Lasso Her Heart

“He’s making arrangements to get Bethany’s luggage unloaded and delivered,” Ian explained. “I hope he didn’t give you too much of a joyride in that bucket of bolts of his,” he continued to Bethany. “I’ve tried to get that boy to trade up but he loves that old piece of junk.”

Oh, that was heartening, Bethany thought, glad all over again to be back on firm ground.

“Our Bethany is quite the little daredevil herself, Ian,” Erika said as she wrapped one arm around her niece. “Remember, Bethie, that time that your brothers dared you to walk that fence at Grandpa’s?”

Bethany grinned. “It was a wire fence with overhanging tree branches I could hold on to,” she explained to Ian.

“She made it from one end to the other and then dared them to follow. Neither one of them would do it.”

Ian laughed. “Well, little lady, I can see that you are going to fit into ranch life just fine.”

Erika rolled her eyes. “Pay no attention to Ian, dear. Whenever we come to the ranch he turns into Clint Eastwood. Anyone who has done business with him in Chicago is a little taken aback to say the least.”

“Secret of my success,” Ian said as he winked at Bethany, who found that away from the presence of Cody Dillard, she was feeling much more relaxed.

“Home sweet home,” Ian announced as he pulled the golf cart to a stop in front of a rambling and deceptively massive house of glass, stone and adobe. Golden light spilled through windows that soared to a point three stories above the ground. A large, wide porch furnished with leather rockers and natural wicker tables and chairs wrapped itself around two sides of the house. The stained-glass panels of the front door reflected the light from within in a beautiful tableau of abstract desert flowers.

“Wow,” Bethany whispered in awe as Ian held out his hand first to Erika and then her to assist them off the golf cart.

“Wow indeed,” Erika agreed. “It was designed by an associate of Frank Lloyd Wright’s. The first time I saw this place I set my cap for this man. He could have been from outer space for all I cared as long as he let me live in this beautiful desert palace.”

“Ah, sweetie, you do say the nicest things sometimes,” Ian replied and kissed her cheek.

Then he wrapped one arm around Erika and the other around Bethany and led the way up the wide stone stairs past columns sculpted to look like gigantic saguaro cacti. The front door should have been hanging in the National Gallery of Art as far as Bethany was concerned.

“Hi, Honey, we’re home,” Ian boomed as soon as they entered the house.

A short, heavyset woman of indeterminate age but with flawless skin, shining black hair pulled into a ponytail and a beaming smile hurried forward. She wiped her hands on her apron. “Hello,” she said to Bethany. “I’m Honey Jorgenson. Welcome.” She looked up at Bethany and frowned slightly. “Are you all right?”

Bethany had the oddest feeling that Honey had looked into her eyes and seen past everything she might do to disguise anything she was feeling. She blinked and forced a smile. “Fine,” she said. “A little travel worn is all.”

“Ah!” Honey snapped her fingers. “Powder room—” she pointed, indicating a small alcove off the foyer “—and then something to eat.”

“Lovely,” Erika said. “Honey makes the most incredible quesadillas, Bethany. I hope you like your food spicy.”

“I love spicy,” Bethany assured them all.

The supper was perfect. Honey served them in a small family dining room with stucco walls faux finished in shades of bright yellows and oranges. The table was set informally with multicolored striped place mats, bright Fiesta ware dishes and a centerpiece of red, yellow and orange gerbera daisies. In spite of her fatigue, Bethany couldn’t help making mental notes as ideas for party themes and decor came to mind. She could bring the colors and atmosphere of Arizona to Chicago.

Erika and Ian were clearly devoted to one another. This was no one-sided or even slightly lopsided romance. She had never seen her aunt happier and even though she had just met Ian, it appeared that he was operating in a similar state of bliss.

“So, what are your plans?” she asked after Honey had brought them large ceramic mugs of herbal tea and a platter of fruit.

“I’m afraid that all we have are dates and a start on the guest lists, dear,” Erika said with a smile at Ian.

“Those would be long guest lists,” he added fondly. “I think we may have to marry every year for the next ten or twenty in order to fit in everything Erika wants to do so our friends and family can share our joy.” Then he squeezed her fingers and added, “Which would be fine with me.”

“Well perhaps we could start with this year,” Bethany suggested with a grin. “How many parties leading up to the big day?”

“Well, there’s the engagement party in Chicago, for family and associates and friends there,” Ian began.

“And the party for everyone here,” Erika added.

“Two engagement parties? It might be less expensive to—”

Ian held up Erika’s hand displaying a formidable emerald-and-diamond engagement ring. “Expense is not an issue, Bethany. If it becomes one, we can always hock this.”

Erika giggled and blushed like a twenty-year-old. “Ian,” she chastised. “Truly, Bethany, the parties can be fairly simple.”

Bethany nodded and stifled a yawn.

“Oh, Ian, we’re forgetting that it’s the middle of the night for this young lady. We’ll talk about this in the morning and let you get some rest, dear.”

“No, I…well, if you insist,” Bethany said with a smile. “I am a little tired.”

“Honey!” Ian boomed.

“Don’t shout,” Honey admonished him as she appeared instantly in the doorway.

To Bethany’s surprise, Erika, Ian and Honey walked with her to the front door. Erika promised to be along soon, but told her not to wait up. Ian kissed her on the cheek and wished her a good night while Honey waited by the open door. Not another change of venue, Bethany thought as she followed Honey out onto the porch.

“Hopefully all of your things have already been brought over to the guesthouse. If not, I can get you whatever you might need for tonight.” She walked with surprisingly long strides for such a short woman. Bethany had some trouble keeping pace.

“Are those things comfortable?” Honey asked, looking down at Bethany’s shoes.

Another comment on my shoes, Bethany thought wearily. “Yes,” she replied and could not keep the edge of defensiveness from her voice.

“I love shoes,” Honey said, sighing, “but I’m too chicken to try something like that. I’d probably topple right off them and look utterly stupid.”

“Actually I did topple off them tonight,” Bethany admitted, “and looked utterly stupid, but I am not about to give them up.”

Honey grinned. “Perhaps you and I can go shopping one day and you can help me find shoes and a little of your courage.”

They had traversed a long stone pathway and reached a smaller version of the larger house. Bethany had noticed it on the ride in from the landing strip but never dreamed it was a separate guesthouse.

“Erika thought you would be more comfortable here than in the main house,” Honey explained as she opened the door and led the way inside. “She hasn’t said anything but it seems to me, meeting you, that you have suffered recently. It’s in your eyes.”

“I…” Bethany felt tears well. How could this woman know? “It’s been a tough year,” she said and then turned her attention to her surroundings. “Oh, Honey, isn’t this wonderful?”

“It’s pretty special,” Honey agreed. “Erika’s room is there.” She motioned down a short hall off the kitchen as she moved about the spacious cottage, igniting the gas fireplace, pulling drapes closed and checking the refrigerator to be sure it was stocked with beverages and fruit.

“Your room is here,” she said and led the way to a large bedroom where she opened the closet to reveal all of Bethany’s clothes. “Good,” she murmured as she turned back the duvet on the large cypress-framed bed.

“Good? It’s incredible,” Bethany said. “Who did all this work?”

“I sent my daughter, Reba, over to check on the luggage while you were eating. She must have put everything away.” Honey smiled the smile of a proud mother and continued the tour.

“Bathroom is here,” Honey indicated as she flicked on the light and visually checked to be sure everything was in place, “and in the morning you can breakfast on the porch off the living room. Best view on the ranch.”