Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
L ate the next afternoon, Samantha glanced out the window. Where was Edward? Damn it, he knew how important this week was for their ranch and yet today he’d disappeared.
They needed another sleigh driver.
She hoped and prayed that Cameron would drive the team for them.
Looking through the glass, she saw Cameron talking to one of the hands. He got into the sleigh and clicked to the horses. He drove the team with no problem.
She admired that he was taking them out on a test run before they loaded their guests into the back. That was smart. Driving around in the pasture, she watched as he expertly handled the horses, calling to them and giving them clear directions.
Her heart warmed at the way he was helping her in this crisis while her brother had disappeared.
Emily walked into the room. “What if I put the cookies and hot chocolate in the barn instead of you taking them out to the pasture? I think our guests would be warmer there.”
Being used to the cold, she hadn’t considered they would be cold and it would be just another excuse for Bridezilla to complain.
The woman was driving poor Tara crazy.
It would also give her an excuse to sit beside Cameron as they drove around the property.
“I think that’s an excellent idea, Emily,” she said. “Are you and Ben getting along?”
Emily blushed. “He’s a really great chef. I just wish he’d been hired by me and you, instead of Edward.”
Nodding, Samantha sighed. Why did she get the feeling that this wedding event business was not going to be successful because of her brother? “I agree, Emily, but you’re doing a great job. And so is Ben. But you’re my go-to girl. Thank you.”
Emily smiled. “Thanks. Now you and Tara go take charge of the sleigh ride and we’ll have everything set up for you when you return.”
Maybe things would work out.
“Has anyone seen Edward?”
“No,” Emily replied. “I try to avoid him.”
She chuckled. Yes, Edward was her brother, but since her father died, he’d changed. He was not the same man any longer.
Rising from her chair, she grabbed her heavy winter coat. “All right, I’m going to help Tara take the guests on their sleigh ride. Maybe we can take out both sleighs. Oh, and you might have some hot apple cider to go with the hot chocolate.”
“We can’t. We’re out,” Emily said.
Damn, the food supply problem. For some reason, Edward had stopped their shipments. Why she had no idea. How did he expect them to make this a very special event for this couple without the proper food?
“You and Ben are doing a phenomenal job with what you have. Thank you,” she said. “Once this wedding is over, I’m going to get to the bottom of our problems and find out what’s going on.”
Emily nodded. “You need to, Samantha. Something is not right.”
“I know,” she said. “Okay, I have to be cheery and bright for the guests. We’ll see you guys soon.”
Hurrying out of her office, Samantha felt troubled. It was almost like Edward wanted this weekend to fail. But why?
Outside, their guests milled around waiting for instructions to get into the sleigh.
Cameron sat with the horses, reins in hand. There was no sign of Edward.
Tara, bless her heart, was trying to round up a bunch of twenty-year-olds who couldn’t care less about the beauty of riding on the ranch through the snow.
After all, they probably were used to being in the big city and thought nothing of the country. But Samantha cared a lot.
“Let’s go,” Tara said. “I need my bride and groom in the first sleigh front. Then the best man and maid of honor and then the rest of you fill in as best you can.”
Samantha climbed up beside Cameron and he suddenly perked up.
“I thought you were going to meet us in the pasture?”
“Change of plans,” she said. “It’ll be getting cold later this evening, and well, it would be best if we served everyone in the barn.”
“I have you all to myself,” he said, his blue eyes dancing with merriment.
“And three other couples,” she replied. “Plus, I’ll be telling these kids about the ranch as we travel across the land.”
Why she’d prepared a guided tour, she didn’t know. The couples would be talking among themselves and not listening to her.
They all climbed into the sleighs and she watched the first group pull away from the barn, then Cameron flicked the reins and the horses trotted off after the first sleigh.
She began her spiel about the ranch, pointing out the cattle in the pasture next to them. One of the heifers mooed a hello, and just like they were school-age children, the couples laughed.
“She’s saying moo to the city,” one young man said.
“Can you believe how far we are from real civilization,” a bridesmaid replied. “I can’t get a good signal on my phone.”
Another young man laughed. “You’re on vacation. Enjoy this time without civilization.”
Cameron glanced at her and grinned. “He’s the only one who is enjoying this trip.”
Samantha smiled at him. “On your left, you will see the Rocky Mountains. This is part of the Middle Rockies that spread into Montana, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho.”
“Are there bears here?”
“Of course,” Samantha said. “Right now, they’re hibernating, but in the spring and fall, we enjoy seeing them as long as they leave our animals alone.”
