by Lexi Post
She quickly followed her mother then froze. The sound of barking dogs came from inside. A shiver raced up her spine as fear swept over her. She took a deep breath. They were inside. She was outside. “Actually, Crystal brought your bags down in the wagon earlier.”
Her mother turned to face her. Even in the dim light of the golf cart lights, her mom’s irritation was clear. “She better not have broken anything.”
Since she couldn’t imagine what her mother might have that could be that valuable, she swallowed her retort. “I’m sure Crystal was careful. She likes having nice things, too.”
“What are you standing over there for? Are you gonna open the door or not? This is the right house, right?” Her mother stepped back and looked at it and then at the one next door as if she would know.
Forcing herself to move past her instinctual fear, she stepped passed her mother. “I’ll let you in, but I’ll need you to put the dogs in the bathroom and close the door, so I can explain a few things.”
“You’re still afraid of dogs? After all these years?”
She ignored her mother’s shock. It was easy for her to be surprised. She wasn’t the one with the scars to remind her every time she took off her boots. She wasn’t the one who’d been in pain, first, because of the coyote’s bite, second, from the infection when Fred wouldn’t let them go to the hospital, and third, when the numbness wore off after the operation. Forcing herself to put the key in the lock, she turned it, but held the door closed.
“Freckles and Scruffy are sweethearts. They’d never hurt you.”
She shook her head. “That’s beside the point. But if you don’t want to do that, I can just leave.”
Her mother’s hand on her arm surprised her. “I’ll take care of it.”
She nodded at her mom’s sympathetic gaze, a lump forming in her throat, keeping her from speaking. Instead, she stepped aside and let her mother open the door herself.
Fear sliced up her spine as it looked like the dogs would escape outside, but her mother corralled them and shut the door. A light went on inside as her mother talked to the dogs, cooing over them then coercing them away.
Kendra leaned against the side of the house. Over thirty years later and she still couldn’t shake her fear. There was something too unpredictable about them. She’d rather face their local mountain lion.
The door to the casita opened, and she pushed away from the wall. “All set?”
Her mother nodded. “Come in. This is a lot nicer than I expected.”
She stopped herself from rolling her eyes and closed the door behind her. It was quiet, no dogs barking, but she didn’t want to know how her mother accomplished that feat. Wade had told her what a racket they had made in the morning, which was far more than she wanted to know. “When I had the resort built, I included these staff casitas. As you discovered, we’re from far everything out here out of necessity, so I knew some of my staff would want to live on site.”
Her mother wandered into the kitchen that was only sectioned off from the living room by a counter. “It seems small on the outside. I would have thought it was the size of a single-wide. I could definitely live here.”
She swallowed a groan. “This is only on loan. We’ll figure something out for the long-term.”
Her mother opened the refrigerator. “If you don’t have enough housing for me, I could always move in with Jorge.”
“Mother!”
Her mom closed the fridge and shrugged. “Just trying to help.”
It was less her mom’s words and more the sparkle in her eye that concerned her. “I think you should be careful about any relationship until the divorce is final. I can tell you from experience that you’ll get more assets if you’re not seeing someone.”
Her mother waved off her concern. “If you mean that thirty-year-old trailer that he refuses to keep up, well he can have it. So what did you need to show me? My dogs are aching from all the activity today. Who knew being outside on a horse would make me tired?”
She cringed at how sore her mom was sure to be tomorrow. “I’m sure you’re anxious for a warm soak.”
“Oh no. I need to get my beauty sleep. Jorge is taking me into Phoenix tomorrow.”
She stopped on her way into the kitchen. “What? He’s got two trail rides tomorrow.”
“He’s just doing the one in the morning. Crystal’s leading the other. He’s taking half a day off just for me.”
He was, was he? Did Wade give the okay? Probably. Anything to help keep her mom from interacting with the guests, but too much time with Jorge wasn’t good. He was a nice man and as good as they came, but he flirted with every female he met, and she doubted he felt like her mother did. After being ignored for so long by Fred, her mother was lapping it up like a bear after honey. She’d give Jorge the heads-up.
Quickly, she showed her mother how to set the timer on the coffee machine and pointed out the food she’d had brought in for breakfast. “I hope you’ll be able to carve out some mother-daughter time for me.” She smiled, genuinely happy to see her mother, even if it was a too early.
“Of course. Jorge is taking me to the botanical gardens. Doesn’t that sound romantic? I’m saving shopping for the mother-of-the-bride dress for you.”
The botanical gardens? Her mother could care less about flowers and plants. Growing up they had plastic daisies stuck in the ground in front of the trailer. Her mother said they were perfect because they required no care and looked pretty. They barely lasted a Vegas summer, but that didn’t stop her from buying more for the following year.
“Then I’ll take Friday afternoon off and we can go shopping.”
Her mother looked about to argue, but then nodded. “Yes, we should do it sooner rather than later. I don’t need anything too expensive. You must have some of those department stores in the city, right? You know, the ones where they get the name brands for less. I usually find good buys there. I don’t need nothing from a bridal place. I don’t want you spending that kind of money on me. Betty said her gown for her daughter’s wedding was over a hundred dollars! That’s just plain stupid.”
