Hummingbird Lake Page 0,26
on the flat edges, but the reality of it looked even better than he’d imagined.
He continued up the drive to Cavanaugh House, the original structure at Angel’s Rest and the hub of the healing center. Parking his rental in the designated parking area, he was pleased on the town’s behalf to see so many other vehicles in the lot. He opened his door, took a deep breath of the clean, crisp mountain air, and smiled. How could fifteen-degree weather make him feel so warm?
His heart lighter than it had been in weeks, Colt walked up the front walk and climbed the porch steps. The small sign beside the doorbell read Welcome to Angel’s Rest. May your visit here be peaceful.
Colt stepped inside and was greeted by a teenage girl he recognized from his last visit. She’d worked at the local ice cream parlor. “Hey, Mr. Rafferty.”
“Hi … Elizabeth, isn’t it?”
“Yes sir. Ms. Blessing said I should expect you. She’s in the upstairs parlor, and she said to send you up after I present your special welcome gift.” She stepped from behind the desk and gestured toward the library. “If you’ll wait for a moment?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
Colt went into the library and smiled at the collection of angel figurines decorating the fireplace mantel. Also new to the decor were a trio of framed historical photographs depicting scruffy-looking men in front of a mine shaft, St. Stephen’s church, and a view of the valley he recognized as having been taken from Murphy Mountain. He stepped closer and studied the men in front of the mine. Could these be the town’s founders? He tried to recall what he’d learned from visits to the local museum, where his mother had dragged her uninterested offspring who wanted nothing to do with learning on vacation days. Hadn’t there been three men in on that silver strike?
At that point he heard Elizabeth’s footsteps and he turned toward her to see her approach wearing a mischievous grin and carrying a bowl. “Don’t tell me. Is that …?”
“Taste of Texas rocky road,” she confirmed, handing him the bowl of ice cream. “Celeste loves it as much as you, so she laid in a supply.”
“The woman is an angel.”
“She says it’s never too cold for great ice cream.”
“A brilliant angel.”
Elizabeth laughed. “She’s waiting for you upstairs. Feel free to take your ice cream with you.”
Colt climbed the stairs and followed the sound of voices down the hall to the parlor. He paused in the doorway and grinned. Well, well, well. If it isn’t sweet, intriguing Sage. Isn’t this handy?
He savored another bite of ice cream, then said, “Good afternoon, ladies.”
Celeste looked up, and her face lit with a smile. “Colt! You made it. How was your trip?”
“Long,” he replied, looking expectantly toward the redhead, who wasn’t meeting his gaze. “Worth it, though, when I have such a delicious treat waiting for me at my destination.”
“The ice cream is wonderful, isn’t it?”
“That, too.”
Celeste smirked and said, “Colt, have you met my friend Sage Anderson? She is Eternity Springs’ artist in residence.”
“We met last fall at the grand opening, and …” He hesitated until she darted a wary look his way. So she’s kept quiet about seeing me in Texas. Interesting. Allowing his smile to warm, he added, “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Sage.”
She mumbled something and still didn’t meet his eyes. Her cheeks flushed with color that betrayed her embarrassment.
Celeste carried on as if she hadn’t noticed her friend’s lack of enthusiasm at his arrival. “I am trying to select a new painting for this parlor,” the older woman said. “Sage has brought me a lovely selection of Sage Anderson originals, but I’m afraid I’m having a horrible time making up my mind. Take a look at these, Colt. What do you think?”
She had placed five canvases against the near wall. Colt glanced at them, then at Sage, then back at the paintings again. These works were done in the same vein as the ones he’d seen in Fort Worth. He couldn’t help himself. He shrugged and repeated the comment he’d previously made: “They’re … nice.”
Then he took another bite of ice cream, giving the spoon a slow lick as he waited for her to react. He knew she’d remember the previous exchange, and he expected her to turn on him, scratching and hissing.
Instead, when she finally looked at him, he saw the sheen of tears in her gorgeous green eyes. Immediately he felt like an ass. He hadn’t meant