Paradise Peak (New Americana 5)

Hannah smiled. Something about Margaret always brought out the gentleman in Red. He was a good man. The only man Hannah trusted. And despite the presence of a quiet stranger at the table, tonight was one of those increasingly rare but relaxed evenings at Paradise Peak Ranch when a hard day of work had been followed with an abundance of good food, pleasant company, and momentary relief from financial worries. Even the smoke still rising from the distant mountain was easy to ignore when its scent was masked by the smoke from the small, cozy fireplace on the deck.

Sated, with a belly stuffed full to bursting, Hannah eased back in her chair, stretched her weary limbs, and closed her eyes. “Oh, Margaret, I’ll wash every fancy dish in the cabinets and mop every floor in the lodge if you and Red serve up another meal like this next week.”

Margaret lifted her coffee mug to her lips and smiled. “I take it you enjoyed it?”

“It was delicious.”

“And the swan napkins?” Margaret asked. “Did you like those, too?”

Hannah cracked one eye open, shared a look with Red, who covered his smile by rubbing his mustache, then grinned. “I loved the swan napkins. The meal wouldn’t have been the same without them.”

“Wonderful!” Margaret sipped her coffee, then returned her cup to its saucer. “When business picks up, I’m going to make them every night for dinner in the banquet hall. Swan napkins and fresh flower arrangements on every table. They’ll become a permanent fixture of Paradise Peak Ranch.” She made a sweeping motion with her hands. “‘Elegant dining in a majestic setting’ could be our slogan.”

Hannah stifled a groan.

“Everything was delicious. Thank you for inviting me.”

The gentle rumble of Travis’s voice drifted across the table, sending a delicious tingle over her skin. She kept her eyes closed and sagged further back in her chair. She refused to give in to the aggravating impulse to admire his handsome profile again.

“You’re invited to breakfast, too, Travis,” Margaret said. China clinked as she lowered her cup again. “I try my best to have it on the table by seven every morning.”

A soft palm patted the back of Hannah’s wrist.

“Hannah works so hard,” Margaret continued. “So does Red. It’s the least I can do.”

“We all do our fair share, you included,” Red said. “And speaking of work—I got a call from Carl Lennox earlier this afternoon.”

Hannah opened her eyes and sat up. Carl managed the stables at Misty Ridge Stables—the best riding outfit in Paradise Peak—and he had a knack for picking out horses with the most potential. “Has he spotted a horse for us?”

Red nodded. “A mare. Young, fearful. Was hurt pretty badly wherever she came from. Carl said when he saw her, the first person he thought of was you.”

Hannah stood. “Where is she? When can I pick her up?”

Red threw up his hand. “Now, hold up. We’ll get to that. First, we need to fix that stable roof. There’s rain in the forecast for Tuesday afternoon and, as glad as I am to have this drought broken, that means we got to get a move on fixin’ those leaks. You can’t be banging on that rickety roof with a terrified animal housed under it.”

“Not a problem.” Hannah headed for the stairs leading to the field. “I’ll get Ruby and Juno settled, turn in for the night, and start on it at first light. That way, it’ll be finished tomorrow, and I can go pick up the horse Tuesday morning.”

“Whoa.” Red waved her back over. “Like I said, you ain’t getting up on that roof by yourself, and I promised Margaret I’d help her paint a room in the lodge tomorrow. So . . .” He glanced at Travis. “I’m hoping I can entice Travis into one more arrangement.”

“Red, I don’t need—”

“That’s how it’s gonna be, Hannah,” Red said, his tone hardening. “You’re not getting on that roof without help by your side, and I ain’t able to do it tomorrow. Accept the extra hand or it’s no-go on the new horse.”

Hannah held her breath for a moment, half hoping Travis would refuse and move on like the other nomad Red had brought home two weeks ago. But the other half of her hoped this stranger—a handsome man whose rough exterior had been softened by the gentle glow of Margaret’s festive lights—would accept Red’s offer, stay a while, and stir the small whirl of attraction deep inside her a bit more.

Travis eased his hands to his lap and narrowed his eyes at Red. “This meal and a night’s stay are more than payment enough for the scrap of work I did today. I owe you.”

“Enough to fix that stable roof with Hannah?” Red asked.

Travis’s dark eyes moved to Hannah as he nodded. “That and more, if you were to ask.” He looked down and leaned forward, placing his hands on the table. His fingers toyed with the napkin he’d folded by his plate. “But I need to—”

“There are no buts, hidden expectations, or tricky conditions to this deal.” Margaret reached out and covered Travis’s hand with hers. “There’s work to be had here, and if you’re down on your luck, it could be a way to get back on your feet. Red is inviting you to stay and work for as long as you’d like.”

A muscle in Travis’s forearm flexed. He raised his head and studied Margaret. “Do you want me to stay?”

Margaret smiled. “I’d like that very much.”

An odd mix of emotion moved through Travis’s expression as he stared down at Margaret’s hand covering his. “Then, yes. I’ll stay.”