Discovering Gold

by S. M. Spencer

  She stood there in awe. The house smelled of lavender. Then she remembered something Mr West had said about her uncle having employed both a gardener and a housekeeper. Whoever had been doing the housekeeping had done a brilliant job, and she couldn’t fault the gardener either.

  Making her way toward the back of the house, she located her uncle’s study. She entered, surprised at how organised it was. A large mahogany desk sat facing a window that overlooked the large park across the road. Cabinets, also made of mahogany, held files and binders that were all labelled. A filing cabinet sat in the corner, with pull out drawers filled with loose files. She’d have to go through the files at some stage over the next week, but not this minute.

  As she continued to explore each room the house grew on her, and she got a sense that not only could she see herself staying for the rest of her visit, she could actually see herself living in this house.

  And just as that thought started to develop there was a rap on the front door. Had someone seen her come in? Perhaps the local welcoming committee?

  Chapter 5

  Travis couldn’t get the image of Alex out of his mind. He’d been trying to focus on his horses, but every time his concentration lapsed for even a moment her green eyes were there—flashing—igniting something he wanted to leave buried deep.

  Not having a woman in his life was a decision he’d made after his divorce—he didn’t need that kind of heartache ever again—but even if he did, the last woman he should be getting fixated on was Alex Mason. For one thing, she didn’t even live in the country. And for another thing, she was a Mason.

  He dismounted and rubbed the young gelding’s neck before tying him to the hitching post. The gelding was ready, so the last-minute substitution wasn’t a huge issue for the rodeo, but the filly would have brought a better price. This gelding worked well, but he didn’t have anywhere near the visual appeal of the filly.

  When he spotted Denver driving up, he called out and waved him over.

  Denver parked, then approached with the stand-offs in his hands. ‘Thought I’d go fix that fence while I’m thinking about it,’ he said, stopping next to him and rubbing the gelding’s nose.

  ‘Good idea. It won’t take more than a few minutes. What else have you got planned for the day?’

  Denver looked at him sheepishly. ‘I wanted to work on the dance floor and bandstand. Party’s in just over a week, you know. You haven’t forgotten about it, have you?’

  Travis huffed as he shook his head. Forget? How could he forget the party that Denver talked about daily? He knew it was important to Denver, so he was trying to be enthusiastic, but one side of him knew he’d cancel it if he had his druthers. ‘How could I? Look, you work on the dance floor, and I’ll put this guy out and then go check the cattle.’

  ‘You sure? I can go check them as soon as I’m done; it won’t take me long.’

  Travis had to laugh at that. Nothing would take long, where Denver was concerned. He was a glass-half-full sort of person if ever there was one. He patted his younger brother on the shoulder. ‘Go, before I change my mind.’

  Travis waited for Denver to walk off, and when he didn’t, Travis asked the question that was burning inside him. ‘And did you invite her?’

  Denver looked at him with the innocence of a two-day old foal. ‘Invite her? Who are we talking about?’

  Travis scowled. As if he didn’t know.

  Denver barely concealed a sly grin. ‘Oh, her, yeah, I thought about it, but then you walked in and we never got back to talking about music and dancing. Do you think I should’ve mentioned it?’

  Travis did his best to keep all emotion from both his voice and his face. He wasn’t sure he managed, however. ‘It’s your party, little bro. You can invite whoever you want.’

  Denver looked over his shoulder toward the back pastures, a slow smile creeping onto his face. When he turned back to him, he lifted an eyebrow. ‘You seem rather interested in her. Has she gotten under that tough skin of yours?’

  ‘Watch it, Den, or I might change my mind about things.’

  Denver let out a huge laugh and started back toward his pickup. ‘Yeah, reckon I’ll invite her. Wish I knew how to get a hold of her.’

  ‘You do, you big oaf. She told you. She’s staying at the Tower Bridge Inn.’

  ‘Oh yeah, she did too. How’d I miss that?’

