He wanted her to know how much better his life was with her in it. Both his and Annie’s, actually.
She was so good with Annie—but she was so much more than a role model for Annie. She’d made him feel alive again. She’d given him something to look forward to. She’d given him love.
Was that the word he was searching for? Did he love her? Was he falling in love with her?
He drained the last of his beer and ordered another, then turned to look around the room. That’s when he noticed a stranger, sitting a bit further along the bar, with a phone pressed to his ear. He wasn’t sure why he’d suddenly noticed him, until he overheard a bit of the man’s conversation.
The voice seemed familiar—had he spoken to the man about buying some stock? He looked like he could have something to do with cattle—perhaps a buying agent—but the man’s next words made him think again.
‘Yeah, she’s got the contract. Expect we’ll hear from her in a few days after she’s had time to review everything. There’s just one more—.’
‘Here you go,’ said the bartender, sliding the beer up in front of Travis, his voice completely drowning out the rest of the stranger’s telephone conversation.
Travis paid for his drink, and then swiftly brought his attention back to the stranger. Only the man had finished the call and was reaching into his back pocket as he ordered a drink. When the man leant forward, Travis spotted who was sitting on the other side of the stranger. Harrison Weston.
As Travis stared at him, Harrison turned and caught his eye.
‘Hey,’ he called out, spinning around on his bar stool. He stood, came over and put his hand out for a shake.
‘Hey yourself, Harrison. You’re still in town.’ He took Harrison’s extended hand for a brief shake, and then grabbed his beer.
‘A couple more days—then I’ll head back down south.’
‘Never did hear what brought you back here. Business, was it?’
Harrison laughed. ‘Visiting my Mom and catching up with friends since I had a few weeks between gigs. And I couldn’t miss Denver’s thirtieth, could I?’
‘That was weeks ago.’
‘Yes, and then the county fair. But enough about me, how are you doing? I barely spoke to you at Denver’s party but I saw you guys riding at the rodeo. How’d you finish up?’
‘Pretty good. Sold all my young horses, which was the goal.’
‘The business is going well then I take it? Horses and cattle both, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. Everything’s going well. Lots of work, but it keeps us out of trouble. Speaking of trouble, I heard you played some sort of bad guy in a movie recently.’
Harrison’s eyes lit up at the opportunity to talk about himself. ‘Yes, it was great fun. Not a lot of money in it yet, but I’m hoping to get something bigger lined up when I’m down in Australia early next year.’
Travis blinked back his surprise, still wondering if he should be jealous of Harrison. Was he going to Australia because of Alex? Only one way to find out. ‘Is that right? This a business trip, or pleasure?’
‘Business; my agent landed me a small part in an Australian drama series, but I’ve got my eyes on a much bigger prize, if I can swing it.’
Travis cocked his head. Did the prize he referred to have something to do with Alex? But no sooner had the thought sunk in, Harrison dispelled it.
‘I’ve got a meeting lined up with an Australian agent while I’m there. They’re making a lot more movies down there these days. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of work they can line up for me.’
Travis’ interest waned as Harrison continued to talk about his career, allowing Travis to turn his attention back to the stranger. He watched as the man paid for his drink and took a sip. The man didn’t seem to be taking any notice of him or Harrison.
When he’d had as much of Harrison’s self-promotion as he could take, Travis set his empty glass on the bar. ‘Well, it was good seeing you. Best head over to the pool table or I’ll never get a game, eh?’
Harrison looked at his watch, one of those fancy ones which seemed to be all the rage these days, and tapped its screen. When he looked up, he made a face. ‘Sorry, I’m running late or I’d stay and see if I could get a game with you. Another time?’
‘Sure thing,’ he said as Harrison headed toward the door, ‘Another time.’ Then, before he could decide whether to stay at the bar or not, Denver called out to him.
‘Travis, you’re up next—get over here.’
Travis made his way over to the pool table, positioning himself so he could still keep an eye on the stranger, watching him as he finished his drink. Maybe he was making something of nothing. Maybe what he thought he’d heard was nothing more than business talk. He’d given a contract to a woman to peruse, and it could be any woman. But if there was nothing more to it, what had grabbed his attention?
Chapter 31
After warming up with a hot shower, Alex gazed out her bedroom window, taking in the dull winter sky. The grey did nothing to lift her mood which right now felt as if she’d left her joy in California.
She turned, inspecting her bedroom with a critical eye. The small room had barely enough room for her bed, a bedside table on one side and a free-standing mirror on the other. She’d known when she bought the apartment that it was a poor substitute for the large family home she’d shared with Liam, but it was all she could afford at the time. It had been one in a series of compromises she’d made after the divorce.
Now, all she could see in her mind’s eye was the spacious master bedroom she’d left behind in Masons Flat. She wouldn’t have thought it possible, but she missed that house. The small personal touches she’d made had turned it into her home and it was a place where she enjoyed pottering in the garden, or hanging out watching television, or even cooking in the lovely kitchen.
