I looked to Rand confused. “Hello?”
“Natalie, hi, this is Marina. I’m Audrey’s sister and mated to Colton. I’m sorry we haven’t met yet.”
“That’s okay,” I replied.
“I need to get your number because it’s weird to have to track you down through Rand.” She took a deep breath. “Audrey told me you play the violin, and you met the Barn Cats the other night.”
“Yes.”
Rand leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. I guessed him to be as curious as I was as to why Marina had called.
“I’m calling because I’ve made a cake for a wedding that’s happening tonight. The Barn Cats are to play at the reception, but one of them, Tom, is sick and can’t come. A reception needs a band, and I wondered if you might be able to fill in.”
I tried to keep up with everything she said. “You want me to replace the Barn Cats?”
Rand rubbed a hand over the back of his neck and a smile spread across his face.
“No. I want you to fill in for Tom. Play with the Barn Cats.”
“Oh. Um…” I blinked at Rand. “She wants me to play with the Barn Cats,” I said to him.
“You said you fiddled with your uncle.”
“Yeah, but that was a long time ago,” I countered.
“What?” Marina asked.
“Sorry, hang on, okay?” I said to her then lowered my hand to my side with the phone.
“It would be easy for you, right? You’re better than all of them put together,” he said.
Was I? I still felt like the worst player in the world based on my professor’s constant critiques. But maybe he was right. This was a small town bluegrass band. “I could play with them, yes.” I doubted I was better though.
He stroked a knuckle down my cheek. “Do it for fun. Do it for the Barn Cats. You’d be doing them a favor. And the bride and groom.”
I nodded then put the cell to my ear. “Okay, Marina.”
“Oh, that’s great. Can you be at the Greystoke Lodge at six?”
“I’m sure Rand knows where it is.”
Marina agreed and hung up.
I touched my hair. “I need a shower and a navigator. I have no idea where I’m going.”
“You playing the fiddle with the Barn Cats? Red, I wouldn’t miss this fun for anything.”
Three hours later, we pulled up to a small hotel set beside a pretty curve in the river. It was two stories and sprawling, with a porch and black shutters. Window baskets of red flowers lined the first floor windows. White ribbons circled trees and linked them to form a path toward a patio with about thirty or forty guests. A bar was set up by the hotel’s side entrance, and wait staff were carrying around trays of appetizers. Marina’s pretty wedding cake was on a table by itself in the shade. I couldn’t miss the bride in her pretty dress and cowgirl boots and the groom in his western duds at her side. A wooden archway was covered in white roses, and I had to guess that had been the pretty altar.
We climbed out, and a woman came our way. She had sleek dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and wore jeans and a black t-shirt that had a drawing of a cake in gold on the front.
“Hey Rand!” She called but kept her eyes on me. “The real Natalie Sheffield. Love your dress.”
I was used to wearing black pants or skirt and a white shirt for concerts, but this was Montana, and if the Barn Cats were playing, the wedding wasn’t formal. I’d chosen a long, flowy dress in dark green. Simple but a little bit dressy. I put my hair up, so it didn’t get in my way.
“So glad to finally meet you. I’m Marina.”
I nodded at her as I was hugging my violin case. “You, too.”
“Thanks so much for coming. I’ll introduce you to—” At the sound of men’s voices, she spun about. “Oh, well, nevermind. The guys can introduce themselves.”
Three men, all of whom I recognized from Cody’s, came my way. “You look like your uncle,” one of them said, a smile on his face. He was big, like a bear with gray hair. “I’m Kurt. This is Sam and Joe.”
“Hi,” I said. “I think I remember seeing you guys play once when I was little. And the other night, too, at Cody’s.”
“That right? Well, your uncle played with us until the arthritis in his hands forced him to stop.”
My eyes widened. “Really?” I had no idea Uncle Adam played in a band. I looked to Rand, who shrugged.
“Heard you’ve got some skills,” Joe said. He had a mop of white hair that stuck up in a way that reminded me of Doc from Back To The Future.
Marina had said Audrey had told her that I played. She had no idea if I was good or not. That meant—I looked again at Rand. “You told them about me?”