by Olivia Swift
The drive out to the ranch was a pretty one, and she settled back to enjoy the scenery. She knew the holiday cowboy business was set alongside one of the many lakes but had never actually been to the place. There was a large and obvious sign on the road to Panhandle Holiday Ranch. She turned off and found she was driving alongside the lake through a tunnel of overhanging trees. It almost had the feeling of entering another world.
“Quite magical,” she said out loud as she drove out into the open to see a large collection of buildings that made a sort of village of their own. The hotel was fashioned in the style of old-world ranching towns and looked like the focal point. There were log cabins, which were obviously holiday houses, but despite the old cowboy feel, she noted that they had a deck, barbecues, swimming pools, hot tubs, and saunas. The stables and barns were way behind the hotel and far enough to leave holidaymakers undisturbed once they returned from their adventures.
Magda collected her boxes of samples and climbed the steps to the hotel foyer. The theme was still western, but it was very much a modern hotel. The receptionist smiled brightly and asked how she could help.
“I think Ms. Ocotta is expecting me with samples of these truffles,” she answered. The girl invited her to have a seat and swayed off on her high heels to find the boss.
Merle Ocotta was not at all what she expected. The woman came over with an outstretched hand and said she was delighted to meet Branston’s cousin.
“That man is so good for business. The customers love him.”
“Really?" Magda laughed. “Even with that enormous Stetson?” Merle nodded and invited Magda into her office.
“The customers seem to think that being over the top is normal here. Branston sort of gets that. It’s good for business.”
“I must admit, that from turning off the road, the place feels a little bit magical,” Magda said. The woman was a potential customer, and Magda had learned to sense what would work.
Merle looked at her and Magda wondered if she had put her foot in it.
“If you sensed that, I am pleased because it is what I want folks to feel.” She hesitated. “If you don’t mind me saying something—and just tell me to get back to business if you like—I think that in the last couple of days, something very unusual happened to you. Something to do with an animal.”
Magda drew in a breath and then asked if Branston had been talking to her. Merle shook her head.
“Haven’t had time. He took over and figured the rides out when the man in charge went off sick.” She smiled and said that occasionally she had glimpses in her mind about people. “I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. It just came out before I thought about it. My Irish roots taking over.”
Magda told her she was not uncomfortable. It had just been a couple of days of surprises, and she explained about the old stable and the chocolate shop. Then she paused. Merle waited.
“We saw a cat walk through a wall,” she told her and wondered what the response would be.
“Wow. You lucky so and so. I wish I had been there. What happened?”
Instead of selling truffles, Magda found herself going over the whole set of events from the day before and showed her the photograph.
“Can you make it out?”
“Oh yes, indeed,” Merle murmured and touched the part of the photo where the image of the cat was imprinted. “He was frightened of the fire. That’s all I am feeling.”
“Frightened of the fire. That is amazing. Thank you. I am going to see the people who bought the main house and try and learn some history of the place.”
“If I can help just give me the word,” Merle said and then put her business hat on and asked to see the truffles. Magda had samples of course. In the end Merle decided on the prewrapped boxes and ordered assorted flavors. The shop was off the foyer and had a selection of gifts, items of clothing like Stetsons and bandanas, lots of local mementos, cowboy memorabilia as well as a deli counter where the people going off on rides could buy food to take for picnics. Like everything else about the place, it was upscale and expensive.
“I’ll have these ready in a couple of days, and Branston can be my delivery boy if that is okay with you.”
“Wonderful,” Merle told her and they shook hands. As she went to the car, she saw a group of riders coming back into the complex and could make out Branston in that enormous Stetson from a great distance. She waited to see what he did and smiled when she saw him gallop around and show off his riding skills before helping the party to dismount.
He looked across and waved. Then he jumped aboard the horse and made a great show of galloping up to the car and sliding to a halt in a cloud of dust.
“I am not impressed. I was there when you learned to ride, remember?” Branston grinned and slid from the saddle. He gave a quick glance at the hotel entrance, and Magda realized he was not showing off for his cousin. “Merle ordered the truffles, and I said you would bring them over.”
“Great,” he said with one eye still on the hotel. She gave him a punch on the arm and brought him up to date about Rula.
“Sam and I are going over plans tonight. I’ll call you,” she told him, and he said that he was helping with the campfire party arranged for the evening.
“You really do love this cowboy stuff, don’t you?”
“Sure do, Cuz,” he answered and swung back into the saddle, lifted his Stetson in the air, and galloped away.
Magda smiled and watched him go.
Along the way she turned off the main highway and stopped the car at a lookout. She called Sam.
“I am on my way back to meet Katie. I just thought I would tell you what happened at the ranch,” she started. She told him about the way Merle had known about an adventure with a cat, and he said she could tell him properly later.
“I’ll meet you at your place after you and Katie get together. I had an adventure of my own.” He would not give any more details and she had to contain her curiosity.
