Chapter 1 #2
Loosely translated into business-speak, that meant she wouldn’t be getting an influx of cash anytime soon.
Worse, she might have just botched the deal, giving him the impression this was winter every year.
She scrambled to salvage something from the call.
“A winter storm like this one isn’t something we see often, not even up here.
As I explained earlier, the winter activities we want to offer won’t be interrupted by inclement weather any more often than we experience in other seasons. ”
“I understand, Evelyn.”
Oh, she hoped he did. More importantly, she needed him to trust her lifelong expertise in the area and her innovative expansion plans.
Tate Cordell had surprised her when he’d reached out, but to date his continued interest in Cottonwood remained the most promising solution to propel the family business into profitable and sustainable territory for the long term.
There was a rapid tapping noise on his end before he spoke again. “I’ll keep an eye on the weather and be in touch.”
The call ended before she could say thank you.
Chilled again, she shoved her cell phone into her purse and put her glove back on for the dash across the parking lot.
Stan, a friendly face from high school, was the security guard on duty at the employee entrance. He held the door open for her as she rushed toward the building. “Evening,” he said. “I hope you did all your storm prep before coming in.”
She smothered the scream building in her throat.
“Sure did,” she replied. It wasn’t Stan’s fault that no one knew how to have a conversation about anything other than snowstorms right now.
“Dad is all prepped at home and I have an overnight bag packed in the car, just in case I need to stay on and cover shifts.”
“You really are set,” he said with a smile. “Have a good shift, Evelyn.”
She returned the sentiment as she walked away. Back here behind the scenes, the casino had designed a pleasant-enough area, though the focus was on utility rather than creating the posh experience everyone maintained out front for guests.
Stowing her coat and scarf in a locker, along with her boots, she slipped into the heels that completed the uniform and prepared for her shift. There weren’t any new notices regarding players or problems, so when it was time, she strolled out to the casino.
It was her habit to take a circuit of the casino floor before taking her place at a table in the poker room.
The routine helped her get a feel for the general vibe in and around the casino.
Sometimes social events, big parties, or business groups amped up the energy and made everyone feel lucky.
She had a similar habit when she guided tours with Cottonwood Adventures, always spending a few minutes by herself taking in the weather before loading gear or heading out.
Tonight, the guests seemed upbeat overall.
She didn’t hear any chatter about the weather, not even around the slot machines.
There were the usual grumbles about luck, but the staff worked together to make sure no one turned mean or disruptive.
Although the casino wasn’t at full capacity, business was brisk, which was a good sign for her potential tips.
Evelyn opened her table for Texas Hold’em and the poker room host filled it immediately with four men she guessed were traveling together for business judging by the button-down shirts open at the collar and the khaki slacks that had probably been freshly creased this morning.
The loafers were the big clue. No local in his right mind wore loafers in Deadwood at this time of year.
She found the group amusing with their friendly banter and superb poker-table manners. The various strategies they each attempted to convince the others to fold were hysterical. They played for an hour straight before one man excused himself to take a phone call from his wife.
Between hands, they discussed local attractions and dinner options.
She dutifully recommended a casino restaurant without bringing up the adverse weather conditions.
It would’ve been nice to suggest a winter walk or a sledding adventure, but Cottonwood didn’t have those options yet. Not for the public anyway.
Other players came and went as seats opened up. The current game was tight as a drum and conversation declined as the betting increased. The intensity was palpable, though it was Evelyn’s job to keep up the impression that every player in the game had an equal chance.
She relaxed a bit more as the hours ticked by and the players changed. Sure, she preferred working outside in tennis shoes or hiking boots instead of heels, but on days like today, the casino had become her salvation.
In here, with no clocks, she could pretend she wasn’t running out of time for the business or for her personal goals.
Her only task was to perpetuate the illusion that a life-changing jackpot was almost within reach.
Beyond the tips, a shift at the casino also gave her a marvelous break from the constant news and weather warnings for the area.
