Free Love on the Buchanan Ranch (A Romance Story) by Elizabeth Nelson Page A

they came to a long driveway that was lined in a beautiful rock fence. The brass ardor above the driveway said: Denton Oil. When they got close to the house, Stacey could see that it was actually a mansion. There was a marble staircase that led up to the front door, and gorgeous stone fountains adorned each side, shooting out streams of colored water.
     
    After turning the car over to the valets, and ascending the large staircase, they were greeted at the door by the hostess herself, Mrs. Denton. Stacey could tell that the dress the woman wore was probably worth more than Stacey would make this entire year, and the rope of diamonds around her neck didn’t even come close to outshining the rock on the ring finger of her left hand.
     
    She greeted Nate warmly, and she seemed to be genuine when he introduced Stacey and she welcomed her to their home.
     
    “Stanley is flitting around here somewhere,” she said, talking about her husband Stacey assumed. “He’s probably got some poor sap cornered, talking about his favorite subject, oil,” she said with a smile.
     
    Stacey and Nate thanked her, and made their way inside. There must have been over two hundred people in the room. It was definitely big enough to hold them all. The ceilings spanned at least thirty feet, and the largest French doors Stacey had ever seen opened up to a patio and what looked from here like acres or even miles of perfect lawn. Professional looking servers all dressed in black were making the rounds with hor d'oeuvres and flutes of champagne.
     
    Stacey followed Nate, her arm linked in his, as he made the rounds of the room. None of these people seemed to her to be the type to patronize her diner, but Stacey made mental notes about who was wearing what, and who was there with whom so at the very least she could use the information to make Edith and Vicki happy. Stacey also noticed that Nate hadn’t actually mentioned the diner or that she was the manager of it once since they had been there. One of the wives asked Nate where he had met Stacey, and he actually just said, “Through my Daddy.” Stacey was sure after only a short time that his spiel about marketing the diner was just a ruse to get her to agree to come to this dinner.
     
    They eventually found their table. They were seated with two other couples, both of whom Nate knew. One of the couples was from Dallas, and the man was the son of one of the Cattlemen that was up for an award tonight. The woman was young, and beautiful. She nodded her head at Stacey when they were introduced, but that was the only acknowledgment she would give her the entire night. The other couple was older, the man himself the owner of a stockyard out of Austin. The woman was laden with diamonds as Mrs. Deming had been, and like the younger woman, had no interest in conversation with Stacey. Dinner started out with a lobster bisque soup which was incredible. Stacey found herself wishing she was able to ask the cook for the recipe. Next, a salad was served, and then finally an entrée of Prime rib and loaded baked potato. The steak was so juicy and tender; it literally melted in her mouth. Stacey had been to a lot of formal dinners as the wife of a doctor over the years, but she had to say that this was the best dinner she had ever been served. As the night wore on, Stacey soon realized that dinner had been the best of it. She got plenty of flirts and stares from the men, most of them old enough to be her father. One old drunk had even invited her upstairs with him while Nate was out of ear shot. She hadn’t said anything, not wanting to make a scene. Instead she just walked away, and hoped he was too drunk to remember her, if she ever ran into him again. None of the women were very friendly. They seemed to be of only two types: The new, young trophy wife who could probably borrow clothes and shoes from some of their grand daughters, and the old, rich, and probably perpetually cheated on wives who only acted