  Travis didn’t reply as he went back to grab the gelding to untack him and put him out, but he did think about the conversation. The thing was, he was uncertain whether he was excited or terrified.

  ~~*~~

  Alex peaked out the living room window where she could just make out the profile of a tall man wearing a dark blue suit. He looked out of place on this warm day in this casual small town, but nothing about him seemed menacing.

  She opened the door, finding him talking on his phone. He quickly apologised to the caller and shoved the phone in his pocket before reaching out his hand and pasting a huge smile on his face.

  ‘Ms Mason, I assume?’

  She stared at his outstretched hand for some time and then looked up at his face. ‘Yes, and you are?’

  ‘Phil Marshall, of Marks and Marshall Realty, at your service.’

  Estate agent. She placed her hand in his, gave it a quick shake, and then pulled it away. She’d take Travis Gold’s calloused working-man’s hand any day over this man’s damp one. The thought startled her—it had come out of nowhere.

  ‘What can I do for you Mr Marshall?’

  ‘Call me Phil, please. And it’s not what you can do for me; it’s what I can do for you. Have you got a few minutes to talk?’

  Alex wanted to say no, but that seemed far too rude. Instead, she cocked her head and bit her lip. ‘A few minutes. Sure.’

  He hesitated for just a moment, as if expecting her to invite him in. When she didn’t, he continued. ‘Great. I’ve had a bit of interest in this property—several people have asked if I know what the owner is going to do, and I don’t think you’ll have any trouble getting quite a good price. Shall I put together a proposal for you?’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘Oh, well, naturally I assumed you’ll be selling this property, along with the others in town? I understand you’re Australian, and … well, correct me if I’m wrong, but I assumed you’ll be selling everything.’

  ‘That is a rather bold assumption, Mr … I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your name.’

  She hadn’t forgotten it. She just wanted to shrink his ego a bit. His shoulders dropped as he took a breath, telling her the ploy had worked. He seemed much closer to her height now.

  ‘It’s Marshall. Phil Marshall, of Marks and Marshall Realty.’

  ‘Yes, of course, Mr Marshall. I haven’t decided what I’ll be doing with any of the properties. I only arrived in the country a few days ago, so you’ll appreciate I will need a bit of time to digest everything and make some decisions.’

  He fished in his pocket and pulled out a business card. ‘By all means. My apologies if I’ve overstepped the mark. I was passing by and saw your car. I knew who it must be, you know? Anyway, I wanted to make sure you know I’m here to help, in whatever way I can.’

  She took his card, glanced at it, and shoved it into her jeans pocket. ‘Thanks, again. I appreciate your willingness to help, in any way you can. I may just take you up on your offer, once I’ve had a chance to make some decisions.’

  ‘I hope you do, Ms Mason. I sincerely hope you do.’

  ~~*~~

  Travis hosed off the young gelding and put him in a pen with a flake of alfalfa. He’d worked hard and deserved an extra feed before going out into the pasture with the rest of the youngsters. He watched as the horse began eating, enjoying the sound of his munching. There was something about the sound that always relaxed him.

  Well, usually.

&nbs
p; Today it wasn’t working. All he could see while looking at the deep green alfalfa leaves was a pair of flashing green eyes in a face bordered by flame red hair.

  He wondered if Denver would invite her to his party. Even if he didn’t, Masons Flat was a small town. If she planned on hanging around for any length of time, he’d see her again.

  Not that seeing her was a good idea.

  In fact, it was without a doubt a bad idea.

  So why did his heart race at the thought of her? What spell had she cast on him that kept her floating across his mind?

  He walked into the barn, glanced at the filly’s bandage to ensure it hadn’t slipped, and then went inside to grab the keys to the Kabota rural terrain vehicle, or The Beast, as he and Denver usually called it. He’d check the cattle and focus on his chores. Then he’d work another of the youngsters, and with a bit of luck, he’d be able to push all thoughts of Alex Mason aside.

