mirror, another big-screen TV, several comfortable chairs, and a desk. “I already changed the sheets,” Angie said. “Make yourself at home. I cleared out closet and drawer space for you. I think we’re still the same size, so wear anything you want. “The bath is in here.”
“Wow,” Celia said with a low whistle. “I’m impressed.”
His and her sinks were at opposite ends of a long vanity. A huge sunken bathtub filled one corner and a Jacuzzi sat in the other. A glass shower stall stood against one wall and there were two commodes, each with a privacy screen, at opposite ends of the room. The cool light green color scheme relaxed Celia and she decided first thing she’d do after her cousin left would be to take a long, satisfying bath in the tub.
Angie giggled. “Don’t tell anyone , but I am, too. Here’s the walk-in closet.” She opened the door to a space larger than Celia’s childhood bedroom. “Let’s go upstairs.”
Once they climbed the steps, Celia realized the second floor wasn’t as large as she’d thought. Half of the space remained open over the great room but two large bedrooms were against the south wall, each decorated with an earth tone color scheme. “The bath’s at the end of the hall,” Angie told her. “There’s loft space to make another bedroom someday. Justin swears he’ll build me an office downstairs if I want , but I’ve got plenty of room. His office space is in the main barn—you’ll have to check it out. I swear it’s as big as the Oval Office at the White House.”
“That’s not true, girl.”
Celia grinned. She recognized Justin Broussard’s voice, richer than caramel, deeper than swamp water.
“Don’t be lying to Celia already.”
Unlike the two cousins, Justin grew up in New Orleans, the son of “old money.” His prosperous banking family was Creole, not Cajun. His older brother inherited the bank a Broussard founded before the Civil War but Justin’s Grand’Mere bought her favorite grandchild a bank in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. He’d chosen it and done well enough to buy the ranch, then build Angie’s dream house. Angie squealed and dashed down the last few steps into his arms.
Celia watched with a mixture of delight and envy. They were a pair, she thought, made for each other despite their d iverse upbringing. After a long kiss, the couple stepped apart and Justin opened his arms to hug Celia. She embraced him and inhaled the scent of the Aramis he favored. If she hadn’t known better, though, she’d have taken him for an ordinary Oklahoma rancher in his worn blue jeans, scuffed boots, and plaid shirt. “I hate to say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ in one sentence, but we need to head out or we’ll never get to the airport in Tulsa in time to catch our flight.”
“You’re leaving now?” Weary as she was, Celia had hoped to spend a little while catching up with her cousin. They’d grown up close as sisters but before they could say howdy-do, Angie would be heading off to China for a year.
“We have to, cher,” Angie told her. “Our bags are all packed and Chuck’s ready to drive us. He’ll be back here later this evening with the car but I doubt you’ll hear him. All the vehicles are in the garage behind the main barn.”
“He’s the farm guy?”
“Ranch manager,” Angie corrected. “And the bunkhouse is a ways past the barns. You’ll cross paths sooner or later but that’s about it.”
Justin checked his watch. “It’s time, girl,” he said. “Take care, Celia. If you need anything, just call the satellite phone. Angie can give you the number and as soon as we’re settled in Beijing, she’ll give you our number there.”
Angie chimed in. “And I’ll email you, just like we always do. You’ll hardly know I’m gone.” Celia doubted it but nodded. “Okay, anything else I need to know about the place ? Are there snakes or anything?”
“No more than
“Wow,” Celia said with a low whistle. “I’m impressed.”
His and her sinks were at opposite ends of a long vanity. A huge sunken bathtub filled one corner and a Jacuzzi sat in the other. A glass shower stall stood against one wall and there were two commodes, each with a privacy screen, at opposite ends of the room. The cool light green color scheme relaxed Celia and she decided first thing she’d do after her cousin left would be to take a long, satisfying bath in the tub.
Angie giggled. “Don’t tell anyone , but I am, too. Here’s the walk-in closet.” She opened the door to a space larger than Celia’s childhood bedroom. “Let’s go upstairs.”
Once they climbed the steps, Celia realized the second floor wasn’t as large as she’d thought. Half of the space remained open over the great room but two large bedrooms were against the south wall, each decorated with an earth tone color scheme. “The bath’s at the end of the hall,” Angie told her. “There’s loft space to make another bedroom someday. Justin swears he’ll build me an office downstairs if I want , but I’ve got plenty of room. His office space is in the main barn—you’ll have to check it out. I swear it’s as big as the Oval Office at the White House.”
“That’s not true, girl.”
Celia grinned. She recognized Justin Broussard’s voice, richer than caramel, deeper than swamp water.
“Don’t be lying to Celia already.”
Unlike the two cousins, Justin grew up in New Orleans, the son of “old money.” His prosperous banking family was Creole, not Cajun. His older brother inherited the bank a Broussard founded before the Civil War but Justin’s Grand’Mere bought her favorite grandchild a bank in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. He’d chosen it and done well enough to buy the ranch, then build Angie’s dream house. Angie squealed and dashed down the last few steps into his arms.
Celia watched with a mixture of delight and envy. They were a pair, she thought, made for each other despite their d iverse upbringing. After a long kiss, the couple stepped apart and Justin opened his arms to hug Celia. She embraced him and inhaled the scent of the Aramis he favored. If she hadn’t known better, though, she’d have taken him for an ordinary Oklahoma rancher in his worn blue jeans, scuffed boots, and plaid shirt. “I hate to say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ in one sentence, but we need to head out or we’ll never get to the airport in Tulsa in time to catch our flight.”
“You’re leaving now?” Weary as she was, Celia had hoped to spend a little while catching up with her cousin. They’d grown up close as sisters but before they could say howdy-do, Angie would be heading off to China for a year.
“We have to, cher,” Angie told her. “Our bags are all packed and Chuck’s ready to drive us. He’ll be back here later this evening with the car but I doubt you’ll hear him. All the vehicles are in the garage behind the main barn.”
“He’s the farm guy?”
“Ranch manager,” Angie corrected. “And the bunkhouse is a ways past the barns. You’ll cross paths sooner or later but that’s about it.”
Justin checked his watch. “It’s time, girl,” he said. “Take care, Celia. If you need anything, just call the satellite phone. Angie can give you the number and as soon as we’re settled in Beijing, she’ll give you our number there.”
Angie chimed in. “And I’ll email you, just like we always do. You’ll hardly know I’m gone.” Celia doubted it but nodded. “Okay, anything else I need to know about the place ? Are there snakes or anything?”
“No more than
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