6
The cats were delighted to see their mistress back and rubbed against her legs. Magda pushed them firmly to one side. The fact was that she was looking forward to seeing Sam. Her curiosity kept wondering what adventure he had teased her with.
“The man can be so annoying,” she said to the cats as she went to answer the door to Katie Welling. She recognized her instantly and made her welcome.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you since you were about fourteen.” Magda smiled and Katie agreed. The two girls settled with a coffee, and Magda told her potential new trainee how she worked. Then she explained about the new chocolate shop.
“You see I will need help. Rula will run the café and shop part but the cooking will have to be increased.” Katie was enthusiastic about the new café.
“My dad is going to start work on it tomorrow,” she said, “so I heard what they were discussing earlier. I would love to be part of the new business.”
“What about your artwork?” Magda asked and it seemed that the commissions that she took could be done during time off.
“I am particular about what I do and it takes time. I work in short spells.”
“Talking of particular,” Magda said, ”can you use a piping bag?” She demonstrated on two truffles and showed Katie a selection of the pieces she did. Then the new girl gave it a try.
“A natural.” Magda smiled. “If we put some hours in here training and helping, we should be all set by the time the café opens. You’re hired if you would like it.” She held out her hand.
“I would love it,” Katie said and accepted the rose-cream truffle Magda offered. “Sam is enthusiastic about the job. They were talking stone, concrete, electricity, and plumbing. I switched off at that point.”
“He’s coming over later to show me the plans. I am out tomorrow, but the morning after we can start as I have a batch of new chocolate to make.”
“I’ll let you get things done,” Katie said as she stood up. “I’ll have to thank Sam for suggesting me to
you. He’s one of the good guys.” Magda smiled.
“Can be a pain though. No doubt we will end up arguing about something.”
It was on the tip of Katie’s tongue to make a remark about opposites attracting but thought better of it as Magda was her new boss.
Magda closed the door and started on the boxes for the ranch. She had a huge refrigerated display case in the kitchen, and it was stocked with her most popular treats. The contents were going down and when Katie arrived; she would be glad to start on a new batch.
Sam arrived with two pizzas because he hadn’t asked what she would like, as well as a briefcase full of papers and leaflets. She left the boxes to finish later and made coffee. They settled in the living room with the pizzas to eat before they went cold.
“Right. Tell me about this mysterious adventure you had. Talk about suspense,” Magda said after she had eaten one slice and picked up a second.
“Danny, Katie’s dad, and I went to measure up and see where the concrete was to be laid. We were outside, but the doors were open because you had given me the key.” She waited with a pizza section halfway to her mouth. He grinned. “I saw the cat in front of the opening of where the door should be and pointed to it. Danny asked what I was pointing at and I asked if he saw the cat. He looked at me as if I was nuts and asked, what cat?”
“So, he couldn’t see it?” Magda queried. “But Rula, Branston, you, and I all saw it.”
“And Crystal saw the photo,” Sam added. “Where is my little friend, by the way?”
“We’ll clear the pizza away before I let them out. Abigail would be straight into the box.”
He told her that he didn’t pursue it with Danny but it was curious.
“Then I phoned Jennifer Cartland. She was thrilled to know that the stable was going to be used and invited us for coffee in the morning.” There was obviously going to be something else and Magda waved her pizza at him.
“And?”
“She asked if you liked cats.”
“I said that you had two Birmans and loved cats, then she asked when you had first gone into the stable.” After we talked about the chocolate shop for a short while I took a chance and asked if she had a cat that was mostly white with black on it and she gasped.”
“She’s seen it?” He nodded and said that the cat only started appearing again in the last two days. That is from when you went into the building.”
“Wow,” Magda said and sat back. “That is a bit frightening.”
“But might just be coincidence,” Sam said, “like Crystal and the phones.”
She cleared the pizza and let out the cats from the bedroom. Crystal made for Sam like a homing pigeon. Abigail huffily ignored him and jumped onto Magda’s knee.
“Anyway, we can find out what she knows in the morning. It might just clear everything up.” He pulled out the papers and cleared a space on the coffee table. “This is the plan of the layout.” He showed her where he thought the kitchen items would go and had included the chocolate vat and a large island work surface. “You need another door for fire regulations. The detail is up to you.”
“Oh, Sam you must have really worked hard at this. Thank you. It looks like a real place now.” He gave her a smile and handed over the second paper. He had turned his rough sketch into a picture with touches of color here and there and it made you want to walk right in. She gazed at it in silence, and he felt a sharp, sudden fear that it was not what she had in mind. Then he saw the tears on her cheeks and had an even bigger fear.
“I’ll change it,” he said and went to wrap his arms around her. “It can be altered if it’s not what you want. Danny is doing the foundations but what goes on top can be anything. I am so sorry.”
She put her hand on his lips.
“Shush,” she said. “It is so beautiful and you read my mind. It’s perfect. Happy tears. I’m sorry I cried.”
He brushed away the tears. She found a tissue in her pocket and leaned against him.
“I thought I knew you well, Magda.”
