At Bluebonnet Lake (Texas Crossroads Book #1): A Novel by Amanda Cabot Read Free Book Online

outside, it appeared to be a simple frame structure, curiously devoid of windows on the first story. While the second floor had the normal complement of windows and boasted a deck overlooking the lake, the first floor was unusually plain. Kate had been inside several office buildings that had windows on only one side, but this was the first time she’d encountered a building without any on an entire floor.
    She opened the door, ushering Sally inside, and looked around. Her grandmother needn’t have worried that they would be late, for there were no other guests in the room.
    Like the main lodge, this room had a ceiling with dark wooden beams. The similarities stopped there. The lodge’s ceiling was vaulted, while this one was coffered, and while the lodge’s windows were its focal point, here the walls featured beautiful wood paneling. Correction. They featured what would be beautiful wood paneling if someone took the time to clean and polish it. As it was, darker squares where artwork must have once hung detracted from the ambience, making Kate feel as if she had entered a house whose owners had recently moved out, taking most of their possessions.
    What was left were five round tables, each with a lazy Susan in the center and eight simple wooden chairs surrounding it. Only one was ready for guests, set with ironstone plates, commercial flatware, and heavy glasses. Two pitchers, one with ice water, the other filled with iced tea, were the sole items on the Susan.
    Kate tried not to frown at the evidence that there were fewer guests here than she’d realized. With only a 20 percent occupancyrate, it was no wonder that the Sinclairs had neglected some maintenance. The wonder was that they were surviving at all.
    As Kate and Sally approached the table, a teenage girl emerged from the kitchen, the tray she carried and the white apron she wore over the resort’s apparent uniform of khaki pants and a navy polo shirt with a rainbow logo telling Kate she was part of the waitstaff. Since she obviously wasn’t Kevin, she must be either Olivia or Brandi.
    “Good evening,” the teenager said as she started to unload salt and pepper shakers, a sugar bowl, and a butter dish from her tray. “I’m Olivia Hirsch. Welcome to Rainbow’s End.” A couple inches below average height, Olivia was an attractive girl with long brown hair caught into a ponytail, brown eyes, and a thin face.
    Kate introduced herself and Sally. “Do we have you to thank for the porch chairs?” she asked.
    Olivia nodded, seemingly surprised when Kate and Sally both thanked her and when Kate handed her a few folded bills. “Thanks,” Olivia said. “I can definitely use that.” Her eyes glowing with pleasure, she gestured toward the table. “You can sit anywhere you like. The others will be here soon.”
    As if on cue, two couples came through the main door. One appeared to be in their early forties. The second was younger than Kate, and the way they looked at each other and had their arms wrapped around each other’s waists made her suspect they were honeymooners. Sally would be pleased by the evidence that Rainbow’s End still appealed to newlyweds.
    The older woman, a tall blonde, smiled at Kate and Sally as she approached the table. “I’m glad to see we’ll have a full table tonight. We’re Janet and Bob Schwartz from Tampa.”
    The younger man gave his bride another smile. “And we’re Jared and Alexa Tibbits, but we didn’t come as far as the Schwartzes. We’re from El Paso.”
    The foursome’s casual attire told Kate there had been no reason to change clothes other than to please Sally. The other guests’ jeans and Western shirts would have qualified them to serve as extras in a rodeo movie.
    Kate introduced herself and Sally, explaining that they were from New Jersey and Buffalo respectively.
    “I always wanted to see the Hill Country,” Alexa announced to no one in particular. Like her husband, she was of medium height and had