“What about grizzly bears?” a young man asked.
“Yes, we have the largest grizzly bear population in the U.S. besides Alaska,” she said.
The team was pulling them up a small hill and Cameron flicked the reins. The horses trotted on and Samantha sighed. What would she have done if Cameron had not volunteered? The man was doing an excellent job.
She leaned over and her shoulder rubbed against his. “Thank you for doing this today.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied. “Your horses are very good.”
“Yes, Edward wanted to sell them and I said no. Absolutely not,” she said, thinking about her father’s favorite horse and one she’d owned since she was a child.
They were part of the family and they would die here on this ranch if she had her way.
The couples in the back of the sleigh laughed and talked, not paying them a bit of attention.
“How was town?”
“Good,” he said. “I took care of my business and then headed back here. No signs of Edward.”
This afternoon she’d called him three times trying to reach him.
“Hey, what are we doing after this?” a young woman asked. “I’m getting kind of bored.”
“When we return to the barn, we’ll have hot chocolate and cookies. Then dinner at six. After that, it’s movie night.”
“Did Francesca choose the movie?” one of the guys asked.
“Yes,” Samantha said.
“Oh no,” the guys groaned. “She picks the worst movies.”
Suddenly they heard shouting from the sleigh in front of them. They had to be at least forty yards ahead, but Samantha could hear Bridezilla screaming.
“I told you, I don’t want any more cookies. I’m trying not to gain weight or I won’t fit in my dress. Cancel the cookies,” she shouted.
“Oh dear,” Samantha said.
“How do you do this day after day?” Cameron said low. “We have to deal with parents who want to make sure that little Johnny can shoot a BB gun, but nothing like what I’ve seen so far this week.”
Samantha stared at him and nodded. She didn’t want to say anything for fear the others would repeat it back to Francesca.
With his free hand, he reached over and squeezed her knee. It was meant to be comforting, but all it did was make the tears well in her eyes.
Everything had to be perfect this weekend, and so far, Bridezilla was making it tough. Poor Tara was about ready to pull her hair out.
“I want cookies,” one of the young men in the back said. The other men in the sleigh took up the chant of cookies.
“Cookies. Cookies. Cookie monster wants cookies.”
Samantha and Cameron glanced at one another and laughed.
“Shut up,” Francesca yelled. “You can have your damn cookies.”
Francesca stood in the sleigh in front of them. “This is my wedding. Don’t you guys forget it. We do what I want.”
“How can we forget?” one young man in the back replied softly.
Her fiancé pulled her down into the sleigh.
“I thought a dude ranch was tough, but this is ridiculous,” Cameron said. “Maybe I won’t include weddings in my ideas for my properties.”
Samantha had to ask. She needed to know before she developed any feelings for him.
“You’re here for the wedding, right? You’re not here looking at our property,” she said.
He swallowed and then stared at her. “I’m here for the bridezilla.”
“Good,” she said smiling. “Because I would be so disappointed if you were here for other reasons I don’t know about.”
The kids in the back rattled on about college and how they couldn’t believe that Sterling was really going to marry Bridezilla. Yes, they were friends, but they didn’t believe she was ready to settle down.
And frankly, Samantha believed they were right.
As soon as they returned to the barn, they all hurried inside out of the cold. Cameron’s hand wrapped around her waist as he lifted her from the sleigh. He pulled her in close and she gazed up at him.
She felt pulled to him like a magnet. She desired for him to kiss her as she gazed at his lips.
“Samantha…” he said, his mouth coming closer and closer to hers.
“Cameron,” her brother called.
Could his timing be any worse?
Whirling around, she glared at him. “Where have you been? You know I needed help with the sleighs.”
He shrugged. “Sorry, I had to run into town on an errand. I even missed my early morning ride with Cameron.”
“Yes, you did,” he said and she noted Cameron was not pleased. “You could have left me a message.”
“Sorry about that,” he said. “We’ll try again in the morning.”
Realizing that all of the wedding party was inside except for Cameron, she sighed.
“I need to help Emily. Edward, don’t leave again without telling me. This weekend is very important and I need your help.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, mocking her and it was all she could do to keep from slapping him. But that was not what you did in front of guests.
Turning, she walked away. Would Cameron have kissed her if her brother had not walked up?
Her fingers touched her lips. It had been so long since she’d been kissed. And the thought of that man’s lips on hers sent fire scurrying along her spine. She wanted him to kiss her. She couldn’t wait for his lips to meld with hers.