Wedding Belles (31 page)

“I figured as much.”

“Are you worried about him?” Cornelia asked.

“No, not at all. The way I see it, we’ve already faced our critics head-on and won. So what can he say about us?”

“Still…” Cornelia’s lips curled up in a smile. “He’s nice-looking, for an older fellow. Oh! Lottie, look!” She pointed as Althea Baker landed in the seat next to the critic, with Thad and Winnie on her other side and a young man, about Cornelia’s age, next to Thad. “Who is that, do you suppose?”

“I think it must be Thad’s younger brother. Winnie told me he was coming, but I’d forgotten.”

“What’s his name?” Cornelia’s lips curled up in a delightful smile.

Lottie shrugged. “Daniel, if memory serves me correctly.”

“Daniel.” Cornelia giggled then clasped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, sorry. It’s just that he’s awfully handsome. Is he…”

“Married? No. Very single and quite the businessman, from what I’ve been told.” Lottie turned to gaze at her friend. “Why?”

“Oh, no reason.” She blushed. “Just wondering.”

Lottie turned her attention back to the audience and tried to get a better look at Mr. Jefferson. Unfortunately, he had turned toward Althea, who must’ve said something that put a smile on his face. Then he reached down to pick up her program, which had fluttered to the floor.

“Guess I’ll never get a good look at him,” Lottie said. “Not sure what to make of the way he’s acting around Althea.”

“I’ll tell you what I make of it,” Sharla said from behind them. “She’s flirting with him.”

“Flirting?” The women spoke at once.

“Sure.” Sharla chuckled. “I could teach lessons in flirting, but that woman doesn’t need any. She dropped her program on purpose so he would pick it up for her. And look at how she’s patting her hair. Women only do that when they’re flirting.”

“O–oh?” Cornelia stopped fidgeting with her hair and shrugged. “I had no idea.”

“Ironic, isn’t it?” Gilbert slipped his arms around Lottie’s waist and drew her close.

“What’s that?” She nestled into his embrace, completely content.

“Althea might just make use of that honeymoon suite yet.”

Lottie gasped. “Oh, Gil, I’d forgotten. She won the contest.”

“Yep. We chose her title for the show.” His brows wiggled playfully. “Maybe the Lord knew what He was doing all along.”

“Doesn’t He always?” Lottie giggled.

Before they could say anything else, Jeb took the stage and began to play his saw. “That’s our cue.” Lottie grinned. “Everyone ready?”

Her cast gathered around her and she gave them a little pep talk. Oh, if only she had time to tell them all what they meant to her— how she’d grown to love each and every one. Instead, she offered up a quiet prayer for the Lord’s favor over their performance.

Afterward, Gil slipped next to her and gave her a confident smile. “The drama’s about to begin!”

“About
to begin?” She chuckled and then glanced back at her cast and crew. “If this is just the beginning, then how would you explain all the drama we’ve been through over the past couple of months?”

“Oh, that…” Gil swept her into his arms and planted kisses in her hair. “That was just the rehearsal. Trust me when I say the best is yet to come.” His words were whispered in her ear, causing a delightful shiver to rush over her.

Yes, indeed. The best was yet to come. And no villain, no foe, could steal it from her this time around. With Gil’s hand in hers, they could face any drama that life might send their way…on stage or off.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

For years I’ve been enamored with Estes Park. There’s just something about the snowcapped mountain peaks, the shimmering waters of Lake Estes, the winding drive up that curvy, narrow highway to get into town, the quaint Alpine-like feel of the shops, and, of course, the majestic Stanley Hotel. I love it all! When presented with the opportunity to write
Wedding Belles
, I knew I had to set the story in scenic Estes Park, for only in that familiar place could I capture both the rugged feel of the West and the necessary whimsy for this lighthearted tale.