Henri laughed. “There was an avalanche the day of the parade and the reindeer couldn’t make it from Windswan. They taped some antlers onto the alpacas and tried to pass them off as reindeer. The town loved it and so did the alpacas. Everyone has been asking if they will be back this year.
“And?” I was intrigued.
When my dad was still in the picture we had lived on a farm. That’s where my love of horses and riding had started. We couldn’t keep the farm after he left, and I was jostled between Florida and whatever state my mom had decided toshack up in. She bopped around from man to man and state to state, never staying in one place long enough for me to put down any roots. My dad had a new family in Florida and his new wife tolerated me, but that didn’t feel like home either.
Living in Room 222 on Oak Street had been the closest thing to a home I’d experienced in years. I wondered if Henri knew how lucky she was to have a family here. Not only did she have a family, but they lived on a farm.
“My dream.” I hadn’t realized that I’d said it out loud.
“Excuse me?” Henri tilted her head.
“I mean, it’s my dream to have horses. One day…” I sighed.
Charlotte smiled. “There are some really cute properties on the outskirts of town. If you’re not in the market to buy, I could probably hook you up with a rental.”
Charlotte’s ring could probably buy an entire house. I wondered if she knew that she was talking to someone who was barely making ends meet. “Maybe someday. That might be out of the budget at the moment.”
She handed me a business card. “It might not be so far out of your reach. As a matter of fact, I think that the Lumbers might have accommodation for someone in exchange for help with their livestock. And, they have horses that need to be ridden.”
I ran my fingertip across Charlotte’s embossed card. Could this really happen for me? Could I find a place to live my country dream and still help GJ out with the inn? My heart raced as the possibilities swirled in my mind. “Thank you, Charlotte.” I tucked the card into my handbag.
“I’ll talk to my in-laws.” Henri leaned against me. I’m sure Jack would be happy to get some of that work off his plate.
Tears welled in my eyes, but I was able to gulp and somehow suck them back in. “Thank you. I would love that.”
Henri sipped her beer. “If you’re good with horses, you should enter the skijoring contest. The purse is up to twentythousand dollars—that could work as a down payment on something.”
I was so engrossed in the conversation that I hadn’t noticed the scuffle taking place at the side of the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome to the stage, our first amateur performer of the evening, Mr. Nick…” There was a muffled sound as the announced covered the microphone with his hand, but his words were still audible. “Is that his real name?”
The initiation.
“Please welcome Nick Tinsel to the stage.”
Charlotte crossed her arms. “I was told they weren’t doing this anymore.”
“What?” Lauren said. “Amateur night, or the initiation of the new Bobcats?”
“Both.” Charlotte shook her head. “I wonder if Logan knows about this.”
The lights in the bar were dimmed so low it was probably a safety hazard. Bright white lights lit up the stage. The group of dancing women rushed to the edge, dollar bills clenched in their fingers.
“It’s good fun.” Serena laughed. “And Evie, don’t worry, nobody gets totally naked.”
“Unless you’re Freddie.” Emma squealed.
Serena’s face turned bright red. “That was one time. I stand corrected. Nobody gets totally naked unless they’re my husband.”
Charlotte’s eyes were trained on the stage. “I hope that they told the new guy that.”
Lauren eyed the crowd. “I don’t think that you have to worry—that guy is getting to fifty bucks before his pants come off.”
Nick’s eyes were as big as pucks and there were at least five players crowded around him, shoving him onto the stage. He resisted, but then seemed to give in.
The stage lights flashed and the disco ball started turning. Nick strode to the front of the stage as the bass from Ginuwine’s “Pony” shook the walls of the Last Chance. He seemed relaxed, but the muscles twitching in his jaw told me otherwise.
“It’s like Magic Mike in here.” Henri pumped her eyebrows.
Nick waggled his butt at the audience like a puppy. His lips were turned up at the side, and I knew that his goofy nature, the side that I’d seen earlier that day on the ski hill, was going to come out.
