The delivery had arrived from Archie’s Art Supplies at shortly after one yesterday. And Bianca couldn’t remember the last time she had enjoyed herself more after the delivery guy left. It was providence she’d had the foresight to purchase a set of rolling drawers in which to store and organize her supplies. She might love art and painting, but she also appreciated order in her life.
If she owned the cabin, there were a few modifications that she would make. Like building shelves into the walls—some that were expandable—to store her brushes, palettes, pencils, and more.
Bianca had spent the better part of yesterday evening, and again today after her riding lesson, sitting on the front porch with a sketch book. She drew the surrounding fields and mountains from different angles and perspectives. In some, she included her cabin or the hotel or the stables.
Thoughts of the stables brought Maverick to mind. She was doing that a lot lately—thinking about him—and didn’t much care for it. She had even done a few sketches of him, of what he looked like leaning against the paddock fence, his gaze intense, or as he was helping her mount Sunshine.
If she didn’t know better, she would have said his hands had lingered on her for a few seconds longer than necessary today. And she didn’t know if she liked him, or if she was simply growing familiar with his caustic quips.
Shit.
No more thinking about the hot cowboy—er, rather… the stubborn, overbearing cowboy.
Marching toward the hostess stand at the restaurant entrance, she pushed thoughts of him to the back of her mind, instead choosing to focus on the fact that, for the first time in years, the itch to create suffused her. It was bursting through the seams of her control. And if she hadn’t needed to leave for lunch with Amber, she would have started on the portrait buzzing her soul.
She promised herself she would dive right in as soon as she returned to the cabin.
When she stepped inside the restaurant, the first thing her senses intercepted was the heady aroma wafting from the kitchen. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten more than the apple before her ride this morning—she’d been too intent on and lost in getting the sketch she wanted to bring to life in a painting to pause for a snack.
The restaurant was charming with a homespun, family friendly feel. Glancing around the room, she located Amber in a royal blue suit, inky hair spilled in long waves down her back. Amber was sitting catty-cornered to a brunette woman in understated gray trousers and a pale pink blouse.
Relief flowed through Bianca. At least, she wasn’t overdressed for this lunch in her loose-fitting ivory trousers and mint green blouse.
Pasting a friendly smile on her face, she approached the table where the duo were conversing. “Amber.”
Amber shot her a smile. “Ah, there you are. I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten.”
Bianca shook her head. “No, I didn’t forget, I got caught up. Sorry I’m a few minutes late. It’s not like me at all.”
“I’m just glad you made it. And I hope you don’t mind, but my friend Grace decided to join us,” Amber added, and indicated the brunette with kind eyes that were filled with interest.
“No, not at all. It’s nice to meet you, Grace.” Bianca took a seat in one of the empty chairs.
Leaning forward, Grace said, “Thanks for letting me crash your lunch. I rarely get enough time away from the office for an actual lunch that involves eating. When Amber mentioned she was having a girls’ lunch with another city slicker, I sort of invited myself.”
Bianca chuckled as her anxiety diminished. “You’re from the city as well, but live here now?” The idea of it wriggled into her brain.
“Yes; I lived in Denver for many years. If it weren’t for meeting my husband and inheriting my grandpa’s practice, I would still be living there. But once I met Emmett, my life in the big city ended.” Grace beamed a bit, talking about her hubby.
Amber added, “Grace is the town doctor. One of them, anyway. We do have a medical center in Winter Park as well, but if you need medical care, she’s the best.”
Grace put her hands to her chest and said to Amber, “Aw, I appreciate that.” Then she said to Bianca, “My practice is in town, should you have any medical needs or issues crop up.”
“That’s good to know, and I will keep that in mind if the need arises. So your husband works for the ranch?” Bianca asked Grace, interested because the woman seemed so polished.
“Yes, he’s one of the wranglers. We live in a cabin on ranch property,” Grace explained.
“It must be lovely. And Amber, you own the ranch?” Bianca asked her, rather fascinated by both women. They were giving her ideas—ones she was terrified of. If these urban, forward-thinking women could live here and thrive, why couldn’t she?
Amber ignored the call buzzing on her phone, and silenced it before replying. “Yeah, my family owns the ranch. I have only been in charge of general operations of Silver Springs Ranch since last fall. Prior to that, it was my older brother, Colt, who held the position.”
“Amber, would you and your guests like to order?” They were interrupted by the waitress, who was a few years older, with touches of silver strands in her hair, adorned in what looked like the requisite uniform of black trousers and a white, long-sleeved shirt.
“Jean, just give us a few minutes. We got caught up gabbing and didn’t look at the menus.” Amber smiled at the waitress.
“If you two know what you want, give her your orders, and by the time you’re done, I should know what I want,” Bianca stated, flipping the menu open.
Amber studied her with a raised brow, then nodded and turned to her friend. “All right. Grace, you’re up.”
“You know me, Jean, I want the brisket sandwich with… oh to hell with it, give me the fries, and an iced tea with lemon.”
“Got it. And for you, boss?”
Amber glared at Grace in mock outrage. “You just had to go and order that, didn’t you? Damn, I’ll do an extra fifteen on the elliptical tomorrow. I’ll have what Grace is having.”
All three women turned their gazes in Bianca’s direction. “Well, if the sandwich is that nommy, I’ll give it a go,” she said. “Make that three.”
“Yes! See, I knew you were a woman after my own heart.” Amber grinned and did a little wiggle in her seat.
“And we need more of us. We’re so outnumbered by the male population in this area,” Grace stated, and leaned forward conspiratorially. “There are even days when I long for traffic. How sad is that!”
“Really?” Bianca asked, and barked out a laugh.
“Yes.” Grace nodded emphatically.
“You were telling me about your brother, Amber. Did something happen to him?” Bianca nudged the conversation back in that direction.
“Oh, right. Yeah, but nothing like what you’re assuming. Last fall, Colt met Avery. She was staying in one of the out of the way cabins on the property. The moment they met, it was pretty much all they wrote for those two. Totally neck deep in love. They were married in February, on the beach. It was a beautiful ceremony. Now my brother travels around the world with her. She’s this big shot scientist, currently working with NASA, discovering comets and asteroids. Probably going to win a Nobel Prize at some point in her life. But to be with Avery, Colt handed the operations over to me,” Amber explained.