The image of Annie covered in flour as they’d made pizza enveloped her mind, bringing a hint of joy. Then the image panned backwards. It wasn’t her kitchen she missed. That event hadn’t been in her kitchen.
It was Annie she missed.
And Travis.
She missed handyman Travis, who’d fixed her door when it wouldn’t lock. She missed knight-in-shining-armour Travis, who’d come to her rescue when she’d been stranded on the dance floor. She missed passionate Travis, who’d made her feel like a woman again. She even missed serious Travis, whose concern for his daughter rose above all else.
But she didn’t miss the Travis who’d gone behind her back, making deals to sell out the town.
How could he have betrayed her trust like that, putting business above all else?
She dried her hair, went out to the kitchen, and spread the documents out on the table. She blinked a few times, wishing she didn’t have to do this—wishing she’d never met Paul Kelly.
She picked up Phil Marshall’s report and compared its figures to the offer from Paul Kelly’s client. Assuming Phil Marshall’s values were realistic, and that’s all she could assume at the moment, then the offer was fair. Even more so, when she took into account how easy it would be. One transaction would see her and her sisters almost clear of Masons Flat. There would still be the house to deal with, but the lovely home would no doubt be easy to sell.
She, Casey and Taylor could sign the contract and be done with it. With that money, together with the funds from the rest of the estate, they could live quite comfortably without the hassle of being landlords. They wouldn’t have to manage the saloon, or try to start new businesses in those vacant shops, or try to reinvigorate the town.
But that’s the thing. She didn’t see any of those things as a hassle.
They were challenges, for sure, but ones she’d begun to embrace. Ones she’d enjoyed turning her mind to. Okay, perhaps she’d been a bit tentative at first, but she had come to look forward to managing the saloon and run
ning the fruit and veggie shop. And if no-one expressed interest in the other vacant shop she would think of something for that one too.
She slammed her palm on the table. She shouldn’t have attempted this yet—not when she was tired, and not when she was still so angry at Travis.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to think clearly. She could have her dream. Right here, in Melbourne. She could open up a coaching school, and might not even need a part-time job. That’s what she’d been aiming for all along, wasn’t it? To get back into coaching children. Maybe she’d even strike it lucky and get one who was talented enough to go the full distance.
As she imagined herself coaching, it was images of Annie that filled her mind.
And then memories of the game she’d played with Travis, as Annie played cheerleader on the sidelines.
Maybe Travis wanted out so he would have more money to provide for Annie. Maybe the horse and cattle businesses weren’t as lucrative as she’d thought. Maybe he saw this offer as an opportunity too good to knock back.
And there were the other owners in the street. She hadn’t met any of the others yet, so she had no idea what might motivate them to sell. And no idea whether, if she held out and the whole deal collapsed, they would resent her for ruining what they might see as a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Once again, frustration overwhelmed her and her jaws clenched so tight her face hurt. Travis had gone behind her back, but worse than that, he’d shown her a life she might have had, and then snatched it away with the stroke of a pen.
Things would never be the same.
If she signed, there would be nothing to go back to.
If she didn’t sign, the whole town, including Travis, would probably hate her.
She picked up her phone and looked at the missed calls. Wouldn’t it be best to ring him and have it out with him? Wouldn’t that be better than carrying all this anger around? A good fight, even if only over the phone, might release her tension. Or it might rile her up even more.
She rang her voicemail and listened to the first message. It was a simple hello, asking her to call him before she left. His voice gave away nothing. She moved on to the next message. The same, basically, with a query as to whether she’d received the first message. The third message was a little longer, and there was an underlying urgency in his tone.
“Alex? Hopefully the reason you’re not picking up is because you’re driving and can’t answer … look, I’d really like to speak to you before you go … can you please return my call?”
Curiosity twisted in her gut as her finger hovered over the end button. Didn’t he deserve an opportunity to explain his actions, a chance to tell her how much this deal meant to him and all the other owners, and how beneficial it could be to the surrounding community?
As she pressed end and hung up, clarity struck with the force of a fist. Could it be that she was the bad guy in this? After all, who was she to come onto the scene at the last minute and ruin it for all of them?
Swallowing back her disappointment, she finally saw things as they truly were. She’d thought all this time that it was coaching that would make her life full again. And that was part of it, but there was so much more that she hadn’t even allowed herself to dream about. And for a moment she’d thought she’d found it in Masons Flat. The town had everything: a beautiful home; ready-made job opportunities with both the saloon and the shops; and the opportunity to coach the local children. But more than that, there was Travis and his beautiful daughter. They’d been a bonus—something she’d never dreamt of finding.
And now, because Masons Flat obviously wasn’t going to provide the happily-ever-after ending she thought it might, she was blaming Travis. Blaming him for her disappointment, when he’d never promised her anything, and for all she knew he could simply be chasing his own dreams.
Fighting back tears of frustration, she took a deep breath and dialled into her voicemail again, then held her breath as she listened to the final message.
“Alex? It’s me again. I was really hoping to speak to you before you go … maybe your phone is switched off? Look, when you get this, please ring me. Don’t worry about the time difference. I’ll talk to you soon.”
