by Becki Willis
She gave Sadie a complete recap of the show as she helped prep for tomorrow morning’s breakfast buffet.
“It was that good, was it?” The older woman smiled, noting how Hannah’s face still glowed.
“It was wonderful! And you should have seen Jazz and Pierce do the final number. It gave me chills watching it.”
“Did Fred get to see it?” Sadie wanted to know. She placed empty chaffing dishes on the antique sideboard. In the morning, all she had to do was fill them with deliciousness.
The door opened and her sister glided in, her arms spread wide. Stars still sparkled in her eyes. “Did I ever! It was magnificent!” She twirled around on the toe of red leather boots. “It makes me want to get back on a horse and do my old routine again.”
“Don’t be foolish!” Sadie chided. “At your age, you’d break every bone in your body when you fell!”
“Who said I would fall? I, my dear, am a professional.” She twirled and glided, imagining herself on the back of a horse.
“Fifty years ago, you were a professional. Now, you’re just old.”
“You don’t have to be mean about it,” Fred snapped, stopping mid-glide.
“Not mean, just realistic. Make yourself useful and put out the plates.”
Without another word about reviving her former glory, Fred pulled a stack of dishes from the cupboard below and divided them into two stacks.
“You’re all set for tomorrow, right, Fred?” Hannah asked. “I’ve never been in a trail ride before, much less hosted one. I wouldn’t have the first clue of what to do.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve been in more than my share. This is just a mini version of the real thing. No overnight camping, no chuck wagon. A pale comparison to the real deal, but it makes the guests happy. And this year, there’s the added bonus of having the show in our backyard. We’ll end the ride there.”
“Jazz had a great idea, letting us ride in the parade through the middle of their ‘town.’ I can’t wait to surprise the riders. And the audience, too!”
“We call it a grand entry, dear,” Fred gently corrected her. “You’ll ride in it, won’t you?” Fred asked.
Hannah looked uncertain. “I think I should probably stay here at the inn.”
“Nonsense!” Sadie said. “I can handle anything that comes up. This is your shining moment, girl. You should ride in the grand entry, even if you don’t do the trail ride.”
“I’m definitely not doing the trail ride!” She laughed at the notion of such. “But are you sure, Sadie? Wouldn’t you like to go to the performance, and let me stay here at the inn?”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll catch the five o’clock show.”
She turned back toward Fred. “Will there be a horse for me to ride? I know Walker loaned us some for the guests, but all of them are booked.”
“I’m sure he has more. And if he doesn’t, you could always ask Shelton Long to bring you one.”
Since they brought the subject up…
“What do you know about Shelton?” Hannah asked, hoping to sound nonchalant. She didn’t want to encourage their fondness for matchmaking. For neither having ever married, the sisters were hopeless romantics.
“Not much, to be honest,” Sadie said with a frown. “He hasn’t lived here very long. Two years or—”
“—maybe three,” from Fred.
“I believe he came here from East Texas.”
“I know he’s good with horses.”
Sadie snorted. “Sister swears you can judge a man by the way he treats his horse, but I’m not so sure about that.”
“Well,” Hannah interjected, “I do know that Shelton is crazy about his horse. He has one, Ladybird, that he says is like family.”
“Mark my words,” Fred said. “A man who treats his horse right treats his woman right, too.”
Hannah scowled. “Who said anything about being Shelton Long’s woman? Just because he kissed me—”
“He kissed you? When?” Sadie demanded.
“Uhm, the other day. The day I introduced him to Jazz.”
“I had no idea,” Fred said. “In fact, I thought I saw something between him and Jazz. They looked so cozy together when I saw them talking tonight.” She clicked her tongue, disappointed in herself for misreading the situation.
“Does Walker know?” Sadie quizzed.
“Of course not! Not,” Hannah sniffed, “that it’s any of his business.”
“The two of you looked rather cozy this morning, when he brought you those flowers.” Sadie was firmly entrenched in Camp Walker.
“I was asking about Shelton,” she reminded the sisters. “Why doesn’t Walker like him?”
“You’d have to ask him about that, dear.”
“I did. He’s very evasive, but I think it must have something to do with a lawsuit.”
“Hmm, you may be right,” Sadie said thoughtfully. “I seem to recall something about one of Bert Hiel’s horses. Something about—”
“—his horse being shod with the wrong size shoe,” Fred recalled. “I remember it now. Shelton claimed the shoes were sized wrong by the manufacturer, but Bert said it did permanent damage to his best horse.”
“That can happen?”
Fred’s gray head bobbed as she explained, “You fit the shoe to the hoof, not the hoof to the shoe. If you put too small of a shoe on a horse—say, an ought, instead of a size one—and trim the hoof to fit, you may trim it too far and cause the horse to go lame.”
“And Walker represented Bert, I suppose.” Hannah surmised. “Who won?”
“I think it’s still an open case.”
“Which is why Walker won’t talk about it. He’s a true professional, you know,” Sadie beamed.
“Does Shelton have family here?”
“Just his horse,” Sadie quipped.
