Reins of Friendship, page 1
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novella are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.
Cover design by KAM.design
Edited by Vanessa Lebans
Formatting by Lyubomyr Y.
First Edition v1
Pink Viking Press, a division of Hekla Publishing LLC
1603 Capitol Ave
Suite 310-A431
Cheyenne WY 82001
www.heklapublishing.com
Copyright © 2025 Heidi Herman All rights reserved.
ISBN eBook: 978-1-947233-16-4
Library of Congress Print Control Number: 2025920387
First edition | Printed in USA
Friendship isn’t about who you’ve known the longest; it’s about who walked into your life and said, ‘I’m here for you’ and proved it.
-Cowboy Quotes
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Arrival
Chapter 2: Dinner on the Deck
Chapter 3: Morning Coffee
Chapter 4: Shopping & A Rescue Cat
Chapter 5: Dinner in the Village
Chapter 6: Saturday Night Firepit Chat
Chapter 7: Sunday Morning Brunch
Chapter 8: Departure
Book 1: Crossfire (Moirin’s Story)
Book 2: Full Go Round (Jo’s Story)
Book 3: Roughstock (Heather’s Story)
Book 4: Reride (Leslie’s Story)
About the Author
Other Books by Heidi Herman
Chapter 1
Arrival
“Double-check those directions again, Jo, could you? We’ve gone more than three miles.” Moirin Garrett squinted as she searched for another tiny green sign. The city planners had done a terrific job of camouflaging street signs to the point where they were nearly useless. She was all for blending civilization with the environment, but this was ridiculous.
“Um, I think this is right. Right, right, left.” Jo mumbled, rocking her head from side to side as she studied the map on her phone. “Yeah, no, this is it. Should just be a couple more minutes.” Her friend shrugged and dropped the phone onto her lap.
“If you’re sure,” Moirin said. “At least it’s been a beautiful drive. It is so nice to be taking a vacation.”
“Taking a half-day off on a Friday is not a vacation,” Jo scoffed. “You’ve always been a little too committed to your family business, but ever since you and Ellis broke up, I have to tell you, girlfriend, you’re becoming a workaholic.”
“That’s ironic. He always said I put the company before our relationship, and that’s why he ended things.” At home alone in the empty condo, those accusations played on a loop in her mind. Staying later at the office each day meant more tasks to occupy her time and fewer hours wondering if she made the right choice. Although truthfully, he hadn’t given her much of a choice. Just a sorry, hon, this isn’t working out, then severed all contact. At least they hadn’t lived together, so there was no awkward packing or moving out. Just goodbye.
“Oh, slow down. That’s our turn.” Jo pointed to what looked like an opening in the overgrown brush. “I never thought you guys had a future. I told you that more than once.” She shook her head. “Neither of you was committed to anything. You didn’t have any interests in common. Your entire relationship consisted of dinner together a couple of nights a week and being each other’s plus-one at events. He wasn’t husband material.”
Moirin maneuvered the Audi between low-hanging tree branches, hoping she could avoid scratches on the paint job. “Apparently, he is for someone. I saw his engagement photo in the paper this morning.” Admitting it out loud wasn’t as painful as she feared. It didn’t generate a pang of regret or anything close to jealousy. Maybe Jo was right, and she hadn’t been emotionally invested in him. Well, it was getting a little late in life to be thinking about marriage. Maybe that ship had sailed.
“1437. That driveway on your left.” Jo waved, leaning in front of her.
Moirin pushed her head back against the headrest, attempting to avoid Jo’s flailing hand. She pulled into the driveway and parked next to a sparkling black Pacifica. Well, it looks like Heather managed to get Leslie out of the house on time. I was a little worried we’d arrive only to be sitting here waiting for them, with no way of getting into the house.”
Jo chuckled. “Knowing Heather, she showed up to Leslie’s place a couple of hours early and packed for her.”
“She does have that big sister control gene, doesn’t she?” Moirin stepped out of the car, stretched, and took a deep breath of the pine-scented air. They were only a few hours from Denver, but the lake sat three thousand feet higher, and the crisp, fresh air seemed like a thousand miles from the skyscrapers and traffic and a million miles from her non-stop corporate executive career. “I am so glad Heather arranged this weekend. We all needed it.”
“Ooh, that’s an understatement. I’d like to social distance myself from the past couple of years, you know? Wow, this place is gorgeous, isn’t it?” Jo stood by the passenger side of the car, staring up at the stone and timber structure, which was immense yet masterfully built to blend perfectly with the surrounding forest. Brown, rust, and beige-colored stones, separated by massive wooden beams, gave the house a rustic feel that could easily be mistaken for a lodge, given its sheer size.
Moirin nodded, soaking in the surroundings. Birdsong trilled from hidden perches in branches high above them, as the breeze shook a staccato accompaniment from the leaves like a brush on a steel drum. Insects chirping and croaking added a rhythmic contribution, and the gentle sounds of water blended like a relaxing jazz score. They had driven past a house less than a half a mile away, but the spruce, fir, and pine trees grew so thick that she felt a sense of utter privacy.
