Page 85 of Boston
“Boston on the horseback riding,” Reese said, nodding to Cora. She dutifully put his sticker there, and then they started at the top of the month, which really was next week’s schedule, and this chart ran through the first full week of August too, as this team only met once a month, on the first day of the month, to do this master management schedule.
As problems arose throughout the month, like emergency time off, sick employees, or something of the like, the individual department management teams handled the schedule fixes.
Over the next ten minutes, Cora’s heart sank further and further into her soul as she put more and more stickers with Boston’s name on the chart.
Between her workload and now his very busy July, she’d be lucky if she got to see him for dinner, and a whole day trip to Little Brown Bear Stream?
That wasn’t happening.
She swallowed her disappointment as the meeting broke up, everyone taking pictures of the chart, as they’d then email out the assignments to their managers, who’d then distribute them to their staff.
Cora should be glad the lodge operated as seamlessly as it did, and she was. She absolutely was.
“You’re allowed to be disappointed too,” she muttered to herself as she left the conference room and headed back to her office to drop off her notebook. She sank into her desk chair and swiveled so she faced the great outdoors.
With the glorious sight of the Teton Mountains and the big, blue sky, she found the courage to text Boston they might have to wait until August to go see the salmon run.
If it’s even running still.
She sent that text, sighed, and looked out her window. A peaceful feeling settled over her, and though Cora had not yet attended church, she definitely heard a tiny, almost silent voice whispering,It’s okay. There’s time for everything you want to do.
A sigh settled through her, body and soul. She had always been a touch too impatient, and she could stand to slow down and enjoy more moments in her day, instead of rushing from one thing to the next.
She closed her eyes and breathed in, then out. Her phone buzzed, and the urge to check it to see if it was Boston pulledthrough her. She resisted it, took in and released another breath, trying to hear anything else God might want to tell her.
When she couldn’t, she checked her phone, feeling more relaxed and like the earth wasn’t about to hurl her into space.
Boston had texted.It’s okay. I imagine the fish will still be there in August, and it’ll give us something to look forward to.
“Always the voice of reason,” she said, a smile forming on her face. She felt herself slipping, falling a little bit in love with him right then, especially when she noticed that he’d started his text the same way the Lord had just comforted her.
“Okay,Sheela, I’m headed out for the rest of the day.” She edged around the front desk manager. “You guys are all set here?” She looked down the counter, where four people stood behind computer monitors. Check-in wouldn’t officially begin for another three hours, but they always seemed to have people at the check-in counter here at the lodge.
“Yes,” she said with a smile. “It’s actually a slow day. A lot of our rooms were filled yesterday, and people are staying through the weekend.”
“That’s a relief,” Cora said, catching sight of two tall, handsome cowboys headed her way. Excitement bubbled just beneath her tongue, and she couldn’t wait to hug Boston and inhale the woodsy, cottony scent of his skin, his shirt, his soul.
He seemed to be making a beeline toward her, and then he stopped suddenly. He grabbed onto Cash’s arm and pointed left. They looked that way, and then Boston called, “Bailey.”
Both cowboys detoured toward a beautiful blonde, who stood against a pillar with a large roller bag at her side. Boston’s heartylaugh filled the lobby as he moved right into the woman’s space and hugged her.
Cash did the same, and the three of them wore smiles that seemed a tiny bit frayed around the edges. Bailey started talking, and she waved her hand toward the check-in desk. Cora’s heart started to pound, and she pushed away from the counter and strode toward her boyfriend.
“Hey, here’s someone gorgeous,” Boston said easily, and he drew her into a side-hug as she came to a stop. “This is Cora, guys.” He beamed at her and leaned down to touch his lips to her temple.
“This is my cousin, Cash.”
“Howdy, ma’am,” the dark cowboy said, lifting his hat an inch or two in greeting. “If I can get this man to stop talking about you, it’s because he’s got food in his mouth.” He grinned at Boston, who rolled his eyes.
“That’s not true,” Boston said. “I didn’t say anything too bad.”
“He didn’t say anything bad,” Cash said. “He’s sweet on you, Miss Cora.”
Warmth filled her, and she smiled at Boston. “Whathaveyou been saying?”
“As if he’s telling any of us something we don’t all know.” Boston shot his cousin a dark look.
“I didn’t know,” the blonde said, raising her hand. “I’m Bailey.”
