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She worked her jaw as she settled back against her seat. In her head, she refused even to consider going inside. It was still the middle of the day. There was no way the place was open, right? All the cars in the parking lot were there simply because the people were preparing for the activities going on in the evening.
But as she watched folks head toward the door, she couldn’t be sure. It almost looked as though there were other events going on. A vague memory tickled in the back of her mind. This wasn’t an ordinary country club. It wasn’t like the ones she’d seen in other parts of the state.
There was no golf course, and it didn’t appear that there was a membership fee. She couldn’t recall there being anything remotely similar to the country clubs she’d read about or seen on the television. Why did the locals even call it that?
She shook her head. None of that mattered. What did matter was that there were people going inside and not many coming out. Those who did enter didn’t appear to be heading to work, either.
Ella climbed out of her car and moved toward the door as if against her own will. She glanced around, but no one paid her any attention. Well, if this place was only open for those who were employed, they didn’t seem to mind if she stopped in.
The memories of her date hit her in the face the moment she stepped through the open doorway. There was no music, no indication that a party was taking place. However, there wasa sign indicating that she could go to the left and eat at the restaurant.
Oh, this place served lunch. For some reason, she’d gotten it in her head that this place was too fancy to serve food earlier in the day and they reserved that part of the business for the evening.
She shouldered her purse and wandered toward the hostess. She was familiar. There was something in her eyes that made Ella think she might know her. But before she could ask or check out the woman’s name tag, the hostess hugged a menu to her chest and gestured for Ella to follow her.
“We have seats at the bar, inside, or out on the balcony. Which would you prefer?”
Ella slowed her steps. “You have seating outside?”
She nodded. “Would you like to sit out there? We have a wonderful view of the corrals, and now that it’s getting warmer, you can get a good look at the equine therapy sessions and dressage training going on.”
That caught Ella completely off guard. When she’d been out on the balcony during her date, she’d noticed the barns and the corrals, but she’d figured it was reserved for people who boarded their horses at this location. She hadn’t expected to learn that this country club in particular provided services like the ones mentioned.
Her guide stopped upon taking note that Ella hadn’t kept up. “I’m sorry, have you changed your mind? Would you like to eat inside?”
Ella shook her head. “The balcony is great. I’d like to get some fresh air.”
The hostess nodded and Ella hurried to catch up. The second the hostess placed the menu in front of Ella, her name tag was visible.
Ella gasped. “Eloise? Eloise Callahan? Is that really you?”
Eloise blinked a few times, then peered at Ella with surprise. “Wait a minute. Ella? I barely recognized you.” She plopped down into the chair across from Ella. “I heard you were in town. Boy, how long has it been?”
“Years!” Ella gestured toward Eloise. “I feel like you’ve changed so much. How are your sisters? You used to follow Adeline around wherever she would go.”
Eloise snorted. “Okay, I wasn’t that obsessed.” She folded her hands together and rested her chin on them. “So, that restoration project I’ve been hearing about. My husband has been saying he wants to meet you. We don’t have any old buildings on the property, of course, but he’s heard about your talent with architecture, and he wants you to come out to our place and maybe give us an idea of how we can add on to our barn.”
“You’remarried?” If anyone would have still been single by the time Ella had returned home, it would have been a Callahan. And the fact that Eloise had settled down meant all her older sisters had too.
Ella had really allowed her friendships to fall to the wayside. She used to be close to Adeline, and yet she’d managed to avoid seeing her since the moment she’d arrived.
That was the problem with moving away. Friendships were harder to maintain. And yet she figured those who remained in Copper Creek wouldn’t have the same outlook. They would have expected her to make more of an effort.
Eloise held out her left hand. “I got married to Shane. I’m an Owens, now.”
Ella took her hand to examine the ring before lifting her eyes to Eloise. “I don’t think I’ve met him. He’s not a local, is he?”
“He is now,” Eloise laughed. “He owns this place.”
If Ella had been drinking something, she would have spit everything out all over the table. “You’re married to the guy who owns the club?”
Eloise laughed again. “I am. It’s a long story that I won’t bother to bore you with. But maybe you could consider stopping by sometime to see about that barn, and I could introduce you.”
“I’d like that,” Ella murmured numbly. If Eloise had managed to snag an eligible bachelor like the one who owned this new place, then what did that say about Ella? Once again, she couldn’t help but wonder what could be wrong with her that she hadn’t settled down.
Was she too harsh when it came to the opposite sex?
Ella shoved that thought aside. No, she wasn’t hard on them. She was picky. And being picky was important when it came to finding a man worth spending the rest of her life with.
