one minute,” Eden said.
“One minute of starvation,” Dylan added. Asher chuckled, and placed his hands on the table. Emerson took his left hand, and Colt took his right hand. Thomas said grace, then they started dishing up their food.
“Lindy called to say that Sean was discharged from the hospital, and that he miraculously suffered no injuries,” Finn said. “I forgot to tell you.”
“Who’s Lindy?” Emerson whispered.
“She’s a hot nurse at the hospital,” Colt said.
“Boy, you better watch that mouth of yours,” Thomas said, sternly.
“Okay, fine. Lindy’s a beautiful lady that works at the hospital.” They all chuckled, and Colt grinned. “Was that better, Dad?”
“It would’ve been if I thought your motives were purely to compliment the woman.”
After they settled down, Asher looked at Finn. “I’m real glad to hear that.”
Eden’s hand covered her mouth, and she made a gagging sound. Every head in the room turned toward her. Emerson’s eyes widened, but Eden closed her eyes, and swallowed.
“The food ain’t bad enough to make you sick,” Dylan commented, with a smile.
“Isn’t there a rule about getting sick at the table?” Colt asked.
“You okay, Eden?” Thomas asked her. She nodded her head, and took a sip from her water glass.
Dylan made the first gagging sound, and laughed when Eden jumped from her seat, and ran to the downstairs bathroom. When she returned, her hands shaking a little, Asher turned his gaze on Emerson.
“What’s going on with you? I don’t want or need any viral diseases now,” Colt said. Between him and Dylan, they kept ribbing her about having a weak stomach.
“I’m not sick! I’m pregnant!”
Silence fell over everyone, and Emerson looked down when Asher glared at her. His fists clenched tightly and he pushed his chair backward. Thomas opened and closed his mouth a few times, not sure how to respond to Eden’s outburst. Even Colt didn’t have a smart-ass comment to make.
“This is bullshit, Eden.”
“Asher!” He was already heading outside as chaos broke out in the dining room.