“Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. I’ll go and check on the horses while you take care of that.”
Roy was still strong and healthy, but Ethan could tell he was slowing down. He was glad to be here to help out a bit, but he knew Roy needed help all the time. After shoveling for an hour, Ethan knew exactly what he was bringing Roy. A tractor with the snow shovel adaptor. Because even at thirty-one, his muscles were feeling it.
He turned and looked back towards the cabin. The path had already been covered with fresh snow. If there was cell service here, Ethan would have the tractor delivered tomorrow because it looked like they were about to get snowed in.
I wonder how Kollette is going to feel about that? Hope she didn’t plan on leaving any time soon.
Kollette had no idea what had changed. She had meant it when she offered to assist Ethan. Maybe he really didn’t want her help. But if that was the case, then he should’ve said something instead of letting her think that…
“Kollette, is something troubling you?” Mabel asked.
She turned her attention back to Mabel and said, “Sorry. I was thinking of…”
“Ethan?” she asked. Kollette nodded. “He’s a nice young man, don’t you think?”
“I wouldn’t know. We just met,” she replied.
“He’s been coming to visit with us for years now.”
Visit.“He must like vacationing here if he keeps coming back.” Although Roy and Mabel were very accommodating, this wasn’t a place she’d come back to on her own accord.
“Everyone has their reasons for stopping by.”
“How long have you and your husband run the inn?” Kollette asked.
Mabel stopped peeling the apples and said, “We don’t run an inn.”
“Oh. I mean lodge,” she corrected.
“We don’t run a lodge either.”
There were so many different terms one could use. Hotel, lodge, inn, B&B and the list could go on. Potters Peak could call itself whatever they wanted. It really didn’t matter. It held some charm, but as far as Kollette could tell, they weren’t utilizing its full potential. And realistically, at this point, she knew they never would. Roy and Mabel seemed happy with how things were.
What they called it wasn’t needed for her report so she opted to change the subject. “Would you like me to finish peeling the apples so you can make the crust?”
“Are you sure you don’t want to do it? It’s not as hard as you’d think,” Mabel said.
“Maybe next time. How long have you and Roy lived here?” she asked.
“Since the day we got married,” Mabel replied. Kollette chucked softly. “Did I say something funny?”
“No. I was just thinking what this place looked like when you moved here all those years ago.”
“There wasn’t anything here. Roy built this place himself.”
Kollette looked around the kitchen and asked, “You mean the entire place?”
“Yes. He did have help,” Mabel stated.
“I bet he had an entire crew, but I’m still impressed.”
“I wouldn’t call myself a crew.”
“You? You’re the one who built this with Roy?” Kollette asked even more shocked.
“His brothers came and helped with getting the roof on, but you’d be amazed what you can do when you’re tired of sleeping in a tent. But Roy knew what he wanted, and wasn’t going to let anything stop him until it was done.”
She knew if they decided this spot was right for a new hotel, this cabin would be torn down. Before it didn’t bother her. It was just a cabin. Now it was so much more. It was Roy and Mabel’s blood, sweat and…home. “You two did an amazing job.”