At Bluebonnet Lake (Texas Crossroads Book #1): A Novel (37 page)

“This is wonderful,” Kate said when she had repacked the basket and she and Greg were lounging on the blanket. The food couldn’t have been better, but what made her heart sing with pleasure was being with Greg. No matter what happened, no matter how the day ended, she knew she would never forget this time. Since they’d arrived on the island, they’d spoken of nothing significant; they hadn’t even shared a kiss, and yet Kate felt as if they were linked. It was almost as if they were communicating without words.

“I feel as if I’m a million miles from New York,” she said softly.

Greg nodded. “Or California.” He’d stretched out on one side and was watching her, his eyes intent. “Rainbow’s End is a special place. I wish I knew what to do to save it.”

Kate pushed herself to a sitting position and smiled when Greg imitated her action. They both seemed to have realized
that the time for talking had arrived. Kate was thankful that Greg had given her the opportunity to go first.

“I have an idea for that,” she said. “I overheard some of the nurses talking the first morning I was at the hospital.” Quickly, Kate outlined her plan, watching Greg’s expression. “I really think you could be successful. Probably not financially,” she added when he started to frown. “Depending on how many families you have to subsidize, you might be lucky to break even, but you already know that success is more than money.”

When Greg said nothing, Kate continued. “A new Rainbow’s End would make a huge difference in so many lives. Besides the guests you helped, there would be more jobs for the Dupree teenagers, and the paying guests would help the local economy. You could even hold those theme weeks we talked about—cooking, quilting, jewelry making.”

She had spoken quickly, almost as if she were delivering a pitch to a potential client. Now she was done. All that remained was Greg’s reaction. Though Kate had hoped to see enthusiasm in his eyes or an occasional smile, Greg had kept his expression impassive while she’d spoken, giving her no way to gauge his thoughts. “What do you think?”

Kate had expected an instant response. Instead, there was a moment of silence, as if he were choosing his words carefully. “It’s a good plan. It could work.” There was no warmth in his voice, nothing but cautious approval. This wasn’t the reaction she had anticipated, and it certainly was not the one she’d hoped for.

“You don’t sound very enthusiastic.” That was the understatement of the week. Kate tried not to let her disappointment show. The solution for Rainbow’s End had felt so right that she had been certain she was on the correct road.

Greg stared into the distance for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was as emotionless as his face. “I’m sorry, Kate.
I know you’ve put a lot of thought into this.” He closed his eyes for a second, then met her gaze. What she saw made Kate’s heart ache. The Greg she’d known before, the one who’d kissed her, the one who’d made her believe in love and happily-ever-after, was gone, replaced by a cool stranger. Was this the way he’d been when he’d led Sys=Simpl?

“It’s definitely the right direction for Rainbow’s End,” Greg said slowly, “but I’m not convinced I’m the right person to make it happen.”

A tiny knot of hope made its way into Kate’s heart. Perhaps this was simply a case of Greg’s insecurities. Perhaps all he needed was encouragement. “You are the right person, Greg,” she said firmly. “In fact, you’re the perfect person to do this.”

He crossed his arms, the gesture seeming to distance him from her. “I appreciate your vote of confidence, but I know I’m not that person. I know my limitations even if you don’t.” Greg’s lips tightened, and she sensed that he was trying to keep her from seeing his emotions. “You talked a lot about how
I
could do this and what a difference
I
could make. That’s where you’re wrong, Kate. I can’t do it alone. Drew was right when he told me I needed a partner. I needed one for the company, and I need one if I’m going to turn Rainbow’s End around.”

Greg
was
insecure. Despite everything he’d accomplished, despite the fact that he and his father had finally begun to communicate, he didn’t trust his own abilities. “I’m sure you can find a partner,” Kate told him.

Greg shook his head. Unfolding his arms, he leaned forward, his eyes intense. “I don’t want just any partner. I want a partner for life.” He pushed himself off the blanket, and when he was standing, he reached down to pull her to her feet. “I want a very special partner. I want a wife.”

Kate felt the blood drain from her face, then rush back, flooding her cheeks with color as her heart began to pound. She’d
been wrong before, but maybe—just maybe—she wasn’t imagining the love that shone from Greg’s eyes.

His smile dissolved her fears, for it was the sweetest smile Kate had ever seen. Filled with love and promise, it made her want to smile back. When she opened her mouth to speak, Greg laid a finger on her lips.

