Page 40 of Flippin' Cowboy
“And weren’t you the one who always told us that frontier women were a special breed, who overcame all kinds of difficulties to create thriving communities?” Winnie asked. “Instead of being ashamed of women like Caroline and Libby and Ettie, maybe we should acknowledge that they lived during a really difficult time, and that they not only survived but they helped make this town what it is.”
Mrs. Snowberry’s implacable expression thawed in the face of her granddaughter’s earnest pleas. “Frank is probably rolling in his grave right now,” she said, the corners of her lips tugging upwards in a reluctant smile. “But I see your point.”
“Great!” Autumn clapped her hands. “So, you won’t mind if we rename the hotel to ‘The Soiled Dove Inn’ to capitalize on the building’s history? And maybe we turn the library into a mini-saloon?”
Mrs. Snowberry looked visibly flustered. “I—I don’t know about that,” she stammered.
“Marketing oomph, Grandma,” Winnie reminded her. “We won’t have a lot of rooms available to rent, so we need to offer our guests a special experience to justify the prices.” She paused, and Nick saw a gleam of mischief in her eye. “Unless the place reallyishaunted, and then Autumn can push the ghost angle.”
“A saloon and a liquor license would bring in extra income,” Nick agreed. “And once we restore the first floor to its former glory, you could rent the inn out for special occasions. Wearegoing to install a commercial kitchen, after all.”
“And we’re bringing back the old rose garden,” Winnie added. “And the hot springs pavilion, too. The property will be perfect for weddings, especially if we can find some beautiful antique furnishings and maybe a few vintage Persian carpets.”
Mrs. Snowberry shook her head. “Caroline Snowberry’s house was really a bordello? I still can’t believe it.” Then she capitulated. “All right, my dears.” She bravely raised her untouched cup of tea. “To the new Soiled Dove Inn, and to Caroline Snowberry’s determination to not only survive but prosper.”
The rest of them raised their water glasses. “To Caroline!”
“And Libby and Ettie, too,” added Autumn.
“And, cut!” Was it Nick’s imagination, or did Karla look relieved?
Hell, he sure was. The restoration was back on track. It would’ve killed him to walk away from the beautiful old inn now. And if the worst had happened, who knew if he’d ever run into Winnie again?
Three days ago, parting ways with her would’ve sounded great. Now, though…
“Are we done filming?” Winnie asked, sounding plaintive. “Because Summer mentioned it’s chicken pot pie day at the diner, and I’mstarving.”
On cue, one of the diner’s young servers hurried up to the table to take their dinner orders.
“Thank you for changing your mind and letting the project go forward,” Nick said quietly to Mrs. Snowberry as Winnie and Autumn debated whether Jayden would prefer a takeout orderof the pot pie or the mac and cheese. He continued, “I think it means the world to your granddaughter.”
It was true. Winnie already looked more animated.
“I won’t lie, I would’ve preferred a haunting,” Mrs. Snowberry said. But she was smiling now. “Do try Brock’s pot pie,” she urged Nick. “It’s scrumptious.”
Chapter 14: Avoidance
“Hey, Autumn,” Winnie said an hour later as she forked up the last bite of an excellent pear cobbler. “Want to catch a lift back to the ranch with me?”
With dinner over, and all filming completed for the day, The Yummy Cowboy was rapidly emptying as theReviving Snowberry Springscrew headed out. They all had an early start again tomorrow.
“Sure,” Winnie’s sister said. “If Grandma Abigail doesn’t mind driving herself home.”
“I don’t mind, dear,” Grandma said immediately. “I’m sure you two girls have a lot to catch up on.”
“Yup,” Winnie said, smiling at Autumn.
Her sister’s gaze dropped to her plate. “I guess so,” Autumn said. Her tone sounded resigned rather than enthusiastic.
So far, she hadn’t explained why she’d finally separated from her jerk of a husband. Her anguish had been so obvious that no one in the family had pressed her for details after her bombshell announcement at Sunday dinner.
Winnie hoped her older sister would open up once they were alone together in her truck.
She’d never understood what Autumn saw in Phillip, but until this weekend, her sister appeared to have the perfect marriage. She and her husband lived with their son in one of Bozeman’s newer neighborhoods. They lived unpretentiously for a sales executive at Phillip’s level, but seemed comfortable.
At first, Winnie wasn’t sure Autumn would confide in her.
As they pulled out of the diner’s small parking lot, Autumn asked in an artificially bright tone, “So, what’s up with you and Nick?”
