Page 2 of Worth the Trouble

She stumbled on that thought and caught herself against a tree with both hands. She stood there breathing in and out until the trail was only a trail again. Then she walked the rest of the way back.

When she got back to the lodge, there was a note on the desk in her room. Apparently, her father needed to meet with the town council.

Without her.

That didn’t sound very smart. Her father knew better than to go into a meeting like that without her. One wrong word and they’d both be shoved out the door. She was the one who knew how to read people. She was the one who gave him the tips he needed to woo the more influential people.

Irritation pushed her into the shower and to change her clothes so she could head to town. Running had done nothing to blow off the steam that had been building inside her since she’d gotten up this morning. She had the strangest urge to defy her father’s wishes and go to town. There was a lot that could be learned if someone knew how to listen for it. Maybe she could discover how to get the locals off their backs.

Then their trip would come to a close and they’d be off to bigger and better things.

Ignoring the twinge in her heart that was already threatening to drag her under at leaving this place, Cecelia pushed her way out of the lodge and headed to the hub of Rocky Ridge.

She’d made sure to bring jeans, but even she could tell they weren’t exactly what the people here wore. Everywhere she went, she was witness to the class differences between the lifestyle her father had offered her and what the people here led.

There was no judgment on her part.

If anything, she disliked how much she stood out.

Her carefully styled dark hair was probably impractical when it came to working outdoors, especially when it came to inclement weather like wind. Her makeup was perfection, and she wished she hadn’t put so much effort into it. The blouse she’d paired with her jeans was silk and that was probably her biggest mistake.

Cecelia popped into a boutique clothing store the first chance she got. The gal behind the counter smiled warmly at her. But her eyes dipped to take in her whole attire, and she knew what she was looking at.

A tourist.

And the tight line of her mouth said everything she wouldn’t.

You’re an outsider, but even outsider money has value.

When had Cecelia gotten to be so jaded?

She sighed as she thumbed through the racks of button-down shirts until she found a shirt that wouldn’t make her stick out like a sore thumb. Then she picked out a pair of boots that didn’t look like they’d come from the runway during Fashion Week.

Cecelia paid for her new belongings then gestured toward the dressing rooms. “Mind if I change?”

The shop girl shook her head. “Go for it.”

Once she was more comfortable, Cecelia headed back out onto the street that ran through the middle of town. She drank in all the sights greedily.

There was a bakery with the most delicious desserts on display in the large windows. Brownies had to be the favorite around here because their display was already halfway gone. But there was so much more being offered and Cecelia made a mental note to swing back around to pick up a box for later.

She passed by a diner named the Sip ’n Shop. The windows had been painted to advertise their current special along with some fun seasonal pictures of animals.

Cecelia couldn’t decide which looked better for dinner options. There was the barbecue place or the steakhouse. Seeing as she’d be in town for longer than expected, she knew she’d get to try the food at both places. A small town like this probably didn’t deliver, though, so she’d have to work out a good time to eat there.

Her steps slowed as she stopped outside Montana Jewels.

New York wasn’t without its glitz and glam. There were several jewelers that people flocked to and all because of the name that came along with those bracelets or earrings. Montana Jewels might not have the same kind of reputation that a place like Tiffany’s boasted, but that didn’t stop them from offering some pretty magnificent pieces. Every piece was handcrafted by Montana artists, or that’s what the logo on the window said.

She stared at the wedding ring display with wonder. Most were detailed and delicate, and she couldn’t imagine the hours of intense work that had gone into them. Cecelia saw one that had rubies set all the way around the band. Even though it was a wedding band, she was considering trying it on.

Someone inside moved, drawing Cecelia’s attention. She blushed then as the pretty store owner gave her a little wave. She’d been thinking about going inside, and now that she’d been seen, she felt compelled to go in to browse a little more.

“Hi,” Cece said as she walked into the store.

“Welcome. I’m Suzannah. Anything special you’re looking for?”

“Not really. I’m in town for business and just checking out the downtown area.” Cece smiled and reminded herself to not share too much information. Small towns had gossip pipelines that could get her into trouble.