“But Cooper is okay?” Charley asked.
With a nod, Cash replied, “A story for another day.” Then looking around, he said, “This cabin was a pet project of Uncle Clarence’s. I always suspected he’d built it with someone special in mind.” With a shrug, Cash continued, “The custom-made front door was his finishing touch.”
“The Rocky Mountain Columbine was my mom’s favorite flower,” Charley repeated.
“Maybe my uncle knew that,” Cash commented with a smile. “Last week I had one of our employees from the Lodge give the cabin a top-to-bottom cleaning.” Cash stepped into the high-ceilinged combination living room and dining room after Sully and then pointed. “Charley, the kitchen appliances, countertop, and big farm sink are kind of retro, but also hardly having been used, they’re like new.”
“This cabin is beautiful, Cash. I looked through the windows earlier,” Charley said. “It’s a lot more modern and much larger than I expected. I spied a nice shower in the bathroom.”
“Are you guys selling this place?” Sully asked.
“We never felt like this property belonged to us, but that’s up to Charley now.” Cash said and looked at her. “As property lines go, Sully is your neighbor, Charley.”
“Yes, so he said.” Charley squared her shoulders, raised her chin, and explained to Sully, “The man you all knew as Uncle Clarence was my father.”
“Really?” Sully asked, looking from Charley to Cash. “I didn’t know he had any kids.”
“Uncle Clarence didn’t know either. So, none of us knew,” Cash said. “Until the headlines clued us in last month.”
Sully thought for a minute and realized why Charley’s name rang a bell. “The Charlotte Fleming murder?”
CHAPTER THREE
“Yes,” Charley answered, sounding stoic even to herself. “My mother.”
“Let’s head on over to the Lodge and celebrate Triple C Ranch-South finding its rightful owner with supper,” Cash suggested and led the way outside. Turning on the porch light, when they’d exited, he locked the door and handed Charley two keys. “It’s all yours,” he told her, just before his cell signaled a text. “Tracy says the special tonight is slow-cooked roast beef and mashed potatoes covered in homemade gravy with fresh-snapped green beans and strawberry shortcake.”
“My kind of supper,” Sully said as he untethered Storm from the hitching post.
“Sounds so much better than the fast food and frozen dinners I’m used to,” Charley said, holding the key to her heart. If Cash were any indication, the Coopers must be onboard with her inheriting the cabin and land. Charley knew she would never forget this special moment.
“Come on.” Cash sent a text before taking the reins to Captain. “I told Tracy we’re on our way,” he said and mounted his horse.
“Storm and I can give you a ride, Charley,” Sully offered and saddled up on the stallion.
“I can drive my car,” Charley said, but pictured riding behind Sully on his horse. Seeing the two men on horseback, she felt like a fish out of water or a city girl out of her element. How sad that she’d missed growing up out here in the country and knowing her father, the other Coopers, and…Sully.
“More fun on horseback, city slicker,” Sully said with a challenging grin. When he looked over the top of his sunglasses at her, she fell into the two deep green pools of his eyes.
“Why not?” Charley said. She was long overdue for country life. “I’ll grab my purse and lock my car.” She did so and hurried to Sully and his stallion.
“Ever ridden a horse?” Cash asked her.
“Never,” Charley admitted with a laugh.
“At least she’s got on britches and doesn’t have to ride sidesaddle,” Cash said to Sully and then chuckled. “Another good story Tracy can tell her.”
With a nod and chuckle, Sully told Charley, “Okay, slip your left foot into the stirrup and grab my hand. Give a little jump on your right foot and I’ll hoist you up behind me.”
Charley took a breath and missed the stirrup. On her second try, she stuck her foot into the stirrup and noticed how masculine Sully’s cowboy boot was especially in comparison to her ballerina slipper-style shoe. He extended his hand, and grabbing it along with a little hop, he indeed hoisted her up and behind him on the horse. Wow! He’d made that easy. His booted foot replaced hers in the stirrup, which she couldn’t reach now anyway.
“Woo hoo!” Charley exclaimed triumphantly.
“Hold on,” Sully said as Cash headed Captain down the gravel road ahead of them.
“To what?”
“Me.”
