Just Say Maybe: A Thistle Bend Novel (17 page)

Bryce’s chest tightened as he and Holly walked up Larkspur Avenue toward the Princess, but he didn’t want to let on to Holly how apprehensive he was about meeting the Montgomery sisters. If they had no information for him, what was his next step? Go ahead with the inspections and let the rumors start rumbling after the inspectors found the suite? Then he could read about it in the Thistle Bend newspaper, as if he hadn’t had his fill of those for a while.

“You know these ladies pretty well, right?” he asked.

Holly nodded. “But not nearly as well as Lindsey. She got close to them soon after she came to town—mostly because of the museum, but also because they were doing a little matchmaking between her and Carden. For years, he’s helped them keep up their huge Victorian house and all the grounds they have near Narrowleaf Pass. They’re kind of like his fairy godmothers.”

“You make them sound enchanting. Dean has me thinking they’re bewitched—and that’s kind of a stretch for me.”

Holly raised her shoulders. “They might be a little of both. But one thing’s for sure, everyone has their opinion, even though only a small group of people know them beyond seeing them at the farmers market. Getting invited to have drinks with them is a big deal. Lindsey hooked you up. Now you’ll get to decide what you think of them.”

Meeting them was important to Bryce, yet he hadn’t known how unusual it was to be invited to socialize with the Montgomery sisters. As much as he’d rather ask them his questions in private, he was grateful that Lindsey had been willing to make the introductions. Holly had told her, in confidence, about the suite at the lodge, requesting that Lindsey share the information only with Carden. At least he didn’t have to worry about Lindsey asking too many questions of her own.

“Is Lindsey bringing Carden with her?” he asked. It seemed as if she would, considering how Holly portrayed the Montgomery sisters’ relationship with him.

Holly shook her head. “She said that he won’t be back from Denver until tonight. He goes there to visit his parents, and for business.”

Bryce narrowed his eyes. “What kind of business?” All he’d heard was that Carden delivered manure and kept up the Montgomery sisters’ house and grounds. His grandmother was considered royalty in Thistle Bend, he had a knockout girlfriend, and Holly had called him a superhero.

“Carden is the executive director of the Crenshaw Family Trust,” Holly said. “His dad is the attorney for the trust, and they actively designate land for conservancy, identify and sponsor philanthropic opportunities, and manage their diverse portfolio of assets, which includes ranches, mines, and a vast amount of property.”

“Whoa.” Bryce squeezed her hand. “You just went all lawyer on me, H. G. Birdsong. That’s pretty sexy.”

She grinned.

“But Carden delivers manure and works on the Montgomery sisters’ house and land, right?”

“Yep. He owns a cattle ranch and he loves to help people out doing handyman work around town—especially older folks. He has a big job with the ranch and the trust, but he’s always been down-to-earth and generous. If he doesn’t have time to get things done, he’ll send someone on his staff—gratis. Although I believe he does most of the work for the Montgomery sisters himself.”

Bryce decided he was going to like Carden Crenshaw. In the future, maybe he could give back to the townspeople in a different way, with something like an adventure sports/community service program for local teens.

Holly nudged him to the right. “Here’s the Princess.”

Painted light gray with purple trim, the building was another of the Western-movie-set-style structures along the avenue. Flat-fronted with one pointed gable atop its façade, a lighted wooden arch swept beneath it from one side of the second floor to the other. The front of the first floor was all large-paned glass surrounding a recessed door. At the side of the building, a decorative wrought-iron fence ran along the sidewalk, a shaded garden-style patio area beyond.

“Fancy,” Bryce said.

“It used to be a theater back in the day. I’m talking 1918, when silent movies were popular. It’s been renovated a few times since then.”

They stepped inside the Princess, where lots of natural light illuminated a beautiful bar that stretched along the wall of one side of the building. High and low tables accommodated diners and drinkers, seemingly enjoying the upscale, laid-back atmosphere. Bryce didn’t see Lindsey or two little old ladies among them.

“They’re probably outside,” Holly said, as if she’d read his mind. “The Princess’s whimsical garden is the best place for Bloody Marys on a beautiful day.”

Outside was good. Bryce was always more comfortable there.

