“At least he’s letting me give my side of the story,” Tracy said with a grin at her husband. “Charley, you have the trademark royal-blue eyes of the Coopers.” And with that, she looped her arm through Charley’s as if they’d known each other forever, making Charley feel like family instead of an outsider. “Come on everybody, supper’s waiting on us.”
Cash locked the gate, as the horses grazed in a green pasture beside the Lodge. Sully opened the door of the Lodge, which housed not only the restaurant, but a bar and twelve guest rooms. Tracy let go of Charley and led the way through thewelcoming lobby, where guests were registering at the front desk or enjoying the fireplace as they relaxed on leather furnishings.
Leaving the lobby behind, Cash directed Dude into an office, which Tracy said was hers. The dog trotted across the large room and past a desk to curl up in a comfy-looking dog bed. From there, Charley and Sully followed the Coopers into the dining room, which was Western chic with framed scenes of cowboys and cowgirls, along with wagon wheels and longhorns mounted on walls. Chandeliers with old-fashioned lanterns hung from the high ceiling above tables covered in snow white tablecloths and decorated with matching lanterns lit with candles.
“This is all so beautiful,” Charley said. “The Lodge has been on my bucket list.”
“Thank you. Cash had the vision for Coopers’ Lodge,” Tracy said as she led them to a rectangular table set for five in a semiprivate alcove. “I just help him run the place.”
“She’s being modest. Tracy not only runs it without my help, her and her grandmother’s homestyle recipes keep business booming here in the Lodge,” Cash replied. “And more than a few folks come just to collect her autograph on one or more of the children’s books she writes.”
Tracy glowed at his compliment and replied, “Cash fills Coopers’ Lodge year-round by keeping the dude ranch hopping.”
Business was obviously booming as every other table in the dining room was occupied. Sully scooted out a chair for Charley and then sat on her left. Cash had done the same for Tracy and placed Carly between them before taking a seat across from Sully. The meal indeed tasted like home cooking and Charley could see why people came from near and far to sample it. As conversation easily flowed, Charley was delighted to hear the tales as to how Tracy had nearly run over Cash the day they’d met and how Cash had scooped Tracy up and onto Captain sidesaddle that same day. Perched in a booster seat, and at onlythree years old, Carly was a perfect little lady at dinner with admirable table manners. After the strawberry shortcake, with scoops of vanilla ice cream, Cash, Tracy, and Carly escorted Charley and Sully to the front door. There, Carly mentioned her Cooper cousins with love and asked Charley if she knew them.
“I’ve not met everyone in the family yet,” Charley said, taking Carly’s little hand in hers. “But if they’re anything like you, I’ll love them.”
“Oh, you’ll meet all of them,” Cash said with a chuckle.
“And you’ll love them all just like I do,” Tracy assured her with sincerity.
“Thank you for dinner,” Sully said, since the Coopers wouldn’t hear of them paying.
“Yes, thank you both so much for—” Charley’s voice broke but she swallowed and finished firmly. “Everything.”
“Ready to ride?” Sully asked her.
“Ready,” Charley replied. Then, with hugs to the Coopers, she said, “See you soon.”
Holding Carly, Cash asked her, “What do we say on the Triple C Ranches?”
The little girl grinned and said, “Sooner than later.”
“See you sooner than later,” Charley promised with a warm smile.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Somebody flattened your back tires,” Sully said to the gorgeous girl, whose slender arms circled his waist, as Storm trotted into the porch light of the Triple C Ranch-South cabin.
“Oh my gosh!” Charley gasped, leaning around Sully’s left side.
“Hang on,” he said and placed a hand to her knee, not wanting her to fall off the horse. Sully reined Storm in between the car and cabin and helped Charley safely slide to the ground.
“Who would do such a thing?” Charley asked, and then before he could answer she said, “Rod Vaughn.”
“That’d be my guess.” Dismounting his horse, Sully wondered if seeing them together on Storm had resulted in the flat tires.
“For the record, Rod has no claim on me,” Charley said, walking around her car. From the front of the vehicle, she told him, “Not just the back tires. All four tires are flat! I’ll call someone to come and put air in them.” Charley pulled out her phone and started scrolling. With a pang in her voice, she looked up from her cell and asked, “Who do I call?”
“Nobody. I’m guessing air won’t fix the problem.”
She tilted her pretty head and asked him, “What do you mean?”
“My bet is that this is a slash and dash.”
“He slashed my tires?” Charley’s shoulders momentarily sagged, and then she lifted her chin. “I’ll need a tow truck.”
“It’s dark outside and you don’t have to do this tonight.” Sully walked to where she stood at the front of her car. “I can take you to Cash’s house.