A customer might mention it in passing, but then someone would change the bet, or grimace, and the focus would shift back to the game.
There could be one snowflake or three feet of snow or even snowmageddon blowing outside.
None of that mattered in the casino. People around town might complain about ‘casino morals’ but she’d learned that, for her, it was a slice of bliss.
She dealt the cards, players won and lost, she dealt more cards, and the tips added up.
Did she want this forever? Not a chance. But right now, dealing at the Silver Aces was her best option. Maintenance expenses, equipment upkeep and property taxes didn’t go into hibernation after the last leaf walk in the fall.
“Call,” one of the men at her table declared with unmistakable excitement and only three cards turned up. There was a rumble of disappointment around the table followed by relatively sincere congratulations as the winner showed his hand.
Evelyn suppressed a smile as the winner gathered his chips. He took his time stacking the chips into his tray and then finally slid out of his seat, tossing a mock salute to the losing players.
Groans and complaints erupted from the remaining players. Everyone wanted a chance to change their luck.
“Know when to quit, that’s my motto,” the winner said. “There’s a song about that right?”
“More than one,” she replied.
With a wink, he slid a hundred-dollar chip her way as a tip.
“Thank you. It was a pleasure having you at the Silver Aces.” Evelyn delivered the standard response politely when inside she was doing a dance of joy.
When the remaining players were settled again, she pulled the freshly shuffled deck from the automatic shuffler and prepared to deal the next game.
She didn’t need a clock to know her break was due after this game, her aching feet and back kept time for her.
Tonight, she was looking forward to getting to the break room so she could check her phone.
She wanted to make sure her dad was all right and, with luck, there would be an email from Tate with new post-storm options for tour times.
“Pardon me. Is it too late to slide in for this hand?”
She shot a quick glance at the poker room host and confirmed the customer was in the right place. Giving the man a nod to take the seat, she waited for him to post his minimum bet and then she dealt him in.
“Evelyn Cotton,” he said as the players checked their cards. “Wow. It’s really you.”
That voice filtered through her senses, a sweet memory and brand new at the same time. Her head snapped up and she was immediately caught in a bright, laser-blue gaze. Those familiar eyes seemed to freeze time, stopping it short and pitching her backward.
Wyatt Jameson.
This was the last place on earth she’d expect to see him. Of course she’d given up on ever seeing him again, period. What had she done so wrong that fate or luck or whatever dumped him at her table? Her gaze swept over the room. Surely there had been another dealer with an open seat.
Somehow, she forced her attention back to the game. Verifying bets on the first round were complete, she turned up three cards in the middle of the table. For the first time since she’d gone solo as a dealer in this room her stomach churned with something just shy of panic.
“How have you been?” he asked after placing his second-round bet.
“Fabulous.” The audacity of the man to walk in here and act as if they were old friends who’d simply lost touch.
She dealt the turn, adding the fourth card to the middle of the table. Reading her players, she gave a nod acknowledging one player raising the bet and another player folding. Wyatt added chips, staying in the game.
With an effort, she wrenched her gaze from his.
She hadn’t seen those stunning eyes since the night they’d graduated high school.
Eleven long, lonely years without a word from the guy who’d been her best friend and her boyfriend.
During those last two years of high school, she’d given him her heart and her virginity, shared all of her dreams and the worst of her fears.
She’d bared her soul to him, revealing all of that and her budding expectations for the two of them.
Dealing the river, she turned up the fifth card in the middle of the table and called for final bets.
As each player made a bet or folded, she called for the showdown, less surprised than she should’ve been when Wyatt won. While her mind whirled over what brought Wyatt back to Deadwood, she cleared the table of cards and chips and reset for the next game.
Growing up had not been easy for him. As his best friend, she’d caught glimpses of the rocky home life he’d endured on a daily basis. Still, in her heart there had been an understanding between them, and she’d been crushed when he’d walked away, with zero explanation.