“Stay close,” she ordered as she took out an overnight bag and decided to leave the rest of the luggage until later. The place looked deserted, but she could hear the neighing of a horse and spied a corral set back in the trees.
With Danny at her side, they walked around to the front of the lodge and climbed a flight of wooden stairs to a heavy, planked front door. A brass lion’s head with its mouth open made a loud clanging sound as she dropped the knocker several times.
As they waited, she rested her hand reassuringly on Danny’s shoulder but already the enveloping isolation was getting to her. Her mouth went dry.
What on earth am I doing here?
The massive door suddenly opened and Stella stood there, smiling at them. “Oh, good, I was hoping you’d get here before dark. Sometimes these mountain roads can be a little tricky at night.”
Caroline silently added, And in daylight. It was some kind of miracle she’d found the place at all.
“Please come in. I’ll send Shane to bring in the rest of your luggage.”
They followed her inside and the interior of the lodge seemed just as dark and intimidating as the exterior. Beyond a shadowy vestibule, they entered a large room with a high ceiling and a monstrous chandelier made of elk horns suspended from a high rafter. Several tall windows allowed muted sunlight to slightly relieve the shadows of high ceilings and dark-panelled walls. A massive stone fireplace dominated the far wall and a variety of furniture, mostly leather and dark walnut, was scattered about. An area rug of faded green covered a small section of a wide-planked floor. Some framed black-and-white photographs hung on the wall. They were group pictures as far as Caroline could tell. She wondered if this was one of the rooms Stella wanted redecorated. If so, simply introducing some color would be a step in the right direction.
“I’ll show you to your rooms first,” Stella said motioning toward a massive staircase mounting a far wall. “You’ll probably want to freshen up before meeting Wes. He was set to leave yesterday when one of his good friends, Dexter Tate, showed up unexpectedly. They’re out target-shooting but should be back anytime. Wes’s daughter, Cassie, is upstairs with her nanny, Felicia.” She glanced at her watch. “I’d better see that some refreshment is ready.”
As they mounted the steps to the second floor and walked a short distance down the hall, Stella said in a practiced hostess manner, “I hope you’ll be comfortable here. There’s a small sitting room, a bedroom with twin beds and a connecting bath. I’ve set up a workroom just down the hall. If there’s anything I’ve missed, just let me know.”
She opened the door and motioned them inside. They had just walked into the sitting room when Danny suddenly cowered beside her, hugging her leg.
“What is it?” She followed his frightened gaze to the walls of the room. Her breath caught. “Good heavens!”
Mounted on the walls were heads of wild animals—a fierce black bear, a threatening mountain lion and a snarling wildcat. She could tell from the raw fear in Danny’s expression that he thought they were alive and about to jump down on him.
“It’s all right, honey,” Caroline said quickly. “They won’t hurt you.”
“They’re dead?”
“Yes. Somebody killed them.”
“Why?” he demanded with childish bluntness.
“They’re like trophies,” Stella answered quickly before Caroline could. “Big men shoot them and then hang them on the walls to show how brave they are. I’m afraid you’ll find them all over the lodge.” Then she brightened. “But your mother and I are going to make some nice changes.”
Caroline didn’t say anything, but she wondered how easy that was going to be. Changing anything that had become a male tradition might be an uphill battle. If she were a gambler, she’d bet the mounted animals stayed despite Stella’s best efforts.
Fortunately the small bedroom was spared any hunting decor. Several scenic pictures hung on the walls. One window had simple green draperies hanging from a brass rod. Caroline was delighted with the hand-crafted aspen bedroom furniture. She immediately visualized how a little color and fresh wallpaper would add a pleasant warmth to the room.
“If there’s anything you need, just let me know,” Stella said, preparing to leave them. “Please come downstairs when you’re ready. There’s a small social room just past the main stairs and down the hall. I know Wes will be pleased to meet you both. He has a little girl about your age, Danny. Her name is Cassie. I know you’ll have fun playing with her while your mother and I are busy.”
Danny’s scowl plainly showed his reaction to the idea. Girls weren’t his thing.
Caroline silently sighed. A belligerent little six-year-old was all she needed to make this whole experience a living nightmare. Her son’s mood certainly didn’t improve when she insisted on a hands-and-face washing, a quick change of clothes and a brushing of his tousled brown hair. He flopped down on one of the beds while she freshened up.
Stella had warned her they’d need warm clothes as well as walking shoes and boots. Caroline had followed her suggestions and found some bargains for her and Danny that she could afford.
She wanted to make a good first impression. After exchanging her jeans for a pair of tan slacks and her plain pullover for a variegated knit sweater in the red and orange colors of fall leaves, a quick glance in the mirror warned her she didn’t look very professional. Somehow her two tailored outfits didn’t seem right either. Besides, they were packed in the luggage she’d left in the car. She brushed her lips lightly with pink gloss, gave her short, wavy hair a quick combing and straightened her shoulders.
“I guess I’m ready,” she said as she came out of the bathroom. When she saw that Danny had fallen asleep, she groaned. Now what? She couldn’t leave him here asleep. If he woke up and was alone with all those animal heads, he’d freak out! But he’d be grumpy if he didn’t have a nap.
Stella would probably be waiting impatiently, but she didn’t have a choice. Caroline knew she’d have to wait at least a half hour before waking him.
As she looked at his sweet face, so angelic in sleep, her chest was suddenly tight with emotion. He was so precious. Her whole life now. He’d been only two years old when she was left to raise him alone. Even though Thomas’s medical career had dominated his time and energies, his unexpected heart attack and death had left her without any emotional support. There were no grandparents or close relatives to provide an extended family for either of them.
She turned away from the bed and walked over to the window to look out. Her view was of the wooded slopes behind the lodge. Already the sun had slipped behind craggy mountain peaks and she would have missed seeing the two horsemen moving through the trees if their movement had not caught her eye. Before she could get a good look at them, they disappeared beyond her view.
Wes Wainwright, no doubt, and the guest Stella mentioned who had gone target-shooting with him. She wondered what targets they’d chosen for their sport and doubted that she could even be polite to her Texas host after seeing the mounted heads.
She’d always had trouble controlling her temper when she encountered selfish, self-centered men. Bragging rich Texans who seemed to throw their weight around had never been very high on her list.
When she finally woke Danny, he was less than cooperative.
“When can we go home?” he said with a scowl as she brushed his hair once again.
“Not today,” she said with false cheerfulness. She couldn’t tell him when it would be because she really didn’t know the answer. Everything depended upon Stella and her redecorating plans. If they were superficial and limited, the job would only require a few weeks. If the entire lodge was to undergo a coordinated redecoration, several months might be involved.