Sisters, page 6
“Yes, I see it!”
At the barns, she helped her guests dismount. “Thank you so much,” Mrs. Wilson smiled at her, then turned to her teenaged daughter. “Wasn’t that fun?”
The girl rolled her eyes and gathered her hair into a knot at the back of her neck.
Mr. Wilson removed his wallet from his back pocket and took out a wad of bills and pressed them into Joie’s hand. “Here, a little something to thank you for . . . well, for putting up with us.” He smiled and placed his hand on his wife’s upper back.
She returned the smile. “Thank you for coming on the ride. I hope you’ll book with us again soon.”
Mrs. Wilson removed her bandana and dabbed at her brow. “I understand you do sleigh rides in the winter.” She turned to her husband. “Jeffrey, we should consider making a trip for the holidays.”
The six-year-old jumped up and down with excitement. “Oh, yes. I want to!”
The Wilsons thanked her again and headed for the office, trailed by their daughters.
Patty crossed the pen and handed her a couple of lead ropes. “Successful ride?”
“Always,” Joie confirmed as she clicked the ropes in place and handed off two of the horses to her fellow stable employee, who helped her lead the horses into the barn. Together, they removed the saddles and tack and brushed the horses down.
Joie hung up the bridles. “I’ve got to tell you, I’m glad that’s the last run of the day,” She wiped her palms on the front of her jeans. “I’m ready for a cold one. Want to join me at Crusty’s?”
Patty looked up from the bucket she was filling with water. “Didn’t you read your email?”
“What email?” Joie brushed her forearm across her flushed face and slipped a cap from a wall peg and positioned it onto her head.
“Meeting at five o’clock. Dan’s office.”
“A meeting? For all of us?”
“Yup.” Patty checked the latches on the stalls. “Sounds important.” The young girl dragged her fingers through her short dark hair and headed for the door. “Well, see you at the meeting.”
“Yeah, see you there.”
Joie checked her watch. If she hurried, she could race over to the Bistro and grab a diet coke at least, with lots of ice. Last time she’d checked, the vending machine was on the blink again and failed to keep the soda cans cold. There was nothing worse than a lukewarm pop.
Without a second thought, she sprinted to her pickup.
Ten minutes later, with cold drink in hand, she headed back to the stables in order to make the meeting on time.
Unfortunately, she didn’t count on Sun Valley Road being backed up with traffic.
Frantic at the notion she’d be late, Joie hollered out her car window at a teenaged boy she used to babysit. “Hey, Campbell. Can I borrow your bike? I’m late to an important meeting.” She scrambled out and handed off her keys, mentally kicking herself for thinking she could leave work and get back in time. “When all this clears, you can switch out my truck for your Harley. It’ll be in the parking lot at the stables.”
The kid nodded and passed her his helmet. “She’s a bit touchy in third gear.”
Joie nodded and climbed on. After barely securing the helmet, she pulled the clutch, dropped the throttle, and shifted into gear. The motorcycle lurched forward. She leaned hard to the right and quickly diverted around the traffic and blasted toward the stables, praying she’d get there in time.
She didn’t.
Joie slipped into the back door five minutes past the start time and snuck into Dan’s office, trying not to make a scene.
“You’re late,” her boss noted.
“I—I’m sorry. Traffic jam out on Sun Valley Road.”
Mike, who was in charge of feeding, turned around. “Heard old Mrs. Carter got her hands on some car keys and rear-ended somebody.”
Joie nodded, but only slightly. Wanting to make amends, she trained her undivided attention up front.
Dan cleared his throat. “Look, we’re all busy, so let’s get right down to it. As you all know, we’ve had a good year. Business has really picked up.”
“That’s a good thing,” Cindy added. “Sun Valley Company is delighted with what we’ve accomplished this year.”
Dan nodded at his wife. “Yes, they’ve been extraordinarily pleased with the P&Ls, especially this quarter. And much of this success is thanks to the hard work of everyone here.”
Her eyes darted the room. Why didn’t he just get on with it? She hated the unknown. And she hated meetings.
“The increase in business, coupled with the fact Cindy and I want to have a little more freedom—”
Joie’s heart suddenly clawed up her throat and stayed there. Dan wasn’t making the big announcement today was he? She’d hoped to be in line for the stable manager opening she’d heard might be coming, with an increase in salary that might allow her to get back on her feet after making the decision to leave her old life behind. Clearly, he hadn’t talked with her about that possibility, so this announcement didn’t bode well.
That’s when she caught sight of someone she didn’t recognize—or, at least the back of a head she couldn’t quite place.
Longer dark hair. Not quite shoulder length. Broad shoulders.
Tattooed bear claws running up his arm.
“So without further delay, I’d like to introduce you to our new stable manager, Clint Ladner.”
Joie’s world slowed to a crawl as she watched the guy stand to face the employees.
He grinned. “Hey y’all. Glad to be here.”
Oh no! It couldn’t be.
The guy from the bar.
He was shaking hands now, listening as everyone gushed about how happy they were that he was here. A bunch of kiss-ups.
