Wedding Belles Read online

  No argument there. “But no one here has any acting experience.” She wiped her hands on her dingy apron.

  “Well, shore we do,” Jeb drawled as he glanced up from his cards. “I’m always actin’ up, ain’t I?”

  “You’ve gotta give it to him,” Gilbert said. “He is, at that.”

  She released a slow breath. “What sort of story are you talking about, anyway? Something serious? A comedy? Musical numbers? What?”

  “A comedic tale about a swashbuckling hero who rids his town of evil influence,” he explained. “Something loaded with adventure and the spirit of the West. The hero would have to be genuinely good, of course. And handsome. Someone the ladies in the audience could swoon over.” He squared his shoulders, and a couple of the fellas laughed.

  “Our melodrama also has to have females in distress,” Jeb threw in from his spot at the table. “Purty ones.”

  “And someone who wants to take over the town,” Phineas added. “Them shows always have someone wantin’ to take over the town. A real villainous sort a’ fella to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. That’ll do the trick.”

  “Better add a couple of gals with questionable reputations.” Augie Miller raked his fingers through his thinning wisps of hair. “That’ll up the ante. And there’s nothing better than a show with its ante upped.” He paused and then laughed. “Not sure that came out right.”

  Chauncy James glanced over the top of his cards, his whiskery mustache twitching. “While you’re adding characters, you’d better throw in a saloon owner.”

  “True,” Jeb said. “Wouldn’t be much of a show without a saloon and purty dancin’ gurls, least to my way of thinkin’.”

  Lottie plopped down in a chair. “Heroes? Damsels in distress? Saloons?” She paused to think through this proposition. “Fellas, you know how I feel about drinking and such. If we set part of the story in a saloon, we’ll have to be very careful not to romanticize that way of living. Perhaps that could play into the plot. I do like the idea of a hero who saves the town.”

  “A handsome hero,” Gilbert said.

  “All right, handsome.” She paused. “Let’s say we actually come up with a story idea. And let’s say some of you fellas agree to take on parts in this—this…melodrama. Where in the world are you gonna find women willing to play saloon girls and the like? I can guarantee you, the ladies in the Women’s League won’t be interested.”

  “Yes, but that’s the best part.” Gilbert beamed. “We’re going to bring in ladies from all over the state.” His eyes widened and his voice grew intense. “All over the country, even. Why, we could advertise all the way from Denver to Broadway. Actresses would come to audition for the best roles.”

  “W–what?” Surely he had lost his mind. “Why, pray tell, would they come at all?” Lottie asked. “There’s nothing to draw them to Estes Park. Besides the scenery, that is. And the fresh mountain air. Certainly nothing to do with stage plays.”

  “That’s the part we need you to figure out,” Phineas said. “Don’t figure you’ll let us down, since you care so much about us and all.” His gray-blue eyes twinkled, and he flashed a crooked-toothed smile. “’Course, these belles from the East have to be in good health with a decent mouthful of teeth, ’cause we plan to marry ’em.”

  “W–what?” Lottie rose. “Is—is that what you all have in mind? I’m to bring these women here under the guise of acting in a stage play, when they’re really coming as potential brides?” Suddenly it all made sense.

  “Don’t get your dander up, Lottie,” Gilbert said. “No one’s going to force them to marry anyone. Or to stay, for that matter.”

  “For more than six months, anyway,” Jeb added as he rose from the card table to join them. “We’ll get ’em to sign a contract to stay that long.”

  “A contract? For six months?” Maddening thoughts rushed through her head. “But in six months, winter will set in. They couldn’t get down the mountain to Loveland if they wanted to.”

  “Exactly.” The men spoke in unison.

  She shook her head as realization set in. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re not pulling me into this ridiculous scheme of yours. I won’t do it.”

  “You’re not being reasonable, Lottie,” Gilbert said. “What if they come and the show is a rousing success? Not only will they want to stay through the winter, they’re liable to want to stay indefinitely. How can it be considered scheming when we’re just looking to offer them new opportunities and a possible chance at happiness?”