“Please let me finish. What I’m trying to say is that I love you. I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you.” Greg shifted his hand to cup Kate’s cheek. “If you want us to live at Rainbow’s End and turn it into a retreat for families, that’s fine with me. If you’d rather live in a city, that’s okay too. All that matters is that whatever we do, we do it together.” Greg’s smile broadened. “Will you marry me? Will you be my partner for life?”

Dreams really did come true. Her heart overflowing with a love that matched the one she saw reflected in Greg’s eyes, Kate nodded. “I will, my darling, I will.”

She cleared her throat, trying to dislodge the lump that had formed in it at the realization that this man loved
her as much as she loved him. “You’re the happy ending I’ve always dreamed of. You’re the only person who can fill the empty spaces within me and make me complete. Oh, Greg, I love you with all my heart. Of course I’ll marry you.”

For a moment he grinned, a goofy grin that Kate suspected mirrored the one on her face. It was the grin of a man who’d climbed the highest mountain, slain the most ferocious dragon, battled the fiercest enemies, and won. It was the grin of a man who’d found his true love. And then the grin faded as Greg found a better use for his lips.

Slowly, gently, he drew Kate into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. An instant later, the flame that he’d ignited turned into a raging fire as they clung to each other and shared their first kiss as an engaged couple. When at length they broke apart,
Greg slung his arm around Kate’s shoulders and drew her close for one last kiss. “I suppose we should get back.”

It was the practical thing to do, but Kate wasn’t ready to return to reality. “Let’s walk around the island first. I want to see it all.” Sally had been right when she’d said this was a special place for lovers, and Kate wanted to savor every minute of her time here.

She and Greg strolled hand in hand, talking about their love, their plans for Rainbow’s End, and how wonderful it would be to live here permanently. Oblivious to everything except the joy of their newfound love, neither of them noticed the approach of a dark cloud. They had reached the opposite side of the island when a loud clap of thunder announced a change in the weather. A second later, the cloud burst open, drenching them with cool rain.

Kate looked at the sky and began to laugh, her laughter increasing only moments later when the storm ended as suddenly as it had begun. She brushed the wet hair from her face and shoved her now water-spotted sunglasses on top of her head. Squinting, she glanced at the opposite side of the lake.

“Look, Greg!” Kate pointed to the perfect rainbow framing the lodge. It would disappear in minutes. She knew that, just as she knew that there would never be another moment like this. She was with the man she loved, the future spreading out before them with all the color and beauty of a rainbow. Grabbing Greg’s hand, Kate tugged on it as she began to run.

“Let’s do it. Let’s chase the rainbow.”

Dear Reader,

Thank you for traveling to Rainbow’s End with me. I hope you enjoyed your time there as much as I did and that you’re looking forward to returning, because the story’s not over. There will be at least two more Rainbow’s End books. You’ll have a chance to visit with old friends and meet some new ones as you see what happens after Kate and Greg restore the resort. No more leaking roofs or holey window screens!

Did you wonder what inspired Rainbow’s End? It was a vacation my husband and I took to the Adirondack Mountains. The resort had received excellent reviews, but when we got there, it was obvious that it was in dire need of work. Like Greg, we experienced a leaky roof right over the bed, and the power wasn’t reliable. The food bore no resemblance to Carmen’s meals. But, despite all that, it was a memorable week. The location was beautiful, and though the boats leaked, it was fun kayaking and riding paddle boats on a lake ringed with beautiful mountains. Best of all, our time there started a game of “what-if” in my mind. At Bluebonnet Lake is the result. Writers, you see, can find inspiration almost anywhere.

Inspiration is exactly what Blake Kendall needs. Though his books have consistently hit the bestseller lists, for the first time in his career, he’s facing writer’s block. When nothing else works, he decides to visit his college friend Greg. Blake’s expectations aren’t very high—a change of scenery, a chance to see what Greg has done with his life, some of the good food Greg has raved about. Blake certainly doesn’t expect to find a woman like Carmen’s daughter, Marisa.

If there’s one thing Marisa St. George knows, it’s that she will never again live in Dupree. But when circumstances force her to return, she finds more than she expected—including an infuriating but intriguing man who seems to have more than his share of secrets.

Rather than tell you anything more, I’ve included the first chapter of Marisa and Blake’s story, In Firefly Valley, which is scheduled to be released in May 2015. While you’re waiting for the full book, if you like tales of love and faith in times gone by, you might enjoy my Texas Dreams and Westward Winds series. Information about them and my other stories is available on my website:
www.amandacabot.com
. My website also includes my email address and information about signing up for my online newsletter.

