Midnight Roots (Silver Creek Ranch)

Chapter Two

Heston

I rub the left side of my face tiredly as I head straight into the grill section of the Catch + Candle. I don’t know what it is about this place that makes it so easy for me to think, but having a few beers while I ponder life doesn’t hurt, either.

I take my usual stool by the bar and plant my ass where I know I’ll more than likely be for the next few hours.

“Hey, Heston!”

The cheerful voice that calls out to me makes me force a smile onto my face for her sake. Tessa has always been kind to me, even though she seems weary.

Rightfully so, I muse as I nod in her direction .

She lifts the bar flap, keeping the cheerful smile forced onto her face as she comes over to take my order.

“Whatcha having today?” Tessa asks me brightly.

I squint my eyes, rub them tiredly, and then drop my hand onto the bar top with a thud. I look past her at the selections behind her, then decide it’s better not to start drinking so early in the day. Not that I know what time it is.

“How about a burger, medium-well, with a few strips of bacon and some pepper jack cheese? Fries would be nice too, and uh ---” Not beer. Don’t ask for a beer yet. “Nice tall, cool glass of pineapple juice?”

She gives me a nod and smiles as she takes a few steps backward, then turns away and heads over to the little computer on the other side of the island .

I’ve never given that girl a reason to be afraid of me, but it seems like she is. Maybe it’s the way I present myself. Tired but strong. Restless but collected.

“Hey, there, Cowboy Loooong. ”

I grin and turn to my left as Cecelia takes the stool next to me. She’s a good one: friendly, kind, and always willing to sit and have a chat with me when she’s working.

“What’s up with that girl, Cece?”

She arches a curious eyebrow at me, so I nod toward Tessa. After casting an inconspicuous glance in her direction, she turns her attention back to me with a grin.

“I think she’s got a crush on you.”

I chuckle and shake my head, a smile on my face. That’s something I’m used to, though it’s not something I ever acted on once I got to Ironhaven. I guess dealing with my nightmares—day and night—is plenty of company for the time being.

Tessa comes back and sets the tall glass of juice in front of me, then walks away like a normal person this time. I reach for it and take a sip before setting it down and glancing at Cecelia again.

“And what about the other girl? The one that’s sitting out there by herself?”

Cece shrugs, “Just a customer.”

I have never seen her before.

“Alright,” I say as I take a deep breath and straighten myself up a bit on the stool, “are you going to have lunch with me, or are you just going to sit here and listen to me talk?”

Cece laughs lightly as she waves Tessa over and places a dainty order of a small salad and a glass of water .

It’s nice to have a friend like her, I muse as I remove the ballcap from my head and rest it on my knee, turning my body slightly toward her as she starts to tell me about her day so far.