Welcome Wagon (River's End Ranch Book 13) Read online

  “More than you even know.”

  The front door opened, and Wes entered the house. “Hey, Gwen,” he said as he closed the door. “How’s it going?”

  “It’s good. You?”

  “Had to rescue a scared climber off the cliff today. Reminded me a little bit of you, hon.” He bent down and gave Amber a kiss. “Wasn’t nearly as attractive, though. His name was Ned.”

  Amber laughed. “The day you find a guy named Ned more attractive than me, I’ll know we have a problem. Gwen’s staying for dinner, okay?”

  “Of course. You have to taste Amber’s special homemade lasagna.” He gave Gwen a wink before heading over to the sink to wash up. Gwen loved the Westons—she’d been here long enough that she felt like one of them. She didn’t know if the fairies considered the Westons family, though. None of them had red hair.

  “So, what are we watching tonight, Gwen?” Wes asked a short time later as they sat down at the table.

  “Are we doing a movie night? I thought I was here sort of spontaneously.”

  “Well, you are, but I call a movie night,” Wes said. “Come on—I know you’ve got at least one DVD in your bag.”

  “Um, well, maybe I do.” Gwen blushed again. Some people knew her entirely too well. “How do you feel about Grace Kelly?”

  “Grace Kelly? I want to be Grace Kelly,” Amber replied. “Except that she’s dead. I don’t want to be dead.”

  “Well, I brought The Swan. It’s one of her lesser-known movies, but it was released on her wedding day, so that’s cool. It gets a little slow at the end, just as a heads-up, but the beginning is really funny, and it also stars Alec Guinness.”

  “Obi-Wan?” Wes’s face lit up.

  “Before he even was Obi-Wan,” Gwen replied.

  They cleaned up dinner and settled in on the couch. Gwen insisted she was too full for popcorn, but Amber made it anyway, and since no mortal being in creation can resist popcorn when it’s sitting there right in front of them, she grabbed a handful.

  “Grace Kelly is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen,” she said as they waited for the opening credits to end. “Except for maybe Hedy Lamarr. Did you know that Hedy is partially responsible for developing spread spectrum and frequency-hopping technology, which is used in our WiFi technology today? But she did that way back during World War II in an attempt to defeat the threat of jamming by the Axis powers . . .” She trailed off when she saw the blank looks Wes and Amber were giving her. “Sorry. Am I doing it again?”

  “We like the way you burst into random bits of obscure Hollywood trivia that no one else knows. We really do,” Amber said. “We just have no idea who you’re talking about.”

  “I do know what WiFi is,” Wes added.

  “I’ll have to show you guys a Hedy Lamarr movie. She’s gorgeous, Wes. You’ll like her.”

  “I’ll like her all the more because she sounds brilliant as well as beautiful. That’s what makes a woman attractive to me,” he said, sounding very righteous.

  “Uh-huh.” Amber nudged his shoulder. “Now hush. The movie’s starting.”

  By the time the film was over, all the popcorn had been eaten, plus a can of soda each. Gwen wondered if she’d even be able to get off the couch, she was so full.

  “That was good,” Amber said as she flipped off the TV. “Well, the ending wasn’t quite what I was expecting, and that guy sort of lost it, but I liked it.”

  “I like almost any movie with sword fighting.” Wes gathered up the empty cans and the popcorn bowl.

  “I figured you’d go for that,” Gwen answered with a smile. “Anything I can do? Want me to load up the dishwasher or anything?”

  “Nope. We’re good,” Amber said. “Thanks for coming over. I’ll want a full report, all right?”

  “If there’s anything to report, you’ve got it,” Gwen replied. “See ya.”

  “Hey, you’re not leaving by yourself,” Wes said. “Let me walk you to your car.”

  Gwen smiled again and shook her head as Wes put his boots back on. The ranch was probably the safest place in the world—it even had their own security detail—but it touched her heart that Wes would still escort her to the parking lot just because it was late.