Patty leaned close. “He’s gorgeous,” she whispered. “And younger than I would have expected.”
Joie scowled. “Hadn’t noticed.”
“What do you mean, you hadn’t noticed? Are you blind? I mean, look at him. That hair. Those eyes. He reminds me of that guy who played Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights.”
“Who?”
“Tim Riggins.” Patty waved her off. “Oh, never mind. I don’t care what anybody says, he’s definitely eye candy.”
Joie felt her neck go hot as her mind drifted to how she’d played him in the bar that day.
Stupid. Stupid. When would she ever learn? Leigh Ann was right. She needed to quit giving in to her impulses and grow up.
He looked her way, studied her until she was forced to glance away.
Dan suddenly stepped to her side, took her elbow and forced her forward. “Clint, I’d like you to meet Joie Abbott. She’s one of our best trainers, the one I told you about earlier.”
“I believe we’ve met.” His words hung there like a spotlight, illuminating her humiliation.
She made herself boldly meet his gaze. “Yes, we did meet.”
What did she care what he thought of her? Like Dan said, she was a dang good horseman. In time, this new guy would discover that for himself.
Her independent streak forced her hand out with feigned confidence. “Welcome to Sun Valley.”
Despite her dauntless demeanor, it occurred to her that no matter what she did from here on out, regardless how hard she worked, or how knowledgeable she was—in his eyes she’d likely only be a pair of tight jeans leaning over a pool table.
For the second time in her life, she wished she could turn the clock back and have a redo, another chance to do her life differently.
Unfortunately, she knew better than anyone second chances were a myth.
8
Karyn paused in front of the Sun Valley Lodge and straightened her jacket. She’d entered through these doors hundreds of times, but never in a professional capacity. And never this nervous.
Ignoring the way her stomach jittered, she compelled her feet to move inside.
Despite the rustic images normally conjured in people’s minds when they hear the term lodge, the Sun Valley Lodge was anything but unrefined, or simple.
Even with the recent renovations, the lobby remained much as it had appeared since the establishment first opened in 1936. Wood pillars and floors graced with thick plush rugs. Classy European décor. Local art and massive windows overlooking the iconic skating rink. “Roughing it in Luxury” as claimed in travel brochures.
She and Dean had their wedding reception here. They’d danced for the first time as husband and wife out on that deck overlooking the ice skating rink, under strings of lights and the watchful eyes of a crowd of loved ones.
Before she could lose her emotional balance, she chased the memory from her head. It wouldn’t take much to talk her out of going through with this interview. Of course, then all she’d have to look forward to was more days inside her house waiting for life to begin again.
That, and painting classes with the Dilworth sisters.
Even after coming to the rather hasty decision, it took her a whole week to get up the nerve to call the resort director to inquire about the position. When he’d expressed what seemed like genuine interest, her gut went a bit queasy. She’d immediately second-guessed her plan and fought the urge to simply apologize and tell him she’d changed her mind.
Something inside her crumpled at the thought of trying to convince anyone that she was more capable than she felt. Serving in a high-profile hospitality position was a far cry from editing metaphors, tightening prose and arguing themes.
As time grew closer for her big interview, the pit of her stomach grew tighter. Last night, she woke at two o’clock unable to sleep, her mind whizzing. A repeat of several nights prior.
She’d worked endlessly updating her resume, highlighting the few aspects of her degree that might translate, and mentally rehearsing how to best explain why she’d placed a career on hold to support her husband’s ski competition aspirations.
Now here she stood in the lobby, armed with nothing more than her sincere intentions and the well wishes of her sisters. There was no turning back.
Two women passed by the registration desk, wearing tennis clothes with rackets slung casually over their shoulders. One wore enthusiastic eyeliner and the other a cloud of unnaturally yellow hair. They smiled in her direction as they headed for the elevator.
“Karyn, you’re right on time.”
Startled, she turned toward the voice. A silver-haired man wearing a blue and white checked button-down shirt tucked inside a navy sports jacket headed in her direction, his hand extended.
She forced a confident smile. “Hello, Jon.”
“Thanks for coming in. I’ve been looking forward to our meeting.” He guided her across the lobby and down a short hallway. “How’s your dad? Your sisters?”
She assured him her family members were all doing well as she followed him past frames filled with magazine covers featuring the lodge, some dating back to the fifties and sixties.
In contrast to the lobby décor, his office was decorated with stark chrome and glass furniture. The walls were also covered with framed photographs—images of Jon with Ted Kennedy, with Steve Jobs, with Angelina Jolie. Others up at Roundhouse, skis in hand. Against the wall, his credenza was filled with photos of his wife and adult children.
“Nice office,” she commented. She’d encountered the resort director on several occasions, but Karyn couldn’t claim to know Jon personally. From the photos, she could tell he was well suited to his position, and was a family man.
Too bad those photos couldn’t reveal what he was thinking about her right now.
“Have a seat.” He motioned to his guest chair. “Can I get you something to drink? Coffee?”
She shook her head. “Jon, the lodge renovations turned out great. I love how the company updated the amenities while maintaining the historic feel.”
