She gazed up at the clear blue sky and smiled. She had a good feeling that today her luck was about to turn around. Just then, a bubblegum-pink and vibrant-blue hot air balloon drifted into her line of vision. How beautiful. Alexis watched, fascinated, as it lazily floated over the edge of town. What must it be like to ride in one?
She stood there watching until the balloon drifted out of view. Then she realized that she’d better get a move on. She had important business to attend to with one very sexy cowboy, but first she was going to get her morning run in. Just because she was away from home didn’t mean that she could slack off on her exercise and diet routine.
All warmed up, she set off down Ponderosa Street toward the big mountain in the distance. If her memory served her right, when she’d researched Whistle Stop there had been a brief mention of the Rocky Mountains and this was…was Roca Mountain. It certainly was very impressive in size—very impressive.
At that hour of the morning, there was a distinct chill in the air, hinting at the cooler months that would soon be here. She jogged the length of Ponderosa Street and then swung north on Silver Avenue, using Roca Mountain to keep her oriented. This road led her to a residential area with colorful adobe bungalows. Unfortunately, there were a lot of for-sale signs. She recalled reading that the population had shrunk in the past few years as people were forced to move elsewhere for jobs. Hopefully, when the resort was built, it would turn the declining economy around for the residents of Whistle Stop.
After making her way around the outskirts of Whistle Stop, she turned onto Main Street and headed for the town square. The center of the town. The epicenter of activity. The heart of Whistle Stop.
Alexis stopped in her tracks.
What in the world?
She sucked in one deep breath after the other as her body cooled down. Her eyes scanned the town square. Someone had taken the time to trim the shrubs and cut the grass, but that’s where the TLC abruptly ended. Some of the benches lining the cracked sidewalks were broken and wrapped with yellow caution tape. Her gaze moved to the gazebo that had white paint peeling from the pillars. Even some of the shingles were missing. And the tall clock that stood off to the side of the park no longer kept time.
If she looked hard, she could see the beauty beneath the years of neglect, but it didn’t negate the sadness of seeing the park in such poor condition. Why had everyone given up on it? This was the place where the townsfolk should gather and share bits of their day. It should be the glue that made the town special—picnics, carnivals, farmers’ markets, and the list went on.
A breeze rushed past her, sweeping some lose strands of hair into her face. Carried with the fresh air was the most delightful scent of cinnamon. Alexis inhaled a much deeper breath. Her empty stomach rumbled. If she were smart, she’d turn right around and head back to the motel. But she did need to seek out some coffee. The coffeemaker
in her room would do in a moment of desperation, but she craved some really good java.
Her gaze moved around the town square and settled on Poppin’ Fresh Bakery. Its candy-pink and frosting-white awning rustled in the breeze. And the name was scrolled over the big picture window in teal and white paint. It looked new and cheery.
Alexis gravitated across the town square to the cute bakery. She really shouldn’t go in. It would take a lot more than her morning run to burn off the calories awaiting her. She was just about to turn away when a young man rushed out the door with a white box of goodies. The most enticing aroma of coffee mingled with baked sugary treats tempted and teased Alexis. How could she walk away now? After all, it was her duty to make sure that Whistle Stop would fit HSG’s image for the resort.
She rushed inside and immediately spotted the coffee machine. Inwardly she cheered. Morning just wasn’t right without a good cup of coffee. She promised herself that she’d stick to her diet. She’d get a large coffee and slip right back out the door. Easy peasy.
“Hi, can I help you?” A young woman with a friendly smile stood ready to fill her order.
“Just a tall coffee with cream.”
“No problem.” The woman, whose dark hair was pulled back in a braid that trailed midway down her back, turned to grab a cup. “Are you new to Whistle Stop?”
“Um…yes. I just got in last night.”
The young woman lifted one of the coffee pots and steam billowed from it. “You’ll like it here. Lots of great people.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to the town square?”
“The economy. Young people are moving away for work, and with less money coming in, the town council voted to cut back on the upkeep.”
“That’s a shame.” Her research into the town hadn’t turned up anything about the neglect of the town square. She’d make sure to mention in her presentation to the town council how revenue from the resort would help with its upkeep. “It looks like it was really quite a beautiful park in its day.”
“It was.”
“I also noticed the old train depot on my way into town. How long ago did the train stop servicing the area?”
“They did away with stopping here years ago when the town started to die off.” The young woman reached into the fridge behind the counter and pulled out the creamer. “By the way, I’m Piper. I own this place.”
Alexis made a mental note to add the train depot to her growing list projects. “Hi. I’m Alexis. I’m from New York.”
“Oh, so you’re the lady everyone’s talking about.” Piper smiled broadly.
“They’re talking about me?” Somehow, that did not sound good, not good at all.
“Don’t worry. The gossip mill is always talking about something or someone. I wouldn’t worry. By this afternoon, they’ll be on to something new.” Piper placed the hot coffee on the counter. Her diamond ring sparkled beneath the bright lights. “What else can I get you?”
Alexis’s gaze strayed to the glass display case that held cinnamon rolls. “Uh…nothing.”