“I like to sneak over and mooch lunch sometimes when your ma and Miss Fancy are around. Maybe if you decide to try living there, you’d come over here sometimes and help me out.”
She stopped looking everywhere with those nervous eyes. “Come here, help out? With you? With the horses? Like I do for Sam and Chase at the ranch?”
“Yeah, like that. I can always use somebody who knows their way around horses like you do.”
“I’m good with them. They’re good with me. Who’s that?”
“That’s Easy. He works here, too.”
“Is that a name? I don’t know that name.”
“It’s Easy’s name,” Callen said and signaled him over. Alice immediately stepped back, grabbed Cora’s hand. “I just want him to take these boys into the paddock over there. We’ve got people coming to ride them.”
“Because he works here,” Alice whispered, and clung to Cora’s hand.
“Ladies.” Easy tapped the brim of his hat.
“Easy, how about taking these two in, getting them saddled?”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“Because you work here,” Alice murmured, staring at him.
“I sure do, ma’am. Best job there is. Cal, Carol said she’ll take Harmony on this ride. Wanted to ask if I should load Sundown up to trailer down to the center for the lesson you’ve got coming up.”
“I’ll ride him down. We can both use it.”
“Sundown’s here.” Alice gestured. “I see him.”
“That’s one fine horse. Big boss coming,” Easy added, and Alice tore her eyes from his face to look around.
“It’s Bodine!” Alice’s hand relaxed in Cora’s. “Bodine works here, too. It’s close to the Bodine House.”
“I’ll get these fellas saddled. Ladies.” Easy tapped his brim again, led the horses away as Bodine strode up.
“Bodine. I went to see Bodine House. Nothing looks the same. Everything’s different. It’s big.”
“It is big.” Casually, she draped an arm around Alice’s shoulders. “We like to think we have something for everybody who’s looking for a Western experience. Maybe one day you’ll take a ride around with me, see more of it. To my mind there’s no better way to see Bodine Resort than on horseback.”
“We can ride around?”
“That’s right.”
“Now?”
“I—”
“I’d like to ride now. I can take a ride with you.”
“Um.”
Callen grinned at her, knowing she’d be ticking off a half dozen things she’d planned to do. And none of them would be giving Alice a tour on horseback.
“Bodine must be so busy,” Cora began.
“She’s the big boss.”
“You know, you’re right. And the big boss can take an hour to show you around. Skinner, you pick out a good mount for my aunt.”
“I can do that.”
“You’ll have Leo. I saw him over in the paddock. I’ll have a new horse. I’m not afraid to ride a new one.”
“You ought to come over with me, pick out one who looks good to you.”
Obviously pleased, Alice took Callen’s hand.
“I know you’re busy, Bo,” Cora said, watching Alice walk away with Callen.
“I like being busy. Why don’t you and Grammy go on up, have some lunch, and I’ll text you when we’re back.”
“You’re a good girl, Bodine. Don’t let anybody tell you different. Come on, Cora. I’m in the mood for a glass of wine with lunch.”
She’d have to work late, Bodine thought as she saddled Leo. But she’d planned to anyway. Two events that night, she mused, and she wanted to lend a hand at least in getting them going.
Besides, she had that fancy dinner to look forward to tomorrow night. She figured Callen would get his words together by then. And if he didn’t, she’d take that bull by the horns and say her own.
“Carol works here,” Alice said so quietly Bodine barely heard. “She’s taking those people out riding. She has bluebirds on her boots.”
“She’s taking them on a trail ride. I thought we’d ride more in the open, so you can get a good idea how things are laid out.”
“We’ll ride in the open. Easy works here. He’s too thin. He must need a wife to cook for him.”
“He could learn to cook for himself.”
“He calls Cal boss, but you’re the big boss.”
“And she doesn’t let us forget it.” Callen moved in to check the cinches. “You picked a good one here with Jake. Want a leg up?”