“No, really. But I’m working right here to smooth it out. I’ve got five people coming in tomorrow—I work fast—for interviews. And one more coming in the day after.”
“Six? Jessie told me she was talking to Chelsea tomorrow. I have something to say there,” Maureen added.
“I know she’s Jane Lee Puckett’s niece, and I know you and Mrs. Puckett go back.”
“More than that, though that has weight. Jane Lee’s been a sister to me since my own … since my own took off the day after my wedding and broke our mother’s heart.”
Maureen took a deep sip of wine, then a deep breath. “She’s family. I won’t remind you she changed your diapers, and Chase’s and Rory’s come to that, the same as I changed her children’s. That’s family, and that matters.”
“I know that, Mom.”
Maureen simply aimed a look—the one that could, and did, shoot down any protest, explanation, or excuse. “That’s not all I have to say about it. Chelsea’s smart and bright and well-mannered. She gave up a good job to come back home when her family needed her. That’s quality. So it seems to me you’d be foolish not to hire her.”
She held up a hand before Bodine could speak. “It’s your decision to make. We put you in charge because you’re smart and bright, and fairly well-mannered yourself. And you not only wanted it, you worked for it. But that’s what I have to say about it.”
“I think it’s important that Jessica interview her, and have some serious say in anyone we hire to work with her.”
“That’s why you’re in charge, too. Because you’re right about that. I expect Jessie’s no fool, and won’t disprove that with Chelsea. Five more?”
“Waitstaff, housekeeping, a horseman, and a masseuse. We don’t necessarily need the extra at Zen Town right now, but it would give her time to learn how we do things. And I liked her application. The others are necessary, most especially the housekeeping and horses. In fact, I could use another qualified instructor for the ring, as Abe’s taking some time now to tend to Edda, and that’s just what he should do. I could ask Maddie to come in once or twice a week, just for lessons, but I worry she’d overdo something.”
“Try her once a week, and make it clear you’ll boot her if she overdoes anything or gets on a horse.”
“That’s a good compromise.” One she’d have come up with if her brain hadn’t been on overload all day. “Callen took Abe’s lessons again today. I walked in at the tail end of one yesterday, and was surprised at how good he was at it. I never thought of him as a teacher.”
“Hidden depths?” Maureen smiled. “He was never as wild as some wanted to think. And Cal was one of the some.”
“Maybe. I was more impressed with his horse, a young buckskin gelding. He does tricks.”
“I heard about that, but I’d like to see for myself.”
“I asked him to think about doing some performances at the BAC paddock. Adults would love it, and kids would go crazy for it.”
“You’re always thinking, Bo.”
“It’s why I’m the boss.”
*
The next morning, Bodine met with the housekeeper applicant at nine sharp. She liked what she saw, what she heard, so she called one of the housekeeping staff in to give the applicant a tour of an empty cabin.
“Beth will bring you back when you’re done. Come see me after, Yvonne, tell me what you think.”
Bodine shifted from her office to the Dining Hall, where her manager was interviewing a hopeful waiter. The applicant looked younger than his twenty-one years. He wore a white dress shirt with a string tie tight around his nervously bobbing Adam’s apple.
Their longest-running waitress sat across from him, arms folded, gaze narrowed. “We do things a certain way around here, and that way is work. Don’t have a table to serve, you bus another. Things are slow, you do setup, fill condiments. What you don’t do is lollygag.”
“I’m a hard worker, ma’am.”
“Maybe you are, maybe you aren’t. I show lollygaggers the door right quick. Why do you want to work here?”
“I need a good job, ma’am, to save up to go back to school, get my college degree.”
“Why do you have to go back? Why aren’t you still there?”
He flushed a little, face turning pink under his straw-colored hair. “My folks helped out as much as they could, and I worked at the Bigsby Café, like it says in my résumé. But it’s costly, and I need to work, save up, to go back and finish. The Bodine Resort’s a fine place to work, and it’s closer to home than Missoula.”
Bodine saw Carrie Ann soften, but doubted the poor boy did. “Did you keep your grades up?”
“Oh, yes, ma’am.”
“What’re you studying?”
“I’m majoring in education. I want to teach. Elementary level. I…” He flushed deeper. “I want to help form and inform young minds.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Carrie Ann let out one of her harrumphs, cut her gaze toward Bodine. “I’m going to take you over to the Feed Bag, show you some ropes. You don’t prove to be an idiot, you’ll come back here and talk to Sylvia in HR about your paperwork.”
“Uh—I— Are you hiring me on?”
“Unless you prove to be an idiot. Get your coat on. It’s cold out.”
She rose, walked over to Bodine. “He’ll do.”
“I’ll tell Sylvia to be ready for him.”
When she started off to do just that, she ran into Jessica coming out. “Bo, perfect. I want you to meet Chelsea.”
“We’ve met,” Chelsea said.
Bodine studied the pretty, doe-eyed brunette. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember. I know your aunt and uncle.”
“I had my thirteenth birthday party here. You took us on our trail ride. I got my first real kiss from a boy I thought I’d marry and have six kids with after that ride, so it sticks in my memory.”
“What happened to the boy?”
“It turned out he just liked kissing girls, something my thirteen-year-old self didn’t understand or appreciate.”
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“Bodine.” Jessica put an arm around Chelsea’s shoulder. “I love her. I want her for my own.”
“I don’t think you mean you just like kissing girls, so I’m assuming you’re hired, Chelsea.”
“Thank you, both of you. I want you to take note I’m not jumping up and down and squealing, which demonstrates my maturity and decorum. Because inside, I’m doing just that. Oh! And there went a cartwheel!”
That got a laugh out of Bodine.
“I really want to work here. I really think I can do good, creative work here.”
Chelsea paused when Rory strolled toward them with another man at his side.
“Looks like the Beautiful Women Club’s in session,” Rory said.
“My brother Rory—sales and marketing. This is Chelsea Wasserman.”
“You’re Jane Lee’s niece.” Rory shot out a hand. “She always says how pretty you are, but I figured she was being a doting aunt.”
“Chelsea’s coming on as an assistant in events,” Jessica told him. “So you’ll be seeing more of her.”
“Glad to hear it. Oh, Bo, this is Esau LaFoy. Sal said you’ve got him down for your ten o’clock.”