Chapter 8
Marta was one of the people who was dying to meet Windsor.
A local grandmother whose kids were all grown up, she had needed someone else to take care of, and Bo welcomed her into his life with open arms. Her husband had passed away the year before, and she’d been struggling with grief and looking for a job to keep her busy.
When Bo needed a cook and housekeeper, she’d come highly recommended by his realtor as a stand-up character who never had anything bad to say about anyone and never partook in local gossip.
Bo recognized a gem when he met one, and Marta was a diamond of a human.
She also had all of Windsor’s movies on DVD, and Bo had promised her she would be able to get them autographed.
He had also received a list of Win’s dietary preferences through her agent and given them to Marta in advance.
While Cookie would be feeding the rest of the cast and crew, along with the ranch staff, Marta would be taking care of him and Windsor.
“This girl eats like a bird, Bo,” she had said when he gave her a printed copy, as she didn’t do internet, email, or smartphones. “The good Lord knew what he was doing when he sent me a husband instead of on a trip to Hollywood because he knew how much I liked butter.”
Marta was short, stout, and full of love, and Bo couldn’t imagine life without her.
When they entered her domain—a massive kitchen she called heaven on earth—she was wringing her hands together in her apron.
“Marta, this is the one and only Windsor Reed. And, Win, I present to you the most fabulous cook and housekeeper west of the Mississippi and quite possibly in the entire world, Mrs. Marta Jensen of Thompson Falls, Montana.”
Marta’s grin stretched her Mrs. Claus-esque cheeks wide.
“Oh, Ms. Reed, I am such a big fan. I have all your movies. My grandson even got me one of your movie posters, the ones they put out front of the theater for what’s showing.
He had it framed for me for Christmas. It’s in my quilting room at home.
You are just so stunning. I love all your films. You’re just so … glamorous and talented.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you. Bo has said such wonderful things about you. And your town is just … beautiful. Truly, it is one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever been in my entire life.
Thank you so much for being a fan. Without people like you, my career would not be what it is—I promise you that. ”
Windsor’s warmth and genuine gratitude toward Marta filled Bo with hope. This was the woman he wanted in his home. Not the one with that artificial laugh and forced cool, collected demeanor.
“You like it here? Really?” Marta was awed—Bo could tell. She had also never been this impressed by him.
“I’ve been loved by the best man in the world.
Hollywood couldn’t make one like that if they tried for a hundred years,” she’d told him.
“But you’re young and handsome, and until you get a wife who can take care of you right, I would love to use this fancy kitchen of yours and look after this beautiful house. ”
He’d hired her on the spot for the same amount as he paid his foreman.
She tried to argue it was too much, but he wouldn’t relent.
Finally, they’d agreed she’d use the money to keep her house and let her daughter and granddaughter live there, and she’d live in a cabin on the property so she’d be close by enough not to have to drive in the winter, which she had said she was too old to be doing anymore.
“Ephraim called it God’s country,” Windsor replied. “I haven’t even been here a day, and I already think he’s right.”
“Oh, that boy. He sure is right, and he’s a good one too. I raised three sons and three daughters, and he was behind my youngest girl in school.”
“Six kids. Wow. Do you have grandkids too?”
Marta smiled, and Bo knew this was her favorite subject. “Nine so far, but I’m holding out hope there will be more someday.”
“Nine! Goodness. You single-handedly started a population boom in Thompson Falls, I bet.”
“I sure tried.”
Windsor started laughing. “That’s amazing.”
“I would’ve had more, too, but my Arnie told me six was a lucky number, and any more, we’d need a bigger kitchen table, and that table was my grandma’s, and I wasn’t getting rid of it.”
Windsor sat on a cowhide-backed stool at the massive kitchen island, and if he had to guess, she was as effortlessly charmed by Marta as he had been.
“Arnie sounds like a wise man.”
“The best there ever was and ever will be.” She crossed herself. “God rest his soul and grant him peace everlasting.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Windsor reached out a hand to cover Marta’s on the counter, and Bo was genuinely surprised by her move. “I just lost my parents not so long ago, and it was so hard. Grief … it’s a tricky thing.”
Marta smiled at her, her brown eyes glistening, and laid her other much older hand over Windsor’s. “You poor thing. I read about it. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to have the whole world reading about your life while you’re going through something so tragic and heartbreaking.”
From what Bo could tell, the two women had just made a genuine connection.
“You know, it was not fun. Privacy hasn’t ever been something I expected, but that was a particularly difficult time.”
Marta squeezed her hand. “You’ll get plenty of privacy here. This whole town has adopted Bo, and we don’t talk out of school. Don’t you worry about that.”
Windsor snuffed a breath through her nose, and Bo realized she was close to tears. “Thank you, Marta. You have no idea how much that means to me. And your Arnie was a lucky man to have you—I can tell.”
Marta fanned her face with her free hand. “And here I am, about to cry in front of Windsor Reed. Lord, I am so sorry.”
Windsor squeezed her hand again. “I’m Win. Just Win. And you go right ahead, if you need to. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen someone cry. I promise.”
The warmth spreading through Bo’s chest told him he hadn’t been crazy.
Win was real and as human as it got when she let her guard down.
She’d grown up in a kill-or-be-killed world, where she’d needed shields and facades, but he was beyond grateful she knew how to drop it with someone as sincere and lovely as Marta.
Marta dabbed at her eyelid and blinked. “I’m good. I just didn’t expect you to be so nice.”
Win chuckled. “Trust me, most people don’t.”
Marta started laughing, too, and the emotional heaviness of the room evaporated.
“Now that we got that out of the way, are you ready for some lunch? I prepared you some poached chicken with herbs and steamed greens, like the list Bo had given me said. And I hope it’s all right.
It’s the first time I’ve ever cooked without salt or butter.
Though, clearly, it won’t be the last. I sprinkled extra love on it though, so hopefully, that makes all the difference. ”
Windsor pressed her hand to her chest, as if amazed. “I’m honored. I am sure it will be perfect. Thank you so much.”
Marta smiled and turned away to press the button on the steam oven.
“And, Bo,” she said over her shoulder. “I fried you some chicken and steamed some rice. You want greens too?”
“That sounds perfect, Marta. We’ll eat right here. Keep us company, would ya? I know you made extra fried chicken. Eat with us.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. You’re family.”