Champagne and Cowboys

by Donna Michaels

  The sound of a motor being revved up brought Cole back to the present. He stood, uncomfortably aware of how looking at the old photo affected him, how memories of Anna caused a dull ache in his chest. For a brief moment, he wondered, as he’d done many times over the years, what had happened to her. Was she married? Was she practicing law in some big firm in Chicago?

  He closed his laptop and realized he had no right to be curious, to think about her now. He’d made his choices long ago—choices he’d come to regret and would likely never have the chance to apologize for.

  Chapter Three

  A few hours into her drive north, Anna punched in Harrison’s number. She shaded her eyes from the noonday sun as she stood in the windbreak of the tiny roadside diner. There’d been only one other patron inside, and his rig was parked alongside the building. A tumbleweed skirted across the ground in front of her and she fully expected to see a poncho-clad Clint Eastwood appear from between two old, abandoned buildings.

  “Hello, Harrison Barnes, speaking.” His aristocratic British tone always threw her off, especially after spending time with Mina’s southern drawl.

  “Hello, Mr. Barnes,” she said, “this is your personal escort service asking what plans you’ve made for New Year’s Eve?” Her attempt at seduction was thwarted when her gaze landed on a ceramic armadillo flowerpot, filled with a variety of blooming cactus. At least she thought it was ceramic. She chuckled.

  “Anna, Mon petit gateau, it’s good to hear from you. It has been a while. How are you, darling?”

  Okay, she had a weakness for him when he spoke to her in French, even if only calling her his “little cupcake.” She glanced at the dark clouds rolling in over the mountains on the horizon. If she was going to make it to the ranch by dusk, she’d have to make this quick. Anna smiled. That shouldn’t be too difficult for Harrison. She cleared her throat.

  “What would you say to being my date to a gala New Year’s Eve wedding?”

  “Sounds promising. Here in the city?”

  “Well, no. I’m on assignment—”

  “I don’t remember you mentioning you’d be traveling.” There was an edge to his voice. He could get possessive at the oddest times.

  “Because we haven’t spoken since you got back last week, remember? Besides, you know I spend every Christmas in Amarillo with my good friend.”

  “Oh, yes, Nina. Farm girl. Old college chum.”

  “It’s Mina, and I don’t think she’d appreciate being called my old chum. At any rate, I’m doing an exclusive for the magazine. The heiress to the Diamond Double J Ranch near Telluride, Colorado. It’s going to be quite the star-studded event. Heard the name Redford mentioned.” She knew Harrison could be tempted if only for the chance to rub elbows with the elite.

  “Bobby? I haven’t seen him in ages. Would love to chat with him about his Wild Horse preservation program.”

  She could always count on Harrison’s eye for opportunity.

  “Must I wear cowboy boots?” he asked with a chuckle.

  “That’s entirely up to you. A suit, however, would be nice.” Anna chewed her lip, already debating whether this had been a good idea. “Let me check, but my invitation indicated an additional guest was permitted.”

  “As good a New Year as any, love. Call and let me know when you want me there. I’ll get a private plane to bring me in. I can be there”—there was a pause—“as early as tomorrow evening.”

  “Thanks, Harrison.”

  “At least neither of us will have to usher in the New Year alone.” He hung up without so much as a goodbye.

  She looked at the phone, laughed, and slipped it back in her purse. It dawned on her that his parting comment was as close to anything intimate he’d ever said to her. Even in bed. She’d come to accept the arrangement they had, investing very little emotion into it. But now, after being at Mina’s, hearing her good news, seeing how happy she and her family were, Anna had been hit with a pang of loneliness that the drive had not been able to alleviate. Perhaps it was seeing those old photos of Cole Tanner that were the cause of an old ache to stir inside her—unresolved issues, she decided, but an ache nonetheless. And suddenly being alone in a house full of strangers celebrating a wedding seemed too much to handle alone.

  Armed with a fresh cup of coffee in her travel mug, she popped on her sunglasses and climbed back into her rental car. After checking her GPS, she turned up the thermostat to increase the heat and set out once more for the Diamond Double J.

