by Sable Hunter
Tricia held up her kindle. “I have a book to read.” Finally, she’d get to enjoy Sable Hunter’s Too Hot To Handle.
After about a half hour on the road, she shut off her tablet. Despite Avery’s considerable talent, Tricia couldn’t concentrate. She had too much on her mind.
Just the visit with her grandmother was traumatic enough. Their relationship was relatively new. Her parents split when she was four and the divorce was beyond messy. The only memories she could recall of her father’s parents were vague and colored by her mother’s caustic comments. It was only after her grandfather’s death that her grandmother saw fit to call and offer an olive branch. The timing couldn’t have been better for Tricia, she’d needed to make a change and the help she was offered made a new life possible.
“Business or pleasure?” the driver asked her, apparently noticing that she’d stopped reading and was staring at the passing Texas countryside.
“A little of both,” she murmured with a smile. She did look forward to seeing her grandmother, but even more proud to pay off a good chunk of the loan she’d been given to buy the florist shop.
After her answer, their conversation faded away. Tricia was grateful, she still had mulling to do. The way her body reacted to the fender bender worried her. Yes, she’d banged her head, but not hard enough to inflict a concussion. To pacify Avery and fulfill her promise to the ER doctor, she’d made an appointment to her regular physician for the following week. Tricia had downplayed the whole event to her partner. Avery didn’t even know about her history of epilepsy. She probably should’ve told her, but the seizures hadn’t been part of her life in a long while. When she moved to Kerrville, Tricia had hoped to leave that part of her life behind. So far behind, that she hadn’t even included her history with the disease on the medical forms at her regular doctor’s office. Tricia was holding onto the hope that the ER doctor had been right, but his diagnosis had been performed without any in-depth testing.
To be on the safe side, she’d decided not to drive anymore until she knew something for sure one way or the other. Kristen Royce, their after-school help, was used to making the deliveries and anywhere else Tricia needed to go, she could walk or hire a ride. For this longer jaunt, she’d called Uber and the rates were so reasonable, she thought she might use the service around town instead of a cab.
Leaning her head against the glass, she watched the landscape change from the lush river-bottom country of Kerr County to the rocky wonderland south of Fredericksburg. Her grandmother owned a beautiful ranch north of Enchanted Rock, she didn’t really know how many acres or how much money she had, none of that concerned her. She wasn’t interested in most things wealth could buy. Other than her business and her friends, Tricia’s heart and mind was focused on only one thing – or, more correctly, one person.
Lance Rogers.
Daydreams of him were her constant companions. She’d built up this whole story in her head, probably because she was so used to hearing Avery plot out her books. Tricia always dreamed of starring in one of those romantic tales. Her favorite novels weren’t about billionaires or high-powered businessmen, she much preferred stories about everyday people, like cowboys and firemen. What appealed to her most was just the idea of having a husband who loved her and the chance to have a family. Those fantasies she’d told Lance about, he was always cast in the starring role. Her whole body flushed with arousal at the memory. “Oh, my gosh,” she whispered, remembering the naughty things she dreamed of doing with him.
“Did you say something?”
“No, no.” Tricia hid a grin. “I was just mumbling to myself.” Lying her head back, she announced, “I think I’ll take a nap. Wake me up when we’re about a half hour away from the ranch.”
“Sure thing.”
Only a few seconds later, or so it seemed, Tricia was awakened. “Miss, Miss, we’re here.”
Opening her eyes, she checked out her surroundings. Sure enough, she could tell they were getting close. The difference between her grandparent’s ranch and Tebow was activity. Tebow was bustling and North-Star was placid. There was only a few employees left and the stock was slowly being sold off. Her grandmother was methodically shutting the place down, only a few race horses remained. Tricia’s father had been killed in a small plane crash years before and as far as she knew, there was no one to take the reins if something were to happen to her grandmother. She didn’t like to think of such a thing, but it didn’t take a medical degree to see that her grandmother was sick. What would happen to North-Star then, Tricia didn’t know. There might be distant relatives she wasn’t aware of, Tricia just didn’t know her grandmother well enough to be sure of these things.
