LITMIR.BIZ

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The older woman’s updo was a ’60s-style beehive like the one Savannah had seen in pictures of her late grandmother. Glancing at the bowl of apples, the woman hustled back around the desk then paused at the door. “I have some oranges, if you’re interested.”

      “Thanks, but I think I’ll go see what they have at the bakery.”

      “Well, I feel just terrible. You paid for a room same as everyone else. We should feed you breakfast.”

      Savannah smiled. “Actually, I’m going over there for a latte. So, please, don’t worry about it.”

      The woman darted a look at the glass door. “You know, your fiancé left about ten minutes ago. Maybe he went to get something to surprise you.”

      Savannah frowned. She’d only spoken with Patty at the desk, and yet this woman knew Ron was her fiancé. Oh, great.

      “We haven’t met. I’m Maxine.” She pointed to her name tag. “It’s Patty’s day off. She told me you had a handsome fiancé, and my word she didn’t do him justice at all. You’re very lucky,” she whispered, nodding sagely.

      Savannah dug up a smile. “Yep, he’s a peach, all right.” She scanned what she could see of the parking lot. “Any chance you saw which way he went?”

      “Hmm, well, he got in his car...”

      Of course...he still had her key. “Okay, thanks, Maxine.”

      “I’ll have fresh-made before you get back, hon.”

      Savannah kept walking but waved an acknowledgment. As soon as she was outside, she remembered she needed money and glanced around as she patted the pockets of her jeans. Luckily, she found a crumpled five-dollar bill and some change.

      Crossing the parking lot at a clip, Savannah headed toward the bakery. Two shops down was the steak house that had reopened in the last year. Halfway there, she felt the chill seeping in through the lightweight sweatshirt she’d thrown on just to grab coffee in the lobby. It was in no way adequate for a chilly fall morning.

      They had quite a full schedule today. Nina had obtained a list of people who were turning portions of their ranches or bunkhouses into guest quarters, mostly in line with a B & B rather than a dude ranch. Savannah figured they could form a co-op in order to offer the same kind of activities that actual dude ranches provided. But she’d know more after she’d visited with them.

      The brisk walk helped wake her up, but she was more than ready for a hazelnut latte by the time she opened the door to The Cake Whisperer. What she wasn’t ready for was a crowd. It seemed half the population of Blackfoot Falls had squeezed into the small bakery. The benches on the right were taken, as were the only two chairs. Standing a little too close together were dusty cowboys, a couple young moms, several older ladies...

      ...and Mike.

      Wearing a Stetson, the brim pulled low, he stood off to the side, his head bowed toward an older woman as he listened to whatever she was telling him.

      What on earth was he doing in town this early? Shouldn’t he be feeding horses or milking cows or something?

      Savannah seriously thought about slipping back out. And she didn’t much care if he noticed.

      “Oh, don’t be shy, honey.” A tiny white-haired lady caught Savannah’s arm with a surprising grip. “Not everyone’s in line. They’re just gossiping. You just step right on up here,” she said, tugging on Savannah.

      “Thanks, but I think I’ll come back later.”

      The door opened behind her, and three women crammed into the shop. They kept chatting, apparently unaware that they were literally breathing down the back of her neck.

      “Is there a special on today?” Savannah muttered.

      The white-haired lady chuckled. “Kylie,” she said, nodding at the woman reaching into the display case. “She’s the owner. She bought a fancy coffee machine, and now she’s got a bunch of us hooked on caramel lattes. Ever heard of them?”

      “Um, actually, yes.” Between the scent of the coffee and the fresh-baked aroma of cinnamon and sugar, her stomach wasn’t all that pleased about leaving and let her know it. She risked a glance at Mike.

      He was looking right at her.

      Savannah sighed. On top of really not wanting to engage with him, she probably looked like crap, since she hadn’t intended to go beyond the motel lobby.

      It wasn’t too late to make a getaway.

      “Excuse me,” she said, pulling back her arm. “I really don’t have time to wait.”

      The woman blinked. “Aren’t you visiting?”

      “Yes,” she said, glancing over her shoulder so she wouldn’t run someone over. That hadn’t gone so well last night.

      “Well, honey, you shouldn’t be in such a hurry. I’m Eunice. What’s your name?”

      “Savannah, but I’m not on vacation. And honestly, I don’t mean to be rude...” she said, inching backward.

      The door opened again just as a young girl slipped past her to leave. One customer down as two more entered.

      A big, burly cowboy nodded at her. His younger sidekick just stared, his cheeks turning a little pink when someone jostled her and she pressed against him.

      “Okay, everyone, this is ridiculous.” The owner had straightened and was surveying the crowd while another woman operated the espresso machine, not once looking up. “Anyone who’s already gotten their order, please step outside and give everyone else room.”

      “It’s chilly out there,” came a voice from the front.

      “You need to expand, Kylie,” someone else said.

      “I’m working on it.” She handed over a white box and some change. “In the meantime, I don’t want to get fined for having too many customers in here.”

      “Who’s gonna do that? Grace?”

      “Yes, Grace or one of her deputies. There are fire laws about occupancy, and I’m over the limit. So, please...”

      Savannah would be happy to comply if they’d let her through. “Excuse me,” she said to the two men, motioning with her hand for them to give her a clear path.

      “Okay, everyone.” Mike’s voice rose above the murmurs. Except he wasn’t standing off to the side anymore. He’d moved closer to her. “Kylie’s right. This isn’t safe. And it’s not fair to people who haven’t been waited on yet. So, come on...it’s not going to kill anyone to step outside.”

      After a chorus of grumbling, people started to move toward the door. Savannah made it onto the sidewalk. But she’d barely had time for a sigh of relief when Mike appeared next to her.

      “Hey, it shouldn’t be a long wait,” he said. “Some folks just want a doughnut.”

      “What are you doing here?” she asked. “Don’t you have hogs to slop? Feed to pitch? Cows to milk?”

      He choked out a laugh. “I think you have me confused with someone else.”

      “Well, aren’t those the kind of things people do on ranches?”

      “Some, I suppose. Assuming they have milk cows and hogs.”

      “Oh. Right,” she said, backing away and feeling like a complete dope. “Well, nice seeing you again.”

      “Hey, look, I just wanted to say that if I made you uncomfortable last night, I’m sorry.”

      “No, no,” she said. “It’s totally fine. You mistook me for someone else. We’ve all done that at one time or another...”

      His brows drew together. Something in his expression began to chip away at her confidence.

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