Maggie moved through the common area of the main lodge, the natural elements of the interior calming her restless heart.

John Sumner had been a preeminent architect in his professional days and he’d brought his love for structure to his design of the lodge. He’d painstakingly incorporated the very essence of the elements that made Colorado and their corner of it so special. Guests often commented that walking through the lobby and into the main room felt like stepping back outdoors.

Per John’s instructions, the construction crew had been meticulous about salvaging wood from the trees they’d had to clear for the expansion to turn into wide wooden planks for the flooring.

Just inside the massive front doors of the lodge sat two hand-carved wooden benches, designed by their contractor, Shawn Braddock, a master wood-crafter in his own right. The reception desk was one of a kind, constructed with natural pine that retained some of its original bark around the out-skirting.

Guests always seemed drawn to the great room. Glancing around the lodge, it wasn’t hard to see why. John and Valerie had created a welcoming space. Since their sons had yet to produce any grandchildren, the couple had joked that the rebuild was their “grandbaby.” With John’s architectural background and the award-winning interior design team they hired, the result had been stunning.

The large stone fireplace and soft leather couches invited people to sit and visit for a while. Intricately designed rafters of honey-colored pine stretched the expanse of the cathedral ceiling and supported two huge wagon-wheel chandeliers.

When Maggie had first heard the design team planned to use wagon wheels they’d salvaged from the abandoned barn to use as lighting, she’d thought they were crazy. She expected it to look tacky and over-the-top. But somehow the team had brought it all together. The effect was magical and stunning, a space she could get lost in, and often did.

She stared out of the picturesque windows on either side of the fireplace. The sweeping views of Canyon Creek Mountain were breathtaking. The snow sparkled under the last rays of the setting sun. The blue skies darkened to a deep purple as the sun escaped behind the peaks, leaving a chill in the late winter air.

This mountain and the land Valerie and John owned held the potential to become so much more for the community. The rebuild offered the small community job opportunities and business ventures they’d desperately needed for years.

Valerie’s excitement over her long-term vision had not only convinced Maggie and John that the reward was worth the risk, but the bank, too. The expansion was a bold and strategic move, if you had the guts to try. And Valerie did. Maggie and John were along for the ride. Or had been until John died.

Believing in your dreams is a choice, Maggie. You must decide to see the potential in spite of the risks if you ever want to achieve them. Valerie’s words floated through Maggie’s mind.

She knew the brothers had objected to the plan from the start. Valerie hadn’t told her directly, but she’d gathered as much from snippets of phone calls she’d overheard. Whenever Valerie shared an exciting piece of news about the expansion, the result was the same. The phone call was wrapped up quickly in the face of criticism and questioning.

There was no way she would let them—scratch that. There was no way she was going to let Ben Sumner walk in and destroy all they’d done here.

“Maggie,” someone called. 

She glanced behind her, scanning the great room of the lodge. She spotted Sally and Lisa Sumner, Valerie’s sisters-in-law, but also her best friends and soulmates. The Sumner boys’ absence from the funeral reception at Valerie’s house had obviously pulled them toward the lodge as well.

Sally was John’s sister, married and divorced years ago. Lisa was married to John’s younger brother, Mark. The three women had been close as children, tighter as teens, and then, eventually, sisters, even if by marriage. Maggie would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t envy their close relationship.

Normally bubbly and outgoing, the two women were now huddled together, gaining strength from one another. Sally held out her arm and Maggie walked into the older woman’s embrace. “How’s Valerie doing? I’m worried about my best friend and her brood of angry boys.” 

Sally had been the one to send Maggie up to the lodge to check on her nephews. The absence of John’s six sons was becoming a talking point for the locals back at the reception.

“They’re good,” Maggie sighed and smiled tightly. “Just talking for a minute before they come back out.” 

“Why don’t I believe you?” Sally raised a brow. 

“Go easy on her,” Lisa said. “Maggie doesn’t have it in her to lie well, and that’s a good thing. Not everyone is as cynical as you, Sal.”

Sally chuckled. “What can I say? I’m like an old Buick parked under an oak tree full of pigeons. Life has crapped on me a time or two…or twenty.”

Maggie and Lisa laughed in spite of the somber mood.

“There’s Valerie.” Maggie nodded toward the entryway of the lobby.

Valerie stood, arms wrapped around herself, her face pale and blue eyes welling with tears.

“Oh, shit.” Sally released Maggie and looked at Lisa. “We better go. She doesn’t look good.” 

As the sisters walked away, Maggie gritted her teeth, praying the boys hadn’t upset Valerie more.

Just behind Valerie, the boys appeared. Without seeking him out, her eyes locked on Ben. The tension rolled across the room, tangible in its weight. If she kept grinding her teeth like this, she’d crack a tooth.

As if sensing her gaze, Ben’s eyes met hers. His brow wrinkled as he studied Maggie from top to bottom. She couldn’t decide if he was assessing her as friend or foe. It didn’t matter. He and his brothers would be gone soon enough, leaving her and Valerie to deal with the lodge. Maggie just needed to be nice to them while they were here.

Maggie’s shoulders dropped in resignation. She wanted to fight the Sumner men on Valerie’s behalf but she didn’t have it in her. Not today. Days spent at the hospital holding vigil over John after his initial heart attack and then being by Valerie’s side since his death had taken a toll on Maggie. 

The brothers slowly dispersed, presumably heading back down to the house. Good. Maybe the community would encourage Ben and his brothers not to do anything rash, like sell the lodge. They had to see how important it was to the whole town. How important it was to her. She wouldn’t let them come in and stomp on her dreams, on Valerie’s dreams.

She glanced around the great room of the lodge, feeling John Sumner’s presence in every minute detail. Even without him, she could still see the potential. She truly believed she and Valerie could still achieve what they’d set out to accomplish. Maggie just had to make the Sumner boys see it, too.