“Hi Melody, Is Chase Matthews, available, he isn’t expecting me.”
“Let me see if he’s available,” Melody hurries to the back room. A few minutes later Chase follows Melody out to the lobby and smiles.
“Delta! Come in, come in. This is a surprise! I hope my son took good care of you today,” he asks, guiding her inside his office. Melody glares at Delta's retreating back and moves to listen at the doorway.
“Of course, the house is spectacular. Thank you for sending Daniel with the picnic, it was lovely. Chase. I was hoping I could buy you a drink to thank you for your kindness.” Delta waits hoping he will agree to her offer.
He beams with excitement, “Well now, only a fool would say no to a beautiful woman, but only if you have dinner with me.” Delta grins and takes his arm to walk out, and Melody runs back to the front desk and pretends to be working as he leads Delta into the dining room. They are seated in a corner with glass windows overlooking the setting sun in the background.
“Red wine, please.” Delta orders and beams when Chase orders a bourbon and lights his pipe. Delta stares out of the window amazed at the sunset view. “It doesn’t look real. Do you ever get used to living in a postcard?”
“Never.” Chase sits back smiling and lets her enjoy the view. “What brings a woman from Carolina, all the way to Montana? Are you on the run from the law? Or in search of an adventure?” His crinkled eyes dance with curiosity.
Delta laughs, “Nothing so dramatic,” she hedges. “I needed to… get away. My boys are on their own now, and the house felt empty.” Seeing the question in his eye, she sighs and sips her wine.
“My husband, Jacob, passed away two years ago. Cancer took him after a six-year battle, and my boys gifted me this trip. It was something I always dreamed of doing, just not alone.” Chase puts his drink down and grabs her hand and squeezes gently.
“I know your pain. I lost my Janie going on five years now. We were married fifty-three years. The pain gets better with time, but it never goes away completely does it?” He drinks his bourbon and orders an appetizer of tomato with basil and vinaigrette.
“No, and everyone means well, but I'm sick of them telling me how I should feel. Jacob wanted me to live, Chase. In fact, he made me promise that I would, but we've been together since we were sixteen. I'm ready to make some new memories, but I'm not sure how to live without him.” Her tears threaten, but she refuses to let them fall and ruin her evening.
“Let this old man give you some advice.” Chase puffs on his pipe and sits back. “You put one foot in front of the other, you let yourself be mad, and cry, rage, and then you find reasons to smile again. Open your heart and try new things, visit new places and make new friends. Consider this your first step to a new beginning,” he lifts his drink and toasts her. “To new friends.”
“Sounds like good advice.” She taps his glass and sips again. “I’ve done all of that here on your ranch, I find myself smiling frequently.” Sitting back, she orders another glass of wine and grins, “Now, tell me the history of this ranch and I don’t want the brochure version. Give me all the juicy details.”
Two hours and three glasses of wine later, Delta is full and a little bit tipsy. She decides it's not a good idea to drive just yet. Walking through the lobby, she smiles and chats with a few people and decides to take a walk down to the fire pits. Families are gathered to toast marshmallows over flickering fires, and soft music is playing. It was a perfect evening. Delta is drawn into a discussion near one of the fires with a local guide who is giving detailed descriptions of the state animals. He flirts with her and talks her into taking a guided jeep tour in a few days, to see the animals up close. Excited, she turns with a smile and a wave only to bump into a rock hard chest.
“Easy, Darlin. Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Daniel has his hands on her upper arms, and she tenses up. His milk chocolate eyes are full of warmth as he looks her over.
“Oops, I didn't see you there. I was just leaving.” The radar in her brain screams, run! Sexy cowboys are not on the plan, Delta! She steps sideways to go around him, but he doesn't let go.
“Have dinner with me?” He asks, smiling at her irritation.
“No, thank you, Daniel, I had a dinner date,” she responds haughtily.
“Are you still sore about our ride?” He asks rubbing his warm hands up and down her arms.
“Of course not, it was an… interesting experience.” The feel of his touch is distracting her, and she moves a step closer to him.
“Have you seen Sarah's bridge yet?” He asks, and curiosity has her hesitating. She chews on her lip, drawing his eyes to her mouth.
“No. What’s Sarah’s bridge?”
“It’s a secret spot, not many people know about it. I can show you?” He whispers and holds out his hand.
Delta hesitates, “It doesn’t involve a horse does it?” She asks.
“No sugar, I promise you’ll love it.” When she places her hand inside of his, he lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. Pulling her along, he gives a shrill whistle. An old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage pulls up, complete with hot chocolate for two and a heated blanket. Delta gasps in delight.
“Daniel! You're full
