She walked away and toward the Bronco, and Ryann stared after her, still rooted in place. For some reason, the idea that these people, these complete strangers, would think that she and Maddie broke up, despite the fact that their relationship was entirely fantasy, bothered her quite a lot. They all apparently adored Maddie, so what would she tell them when Ryann was no longer around? That Ryann had left her? She didn’t like that idea one bit.

Sighing, she hurried to catch up, looking forward, at the very least, to the warmth of the car.

Chapter Eight

The drive to the bakery took them outside of town a bit—south, according to the little ball compass on the Bronco’s dashboard. The houses dropped away behind them, and wide, expansive, and seemingly empty snow-filled plains opened on both sides. The snowcapped mountains to their right were crystal clear in the afternoon sun, the snowy expanses between them and the road so white they almost blinded her. The mesmerizing sight was startling in a way. Ryann couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Maddie seemed happy to drive in silence, and she didn’t protest. For once it didn’t need to be filled. The unimaginably beautiful scene gave her enough to reflect on.

When she did finally look Maddie’s way, her gaze rested on the road in front of them, her light, untroubled expression making her appear content. She glanced her way when Ryann kept watching her.

“Yes?” Maddie asked.

“It’s really lovely out here. I guess I never realized how close the Rockies were to town.”

“Ever been to the Rockies? In another state?”

“Never. I’ve seen the Cascades, and the Sierras, and the Appalachians, of course, but never the Rockies. I always…”

“What?”

She hesitated. “I don’t want to insult you.”

“Now you really have to tell me.”

She still paused before replying. “Okay. I guess I always thought of this part of the states as fly-over country. I’m sorry. Obviously I didn’t know what I was missing.”

“How could you have known?”

She gave Maddie a grateful smile. “That’s nice of you to say. But I hate it when people make assumptions about things, and people, and places, really, and I guess I’m as guilty as anyone else.”

“Well, now you know better. And you can go back to New York and tell all your friends about it.” Maddie paused. “But not too many of them. We don’t need that many tourists.”

Maddie slowed, her directional on for a dirt road.

“There’s a bakery out here?” Ryann asked.

“Yep. One of the best, I’d argue.”

She saw the sign then, so small she would have missed it if they’d been driving faster.