Page 58 of Fire Dancer
Masseurs, maybe? Physical therapists?
“I kind of wish I’d get Svea, though,” the other said, and they both chuckled.
I pictured a buxom Swede trained in the art of healing.
The next woman I walked by — gorgeous, with coffee-colored skin and beautifully arranged cornrows — winced and rubbed her thigh, murmuring something to a blonde. Cornrows wore sweatpants, and Blondie, a robe.
Blondie nodded sympathetically. “I know how you feel. But think of it this way — another six weeks of this and you’ll have enough for that down payment.”
I couldn’t help but speculate. Down payment on a house? A car? A monthly gym membership? What income bracket were these people in?
“True. Especially with free housing,” Cornrows agreed.
“Best view of Chimney Rock in Sedona,” Blondie quipped.
I froze. Stacy had once said the exact same thing.
Over in the far corner sat a strawberry-blonde, the only restless member of the squad. A newbie, it seemed, judging by the amount of advice the others doled out.
“No need to worry, Delaney. You’ll do great,” Kelly assured her. “It’s always scary the first time.”
“Not scared,” Delaney insisted, wringing her hands. “Just excited, I guess.”
About as excited as Roscoe on a visit to the vet, if you asked me. Not that they did.
“Exciting is right,” Kelly agreed. “I heard the boss say he’s expecting a full house on Friday.”
I made a mental note to ask Nancy about that. Had she been hired to cater that event too?
“The best thing you can do now is drink. Lots,” Miss Bollywood advised Delaney.
Hydration, hydration, hydration. Maybe that’s what they consulted people on.
“Lots of meat, too,” another added.
A good thing Nancy already had steaks sizzling on the grill.
The guests roused themselves for those, sitting four to a table with panoramic views of Deer Mountain and Boynton Canyon. Whoever was paying for this gig sure was generous to their staff. And, hey. Maybe these were incredibly skilledand successful consultants who deserved every last perk for whatever exhausting work they did.
“Delicious,” one gushed over a bite of steak.
“I feel better already,” another decided.
“How many other people get to work three days on, four off?” another crowed.
Lucky people, that was for sure. Though their work certainly seemed exhausting.
“High-priced escorts,” Wendy, Nancy’s other helper, whispered, half serious, half in jest. “I bet you anything that’s what they are.”
I couldn’t decide whether to chuckle or frown because, huh. That did fit.
Nancy tut-tutted. “What some people will do for money.”
I tsked too, but then it hit me. How far would I go? Say, when it came to saving my ranch?
Suddenly, I wasn’t half as judgmental.
Still, the gears in my mind ticked over. As I made my next rounds, I studied the guests even more closely. And, oh. A whole new, horrible scenario dawned on me.