Were you intrigued by Carmen’s “healthy” chocolate pound cake? It really exists. The recipe is one I modified to make it healthier by substituting applesauce for butter and egg whites for whole eggs. It’s become one of my favorite desserts, and so I wanted to share it with you.

If you try the cake, I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do. As always, I look forward to hearing from you. As the dedication to this book states, you are the reason I write.

Blessings,
Amanda Cabot

Please note that because this is low fat, all mixing is done by hand. It’s important not to overmix the flour, since that will make the cake tough. Also, if you live at high altitude (over 5,000 feet) as I do, send me an email and I’ll let you know what adjustments are needed.

Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan. (I use a floured spray like Baker’s Joy.)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Stir together until well mixed:

Add and mix thoroughly:

Combine:

Combine:

Alternate adding the flour and milk mixtures, being careful to fold the ingredients rather than beating them.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Cool for ten minutes in the pan.

Turn onto a wire rack and cool completely before serving.

I
t wasn’t the homecoming of her dreams. When she’d pictured this moment, Marisa St. George had imagined herself riding in a shiny new Lexus. She’d be wearing a designer dress and sporting an impressive diamond on her left hand, while her tall, dark, and handsome husband smiled at her as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world. Instead she was driving an ordinary white sedan with more than its share of dents and a loud rattle that the previous owner assured her wasn’t serious. Her clothes were as ordinary as the car, and the diamond ring and doting husband were as much a figment of her imagination as the luxury car and exclusive clothing.

The car clanked again, reminding her she was no longer a rising star at a prestigious Atlanta accounting firm but was back in the town she’d been so eager to flee, headed for a job that was definitely not part of her career plan.

Think of something positive
, Marisa admonished herself. She glanced at the sign marking the entrance to town and nodded. It still said “Welcome to Dupree, the Heart of the Hills,” reminding passing motorists that they were in Texas’s famed Hill Country, but the sagging wooden post that had turned it into a Texas version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa had been replaced by two perfectly straight shiny metal poles. The sign itself was freshly painted, a nice improvement over the faded and peeling greeting Marisa had seen the last time she’d been here.

Maybe it wasn’t just wishful thinking. Maybe Mom and
Lauren were right when they said Dupree was changing. Marisa hoped that was the case. The town needed a boost, and so did her mother and her best friend. Being with them again was the one good thing to come out of all that had happened this year.

Marisa was smiling as she turned onto Hickory Street and pulled into the driveway of what had once felt like her second home. Her smile turned into a grin as a seven-year-old dynamo launched herself from the porch, her dark brown braids bouncing against her shoulders as she ran, and her socks—one purple, the other an unfortunate shade of puce—sagging around her ankles.

“Aunt Marisa, I thought you’d never get here,” the young girl announced, throwing her arms around Marisa. “Mom baked brownies, and she wouldn’t let me have any until you came. But now you’re here, and we can eat. So, hurry up.” Fiona turned, raced up the steps and flung the front door open. “Come on. You’ve got to hurry.”

Marisa rubbed her stomach, smiling at the girl who’d made her an honorary aunt. “It just so happens that I’m extra hungry. I might have to eat all the brownies,” she teased.

“You wouldn’t.” A stomp accompanied Fiona’s words, and her smile turned into a pout. That wasn’t normal. The last time Marisa had video chatted with Fiona, she’d seemed to enjoy a little teasing.

“Don’t get her started,” Lauren called from the doorway. “She threw a fit this morning and yelled so loudly I thought the neighbors might call Child Services.”

“All because you wouldn’t let her have a brownie?” Marisa asked as she hugged her friend, holding on a second longer than normal when she sensed that Lauren needed comfort.

The woman who’d been her best friend ever since grade school was the same height as Marisa—an inch over five and a half feet. When they’d been growing up, no one would have mistaken
them for sisters, but thanks to L’Oreal, Marisa’s once blonde hair was now the same dark brown as Lauren’s, and colored contacts had transformed her blue eyes to a shade of brown only slightly lighter than Lauren’s chocolate brown. Now the most striking difference between the two women was that Lauren was thin enough to be called skinny, whereas Marisa’s weight was well within the normal range.

