by Kim Redford
“You know we need to get on with our day.” She held up a hand and counted on her fingertips. “I need to talk with Ivy. I need a place to stay. I need clothes. I need to go over what you’ve done with the Hall. And I need to make plans for Wild West Days. Labor Day is coming up fast.”
“True. I stand ready to help you any way you need me. Whether you’d planned on it or not, we’re in this together now.”
She nodded as she considered her coffee a moment before she glanced up at him. “But no bedroom shenanigans.”
“Not even a little bit?”
“We need to keep our relationship strictly professional.”
“Fern, I don’t know how you think that’s possible after what we’ve meant to each other.”
“That’s in the past. You gave me an ultimatum. I made a choice. Let’s leave it there.” She only hoped she could stay true to those words, because his presence was having a powerful effect on her.
He shook his head, looking anywhere but at her. “What if it won’t stay there?”
“We’ll make it.”
Finally, he turned hazel eyes back on her. “Not we. If that’s the way you want it, you’re on your own.”
“Fine.” She did her best to sound sure of that fact. “I’ve been on my own. I can handle it.”
“Can you?”
“Yes.” She shivered at the memory of that last time with him. She couldn’t forget the power of it or how she’d lost complete control. “I’ll do what needs to be done.”
He took a sip of coffee, and then nodded his head. “Okay. We’ll both do what needs to be done…for us and the Park.”
“Okay.” She drained the contents of her mug and set it on the tray. “First order of business today, I get up and get dressed.” She glanced around and realized she’d left her carryall in the other room.
“Want me to bring your stuff in here?” he asked, as if reading her mind.
“I’d appreciate it. I only brought a change of clothes. I shipped the rest back, so it’ll be here…well, whenever.”
He set his mug beside hers on the tray, hesitated, and looked at her again. “We can make this work. I want to make it work. I just need your help.”
“You’ve got it. And I really mean that. You know I love the Park and everything about it. We owe it to the heritage of the dance hall to put it on the map, so more than locals have the chance to enjoy it.”
“I’m with you on this one.”
“Good.”
“I’ll get your bag.” He picked up the tray, turned, walked to the open doorway, then stopped and glanced back at her with a little smile on his full lips. “Let’s make this fun.”
She returned his smile, picking up his excitement about the Hall. She could do it. She wanted to do it. She just needed to let the past drift away. “Yes. If it’s fun for us, it’ll be fun for everyone.”
“That’s right.” And he left the room.
She sighed in relief. Somehow or other, she’d make her Wildcat Hall dream come true because that was what was truly important—not her personal preferences.
When Craig brought back her carryall and set it on the end of the bed, he hesitated, as if reluctant to let go of something intimate that belonged to her. He clasped the handle, released it, and clasped it again before finally relinquishing it. He cleared his throat, then stepped back.
“Thanks.”
“I’ll wait for you in the other room.”
“I can join you down at the Hall.”
“You need to eat.” He let his gaze trail down her T-shirt, then back to her face. “You lost weight.”
She shrugged, not wanting their conversation to turn personal again.
“I’ll scramble eggs.”
“Toast is fine.”
“Blackberry jam?”
“Perfect.”
“More coffee?”
“Yes, thank you.” She realized they’d become stilted with each other because neither knew where to go from here. She needed to get dressed, but he didn’t want to leave her. He wanted to watch or help like the old days. She pointedly looked at her bag, hoping he’d get the message.
He cleared his throat again and took a step back. “Guess I’ll go fix breakfast.”
“I won’t be long.”
“Okay.” He quietly shut the door behind him.
And she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want to hurt him. And she didn’t want to get hurt. Everything about their partnership might not be as easy, but it was doable. She needed to talk with Ivy before she went any further with the situation. Maybe, by some chance of fate, she didn’t own the Park with Craig.
She lifted her phone off the nightstand and hit speed dial.
“Fern, is that actually you? When are you ever up this early?” Ivy asked with wonder in her voice.
“Sister dear, believe it or not, I’m back in Wildcat Bluff.”
“What? That’s wonderful!”
“I didn’t want to disturb anyone, so I came in late last night. And guess who I found in my bed.”
“Craig Thorne.”
“None other.” As glad as she was to hear her sister’s voice, she couldn’t hide the irritation coming through her voice. “Please tell me you didn’t sell your part of the Park to him.”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“But, Ivy, why? This was our venture together. You’re going to stay here now that you’re engaged, so why couldn’t you have held on till I got back?”
“Fern, you know I love you, but you can be flaky. I didn’t know if you’d ever return.”
“Flaky?”
“On occasion…well, maybe more than occasionally.”
Fern snorted into the phone, chuckling at the truth of her sister’s statement.
“Aren’t you going to argue with me?”
“No. I can’t. But Wildcat Bluff Park is dear to my heart…my biggest dream come true. You know it.”
