| Chapter One I sipped slowly from a rich cup of coffee as I watched the sun rise above the distant mountains, as long fiery rays spread across the valley that comprised of the Triple C Guest Ranch. The rising sun touched everything in its path, setting liquid fire to trees, scrub-brush and land alike. Through the distant trees I could see the beginning rays sparkling off the stream that ran through my property. It was a beautiful site, a site that never failed to amaze me. The ranch was located about eighty miles north of Houston, Texas near the town of Crocket. Just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but still close enough to be convenient. The ranch was just waking, the hands emerging from the bunkhouse and above me I could hear my guests moving about as the day began. I caught sight of my foreman, Dalton Denning, at the same time he saw me. Lifting a hand to acknowledge me, he turned and headed for the barn to tend to the animals. Knowing my guests would soon be down for breakfast before heading out to either visit the local tourist attractions or to ride the range with the hands, I turned from the door and began meal preparations. Morning is my favorite time of day. The sun just rising, the ground covered with dew, a new beginning, the peacefulness of it all before guest demands and ranch responsibilities called for my attention. Yes morning is definitely my favorite time of day, I thought as I measured out batter for the waffles I was preparing for the breakfast buffet. "Want some help?" my middle sister Callie, who was twenty-four, asked as she stepped into the room. "Sure, the bacon and sausage needs to be started and the eggs need to be scrambled," I answered as I poured another round of batter onto the hot griddle. "I'll do the eggs," my youngest sister Carly, who was twenty-two, said sleepily as she finished tying her long brown hair off her face. "Make sure you wash your hands," I said automatically without looking up. A loud sigh escaped her lips and then she grumbled, "Yes mom!" Outwardly I smiled, but inside I cringed. I knew she was just teasing, but it still bothered me. I had helped raise my sisters since I was sixteen when my mom passed away, and even now, ten years later, hearing the word 'mom' hurt. Callie, knowing me better than anyone, moved to my side and quietly asked, "Are you okay?" I knew better than to try and lie, so I just nodded and concentrated on not burning the waffles. Knowing me as well as she did, she just patted my shoulder and then moved toward the meat cooking on the stove. A few minutes later the three of us took heaping platters of food into the dinning room and transferred it into chaffing dishes. The dinning room tables were set, the coffee was in the large urn and the juice was in chilled glass pitchers. Pristine white cloths covered the tables and were accented by blue and white plaid placemats. "Everything is ready," Callie said as she walked towards the kitchen to begin the first round of clean up. Seeing that Callie was correct, I went to the front desk, knowing that a few guests were checking out today and that paperwork had to be completed before they were billed. I had only been at the desk for just a few moments when Carly called my name. "Cassie, I forgot to tell you. I checked in five new guests last night after you went off duty. They’re staying for five days," she said, her eyes fairly gleaming. I knew what was coming by that look. At least one of the new guests was a man, a good-looking man! "They were so cute. Definitely not from around here, although two of them did have southern accents," she gushed. "Carly!" I admonished, knowing it was entirely possible for those same guests to be able to hear what she was saying. I took a lot of pride in running the Triple C. It was my life, I'd grew up on the ranch, learned from a young age how to work the cattle and to train horses, and when our dad had passed two and a half years before, it had been my idea to turn the ranch in a guest ranch. I couldn't afford for a slip of the tongue, mine or my sister's, to detract from business. "Well, it's the truth. Nothing wrong with the truth is there?" she asked, flashing me one of those falsely innocent smiles of hers. "No, nothing is wrong with the truth. But Carly, people come here to relax, kick back and enjoying themselves, not to be ogled, flirted with, or talked about by the staff," I said, trying not to let my smile show. "Okay, okay! Mum's the word," she said, as she made a zipping motion across her lips. As if that was gonna stop her. In the next instant, she proved me right. "But they are cute!" she said as she hurried away from the front desk. I shook my head, my dark brown hair swinging with the motion. I couldn't be more proud of her or Callie if I really had been their mother. The three of us stuck together, working out problems, giving advice and seeing each other through school. Carly had graduated from college two weeks before with a degree in veterinary medicine and she would be working part-time with the local vet and spending the rest of the time on the ranch doing whatever needed to be done. So far it was working perfectly. Callie had graduated two years before obtaining a degree in animal husbandry. She was currently working on building up our herd of horses. And I had to admit; she had a way picking dams and sires. In the two years she had been breeding, not one of the horses had thrown a lame or sick colt. And then that leaves me. I had graduated four years before Carly, with a degree in business management. None of us ever expected to be working the family ranch, at least not this soon, nor had we anticipated turning the place into a profitable vacation ranch. But all in all it was working out. We had a five star rating with several travel agencies, and not once since opening had we had any complaints. Not very many operating vacation ranches could say that. Along with providing meals, we also provided riding lessons, guided trails, hikes, and old-fashioned camp-outs complete with bedrolls and cooking over a campfire. There was also a large in-ground pool and a small basketball court behind the house. I finished my paperwork, checked out the departing guests and finally made my way back to the dinning room. Out of the five tables, three were occupied. I smiled. Business was good. I made my way around the room, greeting my guests, checking to make sure their stay was what they had hoped it would be when I came to the new arrivals. next chapter |