THE GUESTHOUSE—WHICH ANNA HADN’T MOVED INTO AND probably never would—became the headquarters for Leonard Ranch Ultimate Adventures: Luxury Mountain Glamping! And if Chet had once thought he would have any real say in it, he was quickly disabused of the notion.
A desk and computer took up residence in the bedroom of the cottage, along with a separate phone line and answering machine. Allison Kavanagh, the woman who had designed the website for the Leonard Quarter Horse Ranch, was hired to create a separate but linked site for the guest ranch. Kimberly’s work schedule for the mayor had been modified to allow her to spend four afternoons a week with Anna. Tara was involved most of the time as well, and Sam, Pete, and the hired men got into the act. Even Janet came out when she wasn’t at work. In fact, everybody seemed eager to finish their normal duties so that they could help Nana Anna launch Ultimate Adventures.
Chet did what he was told, and he couldn’t quite decide if that irritated or amused him. Both, actually. Often at the same time.
The plan was to begin with remodeling the line shack within the shortest distance of the ranch complex. Spruce up the cabin’s rustic look while making it tight against inclement weather. Of course, the glamping experience came more from the lush beds and fancy linens and the meals that would be prepared for them than from the setting.
The men cleared a trail that led a short distance up the mountainside behind the cabin to a secluded place where time and weather had carved a bowl out of the rocks. Just enough water from an underground hot spring mixed with cold water from the creek to make it the perfect temperature. A nature-made hot tub that wouldn’t need any upkeep from the Leonards. All the better.
Chet was alone, pounding an instructional sign into the ground near the hot springs pool, when Kimberly appeared at the top of the path. The day was hot, and she wore khaki shorts and a sky-blue sleeveless blouse. Her dark hair was captured in a ponytail, her head covered with a baseball cap the same color as her top. Her hat sparkled with sequins. When he saw her, he straightened and with the back of an arm wiped away the sweat on his forehead.
“Wow,” she said. “This is incredible. I didn’t even know about it until today.”
“It’s really something at night. Sit in the hot springs and stare up at the stars, steam rising all around you. Makes all your cares drift away.”
Kimberly took a couple of steps closer to the pool. “Sounds like I should try it out before the guests make it theirs.”
Chet’s mouth went dry as he imagined Kimberly in the hot springs pool—and him with her.
“Seriously. Would that be all right one evening?” she said.
“You bet.” He cleared his throat. “Maybe sometime soon. The two of us.”
Her eyebrows rose. Surprise filled her eyes.
Chet cleared his throat again. “I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to think of someplace I could take you that would beat the concert we saw. I kept coming up empty. Maybe I’ve been trying too hard.”
“Yes.” A small smile replaced the surprise. “Maybe you have been.”
“How about tomorrow night? You could stay for dinner and then we could ride up here together.”
“Ride?” Her smile faltered.
“In the truck.”
She released a breath. “Okay. I’ll bring my suit with me.”
“You know, if you’d give it a chance, I think I could help you get over your nervousness around horses.”
“I doubt it.”
“The woman I see before me is courageous. Not afraid to try something new.”
“Courageous. Me?”
“Yes. You.” He schooled his expression, wanting her to know he was serious. “Anna couldn’t have done any of this without you. You’ve been amazing.”
“Everybody’s done their part.” A pretty blush pinkened her cheeks. She turned away, as if suddenly interested in the surrounding trees and the sky above and the water cascading over rocks and spilling into the pool.
Chet was tempted to step up behind her and kiss her nape beneath the swing of her ponytail. But his feet stayed planted where they were.
She turned to look at him again. “Do you think it can succeed? Really and truly?”
“I think it might. Maybe not this summer, although if we can get the word out, August could be a good month.”
“I . . . I hope I’m around to get to see it.”
He understood the meaning behind those words. She was still looking for employment that would take her away from Kings Meadow. If I have anything to say about it, Mrs. Welch, you’ll still be here.
KIMBERLY COULDN’T SLEEP THAT NIGHT. SHE KEPT thinking about Chet and the hot springs. She kept thinking of all the reasons why letting her attraction for him go any further would be a bad, bad, bad mistake. But even so, she knew when she drove out to the ranch the next day, she would have her swimming suit with her, and she would go with him to the hot springs. It was inevitable—she had to.
“You know,” his voice whispered in her memory, “if you’d give it a chance, I think I could help you get over your nervousness around horses.”
Could he? Really? Tara would be surprised if Kimberly learned to ride. But it was silly to even consider it. She didn’t have time to take lessons and Chet didn’t have time to give them. They needed all hands on deck to make the Leonard Ranch Ultimate Adventures a success.
Sometimes she wondered if Chet took his cash flow issues seriously enough. Not that she had the details, but Anna had implied that bringing guests to the ranch this summer was critical for its survival. Was it? Kimberly knew all too well that blithely continuing on as if nothing were wrong could be dangerous for all concerned.
With a sigh, she sat up in bed and turned on the lamp on her nightstand. Then she reached for the notebook she’d started carrying with her everywhere. The first fifteen or so pages were filled with ideas and questions and calculations. Using a black gel pen, she wrote: How much must Chet make before the summer is over in order to improve his bottom line? She couldn’t come right out and ask him that question, but maybe she could get Anna to tell her more.
Only it wasn’t Kimberly’s business.
Or was it? Chet had asked her out. He’d kissed her. He’d asked her out again. Was that enough to make his finances any of her business?
No. It wasn’t enough. Still . . .
Chet wasn’t the type to spend time with a woman just for the sake of spending time with her. He would want a relationship to go somewhere. He would want it to lead to marriage. He didn’t have to spell that out to her. She knew it about him instinctively. It was who he was at his core. A Christian cowboy. A very good-looking, extremely appealing Christian cowboy.
Groaning softly, she pushed the notebook off her lap. Her gaze went to the clock. One o’clock and still awake. But she had to try to sleep or she would be worthless tomorrow. She turned off the light and slid down on the mattress, pulling the covers over her shoulders.
“You know, if you’d give it a chance, I think I could help you get over your nervousness around horses.”
It might be fun to try. It would please Tara. Maybe that alone would be reason enough to try.
Kimberly rolled onto her side and tucked an arm under the pillow. She had a lot to be thankful for, but more than anything she was thankful that the past three years hadn’t sent her daughter into a downward spiral. That could have happened so easily. Tara could have gotten into drugs or gangs. She could have run away from home. Or she could have done her best to make her mother’s life a living hell. That happened in many families, with or without some traumatic event shaking the foundation. But none of that had happened to them. Kimberly and Tara had a close relationship—most of the time. All things considered, that was no small miracle.
“Thank You, Lord,” she whispered as exhaustion tugged her toward slumber. “Please help me figure out . . . what You want . . . me to . . . do.”