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“How many people are in the party?”
“Only four. Two are doctors. One’s bringing his mother and another his sister. They’re from San Francisco but are stopping here on their way home from a medical convention back East.”
Eddy looked up. “Kent’s father, Oliver, wanted him to be a doctor.”
“I know.”
She rolled out another circle of dough. “He didn’t finish medical school though. The only thing Kent ever wanted to be was a rancher, but he attended to appease Oliver. That he’s grown into such a fine man is a bit surprising.”
“Why?”
“He was quite the cat house king back in Virginia City. A lot spoiled and very full of himself where the ladies were concerned.”
“Really?” Portia didn’t know anything about his comings and goings. She’d been too busy adjusting to her new life with Eddy and Rhine.
Eddy smiled. “Yes he was. The young Kent I knew back then would never have cooked his own breakfast. Ever. Like I said this morning, he’ll make some woman very happy one day if he’s as mature as he appears to be.”
Eddy glanced up and eyed Portia speculatively.
“Yes?” Portia hoped her aunt had no prying questions about what took place at the falls. Eddy had always been perceptive.
“Nothing. Let me get back to these pies. Regan, hand me that jar of cinnamon.”
Grabbing an unpeeled apple from a bowl, Portia left the kitchen and headed outside to say good morning to Arizona. Her mare along with Eddy’s mare, Denver, and Regan’s Catalina were out in the paddock enjoying the sunshine. Cal Grissom, the old gray-haired cowboy who’d ridden the Chisolm Trail was the hotel’s head groom. He was seated on the top rung of the fence, keeping an eye on his charges.
“Morning, MissPortia.”
“Good morning, Mr.Grissom. Did you enjoy the visit with your sister?” He’d returned last night from visiting his recently widowed sister in Phoenix.
He nodded. “I did and she’s doing well considering.”
“I’m sure she was pleased to see you.”
“Yes, she was.”
“Have you met Uncle Rhine’s friend Kent Randolph yet?”
“I have. I met him before he and Mr.Fontaine rode off. He seems like a nice enough man. His stallion’s sweet on your Arizona. Saw them courting earlier this morning. You might want to start thinking about names for a foal.”
Portia went still.
He laughed. “Don’t look so shocked. She was bound to find her a fella sooner or later.”
Portia knew he was right, but... She shook herself free of the thought. “I brought her a treat.”
“You go ahead. I’ll be in the tack room if you need me.”
He walked away with the slow easy stride that all cowboys seemed to have and she whistled between her fingers for her mare. The Appaloosa came galloping to the fence and Portia hugged her neck affectionately. “Brought you something.”
The mare took a bite out the apple Portia held. “I hear you’re being courted. Are you sure you’re ready for motherhood?”
There was no answer of course. Portia couldn’t imagine her lovely mare heavy with a foal but knew nature would run its course. Her thoughts slid to Kent and wondered what nature had in store for her. Hastily backing away from that, she watched Arizona for a few moments longer then left her to play while she went to her office to look over the duty roster tied to the hotel’s soon-to-arrive guests.
As Kent and Rhine rode across the desert, Kent asked. “So tell me about Tucson. What’s it like here?”
“Much sleepier than Virginia City,” Rhine replied. “It’s growing though, now that the Southern Pacific has come to town. Politically, lots of shenanigans.”
“You involved?”