“No family that I know of,” said Fred. “Come to think of it, to be so friendly, he doesn’t talk about himself very much.”
“He asked me out, but I’m not sure I want to go.” Hannah had no qualms about confiding in the sisters. They had become more than her best friends. They were like the mother she never had. Jacqueline Duncan had always been more concerned about being a star than being a confidante to her daughter.
“Why not?” Fred wanted to know.
Ignoring her sister’s input, Sadie nodded. “I think that’s for the best.”
Hannah answered with, “I’m not looking for romance right now.”
“I agree with you, dear. Not about the romance, but about Shelton Long. Sure, he’s easy on the eye, and who doesn’t appreciate those long legs of his? But Walker’s legs are almost as long, and he’s even better looking.” Sadie closed her eyes with a dreamy look upon her face. “I always did favor dark looks over blond.”
“This isn’t your love life we’re talking about,” Fred reminded her sister. “And I’m just as fond of Walker as you are. All I’m saying is that Shelton Long is good with animals. And in my book, that says something about a man.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
They met back at the trailer, long after the sounds of the evening had died away. The gates were closed, the trucks shuttered, the lights all out.
It had been a successful first day, but tomorrow promised to be even better. Saturdays were always good, because they could squeeze in three shows. That meant three times the opportunity to scam unsuspecting guests. Three times the ways to find creative cash flow and those special sponsorships that kept their operation running.
“How did we do?”
“Not bad. Collected three credit card numbers. Lifted about a hundred and fifty dollars in cash. Not a lot, but not bad for a one-horse town.”
“Three cards? I warned you not to get greedy!”
“Relax. That dude in the black jacket had at least three platinum cards in his wallet. Most likely, he’ll never notice when one or two of them are used. Next year, in a town far, far away.”
“That dude was a priest.”
&nb
sp; “God bless him.” This, with a mocking smile and the sign of the cross. “He doesn’t know it, but he made a very generous donation to our cause.”
“I hope you were smart about taking the cash.”
Another smart grin. “The craziest thing happened. A money clip fell out of the one man’s shorts when he swapped clothes. The outer bills stayed in place, but would you believe the middle bills came loose?”
“Good. That’s the way to do it. My old man is a master at the art of lightening a person’s pocket. He says the trick is to always leave change.”
“Change?”
“People notice when anything larger than a twenty is missing. Instead of just swiping a bill, he likes to swap it for a couple of ones. If it was a fifty or a hundred, he leaves a ten and a few small bills.”
“But that’s stupid. Why give back part of your hit?”
“Not stupid. Brilliant. People assume they broke the bill and just don’t remember it. Why would they suspect they’d been robbed, if they have change?”
The disapproving frown lifted into an impressed smile. “You’re right. Brilliant.”
“Yep. I learned the art of the scam from my old man. He’s the best.”
“I just hope that brother of yours doesn’t stir up too much trouble. We were doing just fine on our own. We don’t need him butting in.”
“Lucky for us, he, too, was taught by the best.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The breakfast buffet was not only delicious, but also crowded. As the sisters predicted, several local people showed up for the event, touting reservations. Hannah still didn’t appreciate being left in the dark about the buffet, but she couldn’t fault its success. She supposed after all these years, the Tanner women knew exactly what they were doing.
She helped Sadie clean the kitchen as the guests dispersed for the day. Some had plans for sightseeing, some for strolling through the shops of nearby Fredericksburg, and several were riding in the trail ride. Hannah saw the maiden voyage off, thankful that Walker had returned in time to help with the event. She knew nothing about tightening cinches or adjusting bits or properly distributing weight atop a horse’s back. Best to leave those details to the experts, Walker and Fred.
Hannah was at her desk, handling paperwork details, as the Sanchez family came down from their room. The son ran ahead, eager to start his day of fun and excitement, while his parents descended at a more leisurely pace.
“That boy!” his mother laughed, with a shake of her head. “I wish I had half his energy!”
“He’s just excited, Mom.” Hannah made excuses for the child with an indulgent smile. “Was everything okay with your room? Can we do anything while you’re out?”
“No, no, everything is perfect. That little pull-out couch is just right for Eli Junior. He especially liked the toy spurs y’all left on the table. He’s wearing them now.
Hannah tilted her head in confusion. “Spurs?”
“That was such a cute touch, especially since we’re in the Vaquero Room. Do you always do that for the kids, or is it because the Wild West show is in town? We went to last night’s performance, by the way. It. Was. Fabulous.”
Hannah was glad that Anita Sanchez rattled on about the show, because she had no ready answer about the toy spurs. Was that another detail Sadie and Fred had forgotten to mention?
Thanks to another of the quirky stipulations in Miss Wilhelmina’s will, Hannah had received a large bonus to remodel and update the inn. One of the first orders of business was to give each of the seven rooms a theme. The Vaquero Room was dedicated to Orlan Varela, himself, and decorated accordingly. Hannah had personally chosen the Spanish-inspired furnishings and décor. She had even added special touches like reatas wound around lighting fixtures, Mexican horse blankets as window treatments, and had created a sombrero medallion for the ceiling fan. But this was the first she heard of toy spurs.
