Page 22 of A Marriage Pact for the Cowboy

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.”

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