“But we’re on vacation,” Kaylie argued. One look from her dad, and she quickly added, “Never mind. I’ll eat it after breakfast.”
Charlie Grace smiled. “Speaking of breakfast, it’s all ready. Why don’t you follow me over to the main lodge, then we’ll get you some help with the rest of your luggage.”
Aunt Mo had a table set in the dining room and soon served them what Jay quickly claimed was “the best breakfast he’d ever eaten.” He turned to his wife. “No offense.”
“No offense necessary,” Gail assured him. “I wholeheartedly agree. I’m hoping Aunt Mo will share her recipe for that casserole. It was delicious.”
About an hour after Charlie Grace got Jewel off to school, another car pulled in. An older man cut the engine, got out, and helped his wife from the shiny red Mustang. They introduced themselves as Harvey and Edith Cameron. Harvey was a retired assemblyman from New York’s 27thDistrict, which explained the couple’s strong dialect and dropped Rs.
“We movedto Florida two years ago,” Edith explained as she removed her hair scarf. “Both of us were ready to be rid of those winters.”
“I hear you,” Charlie Grace told her. “I’ve shoveled my share of snow.”
“Thank you for offering to pick us up from the airport. We decided we’d like to have a car at our disposal, so we rented this beauty.” He lifted his deeply veined hand and patted the hood of the convertible. “Makes me feel young again.”
“You’re not old, darlin’,” his wife told him with a smile. “You’re vintage. Like a fine wine aged just right.”
The corners of the man’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “Well, at least no one can doubt my good taste in women.” He pulled Edith into a shoulder hug and squeezed. “Never know…maybe I’ll get lucky tonight.”
Charlie Grace couldn’t suppress her laughter.
She checked them into the cabin next to the Clarks and gave the sweet couple the same spiel, explaining the layout of the guest ranch and what to expect. “A tray of sandwiches will be available in the main lodge at lunchtime. Help yourselves whenever it suits you. Tonight, we’ll be holding a welcome barbecue. I hope you like steak.”
Dick’s eyes lit up. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
The afternoon was filled with ranch chores. In addition to playing host to her new guests, she had to haul several loads of hay in the truck from near the barn to the corrals for the next feedings.
In the house, she met her dad’s scornful expression. “How many times do I have to tell you not to put out that much feed? You want the elk to eat it all?”
“I’m going to have Gibbs cover the bales with tarps…if he ever gets back from town.”
“Did you use last season’s hay or the new crop?”
Charlie Grace held off a groan. With practiced patience, she turned and replied. “Last season.”
“Did you check for mold? Sometimes you need to pull one of those bales apart and examine it close. We don’t need sick cattle.”
“The hay bales are not moldy, Dad.”
“Are you sure? Because that’s the feed we got from Buster. He leaves his cut alfalfa in the field for too long. The dew, coupled with the occasional rain, causes problems if you don’t dry the hay out before baling.”
She had heard this multiple times. “The hay is fine. And the price was right.”
Her dad frowned. “Not if vet bills follow.”
Charlie Grace rubbed her forehead. Why did she ever think she could win an argument with this man?
She moved for the cupboard, pulled out a glass, and filled it with water from the tap.
“Could you get me one of those?” her dad asked.
“Sure.” She retrieved a second glass, filled it, and set it on the table before him.
He lifted the glass. “Who are all those people that showed up here this morning?” he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
“A family from Utah and a retired couple from Florida.”
Her answer met silence. The closest she got to a response was a slight grunt before he finally said, “Mo told me you had three guests coming in today.”