She swallowed back the emotions his voice triggered, but there was no point reading too much into it. She had to stop thinking about him—had to accept that he was, and always would be, thousands of miles away. Thinking about him wouldn’t solve anything. The only thing that could be solved right now was her exhaustion.
She went back to her bedroom, set her alarm to wake her at five, and stretched out on the bed. And the moment her head hit the pillow she began to drift off.
~~*~~
Travis had nearly convinced himself he was jumping at shadows when the man at the bar stared straight at him, then stood and approached with an outstretched hand.
‘Travis Gold? I’m Paul Kelly.’
Travis swapped his pool cue to his left hand and shook Paul’s hand, then stepped back a foot, frowning. ‘Paul Kelly? Should I know you?’
Paul laughed. ‘Not yet, but I know who you are … by name, anyway. You were next on my list to contact, so I was glad to hear that man call out to you. Have you got a minute?’
Travis frowned. ‘Depends. What for?’
‘I have a business proposition for you, Mr Gold. One I’m certain you’ll want to hear about. Shall we go outside where it’s a bit quieter?’
Travis handed the cue to Denver. ‘Fill in for me for a couple of minutes? I won’t be long.’
Denver shrugged as he took the cue, and Travis followed Paul Kelly outside.
Paul explained that he represented a party who was interested in acquiring a significant holding there in Masons Flat.
Travis nodded for a moment, and then his nod turned to a shake. ‘Sorry to disappoint you but our ranch isn’t for sale. Doesn’t matter what price you offer.’
Paul chuckled. ‘We’re not after your ranch, Mr Gold. It’s the Main Street properties we’re after.’
Travis’ brow tightened with surprise. ‘Main Street?’
‘Yes. My client wishes to acquire your properties, as well as several others in the street. If successful, I assure you, the development will be advantageous to the whole area. This town will spring back to life and the whole community will be the beneficiary.’
Intuition sent shivers down his spine. Something about this man was less than forthright. ‘I take it you’ve already spoken to the other owners in the street?’
‘Yes, you’re the last. And let me say this, everyone seems quite excited about the idea.’
‘Is that right?’ Travis felt an eyebrow lift involuntarily.
‘Absolutely. Mind you, I’m not at liberty to discuss details of any of the negotiations. There’s a confidentiality clause in the contract, you see.’
‘A confidentiality clause? Why, so we can’t discuss it amongst ourselves?’
Paul’s response came quickly, sounding well-rehearsed. ‘Yes, well, I didn’t have any say in that aspect of the negotiations. If it was up to me, I’d have preferred to get everyone in a room together, do a presentation of the project and get you all as excited about it as I am. But that’s not what my client wanted.’
Travis cocked his head. ‘And you’ve already spoken to all the other owners?’
‘Yes.’
Could this explain why Alex had avoided him? And why she hadn’t returned his calls? Had this Paul Kelly character gotten to her and made her an offer she couldn’t refuse? And why would she refuse it? If she had any inclination to sell everything this would be an easy way—one buyer, one contract. And if she took it, there would be no reason for her to stay in California. And no reason for her to return his calls.
He glared at Paul Kelly and lowered his voice. ‘Even Alex?’
‘Alex?’ Paul played dumb, but Travis didn�
�t fall for it.
‘Yes, Alex. You know … the owner of this saloon, and a lot of the other properties. I take it you’ve met with her too? What did she have to say about it?’
Paul shrugged. ‘Like I said, I can’t disclose any details of the negotiations with the other parties, but I’d have told her what I’m telling you—that this is a wonderful opportunity which will provide benefits to everyone in the town, not just the main street owners. That, and the fact that there is no guarantee anything will go ahead unless everyone signs.’
Anger bubbled up in him. This whole thing felt wrong. If the man was being this secretive, who knew what he might have said to Alex. Had he told her that he and Denver had signed? He frowned, and his voice dropped an octave. ‘What else did you tell her?’
Paul drew in a breath, and explained the concept of turning Masons Flat into a tourist destination, finishing up by saying he’d give Travis a few days to think about it. When Travis just stared at him blankly, he shifted his weight as if he were about to leave.
Travis scowled, his voice coming out in a low growl. ‘That’s all well and good, but that’s not what I asked. What else did you tell Alex? Did you tell her we’d already signed?’
‘No, of course not,’ Paul said, taking a step back and wringing his hands. ‘I don’t stoop to telling lies. I don’t need to. This is a good deal—for everyone. Like I said, I’d have preferred to have some artist impressions done and hold a Town Hall meeting and tell you all at the same time, but even so, the deal is a good one, for everyone.’
Travis hated when people talked in circles. ‘And that’s all you told her?’
Paul looked over his shoulder, then sighed and looked Travis in the eye. ‘Look, I told her exactly what I told you. That all the negotiations were subject to confidentiality. But she, not unlike what you’re doing right now, got a bit fired up. She insisted on knowing if I’d spoken to the Golds.’
Travis drew in a long breath. ‘And?’
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