CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“I’ve had the best days of my entire life here on your ranch,” Tracy said that evening as she and Cash toasted marshmallows over the campfire outside their tent.
Moonlight reflected off Turkey Creek Pond. Frogs croaked near the water, katydids chirped in bushes, and occasionally a turkey gobbled in the distance. The dinner bell had clanged hours ago, calling folks to fill their plates and bellies with spareribs, burgers, or freshly caught fish. Many of the dude ranchers had tried their hand at fishing and the bigger fish were turned over to Cristen to fry. Other guests had gone horseback riding or hiked the nearby hills during the late afternoon and evening. Most had since settled in for the night. Here and there, you could see a couple sitting in front of their tent or hear a voice followed by a laugh. Tuckered out, Dude had curled up on the ground between Cash and Tracy and was softly snoring. In Tracy’s opinion, this life was idyllic. If she could stay on this ranch instead of traveling to those other ranches in the four corners of the state, she would do so in a heartbeat. She vaguely wondered what kind of work she’d be qualified to do on a dude ranch.
“It’s been great.” Cash raised a marshmallow out of thefire. Hot and gooey, he let it cool before popping it in his mouth. Tracy pulled her marshmallow out of the fire and blew on it.
Cash grinned at her. “You’re here during a great time of the year. A little hot during the day,” he acknowledged, but it’s a whole different story during the winter.”
“What do your guests do in winter?” Tracy asked and bit off half of the marshmallow.
“Besides the mandatory chicken chasing?” he teased.
Tracy laughed, but not too loudly. “Yes, besides that.”
“Weather permitting, we horseback ride. In summer and winter, we shoot skeet, sometimes with a longtime friend of mine named Sullivan Custis, who goes by Sully.”
“If I remember correctly, he’s the son of the former El Paso County sheriff, right?”
“Right. Owen and Sully both own ranches here in the country.” Cash smiled and nodded. “When we get a good snowfall, we take people on snowmobile adventures. Instead of hiking, we snowshoe and when the pond is frozen solid, people can ice skate.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Tracy ate the other half of her marshmallow, figuring she would be miles away come winter. She pictured countless pretty women holding tight to Cash as they zipped across his ranch on a snowmobile. Instantly, she rebuked herself. This was his ranch, and he had no obligation to her. “I can imagine how beautiful the ranch is covered in snow.”
“It truly is,” Cash said with humble honesty ringing in his deep voice. “I’ve contacted the architects who Derek hired to build Chloe’s new bed-and-breakfast.”
“Really?” Tracy tilted her head. “Why?”
“I haven’t told anybody else this yet.” Cash looked at her and confided, “But I’d like to build a lodge next to the cabins. I’d have it constructed in the adjacent lot we use for extra parking and pave a driveway out to the main road.”
“How exciting.” Tracy turned sideways in her chair and said, “You are a man of vision.”
Cash shrugged. “I’d like the lodge to offer a grand hall with comfortable sofas and chairs for lounging around a roaring fireplace. I’d have a full bar and offer gourmet dining.” Cash gestured as he spoke. “There would be tall windows for admiring the view year-round and for watching the snow fall on Pikes Peak. I see sleighs pulled by Percherons, taking guests on rides.”
“Wow, Cash. That sounds amazing,” Tracy said. “Truly impressive.”
“The cabins have been refurbished and it’s time to further upgrade the ranch with a lodge,” he replied.
“How many rooms would your lodge have?”
“Ten, maybe a dozen, I’m thinking.”
“That means more horses? And staff?”
“Yes. I’m going to talk to Sam and Jeff about it. And I’ll run it past Chase and Derek to get their ideas too. Chloe gave me some great suggestions when I refurbished the cabins, since she and Derek had just built the new bed-and-breakfast.” Cash paused and his blue eyes captured Tracy. “I know what I want. And you’re the first person to hear about it.”
“I’m honored.” Tracy placed a hand over her heart and smiled. Then sliding marshmallows on both their sticks, she handed Cash his. “Let’s toast to your new lodge,” she said and touched her marshmallow to Cash’s. “It will be fantastic.”
“Heck yeah,” Cash said. “Speaking of a full bar and toasting, let’s also toast with a nightcap of something stronger than the water we’ve been drinking all day.” Handing her his marshmallow stick, he ducked into the tent. Coming back with tin cups, he poured two shots of whiskey. “To you and the lodge, Tracy.”
Tracy touched her cup to Cash’s and said, “To you and the lodge, Cash.” They swallowed their shots and toasted their marshmallows. “What’s on your agenda for tomorrow?”
“Besides you?”
“Yes.” A hot blush burned through Tracy’s entire body.
“Sam’s in the shop tomorrow so Ed will take some folks skeet shooting,” Cash said. “Jeff and Beau are escorting others on a cattle drive on the other side of the highway.” Who knew the Triple C Ranches extended to the other side of the highway? “Larry will be around for those who want one last ride on their favorite horse.”
“What about you, Cash?”
