“Why am I doing this?”
She shook her head. “Forget I asked. It’s none of my business.”
“Well, it’s complicated.”
“Really, you don’t have to explain.”
“I know, but it’s a legitimate question. All my life I’ve wanted to be a cowboy. I can’t really be one because my life is in New York City. But this week, I’ll at least find out if I have what it takes.”
“I completely understand that.” Yep, that feeling of connection was snapping into place. She’d come out here to get away from gossip, but she’d stayed because she wanted to see if she had what it took to live in a completely different environment.
She was testing herself, and apparently, so was he. She admired that impulse to seek a different path from the one you were born to. Talking about that with him would make for interesting conversation. Maybe someday, when they were both back in their normal environments…but that was getting way ahead of the game.
“I believe that you do understand. I’ll take a wild guess that you might have some similar reasons for being in Wyoming.”
“Good guess.” But she wouldn’t elaborate, because the more they exchanged confidences now, the stronger the link between them. And now was not the time for making a connection. “Let’s go see the rest of the house.”
3
KERI WAS AN excellent tour guide, and Michael was interested in the history of the massive two-story ranch house with its sturdy log construction. But he was even more interested in Keri and why she’d left Baltimore to come out here. Whatever the reason, she’d adapted with a can-do attitude that both attracted and inspired him.
She kept the focus on the ranch, though, and he couldn’t figure out how to question her without being intrusive. He learned about the grandparents, Archie and Nelsie Chance, who’d homesteaded the place in the thirties. As a storyteller, he appreciated the tale of how they’d taken a run-down place and created a gem that was now worth millions to their heirs. Jack was the oldest grandson, followed by Nick, a veterinarian, and Gabe, who specialized in showing the registered Paints bred and trained at the Last Chance. Raising cattle had been abandoned for the horse business.
Keri proudly showed off the awards Gabe had won, all displayed in a case in the large living room, which was anchored by a great stone fireplace. The leather furniture and wagon-wheel chandelier were the sort of rustic touches Michael often included in his books. He was gratified to find out that in this, too, he’d gotten it right.
But whenever he tried to turn the conversation in the direction of Keri’s background, she dodged away. Close to six o’clock, she took him into a large dining room at the end of the house’s left wing. His bedroom would be directly above it.
She gestured to four round tables, each of which could seat eight people. “This is where everyone gathers for lunch,” she said. “That includes the ranch hands and as many members of the Chance family as are available. It’s a tradition to get together for the noon meal and exchange information about ranch business.”
“Do you eat lunch here, then?”
“That depends on whether Mary Lou needs my help. When the boys were here, they also ate in the dining room, so Mary Lou needed me to serve and clear.”
“But now?”
“I grabbed a quick lunch in the kitchen today because I had so much cleaning to do, but tomorrow I’ll probably eat here. Mary Lou may join everyone, too, at least for a few days until the wedding guests arrive. Then it’ll get busy again.”
Michael felt ridiculously pleased that he’d see her at lunch tomorrow. Between now and then he planned to do some research on the internet. Social media could be a pain in the ass, but through it he might be able to get a bead on Keri Fitzpatrick.
A regal woman with silver hair walked out of the kitchen. She wore jeans and a Western blouse, nothing fancy, but she had an air of command about her. “I thought I heard voices.” She walked forward, hand extended. “You must be Michael Hartford, Bethany’s friend.”
“And you must be Sarah Chance.” He clasped her hand and felt the firm grip of a woman who was as sure of her place in the world as Jack was of his. Bethany had told him that Sarah was the reigning queen of the neighborhood, and Michael began to see why.
“That’s right.” She smiled at him. “Looks like Keri’s been showing you around. Thanks for doing that, Keri. I’ve been a little distracted today. Pete wants to fly in floral arrangements from Hawaii, and I want wildflowers. I do believe it’s our first fight.”
Michael spoke without thinking. “Wildflowers.” Then he realized he didn’t have a vote. “Forget that. It’s not my place to—”
“Hey, I’ll take all the support I can get.” Sarah glanced at Keri. “What do you think?”
“I agree with Michael. This is Wyoming. You need wildflowers, not some exotic tropical arrangement. But I’ll bet Pete wants to do something extravagant because he’s so happy. It’s sweet, really.”
“It is sweet.” Sarah’s blue eyes grew soft. “So maybe I’ll let him order a tropical bouquet for me to carry, and the altar can be decked with wildflowers. How’s that?”
“Perfect,” Keri said. “Great compromise. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go in and see if Mary Lou needs any help in the kitchen.” Just like that, she was gone.
Sarah turned to him. “How about a drink before dinner?”
“Sounds good.” Not as good as following Keri into the kitchen, but he had no excuse to do that. Guests probably weren’t allowed to help out, and he’d be worthless at it, anyway.
“Let’s go back into the living room.” She led him down the hall past a rogue’s gallery of family pictures. “Pete should be here soon. He had some errands in town. Jack and Josie are coming, too. They’ve left little Archie over at Gabe and Morgan’s house.” She paused. “Here I am rattling off names, and I have no idea if you know who I’m talking about. Did Bethany fill you in at all?”
“I know the names of your sons, and Jack mentioned Josie and little Archie on the drive in.”
“Morgan is Gabe’s wife, and they have two kids, a girl and a boy. Nick is married to Dominique, and they have one adopted boy. All three of my sons have built their own homes on ranch land, and I love having them so close.”
“You have quite a legacy here, Sarah.”
“Thanks to Archie and Nelsie.” She gestured around the living room as they walked in. “I married into this, so I can’t take any credit for it.”
“That’s not what Keri said. She told me that you’re the lynchpin holding everything together.”
“Did she? What a nice thing for her to say.” Sarah moved over to the liquor cabinet. “I do like that woman. I wish she’d stay on, but I can’t expect someone with her background to be a housekeeper much longer.”
“She’s
