Summon Toren(5)

Kassie wiped her hands on the dishtowel tucked into the front of her apron and passed Sam one of her current experiments. An adventurous cook, she was perpetually working out a new recipe. "Careful, it's hot."

Sam gingerly took the napkin-wrapped pastry and appreciatively sniffed the flaky crust topped with savory herbs. "What's in it?"

Kassie shook her blonde head, mystery shining in her mild green eyes. "Uh-uh. Just try it." She tucked wisps of hair behind an ear, watching expectantly.

Wary of the hot interior, Sam took an experimental bite. Onion and garlic bloomed on her tongue and she didn't bother to contain her moan of delight. Chicken and brown rice with broccoli, mushrooms and cheese combined to form a hearty filling.

“A hot balanced meal in one convenient crust.” Kassie nodded with a proud smile. “Packed right, it’ll stay hot for hours. Figured since the men can’t always come to the table at dinner time, they’d appreciate it.”

Sam glanced up to Kassie's semi-anxious face and hid her stuffed mouth. "Success! Looks like another winner for that cookbook."

Kassie relaxed and smiled back. "I'm so glad! Two more desserts and the recipes will be finished. Then it's just putting it all together and getting it to the publisher." Kassie had been beside herself with excitement for nearly a month, since a publisher had accepted her proposal for a cookbook of nutritious and delicious self-contained meals perfect to prepare ahead to be thawed, heated and packed. And the crew had enjoyed testing all the meals.

Sam laughed. "The guys'll be hounding you to write another as soon as this one's done just so they can be your test subjects." She paused a second and grimaced. "I swear, if I ever hear another man claim he doesn't need a flu shot because he never gets the flu, I'll shoot him. You'd think they were all three years old."

"Don't I know it. I'm glad you were able to put off your plans and come back to cover things." Kassie pulled another tray of her pastries from the oven. "After the way you left, I was afraid you'd say 'go to hell'."

The memory flushed Sam's cheeks. "I almost did. But when it came down to it, I didn't have a choice. I had to come back." It had really been a close call. That last fight with her father had nearly broken them beyond repair.

"You know, your Daddy was heartbroken when you left. Moped around talking about how horribly he'd screwed up with you." Kassie stopped wiping down the counters to give Sam her full attention.

Sam shrugged, still bitter. "Yeah, he did screw up. Still can’t believe he had the nerve to try and force me to marry that doofus Rubart, or however the creep is saying it this week. And that bastard Joe was just egging him on.” Sam pointed a finger at Kassie. “How much you wanna bet Joe put Daddy up to it? He's recruited Roobut to his little romance with the earth, sky and trees. Earth, wind and fire? Whatever. It would’ve given ol' Joe constant access to fully disciple the moron."

Kassie shook her head, clearly annoyed at the idea of a forced anything, especially a marriage. ”That old goat!" Her high cheekbones flushed with indignation as her hand fluttered to her throat. "I can't believe he thought he might get away with that!"

"Can you imagine Joe thinking he could interfere like that?”

“But sweetheart, Joe is a good man, he’s just…”

“A piece of shit.” Sam helped herself to another pastry, despising how the man had everybody under his thumb with his spiritual hoodoo. Including herself not so long ago.

Kassie’s mouth hung open a few seconds before her slim brows narrowed. “Well…I thought you liked him.”

“An extremely past tense disease I’d suffered from.” Sam licked her fingers. “Thank God I’m cured, but one has to wonder what in creation I ever saw in that mystical tree-hugging bastard.”

Kassie’s tinkly laughter burst out. “He is a little eccentric, I’ll admit.”

“Oh you are too kind. And of course he’d not get the flu, I mean after all, he’s a Spartan. Did you know the man was born with teeth? Chewed his way out of his mother’s vagina and went straight into battle, shooting everything dead.”

Kassie howled and Sam joined her, feeling much better.

“Honey,” Kassie put a gentle hand on Sam’s arm and said tenderly, “I’m really sorry.”

Sam was caught off guard by the rush of emotions the kind tone elicited from her. She hardened her spine, aiming her anger at her father. “Oh Daddy knew he wouldn't get away with it. That’s why he threatened to disown me." Heck, now that the cat was out of the bag, it felt good to talk about her hurt and anger, misdirected as it might be.