She lingered, drinking in the scenery as she retrieved their bags from the trunk. Heather had done well, arranging their first post-pandemic girls’ getaway, judging by the exterior of the house. The timing was perfect, using the end of summer weekend to celebrate her fiftieth birthday just weeks before Heather’s fifty-second birthday.
“But like I said, everything works out in the end. Fifty is proving to be a great year for me, and it might be a turning point for you, too.” Moirin became aware that her best friend was still chattering.
Jo could talk non-stop, jumping from one topic to another without taking a breath sometimes. She had proven that during the drive when she updated Moirin on everything from her new job to the sale of a commercial building she’s held on to for years, and her continuing efforts to appease her step-siblings’ constant demands on behalf of their aging parents, despite the fact they talked at least once a week and Moirin was already cognizant of each topic. It was easy to tune most of it out, offering an occasional ‘uh-huh’ while she contemplated her recommendations for the seats becoming vacant on the company’s Board of Directors and a plethora of other topics that demanded her attention as an executive officer of an international energy company.
“Well, here’s to hoping that’s true.” Moirin hefted her overnight bag over one shoulder and picked up Jo’s from the trunk. “I’ve got the luggage if you can grab those groceries out of the back.”
“Deal.” Jo grabbed the three canvas bags filled with provisions and trailed after Moirin up the flagstone path to the front door. Copper light fixtures and accents gave an elegant look to the covered patio, where cushioned rocking chairs sat, inviting guests to take a relaxing break from a long day.
They entered the house, and their every movement sent echoes reverberating through the twenty-foot wood beam ceiling. Standing in the foyer, Moirin looked around. An open door on her left revealed a small study filled with books. She guessed the two closed doors on the right were likely a closet and a lavatory. A short corridor on the left led to the kitchen. In front and to the right was an open combination dining room and family room.
Moirin left their bags in the foyer and stepped into the living room. It was tastefully decorated with natural tones of brown and linen, with subtle accents of green. Two seating areas with soft-looking leather couches were arranged, one around a large fireplace, and the other facing an expanse of windows. The gleaming wood floors were covered by several large area rugs with blue, green, and brown forest designs. Someone must have spent hours scouring stores for the accents of bears, elk, and birds that seemed to be everywhere.
A full glass wall brought the sense of outdoors inside, the blue sparkling lake seeming to be only a few steps away. French doors flanked the fireplace, opening to a wrap-around deck.
“Oh, they’re outside,” Jo said. “Why don’t you join them, and I’ll be out once I put the groceries away?
Moirin glanced at Jo, shifting her weight as she hefted the bags. “Are you sure you don’t need help?”
“Pshwah, I’ve got this.” She hummed as she disappeared toward the kitchen.
Moirin headed out to the deck, admiring the view of the shimmering lake. It was even more stunning when she stepped outside.
“Hey, birthday girl.” Leslie cried, jumping up to greet her. “Glad you made it. This place is amazing, isn’t it?”
“It’s beautiful,” Moirin said. She hug
She sat in the chair next to Heather and looked across the deck. There was seating for easily a dozen people, with an outdoor kitchen, complete with a bar and a half dozen barstools.
“It’s something, isn’t it?” Heather said. “It belongs to a surgeon Tabor works with. I guess they haven’t used it in a few years, but they still have someone come in every week to clean and have it ready.” She shook her head, as if marveling at the waste.
Moirin never understood her frugality. Heather was a physical therapist, and her husband, Tabor, was a vascular surgeon. They only had one child, but Heather budgeted as if they had a dozen children in a one-income household. Moirin understood she’d had a tough childhood, but she thought it was far past time for Heather to start enjoying her life's success.
Moirin was single but still had a housekeeper come twice a week. Her parents had live-in help to manage their five-thousand-square-foot house, which had always seemed more necessary than extravagant, given the number of parties and social gatherings they hosted. Their professions and standing in the community almost demanded it.
Leslie squealed again as Jo walked outside, carrying a tray crowded with appetizers, glasses, and a glass pitcher of lemonade. As Leslie took the tray and set it on the table, Heather got up and tugged on her wrinkled capris to straighten them.
“So good to see you, honey,” Heather said, wrapping Jo in a bear hug.
“Hey, girl, you look fabulous. Is that scarf new? I love that color on you.” Leslie playfully pushed her sister out of the way to step beside Jo, giving her a brief side-hug before spinning around to the table where she’d placed the appetizers.
Grabbing a handful, Leslie plopped down on a chair across from Moirin. “How was the drive?”
“Great. I got out of the office by noon, and we made good time here. Just stopped in the village for supplies. When did you guys get here?”
“Oh, like three hours ago. You know Heather. She insisted we get an early start in case we needed to clean here or something.” She flipped her long hair, then combed it through her fingers and began braiding.
Leslie was only two years younger than Moirin and Jo but looked closer to five. Moirin was always a bit envious of her tawny-colored hair that would hide the inevitable gray far more than her own auburn or Jo’s brunette hair. As Heather sat down beside her, Moirin noted the loose-flowing blouse and guessed it hid a few more pounds added since the last time they’d been together. They had only talked on the phone for the last few months, but she’d complained about weight gain. She looked worn and tired. Likely menopause. Moirin hoped she wouldn’t struggle with it as much as it looked like Heather had been.
