Paradise Peak (New Americana 5)

“Now, that’s it,” Red snapped. “No tents. God didn’t go to all the trouble of hanging stars in the sky just for us to cover ’em up. And we don’t need fancy decorations. We’ve got tons of white outdoor lights stored away that we usually use at Christmas. We’ll break those out and string ’em on poles outside the banquet hall. And as for a band, we’ve got two guitar players staying at the ranch right now, and if we ask around, I’m sure we’ll find more than one person willing to sing.”

“Kate Carrollton sings at weddings on occasion,” Hannah said, hoping to ease the tension. She glanced at Margaret. “You know, the young woman with three boys who moved into Travis’s old cabin? She’s already said she’d be willing to pitch in.”

“Perfect.” Red nodded. “Sun’s been setting around seven, so we’ll start up the music around seven-thirty. That work for you, Travis?”

Travis, cheeks flushing, looked at Red, then Margaret, and back to Red. “I suppose.”

“But what about dinner?” Margaret asked. “I thought we could serve a formal meal in the banquet hall around six and—”

“Now, I said no more changes and I meant it,” Red snapped. “I’ve already arranged for finger foods and punch to be served outside. We’re not making this into a five-star, hoity-toity event. It’s going to be a simple, enjoyable evening.”

Margaret’s mouth fell open.

Travis held up a placating hand. “Red, Margaret was just trying to help.”

“Thank you.” Margaret lifted her chin. “All I was doing was—”

“Trying to do things the way you used to do them with Phillip,” Red said, his voice cracking. “Well, I ain’t Phillip.”

Silence fell over the table.

Heart aching, Hannah glanced at Travis, who grimaced and looked down.

Margaret’s cheeks flushed. “I—I never thought you were.”

“Of course you didn’t,” he continued. “You barely stop talking about him long enough to think about another man.”

Hannah reached out, placed her hand on Margaret’s where it rested on the table, and squeezed. “Red, I don’t think this is the best time for—”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do this now, and I had something a lot more polite planned, but I’ve wasted enough time waiting.” Red’s tone softened as he studied Margaret’s pained expression. “Now, I know you loved Phillip. And I know you’re still trying to get over him. But you got to start living again, too.” He glanced at Hannah. “We all do—including me.” He stood and faced Margaret. “I love you, Margaret. I’ve loved you every day that Phillip did, and maybe a few more. And yes, he was rich and I’m broke. He wore suits and ties and held fancy dinner parties, whereas I’d be just as content dancing around in the dirt, so long as I have you in my arms.”

Margaret continued staring, openmouthed, at Red.

“What I’m saying is that I’ll be at that dance tomorrow night waiting for you and hoping you’re ready to open your mind and your heart to taking a chance on me.” Red sighed. “If you’re not interested, I’ll understand, and I’ll move on. This will still be your home and things will go on as before. I just need to know one way or the other.”

Red tossed his mangled swan napkin on the table and left, his steps heavy as he descended the stairs.

“I’ll go check on him,” Travis said quietly as he stood. He glanced at Margaret, then Hannah. “See you back at the cabin.”

Hannah watched him go, then looked at Margaret, who braced her hands on the table and pushed her chair back with slow movements.

“I’m going to turn in early tonight,” Margaret whispered. “Good night, Hannah.”

The deck creaked as Margaret walked across the boards and entered the lodge, the door clicking shut behind her.

“Good night,” Hannah said softly, though the evening had been everything but good. She stared at the empty table and twinkling solar lights and wondered if tomorrow night’s dance would be any better.

CHAPTER 12

/> Travis climbed to the top of the nine-foot ladder, attached a long strip of white tulle to a thin metal wire strung between two, tall wooden poles, and draped a string of white lights over the material. “This good?”

Red, standing on the ground by the ladder, shielded his eyes against the late-afternoon sun and squinted up at Travis. “That’ll do.” He reached into a large box near his feet, retrieved another strip of tulle and a string of lights, and lifted them toward Travis. “Once we get all the tulle and lights hung, I’ll go around and tie ’em together in a few places to make ’em look more like curtains.”

Travis stepped two rungs down the ladder, took the tulle and lights from Red, then climbed back up the ladder and fastened the materials to the wire. “You want me to run a few extension cords from the stable to power the lights?”

“No need,” Red said. “Those lights are battery powered and I got remotes that run ’em, so they’ll be good to go with just a few button pushes after dark.” He frowned as he passed Travis another handful of tulle and lights. “I thought about asking Margaret to do the honors, but I ain’t sure she’d be in the mood to humor me after the way I acted last night. She didn’t come down for breakfast this morning and she’s been cooped up in that kitchen with Hannah all day, cooking.”

Travis winced and glanced across the open field at the lodge. Several guests moved around the deck, filling coolers with bags of ice and packing each cooler with bottles of water, soda, and beer. Others carried two long tables and several tablecloths toward the field where he and Red worked, presumably in preparation for the buffet of finger foods and punch Margaret and Hannah had spent all afternoon creating.