“I do. Still, you took off and left me holding the bag,” Ivy said.
“I apologized over and over for it, but—”
“Why’d you do it?”
“I hadn’t intended to leave you with the Hall, but the cruise gig was another dream come true. I couldn’t pass it up. And Craig…well, he didn’t want me to go. He wanted something else.”
“He loves you.”
“Maybe he did.”
“Does.”
“You know I’ve always been a rolling stone. I’m trying to settle down here because I love the Park and I want to build the venue.”
“And Craig?”
“Why sell to him?”
“Besides you, he’s the best person to own the Park. He loves Wildcat Hall like you do. He has the knowledge and skills to do what you planned to do. I don’t. He was the best choice, since I wanted to move on with my life. And he’s still the best choice, particularly since you’re back.”
“I don’t know.” Fern looked at the phone as she listened to Craig in the kitchen. “I feel vulnerable around him.”
“I’m that way with Slade. But take my word for it, you can be vulnerable with some men and it only makes the relationship stronger.”
“You’re happy, and that’s what counts.”
“I want you to be happy, too. Craig used to make you happy.”
“That’s in the past.”
“You can still work with him, can’t you?”
“I’ll have to, won’t I?”
“Music. That’s the way to go with him.”
“And the Hall.” Fern stood up, accepting the reality of her situation. “I love you, but you’ve put me in a difficult position.”
“If you’ll give Craig a chance—”
“I plan for us to be professional and do what’s best for the Park.”
“That’s a good place to start,” Ivy said.
“I hope so. I’m anxious to see you.”
“Same here.”
“But Craig’s in the kitchen.”
“And?” Ivy sounded more than a little interested in that fact.
“I need to get dressed, so we can go down to the Hall and get to work.”
“So he was there last night?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Nothing.”
“Okay. I won’t pry…at least not yet.”
“Thanks.”
“I love you. I’m so glad you’re here. Come see me…or I’ll come see you. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’m glad to be back, too. And you know I love you.”
“Call me.”
“Will do.” And Fern cut the connection. Ivy had really done it. Even with the best of intentions on her sister’s part, it was a shock. And yet, she was still co-owner of the Park. She could put her plans into action with Craig’s help because, above all else, she trusted him.
She zipped open her bag. First things first.
“Breakfast’s ready,” Craig called.
And she felt a little thrill, despite everything, to be with him again.
Chapter 4
Craig sat across from Fern at the dining table and watched her eat as if she wasn’t completely committed to the act. Even so, it felt just right. He’d feared they’d never get here again, but here they were at last. And still…could a rolling-stone cowgirl and a stay-put cowboy make it work?
Love and laughter were two sides of the same coin. They spelled happiness. If she couldn’t love for now, she could laugh. Music was the way to her heart and happiness. If he could take her there, she might truly come back to him.
“Do you want something else to eat?” At least he hadn’t burned the toast like he’d heard Slade had burned the cookies in this very room.
“It’s fine. Thank you.” She picked up her mug of coffee and smiled at him over the rim.
“Maybe you’ll like the cookies at the Hall, too.”
“Who made them?” She cocked her head with interest.
“Alicia.”
“What would the Park do without the Settelmeyers?”
“Offhand, I’d say it’d all fall apart. They’ve been here, generation after generation, from the beginning of the dance hall.”
She nodded in agreement. “They really saved me when I arrived here not knowing nearly enough.”
“They did the same thing for Ivy.”
“Bless their hearts. I look forward to working with them again.” She hesitated, staring at her coffee. “I bet they can set me up in one of the other cabins.”
He felt his heart sink. She wasn’t going to live with him. He might as well accept it. “One more night and a cabin will open up.”
“Really?” She looked at him with pleasure sparkling in her green eyes.
“Yep.” He felt his heart sink a little lower. “I’ll move over there.”
“No, I won’t have it.” She set down her mug. “You’re already living here. I need to create a new home anyway, and a small place will suit me fine.”
He might as well not fight her. “Okay.”
“Which one is it?”
“The cabin next door.” He felt somewhat lighter that she’d be near him.
“So close?”
“It’s best. I can keep watch on you that way.” Once he heard his words, he cringed at how they’d sound to her. She’d already said she was fine on her own. “I mean, that way it’ll be easier to work together.”
“True.”
“If you don’t want to live in the Park, I bet Ruby would find room for you at Twin Oaks.”
“That’d be fun.” She turned a pleased smile on him. “I love her B and B.”
“Everybody does.” Happy was the ticket. For her. For him, too. They both deserved to be happy. It hit him hard, that knowledge. He hadn’t been completely happy since she’d left. Now that she was back, it was time to grasp happiness and run with it. He squared his shoulders in anticipation of carrying that ball to the finish line for a big win.