  ~~*~~

  Thinking about Travis Gold’s handshake had been a mistake as now she couldn’t get those dark eyes of his out of her mind. She’d met men who were more handsome than him, indeed she’d married one. But she’d never met a man who had brought out such an immediate and strong physical reaction in her, and it had her on edge.

  As the estate agent drove off, Alex let out a sigh of relief. She’d never been attracted to men like him—forward, and full of false compliments. Or had she? Wasn’t Liam a bit that way? Hadn’t he won her over with his charm and compliments?

  A wave of nausea surprised her as memories of the way her marriage had ended came flooding back. She’d been such a fool. Why couldn’t she have seen then what she could see so clearly now? Was it just the contrast to a serious man like Travis Gold that made her realise those overly charming types weren’t for her?

  She did a mental face palm. Why was she using Travis Gold, a man she barely knew, as a comparison to anyone? She frowned, once again blaming the jetlag for her inability to stay on topic. She was here to investigate her assets and make some decisions. And now that she could see how nice this house was, her next task would be to get shifted in. Why pay for a hotel in Sacramento when she could stay here?

  As she continued her walk-through of the house, she liked what she saw until she reached the laundry and dread washed over her. The back door was ajar. She reached for the doorknob and when it didn’t turn in her hand, she knew that meant it was locked, but when she pushed it shut it popped right back open. It wasn’t catching properly. She looked at it carefully, and her heart sank further. It didn’t have a deadlock, just the flimsy lock in the door handle.

  At least there was a screen door. She tested it, disappointed to find that not only was it not locked, it didn’t even have a lock.

  Country people were often less concerned with security than city people—she knew that, as it was the same in Australia—but this was a relatively new house. Her uncle must have been completely blasé about security not to have a deadbolt, or at least a locking screen door.

  She couldn’t stay in the house this way. She’d have to get it fixed before she could move in, and that meant she’d need either a locksmith or a carpenter; quickly.

  Chapter 6

  Alex knew a carpenter who claimed to be pretty good at his job. And no doubt Sam could tell her how to contact him.

  When she dropped in, Sam greeted her with a warm smile. ‘I didn’t expect to see you again quite so soon. Couldn’t get enough of our fine offerings?’

  She chuckled. ‘Lunch was superb, but I’m actually here for some information.’

  He ducked his head conspiratorially and whispered. ‘You’ve come to the right spot if information is what you’re after.’

  As the expression small town gossips came to mind, she decided she’d spare the details.

  ‘I stopped in at my uncle’s house … well, I guess it’s mine now, but anyway … I wondered if you knew who did his gardening and housekeeping?’

  ‘Oh, the housekeeper would be Hilda Weston. She does some of the cleaning here for us as well. Why, is something wrong?’

  ‘No, not at all. I’d like to speak to her about continuing, that’s all.’

  He let out a sigh. ‘She’ll be pleased to hear that. Here, I’ll jot down her name and number for you. I’m not sure about the gardens, but it might have been the neighbour.’

  ‘Thanks, Sam. Oh … and while I was there I spotted a few things that need fixing and I recalled Denver Gold being a carpenter, but I don’t know how to get in touch with him.’

  ‘Denver? Well, his place isn’t far from your uncle’s. Probably about ten minutes down the road. I don’t have his number handy, but I can tell you how to get there.’

  ~~*~~

  Alex followed Sam’s instructions and stopped at the entrance gates. A large sign on the side stated Welcome to Gold’s Ranch, home of Gold’s Hereford Cattle and T & D Golden Bar Quarter Horses. She was in the right place.

  She drove through the gate and headed along the tree lined driveway. There were paddocks on both sides of the drive, and the one on the right held some of the cattle. At first, she wasn’t even able to see the house but finally she spotted a structure ahead. The home was single storey, made of timber and stone, and looked massive. When she reached the circular drive at the front, she realised that although the house was quite large, what had appeared to be another wing of the house was actually a huge barn.

  Parking, she got out to have a look around, and that’s when she spotted a rider in an outdoor arena off to the right. Her instincts told her it was Travis, not Denver, but her feet seemed to have a mind of their own as she found herself walking toward the fence.