She took his hand and felt a slight tremble.
“Oh no. You do know me. I should apologize for not telling you it was fantastic. Instead of which, I did the silly woman thing and cried.” That made him smile, and he said that it was okay to be silly sometimes.
“Let me look at it properly,” she said and they unrolled the sketch again. “You know there is something missing?” He gazed at the sheet of paper.
“Something to do with chocolate?” he asked and could think of nothing. She shook her head.
“A faint outline of a cat.” He smiled, found a pencil and lightly added the faintest suggestion of a cat in front of the doors.
“That is so clever. I wish I could draw,” Magda said and held up the sketch. “I think I’ll frame this.”
“I just do architectural sketches really: more to do with perspective and getting things in the right place. Katie is a genuine artist. She does corners of gardens where one piece of a stone wall, a pot, and a leaf turns into a picture that makes you remember somewhere. She has one that is a huge field of corn with one red poppy.”
“I’ll have to ask her to let me see it,” Magda said.
“Website,” he answered and flicked on the phone. Magda flipped through the pictures.
“You are right. She is really good. I wonder if we could have some of the prints in the shop. I’ll see what she says. I love the shades of the green one.”
“It would work in that bedroom of yours,” he said with a grin and she gave him a playful slap on the wrist.
“For a split second, you sure looked like you took it all in," she told him and then held up a finger to stop him asking for a longer look. “I know what you are about to say, Sam Barnes. Don’t even think it.”
It crossed his mind to buy it for her, but she caught the flicker in his eyes.
“And buying it for me does not get you in there either.”
“You know me far too well.” He laughed. “I can’t win. Put the television on and let’s just take it easy.” She clicked the remote and a comedy came on. He draped an arm around her shoulders and she didn’t resist. It had been a busy day, and it was good to just sit and watch something amusing on the screen.
Crystal and Abigail settled themselves on the sofa as well and uttered loud and contented purrs.
“Tell you something quite unrelated, Sam. Branston is definitely trying to impress Merle. You should have seen the riding displays. She says he gets the whole idea of over-the-top cowboy holidays.”
“You can say that again,” Sam answered, “but he has always loved riding. At least he is doing what he enjoys.”
“Oh heavens, I haven’t finished making the boxes for him to take to the ranch.” Magda remembered and started to get up to go and do it. He pulled her back down onto the seat.
“Have another five minutes and I’ll give you a hand.”
She settled into the crook of his arm.
“You are making me lazy, Sam.” Crystal looked at the phone and it rang two seconds later. “See how she does that?” Magda picked up the phone and heard Rula’s voice.
“How is she?” Magda asked and smiled when she heard that Melissa was awake and talking. “Oh, thank heavens.” Rula said that the doctors were pleased with her recovery and although she would be in a wheelchair, things were looking good.
“Two days and I can bring her home.”
“Tell us what you need doing. We can buy food and get the place ready. I have your spare key here anyway,” Magda said.
“Us?” Rula pounced on the word. “You and Sam?” He took the phone.
“Stop blowing my chances here, Rula.” He was rewarded with a laugh. “Magda is right for once. We can get in what you need and be ready for you. The building work and truffles can both take a day off to sort it out.”
Rula said that would be great, and she would email a list of what they would need once she had spoken to the doctor. They gave her a brief update on what had h
appened and said that Katie was starting as a helper in two days.
“I have missed quite a lot,” she answered. “Email me when you’ve been up to the big house. I am really curious.”
“I’ve got boxes to finish for the ranch. No rest for the wicked,” Magda said. “Tell your mom that she can still be fantastic even in a wheelchair.”
“That is such a relief,” she said to Sam as the phone call ended. She headed to the kitchen but stopped and called the two cats to the bedroom. Crystal hid behind Sam’s legs. He picked her up with a grin and said it was coming to something when you had to train a cat to get a look in somebody’s bedroom.
Magda carried Abigail, and they closed the cats behind the door. Then he simply took Magda in his arms and knew he was taking an enormous gamble.
7
She put her hands against his chest.
“There was something there, Magda, when you saved me from the tart. Just try it one more time.”
His voice was almost pleading but not quite. This was a Sam whom she had never met before. Sam who came at night when she needed him, who read her mind about the design, and she had known him so long that she knew when he was joking or when he was serious. This was no joke. She could see it in his eyes.
She reached up her hands and took his face between them and then stretched up and took the initiative. His arms folded around her, and she slipped her hands behind his neck. The meeting of their lips was dynamite. When he claimed the kiss beside the hiking shop, she had been surprised and then amused, but she had still noticed the sizzle of emotion that had surged through her body when he deepened the kiss. She had firmly left that at the back of her mind.
This time there was no danger, no reason to kiss other than that they wanted to. Magda had made the first move but then she did what Magda never did—she lost control. Her body simply did not want to stop what it was doing. The sensation that had made itself felt before, came back a hundredfold and swept her away to a land of magic, fairy tales, and stars.
