Snickerdoodle Secrets (River's End Ranch Book 25)

by Cindy Caldwell

  Chapter 5

  Both chairs creaked as Dani and Erica plopped into theirs each at the same time. They’d spent hours delivering packages after verifying they were the correct purchases...or at minimum had them set in stacks to be delivered to the proper places.

  Dani rested her head in her hands, her elbows on her desk. “I’m exhausted and it’s only lunch time.”

  Erica put the shipping receipts in the ledger to enter later, and leaned back in her chair.

  “It’s a pretty big job, especially as the ranch grows. I’ve never seen anything quite like this.”

  “Yeah,” Dani said. “And with the Search & Rescue training coming up and Belinda’s shower—what was I thinking? I can’t do a shower for Belinda. I don’t even know how.”

  “And don’t forget your wedding,” Travis said as he entered the office and sat down beside Dani’s desk.

  “Oh, right, the wedding,” Dani grumbled, and her fiancé gasped in mock horror.

  “Wow, that’s overwhelming enthusiasm for what is supposed to be the happiest day of your life,” he said as he reached for Dani’s hand.

  “That shouldn’t be a big surprise to you at all. I love you, and want to be your wife, but—”

  He raised his palms and leaned back in his chair. “I know. I know. You wanted to elope.”

  Erica shook her head and cut in. “And you, of course, remember why you didn’t.”

  As if on cue, Mrs. Weston waltzed into the office, a piece of paper clutched in her hand which she shoved in her pocket when she saw Dani.

  Dani closed her eyes at the sight of her mother, and Erica stood.

  “Hello, Mrs. Weston. How are you?”

  “Fine, dear,” she replied as she sat in the chair next to Erica and nodded at Travis with a brief hello. They all turned to look at her and waited for her to speak. And waited.

  “What?” she finally asked.

  “What are you doing here, Mom?” Dani asked, with only a small hint of irritation. “We’re working.”

  “I see that, sweetheart,” Mrs. Weston said as she turned away, reached in her pocket for the piece of paper, sliding it under the ledger on Erica’s desk.

  “I just wanted to thank Erica for her help. That’s all,” she said, standing and pulling her lightweight jacket around her.

  “You’re welcome, Mrs. Weston. I’m sure, um, Belinda will love your gift for the shower.”

  Mrs. Weston turned to Erica, her eyebrows raised. She paused for a moment before she nodded, then turned to Dani.

  “Right. Erica’s been helping me with Belinda’s shower gift. I know how busy you are.” She nodded again toward Erica, with an exaggerated, “Thank you.”

  Erica smiled. It was a good thing neither one of them played poker, and she waved as Mrs. Weston waltzed right back out of the room.

  “Thanks for taking that off of my list,” Dani said as she stood and pulled Travis up out of the chair. “My fiancé has plans to take me out for lunch.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, and Erica smiled.

  “I do?” he asked as he hugged her back.

  “Yes, you do,” she said as she reached for her jacket. “Erica, you want us to bring you back something?”

  “Oh, no. I’ll just see if I can grab a salad from here before I go deliver more packages.”

  “Suit yourself,” Dani said, shrugging on her jacket. “Do you mind taking that stack of boxes over to the golf course? Chad texted me and asked if they were here. They weren’t then, but apparently he needs them ASAP. The delivery cart’s still out front.”

  “Sure, no problem,” Erica said as she waved them goodbye. “I’m on it.”

  Dani stuck her head back in the door. “Thanks, Erica. I really appreciate all your help. Couldn’t do this without you.”

  “Aw, shucks, you’re welcome,” Erica said, laughing. “Go have fun.”

  She pulled the paper Mrs. Weston had put under the ledger out and squinted at it.

  Chinese lanterns - lavender - 12

  Lavender vases for centerpieces

  Chocolate-covered macadamia nuts

  Lavender boxes for macadamia nuts

  Lavender? Erica was pretty positive that in Lily and Dani’s discussions about the wedding, lavender was never in the picture. She knew for a fact that Dani’s colors were to be yellow and white, like daisies. She’d heard her say it herself.

