Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
W ednesday.
Maxwell had been patient. Eryn was driving an older car without Bluetooth and, besides, she wasn’t dating him. He couldn’t expect her to update him on their whereabouts every hour. No, he’d been relegated to a daily text when she and her father stopped for the night. Sometimes she answered his reply, but not always.
Patience. Not a virtue that came naturally.
They’d left Kansas a day early, but instead of pushing through, they’d spent yesterday in Yellowstone and were coming the rest of the way today.
Anytime now.
Not that he was watching the approach to the lodge from his easy chair in the great room. Except, he was. He’d been around long enough to know which seating had a view of the drive, but he wasn’t only staring out the window. He had his laptop open while he worked on his computer-assisted-drafting program. CAD had come a long way in the past eight years, and he could make quick adjustments then pivot to see the treehouse design from every angle.
These units on the new Eagles’ Nest Lane were going to be epic. At first, they’d planned to keep them dry, but Maxwell’s determined research had discovered possibilities for adding plumbing. Of course, that increased both the cost and time involved in each treehouse. They’d build eight over next season and evaluate after a couple of years.
Working? Maybe not so much, since his screen had blanked twice in the past few minutes. How long did it take to drive from Bozeman? Three or four hours? They should be here by now unless one of the vehicles had broken down. Keith would have the use of a staff truck soon enough, but Maxwell couldn’t think of any way to upgrade Eryn without her agreement, one he was pretty sure she wouldn’t readily give.
Impatience could cost him a chance with her. Not every solution needed to be tied up in a neat bow in as short a time frame as possible.
Over in the kitchen, Aunt Nadine’s favorite worship playlist provided background music while she prepped the evening meal for the remaining staff. Sounds of cupboard doors opening and closing, the clank of a pan landing on the stovetop, and the gush of water from the faucet came to his ears.
But then a gray truck pulling a small, tarped trailer came into sight, and Maxwell surged to his feet. Forget dinner. Eryn was here! Oh, and her dad. Never forget the father.
He closed the laptop and set it on the end table. He’d need to move that if Tate and Stephanie came with the boys, since Jamie was endlessly curious and would certainly not leave it alone.
Maxwell strode across the great room, past the vacant registration desk to the main doors, which he flung open just as Eryn’s car came to a stop behind her father’s truck. It had been nine days since he’d seen her. Had he really kept count?
Keith slid out of the cab, smile wide as the Montana sky as he looked around. “So, this is Sweet River Ranch. I was hoping you weren’t pulling my leg, boy.”
“Never, sir. Welcome!” Maxwell’s long legs ate the distance to Eryn’s car, and he opened the door for her. “You made it! Hope you had a good drive? Did you enjoy Yellowstone?” Those texts had contained minimal information.
Keith stretched both arms in the air then bent from one side to the other. “Those geysers were amazing! I bet you visit every chance you get.”
Maxwell scratched his neck. “Yeah… I haven’t ever been, but I need to. Soon.”
“Never been?” The man looked taken aback. “It’s so close.”
“Dad’s right,” Eryn offered with a smile as she exited the car. “You should see it.”
Was this where Maxwell explained the definition of a workaholic? Nah, that could come later. “Definitely. It’s on my list. I’m glad you enjoyed it, though.”
“We spent all day yesterday in the park. That way we didn’t have to pay to sleep there.”
This girl needed to live a little. But… maybe, so did he. “Well, you’re here now.” Maxwell gestured to take in the view. “This is the main lodge, as you can see. It contains the kitchen and dining hall as well as the offices. There are also guest rooms — basically, hotel rooms — on the second floor. You’re welcome to a couple of those tonight, or you can move right into your duplex. Whichever you prefer. Either way, the dinner gong goes off at 5:30, and you can meet the skeleton staff then.”
The two exchanged a look.
Keith hitched his pants. “Might as well unload now, I guess. We haven’t got that much with us, honestly. Got rid of most everything in Kansas.”
“Sure. We’ve got time. Let me round up a couple of guys to help.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary. It won’t take Eryn and me but a few minutes. Just point us in the right direction.”
Maxwell chuckled. “That’s not how we do things here. We’re a team. Bryce and Jordan are around and waiting for my call.” Actually, he’d asked Jordan, but his brother had overheard. Hopefully Bryce wouldn’t come on to Eryn too strong. The guy couldn’t be trusted around women. Should Maxwell warn her?
He pulled out his phone, tapped a text to them both, and repocketed the device. “They’ll meet us there. I’ll grab one of the golf carts and lead the way to Hummingbird Lane.”
Keith’s eyebrows hiked up. “Hummingbird Lane?”
“Yep.” Maxwell chuckled. “The ranch’s former owners named the roads for winged creatures. We’ve got them all: Dragonfly Lane, Ladybug Lane, Wingfeather Lane… and the riding stables are on Pegasus. That’s just a sampling.”
The other man laughed as he shook his head and glanced at his daughter. “Whole ’nother world, right, Rynie?”
Eryn offered a shy smile. “It sure is.”
“I hope it’s a world you’ll be glad you came to.”
“I’m sure it will be.”
He was going to do his best to make certain. “Okay, well, follow me. It’s only another quarter mile or so.” He jumped on a golf cart, drove toward the staff duplexes on Hummingbird, and parked in front of #4.
Keith smoothly backed the trailer in, a skill he’d learned with farm equipment, no doubt. Good sign.
“Welcome, Eryn.” Maxwell opened her car door and indicated the right-hand door to the cedar-sided building. “Your temporary home sweet home.”
