“What do you have?” India asked Skyler, willing to wait on her own ideas until her friends had shared theirs.
“Money management, organizational skills, maybe a tour of the inn to see how to run a hospitality business,” Skyler said, reading from her list.
“Good ideas, but maybe we can pair one of those with something a little lighter and fun,” India said. “What do you have, Elissa?”
“I have a friend in Dallas who is a therapist. Maybe something about self-esteem. Or since it’s spring, we could focus on native plant gardening.”
India consulted her own ideas but didn’t speak.
“I know that look,” Skyler said. “What are you thinking?”
“We always have more ideas than we can use. What if instead of our normal single class we have several in an all-day conference? We could offer a wider variety.”
“Oh, I like that idea,” Elissa said.
Skyler thought for a moment then nodded, too.
As they dived into the particulars, the front door opened again.
Verona Charles, Elissa’s aunt, walked in with a wave. “Hey, girls. I’m so glad I caught you all here together.”
“Oh, that can’t be good,” Elissa quipped, earning her a playful swat on the shoulder from Verona.
“Ignore her and have a seat,” India said. She reached toward the fresh pitcher of lemonade in the middle of the table. “Would you like a drink?”
“That would be lovely. Can’t believe how hot it is already.” Verona smoothed her short, gently curling silver hair.
“It’s Texas, and you’ve lived here all your life,” Elissa said as India poured another glass of lemonade.
“I know. Guess I’m just getting too old for the heat.”
Elissa snorted. “If you’re getting old, I’m a green troll.”
At five foot ten, trim and tanned with long, deep brown hair, Elissa was as far from a green troll as a girl could get.
“Lippy, I tell you,” Verona said. “Lippy just like your mother.”
Elissa smiled wide, causing Verona to roll her eyes and shift her attention away from her niece. Her actions and words fooled no one. She adored the ground her niece walked on. Elissa was like the child Verona never had, and she was nothing less than a second mother to Elissa.
“You have that look,” Skyler said. “The one that says you have a grand plan in play.”
“I don’t have a plan yet, but that’s something I thought you three could help me with.” Verona took a sip of her lemonade. “I was just over at the tourism office, and Blake said they are looking for something new to draw in more tourists, something to keep the numbers up once the bluebonnets fade away.”
“Let me guess,” India said. “You volunteered to help think of something.”
“What can I say? Retirement is boring.” Verona scooted forward in her chair a little bit. “I went by the bakery afterward to pick up some fresh bread, and Keri told me that Jake Monroe’s little girl, Mia, is about to start her cancer treatments.”
“Poor little girl,” India murmured.
“That’s when it hit me,” Verona said. “We can accomplish two goals with one event—come up with something that would bring in tourists but have it be a benefit for Mia.”
“Oh, that is a good idea,” Skyler said. “I’d be happy to help with something like that.”
Verona patted Skyler’s hand atop the table. “Thank you, dear.” She made eye contact with Elissa then India. “Can I count on both of you to help out, too?”
“Can’t say no to that,” Elissa said.
India considered the workload of planning the BlueBelles classes as well as the community event, but then she had one of those lightbulb moments like Verona had at the Mehlerhaus Bakery. “We were just talking about expanding the next BlueBelles offering to several classes. We could have a day-long conference the same day as this community event and donate all the proceeds to Mia’s medical expenses.” Skyler and Elissa quickly nodded their agreement.
“That’s a wonderful offer,” Verona said, her voice growing more excited. “Okay, then, I guess we just need to figure out what type of event would bring a lot of people to town and be of interest to the locals, too.”
Over the next several minutes, they tossed out any idea that popped into their heads—an arts-and-crafts show, a play, a singing competition. While they all held merit, none really popped and said, “Hey, I’ll make a ton of money!”
India rubbed her eyes then glanced out the window just as a truck pulling a horse trailer drove down Main Street. “What about a rodeo? What could be more Texas than that?”
Elissa leaned forward. “Perfect. And bonus, hot cowboys in town.”
“Gone through all the single men in the county already?” Skyler asked.
“Hey, that makes me sound bad. What’s wrong with going out for drinks or dancing, having a good time?”
“Nothing, dear,” Verona said. “But maybe it’s time to pick one of these young men to settle down with.”
Elissa leaned back in her chair and pointed at her aunt. “Oh, no. You can just direct your matchmaking juju in another direction.”
After the laughter died down, Skyler flipped to a new page on her notepad and started taking notes as they all offered up ideas and a to-do list.
“Now we need to divide these up,” Skyler said after her legal pad was full of bulleted action items.
“I’ll be the liaison with the tourism bureau,” Verona said. “Since this was your brainchild, India, it makes sense for you to take point on contacting rodeo companies to see about scheduling.”
“Me? I don’t know the first thing about rodeo.”
Elissa leaned forward. “Hot guys in tight jeans. That’s all you need to know.”
“Then you do it.”
“Nope. I’ll head up the planning for the BlueBelles conference and round up some sponsors for things like advertising.”
India shifted her gaze to Skyler. “You grew up on a ranch.”
“And haven’t lived there in years on purpose. Besides, I’ll work on the food vendors and the barbecue cook-off. The rodeo is all yours.”
India sighed but didn’t see any way to wiggle out of this one. When she heard her father’s voice in her memory telling her she’d bitten off more than she could chew, she shook her head. She might not be a rodeo expert, but she was reasonably intelligent. She could do this, and no remembered taunts by her useless father were going to tell her otherwise.
“It’ll be good for you,” Elissa said. “You need to get out of this shop more. And if you find a little hot cowboy lovin’, so much the better.”
India eyed her friend. “Seriously, can you imagine me with some rough-around-the-edges cowboy?”
Elissa waggled her eyebrows. “Honey, I can imagine anyone with a smokin’ hot cowboy.”
Ten minutes after her friends left, India was still sitting at the table kicking herself for opening her mouth. This was going to be the worst rodeo ever.
* * *
LIAM