“She’s easy to work for.” The image of her and Kyle popped into his mind. She’d looked so beautiful last night in that green dress, hair flowing around her shoulders. He wanted to be the one sweeping her off to some fancy restaurant. The one putting his arms around her on the dance floor. The one gazing into her eyes on her front porch just before he...
“Is my radar way off, or do I sense a little something going on between you two?”
Gunner cleared his throat. “With Charlotte? Nah. She actually went out with the vet last night.” Had Kyle gazed into her eyes over a candlelit dinner? Had he been the one to give her that good-night kiss at her front door? Gunner clenched his jaw.
“You don’t sound too happy about that.”
“She’s my boss. Never a good idea to mix business with pleasure. Besides, I won’t be here long, and Charlotte’s the kind of woman who wants to settle down.”
“You don’t?”
“I’m free as a bird and I like it that way.” The familiar words rolled off his tongue, but they didn’t feel as true as they once had.
“Yeah, well, take it from someone who knows. This town has a way of growing on you.” He tossed Gunner a knowing grin. “If you’re not careful, it’ll suck you right in.”
Twenty-Three
Please, oh, please don’t let it rain.Why had she picked July, the second rainiest month of the year, for her open house?
Charlotte finished curling her hair and put in some small hoop earrings. She’d chosen a sundress since she’d probably be on the news and would certainly be in the ribbon-cutting photo. Even though last night’s forecast predicted a sunny morning, the weather app now showed a 50percent chance of thunderstorms.
She and Gunner had already fed and turned out most of the horses. They kept the ponies in for the free rides and also the two horses—on loan from a local ranch—that he’d do demonstrations with.
She glanced at the time. Mayor Hinkley and—fingers crossed—the media entourage would arrive soon. She dashed from her room and knocked on her sister’s door. “Emerson? You ready? It’s almost starting time and we both need to be in those photos. Emerson?”
Her sister opened the door. “Jeez, take it down a notch. We have plenty of time.”
She scanned Emerson’s outfit: a pair of jeans and a casual top. “You sure you don’t want to dress up a bit?”
“I’m on pony-riding detail after the ribbon cutting, remember? You’re the one giving the interviews. And you look great, by the way.”
“Thanks. Sorry, I’m just a little on edge. Did you see the weather forecast?”
“It’ll be fine. That’s why we rented a tent, remember?”
She just didn’t want anything to keep people away or to ruin their fun. Who’d want to watch a demonstration or have their kids ride ponies in the rain?
Thirty minutes later the mayor paused, scissors poised midcut, between Charlotte and Emerson. They smiled for the cameras belonging to two television stations,The Herald,andHorse and Trail Magazine. A crowd of about forty people, including the Robinsons, gathered around the new barn, waiting for the cutting. The mayor and Charlotte had each spoken briefly about the new expansion, and now it was time for the photo op.
Once Mayor Hinkley had given the photographers adequate time to capture the moment, he snipped the red ribbon and it fluttered to the ground.
The crowd cheered and the mayor turned to clasp Charlotte’s hand in a firm grip. “Congratulations, young lady. It’s a beautiful stable and I have no doubt I’ll be sending some business your way.”
“Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate your support more than you know.”
While the mayor congratulated Emerson, Charlotte addressedthe crowd. “Thank you all so much for coming out today. Be sure to head over to the round pen where our trainer, Gunner, is getting ready to do a Join-Up demonstration. You won’t want to miss it. Afterward, stick around for the pony rides, and then lunch will be served from noon till two. We hope you enjoy your day here at the Stables at Wildflower Falls.”
One at a time the reporters stopped by to interview her about the expansion. She credited Robinson Construction with the beautiful new stable and explained the new services the ranch would offer.
She spent about twenty minutes with theHorse and Trailreporter, a woman from Marshall who’d been raised around horses. She promised Charlotte a feature in September’s edition. Charlotte wished it were being published earlier in the season, but she’d take what she could get.
When she finished the interviews, she glanced around the property in renewed wonder. Talking about the ranch had made her appreciate all over again how blessed she was to live and work where her ancestors had. What a wonderful inheritance. This was where she belonged. And (please, God) where she would always belong.
Kyle, who’d waited around for her, approached, beaming. “Congratulations. Your grand opening is going very well. You’re getting great coverage—and I loved your speech.”
“Thanks. I’m just glad the weather’s holding out.” The sun had even peeked through the clouds. “That last reporter I talked to was fromHorse and Trail Magazine.I’ve sent them several emails, but I didn’t know they were coming.”
“Perfect. That’s your demographic.”
