“Cade,” the man said with a sharp nod.
“Colonel.”
“Didn’t know you’d show up.About damn time you took an interest in something to do with the family.”
“Granddaddy,” Erin said, obviously trying to distract him.“Can I get you something to drink?”
“What in the Sam Hill are you wearing?”
“This?”She stood and removed her jacket before doing a little pirouette.“It’s a bustier.”
“Since when do you work as a stripper?”
“It’s casual Friday.”Erin laughed easily.“I’m modeling one of the lines we’ll be carrying at the corset shop.”
“Put the jacket back on.Cade, give her yours, as well.Christ, does anyone have a fucking blanket?”
The man lowered himself gingerly into a chair.
“I’ve already had one stroke,” he explained to Sofia.“And my granddaughter’s trying to give me another.”
“A lot of women wear them,” she said.“Aunt Kathryn ordered one.”
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph.Was your trust fund not enough?Now you’re trying to kill me off?”
“You’ll live longer if you loosen up,” Erin said, sounding unconcerned.“Coffee?Tea?”
“Valium,” he replied.
“Tea it is.”
“You’re as intolerable as your aunt.”
“Green tea,” she said, unperturbed.“Not black.”
Sofia’s finger had been hovering over the Running Wind icon on her tablet, and she’d been looking at each Donovan in turn.All so amazingly alike.Stubborn.Committed.Resolved.Proud.And family.Loving in their own ways.Despite the words, there was an underlying affection she recognized.
While Erin brewed a green tea for her grandfather, Sofia touched the Running Wind icon to open her presentation.“I had the opportunity to visit the ranch this week.It gave me some ideas.Before I get started, can I hear what everyone has been thinking?”
Cade remained quiet.
Erin said, “I don’t have a lot of suggestions, as long as the right people get invited.”
William nodded.
“Let me show you a couple of slides.”She advanced to a picture of a tent.Then she showed some mockups of the barn, decorated for an event.“We have some realities.Weather in South Texas in fall is likely going to be beautiful.But it might not be.”
The Colonel nodded.
“I’d considered a formal.The more I thought about it, something more casual seemed to fit.”
Though Erin had said she had no real opinion, she wrinkled her nose at that idea.
“The event is significant, and so it should be special,” Sofia continued.“I think we need to start with a formal presentation.”She went on, showing the barn set up with rows of chairs and a stage up front.She had an American flag on one side, the Texas flag on the other.A banner with the Running Wind logo hung from a back beam.
“The whole ranch is turning a hundred,” the Colonel corrected.“The Running Wind is only part of that.”
“Of course.Those details are crucial.That’s why having you involved is important to the success of the event.”