Holly led him out a side door into the shady dining area, alive with vivid green plants, colorful flowers, quirky statuary, and twirly garden ornaments. Wind chimes trilled in the light breeze.

“There they are.” Holly gestured to a round table made of light wood nestled in an alcove created by the large trunks of two trees.

Bryce’s pulse picked up pace and he chastised himself for getting so amped over meeting two little old ladies.

Who might have the answers I’m looking for.

They all stood as Bryce and Holly approached, and he immediately noticed that people hadn’t exaggerated when they’d called the Montgomery sisters little. Tiny was more like it, and they definitely had some age on them. Even so, they were hands down the cutest old ladies Bryce had ever seen.

Bright-eyed and curious, they seemed more like sprites or pixies in this
FernGully
setting. They watched him in a way he could almost feel as he and Holly walked toward them. He was already starting to understand what Dean had said about them.

“Watch out for those two little ladies. They’re sweet enough, but I swear they can see right through you. Like they know what you’re thinking before you even know yourself.”

Lindsey greeted Holly and Bryce, and Holly gave each sister a kiss on the cheek. Then all eyes turned to him.

“You must be Bryce,” the smaller of the two ladies said, examining him closely. Blue eyes twinkled in her heart-shaped face, the bones of her cheeks high and round. Her white hair was pulled back into a perfect bun that sat neatly at the nape of her neck. She wore a simple, satiny, bright blue tea-length dress and shiny patent-leather shoes. An antique silver watch glimmered on her wrist as she extended her age-spotted hand.

He took it in both of his, amazed by the strength of her grip. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m Merribelle Montgomery,” she said with a smile tugging at her pink lips. “I’d love it if you’d call me Merri.” She rested her hand on the other little lady’s shoulder. “And this is my sister, Millicent.”

“Please call me Milly.” She shook Bryce’s hand, looking adorable in her light green lace dress that was only a shade lighter than her eyes. Her hair curled in silver ringlets, and two jeweled combs held it away from her apple-cheeked face.

“Pleasure to meet you both,” Bryce said. “Thank you for agreeing to meet me.”

“When Lindsey told us about you,” Merri said, “we were eager for the chance. It’s not every day that a young man like you comes to Thistle Bend.”

Bryce would’ve loved to know what she’d meant by “a young man like you,” but he wasn’t about to ask.

“And it’s not every day I get to have drinks with four beautiful ladies,” he said, his tone casual, yet sincere.

The sisters smiled coquettishly at his compliment.

“We ordered Bloody Marys for everyone,” Lindsey said.

Bryce hoped the server would deliver them fast, because he could really use one to ease his nerves.

They all took a seat, with Bryce between Holly and Merri, Milly at her sister’s side. No sooner had they settled than the server showed up with the drinks, set one in front of each of them, and left the table.

Merri lifted her glass. “Here’s to new friends.”

Holly gave him a sidelong glance and a wisp of a smile as they toasted and drank. Having her next to him was making this a little less stressful.

“Looks like you had quite a morning at the market,” Holly said to Milly and Merri. “I don’t know how you keep up with it all—preparing for Sundays, and fulfilling orders for your Internet business.”

Bryce appreciated Holly making the small talk because all he could think about were his questions.

“We’re even busier this season than last,” Merri said.

“The line of people—oh my.” Milly pressed her fingers to her lips.

Bryce grinned.

“And our Internet business has grown to bursting over the last eight months, too.” Merri smiled proudly. “Demand has more than doubled.”

Bryce could hardly believe these little old pixie ladies ran an Internet business.

Milly and Merri glanced at each other as if they shared a secret.

“But help is on the way.” Milly set her gaze on Holly. “Ellie London has moved back to Thistle Bend, as you know. She’s going to live in the little guesthouse on our property and help us in the kitchen and garden.”

Holly’s eyes widened. “That’ll be a perfect setup for all of you. I saw her at Calypso Coffee the other day, but she didn’t say a word to me about it.”

“Because we asked her not to until we worked out the details,” Merri said.

“You’re going to love Ellie,” Holly said to Lindsey. “She grew up with Carden and me. Her artwork is amazing. She used to have space in the artists’ gallery on Snowberry Street, near my office. I was so sad when she moved to Phoenix a couple years ago.”