Leslie leaned over and chatted with Jo, their laughter floating on the breeze to Moirin. She had tuned out their conversation but smiled, hoping they’d think she was listening. Heather poured a glass of lemonade and loaded up a napkin with cheese and crackers Jo had prepared. She looked at Moirin, raising her eyebrow and nodding toward the lemonade.
Moirin shook her head, “No thanks. I’m just going to sit back and enjoy a sun soak.”
She watched as Heather settled back in the chair, joining the conversation with Jo and Leslie. Since she’d met them in college, the two sisters had always been different, but the years seemed to exaggerate their differences. Leslie’s free-flowing bohemian style matched her artistic nature. Over the years, her face had become thinner, the glasses she’d started wearing made her look frailer somehow, but her brown eyes were still empathetic and kind. Heather’s face was rounder than in their college years, but her long pageboy hairstyle was the same. Her trendy wardrobe had been replaced by casual clothes and comfortable shoes like the blue and white Keds she was wearing. A fringe cloche was pulled down onto her forehead, shading her eyes.
She looked like a dowdy housewife on the downside of middle age. Is that what I’m going to look like in a few years? No, of course not. Fifty was hardly old. It was all this birthday nonsense and the shock of seeing an ex’s engagement announcement that had her so pensive. She needed to snap out of it. Or focus on helping Heather shed this frumpy matron look she seemed to be acquiring. It should be easy enough if she enlisted Leslie and Jo to help.
A few hours later, the snacks had disappeared, and the drink pitcher sat empty. The sun had ducked behind the tree line. It was hours yet before sunset, but the breeze was stronger, and a slight chill had settled in the air.
“Why don’t we do a quick tour, and all get settled in our rooms?” Heather stood up and brushed her hands together.
“That sounds good. I’m all sweaty from sitting out here. I’d love a shower before dinner,” Jo said.
“I should check my email. Keeping up on things will make for a better Monday next week,” Moirin said.
“Ah-hah.” Leslie snickered as she stood and threw an arm around Jo’s shoulder. In a loud stage-whisper, she said, “We really need to stage an intervention for that one before workaholicism sets in completely.”
“Very funny. An hour, then I’ll come back downstairs to help with dinner, I promise.”
“Oh, girls, leave her alone,” Heather said. “Grab your bags and follow me upstairs. Leslie and I chose rooms already, and there’s two more for you guys.”
“You guys go ahead, I already settled in, so I’m going to go down and take a walk down by the lake,” Leslie said.
Moirin followed Heather upstairs, Jo trailing after her. She was pleased to see that each bedroom had a queen-size bed, cozy-looking club chairs, and a writing desk. Even better, each had a private attached bath. It was hard to believe this was a vacation home; someone had furnished it like a high-end bed and breakfast.
Jo disappeared into the first available room, and Moirin walked into a similar one across the hall.
“Okay, I’ll leave you to get settled in. I’m going to call and check on Camilla.” Heather tapped the doorframe. Moirin nodded, admiring the lake view before unpacking her bag and hanging her clothes in the closet. That brief task complete, she set up her laptop and settled at the desk, soon lost in email messages and business tasks.
Shadows grew in the world outside the window, but Moirin barely noticed. She snapped on the lamp when the room started to become dim, her eyes never looking up from the computer screen.
Chapter 2
Dinner on the Deck
Jo hummed as she moved through the kitchen, happy that life was finally under control, and the constant sense of impending doom had faded. It wasn’t just the pandemic ending, which was great, but the darkness of the past seven years was lifting. Snippets of Disney tunes and feel-good sixties songs mixed with a few church choruses in her mind as she be-bopped around the spacious kitchen.
“I’m so happy, hap-hap-happy, chim-chim-cheree. If you’re happy and you know it, say amen. A-men.” She broke into song, spinning as she tried a choreographed-like move to open the refrigerator, nearly crashing into the door instead. She heard a chuckle behind her.
She turned to see Leslie settle herself on one of the barstools at the island, plopping her head down to rest her chin in her hands. “I came in to see if you wanted help.” Jo saw the grin pulling at her mouth.
“What? It’s okay, you can laugh at my kitchen-dancing. It was much smoother in my head.” She sniffed, opening the refrigerator, and pulling out a white paper-wrapped package.
Leslie eyed it suspiciously. “So, did you see the article I sent you about the benefits of a vegetarian diet?”
“Um, no, I don’t think I read that one yet.” Jo held the package up. “We stopped at the market, and I picked up this smoked lake trout. I thought we could have it with Mediterranean basmati rice and green salad. I also got a fresh sourdough from the bakery and a very mild lemon horseradish butter you’re gonna love to go with it.”
“Mmm, that sounds delicious.” Leslie cocked her head. “And fish is so healthy, right? They say you should really avoid red meat. And sourdough has all those prebiotics, right? I read you should try to get more fiber and fermented foods for healthy gut microbiomes.”
