“It is awfully magnificent,” she said when they reached the doors.
He gave her a smile. “Just wait until you see inside.”
And he wasn’t wrong. If Sophia had been in awe of the outside, that didn’t hold a candle to what she felt stepping into the hotel lobby. Magnificent fireplaces stood on each side of the wide room, a large desk sat straight ahead, and comfortable seating was set in conversational angles here and there. A staircase was positioned off to the right, and the hotel branched out with long wings on either side of the desk.
She was glad Matthew was here because she couldn’t have found her voice. He approached the desk and told the clerk that they had a room waiting.
In no time at all, the clerk had handed Matthew a key, and had asked him to sign his name in a large ledger book. That done, they stepped away from the desk.
Their room was upstairs, a nicely furnished space on the second floor, and Sophia particularly loved the view out the window toward the northeast. She could just make out the wet mountains off in the distance, and she wondered if she could see Matthew’s land from here.
“It’s that direction,” he said.
She turned and immediately bumped his chest with her shoulder. “I’m sorry.” She went to take a step back only to find there wasn’t enough space for that.
“It’s quite all right. I don’t think I’m permanently injured.” He gave her a lilting smile but didn’t move away.
His proximity made her swallow. “How did you know I was looking for the land?”
“Because I was looking for the same thing.” He held her gaze for a moment and just as Sophia thought she might burst from the tension, he said, “Dinner isn’t served until six o’clock. We have some time. Would you like to go down and see the creek?”
She nodded without necessarily thinking about what she was agreeing to. It was hard to think at all with him standing this close to her.
They left after Sophia changed into a different dress. The creek sat behind the hotel, hidden away by trees. Sophia gasped when she first saw it. The lazy water ran clear and cool over rocks. The tall snowy mountains began to climb directly behind it. It was like their own private place, with no one else around behind these trees.
“It’s called Silver Creek.” Matthew stood on the bank, his hands clasped behind him.
“I love it.” Sophia turned and smiled at him. “It’s the most beautiful setting, with the mountains and the trees,” she said as her eyes feasted on the scenery again.
“Would you like to sit?” Matthew gestured at a large flat stone nearby.
Sophia scurried over and took a seat on the edge of the stone. He sank down next to her, and for a few minutes, they sat in silence, enjoying the sounds of the water and the wind through the trees.
“I never knew such a place existed.” How could she ever have dreamed of something that looked like this back in Kansas City?
“It is incredible,” Matthew said as he stretched out his legs in front of him. “My dad likes to call it God’s artwork.”
“That’s an apt description.” Sophia drew in the cool pine scented air as she remembered all that had happened that day. “The wedding was lovely.” She turned to look at Matthew. “Thank you.”
“I’m glad I could give you that,” he said. “I hope I can give you everything you need.”
Sophia’s stomach churned at his words. He was so genuine and kind, and yet she hadn’t even told him about the money.
Her concern must’ve shown on her face. Matthew’s eyebrows knitted together. She dug her fingers into the rock. Now was just as good a time as any. She couldn’t go on keeping the secret. He opened his mouth to say something, but she spoke up first.
“I must tell you about the money. And I hope you won’t be angry with me.”