  Several hours later, she turned off Highway 145 and onto a long stretch of asphalt road cleared through the forest. The entrance was a massive arch made of large, rough-hewn timbers with a black wrought-iron diamond with two J’s at its center. She peered ahead, driving slow through the peppered dusky afternoon shadows until she came to a clearing. Finding the brake, she stopped, her jaw slack as she took in the rustic fortress before her. “Good lord, someone’s lost a town,” she muttered, taking in the wide drive around a massive stone fountain, filled not with water, but a variety of rock and plant life, instead. Rising from its middle, in life-size bronzed glory, were two stallions forever fighting for supremacy. If this was what was being turned into a luxury corporate resort, then it certainly fit the bill. She leaned over the wheel, staring at the large cathedral windows above the building’s main floor, taking in the stone and hewn logs that made up what looked more like a mountain lodge than a private home. A front porch wrapped around one side, but she was unable to discern how far around it went. The other wing of the structure seemed to perch majestically on a steep hillside, looking out on the valley and, in the distance, Telluride. The last dredges of sunlight bounced off the windows, giving it a diamond-like appearance wedged against the mountainside.

  She drove in under the carport, built of wide rafters like those you might see in a barn. Hanging from the ceiling was a massive chandelier made up of hundreds of antlers and enough light bulbs to illuminate a county. The road continued on, with ample spaces for guest parking before it took a slight dip and curved past a massive red barn built in the shadow of the main house. Shutting off the ignition, she reached for her phone, intent on making good on the promise to let Mina know when she arrived, but she barely had a signal. She’d have to see if there might be a computer she could use to email her, or maybe she could just use the old-fashioned land line.

  After wrestling her luggage from the trunk, she rolled the suitcase across the smooth blacktop, bumped up the short flight of handcrafted log steps, and across wooden planks worn by time, traffic, and weather. She jostled her camera bag over her shoulder just as one side of the double doors opened. A large evergreen wreath, left over from Christmas, still hung on the door.

  A petite woman with silver streaks in her raven hair smiled at her. She wore a full apron sporting the ranch’s logo on the front and more silver and turquoise than the models in their ad campaigns.

  “Hello, I’m Anna Worthington with Today’s Cowboy magazine.”

  The woman’s smile did not falter. It was kind, reaching her dark, sparkling eyes. She nodded. “Yes, come in, we’ve been expecting you.”

  She stepped into the circular foyer with a two-story Tiffany stained glass ceiling. The floor was inlaid with the Diamond Double J insignia in polished black marble.

  “My name is Maria. I’m chief cook and bottle-washer around here. I’ve been instructed to see that you get settled in your room. Mr. C is out checking fences and will be late for supper.” The woman placed a gentle hand over Anna’s and relieved her of her suitcase. “That happens frequently these days with all the renovations being done around here.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Please follow me.”

  She led Anna from the foyer down a hallway worthy of a grand hotel. The walls inside were also rough-hewn polished timber. Mission-style wall sconces brightened the dark interior with flickering bulbs. A thickly woven runner in a rich, barn red with an ivory and black American Indian print covered the wooden floor, lending to the rust
ic yet elegant décor.

  Anna noticed they’d passed several doors. “How many rooms does this house have?” she asked in sheer awe.

  Maria stopped and frowned, appearing to search her thoughts. “Well, the original house has twelve bedrooms—five on this wing, seven in the other. Each has its own bath. The two on the back corners of the house are our two-room guest suites. Then there is the living room, kitchen, and ballroom.”

  “Ballroom?” Anna didn’t mask her surprise.

  Maria nodded. “The Diamonds were well-known once for hosting many events—receptions, fundraisers for charities, weddings of close friends.”

  “Is that where the wedding is taking place?”

