by Julie Benson
This would stop, she thought as she pulled into the driveway to the Two Sisters’ Inn. When Cassie’s Internet research and her sister’s business files had left her with questions she’d contacted the Talbot sisters, who’d agreed to give her a crash course in running a B&B.
As Cassie stood on her neighbors’ old-fashioned southern porch, staring at the door wreath, decorated with bluebonnets, a wooden representation of the Texas flag, and a giant red bow, all she could think about was how she resented the time running the inn took away from her art.
Deciding to concentrate on the positive, she knocked on the door and remembered running the inn would pay the bills until her art could or until she found a buyer. It would keep a roof over their heads and put food on the table.
The door creaked open and Cassie smiled at the surprisingly spry woman who couldn’t be more than five feet two or a day under seventy-five, dressed in a Texas Rangers jersey and jeans. “Come in, dear. Betty made tea and has it waiting for us in the dining room.”
Unlike the Bluebonnet Inn and its eclectic feel, mixing antiques with more contemporary furniture, this house possessed a formal period atmosphere. While not her style, Cassie could see how the whole step back in time feel would appeal to some guests.
“Ty said you two know more about running a bed and breakfast than anyone in town,” Cassie said as she sank into a delicate carved-back chair at the antique dining room table. The sweet smell from the wildflower bouquet in the crystal vase on table swirled around her.
“We thought the world of your sister and her husband,” Betty said, looking every inch the genteel lady in a simple mint green dress and black heels as she poured tea from a china teapot into a matching cup. “They were such sweethearts, always checking on us to make sure we were okay when the weather was bad. I still can’t believe they’re gone.”
Cassie bit her lip and nodded as she accepted the tea. “I think the same thing every day.”
“The least we can do is help you keep their business running,” Gloria said.
“That’s sweet of you both considering I’m a competitor.”
“Oh, posh.” Betty waved her hand through the air. The diamonds in her massive wedding ring fairly blinded Cassie. “Wishing isn’t cut throat like the big city.”
“That’s right,” her sister said as she added a generous spoonful of sugar and a splash of milk to her tea. “We’re neighbors, and there’s enough business to go around, especially since we’re scaling back and thinking about retiring now that we’re getting older.”
Having been on her own for so long, their unexpected kindness took a while to work its way inside Cassie. The only people she’d been able to count on were her mother, Chloe, and Grace, and her relationship with her mother had been complicated at best. When she offered help, there were often strings attached and expectations that things be done a certain way—hers. Yet here were two strangers wanting to see her succeed, offering more support and encouragement than her mother often had. Maybe if she hadn’t been so like her father in both looks and nature, if she hadn’t been so insistent on following in his creative footsteps her relationship with her mother would’ve been better.
Cassie inhaled deeply and shoved the memories aside. Both her parents were dead and buried. No sense in digging up that old baggage to lug around.
“Ty’s just like your sister and brother-in-law,” Betty said. “He’s a good soul who’d give anyone who needed it the shirt off his back. He’s helped us out more than a time or two fixing things around here. We don’t know what we’d do without him.”
Cassie sipped on her tea. Here we go. Same song. Second verse. Ty’s so wonderful. The salt of the earth. He can part the Red Sea when he’s not busy helping elderly ladies and orphans cross the street. “He’s doing a wonderful job managing Ella’s finances,” she said with practiced ease.
“No one has a bigger heart or works harder than Ty, but then he was raised to take on responsibility. When they moved to town he took care of his sister after school while the rest of the family worked. Do you know that boy had dinner waiting on the table for them every day when they got home?”
Betty’s words caught Cassie off guard. Since his family owned the ranch, she’d assumed he’d lived a more privileged life. After all, she watched the show Dallas. She’d never imagined his take charge, get things done attitude came from shouldering that kind of responsibility early in life. “The ranch looks so prosperous now I didn’t realize there was a time when it wasn’t doing well.”
“Ranching is a tough life. So many things like the weather, feed, and cattle prices are out of a rancher’s control. Ty held onto his family’s land while quite a few around here had to sell,” Gloria said.
“That doesn’t surprise me. He gets things done.”
“And he holds on to what’s his. That ninny Lauren was crazy to let him get away. Not that she good enough for him, if you ask me. That man is fine both inside and out,” Gloria fanned herself with her hand. “Just thinking how his butt looks in jeans makes my heart rate go up enough to need an extra dose of my heart medication.”
“Pull your mind out of the gutter, sister,” Betty said. “It’s unseemly for you to sit here drooling over our neighbor.”
“That’s funny coming from you. I saw you checking Ty out when he replaced the toilet in the hall bath upstairs last week.” When her sister started to protest, Gloria cut her off. “You were in an awful mood before he arrived, but after he left you were all sunshine. Not only did he brighten your day, he kept you smiling for a week.”
“You’re exaggerating.” Despite the rosy blush spreading across the older woman’s weathered cheeks, Betty glared at her sister. “I wouldn’t dream of ogling a man more than half my age.”
“Then you’re missing out.” Gloria turned her focus to Cassie, eying her over the tea cup as she took a sip. The mischievous twinkle in her eyes made her appear ten years younger. “You look like a woman smart enough to recognize a good man.”