“Momma, Momma!” Little Eli ran up to tug on his mother’s hand. “Come see my friend! He has spurs, just like mine! And he has a gun!” The boy’s eyes were alight with excitement.
“A gun?” cried his mother.
“Probably one of the actors from last night’s show,” Eli Senior assured his wife, but his laughter sounded nervous. “Right?” He looked at Hannah for confirmation.
The child had come from the lounge area. Hannah spotted Orlan Varela beside the great stone fireplace, a huge smile upon his face. The ghost waved in their direction, and to her surprise, young Eli returned the gesture.
“Isn’t he cool?”
“Who? I don’t see anyone,” his father said, craning his neck to see the person who held his son’s fascination.
“That man right there, by the fireplace. He looks just like the man in our room.”
“What man in our room, honey?” his mother asked.
“The one that gave me the spurs. The one in the painting.”
“Eli,” his mother said, getting that matronly tone of warning in her voice. “We’ve talked about this. I appreciate that you have a vivid imagination, but you can’t be making up tales. People in paintings cannot come to life and give you presents.” She shot Hannah an apologetic look. “We had a long conversation about this last night. After an hour, I thought we had convinced him.”
The look Hannah slipped the spirit wasn’t apologetic. It was downright accusatory. In response, Orlan offered a sheepish grin and a shrug.
Who knew the ghost had a soft spot for children?
Thinking it best to change the subject, Hannah asked where the family headed for the day.
“We heard something about a huge rock people like to climb? It sounds like a good way to expend some of this boy’s energy!”
“Yes, the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area,” Hannah said. “About thirty minutes north of here. It’s a huge dome of pink granite—the second biggest rock in the United States—with an elevation of 1800 feet at the summit. Here, let’s get you a brochure.”
By the time the Sanchez family was gone, so was Orlan Varela. Hannah made a mental note to talk to the spirit about his antics the next time she saw him. Was there a way to summon him, she wondered. She knew so little about the spirit world. She really needed to educate herself on the matter. It would go on list three, the Critical Things to Do When I Have Time list.
Before she could settle into her chair, the front door opened again.
“Knock, knock,” said the blond man.
“Good morning, Shelton,” Hannah smiled. “How are you this morning?”
“Busier than a one-winged momma hen with a brood of chicks,” he grinned. He used his exaggerated Southern drawl, the one he knew was sappy but endearing.
“That bad, huh?” she smiled.
“Good, actually,” he corrected, taking off his cowboy hat as he sauntered across the great room. “When you’re working, busy is always good. Keeps the money rollin’ in.”
“I didn’t get a chance to tell you last night, but the show was excellent.”
“Shoot, I didn’t have much to do with it,” he denied modestly. “Just opened gates and handed reins to the riders. The crew works together like a well-oiled machine. I just had to squeeze the can from time to time.”
“I’m sure you had a bigger part than just that. By the way, which horse was Ladybird?”
“The pretty little dapple mare,” he replied.
Hannah didn’t remember seeing a dapple, but that was hardly surprising. The show had so many amazing elements, it was difficult to absorb them all, much less remember them the next day. She looked forward to seeing the show again today. And this time, she would keep her eyes open for the mare.
“Speaking of Ladybird, that’s why I’m here. I’d be honored if you rode her today in the grand entry.”
Knowing how much he cared about his horse, Hannah was flattered, but hesitant. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I—I’m not even certain I’ll participate.”
“But you have to,” the lanky man encouraged. “Yo
u’re the one who brought the show to Gillespie County. After last night’s success, you gotta know how popular that makes you! The people will expect no less.”
“Oh, but—”
“No buts. I’ve already gotten Ladybird all spiffed up for it. Teased her tail, gave her some glitter highlights, the works. All she needs is the prettiest little lady in three counties to ride her in.” He winked at her, bringing a blush to her cheeks. “And before you ask, there’s no need to fret over what to wear. I spotted something in wardrobe that will be perfect for you.”
In the end, Hannah agreed to ride the mare. Which was why, an hour later, Hannah was dressed in the most ridiculous outfit she had ever worn in her life, preparing to mount a horse that was bigger than any mare she had ever ridden.
With white jeans so tight they could have been painted onto her skin, she wondered how she would lift her leg to crawl into the saddle. If the buttons on the low-cut blouse should fail, she would give the audience more than a casual peek. Even Hannah was impressed with the amount of cleavage all but popping from the too-tight blouse, but she felt ridiculous in the sequined red and blue creation, especially with the ten-inch-long white fringe beneath the arms. If she flapped her arms while at a gallop, she wondered if she might fly.
As she contemplated the best way to maneuver the tight pants and the saddle horn, Shelton appeared. “Need help?” he grinned.
She pursed her lips. “It may be easier to parachute down and land astraddle.”
He laughed at her exaggeration. “That’s where being so tall comes in handy,” he said. Before she could suspect his intent, he stepped onto the nearby platform, scooped her up in his arms, and deposited her into the saddle.
“There. All done.”