  “No.” Maria continued down the hall. “It will be easier to show you in a moment where the ceremony will take place. The ballroom is where the reception will be. A staircase leads to the large loft area, used primarily for small gatherings. In addition to Ms. Eva’s suite upstairs, there is a movie room, billiard room, small kitchen, and main library on the upper floor.” Maria gave Anna a warm smile. “You’ll have to explore to fully appreciate it.” She nodded toward the camera bag on her shoulder. “I don’t doubt that you’ll be taking many pictures. Here we are. You’ll have the Geranium room.” Maria opened the door, ushering her into a quaint sitting room.

  Anna felt an instant serenity at the blend of feminine touches combined with a cozy rustic décor. There was a love seat and overstuffed chair and ottoman near a small stone fireplace. In the corner was a floor-to-ceiling shelf unit filled with books, and facing a window to the outside was a small writing desk. She had visions of curling up in front of a crackling fire with a cup of tea, watching the snow falling gently outside.

  “Oh, I meant to ask earlier if you will you be having a guest join you for the wedding and reception?” Maria asked.

  “I’m not sure. I didn’t want to presume anything,” she answered. “I wasn’t certain of how much room there’d be.”

  The old woman waved away her concerns. “There is plenty of room.” She walked over and opened another door. “In here is the bedroom. You and your guest should be quite comfortable here, but if you prefer we can arrange for a separate room.”

  “Thank you.” Anna smiled, feeling a sudden pang of selfishness at wasting this on Harrison, knowing he wouldn’t appreciate it. He was into modern, abstract, while she preferred traditional and rustic. She knew even Redford’s presence wouldn’t quell the teasing she’d get for months after this event.

  “Let me show you one the best features of this room.” Maria drew back a curtain to reveal a view of the western sun setting over the distant mountain ridge.

  Anna’s breath caught. She dropped her bag and walked to the door. Standing beside the smaller woman, she stared at the scene overcome with its beauty. “It’s beautiful,” she said, taking in the stunning vista.

  Maria opened the door and a brisk mountain breeze sent the curtains into a whirling tangle.

  She followed the woman out onto the balcony, stopping to breathe in the fresh mountain air. The unencumbered view was even more spectacular. She stood at the railing taking in what seemed to be miles of timber-lined pastures in the valley below. “Is that Telluride?” she asked, pointing at what looked like a miniature village in the canyon floor.

  “Yes. Mr. Diamond loved this view. He designed this side of the house with the balcony that runs the full length of the back of the house and the walls made mostly of glass along the western side, to be able to see the sunsets over the mountains.” Maria pointed out an octagon–shaped building below. It looked like an overgrown, glassed-in gazebo. “That is the greenhouse Mr. Diamond built for his wife. She loved flowers. It’s the reason we chose to give the guest rooms floral names when we remodeled them. That is where the wedding itself is to take place.”

  Anna looked down at the beautiful little whitewashed building, confused by how small it looked. “The ceremony is in there?”

  Maria glanced at her. “The ceremony itself is very small. Just family and a handful of friends. The majority of guests will arrive later for a dinner reception and special New Year’s Eve gathering. Oh, it’s getting chilly. Let’s get back inside.” She nudged Anna back inside and closed the door. “I’ll suspect you may want a cozy fire this evening. Simply push this button and the fire will ignite the logs.” She pointed to a large basket filled with firewood. “Stephan will keep that filled for you, but you let me know if you need more.”

  “It’s lovely, thank you.”

  “Unless there’s anything else, I’ll let you get settled. I’ve got to get back to supper preparations. I’m fixing a nice wild rice and potato soup this evening with homemade rolls. I can bring your supper here if you like, or you’re welcome to eat in the dining room. I just can’t say whether you’ll have company. But you’re welcome to eat in the kitchen, too.”

  “Here would be nice, if you don’t mind?” Anna replied. A hot shower, sweater, and her jeans sounded wonderful. “I may wander around and take a few pictures, if that’s okay?”

  Maria nodded. “Please do. I’m not exactly sure if Ms. Eva is here. I understood she had an appointment this evening in town. At any rate, you’ll meet her soon. I’ll bring supper around seven.”

