Page 17 of Flippin' Cowboy
Karla and Jake seated themselves next to Winnie and Grandma Abigail. The rest of the crew took their seats and began chatting.
“So, I hear that Winnie’s sister used to work at a Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco,” Karla said conversationally.
“Yes, and I’m so glad she decided to come home last summer and save this historic diner,” Grandma Abigail answered. “Thanks to all of the hard work that Summer and her fiancé, Brock, put in, The Yummy Cowboy just won theRocky Mountain Foodie Review’s award for Best New Montana Restaurant.” She beamed at Karla. “I’m so proud of my grandchildren. They’re all so hard-working and talented.”
The kitchen door at the rear of the dining room swung open. Summer emerged with a tray loaded with steaming bowls, followed by Brock and two of the diner’s waitstaff.
They delivered the first course, a velvety butternut squash soup drizzled with balsamic vinegar and sprinkled with toasted pumpkin seeds. Because Karla, Jake, and two other crew members were vegetarians, Summer and Brock had prepared a special meatless menu for tonight.
Winnie and Grandma Abigail each received a warm kiss on the cheek as Summer delivered their soups.
“I’m so glad you decided to film here,” Summer said warmly to Karla as she set a bowl down in front of the producer. “Thank you. It means a lot to a small business like ours.”
Karla chuckled. “Your grandmother was very persuasive,” she replied, shooting Grandma Abigail an amused look. “I like how she looks out for y’all,” she continued. “That’s how family should be.”
Grandma Abigail nodded in agreement.
“And you’ve figured out that resistance is useless once Mrs. S. gets a notion in her head?” Brock asked dryly.
Winnie’s prospective brother-in-law was tall and broad-shouldered, with short dark hair and intense brown eyes. He’d already been a senior when she’d started high school, and she hadn’t known him well.
But he was a decent, hard-working man who made her sister very happy, and that was all Winnie needed to know to welcome him into the family.
“I’m starting to figure that out,” Karla said, laughing. She lifted a spoon of the soup to her lips. “Oh. My. God. This might be the best thing I’ve ever tasted!”
Brock looped his arm around Summer’s shoulders. “My fiancée is a culinary genius.”
A chorus of agreement and happy moans rose from the RSS crew.
“Don’t let Brock fool you,” Summer said, blushing. “His stuffed portobello mushrooms are going to knock your socks off.”
Winnie smiled up them, trying to suppress a twinge of envy. She’d been hoping for the same kind of loving partnership with Geoff.
“Speaking of which,” Brock said, “we should get back to the kitchen. Those mushrooms aren’t going to cook themselves. Enjoy your meals, everyone.”
“Yes, bon appétit,” Summer said. “And thank you so much for coming.”
For a few minutes, no one talked. Only the clinking of spoons against bowls, interspersed with happy sighs, broke the silence at the long table.
When they were down to the last delicious drops of butternut squash ambrosia, Karla looked at her smartwatch. “No word from Nick Evans,” she reported. “I gave him until the end of the day to make a decision.”
“He made it pretty clear that he wasn’t interested in working with my granddaughter,” Grandma Abigail reminded her.
Karla’s generous mouth turned down in an unhappy expression. “I know. But I’m an optimist. Because I think he’sperfectfor this project.”
Winnie snorted. “Admit it. It’s only because you’re hoping for lots of on-camera drama on this project.”
Karla pursed her lips but didn’t deny it.
“He came across as kind of a dick today,” Jake ventured.
“And I’ve had enough drama for one year, thank you very much,” Winnie continued, shooting Jake a look of gratitude. “If Evans wants to bail, that’s fine by me. Surely you can find someone else for me to work with.”
“How about Jim Northman over in Anaconda?” Grandma Abigail suggested. “I’ve been hearing good things about him for years. He’s done a great job preserving the old buildings in the outlying areas of the town, as well as over in neighboring Phillipsburg.”
Winnie perked up. “That sounds like a great idea.” Northman’s work in restoring those two historic mining towns was renowned in Montana.
“I’ll consider it… but only as a last resort,” Karla said. “I want Nick Evans on this project.” At Winnie’s scowl, she added defensively. “He has an impeccable track record in doing historically sensitive yet budget-friendly restorations. And his social media game really impressed my boss.”