When the car drew to a stop in the circle drive, she signed the receipt, making sure to tip the guy. She could tell the driver was impressed by the stately Georgian mansion. “Can I call you when I’m ready to leave?” she asked.
“Yea, I’m not in a big hurry,” he told her. “Even if you decide to stay the night, that would be fine.”
“I don’t plan on staying more than a few hours.” Tricia couldn’t help but smile. “I have plans tomorrow.”
Big plans. With Lance.
Walking up the steps of the intimidating home, Tricia used the big knocker to tap on the door. When no one answered, she rang the doorbell, hearing resounding peals coming from within. In a few moments, footsteps could be heard on the other side. The door was opened by Henderson, the family butler, a stoic looking man who looked to be on his last legs. “Madam.” He stepped back to allow Tricia entrance. “May I take your wrap?”
“I think I’ll keep it, Henderson, thank you.” She held onto the sweater that she’d brought along to ward off the chill which seemed to emanate from the very walls of the cavernous home. When her grandmother appeared, Tricia couldn’t help but notice how frail she looked. “Hello, am I early?”
“Not at all, my dear, come in. You’re right on time. Could you bring us some tea, Henderson?”
The old man mumbled and shuffled off. After exchanging a somewhat awkward hug, Marcelle Lambert led Tricia into a cozy room off the kitchen. “How was your trip?”
“Fine.” She didn’t mention the Uber driver, no use worrying her grandmother unnecessarily. “How are you feeling?”
The older lady waved her arthritic hand. “I’m as well as can be expected. Come sit down and tell me how you’ve been doing.”
“Oh, I’m good. Business is booming.” Not seeing any reason for delay, she opened her purse and took out the check. “Here’s the payment as promised, right on time.”
Marcelle took the proffered piece of paper, but quickly laid it aside without glancing at it. “Thank you.”
Tricia wondered if the check would ever be cashed. Oh well, she wouldn’t touch the money, it didn’t belong to her. “Have you been doing any traveling?” she asked as Henderson came back carrying a silver tea service.
Her grandmother shook her head as she accepted a cup from her butler. “No, I’d planned to travel to Scotland, but I’m afraid my trip will be delayed.” She gave Tricia a wink. “I’ve been binge watching Scandal. Are you familiar with that program?”
The answer she received amused Tricia. “I’ve heard of it. I don’t watch much television. If I’m not working in the shop, I’m reading or working in my yard behind the shop.” Accepting a cup of tea from Henderson, she mumbled her thanks and sat it down on the side table. Taking out her phone, she pulled up some photos. “See, I raise old-fashioned roses, just like you. Aren’t they pretty?”
Her grandmother looked closely. “They are beautiful. My flowers are outstanding this year, no thanks to me.” She held up her hands, frowning at the twisted fingers. “I can’t do things like I used to.” Focusing on her granddaughter, Marcelle narrowed her eyes behind the thick spectacles. “As young and beautiful as you are, you shouldn’t be alone. Are you seeing anyone?”
“No, I’m not. I have friends, but no one special.” At least not yet. Trici
a eased back on the sage green couch, debating with herself over how much she should say. When she was younger, she’d longed for a grandparent. Now that she had one, she was reluctant to share. Her grandmother’s face was kind though, and soon Tricia found herself opening up. “Well, there is one man…”
“Oh, really? Does he live in Kerrville?”
“Just outside of town, he’s the foreman at Tebow Ranch.”
“I see.” Marcelle looked pleased. “An outdoorsman, a man’s man. I assume he is handsome?”
Tricia blushed. “Oh, yes.”
“How long have you been seeing him?”
“Well, I haven’t exactly been out with him yet…” Tricia fidgeted in her seat, picking up a pillow. “There just hasn’t seemed to be a right time. His work keeps him busy and I…I probably haven’t made it easy. I’m not the most social of people.”
