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“What is going on in there?” I asked her

“Pageant rehearsal Today is inspiration day We need to get a move on,” she said and pulled out her phone “There are, according to my research, at least five restaurants in town The Cow Fars Diner, Sweet Bliss, the Monarch and Mountain Pub, and someplace called Dixie’s”

We stepped outsideand she sucked in a breath “Jesus, it’s cold How do you people survive here?” She started to run toward my car

“Careful of your ankle,” I shouted after her and she stopped running, gave er seat of my car

I sent a quick text to Danny to pushlunch

The Cow Farh-end steakhouse was closed for lunch so ent right to the Monarch and Mountain Pub

“Is it named after your brother?” she asked as we slipped into the padded booth The pub was all dark wood and nice soft lighting Cozy booths and a big long bar that invited people to belly up to it

“Believe it or not,” I said, “mountains existed before my brother had the nickname”

She blinked at me and then smiled “You’re jealous”

“Ofteeth”

“You’re jealous that he gets all this attention and is almost never home You stayed”

“Why in the world would you think that?”

“You hear things at the front desk, Ethan You hear lots of things”

Pat, the guy who ran the pub, came to take our orders, his white apron stretched taut across his barrel chest I opened my menu but Lexie pushed hers back at Pat

“What’s the best thing you serve?” she asked

“Shepherd’s pie,” Pat said, and I nodded It was a good shepherd’s pie with just the right aood fluffy potatoes on top

“Awesome, we’ll have one of those And what’s the most popular dish?”

“Cheeseburger with fries Gravy on the side”

“And we’ll have one of those” Lexie suy looked dazzled

“All right,” he said “I’ll be right back—”

“What do you usually get?” Lexie asked s”

“I’ll have the fish and chips,” I said and handed Pat ravy”

“My god, that’s a lot of gravy”