“We’re certainly pleased.” He grinned with satisfaction. “There was a time or two we wondered if we could pull off a project of this magnitude in less than ten months, but somehow it all came together.”
He slipped behind his desk and picked up her resume. She noted he’d written in the margins and her stomach churned.
“I have to tell you how happy I was to see your application cross my desk. Your husband had many fans, and I was certainly one of them.”
She’d been a widow for months, yet her role as Dean’s wife was still opening doors.
As if reading her mind, he hurried to add, “Your resume is impressive. The director of hospitality is a key position here at the lodge and a special skill set is required.” His comments stayed suspended in midair as he slipped a pair of reading glasses in place. “There are several areas here on your resume I’m interested in knowing more about.”
Over the next half hour, he quizzed her about her education and work experience. He nodded at all the appropriate times, raised his eyebrows in interest at her answers to his questions, took notes when she highlighted her ability to communicate effectively and juggle multiple priorities.
She looked across the desk at him and did her best to provide a snapshot of a confident, well-trained woman who had plenty of skill and work ethic to fill the job.
For a splinter of a second, she felt like the woman she used to be—one who knew where to find her smile without having to rummage for it.
Jon explained how the position would include overseeing the operations for not only the Sun Valley Lodge, but would include the Sun Valley Inn located on the other side of the pedestrian mall and all the company-owned condominiums. An overwhelming responsibility.
Finally, he closed the folder.
“Well, Karyn. Your resume is impressive.” He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a sealed envelope. “The job is yours provided this offer is acceptable.” He handed her the envelope and stood. “You can let me know by morning.”
Her eyes widened and her hand went to her chest. “Really? I mean, thank you.”
“If the employment terms are acceptable, let’s plan on you starting next Monday.”
She leaned across the desk and shook his hand. “Yes, that sounds fine. And thank you again.”
They both stood and Jon showed her to the door. “I’ll call you tomorrow and you can relay your decision then.”
A smile nipped at the corners of her mouth as she moved down the hall, absolutely elated. She—Karyn Macadam—was the new director of hospitality for the Sun Valley Lodge.
One short meeting and it was as if someone had magically ripped away a tattered page from her life-worn calendar. It was a new day!
On the way out, she exchanged pleasantries with the desk clerk then clipped toward the gift shop, delightfully tangled in the knowledge that for the first time in a long while she had something to look forward to.
Dean would be proud.
Grayson Chandler reached inside the cooler for a bottle of water then moved for the counter to pay. In doing so, he nearly bumped into a woman also moving toward the clerk and the register.
He quickly stepped back. “Oh, pardon me.”
“No problem, I—”
Their eyes met.
“Hey.” Something deep inside his belly flittered. “Nice to see you again, Karyn.”
Her smile was rich and genuine, hinting she no longer considered him a freak stalker.
He reached in his back jeans pocket for his wallet. “Go ahead.” He motioned her to the counter.
“Oh no, you were in line first.”
“No really, I don’t mind. You go ahead.”
The clerk raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Well, who’s it going to be folks?”
Grayson laughed. “I have the perfect solution.” He pushed his credit card across the counter. “I’ll get her—” He glanced at her hand. “—granola bar. Add her purchase to mine, please.”
He half expected she might argue. Instead, she aimed a full smile at him, and he felt its impact.
“Thank you,” she said. “You didn’t have to do that.”
He fumbled as he tried to press the appropriate buttons on the point-of-sale machine. “No problem.”
The transaction cleared and the clerk handed him a receipt.
He tucked his wallet back in his pants pocket and turned. She had really pretty hair, especially when the light hit the long strands. He especially liked the little laugh lines around her eyes. Unlike other times their paths had crossed, she seemed genuinely happy.
Without breaking eye contact, she backed toward the door and gave him a little wave. “Well, see you around.”
He nodded. “Yeah, see you.” He grabbed his water from the counter when an idea hit. “Hey wait! If you’re headed out to the parking lot, I’ll walk with you.” It was a bold move that seemed to come out of nowhere. Not that he had any particular intentions. The fact was, he didn’t have a lot of friends in Sun Valley, and he hoped she might agree to be one—a friend, that is.
“I mean, if that’s okay,” he quickly added. His pulse thumped against his chest as he waited for her response.
“Sure, I’d like that.”
Delight spread over him. “Great.”
She turned for the door and he scrambled after her, out the gift shop and into the lobby, which was now filled with people and stacked luggage. A tour bus was parked outside under the porte cochere, its engine at a low rumble that filtered through the open doors adding to the loud chatter inside.
Over the noise, he attempted small talk. “The travel brochures don’t even begin to do this place justice.”
She nodded in agreement. “I think so too. But then, I’m a bit biased.”
“How’s that?” He followed her outside and together they moved along the walkway that circled the nicely landscaped pond out front. A white swan glided across the water toward a small waterfall crafted of carefully placed boulders with bright-colored flowers strategically placed.
She grinned. “Can you keep a secret? Because I’m dying to tell someone my news.”
“You bet.”
She stopped walking and looked at him, her face beaming. “I just came from an interview and was offered a job as the director of hospitality.”
