“Okay, well…enjoy the rest of your vacation.” Charlie Grace hurried back to her farm truck and climbed inside. She started the engine and punched the gas pedal, hoping Fleet Southcott wasn’t parked on the edge of town with his radar gun, waiting to pull over anyone who dared to speed through their small town.
Luckily, Fleet’s police car was parked outside the Rustic Pine, where he was likely enjoying some bacon and eggs with a few of his cronies, leaving her free to make it to her destination without further interruption.
As Charlie Grace approached the bank’s conference room, she paused and took a deep breath before opening the door. “Sorry, I’m late.”
After shutting the conference door behind her, Charlie Grace tossed her purse on top of the long, polished table. “It’s not even noon, and it’s already been a day.” She quickly told them about the incident with the bear.
“Wow,” Reva said, her eyes wide. “That doesn’t happen every day.”
“Want some coffee?” Wooster Cavendish offered.
Charlie Grace slipped into a seat at the table. “No thanks.”
Reva gave her an encouraging smile. “Well, let’s get started. I have looked over the loan papers. With a few adjustments, I think we’re now good to go.”
Wooster tugged at his tie, which hung loose at his unbuttoned shirt collar. “Your attorney drives a hard bargain. Reva’s quite the negotiator.”
Charlie Grace suspected the bank manager didn’t make a huge fuss when Reva wanted changes to the loan papers. He was known for being a softy. It was his meddlesome wife you had to look out for. Nicola Cavendish was known for having a lot of opinions she never resisted sharing.
Unexpected pressure built inside Charlie Grace’s chest as Reva offered her a pen. “Are you ready?” Reva asked.
She swallowed. “I guess so.”
Reva sensed her reticence. She reached and covered Charlie Grace’s hand with her own. “You can do this. The guest ranch is going to be a smashing success. You’ve already done the hard part with the construction loan. This perm loan finalizes everything and provides the operating funds you’ll need to open the doors and move forward.” She glanced over at Wooster, who nodded in agreement. “We’re all here to support you.”
Charlie Grace gazed into the eyes of her good friend for strength. She swallowed and managed a smile. Steeling herself, she took the pen and stared down at the package of papers flagged with yellow tabs. “I’m ready.”
Despite her resolve, her hands shook as she signed all twenty-seven places in the loan documentation. She scribbled her name on the final tabbed page—Charlotte Grace Rivers—and set the pen down.
“There. All done.”
“Good girl.” Reva slid the documents over to Mrs. Deegan, who had entered the room without Charlie Grace noticing, notary stamp in hand.
She leaned back against her chair. “That’s it?”
“That’s it,” Reva told her. She stood and motioned for Charlie Grace to do the same. “I have a little surprise for you…or, I should say,wehave a surprise.”
Her good friend led her out of the bank onto the wooden plank sidewalk.
There stood her two other best friends—Lila Bellamy and Capri Jacobs. Capri held a huge bunch of helium balloons. Lila had a bouquet of flowers, not the ones they normally plucked from the meadows, but a stunning floral arrangement in a beautiful rustic vase that perfectly fit her taste.
“They’re from Bear Country Gifts,” Lila announced. “They ordered the pink and white hydrangeas in special.”
“They’re beautiful,” Charlie Grace murmured.
“Congratulations,” the girls said in unison.
“We’re so proud of you,” Lila said.
Charlie Grace wasn’t surprised at this show of support. The four of them had been the closest of friends in school and had remained so.
As promised, Reva moved back to Thunder Mountain as soon as she had her law degree in hand. Still single, she lived alone in a custom-built cabin with a large deck overlooking the river. Her closet was nearly the size of Charlie Grace’s entire bedroom. That didn’t even include the space for Reva’s collection of Jimmy Choo shoes.
Lila and her teenage daughter lived at the other end of town. Like Charlie Grace, she was a single mom. When she was six months pregnant, her husband of less than a year had been tragically killed in a helicopter crash in Fallujah.
She currently worked with Doc Tillman down at the veterinary clinic, which was perfect given her love of anything soft and furry. Despite all that she juggled, Lila was back in school, pursuing a large animal veterinarian license with a specialty in horses. “Camille’s college fund needs a bit of help,” she claimed. “I need the money the extra certification will provide.” Never mind the fact that she was nearly killing herself in the process.
Capri Jacobs still lived with her parents. When questioned about the decision, she shrugged. “It’s free.” The rest of them knew full well that money was not the deciding factor. Capri owned Grand Teton Whitewater Adventures. She killed it financially, especially during the heavy tourist season. Her chosen profession also left her free in the winters when she alternated filling her time with binging seasons ofGilmore Girlson television and snowmobile racing on the local circuit.