“Now’s not a good time for me to get involved with anyone,” Cassie said anxious to squelch any budding matchmaking plans. “Ella needs all my attention right now.”
“That man would be good for both you and that little girl,” Gloria insisted.
“Ignore her. I do all the time.” Betty waved a hand through the air as if brushing away what her sister said. “Now, how can we help you with the inn?”
Cassie smiled. In so many ways the sisters’ relationship mirrored hers with Chloe. They were so different they couldn’t help but needle each other the way she and Chloe had, and yet, love and concern filled every glance between them. The crack in Cassie’s heart widened at the thought of the years she’d lost with her sister. This should’ve been them after long happy lives.
“I’ve looked through Chloe’s notes,” she said, focusing on the reason for their meeting. “I know what she did to prepare the rooms and how she greeted guests when they checked in, but what about the rest of the time? Are the guests on their own? It’s not like a hotel where I continually have to offer services, is it?”
“No, dear. That’s not expected at a bed and breakfast,” Betty said. “It’s just like the name says. We provide a place to sleep and a morning meal.”
“However, we offer a traditional afternoon tea for our guests,” Gloria added, rejoining the conversation. “But that was because we treat ourselves to tea every afternoon. When guests started asking to join us, we decided to include them as well, for an additional minimal fee, but don’t feel like you have to do anything like that.”
For the next half hour the three of the sipped tea and nibbled on the most delicious shortbread cookies Cassie ever tasted while the sisters patiently answered her questions.
Then they gave her a tour of their house, explaining how they prepared each room for guests. “We also place a short hand written note on the dresser and put fresh flowers in the room,” Betty said. “Flowers always brighten up a room.”
Gloria n
odded. “Little touches make a great difference.”
“You two are so at ease with this. Chloe was the same way. There’s so much to remember.” Cassie wasn’t sure whether it was the doubt in her voice, or if the panic showed on her face, but whatever the reason, Betty closed the distance between them and patted her arm in reassurance.
“You can do this, my dear. My suggestion is to start off slow by booking people in the main house. Then once you’ve gotten the hang of the business, schedule guests for the rest of the inn.”
“That’s a fine idea, Betty,” Gloria said. “My advice is to treat everyone that stays with you as if they’re family.”
Considering her relationship with her parents, maybe Gloria’s suggestion wasn’t the best for Cassie, but she got the general gist of what they meant.
After the tour they returned to what the sisters called the parlor, and Cassie noticed pictures situated on the walls and every available surface. Most of them were the standard vacation mug shots. Her father would’ve cringed at the lack of creativity. He always prided himself of catching a person’s true essence in his photos through their actions. Despite the lack of originality, the pictures touched Cassie. They were a legacy of the lives that had passed through this home and testified to the fact that they’d been touched by these sweet women. “All the photos of guests are so wonderful.”
“Over the years the people who stay with us have become family,” Gloria said. “Especially since I never married, and Betty and her dear husband Paul were never blessed with children.”
“Many of them come back time and time again, and we got to know them well,” Betty said. “They shared stories and pictures of their children. In a way, we watched them grow up. We heard about their trials and their successes. So when people asked us to take their picture to help them remember their stay, we always asked them to send us a copy. Most times people did.”
“It’s quite an honor to have us display the picture. Most of them are in scrapbooks because we’ve run out of space.”
As Cassie stared at the photos, an idea took root. Her father always said she’d inherited his eye with the camera. Could she put that to use now? Most people wanted vacation pictures, but how could they enjoy riding or playing cowboy on the ranch if they were worried about capturing the experience? Plus, most people used a cell phone to take their pictures. Not the best for great vacation photos.
She could fix that. She could concentrate on taking pictures, allowing the guests to focus on having fun. She could put the photos on a flash drive. But what if she took the idea further and sold charcoal sketches or paintings? And not just of the photos taken on the ranch. She could do whatever the guests wanted—portraits, their favorite horse from their vacation, the family pet or children. Anything they had a photo of.
The idea had possibilities. Maybe it wouldn’t bring in much money, but she could add something and help in some way that was uniquely her, and she realized, she wanted, needed to do that to pay back Ty for everything he’d done.
Creative energy pulsed through her like a drug, sending her mind spinning with possibilities. She thanked the sisters again for their help and headed for her car. If she made good use of her time, she could put together a proposal for Ty before she picked Ella up from school.
Chapter Eight
‡
Ty tossed fresh hay into a horse stall and checked his watch. Cassie and Ella should arrive any time now.
For a woman who wasn’t his type, she occupied his thoughts a lot and kept him awake more than one night. Worse yet, when he did sleep, Cassie and that day at the lake often filled his dreams. But instead of her walking off, she stayed with him, and he peeled off her wet clothes, revealing the feminine curves underneath. Then he shed his clothes, and they spent the day making love under the big blue Texas sky.
He had to admit he admired Cassie, too. Her spunk and determination kept her going through some damn rough times that would’ve made lesser women give up. The image of her, strong and resolute, as she told him about getting called into the principal’s office floated through his mind. There was a woman who had every reason to pull out the tears and beg for help, and yet she hadn’t.