  “Let’s go with another possibility.” She fussed with her apron strings, frustration setting in. “What if the show is a dismal failure? What if we bring all these women from places unknown to put on the most ridiculous production folks have ever seen? What if we keep them here through the winter when they’re snowed in and feeling blue? What if we can’t hold rehearsals because of the weather? What if we have the show and no one comes? These are the things we should be discussing, fellas. Why? Because we’re talking about using real actresses here. They’ll know the difference between a professional production and a thrown-together parlor show.” She yanked off her apron and slung it over the back of a chair before taking a seat.

  “That’s why it’s got to be spectacular.” Gilbert rested his hand on Lottie’s shoulder. “I know you can pull this off. You were always one for telling fancy stories when we were kids. Remember all the tall tales you used to come up with? Some were real spine tinglers. Others left me laughing so hard I could scarcely catch my breath. You have a God-given gift for storytelling and might as well use it to benefit the lodge.” He gave her a little pout. “Please? For me?”

  She paused to think through his words, realizing he hadn’t strayed far from the truth. She had been quite a storyteller, back in her day. Still, he’d missed the point. Those stories didn’t involve real people, especially not women coming from all over the country. But how could she turn him down when he looked at her with such pleading?

  “It’s one thing to make up children’s stories and another thing altogether to write a play. I—I don’t think I have it in me.”

  At this, all the fellas released a collective sigh.

  “Well, shoot.” Jeb reached for his worn Stetson and fingered the brim. “There goes my chance for happiness. Guess I’ll have to head back up to Longs Peak, after all. If you’uns find my body after I jump, would you do me the favor of buryin’ me in my brown shirt and Levis? No point in fancyin’ up to meet my Maker. He probably wouldn’t recognize me in a suit.”

  Lottie did her best not to groan aloud.

  Gilbert sat in the chair next to her, leaning in so close she could scarcely breathe for wanting to slap him. Or kiss him. Right now, she couldn’t decide which one made more sense.

  Oh, but the sad expression on his face made her want to kiss him—yes, really, truly kiss him, right there in front of all the fellas. Now that would be a scene straight out of a drama, one sure to get the townspeople talking.

  Heat rose to her cheeks and she shoved the idea away just as he leaned in to whisper, “Lottie, I need you.”

  She swallowed hard. “O–oh?”

  “Yes. The lodge isn’t going to make it if I don’t do something. The competition is fierce, with the other lodges gaining ground every day.”

  “I know, but—”

  “Did you hear about the Elkhorn?” Phineas interjected. “They’re building a candy kitchen.”

  She shook her head. “I knew they were talking about it, but they’re really going through with it?”

  “Yes.” Gilbert raked his hand through his gorgeous blond locks and sighed. “They’ve expanded their lunchroom too. They can seat almost two hundred people in there now. I heard all about it when I was in town today.”

  “I still don’t see what that has to do with us,” she argued.

  “If they wanted to, they could put on a dinner show or concert for a large group. We can scarcely seat sixty—not that we’ve ever had that ma
ny at one time. So, what we lack in size, we’ll have to make up for in quality.”

  “I see your point, but Gil, I just don’t—”

  “And this candy kitchen idea of theirs is just the icing on the cake. They’re going to have taffy pulls for the children and homemade candies available all day long.” He gave her an imploring look. “What’s next? One of those one-armed bandits everyone’s talking about? A full-out casino with a betting parlor and free whiskey for the winners? How can we ever compete with that?”

  This time she didn’t even try to hide the groan. She pushed the dishes aside and leaned on the table in an unladylike fashion.

  He continued to torment her with the sadness in his eyes. “We will never resort to opening a casino at Parker Lodge. Not while I’m alive to tell about it. And you know where I stand on whiskey and the like. Goes against everything I believe. But how can we compete with the attention such places will draw?”

  “I do understand, Gilbert. Clearly. And that’s why I’ve been working so hard to—”

  “We’ve done a lot,” he said. “But we need something no one else is doing. Something original.”

  She released a slow breath and sat back in her chair. True, lodges like the Elkhorn were leading the way. With ballrooms, billiard rooms, parlors, and candy kitchens, they were winning over the tourists and locals alike.