“With a young man who didn’t deserve her.” Merri pursed her lips. “But sometimes we have to learn things the hard way.”

Merri was much older than Bryce’s mom, but his mom had said the same thing to him countless times over the years.

Milly nodded ruefully, the jewels in her hair combs glinting in the light. “We’re sorry Ellie’s heart got broken. Hopefully she’ll be happy being back with her friends and family here.” Merri smiled. “Ellie will make things even livelier at our place. She helped us during the summer before she moved, so she can pick up right where she left off.” Merri set her twinkling gaze on Bryce. “Sounds as if you’re making a big move yourself. Lindsey tells us you’re buying the abandoned lodge,” she said, seemingly without judgment.

Bryce nodded, and took another quick gulp of his drink. He’d almost gotten comfortable listening to Ellie’s story. “Yes, ma’am.”

All the women’s gazes settled on him as they waited for him to continue.

He cleared his throat. “My goal is to replicate the success I’ve had with the adventure lodge I own in Costa Rica. I’m excited for the sale to go through, and eager to get started on the renovations. But I’ve discovered something at the lodge that’s raised some questions. I’m really hoping to find some answers before inspections begin.” He wasn’t sure what, if anything, Lindsey had told the sisters about the suite and the picture of their grandfather, but he chose not to make assumptions. “First of all, ‘abandoned’ doesn’t begin to describe the lodge. The place is gutted, with a few random items like lampshades and broken mirrors left behind.”

Merri puckered her pink lips. “That’s a shame. There was a time when it was lovely.”

“I plan to make it that way again,” Bryce said earnestly. “The broker loaned me the keys recently, and Holly and I went on a walk-through. We were on the fourth-floor balcony of one of the wings when she noticed that the number of suites didn’t match up, which might not have been unusual, but that didn’t gel with the numbers on the spec sheets either. So we looked in the area where the door of the missing suite should’ve been. Someone had hidden it behind a sheet of paneling that matched what was already in the hallway.”

The sisters shared a look.

“It could’ve easily gone unnoticed by anyone who wasn’t paying close attention.” Holly said.

Bryce nodded. “We busted through the wall and found a suite, preserved as if the woman staying there had left that very morning, and might be returning anytime.”

“We think she might’ve lived there,” Holly said. “There were way too many clothes and toiletries for a temporary guest, and decorations stored away for several holidays. Even so, we found nothing that clearly identified her.”

But the picture I’m hiding would help…

“Holly mentioned that there was a rumor about a woman disappearing from the lodge just before it closed.” Bryce put his hand over his mouth and dragged it down his chin. “There are things in that suite that make me worry that the rumor might be true. I need to find out before everyone in town learns about it, and my project gets off to a negative start, possibly delayed by a police investigation, and maybe chucked altogether.” Holly cut him a look but he didn’t turn her way. He gazed ahead and took another healthy slug of his Bloody Mary, which was getting dangerously close to empty. “The lodge has always been a downer for this town and the people here. I’d hoped to make a fresh start with it, turn it around, create a place the community can be proud of.” He clenched his jaw. “This situation has the potential to make that nearly impossible.”

A breeze set the wind chimes trilling.

“How may we help?” Milly asked.

“This is a long shot.” Bryce tapped his fingers on the wooden tabletop. “But we found a framed five-by-seven photograph of your grandfather in the suite. We also found a silver ring with the initials VRS engraved on it.” He reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out the ring, and handed it to Merri. “Do you ladies have any idea who the woman was, what became of her, or how your grandfather’s picture might relate?”

Bryce thought he would feel relieved after he got the questions out, but the knot in his chest twisted tighter as the silence stretched. Milly and Merri shared one of their looks, as Holly and Lindsey sat wide-eyed and waiting.

Merri studied the ring for a moment, then passed it to Milly, who did the same.

“This must remain confidential.” Merri squeezed his hand with surprising strength. “Between us and no one else.” She glanced at Lindsey. “Except Carden, of course, because he’s one of us.”

Merri set her gaze on Bryce. “Keeping this quiet means as much to Milly and me as it does to you.” She gave each of them a pointed look. “Agreed?”