  “So, what’s this thing you’re going to report to Amber?” he asked as they crunched across the gravel.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “By complicated, do you mean private, and I should keep my nose out of it?” Wes asked, nudging her with his shoulder.

  “No, I mean it’s complicated.” Gwen took two steps before answering. “I used to be very involved with this guy back home, and he’s coming to the ranch on Monday. He didn’t know I was here when he called to make the reservation.” She decided to let Amber tell Wes the rest of the story.

  “Oh, wow. Is that going to be awkward for you? Is the guy a jerk?”

  “No, totally not. He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever known. That might make it even more awkward, actually.”

  “I see.” Wes chuckled as they reached Gwen’s car. “Well, I don’t pretend to know much about stuff like that, but I’ll be cheering you on for whatever outcome you’re supposed to have. How’s that?”

  “Sounds good. Thanks.”

  Wes checked her backseat for bad guys before she climbed in, and she waved as she started the engine and backed out. She’d never once regretted her decision to drop out of law school—she was completely happy here on the ranch. She just regretted what she’d lost along the way.

  Chapter Three

  Gabe had several options when it came to getting to the ranch. He had finally opted to fly into Lewiston and rent a car for the rest of the trip. It meant changing planes once, which he wasn’t crazy about, but there weren’t any straight flights.

  As he drove from Lewiston to the ranch, though, he had to admit that he’d made the right choice. The fall colors were astounding, and the scenery was like nothing he’d ever seen before—green trees frosted with bits of snow contrasting with the breathless blue of the sky. He rolled down the windows of his rental car and punched radio buttons until he found some country music. It seemed fitting.

  He’d managed to keep himself pretty calm while he traveled, but when his GPS announced that he just had one mile left to go before reaching his destination, his stomach clenched. Maybe he should have changed his vacation plans when he found out Gwen worked here. Why put himself through that pain again? As soon as he had the thought, however, he pushed it back down. He’d never been the kind to shy away from a challenge, and if seeing Gwen after all these years was a challenge, he should face it head-on. Face her head-on. Live down the ghosts of the past. That was the healthy thing to do, right?

  He followed the signs to the parking lot and pulled in, then lifted his bags from the trunk. He hadn’t known what to bring, so he’d thrown together a bunch of everything. He carried his bags up to the building marked “bunkhouse” and noted the sign that said “registration.” This was it.

  “Hey, let me get that door for you.” Gabe turned at the friendly female voice and saw a young woman wearing a maid’s uniform walking up behind him. She reached out and twisted the knob for him, then stepped back with a smile to give him room to enter.

  “Thank you,” he said, giving her a nod. “I appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome. Enjoy your stay.”

  He maneuvered the luggage through the doorway and up to the front desk, where he set it down. Then he lifted his eyes to the woman behind the computer, and his heart nearly stopped beating.

  “Hello, Gwen.”

  “Hi, Gabe.”

  She’d always blushed easily, and he imagined that the pink on her cheeks mirrored his own. So many things he wanted to say . . . where should he even start?

  “Here I am,” he managed at last. Oh, so suave . . . She’d remember that greeting forever. He could have kicked himself.

  “Yes, here you are, and we have your room ready for you.” Gwen tapped a button
on her computer. “I’ll call the bellboy to help with your bags and show you where to go.”

  “Oh, that’s not necessary. I can manage,” Gabe said. “Do I sign something or . . .?”

  “Um, yes. You do.” Gwen shook her head, obviously flustered, and handed him a sheet of paper with his reservation printed on it. “If you’ll just sign here, and then at the end of the week, you’ll receive an itemized print-out with any meals you’ve charged to the room and activities you’ve added on.”

  “Sounds great.” He quickly scribbled his name where she indicated.

  “Here’s a welcome packet with our menu and a list of our activities,” she continued, handing him a folder. “We do have room service, and please note the hours for the diner and the various venues on the ranch.”

  “And what time are you coming to dinner with me tonight?” he asked, lowering his voice in case that was an awkward question to ask while she was working.

  “I turn the desk over to the night shift at seven,” she replied. “Give me half an hour to change, and I’ll meet you here in the lobby at seven thirty?”

