Page 55 of The Wedding Ranch
“Yeah, that guy. I just ran into him here at the grocery store.”
“Already. Well, isn’t that convenient?”
“It’s a small town. It’s not like he was hunting me down. Anyway, he might be taking me to see an old mill near my house on Wednesday. I can reschedule it though.”
“No. You most certainly will not. I’m thrilled to know you’re doing something fun with someone of the opposite sex.”
“Just friends, Pam.”
“Whatever,” Pam sputtered. “Look, I’m your best friend. I can hope for more for you even if you can’t. You’re still gun-shy. What happened with you and Craig will never happen to you again.”
“Darn right it won’t.”
“Smart is one thing. Aware is good even, but isolation is bad for the soul. We need relationships and to be part of other people’s lives. It’s what we’re meant to do.”
“I’ll see you Wednesday” Lorri said shutting down the line of conversation.
“Oh, you can shush me off the telephone all you want. You know I’m not done here,” Pam said. “Just leave the key under the mat!”
And Lorri knew that was true.
Chapter Fifteen
By Tuesday afternoon it seemed like a lifetime since Saturday, when Ryder had run into Lorri at the market. So long that he was beginning to wonder if he’d imagined it. He should’ve nailed down specifics right there on the spot. Instead, it had been torture waiting to make the call. He’d been tempted to text her every day, but he’d said Wednesday.
Thank goodness the weather held out. If that line of storms hadn’t made that easterly turn he’d have had to postpone until the weekend, and honestly, he didn’t want to wait that long to talk to her again.
Ross and Reece gave him a tour of The Wedding Ranch that afternoon. They’d completed the transformation for the big contract.
“I’m not just saying this because I’m your uncle. This place looks like a million bucks.”
“I know,” Ross said. “Reece, you still amaze me.”
“It wouldn’t matter how pretty it looked if the rest of thestuff didn’t go to plan. It’s your plans that make the magic happen,” she said. “Which, by the way, Uncle Ryder, your old friend Mayor Blevins called us. She’s coming to tour this afternoon.”
“Well, you’re putting your best foot forward. It looks great,” Ryder said.
“But we’re focused on this project right now.” Ross opened his computer and reviewed the project plan with Ryder.
“I was worried,” Ryder said. “I’ll admit it, but I don’t see how this event can be anything but a success. Traffic flow plans are genius the way you’ve scheduled arrivals in intervals with a three-hour pre-wedding jam session to entertain guests during the security screening. The town will be none the wiser.”
“That’s the plan,” Ross said.
“Wonder if I’ll be able to hear the music down at the creek?” Ryder didn’t mind some good music on a sunshine day.
“You can always come up and listen.”
“No. That’s not appropriate. This is a private event, and that means no outsiders, not even uncles. Besides I’m all moved in down at the Rest Stop.” He’d parked his living quarters—a horse trailer—next to the great room he’d built his first summer home from college. The roof line was angled so he could pull his trailer right up to it, making it bigger than some houses in this town when the slides were out, expanding the living room and sleeping quarters. “I don’t know why I haven’t done this before.”
“I’m so glad. I hated asking you to let us rent the house, but we appreciate it so much.”
“My pleasure, kiddo. In fact, I’m going to head there now.You two know you can call me if you need me for anything. I’m available.”
“Yes, sir.” Ross shook his hand and Reece hugged his neck.
He drove down to the creek and rolled out the rug under the awning. Twenty feet long, tan with a brown running horse in the middle, it would keep him from tracking in dirt and the dew that settled on these muggy summer nights. He was looking forward to the week of peace and quiet and limited chores.
He set two chairs next to the firepit. Maybe that was a little optimistic, but he thought Lorri might enjoy sitting around a fire at night. If she didn’t stay, he’d still enjoy it.