He didn’t mind helping her out. He’d signed on for that when he agreed to be Ella’s financial guardian, but more than that? Kissing her and dreaming about what it would be like to explore the curves she tried to hide under those long flowing bohemian?
Complete insanity.
The barn door squeaked open. Cassie’s musical voice floated toward him as she chattered away to Ella about her visit with the Talbot sisters, and damned if his pulse didn’t quicken listening to her.
Time to take control. He wasn’t an untried teenager. Resolve in place to ignore his body and follow his common sense, Ty headed out to meet them. When Ella, an apple clutched in her hands as a treat for Crunchie, spotted him, a big smile spilled across her face and she dashed toward him, while Cassie followed at a somewhat slower pace. As he scooped the child into his arms, he tried to ignore how good her aunt looked. Since coming to Wishing she’d gotten some color in her skin and wasn’t that east coast stay inside pale color.
“We have good news,” Cassie said when she reached him. “When I picked up Ella, Mrs. Radebaugh had carpool duty. According to her, Ella is having a fantastic week. She’s gotten all her work done, and it’s been quality work.”
“Way to go.” Ty glanced at Ella, her face glowing with pride. He held up his hand to share a high five. Since she’d come to the ranch after school, he’d seen progress. While she hadn’t started talking, she smiled more, and her gaze wasn’t as haunted. “I say that calls for a celebration ride.” Ella clapped her hands and squirmed for him to put her down, but he held on tight. “Just a short one around the corral. If it’s okay with your aunt. What do you say, Cassie?” For the first time he focused on her face, noting how the green stripes in her blouse emphasized her big eyes, making them shine. He could get lost in those eyes.
*
“I say that’s an excellent idea.”
He released Ella and the minute the child’s feet hit the ground she raced toward Crunchie’s stall. The click of his boots on the cement as he and Cassie followed broke the awkward silence between them. You’d think they were a couple of teenagers. Maybe they should ask Ella to pass notes for them. I think I kind of like you. Do you like me?
Thankfully, once in the corral they slipped into more comfortable roles, focusing on Ella as she rode the paint pony. He and Cassie leaned against the fence as her cheering section.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you doing this. Having this to look forward to has made a huge difference for Ella. For both of us. Mrs. Radebaugh says Ella’s attitude in class has improved as well. Even though she’s still not talking, she’s interacting more with the other students. She’s not separating herself as much.”
Cassie smiled at him as if he’d lassoed the moon and handed it to her with a big red bow. His chest puffed out a little bit.
“I’d do anything to help that little girl.”
“You’re really something. No matter what you’ve got going on, no matter how busy you are, you make time for her every day. A lot of guys wouldn’t do that for someone else’s child. Especially when all they agreed to was being her trustee.”
“Sounds as if the guys you know are real winners.” What kind of ass wouldn’t help a kid? Who wouldn’t do everything he could to make her life better? What had the men she’d known been like? His stomach knotted up at the thought and he frowned.
“It’s not that they haven’t been good guys.” She paused and shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other. “Not that there have been that many of them, but none of my relationships have been the kind where we’ve met each other’s family or had to deal with any serious life crisis. Really, the only man I’ve had a lasting relationship with was my father.”
Ty shouldn’t be happy about that, but he was as excited as a kid on Christmas mor
ning. “What was he like?”
Cassie’s eyes lit up like a shiny rodeo trophy, and a wide smile spread across her face. “My dad was amazing. That’s where I get my artistic nature. He was a photojournalist who traveled all over the world. His photos of the war in Afghanistan won numerous awards.”
“Was he gone a lot?”
She nodded. When her smile faded, he regretted his question. “Most times it was just me, Chloe, and our mom, but we managed. Dad’s work was so important. He documented so many social issues and brought them to light. His photos helped bring about significant changes that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. The world was a better place because of him and his work.”
But at what cost, Ty wondered. What good was helping the world if the man wasn’t there for his family? In his mind, nothing a man did was as important as raising his children. Deciding to change the subject, he said, “You all set for the first guests this weekend?”
“I think so. Betty and Gloria were a wealth of information today. Not only that, but when I was touring their house I had a great idea for our business.”
Our business. Her words settled around him, filling him with an odd mixture of unease and hope. But then his skepticism kicked in. How long would her enthusiasm last? Not that it mattered because no way was he foolish enough to rely on her. “You? An idea? Something tells me I should be worried.”
“Very funny.”
She playfully swatted his arm, her palm connecting with his skin where he’d rolled up his shirt sleeves. Nerve endings fired, sending pulses of heat darting through him at her simple touch. So much for not being an untried teenager and taking control.
“This is a good one,” Cassie continued. “Even you won’t be able to argue with it.”
“This I’ve got to hear.” He propped his boot on the fence rail, leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Give it your best shot.”
“That stern you-can’t-convince-me look isn’t going to scare me or dampen my enthusiasm because this idea is fantastic.” She flashed him a confident smile and excitement danced in her expressive eyes. “Betty and Gloria have pictures of guests all over the house. Seeing those got me thinking about how I could help with the ranch tours since I’m not the greatest horsewoman.”