  “Don’t you see, Lottie? These other lodges—great as they may be—are our competition. They’re snagging all our business. That’s why we’ve got to do something on a grand scale. Something memorable. Something folks will be talking about for years to come. That’s why I think this Wild West melodrama idea is perfect. It’ll get people talking, especially if we do it right.”

  She wanted to get people talking all right, but not about melodramas. Well, not the kind on the stage, anyway. Still, she couldn’t seem to slow her racing heart, what with Gil being so close and all.

  Lottie rose, determined to gather her thoughts. She tried to avoid the pleading eyes of the five men who now stared her down.

  What should a girl do in a situation such as this? Coming up with ideas wasn’t Lottie’s strong suit. Hadn’t she proven that with the dances, dinner shows, and other things she’d attempted? And putting things down on paper? Sure, she’d received high marks in school, but book smarts didn’t make her a playwright.

  Still, she had somehow managed to convince Gilbert Parker that she was quick on her feet because she tried so hard. Lottie gazed into his beautiful eyes. Lord, help me. I’ve somehow bluffed him into thinking I’m clever. I certainly don’t want to change his opinion now.

  “You can even have a part in the play, if you want.” Gil wiggled his brows playfully. “I daresay you’ll win folks over, whether you think so or not.”

  Lottie tried not to let the compliment go to her head. He was still on a fishing expedition, no doubt, trying to get her to play along with this crazy idea of his. Then again, Gil had always been pretty good at snagging fish.

  “She’ll have to play one of the fellas, with her hair so short ’n’ all,” Phineas muttered, looking up from his card hand. “Between the hair and the overalls, I don’t think folks’d believe she’s a lady.”

  “Well, that does it.” Lottie felt her cheeks grow hot as her temper flared. How dare he say such a lowdown, underhanded thing?

  “She ain’t no boy,” Jeb said. “If she’d put on a dress every now ’n’ again, she’d probably look just like the other gals in town. If she’d comb those curls, anyhow.”

  A hint of a smile lit Chauncy’s face. “Purtier, even, what with them green eyes.”

  Lottie felt steam coming out of her ears. Strangely, her anger was all mixed up with the oddest feelings of flattery at Chauncy’s comment about her eyes.

  “If you play the part of a girl, you’ll hafta wear a purty dress, Lottie.” Jeb narrowed his gaze. “Think you could do it fer a change?”

  “Yes, do you think you could do yourself up like a girl for once in your life?” Augie threw in. He snapped his fingers. “That’ll draw the men in, don’t you think? Why, most of the fellas I know would pay money just to see you dolled up. I could do a big write-up in the paper about it. That would be a nice draw to get the locals in here.”

  “Ugh!” She stormed out of the room, too angry to respond. They’d crossed a line this time. Not only would she not direct their ridiculous melodrama, but she might just create a little drama of her own by leaving this place and never coming back.

  * * * * *

  GILBERT WATCHED LOTTIE as she shot out of the room. “We’ve done it this time, fellas,” he said. “Gone and hurt her feelings, I guess.”

  Augie slugged Phineas in the arm. “You had to go and shoot your mouth off, didn’t ya?”

  “Didn’t mean anything by it.” Phineas shrugged. “It’s just that I’ve never seen Lottie dressed up like a girl. You all know it’s true. And you’ve got to admit, putting an article in the paper to advertise her debut as a female might just draw in a crowd. I know a lot of folks—male and female alike—who would pay to see that.”

  “Still, now she’s as jumpy as a toad after all those things we just said.” Jeb plopped down in his chair and brushed his cards to the center of the table. “She’ll never agree to play along now.”

  “It’s not like she has to be in the show, anyway.” Gilbert collected the cards and started to shuffle them. “I’d be happy if she would write and direct it.”

  “Aw, I think she’d be a natural fer one of the parts,” Phineas said. “You gotta admit, she’s got purty eyes.”

  “They’re greener’n the pine trees in the springtime,” Jeb added then sighed.

  “And she’s got a nice figure too,” Chauncy said with a nod. “Leastways, what I can tell underneath them little-boy clothes.”

  “I suppose.” Gilbert shrugged then began to deal the cards. He’d never really thought about it. Still, there might be some merit to Jeb’s earlier comment. Folks from Estes would come out in droves to see Lottie dressed up like a lady.