She covered her surprise with a cough. Of course, her mom would expect her to buy her a dress. She may have wiped out Fred’s checking account, but there was probably nothing in it to start with. The man spent his pay check on liquor except what her mom could wiggle out for groceries. “Yes, there are a few of those type of stores. I still need to do my final fitting. The store called me last week, but I’ve been so busy. Would you like to see my dress?”
Her mom sat on the stool at the counter and shook her head. “I still can’t believe you’ve done so well for yourself. Not only all this.” She waved her hand at the high ceiling. “But with Wade, too. I never did like what’s his face. This cowboy is a real man.”
Of course, her mom hadn’t liked Eugene. He’d forced her mom to wear a frilly dress to the wedding that he’d bought and then made her take a “nap” during the reception.
He’d been relieved when she insisted that Fred not be invited. After all, he had married her to make his bosses drool over her chest and get him ahead and Fred at the wedding would have ruined that. She’d been young and naïve and happy to help him. He’d always made her feel like he’d married beneath him, which was more than obvious to her. The divorce had been a blessing in disguise. She’d found her backbone as well as herself after that. She smirked. “Yes, Wade is ten times better than what’s his face.”
Her mother laughed, the sound loud. “I’d say a hundred times better. I’m proud of you, Kennie.”
Her eyes felt unusually moist at the use of her nickname. It had been so long since she’d heard it as well as her mother’s praise. Uncomfortable with showing that much emotion, she walked around the counter and stood in the living room, behind her mother’s back. “So that’s a yes on the dress?”
Her mother swiveled on the stool. “Duh. Of course I want to see you in your dress. You didn’t get that old looking ivory color I
hope. Just because you’ve been married before doesn’t mean you can’t wear white, plus ivory looks lousy on you. Not that you need red or anything, but fuchsia would look good on you.”
She swallowed a laugh. “No mom, I didn’t choose ivory. You’ll see it on Friday.”
Her mother yawned. “Good. Now I need to get some sleep. I only had four hours last night thanks to sleeping on that couch.”
“Was it uncomfortable?” She’d found old Billy on it more than once before he was fired.
Her mother got off the stool, issuing a groan as she rubbed her butt. “Oh, the couch was good, but waking up when Jorge came in was earlier than I wanted.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “But he was certainly a better sight to wake up to than your father.”
Too quick to agree with her mother, she didn’t comment. “Don’t let him run you ragged. You may be sore from riding today.”
“I’m not that old, Kendra.” She waved toward the door. “Now get. I need to let my sweeties out and get some sleep.”
She strode toward the door, but turned before opening it. “Why did you get the dogs? I thought Fred was against any animals.”
Her mother’s face softened. “Those two scallywags were left in a trailer when some riffraff moved out. Betty came over to tell me about them. That was before she moved out. I guess everyone was talking about the dogs barking in this empty trailer. So I had to see what it was all about, and sure enough, the home was empty and locked up tight with those two sweeties inside.”
Her mother shook her head. “I swear some people have no more than two peas worth of brains in their heads. Five men and three women standing around talking about it but none of them doin’ nothing. It had to be hundred and five degrees that day and those dogs were barking to get out of that oven. It’s not like the asshole who lived there left the air conditioning on. So I walked up to the door and tried it.”
“You said it was locked.”
“Are you telling this story, or am I?”
She nodded, too curious to delay her mother any more.
“Like I said, I tried the door and found out it was locked. So I went around to the side door, because you know there was one, and that blasted thing was locked, too. The dogs heard me and ran to the second door. That’s when I got an idea.”
She kept her lips pressed together so she wouldn’t interrupt.
“Aren’t you gonna ask what it was?”
She quickly jumped in. “What was it?”
Her mother slapped both hands onto her hips. “I could bust a window and the dogs could come out that way. No reason for me to go in that hot oven of a trailer.”
She widened her eyes, shocked that her mother would take that kind of initiative.
“There was this big old rock at the end of the path to the front door. You know the kind. They’re about ten pounds and painted with a saying? This one said welcome which was a freakin’ lie.” Her mom snorted. “That lowlife never wanted anything to do with anyone. He wouldn’t even buy girl scout cookies from Sally’s granddaughters.”
Her mom took a breath. “Anyways, I picked up that rock and right there in front of all those idiots, I moved to the bay picture window and I threw it. Busted that big old window like old china. I called the dogs and they came to the ledge. I lifted them out one at a time and they’ve been with me ever since.”
Her mother chuckled. “You know, no one ever did ask how the window got broke. A new couple moved in and had it replaced. They seem nice enough. A hell of a lot better than that asshole.”
All her life her mother had talked a good game, but she’d never acted. This was a new side of her and Kendra really liked it. “What did Fred say when you brought the dogs home?”
“That lump on a log sat there in his recliner and yelled at me that if I didn’t get them out of the house, he’d throw me out. I told him if they left, I’d leave. The son of a bitch was too drunk to do more than grunt.”
Wow, sometime in the last three years, her mother had found her backbone. She was more than a little impressed. “Good for you.”