  At the bottom of the note was a P.S.

  Please contact Fred at the bank. He handles the bigger funding, and will give you an account number to bill these purchases to. Again, I appreciate your help and confidentiality.

  Hm. Mrs. Weston must really want this to be a surprise for Dani. She may have gotten a little pushback from Wade for his wedding and her—well, the things she insisted on having that Wade and Maddie hadn’t really cared about.

  Wade had been pretty easy-going about accommodating Mrs. Weston. Dani, however, had been pretty clear with her mother that while she was agreeing to a wedding for family that Mrs. Weston could attend, and that she actually wanted her to be there, she really didn’t want her meddling—at all. She vividly recalled Dani telling her mother she didn’t want any odd food at the wedding, period.

  Maybe this was it, just these items, and the stuff on the previous list. They weren’t too harmful, and probably wouldn’t make Dani too uncomfortable. She folded the paper and placed it in her pocket, with a mental note to call Fred before Dani got back. She’d dealt with him quite a few times, mostly with Dani, but she had his number in her cell phone.

  She was just finishing her salad when her phone rang, and Fred’s name popped up on her screen. Well, that was easy.

  “Hi, Fred,” she said as she pressed the green button. “I was just going to call you.”

  “I figured. Mrs. Weston beat you and asked me to call. Said she had some stuff she wanted you to order as soon as possible. Got a pen?”

  She rummaged around under the papers on her desk—she really needed to catch up with all this paperwork—and eventually found one.

  “Ready.”

  He gave her the information she’d need to bill—a completely unfamiliar bank account number—and she peeled off the post-it note she’d written it on and shoved it in her back pocket.

  “Any idea about how much it’ll be?”

  Erica eyed the note from Mrs. Weston, numbers flying through her head as she calculated.

  “A few hundred, maybe?” she said as the list fluttered back down on her desk. “Give or take a very little.”

  The man on the other end of the phone laughed. She’d always liked Fred, and had felt sorry for him when Dani had met Travis. It was very obvious that he had been interested in Dani, also. It was a little hard to watch, but he was nice, if a bit stuffy, and she was sure he’d find someone who was right for him eventually.

  He sounded sincere when he said, “Okay. That’s nothing. Just send over copies of the receipts when you can. For taxes.”

  “Sure,” she replied before she clicked off, her eyes widening as Jaclyn entered the office and sat down beside her desk. It wasn’t normal for this many people to come into their office in one day.

  “So when are you going to visit that handsome soldier?” she said. Point blank, not even a hello.

  “What?”

  “The one with the dog. I believe he’s Chad’s brother.”

  “Oh, the sergeant. Randy.”

  “The very one.”

  “I suppose I’ll see him out at the pro shop when I take out those boxes in a minute. Why? Does he need something?”

  Jaclyn waved her hand with an exasperated sigh. “For goodness sake. The fairies never do tell me which cases will be more challenging than the others.”

  Erica hadn’t been at the ranch too long, but she had heard whispers about Jaclyn—and what happened when she got involved with couples. She drew in a sharp breath and said, “Certainly you can’t mean that he has anything to do with—that I should—that he and I—”
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br />   “Erica,” Jaclyn said slowly. “What did you do with the snickerdoodles you first made?”

  Erica felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. How had this not occurred to her earlier? Not only had she sent them in the package to a Sergeant Stanton, but Rocky liked them, too. And now, here they were. At River’s End Ranch.

  “But that’s impossible,” she said weakly, wishing she could have mustered up a more ardent reply. It really was impossible.

  “Nothing is impossible with snickerdoodles, my dear. Nothing,” Jaclyn said as she stood, picking up the list Bobbi Weston had left.

  “Is this for Dani’s wedding? From Bobbi?”

  Erica felt a twinge—she should have put the note somewhere more secure, especially since it was a surprise.

  “Yes, it is,” she said. It was a good surprise. A fun one. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to tell Jaclyn, especially if she swore her to secrecy.

