From the Boots Up Read Online Free PDF Page B

was finally full up, and she knew that always put her dad
in a good mood.
    “Took a great hike,” Tim said. “You’re so fortunate,
to live in such a beautiful place.”
    “Oh, it is truly lovely,” Marjorie added. “All I did
this afternoon was read and watch the horses in the paddock and I don’t think
I’ve been so relaxed in months. Did you grow up here, Meg?”
    She nodded and swallowed before responding. “Born and
raised.”
    “Did you ever feel isolated?” asked Laura as she
reached for the small bowl of butter.
    “Sometimes. But I went to school in Saratoga, so I
had friends from school I’d hang out with. And I did a lot of 4-H stuff and
horse events here and in Colorado.” She smiled. “Come to think of it, I was
pretty busy as a kid.”
    “When did you learn to ride a horse?” Laura looked at
Meg with interest.
    She thought for a few moments. “I started with my dad
when I was probably two or three. But he’d take me with him, too, even when I
was still a baby. I’ve spent a lot of time on a horse.”
    Laura sighed wistfully. “I envy you. I’ve always
wanted to live on a ranch.”
    “Keep saying that, and my dad’ll put you to work.”
    Jim and Marjorie laughed.
    “Hey, Meg, your dad wants to know if you can help get
some guests settled. A bunch just got in. He’s at the office.” Troy gestured at
the door as he replaced the basket of rolls with a full one.
    “Okay. Excuse me,” she said to the others. “Be right
back.” To Troy, she added, “Don’t take my plate.”
    “Don’t worry, we’ll watch it,” said Marjorie.
    “Thanks.” Meg gave her a smile and left. She crossed
the parking lot to the office, where a group of people stood outside chatting.
The door was open, and a few more people were inside, talking to Stan. He
looked up at her when she came in.
    “That’s the Forster party outside. Could you get them
settled? Rooms nine, ten, and eleven.”
    “Will do.”
    “Oh, and while you’re at it, could you please show Ms.
Morelli here to room five?” He made a gesture at a woman standing off to the
side behind a big guy with a really thick neck and handed her a bunch of
hotel-style keys, each on plastic keychains emblazoned with miniature
horseshoes and the number of the room.
    “Sure.” She looked past the big guy.
    And froze.
    And wondered if she would have the presence of mind
to pick her jaw up off the floor before anybody stepped on it.
    “Hi, again,” Gina said, and the smile on her lips
warmed her eyes even more. She was dressed in jeans that fit her much too well
for mixed company and a faded gray T-shirt that hung on her like a best friend.
    “Hey,” she responded, hoping she didn’t sound as
flustered as she felt. “How are you?” Did she actually say that? How lame could
she be?
    “Good. Nice drive up here from Laramie.”
    “Great. I didn’t see your car.” So not cool. She
sounded like a stalker, memorizing people’s cars.
    “I parked on the other side of the office. Didn’t
want to put it where it might block anything.”
    She hesitated, wondering what to say that wouldn’t
sound stupid, but she drew a blank. “Okay.” She made a show of checking the
keys. “All right, follow me. Or did you want to get your stuff first?” She
tried for nonchalant now, like she always showed super-attractive women who
made her insides buck like an unbroken horse to their rooms.
    “I’ll get it after dinner. I didn’t miss dinner, did
I?”
    “Nope. There’s plenty.” Oh, real smooth, she thought.
She cleared her throat and motioned toward the door.
    Gina smiled again and followed her and Meg tried not
to think about her eyes, or how inviting they looked. Or the smile that tugged
at the corners of her mouth, or how her voice made her think about late nights
and candlelight.
    “Thanks, hon,” Stan called after her as she went
outside.
    “Hi,” she said to the Forster party, which was made
up of what she guessed were three heterosexual couples