“You’ve grown into a lovely young woman. As bad as I hate to admit it, your mother and stepfather did a good job of raising you.” Marcelle’s voice was kind, but firm. “If you’re letting your past hold you back, you shouldn’t,”
Tricia shook her head. She didn’t want to talk about her epilepsy. She wanted the past to stay in the past. Crossing her fingers, she hoped she wasn’t lying. “Oh, I’m not. I’ve been feeling great.”
“Good to hear.” Rising slowly to her feet, Marcelle moved to her desk. “I have something for you.” She opened a drawer and rummaged around.
To save her grandmother steps, Tricia went to join her. “You do? What is it?”
“Just a copy of the photo I had Henderson take of us and Falcon the last time you visited.”
Tricia accepted the framed photo depicting them standing on either side of Marcelle’s prize horse. She’d signed it, To my Granddaughter, with Love. “Thank you, I’ll put it on my desk.” She slipped the gift into her purse.
“You’re welcome.” Marcelle picked up an ornate cane next to her chair. “Would you like to stroll in the garden?”
“Oh, please, yes.” Tricia smiled. “You know flowers are my passion.” She held the older lady’s arm as they made their way through a set of French doors and into the fragrant summer air.
“Now, tell me, what is your young man’s name.” Marcelle asked as they wound their way through beds of roses and other flowering plants.
“Lance. Lance Rogers.” Beneath her fingers, she could feel her grandmother stiffen. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Rogers, you say?”
“Yes, I’m not sure where he’s from. I don’t think he grew up in Kerrville.” Tricia shrugged. “I’m not certain, I haven’t been there that long myself.”
“I would love to come see your shop, if that would be okay.”
The suggestion surprised her. “I’d love for you to come. I’m very proud of it and you’re the one who made it possible.” She’d been disappointed that her mother hadn’t taken the time to visit and the prospect of showing it off to her grandmother thrilled Tricia.
“Excellent. Would the middle of next week be a good time?”
“Absolutely, you’re welcome anytime.” Impulsively, she stopped and hugged Marcelle Lambert. They still had a long way to go in their relationship, but this was a great start. “I look forward to your company.”
As they continued their journey through the garden, Tricia couldn’t help but be happy. For the first time in her life, everything seemed to be falling into place.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Oh, how lovely!” Skye accepted Tricia’s gift of a Boehm yellow rose, a fragile piece of exquisite china. “Since Avery planted yellow roses all over the yard, I’ve fallen in love with them.”
“Oh, I’m glad. Out of everything in my shop, this was my favorite piece.”
“Thank you so much.” She gave Tricia a big hug. “Get something to eat and come sit with the girls. Cady is going to read our palms.”
“She is?” Tricia was surprised. “I didn’t think she did things like that much anymore.”
“She doesn’t, but I asked her to do it today. We’ve been working on some things together. I’ve been trying to contact my inner shaman,” Skye murmured lowly with a grin. “So far, I don’t seem to have as much insight as Cady.”
Tricia didn’t say so, but Cady made her a little nervous. All the McCoy wives were beautiful, but there was just something regal about Cady. “I’m not sure I want to know what my future holds.”
“Don’t worry,” Skye waved a dismissive hand, “your future is bright. Cady wouldn’t reveal anything bad tonight, anyway. She has a way of offering solutions instead of warnings.”
Tricia hugged herself as she joined the bevy of women sitting under the ornate gazebo. Not too far away, most of the McCoy men had taken their favorite positions around a huge BBQ pit. The mouthwatering smell of sizzling beef filled the air.
“Come sit by me.” Avery beckoned to her. “I’m too big to waddle.”
Tricia embraced her best friend. “Good to see you, how are you feeling?”
“Like a whale.” Avery brushed her forehead. “I see a bruise here. Did you get that in the fender-bender?”
“Yea, it’s nothing.” And she hoped it continued to be nothing. Despite her worry, she’d experienced no further symptoms.
“What would you like to drink?” Libby McCoy, always playing the hostess, came to greet her. “I recommend a margarita. The blackberry one is to die for.”
“Oh, that sounds perfect,” Tricia greeted Aron’s wife. “And thank you for having me, everything is beautiful.”