“But I want to be here at the Park near you…so we can make plans and put them into action.”
“Good.” Life was definitely looking up. She wanted to be close to him, even if only to take care of the place. It was enough—for now.
She spread jam on a wedge of toast, then took a bite.
“Hungrier now?”
“Yes. Maybe all the uncertainty has been getting to me.”
“It can knock you off your feet.”
“Guess so.” She ate another piece, glancing reflectively at the front door. “About Wild West Days.”
“Hedy, Bert, Morning Glory, and Ruby are already planning it, as usual.”
“I suppose Eden and Jack will livestream events over KWCB. They’ve done wonders with the ranch radio station since she got back. I’ve been keeping up while I was gone.”
“Yeah. They turned the Wildcat Den around in a short time.”
“That’s what I want us to do with the Hall.”
“We’re already headed that way.”
“I want more.”
“Me, too.” He wished she’d say that about him.
“But to get back to Wild West Days.” She rubbed long fingers, calloused from playing a guitar, around the lip of her mug.
He wanted those fingers on his body, tracing him all over like she’d once done. He ached for it.
“Craig?”
“What?” He shook his head, jerking his thoughts back to the present moment.
“Wild West Days. I agreed to help with the music, but I don’t know much about the event.”
“We get a lot of tourists in Old Town looking for a taste of the Old West like they do in Tombstone, Arizona.”
“I’ve been to Tombstone. It’s great.”
“We’re wall-to-wall folks during Wild West Days, since it’s the last big event of summer. Folks like to see our reenactment of the shoot-out between the Hellions and the Ruffians for control of the town.”
“Sounds like the shoot-out at the OK Corral in Tombstone.”
“It’s similar. Sometimes those old-time outlaws fought the law. Sometimes they fought each other for turf.”
“Where does the shoot-out take place?”
“Lone Star Saloon.”
“And that’s where we’re to provide music?”
“Right. Old Town hasn’t changed much since the 1880s. The Lone Star Saloon still serves the same function—food, drink, dance hall.”
“But it’s competition for Wildcat Hall, isn’t it?”
“It could be, but it’s not due to its location. The Lone Star is in town, while the Hall is out here on the old cattle-drive trail.”
“Still, they are both dance halls.”
“We have the cowboy cabins, the outdoor garden with picnic tables, and a lot more space.”
“I just don’t want there to be a venue conflict of interest.”
“Don’t worry. There’ll be plenty of people for both places.”
“Okay. I’m convinced we’re in good shape here.”
“Locals get involved by dressing up and playing parts. If you didn’t know, dance hall darlings in their fancy dresses and white pinafores turned the tide. You’d look good all dolled up like that.”
She laughed, eyes crinkling at the corners. “And you’d look even better dressed as a gambler with aces up his sleeve.”
“We’d make quite the saloon team.” He joined her laughter, feeling as if they were finally getting off on the right foot. Work—that was definitely the right way to go. Plus, Wild West Days was a good cause that benefited the entire county, so he was happy to support it. And it was
fun…and it’d be even more fun with Fern.
“I’m supposed to sing at the Lone Star.”
“Me, too.”
She set down her wedge of toast, looking to one side. “I know. We were going to play together.”
“We can still do it. Why not? You’re back. I’m available.”
“Like before?” She glanced at him with an uneasy expression in her green eyes.
“We always made beautiful music together. You don’t really think that’s changed, do you?”
“No.” She toyed with her piece of toast. “I guess we could practice some numbers at Wildcat Hall.”
“I’m ready anytime you are.”
“But the Lone Star isn’t our priority.”
“Guess not…at least not yet.”
“I’m ready to get into managing the Hall.”
“Remember, you have a working partner now.”
She tossed her toast onto her plate and stood up, turning her back to him. “I had it all to myself before I left.”
“I know.” He stood up, too. “If we’re going to butt heads over who’s in charge here, then let’s get it over with.”
She walked to the front door and pulled it open. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorjamb as she looked toward the dance hall.
“I’m serious.” He walked over and stopped by her side. He saw what she saw. At the end of summer, the Park was a beautiful blend of colorful flowers, trimmed bushes, and leafy green trees. A mockingbird was singing its heart out in a series of spirited melodies.
“I know, but I’m not sure I know how to share.” She let out a breath as she stepped outside.
He followed her. “You can make this easy, or you can make it hard.”
“Compromise?”
“I’m all about compromise, but I don’t think we need it.”
“No?”
“Let’s just work together as a team, like we did before you left.”
“But I was in charge of the Park then.” She picked up the firefighter gear, set it to one side, plopped down in the rocker, and tapped her foot to a tune in her head.
“Not of the music. That was teamwork.”
“True. Oh, I don’t know.” She abruptly stood up.
“First, let’s get this out in the open.”
“What?”