  After Maria, Anna took a long shower, and changed into a tunic sweater, skinny jeans, and boots. Refreshed, she grabbed her camera, set on taking one or two pictures of this grand ballroom. Once there, she realized that she was already going to have enough pictures to lay out an entire coffee table book.

  Voices from the second floor caught her attention, and she turned to see a polished, beautiful woman dressed elegantly for the outdoors in leggings, puff jacket, and sweater, dripping with what she guessed was real turquoise jewelry. As she descended the curved staircase, she was followed by a shorter gentleman dressed in Ralph Lauren circa late seventies. Though she couldn’t discern her words, by her tone Anna was able to deduce that this woman was clearly agitated. The man seemed lost in taking notes.

  “There, there, and there. Orchestra over there.” She pointed out the spots as she walked with a quick step, her boots on the sleek wood floor causing an echo in her wake. “No more than eight to a table. Any more stifles proper conversation.” She turned on her heel and the man drew back in surprise, stepping back so she could retrace her steps. “Intimate seating in each corner of the room.”

  Anna was certain neither had noticed her standing at the other end of the grand room. Intrigued, she watched silently as the gorgeous woman, dressed as though from the pages of one of the elite clothing ads in their magazine, continued to bark out orders. By the look of things, she was either the wedding planner or the bride—either way she felt a little sorry for her assistant. She started toward the couple, preparing to introduce herself, when the woman noticed her suddenly and came at her like a runaway train.

  “Finally. I’m surprised you were able to make it today.” She gave Anna a puzzled look. “Well, never mind. Let me finish up my thoughts and then we’ll get to you.”

  There were few times Anna found herself speechless. She followed as the pair whizzed by her.

  “An ice sculpture.” The woman whirled on her heel, a look of pure delight on her face. “Freddy, imagine a magnificent stallion with the ranch’s logo carved into the base.”

  “Inspired.” He glowed, if that’s possible for a man not doing physical labor. He made a note in his book.

  Bride or planner, Anna felt it was time that this woman realize she was not one of her little minions. “Excuse me, I’m Anna Worth—”

  Raucous male laughter came from the front foyer area.

  “Thanks goodness, he’s back.” The woman sighed, as did Freddy. “Excuse me, and you are…?”

  “Anna,” she started, but before she could get out her last name, the woman pointed her finger at Freddy. “We’re going to be late for our appointment.” She crooked her finger, and like baby ducks in a row, Anna followed Freddy who dutifully followed
the formidable woman. She stopped and hugged the waist of one of the men, pecking him soundly on the cheek.

  “Darling, I’m so glad you’re back. I’ve been going crazy with the floor plan. Maybe you can talk to—” She glanced at Anna and raised one dark brow by way of a question.

  “Anna, but—”

  “Yes, Anna.” She turned back to the man, patted his cheek, and crooked that finger again at Freddy as she walked out of the room.

  Had to be the bride. Anna’s gaze swung around to the backside of the man with broad shoulders and trim waist in a form-fitting blue denim shirt. He was bent over, brushing something from his knee, giving full view of one of the most near-perfect cowboy butts she’d seen in a long while.

  And if she guessed correctly, probably the groom of Bridezilla. She almost felt sorry for him.

  He said a few words to the older gentleman he’d been talking to, shook hands, and turned to Anna as he removed his leather work gloves. Her eyes nearly popped from their sockets. “Cole?”

  “Anna?”

  It was that awkward moment when you feel the urge to either run up and hug the man who’d stolen your virginity and your heart ten years ago, or hit him over the head with the nearest hard object. Unable to think at all, she stood frozen in place, not trusting either option.

  Chapter Four

  “My, Lord. Anna Worthington? Wait, you’re not a lawyer, but an event planner? What are the odds? That’s amazing.” He tossed aside his gloves and strode toward her. Dispensing with a handshake, he wrapped his arms around her, instead, hugging her close. “It’s so great to see you after all this time,” he whispered.

  He felt her body stiffen and guessed this surprise reunion wasn’t as pleasant for her as for him. Then again, why would it be?