Turning to her daughter, Lauren laid her hand on the child’s head, giving her a loving pat. “Why don’t you pour yourself some milk and get Aunt Marisa a glass of tea? We’ll be in in a minute.”

When Fiona scampered off to the kitchen, Lauren shrugged and gestured toward the stack of boxes that filled one corner of the living room. Like the rest of the house, this room had changed little since Lauren had lived here as a child. When she and Patrick had inherited it after her parents’ deaths, they’d planned to renovate but had never had enough money to turn plans into reality, and so the house retained what Lauren called shabby chic decor.

“Fiona’s upset because I’m cleaning out Patrick’s belongings. She saw me folding clothes and started wailing.”

“Oh, Lauren.” Marisa gave her friend another hug. “You should have waited until I arrived. I could have distracted her.”

“I didn’t expect that reaction. She doesn’t talk about Patrick very often anymore. Now she’s focused on wanting a new daddy.”

“I thought you’d resolved that. I saw her socks.” Earlier that year, when Fiona had been playing matchmaker for her mother, they’d struck an agreement. Fiona could choose her own socks—even on Sunday—and she’d let her mother choose a man to replace Patrick.

Not that anyone could do that. From the day Patrick Ahrens had walked into Dupree High and set eyes on Lauren Manning,
everyone had known they were meant for each other. They’d married the day after Lauren graduated and had lived what had appeared to be a fairy-tale marriage until Patrick was diagnosed with leukemia. Now Lauren was a young widow, trying to rebuild her life in a town where single mothers were uncommon.

Lauren’s lips curved into a smile. “Those socks. You couldn’t miss them, could you? Unfortunately, when we made our agreement, I didn’t stipulate that she couldn’t continue to whine about how much she wants a new daddy.”

Marisa couldn’t help laughing. “That sounds like hairsplitting to me. Do you suppose you have a future lawyer on your hands?”

“Heaven forbid. Fiona already tries to outtalk me. Imagine if she were trained!” Lauren laid her hand on the back of Marisa’s waist and pushed her toward the kitchen door. “I can’t vouch for the brownies’ safety if we don’t get in there.”

The brownies proved to be as delicious as they smelled. Once Fiona had devoured two, she regained her normal sweetness and announced that she was going outside to play with Alice. As if on cue, the doorbell rang.

“Alice has a baby brother,” Fiona announced, giving her mother a look that told Marisa this was another point of contention. Lauren merely sighed.

“So she wants siblings as well as a father?” Marisa asked when Fiona had left.

“And a dog. I think Alice is behind that one. Every time she’s here, she tells me we’re lucky to have a backyard.”

“I gather that she doesn’t.”

Lauren shook her head. “The Kozinskis live in Hickory View,” she said, referring to Dupree’s only apartment complex. “No pets.”

“So, is Fiona going to get a puppy for Christmas?”

Wrinkling her nose, Lauren broke off a piece of brownie. “I’m not sure. Of course, if you promise to clean up after it and do all the training . . .” She popped the brownie into her mouth.

“In your dreams.”

“Some friend you are.” When Marisa refused another brownie, Lauren’s expression sobered. “I’m really sorry you lost your job and that Trent turned out to be such a scoundrel, but I’d be lying if I said I was sorry you’re back home. I’ve missed you so much.”

“And I’ve missed you.” Seeing the moisture beginning to pool in Lauren’s eyes, Marisa decided they both needed a change of subject. She glanced at her watch. “Mom’s not expecting me for an hour. Can I help you do some more sorting and packing?”

“Sure.” Lauren sounded grateful, although Marisa wasn’t certain whether it was for the change of subject or the offer of help. When they were back in the living room, Lauren pointed to one of a set of two matched bookcases. “That one’s filled with Patrick’s books. I know I won’t read them, so I might as well find them a new home.” She handed Marisa two empty boxes, then disappeared for a moment, returning with a pile of her late husband’s clothing.

Marisa heard her friend’s sigh. It couldn’t be easy, disposing of a loved one’s belongings. As far as Marisa knew, her mother hadn’t given away her father’s clothes, even though it had been more than eight years since anyone in Dupree had seen Eric St. George. Eight years, three months, and . . .

Marisa shook herself mentally. There was nothing to be gained by counting, just as there was nothing to be gained by continuing to search. She’d done everything she could to find her father, and she’d failed. It was time—well past time—to admit that she would never be able to give her mother the one thing she wanted: a reunion with her husband.

