Page 7 of So Right
Alaina swallowed and then took a drink of water. “He said they have one of the area, including Ribbon Ridge, circa 1880.”
Kelsey was delighted to hear they had a map from that time period. Maybe she could even convince the county to loan it to her for the exhibit. “So it should have Bird’s Nest Ranch since it was built in 1879?”
Alaina nodded. “It should, but I guess we’ll find out for sure on Friday.”
“Then what do we do?” Crystal asked. “It’s all well and good to determine where the house stood, but what do we do with that? And how is it going to help us find out what happened to Dorinda Olsen?”
Using a diary provided by the Archer family, their little amateur research team had learned that Dorinda and her husband Hiram had built Bird’s Nest Ranch. Hiram had died of a fever, but they hadn’t found any documents indicating what had happened to Dorinda.
“I don’t know why, but I feel like there’s an important story with Dorinda,” Crystal said.
Kelsey agreed. The diary entry they’d read about the Olsens had pulled at their heartstrings. Things had seemed rather bleak for them and then Hiram had died.
“I just want to know that she had a happy ending,” Brooke said, her brow creasing.
They fell silent for a moment and continued to eat. The sound of someone biting into a potato chip broke the quiet and provoked a giggle from Crystal, who’d caused the noise. “Sorry.”
They smiled in return, and the atmosphere warmed again.
Brooke sipped her water. “So, Crystal, you were asking what we do with this information—assuming we find the house. We’ve talked about hiring an archaeologist to excavate the site. Are we still thinking we want to do that?” She looked around the table.
“I’d like to, and I’ll fund it,” Alaina offered.
She offered to pay for everything, which was kind and generous, and she could definitely afford it. Kelsey wished she could make that kind of overture. If she had wealth, she’d share it.
Kelsey smiled at her. “Thank you, Alaina, that’s very nice of you. However, we’ll need to talk to the guys at West Arch.” She looked toward Brooke, since she was engaged to one of the owners.
“I mentioned it to Cam, and he’s fine with it, provided it doesn’t interfere with their vines.”
Kelsey looked toward Brooke. “Luke said the same thing.”
Brooke arched a brow at her. “Did he tell you that on Saturday? I heard you were hanging out in the pumpkin patch.”
Kelsey felt a need to clarify that situation, though she couldn’t say why. “We weren’t hanging out, just chatting for a few minutes. We did talk about Bird’s Nest Ranch—briefly. He wasn’t enthused if it meant disrupting his vineyard. Which I can understand.”
“Me too,” Alaina said.
Crystal looked around at the others. “Well, fingers crossed the house isn’t in the vineyard. There’s more to the property than where the grapes are planted, right?”
“Yes.” Brooke propped her elbow on the table and leaned her chin on her hand. “The photograph we have of the ranch looks like it’s on the top of the slope, but it’s hard to tell. Most of that is vineyard, unfortunately. But there are some unplanted areas. For now—they plan to expand later this fall.”
Crystal slapped her palm on the table. “Then we’d better get moving.” Her expression fell. “What if the house was located where the winery is?”
No one said anything as they exchanged looks. Finally, their collective exhales filled the room.
“In that case, we’re done,” Kelsey said softly.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“I’m going back to hoping the house is in a really convenient location. Like that pumpkin patch.”
Kelsey thought about Luke’s excitement about having it and hoped the site wasn’t located there. “I think Luke might be as passionate about his pumpkins as he is about his grapes.”
“Really?” Brooke asked, studying her with interest. “What else did you learn about Luke?”
Kelsey felt the blush warm her cheeks but willed it to die down before anyone took notice. Too late—she could see their gazes perking with interest. “Nothing. Like I said, we just chatted for a few minutes.”
“Oh.” Brooke sounded a little disappointed. “Luke’s a great guy. If you were interested.”
“I’m not.” Kelsey rushed to add, “But I know he’s a great guy. I’m just too busy for that kind of thing. Remember, I’m a workaholic.” She smiled and took a bite of sandwich while inwardly hoping they’d change the subject.
Thankfully, Alaina bought the clue and went back to talking about their appointment with the historian on Friday. Meanwhile, Kelsey’s mind drifted to Luke. Hewasa great guy. And she probably would be interested in himifshe were interested in any guy. Which she wasn’t and didn’t expect to be ever again. Noah had pretty much ruined that for her, the bastard.
He’d caused her so much pain, and it had taken two years to get to the point where she could really even have friends again because her trust had been so battered. Before the library had opened a couple of months ago, she’d worked a second job at a twenty-four-hour store in a neighboring town, as much for something to keep herself busy as for the money. Keeping busy was how she’d coped. Now, keeping busy was simply the way she lived. And for that, she was grateful, because an idle mind focused on dark things. Things better left in the past. Things Kelsey never wanted to think about again.