  “Sounds perfect.” He picked up his key card, then grabbed his luggage again. “Thanks, Gwen.”

  “You’re welcome. See you later.”

  Well, that first meeting hadn’t gone as badly as he’d thought it might, but it certainly hadn’t been comfortable. He sighed as he stepped into the elevator and the doors closed, hiding him from view of the registration desk. She was just as beautiful as he remembered. She looked a little older, of course—it would be weird if she didn’t—but the years had only increased her beauty and brought more personality into her eyes. Her amazing blue eyes.

  Now if he could only think of something to say when he picked her up for dinner. That would be nice.

  ***

  Natasha walked up to the desk and leaned over it. “Who was that?” she whispered.

  “His name’s Gabe Grant. He’ll be here with us until Friday,” Gwen replied in her normal voice.

  “No, I mean, who was that? You obviously know him—the sparks flying around here could have set the lobby on fire.”

  Gwen shook her head. “Don’t you have rooms to clean?”

  “I’m on it. But I need to know. Because otherwise, I might start flirting with him, and I’d feel terrible flirting with someone who has a past with someone here on the ranch.”

  “I used to date him back in college.”

  “I see.” Natasha gave her a knowing look. “All right, he’s off limits. Did you get those other baskets made up, or did you need me to do that?”

  Gwen blinked at the maid’s sudden change of subject. “Oh. Baskets. No, I can do those—you’ve got a lot on your plate this morning.”

  “Yeah, I do. Any word on when we’re getting another maid? This place is a little much for just three girls to handle. Especially with the desk needing a backup and all that.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. I talked to Wade last week, but I’ll shoot him a reminder email.”

  “Thanks, Gwen.” Natasha picked up her caddy of cleaning supplies and walked into the bathroom off the lobby, ready to give it a good scrub-down. She was the best maid they’d ever had.

  Gwen sent the email to Wade as promised, then stepped into the supply closet around the corner from the desk and pulled out the things she’d need to make up more of the welcome baskets that went in each room. She lined up twelve baskets on the counter and had just put decorative hay in the bottom of each when Mrs. Callahan entered the lobby.

  “Gwen, you did it again,” she said, putting a DVD on the counter. “I don’t know how you managed it, but every single movie you recommended was just perfect. This has been the most restful vacation I’ve had in years.”

  Gwen glanced at the DVD to remind herself which one she’d lent out this time. My Favorite Brunette—that’s right. “You really can’t go wrong with Hope and Crosby,” she said with a chuckle. “I have all their movies.” She wondered if she should brag about her trivia night win, but decided against it.

  “Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting good old Bing to show up there at the end, but I should have suspected that he would.” Mrs. Callahan’s eyes suddenly filled up with tears. “I really don’t know how to thank you. Since Mr. Callahan died, the world has been a little less joyful. Things seem a bit gray. And now I’m finding pieces of myself I’d thought I lost, and I’ve been invited to go have tea with the fairies.” She did a little twirl for inspection. “Do I look all right? I’ve never had tea with fairies before.”

  She wore a lavender chiffon dress, and looked rather like a fairy herself. “You’re perfect,” Gwen told her, glad Jaclyn had taken her in. “Have a good time.”

  “Thank you. See you later.” She whisked out through the door, and Gwen turned back to putting sample bottles of shampoo and conditioner into the baskets.

  “I wondered who was responsible for those,” Gabe said as he walked up behind her. “I confess, I’ve already eaten the package of cookies out of mine.”

  “I’m not surprised. Miranda over in the bakery makes them for us, and they’re pretty killer, aren’t they?”

  “They are, but I’m still a little hungry. Where can you point me for lunch?”

  “That all depends on what you’d like to eat.” Gwen kept her hands busy putting soaps and complimentary goodies in the baskets, but her heart was pounding out of control. If this kept up, she’d have to pop over to the infirmary and have Bridget take a look. “If you stay here on the ranch, we have a fantastic diner, or you could head into Riston and get Chinese or sub sandwiches.”

