Page 6 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

I shook my head. There was something familiar about it, but I couldn’t place it.

“You’re all set,” she said after typing a few things into the computer. “Looks like you’re with us until Monday.”

“That’s right.”

She handed me an old-fashioned skeleton key. “The room is on the second floor, at the end of the hall. Kids are in the bar.”

“Thanks so much, ma’am. I’ll just drop my bag and freshen up.”

“Welcome to East Aurora, son. I hope you enjoy your time in our little village.”

“I hope so too.”

I was about to take the stairs up to the second floor when Juniper stuck her head around the corner. “Don’t be long, or your food willget cold.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, winking at her like her mama had at me.

“What do you want to drink?”

“Whatever beer is on tap would be great.”

“That’ll be a Blue.”

“Sounds good.” Before I took the first step, I caught Juniper’s mother out of the corner of my eye. Her arms were folded, but she was smiling. That was a good sign.

The burger wasone of the best I’d ever had, or I’d been hungrier than I thought. I even considered ordering a second one. I settled on another beer instead.

“How long are you here for?” Grayson asked as he cleared our dishes.

“As I told your mom, I’ve got a job at the Lilacs, starting Monday.”

Juniper’s eyes opened wide. “What will you be doing?”

I shook my head. “I wish I knew. I was told to report there, so here I am. I hope that whatever comes next involves some kind of wrangling since it’s about the only thing I’m good at.”

“There are horses on the estate,” she said.

Grayson started to say something, but his sister shook his head, and he closed his mouth.

“So, uh, horses are a good sign. You know much about the place?”

“Some. I mean everyone around here does,” said Juni.

“Why’s that?”

“The family’s wealthier than that god, Midas,” said Grayson.

Juniper shook her head at her brother. “He was a king, not a god, and he was known for greed and foolishness. You’re thinking of Plutus.”

Grayson rolled his eyes. “Who I was thinking of is beside the point, nerd-girl.” He turned to me. “The Covert family is rolling in money. They’re kind of like the Rockefellers.”

Juniper opened her mouth like she was about to contradict her brother a second time, but shut it.

“The Coverts own the Lilacs?”

Both of them nodded.

“Who are you supposed to be working for?” Grayson asked.

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