Chapter Three #3
Stark gray mountain peaks and speckles of forest formed a lovely backdrop for the quaint valley setting. Pink, purple, and blue lupines abounded, splashes of color interspersed with the green and the gray.
Why put a theme park where no one could find it?
“Let’s get you settled in at the guest lodge,” Jayce said.
Rather than enter the main thoroughfare, he chose a narrow street to the right named Jenkins that led through a sturdy copse of hemlock and pine. The street ended at an enormous log cabin. Malika dismounted, her screaming thighs and aching buttocks greatly relieved.
She handed her reins to the cowboy.
“Why don’t I take care of the horses,” he said.
She paid no attention to his sarcasm. She knew how to take care of a horse. But after two cups of tea and a few hours in a saddle she had more immediate concerns. She headed straight for the door of the lodge, which fortunately, was unlocked.
The guest lodge, at least, came as a pleasant surprise. Inside, in a large foyer, a switch on the wall—wonder of wonders!—activated lights that illuminated a majestic set of stairs. A door to one side of the foyer opened into the room she desired.
When she emerged, Adeel was waiting for her, alone. A tall window next to the main entry showed that the cowboy and horses were gone.
“We’ll have our evening meal here,” Adeel said. “Tomorrow morning, the town’s seamstress will fit you for dresses to wear for your stay.”
Malika perked up. Bespoke clothing in this out-of-the-way mountaintop village? She would never have guessed. To not have to wear the same clothes while she was here came as more welcome news. Which reminded her…
She jabbed a finger into his chest. “You kidnapped me!”
Adeel was unmoved. “I did no such thing. The theme park relies on secrecy, and you were drawing attention to us. I merely hurried matters along.”
His imperiousness made him impossible to deal with. She might as well explore the lodge.
The foyer opened into a large living room with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that looked out at the mountains.
The heavy wood and leather furniture was equally large.
A bearskin rug butted against the hearth of a stone fireplace.
More fur rugs—indeterminate of origin—scattered the stone floor.
A short, arch-ceilinged hall led to a dining room with furniture sturdy enough to withstand an Armageddon, and beyond it, a kitchen.
Everything in the kitchen was shiny. Further exploration uncovered a sunroom, a library, and a laundry.
She retraced her steps to the front room. Aside from the rugs, which she disapproved of, the lodge was quite cozy.
Adeel had entrenched himself in a deep leather chair that offered the best view of the mountains. The sun, a great orange ball, had slipped below the tree line. Fingers of fire stroked the stark stone of the cliffs.
“The bedrooms are upstairs,” he said, as if she were simple. Since they weren’t on the first level, where else would they be? “Choose whichever you like.”
She climbed the foyer main staircase, trailing her fingertips along the polished wood railing. Quite nice.
There were five suites of bedrooms in total.
The first was decidedly male. Malika moved on.
The third suite was the one most to her liking.
It was charming. The walls were painted a pretty, pale pink.
The overstuffed furniture was cream and floral.
In the bedroom, the canopied bed was queen-sized and soft.
A large, claw-foot tub next to the glass-walled shower in the bathroom screamed welcome after dusty hours spent on horseback.
Best of all, the bathroom was well-stocked with toiletries.
She returned to the sitting room and drew the floor-length drapes aside, revealing patio doors and a large, private balcony. She parted the doors, stepped outside, and squealed in delight.
It was as if she were standing on a raised platform in a small forest clearing. Huddled treetops embraced her. The mountain trail hadn’t impressed her, but this was different. The trail appealed to men. It had been carved from the land to serve their purpose.
This, however.
This was a fairyland, and in it, she was its dryad princess. Had Adeel known how much this would please her? She began to think kindlier of him. Perhaps she’d wait until after the wedding before she made her escape.
Besides, her plan needed further fine-tuning.
The town was even more isolated than she’d expected, and it would be a very long walk on foot to the ranch.
She’d have to borrow a horse. She should also leave at night, when Adeel was asleep, but for her to follow that poor excuse for a road after dark, she’d need some sort of light.
When was the next full moon? She’d had no reason to pay attention to lunar cycles before.
She peered up at the small slice of midnight-hued sky, with edges that bled to magenta, which was all she could see through the trees other than a light freckling of stars, trying to determine the phase of the moon but without luck. Nevertheless, excitement left her lightheaded and giddy.
Adeel believed he had outwitted her.
She would show him.