“You’re so welcome. Make yourself at home. Anybody else want a refill?” she asked before taking off toward the bar set up under a nearby pergola.
“I do. I’ll help.” Jessie rose, coming over to greet Tricia. “It’s good to see you. I’m coming to your shop soon. I’d like to see if you could special order a couple of potted plants for me.”
“Of course, what kind?”
“I want some cape jasmine bushes to go by my front door. Jacob loves how they smell.”
“I can do that for you, no problem,” Tricia assured her.
After drinks were passed around, everyone visited for a few minutes, mingling around and enjoying the cool night air. Tricia kept her eye out for Lance but so far, he was nowhere in sight.
Soon, Skye called everyone to gather around Joseph’s wife, Cady. She held court in a high back wicker chair, her dark hair flowing around her shoulders like a cape. Tricia found a seat, just as Cady was finishing up with Avery’s palm reading. “The signs are clearer today than they were yesterday. You have a very special visitor coming tomorrow.” She pointed over at Isaac. “You need to pay special attention to your husband, though. This is going to shake him up more than he expects.”
Avery looked at her handsome man. “Awww, my Badass is such a teddy bear. I’ll make sure he’s okay.”
“We’ll be there to hold his hand,” Tricia assured her. “I’m so excited! I wouldn’t miss this baby coming into the world for anything.”
“Me next!” Skye held out her hand to Cady.
“Oh, this will be fun.” Cassie Malone nudged in closer. “Bowie Travis thinks Cady hung the moon. I can’t wait to see what she has to say about me.”
“Harley is the one who should be doing this.” Cady nodded toward Beau Leblanc and his wife as they came across the backyard toward the assembled group. “She has more psychic talent in her little finger than I do in my whole body.”
“Seriously?” Tricia was in awe.
Cady smiled at her. “My talents lie more toward manifestation than revelation.”
Whatever the hell that means, thought Tricia. She wasn’t about to ask. “What do you see in our birthday girl’s hand?”
“Here you go.” Libby handed Tricia a refill as they all settled around to hear Cady’s reading of Skye’s palm.
“Oh, my…” Cady muttered in a mysterious voice.
“God, that doesn’t sound good.” Avery shifted
in her seat trying to find a comfortable position.
“No, I think it’s good,” Cady explained. “I see a big surprise coming. Something totally unexpected.”
Skye leaned over to look in her palm. “You do?”
Cady shut Skye’s palm, warming it between both her hands. “Yes. I can’t be certain of what it is, but I think it will change your life for the better.”
“Oh, Lord, Noah’s getting a personality transplant,” Joseph said, walking up behind Cady and leaning down to kiss her on the neck. “How’s my angel?”
“I do not need a personality transplant. Do I, Mother?”
Tricia looked up to see Skye’s husband standing by his brother, Joseph. On his other side was a diminutive blonde with the most ethereal, peaceful countenance she’d ever seen.
“There’s always room for improvement, Son,” Sophia informed Noah with a grin.
Everyone laughed at her unexpected answer.
“Tricia, I have something to ask you,” Noah said out of the blue. “Is that store space still open next to your shop? Mother wants to start a new venture.”
“New venture?” Jessie asked. “What are you planning, Sophia?”
“I have many friends in Mexico who make amazing handmade items. I’d like to set up a way to help them and spread the news of their beautiful work.”
Noah wrapped an arm around his mother’s neck. “Just think, Sophie’s La Artesania located right next to Tricia’s Treasures.”
“Sounds good to me,” Skye inserted, wincing when Cassie pinched her knee.
“This is the Tricia from that neat florist shop?” she exclaimed in a stage whisper.
“Yes,” Tricia and Skye answered simultaneously.
“Great! I was going to approach you about carrying some of my Circle C Candles.” Cassie moved to kneel in front of Tricia.
“I didn’t realize you owned Circle C.” Tricia pulled Cassie up next to her on the bench. “I’d love to carry some of your inventory.”
“All of this entrepreneurship is making me feel lazy.” Joseph nudged Noah. “What say you to another cold one?”