  “Maybe we’d better decide where we’re having dinner first,” Gabe said, leaning on the counter and watching her with interest. “Oops—you forgot the chocolates in that one.”

  “You’re right.” Gwen tossed a small box of Frank’s Fudge into the fourth basket from the left. He was distracting her. In lots of ways. “There’s a new restaurant in town I haven’t tried yet. It’s called Figs, and I’ve heard it’s pretty good.”

  “Okay, Figs it is, so I’ll eat at the diner for lunch. Where is it? I’m afraid I didn’t bring my map down with me from my room.”

  Gwen picked up a map from the counter and showed him. He leaned over her shoulder to get a better look, and she could smell the cologne she remembered so well—a little musky, a lot heavenly. She almost closed her eyes and breathed in deeper, but blinked and pulled herself out of it. “My favorite is the Western Wonder burger, but everything on the menu is good.”

  “Thank you. Can I bring you back anything?”

  “No, I brought my lunch from home today. But thanks.”

  He gave her a little wave as he left, and once again, she held on to the counter for a moment. This was crazy. She couldn’t freak out and go all wobbly every time she saw him—he’d be there until Friday, and she had a lot of work she needed to get done between now and then. Becoming incapacitated was not on her list. This was nothing more than being reunited with an old friend. That wasn’t hard, was it?

  Except that this was a friend she would have married in a heartbeat.

  That did make things a little more complicated.

  “I’m ready for those baskets,” Natasha said, coming out of the bathroom.

  “Just putting on the bows,” Gwen replied.

  Natasha tucked the bathroom caddy away in the janitorial closet as Gwen finished up, then she gathered two baskets in each arm. “Back in a second for the others,” she said.

  Gwen lined up the other finished baskets on the floor and wiped the stray bits of straw and whatnot from the top of the counter, then pretended to get back to work. There was an email from Wade thanking her for the reminder and promising that he’d take care of it. Good—maybe she wouldn’t have to sic his assistant on him. There was a note from Amber—Has he gotten there yet? How are you doing? Gwen had no idea how to answer that, so she decided not to. Oh, look—a group of twelve people who wanted to schedule cliff climbing—weathe
r permitting—and horseback riding over the course of a week. A project she could sink her teeth into and forget all about the ridiculously good-looking judge who was taking her out to dinner that night. Just what she needed.

  Chapter Four

  Gabe stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel from the nearby rack. A heated rack. This was definitely not a typical bunkhouse, but then again, he’d never thought it was, not after hearing Amber describe it and then checking it out on the Internet.

  Speaking of the Internet, he had no idea how to dress for dinner tonight. He pulled on the bathrobe that hung on the back of the door and crossed the room to where his laptop sat on the desk. What had Gwen said the restaurant was called? Dates or something . . . no, Figs. He punched figs riston Idaho into the search, and up came the website he was looking for. Looked like an upscale bistro.

  Ten minutes later, wearing dress slacks and a button-down shirt without a tie, Gabe studied himself in the mirror. How much had he changed since college? He could see some gray threads running through his blond hair, but it was still thick. No crow’s feet—that was good. He’d put on a few pounds, but nothing bulged anywhere. He turned to the side to make sure—yep, good there too. Maybe all that had really changed was that he was a little more mature. Oh, and he owned a car now—he never did in college.

  He wondered if he should have gotten some flowers. Then he wondered where he would have gotten flowers. Was there a florist in Riston? He’d have to check the Internet for that, too. There wasn’t time to run into town before he was supposed to meet Gwen, but maybe he could send her some tomorrow. If the date went well. Date. He was going on a date with Gwen Scott.

  He sat down on the edge of the bed and rested his face in his hands for a moment. He tried to tell himself that this was just a date like any of the others he’d had, but deep down, he knew that wasn’t the truth. This could never be just a date—Gwen could never be lumped into a category.

  And if he didn’t hurry, he’d be making her wait down in the lobby.

  ***

  Carly raised her eyebrow. “Stop pacing. You look silly.”