  “Well, let’s hope Dani doesn’t get wind of it,” Jaclyn said after Erica filled her in. “She’s pretty independent. Even though she’s happy her mom’s back, I’m pretty certain that she wouldn’t appreciate a whole lot of meddling in the actual wedding.” Jaclyn stood to leave.

  No, she probably wouldn’t, Erica thought. But it was too late now, and she picked up the lists from Mrs. Weston and tucked them back in her pocket. She’d order the items as soon as she had a chance.

  “You’d better get a move on to the pro shop,” Jaclyn said as she headed toward the door. “The fairies are positive there’s something waiting for you there.”

  Erica stared after her for a moment before she shook her head. What could possibly be waiting for her there? This was all just a crazy coincidence, no meaning behind it at all.

  She reached into the desk for the keys to the cart, and the picture on her desk caught her eye. The man in the uniform stared back at her, his face gleaming with commitment.

  “No, Dad. Don’t even think about it. I won’t be like Mom,” she said to the plastic frame as she placed it face down on her desk, grabbed the packages and headed to the pro shop. She’d do her job, maybe even take Rocky some snickerdoodles, but she wasn’t going to make up any reasons at all to be around Randy—even though she’d thought he was different, kind of interesting when she’d first met him—especially since he was Sergeant Stanton.

  Chapter 6

  The sun sat just about straight overhead by the time Chad, Emma, and Randy had finished with a round of stories that had them all laughing so hard they were in tears. Any nerves Randy had brought with him to River’s End Ranch were gone, and he just basked in getting to know his brother again.

  He’d worried that he’d be interrupting him on his job, but Simon continued putting things away and straightening up the pro shop, popping in occasionally to add another funny story about Chad or Emma—or sometimes both—and Chad had assured him they could spare the time while waiting for more inventory to be delivered. It was the time of year that most of what they had to do was supervise the grounds crew, spiff up the pro shop and get ready for summer’s guests.

  “What a treat that you came to see us, Randy,” Emma said as she rested her warm hand on his with a kind, sincere smile. “I’ve been dying to meet you since I first met Chad.”

  “You have? Why?” Randy asked, feeling as if he’d been gone so long it hadn’t really mattered.

  “The first time I was in Chad’s cabin, I saw the wall with medals and trophies and I thought they were his. Ever since I found out they were all yours, I thought you must be pretty special, and I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.”

  Chad looked away and then at his shoes, and Randy thought he may have noticed his cheeks redden.

  “Aw, they’re no big deal. Was just trying to entertain Chad,” Randy said with a laugh, trying to make things easier for Chad—something that somehow seemed like second nature to him, like when they were kids.

  Chad cleared his throat. “Well, you can see for yourself when we drop off your things.”

  “I really don’t want to impose. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I should even come. If it hadn’t been for the—”

  “Nonsense,” Emma interrupted. “It’s a perfect time, we have a spare room and you staying somewhere else isn’t even an option. We won’t hear of it. Right, Chad?” she said, turning confidently to Chad and nodding her head definitively.

  “Of course not.” He crossed the pro shop and hugged his brother, clasped him by the shoulders and took a step back. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, brother. And we have a lot of catching up to do.”

  Randy hadn’t been so relaxed in years, and was especially grateful for his brother and sister-in-law’s warm welcome. He didn’t know quite why he was so surprised. After all, Emma had even baked him cookies!

  He turned as he heard a slightly familiar voice say, “Hello,” and he was pleasantly surprised to see that pretty girl—three times in one morning!—walk through the door of the pro shop. She smiled at him, and he was suddenly aware of how the twinkle in her eyes caught his attention yet again, and that red in her hair—a little bit like Emma’s, he saw now.

  “Erica, hi,” Emma said as she reached out for the packages Erica had loaded in her arms. “Thanks for the personal delivery.”

  “Definitely helpful,” Chad said as he reached for another box and Randy grabbed the third, nodding with a smile to Erica who looked down, but returned his smile.

