Oma Griffith immediately scooped a sample of their entry into a disposable paper bowl and handed it to Reva with a spoon. “We know you like chocolate and?—”
Betty Dunning gave her a sharp elbow jab. “Shh…that’s our secret ingredient.”
Dorothy Vaughn rolled her eyes. “Well, not now, it isn’t.”
Oma’s expression immediately filled with horror. “I—I didn’t mean to?—”
Reva leaned close. “No worries. Your secret is safe with the mayor.”
Capri failed to suppress a chuckle despite covering her mouth with her hand. “Uh, with me too. I won’t tell.”
The promise seemed to bring some relief to the ladies across the table.
“So, what do you think?” Dorothy urged.
Reva tasted the chili and gave an appreciative groan. “Oh, it’s delicious.”
As the mayor, she understood the weight of her impartiality, the importance of each smile and nod as she sampled the contestants’ heartfelt efforts. With spoon in hand, she moved from one entry to the next, her taste buds alighting with flavors both bold and subtle. Her words were measured, her praises genuine but evenly distributed, ensuring no hint of favoritism clouded the spirited competition. In each spoonful, she tasted not just the ingredients but the love and pride of her community.
As the day’s celebrations continued around her, Reva reflected on her love for Thunder Mountain. From her unexpected role as the town’s mayor to her newfound passion for skeet shooting, Thunder Mountain had embraced her, and she had embraced the town in return.
Upon graduating from high school, she’d left Thunder Mountain to pursue a prestigious education at Tulane University, after which the allure of high-powered law firms in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles beckoned her with promises of success, wealth, and prestige. She could have had it all, but she chose to return to this small, tight-knit community in Wyoming, and she never looked back.
In Reva’s mind, success was not solely defined by external recognition or a hefty bank account. True accomplishment was about making a difference in the lives of the people you cared about and being a part of something greater than yourself.
Thunder Mountain meant more to her than just the picturesque backdrop found on postcards in Dorothy Vaughn’s Bear Country Gift Store. It was the heart of her existence, a place where her roots ran deep. She’d grown up in this mountain town and four of her best school friends had remained close. They were her tribe.
Charlie Grace was a single mom who owned and operated the Teton Trails Guest Ranch, an enterprise she opened just last spring. After a rocky start, the ranch was now thriving—as was her relationship with both her father and her new guy friend, Nick Thatcher.
Lila and her teenage daughter lived at the other end of town. Like Charlie Grace, she was raising a daughter on her own. Six months into her pregnancy, her husband of less than a year tragically died in a helicopter crash in Fallujah.
Lila 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 returned to school via an online program from the University of Colorado to pursue 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 cash did not weigh in as 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 available in the winters when she alternated filling her time with binging seasons ofGilmore Girlson television and snowmobile racing on the local circuit.
Wild adventures aside, Capri dedicated herself to taking care of her mother and stepdad, a man who thankfully traded in his affinity for bourbon and replaced it with lemonade several years back. Sadly, Dick now fought a cancer diagnosis.
Reva’s girlfriends had become the pillars of her life, the steady constants, especially after her split with Merritt. No matter what else demanded their attention, they gathered weekly over drinks and dinner, sharing their joys and struggles. As the years passed and she never married or had a family of her own, their importance grew even more profound. These girls were her air. Without them, she wouldn’t be able to breathe.
Sure, there were moments of loneliness that crept in, most often when she saw families thriving. A deep place in her heart that longed to be a wife and mother was a companion she couldn’t quite outgrow.
“So, what do you say? You want to head out to the ranch and share the news with Charlie Grace and Lila?” Capri asked, her voice breaking into Reva’s mental reverie.
Reva looped arms with her close friend. There was no reason to tarnish her day with melancholy. Instead, she’d focus on how her life was richly blessed with the love and camaraderie of these extraordinary women, and so much more. Like they said in her weekly meetings, gratitude helps you fall in love with the life you already have.
“Good plan,” she said, grinning. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather celebrate my tournament loss with.”
2
The night held a whisper of chill as Reva’s car headlights cut a swathe through the darkness blanketing the winding gravel road. She pressed the toe of her teal-colored Lucchese boots against the brake pedal as she approached the intersection ahead. After coming to a complete stop, she looked both ways before easing her black Escalade onto the highway that would lead to her home.
Okay, sure. There wasn’t another pair of headlights anywhere near, but she was a rule follower. How would it look if the mayor broke the law?
Reva leaned and turned on the radio, pressing on the compact screen until her favorite station blared. Immediately, a Carole King song she adored filled the inside of her car. She opened her mouth and sang about feeling the earth move under her feet—loud and slightly off-key.
What did it matter? No one would hear her fail to hit the proper notes.
Outside the car window, the moon cast a gentle glow over the looming peaks of the Teton Mountain range that stood as a sentinel around the valley. As she drove, her mind drifted back to the evening with her girlfriends. Despite years of knowing them, there were still surprises.
