One Night with a Cowboy - Sara Richardson Page 0,14
retreat under control.
The second he stepped inside the commercial kitchen, the salty, greasy scent of bacon made his stomach groan.
“Don’t you get any ideas about eating all this food.” Louise came out from the pantry carrying an unopened container of maple syrup. “I made breakfast for that sweet Thea and her kids. I happened to notice their car was here.” The look she gave him made it clear he should’ve let her know they’d arrived, but Louise couldn’t stay irritated with him for long. She’d never been able to. Back when he was younger, he might’ve even said he was Louise’s favorite Harding child. Their father had hired the woman to manage the kitchen and housekeeping right after they’d opened for business, and she’d been a fixture ever since. Louise hadn’t changed all that much in those years, either. Other than a little more gray in her blondish-brown hair, she still had the same laughing brown eyes, no matter how stern her glare.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to eat all the food.” Wes eyed the eggs, bacon, and waffles piled up on platters. He grinned at her. “Even though I sure do miss your breakfasts, Louise. When I’m out on the circuit, your cooking is what I crave the most.”
The compliment had the intended effect.
Louise smiled back. “Well, maybe you can have a bit of the eggs and bacon.” She rushed to a cupboard and pulled out a stack of plates.
“I would love to. But I’ll wait until the rest of the gang is here.” He moved to the silverware drawer and started pulling out the knives and forks. “I really came by to touch base with you about meals for the retreat.”
Louise laughed. “Don’t you worry about meals. I’m more than prepared.” She pulled a pitcher of fresh-squeezed orange juice out of the industrial-sized refrigerator. “Seems to me you’ve got plenty on your plate, being the head honcho and all. Let me handle the food.”
“It’s fine.” All he had to do was play the charming host. How hard could that be? “Things are totally under control.”
The woman simply pursed her lips as though holding back another laugh. “Speaking of being the head honcho, do you want to text Thea and let her know breakfast is ready?”
“Well…” He didn’t have her phone number. It was on a list somewhere. Maybe in the office? Or back in his cabin? “It’s nice out. I think I’ll walk over to the Blue Spruce to let them know.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Louise raised her eyebrows but said nothing more as he walked out the door.
Wes made his way across the deck, drafting a mental to-do list. First item, add Thea’s phone number to his contacts so they could stay in touch during her stay. He hurried down the steps to the path by the lake before stopping dead in his boots. What the hell was the canoe doing all the way out there?
The boat bobbed in the middle of the lake, but from where he stood, he couldn’t see anyone in it.
Great. One of his friends must’ve left it in the water last night, only adding to his to-do list for this morning. Jane had made it abundantly clear she wanted all of the canoes and kayaks available for the guests to use at all times.
Wes kept his eyes on the canoe, jogging down to the beach. Hold on. There was someone in it. Someone small. That kid…Thea’s son. It had to be. He kept his gaze centered on the middle of the lake, watching while Ryan stood up, the boat wobbling beneath him.
No, no, no. “Don’t stand up!” The wind seemed to steal Wes’s shout.
The kid wasn’t even wearing a life jacket. He hauled ass to a kayak he’d pulled up onto the beach yesterday and kicked off his boots. After yanking off his socks and tossing his phone and hat aside, he splashed into the water and jumped into the boat.
“Sit down!” He was still too far away for Ryan to hear him. Keeping his eyes trained on the canoe, he paddled across the lake’s glassy surface, but he’d only made it halfway there when Ryan tried to cast a fishing pole and lost his balance.
“Ryan!” Wes yelled his name just as the kid fell overboard.
Wes didn’t have time to think. Blind instinct took over, driven by a familiar surge of adrenaline. He ditched the kayak paddle, dove into the freezing water, and swam to where the boy was flailing and splashing.