Chapter 6
Zane
Why I left the hiring to my baby sister, who only sees the good in everyone — no red flags whatsoever and probably didn’t do any reference checks — is beyond me. But I can’t also refute the fact that I need to put someone in that office, like yesterday.
I’ve been informed by Isabelle that Bailey Owens has a friend coming to town for the holidays who’s interested in the job.
Way to go, sis.
“You could at least have found an actual resident of Alpine Falls,” I told her after I’d learned what Isabelle had been up to. It took some digging to find out why this new potential staff member couldn’t come in for an interview right away… she’s a New Yorker and not even in the damned state.
Of all the places. New York?
My sister clearly doesn’t see any wrong in offering the job to a woman who doesn’t even live in Wyoming, and a bonus; she’s never met her. I swear to god this just gets better.
At least I’ve had a week to get used to the idea since that conversation, even if we had no other applications.
It’s the first week of November, and people are lining up to order their annual Christmas trees.
Me, Dad, Jed, plus two seasonal workers, Buck and Lars, are all hauling like our asses are on fire.
Still, our battle of wills continues when I trudge into the office after a long day, grunting at all the decorations Iz and Jo-Beth — the two self proclaimed Christmas fairies — snuck up while I was out hauling trees into my truck.
I know it’s fucking Christmas, but do we have to gloat?
Each year, they leave a Santa hat on my desk with some mince pies and a glass of milk.
Just because I got roped into playing Santa one year, doesn’t mean I’m ever doing it again.
Anyway, it was for charity. I was literally guilted into it.
I head into the small utility room behind the office to grab me and Jed a beer; he stayed back to help me with my truckload. I reach into the small fridge, knocking off the caps as I head back to the office.
With Isabelle being home for the holidays and the Lodge being short staffed, she’s trying to fit in as much as she can with her dog-walking, but I know she’s getting antsy being inside so much.
My sister walks hail, rain or shine. She’s insane.
She also chooses now to have our weekly meeting: a fucking Friday when I’d like to get home and crash on the couch.
“Don’t forget Sadie will be in on Monday for her formal interview,” she reminds me. “And before you have a big ol’ grumble, just remember how fun it was this week between the customers walking in and the phones going mental.”
Jed gives me a look as I pass him his beer. He should’ve run when he had the chance.
I plonk down into the chair with a heavy sigh. “Formal interview? You already gave her the job, Iz. It seems like you’re makin’ all the decisions around here, but it’s on your head if she turns out to be a serial killer.”
“She came highly recommended by Bailey,” Iz replies, ignoring my jibe. “And if she were a serial killer, I highly doubt she’d be able to wear down the huge chip on your shoulder, let alone your head.”
We lock eyes, and she throws her hands in the air.
“Bailey Owens? The same girl who got you drunk on punch when you were a teenager,” Jed says.
“We were teenagers.” She scowls over at him.
Bailey and her folks have been coming here since she was a kid, and it was a natural progression for Bailey to move here and run the stables. I don’t dislike her, but she’s a wild one.
“I just have one question. How do you think a city girl is going to cope in Alpine Falls on a Christmas tree farm? She knows nothing about the wilderness,” I say.
“Apparently she grew up in Colorado,” Jed puts in helpfully. I shoot him a stay out of this look. I don’t need my right-hand man joining in.
“That’s right.” Iz smiles triumphantly. “So unless you have any better ideas, I’d be keeping my pie hole shut if I were you or you’ll be working alone this Christmas.”
“Actually, I do have a better idea. I’m about to put an advertisement in the local gazette. I should have done it sooner.”
“Dear brother, welcome to the new millennium,” Iz sings.
“We use computers now and the internet. A community notice on the bulletin board down at The Dusty Spur won’t cut it.
Plus, I already told her she had first dibs.
She’s flying from New York! She was also lovely on the phone and has a cat called Mindy.
I can’t just very well tell her my big ol’ grouch of a brother is having a tantrum and now she can’t come, can I? ”
I shrug. “You could.”
“Trust your sister,” Jed says. “She’s never let you down before, right, Iz? You have a way with people.”
“Thank you, J,” Iz replies, smiling at him, then scowls at me when our eyes lock again. “At least you can see reason, unlike my pig-headed brother.”
“I’m just trying to find out some information about this woman you’ve hired that I know nothing about.”
“You would know all about her if you bothered to check your emails. I don’t even know why I bother,” she huffs. “I get no appreciation around here.”
“A city slicker could be just what we need around here,” Jed says, with an unhelpful shrug.
My eyes narrow at him over my beer. “How do you figure that?”