Her mother grinned. “Damned right. Now get out of here. I need to go to bed.”
“Good night, mom.”
Her mother looked surprised. Then waved her out.
She grinned as she closed the door behind her. No one in their family had ever said “goodnight” or “nice to meet you” or “I’m headed to the store, do you need anything.” At least her first husband had been good for something. He’d taught her manners, and he’s taught her earlier than her mom, that she could stand on her own two feet. Standing with a hot, handsome cowboy was even better.
Climbing into the golf cart, she headed for home. Usually, Wade filled her in at their office, but since she’d taken her mom out for dinner, it was far past time for him to turn in. He should still be awake though since it was only a little past eight.
Walking into the house, she found it dark, except for the upstairs bedroom. She paused in the doorway, enjoying the sight of her very own cowboy, the sheet covering him from the waist down. Her heart hitched at the sight.
She’d always loved broad shoulders and after a year and a half, the sight of his still made her body tingle. He’d officially be hers in a matter of days. She was so thankful he’d pushed the issue of their wedding. She was so engrossed in the business of the resort that she might have put it off far too long. She was damn lucky to have him. “Hey.”
He immediately paused the movie he was watching and looked at her. “Hey, how was dinner with your mom?”
She walked in and sat on the edge of the bed next to him, laying her hand on his thigh. “It was fine, if you don’t mind hearing about Jorge’s amazing eyes and Jorge’s scruffy chin and Jorge’s patience and Jorge’s skill with a horse and Jorge’s kind—”
Wade put up his hand. “Stop. I get it. Jorge is a god.”
She sighed. “According to my mother, he walks on water. This really concerns me.”
“Me too.”
“Really?” Having him agree with her was a surprise. “I thought you were going to tell me they are two adults and can figure this out on their own.”
He laid his hand on hers. “To be honest, I thought that as well, but I’m worried your mother may mistake Jorge’s charm for real interest.”
She stared at him. “Yes, exactly. He’s the complete opposite of Fred. My mom is so used to being used that I’m afraid she could fall for him and it would break her heart, not to mention that she just left Fred and hasn’t even contacted a lawyer yet to start the divorce.”
“Do you want me to talk to him?”
Did she? They were grown adults with children of their own. “Maybe you could just explain to him where my mom is at and your concern for her?”
He nodded. “I can do that. Will you talk to your mom?”
“That’s a good question. I’m not sure that would be a good idea. I’m afraid if I say something, she’ll tell me to butt out or worse, become more determined to start a relationship.”
“You know her better than I do.”
She smirked. “I did. But she’s changed. I don’t know if it’s me having this place like she says, or if Fred finally did something that she refuses to let go, but she’s found her backbone and I think she likes it.”
“Good for her. It’s one of the things I always admired about her daughter.”
She chuckled. “Not always. I remember a time not long ago that you weren’t too happy with me standing up for what I thought was the right thing to do for the resort.”
His hand moved up her arm then down to her wrist. “True. But I gots me some learnin’ and figured it out right quick, Ms. Kendra.” He gave her a goofy smile.
“Now you sound like old Billy.” She shook her head. “I do miss him, but he’s better off at Last Chance. Lacey says he’s found a purpose and hasn’t had a relapse yet.”
Wade lost his smile. “Speaking of that. We need to hire another wagon driver. I spent most of the day shuttl
ing guests down from the garage.”
She turned her hand over and clasped his. “You’re right. I’ll leave a note for Lacey to get in touch with Dale. How did the Manager’s Reception go?”
He grinned. “Perfectly. Selma and Adriana had the usual food and drinks ready and Ginger and Buddy decided to play hosts with me, so everyone had a great time. One couple did bemoan the fact that they couldn’t extend their stay into next week, but I told them to talk to Lacey to see about a discount on their next stay.”
“Good thinking. I’m happy to use the resort for our wedding, even if it does cut into our bottom line a bit. But I don’t want our guests to stop coming because of it.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. Ginger had to jump in and tell the couple that the reason they couldn’t stay extra nights was because you and I are getting married here. By the time she was done, the guests were so happy for us, I’d be surprised if they remember to talk to Lacey.”
She smiled. She’d built Poker Flat with Ginger and Buddy in mind. She wasn’t surprised that they were being so helpful. They’d always been her surrogate parents.
“What did your mother say about Ginger being your Matron of Honor and Buddy walking you down the aisle?”
At Wade’s question, she looked down at their hands. “I didn’t tell her yet.”
He lifted their hands, forcing her to look at him. “What are you afraid of? I would think telling her earlier rather than later would be better. She’s bound to run into them. We can’t keep her from the rest of the resort forever.”
She sighed. “I know. I think it’s just that now that I’m an adult, I feel guilty for having spent so much time with Ginger and Buddy. I could understand if my mom resented them for it. It was just that Fred made being home hell. I’ll tell mom tomorrow when she gets back from Phoenix.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Phoenix? I didn’t think your mom would want to go into the city.”
She stiffened. “You didn’t know that Jorge was taking half a day off to bring mom to the Botanical Gardens?”