  She knew nothing about horses other than what she’d seen at the races and the occasional agricultural show, but something told her that both this horse and its rider were special. Travis seemed as one with the horse as it ducked and weaved in the enclosed arena, chasing the cow in what was almost like a game of cat and mouse as the cow looked to be enjoying the game as well. She didn’t once see Travis lift his hands or give the horse any instructions, so as far as she knew it might be done with mental telepathy.

  She stood there for several minutes watching him before he noticed her. When he finally looked over, the cow had been coerced into a small pen, and the horse stood guard at its entrance. Both the horse and the cow looked worn-out, and she wondered how long he’d been at this before she’d arrived.

  He dismounted, gave the horse a pat on the neck and then walked over and shut the gate of the pen. Then he turned and walked toward her, leading the horse behind him.

  ‘We meet again. Twice in one day,’ he said in a monotone that didn’t give away his feelings about seeing her.

  Somehow, he seemed less intimidating than he had earlier, taking up less of her personal space than he had in the confines of the saloon. Or maybe he was simply in his element here, making him seem more relaxed. But when he removed his hat and sunglasses, she could see his eyes; they were smouldering. Or was she imagining that?

  ‘I … uh … was looking for Denver. I need a carpenter, and I’ve heard he’s the best in town.’

  Travis rubbed the back of his hand across his forehead and then put his sunglasses back on. ‘Ah, right, and so he is. He’s out at the back of the house, working on the dance floor.’

  Her eyebrow quirked involuntarily, and she wished it hadn’t. She reached up and pretended to remove some hair from her face.

  ‘Is it okay if I go back there to find him?’

  When Travis hesitated a moment, she thought he might say no. Then he put his hat back on, and reached behind him and patted the horse on the neck. ‘Sure. I’d take you myself but I need to hose this guy off—he’s had a good workout this afternoon.’

  ‘Well, I’m far from an expert on horses, but he sure looked great. Did he do everything himself, or were you giving him signals I couldn’
t see?’

  Now Travis smiled, and it changed his whole demeanour. ‘He did most of it himself. I’ve been working with him for almost a year now. He has some of the best instincts I’ve come across.’

  ‘Is he a horse you bred? I mean, I saw the sign when I came in, so I assume you breed horses here?’

  He nodded slowly, and then turned to look over his shoulder toward the back of the house. The gesture felt dismissive; like he wanted her to go already, but when he turned back to her his words belied his body language. ‘Yeah, he’s out of a well-bred mare I purchased a couple of years back. He’s her first and she’s had two more who I hope will turn out just as good.’

  ‘If you trained him, and you’ll be training the others, they’ll no doubt be as good.’ She bit her bottom lip as she finished speaking. She knew nothing about breeding horses or training animals, so why had she even said that? Was it just the need to say something positive? An excuse to stand there and talk to him?

  When he didn’t respond other than to again reach back and pat the horse, she continued. ‘Right, well I guess I better go find Denver and see if he’s got some time to help me.’

  Travis huffed. ‘Oh, he’ll find time, trust me.’

  She frowned, not sure what he meant, but hoping he simply meant that Denver was a helpful sort of person. She liked Denver, but she wasn’t interested in him. Or at least not in the way she could be in Travis, if she allowed herself to be. Which she had no intention of doing.

  ~~*~~

  Travis watched her walk away, disappointed he hadn’t thought of something clever to say to her. Then he kicked himself for that thought. After all, why should he want to impress her? He didn’t need someone like her in his life—she was a Mason, and a city girl. But even if she wasn’t either of those, he didn’t need any woman to complicate his life at the moment. His life was fine just as it was—no woman, no trouble.

  He ordered himself to stop thinking about her as he patted the gelding on the neck and led him out of the arena to the hitching post. Unfortunately, that spot provided an excellent view to the lawn area behind the house, exactly where Denver was building his dance floor.