Page 56 of A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy

Paisley: I’m in the office down at the lodge, but I could sure use a break. Want to come down?

It was gray and rainy outside, so indoors was preferred, and someone had started a fire in the lodge’s great room fireplace this morning while Eryn was kneading bread. It had looked inviting but, on the other hand, they could be overheard by anyone passing through the lodge.

And she was being a coward. Again.

Eryn: Sure. When’s good?

Paisley: Anytime. Just come to my office when you get here.

Eryn: Okay.

She looked around the little duplex, which was tidy and impersonal with few of their own belongings in view. Then she slipped on her boots and rain jacket and grabbed her umbrella. She tucked her phone and knit slippers in her pockets and headed out the door.

This cluster of staff duplexes must feel like a real community in the heat of summer when every unit was stuffed with workers. Now, many sat vacant or had only one occupant, like Paisley’s.

Even in the late October drizzle, the ranch was pretty. The leaves had fallen and been raked away or been pummeled into nearly colorless, sodden blobs along the roadway. The lake lay gray today with wisps of fog hovering overtop, the mountains around them obscured by low clouds.

The vibe was still completely different than Kansas. The rain fell downward instead of sideways, to start with. The lack of blasting wind was a pleasure.

Eryn passed the corner to Pegasus Lane and walked the rest of the way down the hill to the lodge with its wisps of wood smoke rising from the stone chimney. The huge log building with its wide covered decks and impressive views never failed to amaze her. How was this her life?

She was so lucky — no, blessed — to live here now. To be dating Maxwell Sullivan.

Yeah, she needed Paisley’s advice on that score. She shook out her umbrella and closed it before heading in the door to the office wing. She hung it on a hook and removed her wet boots, pulling her slippers out of her pockets then putting them on. She rapped lightly on Paisley’s door.

“Come on in!”

Eryn poked her head inside and blinked at the plethora of stuff smothering every surface. The walls were lined with whiteboards and bulletin boards covered with doodles and charts and business cards and brochures. A bouquet of balloons trailing ribbons was tacked to the corner of a half-empty shelving unit, the contents of which appeared to have erupted across a folding table in the middle.

This was a scary place, but it seemed to work for Paisley. It would never work for Eryn.

“Let me just wrap this up.” Paisley’s fingers danced over her keyboard.

“Want a hot chocolate? I can make a couple and meet you by the fireplace.” There certainly wasn’t any place to sit in here.

“Oh, perfect! I’d love that. I just need two minutes.”

Which would probably be five or ten, but that was okay. Eryn had nowhere else to be. She backed out and headed into the dining area.

Nadine glanced up from deep in the kitchen. “Hey there!”

“Hi. I just want to get a couple of hot chocolates if that’s okay.” She indicated the machine next to the coffee carafes.

“Sure. Are you meeting Maxwell?”

“No, Paisley.”

“Oh.” Nadine seemed disappointed. “There are cookies out for snack time, so help yourself. Thanks for making them.”

Eryn smiled. “Part of my job.”

“And everyone is thankful.” Nadine chuckled. “Having your help is making things easier. I hadn’t realized how barebones things got around here over the winter.”

“Oh. You’re welcome.” It was nice to be seen as more than a pity project. Eryn fixed two mugs of hot chocolate and set them on a tray along with four chocolate chip cookies. She carried the tray into the great room and rested it on a live-edge end table.

“Hey, thanks. You shouldn’t have.” Bryce dropped into the chair on the other side and reached for a mug.

“I… uh…”

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