“City girls are used to fast-paced life, they’re street smart, sharp, and don’t take any crap. Which might be good around here.” He piques a brow, muttering that last part.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I grumble as I hear my sister laughing.
“Nothing,” he replies, smirking. Trust Jed to smooth things over, always the peacemaker.
I rub my chin, thinking about it for a moment. Wyoming is certainly a million miles away from New York. Jed could have a point, but just because she’s from the city, doesn’t mean she’s a good worker. I’m curious about Sadie, but I’m more concerned about her scaring off the customers.
“You make an excellent point, J.” Iz smiles triumphantly. “If only my brother was a little more agreeable with how I’m approaching this staff shortage situation. He should learn to trust my judgment.”
“I love how you talk about me like I’m not here,” I mumble. “I said I’d be here to formally interview the woman with you, didn’t I?”
“Sadie,” Iz reminds me. “She has a name, Sadie Summers.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever.”
“And she’s had a ton of admin experience, so I don’t think a hard-headed interview is exactly necessary. It’s more of an onboarding. I want to show her around and see if she’d be happy to take the reins and jump right in.”
“Fine by me. If I have any issues, I’ll send her your way,” I say.
“Fine.” Iz folds her arms over her chest like it’s a challenge.
I’m sure my sister is ready to throw something at my head, but it’s the farm I’m worried about.
“Do you two ever stop bickering?” Jed shakes his head, taking another pull of his beer.
“We don’t bicker, we discuss things at length,” I correct him. “Right, sis?”
“Right.” Then she pokes me hard in the chest with a pointy finger. “And when you meet her and she’s running rings around you in that poky little office, you can fall to your knees begging me to forgive you. I’ll be waiting for your apology.”
I scoff. “Not gonna happen.”
“We’ll see.”
“Now that’s a bet I’m willing to take.”
The Dusty Spur is always busy on a Saturday, but it doesn’t stop me from going in to grab my regular, extra-strong caramel macchiato and some pastries to keep me on a sugar high to get through the day. I’m going to need it because weekends are always crazy.
“Hey, sugar,” Sally-Ann greets me with her usual bright smile, pulling her pen out from behind her ear.
“Mornin’, Sally-Ann.”
“Just the usual?”
I bypass the quick thought of being predictable. “Please.”
She quickly takes the order, rings it up and passes it to the barista. “I’ll bag up the pastries in just a jiffy, hon.”
“No problem.” I step to the side where Sally-Ann keeps serving the queue behind me.
I lean on the counter and watch the world go by. I can see Jo-Beth on the main floor with her coffeepot in hand, doing the rounds and chatting to two cowboys.
“What’s your name for the order, dear?” I hear Sally-Ann say to the small blonde woman at the counter.
I immediately drop my eyes to the tight jeans she’s wearing. Damn.
I don’t hear her reply. Sarah?
My brow lifts as I scan over the face of the beautiful, pale woman I’ve never seen before. She’s not from around here. I know everybody in town.
The soft wave of her golden tresses are buried under a beanie with a big, furry pom pom on top.
She’s dressed like a snowman; with earmuffs, mittens and a pink puffer jacket that dwarfs her small frame.
I glance down at her shoes; high heels? What in the world?
Albeit they are the boot kind, so at least her toes won’t perish out there in the snow.
Those dark blue jeans hug her short but slender legs and perfect ass.
Her complexion is as smooth as buttermilk with simple, natural makeup that doesn’t take away from her beauty.
She’s small in height and petite in stature.
Light pink lips form a sweet smile towards Sally-Ann as they exchange money.
Did she say Sarah? My mind is telling me something else, but I don’t know what.
“Your coffee won’t be long, honey.” Sally-Ann smiles as she continues with the queue.
I shift my leaning position to upright as the blonde walks my way. She’s glancing down at her cell, but looks up for a fraction of a second. I try to get a good look at her without gawking. Luckily, there’s a small crowd here waiting for their coffee, so she doesn’t seem to notice me.
I stare at her. There’s something different about her, like I’ve seen her before. Surely not, I’d remember a face like that.
It’s then she blinks up at me under long, dark lashes.
I see the light pink hue that dusts over her cheeks as she catches me staring.
Quickly though, I look away. I also pretend I don’t notice the soft curve of her full lips, and pretty blue eyes that are so striking it’s like I’ve been hit with a thunderbolt.
She’s probably just a cute tourist from out of town, judging by the new ski clothes she dons; she probably hasn’t skied a day in her life, but at least she looks the part. Aside from those accident-waiting-to-happen booties.
I shake my head.
Blondie won’t last a day in those, but since when did anything make sense in this town anymore?