“I didn’t either, but someone mentioned it at work, and when I found out it was LGBT friendly, I couldn’t resist but support it.”
“I know what you mean.” Heidi sighed. “So hard to find places like that out here.”
“For sure,” Ann answered.
She stepped around the vehicle and up to the wraparound porch. It was so fun to watch Heidi take it all in. Ann had never seen her this excited about going somewhere before. She was usually so on edge about the possibilities of running into someone who knew her. That had been in part why Ann had suggested this place—it was so isolated that the likelihood of someone else showing up and knowing Heidi was slim to none.
They moved to the large wooden front door. Ann gripped the handle and pushed it open. Inside, they were greeted with a modern farm style house. They walked right into the main living area, with a couch and several chairs to sit in. Ann pointed farther away.
“There’s a den over there with a fireplace.”
Heidi chuckled. “I bet you want s’mores.”
“Of course I do.” Ann winked. “But I’ll settle for just a fire if that’s what I get.”
“I think you can have both,” Eli stepped out from the dining area and into the living room. “I’m Eli.”
“Heidi.” They shook hands, Heidi looking Eli up and down once before she relaxed even more.
Good, so Eli being part of the community wasn’t completely lost on Heidi. Normally she wasn’t as cued in to the sexuality of others. Ann had to come right out and tell her after they’d met, and even then, Heidi hadn’t been sure of her own sexuality at the time. It had taken another year before they started dating properly. Ann had already been head-over-heels in love by that point, though.
“I can give you a tour, if you want, or Ann can since she’s been here before.”
Heidi nodded. “A tour would be lovely.”
Eli’s voice was deep for a woman, her blonde hair in two braids on either side of her head. She’d definitely worked the ranch in the flannel shirt that day, but she wore wool socks instead of shoes. Ann set her suitcase next to the stairs and then took Heidi’s to settle them together.
“Ann already told you about the den. Fires are welcome at any point. I just ask you make sure it’s died down before you leave it for the night.”
“I think we can do that.” Heidi sent Ann a heated look, as if there was a double entendre in the entire phrasing.
Eli nodded. “Dining room is on this side of the stairs.”
Heidi followed closely as they walked into the next room.
“Breakfast is from seven to nine. Lunch is on your own, and dinner is at five. Kitchen is right there.”
The kitchen was an open floor plan, modern in every sense of the word, and led right into the dining area.
“I suppose I’m making lunch for everyone,” Heidi mumbled.
Ann leaned in and kissed her cheek. “You’re a better cook than I am, anyway, so I’d appreciate it if you did.”
Heidi chuckled.
Eli moved back to the stairway. “I’ll show you the rooms you’ve booked.”
They all walked up the stairs. Heidi’s and Ann’s room was on the far end of one hall, the other rooms next to them on either side. Ann didn’t care so much, but she saw Heidi visibly tense as she figured out where she would be sleeping so that she wouldn’t be near a window. With their bags settled, they headed down to the den to light a fire for whenever their partners arrived.
Luckily, they didn’t have much longer to wait. They both saw the headlights of a vehicle through the front windows. Heidi turned sharply on the couch as Ann bent over the fireplace. Heidi’s eyes widened and a grin light up her face. Ann loved seeing that reaction. It was one she hoped Heidi would give her most days, but at least Heidi was giving it tosomeone. It meant there was something there that they could grow into—hopefully.
“She’s here,” Heidi muttered.
“Who’s here?” Ann asked as she set the starter on fire.
“Lila.”
Ann dropped the match sharply. Every muscle in her body told her to stand up straight and run. Every nerve in her brain told her to ask Heidi to repeat what she’d said, but she didn’t have to. The front door to the house opened, and Lila stepped inside, her beautiful curls wrapped in spirals down her shoulders, her deep blue eyes locked on Ann’s face, fear and worry etched into every line.