  Her eyelashes had the same red tint, he noticed, and when she looked back up at him he cleared his throat and turned away.

  Rocky had been sleeping soundly in the corner all morning, but once Erica’s arms were free from boxes, she went straight for him, petting him gently and speaking to him softly. He didn’t raise his head, Randy noticed, but he was definitely wagging his tail.

  “Randy mentioned you’d met. Can you believe Randy came all the way from the Middle East to visit? We were just flabbergasted,” Emma said as she piled the last box in the corner and returned to the counter.

  “A really great surprise,” Chad said, his smile ear-to-ear.

  Randy laughed. “How could you be so surprised? Homemade cookies would do it every time. That was really nice of you to send the snickerdoodles,” Randy said. “And they’re a particular favorite of Rocky’s. He had the last one this morning, so it’s a good thing I came to get more.”

  Emma leaned against the counter in the pro shop and frowned. “I didn’t put any cookies in that box,” she said. She turned to Chad. “Did you?”

  “No, I didn’t. I grabbed a box and put in the gloves and the note, but that’s it. Gave it to Dani to mail.”

  “These gloves?” Randy said, pulling out the gloves he’d gotten in the care package from his pocket.

  “Yep, those gloves.”

  All eyes turned toward Erica as she stood and cleared her throat. “Um, I guess I’m the guilty party.”

  Emma’s eyebrows rose, and Randy was equally surprised.

  “You?” he asked, confused.

  “Well, you asked Dani to mail the package, right?” she asked Emma.

  “I did. I left early that morning and the UPS store wasn’t open yet.”

  “She had to leave and asked me to mail it. I’d made snickerdoodles and brought them in to share but nobody wanted any. When it was time to mail the package, I just thought it might make somebody happy, once I realized where the package was going.”

  Erica gave a slight smile and looked a little embarrassed, but Randy couldn’t have been happier. Whoever sent them, or however they got to him, they’d brought him to River’s End Ranch.

  “I have to say, they were the best snickerdoodles I’ve ever had,” Randy said. “The best gloves, too,” he added quickly, wiggling them in Emma’s direction.

  Emma laughed, and he relaxed, hoping he hadn’t hurt her feelings and been too excited about the cookies.

  “No worries. Thanks for thinking of it, Erica,” she said and gave her a hug. “They must have been some mean snic
kerdoodles.”

  “Actually, I don’t even bake. Jaclyn came by one day and gave me the recipe. Told me to make them, and I’d know what to do with them.”

  Silence fell over the group, and Randy noticed Chad and Emma exchange a quick glance and then try to hide smiles behind their hands. This random coincidence was turning more strange by the moment.

  “Ah,” Emma finally said. “Jaclyn.”

  “Jaclyn?” he parroted, thoroughly confused now.

  “Never mind. We’ll fill you in later,” Chad said quickly as he reached for the scissors to open the boxes.

  “That Jaclyn,” Simon said as he came out of the storeroom. “I keep telling her to mind her own, but you know how she is. Her and those darn fairies.”

  Randy crossed his arms over his chest as Chad and Emma literally turned away from him, their shoulders shaking and their smiles wide. He looked at Erica, who appeared quite uncomfortable and gave him a shrug and a smile.

  Randy tried to stifle a yawn but couldn’t, even though he tried to hide it with his hand.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. You must be so tired,” Emma said as she touched his elbow. “Why don’t you rest for a while, and we can meet for dinner? I’m sure Rocky’s tired, too, although he appears to be way ahead of you in the nap department.”

  Rocky’s tail flapped at his name.

  “I imagine he is. A nap is probably a good idea.”

  “I should get back to work,” Erica said as she headed for the door. “Nice to see you again, Randy. And you two, let me know if there’s anything you need to order. I’ll be in the office the rest of the day.”

  Randy waved as she hopped in her cart, giving them a bright smile and a wave before she headed back along the path, past the helipad where he’d arrived not long ago—although it seemed like ages—and disappeared beyond the trees.

  When he turned back toward the counter, three sets of eyes were staring at him.