  “There’s only one way she’s gonna go along with this,” Phineas said. “Someone’s gotta convince her she can be a lady. Someone who can win her over with his masculine ways.”

  Every eye in the place turned to Gilbert. He swallowed hard and stopped dealing the cards. “M–me?”

  “Well, shore,” Phineas drawled. “The rest of us fellers is too old. She’d smack me silly if I sidled up next to her and starting payin’ compliments. But you…” He gave Gilbert a scrutinizing look. “Yer about her age, give’r take a few years.”

  “Well, yeah, but she’s like a kid sister to me. I’ve never thought of her in that way.”

  “Not sayin’ you have to.” Phineas rubbed his hands together, as if plotting Gilbert’s fate. “Just sayin’ you could show her a little interest. If she thinks yer interested, maybe she’ll gussy up a bit.”

  “Yeah,” Chauncy echoed. “Get her lookin’ and actin’ like a lady before the real ladies show up. I’ll betcha they’d take her more seriously as a director if she looked the part.”

  Gilbert paused to chew on those words, finally responding, “You might be right.” He resumed dealing, but his thoughts were now elsewhere. “I’ll figure out a way to get her to play along. Pay her a little extra attention.”

  “Well, shore,” Jeb said, giving Gilbert a slap on the back, nearly sending the cards flying. “This’ll be easy fer you, Gilbert. Like lickin’ butter off a knife.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” He paused to think it through as the men settled down at the table to begin their game once again. Honestly, he’d rather lick butter off the sharpest knife in town than cross Lottie Sanders. He’d seen her riled up on more than one occasion, and it wasn’t pretty.

  Then again, she was pretty, overalls or not. Curly bobbed hair or not. And the fellas were right—those green eyes were something to behold, especially once they got to blazin’.

  Maybe he could convince her to become a lady, one wor
thy of a part in their theatrical. Yes, with a little persuasive talk, she might just fit the bill. In the meantime, he had a lot of work to do.

  THREE

  FIASCO AT FALL RIVER

  Friends, where do mystery, mayhem, and comedy converge? At beautiful Parker Lodge, located off Fall River at the entrance to the majestic Rockies. Even now drama abounds, and not just the sort folks pay to see. But what will come of it? Will Sadie Word go along with the twisted scheme Barry D. Hatchett has cooked up? Will she turn a blind eye to his financial woes or, like the heroines of yesteryear, rush in to save the day? Will she resort to using her feminine wiles to win the handsome hero, or will her boyish ways forever separate her from the man she secretly loves? To learn the answers to these and other intriguing questions, stay tuned for more information. —Your friends at Parker Lodge

  THE MORNING AFTER STORMING OUT on the men, Lottie found herself more discombobulated than ever. How dare Phineas and the others poke fun at her appearance after all she’d done for them? And what was wrong with them, anyway? Did they think for one minute that she would actually go along with their crazy scheme to write and direct a stage play?

  On the other hand, how could she not, with so many—Gil, in particular—counting on her?

  With her thoughts in a whirlwind, she decided to take a break from her morning chores to head out to her favorite spot—the narrow inlet of Fall River on the south end of the lodge’s property. There, she could pray. And think. Looked like she had a lot to think about.

  Unfortunately, Gil followed on her heels. Ordinarily he would’ve been the perfect companion, but today she needed time to come up with a plan of action, something that made more sense than putting on a theatrical. He followed her to the water’s edge, talking all the way. She found herself more unnerved than ever.

  “Lottie.” He paused, but she refused to look his way. “Lottie, can’t we please talk about this? I hate it that you’re not speaking to me.”

  She felt a lump grow in her throat but finally managed to speak above it. “Gil, you know I would do just about anything to help you. But there’s got to be some other way. I can’t abide the idea of putting on a play. I’m sorry, but I can’t. The whole idea just seems so…overwhelming. We’re talking about costumes and sets and ticket sales. I don’t think you realize how much this would require of all of us. And who knows if we could pull it off or if people would come and see the show, even if we do somehow manage to accomplish it. You know?”