“It’s cute.”
No one had ever said that before. The duplexes had been a cheap, quick build ten years back and were already showing their age. Maxwell and his grandfather had been discussing options. Yeah, maybe it was going to be quite a while before all the Sweet River projects were complete.
“It’s small, is what it is.” He opened the door and let her precede him inside. “They’re all the same design and are more like glorified motel rooms than apartments, but that’s okay, since no one needs to cook here.”
The all-in-one living, dining room, and kitchen came first, with a bedroom and bathroom tucked beneath the loft. “There are staff laundry facilities down the lane. This time of year, the machines are usually vacant. In summer, you’ll need to sign up for slots. Except the farmhouse has its own washer and dryer, so never mind.”
She smiled at him then glanced behind him as her dad entered. “What do you think, Dad?”
Keith looked around, nodding. “Looks good for now.” He reached a hand to shake Maxwell’s. “I can’t thank you enough for coming along at the exact right time with this offer. I’d been praying the good Lord would direct our paths like it says in Proverbs 3, and He came through, loud and clear.”
“It’s not every day a man gets to be an answer to prayer. I’m glad it worked out.”
“Yo, you’re here! Let the party begin!”
And now Maxwell got to introduce his brother to Eryn and her dad. Hopefully she wouldn’t be enthralled by Bryce like half the female staff seemed to be.
The other half ignored Bryce or laughed in his face. That was the best-case scenario with Eryn.
How was this her life?
Eryn climbed the ladder to the loft and looked around in amazement. The duplex was not that fancy, but it was temporary.
The trip here, however, had been awe-inspiring. The mountains were a thousand times more majestic up close than in photos she’d seen. The geysers in Yellowstone were unbelievably impressive. And now here they were, her and Dad, a half-hour drive up a paved mountain road with a small lake glinting between enormous trees, some of which were already turning color at the beginning of October.
She’d only had a glimpse of the expansive log lodge with its wide windows and a welcoming deck with Adirondack chairs and even a swing. To think she lived here now! Worked here.
Best of all was Maxwell Sullivan. She’d never be able to repay him for this opportunity as long as she lived. She’d be employed by his family and, yes, he’d hinted at a relationship last weekend, but men like him didn’t date lowly employees. Kitchen staff.
She wouldn’t get her hopes up on that account, but coming to Sweet River was still the experience of a lifetime. She’d make the most of it, and if Dad did well operating the farm side, it would remain a place she could retreat to even after she moved on herself.
But no thinking about that now, not while voices from outside on the stoop made her realize they had company. Must be the guys Maxwell had asked to help them unload… which only meant more people would be privy to the few shabby belongings they’d brought. There was no hiding that.
This loft would likely be her room, as Dad probably wouldn’t want to climb the ladder multiple times a day at his age. A previous tenant had rigged a makeshift curtain to offer some privacy from the main floor. It would do.
“Eryn? Can you tell everyone where to put things?” Dad called.
“Coming right down.” She turned and descended the ladder only to find a man standing right at the bottom to help her off. Not that she needed assistance. “Oh!”
“Hi. I’m Bryce, Maxwell’s bigger and better-looking brother.” He lifted her hand to his lips.
She jerked it away and stepped aside. “I’m Eryn.”
The other stranger chuckled. “I’m Jordan, and I work for Max. Pleased to meet you, Eryn, and welcome to Sweet River Ranch.”
“Thank you.” She gave an irritated look at Bryce before turning to Dad.
Maxwell stood beside Dad, his eyes crinkling in amusement. “Sorry about my brother.”
Eryn felt like shaking her fingers out, but that might be offensive. She might have to work with Bryce and didn’t need an enemy. But she’d be keeping an eye on him, for sure. The guy didn’t seem trustworthy.
“Dad, the main floor bedroom is smaller than the loft, but I’m not sure you want to access yours by a ladder? You pick, and I’ll take the other space.”
“You can have the loft, if you don’t mind. I don’t have that much stuff, and that will give you room for your sewing machine and such. Is that okay?”
“Sure. We won’t be here that long, so I probably don’t need it out, but it’s fine, either way.”
Maxwell clapped his hands at the others. “Start hauling, boys.”
“Yes, boss.” Bryce saluted as he winked at Eryn. “I don’t know if you have any brothers, but in my experience, they’re all like this.”
“Bryce.” Maxwell’s voice held warning.
“I have no brothers.” Why she felt she needed to even respond, she couldn’t have said.
“This one is marked kitchen.” Jordan set a box on the small Formica table. “I assume we can figure much of this out.”
“Thank you.” And she heaved a sigh of relief as Bryce followed Jordan back outside.
Dad disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Maxwell beside her.
“Sorry about my brother. He thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”
Eryn suppressed her shudder. “Well, I might disagree.”
“Good.” Maxwell grinned, his gaze meeting and holding hers. “I’d hate to have to take him out. But I would, if I had to.”
“Oh?” Her voice seemed devoid of breath.
“I want to get to know you better, like I said in Kansas.”
“Me?”
Maxwell made a show of looking around the room. “I don’t see anyone else I might be talking to.”
“But we’re here because you offered my father a job. A fresh start.”
“And that offer was made because of you. Oh, he definitely qualifies for it. Don’t get me wrong. But you’re the real reason.”
Maxwell was just as forward as his brother. Only, he was a whole lot more palatable.
And Eryn was mighty glad to be here to see where this might lead.