by Diana Stone
“No she isn’t.” Nikki pauses for effect, “She offered to sell me the ranch for what she paid.”
“She’s telling the wrong person. That’s the last place you’d want,” I snort.
“No kidding. I thanked her, but said I wasn’t interested.”
“How much does she want?” Charlie brightens up. “She got it for a steal.”
“Two million.”
Charlie sits straighter and looks at Monica with an imploring expression. “What do you think?”
The rest of us are staring at them. Is it possible he wants it? Why on earth?
“Do you think it would work?” Monica replies.
“Absolutely. I’m sure of it.”
“The price is right, if that’s what you want.”
“Thanks, I do!” He jumps up, hurries to the other side of the table and hugs her. “Nikki, we want the ranch!”
“Why?!” Her expression shows stunned disbelief.
“I want a place to rehabilitate and lay up horses, and Monica wants a large garden.”
“Large garden—there is more than she needs. The place has bad juju.” Nikki insists.
“We’ll hire Quinn to keep it safe.” Charlie looks at him, invitingly.
“Well, I guess I could.”
Monica looks intrigued, “Nikki, you told me your new job isn’t as good as you thought.”
“No, but I don’t have another choice,” she looks frustrated.
“You could lead rides from the ranch. What if we look at this a different way?”
I’m watching the proceedings with interest. I swallow the last of my wine and sit quietly.
“Jess, you can come back too!” Monica grabs my shoulder in excitement.
“Oh no. I don’t think so.”
“Yes, it would be perfect,” Charlie pipes up. “We need to think of ways to expand.”
“Quinn has three Delta Force friends who need a place to live. It would make me feel better if they live there too.” Monica adds.
Nikki looks at me with funny expression. Her lips are forming a pursed Ohhhh. She may be changing her mind. Either by the safely of Delta Force, or by the thought of three handsome men living next door.
Nikki pulls out her phone, types a few sentences, then presses send. “Let’s see what she says.”
The table is quiet waiting for a reply.
Ding, a text: “Put your offer in writing.”
No way! She’s going for it. “Are you really doing this?” Nikki squeals.
“Yes we are!” Charlie looks elated. “We’ve been looking for property for months. That ranch is a bargain. We can’t let it get away. It’s our once-in-a-lifetime chance.” He looks pleadingly at Monica for confirmation.
Wow. I’m sitting up, watching this unfold. It could mean I go back to leading rides with Nikki. It would be fun with everyone there, and safe, too. I guess I could consider it.
I look at Quinn and shrug. He hasn’t said a word. I wonder what he thinks.
He nods an affirmative and winks at me. I’ve never seen him wink before. He seems to like the idea.
What an unexpected evening. If this comes together, my life will settle down again. I’ll have my code enforcement job, I can lead rides with my mares, and I have a terrific man. This is unexpected. I never imagined it would turn out this way.
Fate can be a wondrous thing.
Dressed in White has come to a close.
Join Jess and her friends in Dressed in Yellow.
Acknowledgments
Thank you Buttonwood Farm Winery and Vineyard. They have a great location for a party or an adventure. They gave me the freedom to roam through the peach orchard where Monica gets fruit for her great tarts.
I hiked to the top of the hill overlooking miles of vineyards. This is where Monica dove into the pond. Down on the flatland, their gardens have hundreds of tomato plants which gave me the idea for Heather to smash with the horse and carriage. The large oak and gully are there too!
www.Buttonwoodwinery.com
For Jessica’s adventure at the casino, I downloaded the Chumash Casino app and enrolled in their players club. When I checked in, I received $35 in free, electronic chips. What a learning curve! I thought I would simply put a quarter in the machine. It seems technology has come to the gambling world. You slide your card in the slot and click how much you want to spend. An older lady showed me how to work it! I also walked through the High Limit room, which isn’t restricted to the gaming elite. In case you were wondering, there is a restroom in the room. Jessica was wondering about that.
www.Chumashcasino.com
Thanks to Richard Shiah for introducing me to his favorite cigar shop in Thousand Oaks, Ca. I’ve been there several times and love the atmosphere, and especially the humidor room. It smells like wood and history. He brings me empty cigar boxes by the bag. I have collected over a hundred which has forced me to get creative.
I took a Cowboy 2-Step dance lesson at Maverick Saloon. The teacher is good, and the dancers are forgiving if you smile at your mistakes. The bar and patio are full of locals if you want to grab a beer.
About the Author
As a former police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, I have plenty to write about. I often take real events and change the names, or I modify something similar and make it come alive in the Santa Ynez Valley, CA. I use fictional characters in real locations throughout the wine country.
After several years of saving my dad’s spare change, I bought my first horse at age 12. He cost $415 and was quite a challenge. He galloped, out of control, more times than I can remember. Since then, I’ve always had at least one horse. Some have been wonderful, and others, not so much. Bunny and Juliette are two special mares who have parts in this series.
Cami the cat is my new addition. I got her from the shelter. She either sleeps in the corner of my desk, or walks across the keyboard, distracting me.
I hope you enjoy your trip through Los Olivos, CA in my books. I’m usually there at least once a month, researching, meeting people, and having fun.
Thanks for joining Jessica and me!
If you enjoyed this, it will help a lot if you click the Dressed in White link on the next page. It will take you to Amazon where you can leave a review. I need them. I have very few… Thank you for your time!
If you would like to get in touch with me, my email is [email protected] If you see an error, I’d love to know so I can fix it. My books have been proofread and edited, but there are always words that sneak through.
My Facebook page is up to date with photos and videos from the area.
DianaStonebooks on Facebook and Instagram
Also by Diana Stone
Dressed in Pink
Dressed in Green
Dressed in Blue
Dressed in Orange
Dressed in Black
Dressed in Red
Dressed in White
Dressed in Chianti : A novelette