“What can you tell me about my new employers?” Marisa asked, hoping to distract both herself and Lauren. This was the first time she had taken a job without an in-person interview. Although she was familiar with Rainbow’s End since her mother
had been employed at the resort for over seven years, Marisa’s only contact with the new owners had been by phone.

“Greg and Kate?”

Marisa nodded. “According to my mother, they practically walk on water. I wanted a less biased opinion.”

Lauren turned a jeans pocket inside out, checking for anything Patrick might have left. “Greg and Kate are probably the best thing to happen to Dupree in this century. Kate’s a former advertising whiz, and Greg made more money than I can even imagine with his software company.”

As Marisa placed three more books in the first box, she heard the smile in Lauren’s voice as she continued. “It had to be a God thing that they both came to Rainbow’s End at the same time, fell in love, and decided to revive the resort. No one in Dupree wants to admit it, but you’ve been there, so you know I’m not exaggerating when I say the place was on its last legs. It wasn’t helping the town much, but if it had closed, it would have been a big blow to our economy.”

Though she didn’t say it, Marisa knew that the resort’s closure would have impacted Lauren’s livelihood.

“How is HCP doing?” Although officially named Hill Country Pieces, Lauren and Marisa always referred to the quilt shop by its initials.

“Better than I dreamed possible.” Lauren’s grin underscored her words. “I had my best Labor Day ever yesterday. That’s why I was able to close this afternoon. Best of all, Kate has commissioned a quilt for every bed at Rainbow’s End, and that’s in addition to the ones she wants as wall hangings for the dining room.”

“Fabulous.” Marisa was thrilled that her friend was doing so well. If anyone deserved good fortune, Lauren did.

“It is fabulous,” Lauren agreed. “I no longer have to worry about paying bills. Now my biggest worry is sidestepping the Mavens.”

“The Mavens?” Marisa wasn’t aware of anyone in town with that name.

Lauren chuckled. “The Matchmaking Mavens. That’s what I call Amelia, Debra, and Edie,” she said, naming three of the older women who attended her church. “They’ve made it their mission to ensure there are no single women in Dupree.” Lauren folded another pair of jeans and laid them carefully in the box, then looked up at Marisa and grinned. “That’s one of the reasons I’m glad you’re back in town: they’ll have a new target.”

“I hope they’re prepared for failure.” Though her dreams included a husband and children, Marisa knew she was not ready for either. She needed more time to heal. After plunking two more books into the box, she grabbed the cover, thankful that Lauren was using bankers’ boxes with separate covers and cutouts for handles. That would make carrying the decidedly heavy boxes easier. “This is just a temporary stage—one year, no more.” If she was very careful, she’d be able to replenish her bank account, and with some luck, the job market would improve.

“You might change your mind. Dupree’s not so bad.”

But working at a small resort in a small town was not what Marisa had in mind when she’d studied so hard for the CPA exam. She wanted big city lights and large corporate clients. Now was not the time to say that. Instead, she pulled a couple books from the next shelf and glanced at the first cover.

“Ken Blake,” she said, not bothering to hide her displeasure. “I’m surprised Patrick would buy books like that.” Marisa had read one, curious about what had intrigued so many people. One was more than enough.

Lauren took a quick look at the book that was causing Marisa such distress. “Oh, those. Patrick said they kept his mind off the cancer.”

“By glorifying a man who smokes, drinks, and breaks just about every commandment? There had to have been a better
diversion.” Though Marisa wanted to toss the book into the wastebasket, she laid it in the box destined for the library’s sale shelf.

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a bit?” Lauren asked. “Patrick said the hero is like a modern Superman who always defeats the bad guys.”

Marisa shook her head. Picking up another of Ken Blake’s thrillers, she pointed to the back cover. Instead of the typical photo of an author’s smiling face, this one featured the back of a man wearing a Stetson and a khaki trench coat. He was turned in such a way that there wasn’t even the slightest hint of a profile.

“Even he knows it’s wrong. That’s why he won’t show his face. It’s clear the man’s ashamed.”

He had no idea why it had happened. Blake Kendall paced the office that bore his name along with the string of initials he’d acquired when he’d earned his living as a financial consultant. Door to window, window to door. It did no good. The muse that had served him so faithfully for close to a decade, the same muse that had propelled his books to the top of the national bestseller lists, spawned a series of blockbuster movies, and made his name—correction, his pseudonym—a household word, had vanished, leaving him with a seemingly incurable case of writer’s block.