Page 19 of Promise Me This Christmas
“That’s a fair assessment,” he agreed.“But my grandmother lived in Colorado, and she taught me how to bake my favorite chocolate chip cookies.I’d say that’s my one and only claim to fame in the kitchen.”
“You’re forgetting your barista skills,” Amy said.
“Except for this morning.”
“Oh?”He’d lost Larkin with that.“What happened this morning?”
He shrugged.“Somehow the regular coffee beans ended up in my machine instead of the proper espresso ones.I guess my morning Americanos and lattes were not up to snuff.”
Larkin raised her eyebrows and made a note.Then she raised her head and smiled.“At least you still have your chocolate chip cookie game.”
“Actually neither of us do much baking anymore,” Amy said.“Between all the admin of running the B & B, Chet’s rodeo school, and our son, Robin, we spend our days running.Fortunately, we have our wonderful cook, Jo O’Neil.”
“I’ve checked your online reviews, and it seems your guests rave about Jo’s breakfasts.But isn’t it true that when you first took ownership of the B & B, Amy, Jo and the rest of the staff quit because they didn’t like how you wanted to run things?”
Amy shifted uncomfortably in her chair.“I had a lot to learn about the Western lifestyle and honoring the history of the house.Chet helped me with that too.As did Sage Carrigan, whose mother was a Bramble.”
Amy brushed away a strand of hair that had escaped from her ponytail.As she did this her silver bracelet slid up and down her wrist.Larkin leaned forward for a closer look.
“Am I mistaken, or are those Montana sapphires on your bracelet?”
“That’s right,” Amy said.The subcategory of sapphires that were found almost exclusively in Montana were a smoky lighter blue than traditional sapphires.
“My mother collects jewelry made from Montana sapphires,” Larkin said.“She owns several rings and necklaces.”
Amy fingered her bracelet lovingly.“This was my mother’s, and I’ll always treasure it.She was a single mom, and she raised me in New York with lots of help from her parents, my grandparents.But after her death, this bracelet led me to Montana and eventually helped me find my father.”
*
Her father.AlsoCarson’s father.How weird that these two half siblings hadn’t known about each other until they were adults.Larkin wondered if Amy harbored any resentment toward her mother for not letting her dad be a part of her life.“It must have been quite a surprise to discover your father was rodeo legend David Wilcox.”
“Yes.Not that I knew about the rodeo world when I moved here.But I soon discovered my father was a man of many accomplishments.He’s got a successful ranch down by Yellowstone, a wonderful wife, and three sons.But then, you know Carson, don’t you?”
Larkin nodded.“I grew up in Gardiner.Carson and I went to school together.I knew his whole family actually.I was even enrolled in the Wilcoxes’ first rodeo academy.”
“So you guys go way back,” Amy said.
“That’s cool you went to the Wilcox rodeo academy,” Chet added.“We’ve opened a second one here in Marietta.”
“Which Chet manages with the help of Craig Denton,” Amy added proudly.
“Yes, Chet, you’re something of a rodeo legend yourself.Just a few years back didn’t you take home the buckle for All-Around Cowboy at the Copper Mountain Rodeo?”
“That was probably a career highlight for me.But the rodeo life is tough.Both on the body and a man’s family.After meeting Amy and then having our son, I knew it was time to leave the circuit.Running Big Sky Rodeo Academy is my dream job—and of course I have a side gig helping Amy out at the B & B when needed.”
“And I need him a lot!”Amy laughed.
“Sounds like you’re a busy man.”
“I’m a lucky man.”
And a happy one from what Larkin could see.“Maybe you’re both lucky.Bramble House B & B consistently earns high ratings from all its guests.But do you worry about the competition?Just this past year three new B & Bs opened up in Marietta.The Rocking Chair B & B in particular is getting lots of buzz.”
“Hopefully there’s room for all of us in Marietta,” Amy said.“We’ll keep focusing on what we do best and making our guests feel welcome and a little bit pampered.It’s worked for us so far.”
“I suppose little hiccups like the overbaked cookies and the mix-up with the coffee beans must happen fairly often?”Larkin asked.
“Actually no.”Amy frowned.“I’ve noticed, however, that if mistakes are going to happen it’s often when your most—shall we say exacting?—guests are involved.”
