by Rita Hestand
His dark eyes penetrated her with questions unspoken, while they gave her a long once over.
His hair was dark. He was dressed in black jeans and a big parka with a hood.
He was menacingly handsome, she had to admit. He exuded authority and his serious expression made her want to laugh. Did he think her a burglar?
"Interesting, someone who is glad to see the law. Yes ma'am, I'm a deputy." The big tall man answered, moving his sunshades into his hair as he came closer. "You always go around breaking windows to get in?" There was amusement in his voice, but his expression still remained sober.
"Oh…" Sammie Jo stared at him, and then grinned. "Actually, no, I'm Sammie Jo Travers, the new owner of the Night N Gale."
"Really, I wasn't aware old man Tucker sold the place. We all saw him packing up to leave, but he didn't tell anyone who he sold to or if he sold. He left us in the dark, so to speak. Well, let me help you with that lock in that case, it can be stubborn."
"Thanks," Sammie Joe smiled, her breath hitching when he brushed up against her to open the door. She felt a hint of muscle from his arm that brushed her. She smelled the light fragrance of his cologne, not overbearing, and his shadow on his cheeks lent him a more dangerous look than she imagined he was. His skin was a deep tan, his eyes were as dark as his hair. His size was foreboding, but his expression spoke of a strange sense of humor. Even in Texas few men came in such excellent packages, Sammie Jo gulped. But the difference was, this was a man, not a boy. "I thought you were about to arrest me."
He flashed her a smile. "A beautiful lady like you, not on your life."
Sammie Jo hadn't been attracted to a man in a long time and it took her off guard that her senses were on overload. The last thing she had on her mind in coming here was a man. And yet there was a strange charm about the man that got her attention. He had a welcoming smile that swept the cold out and warmed the heart.
She hadn't come to Alaska to get involved with anyone that was the last thing she needed. She wanted to make a new home, and keep her heart intact while doing it. Although telling herself this and thinking, was a different story. He had such an infectious grin, so unexpected.
She moved back and allowed him the job of unlocking the door. Even though, she'd tried her key, the lock didn't budge, so she'd resorted to breaking the small window in the door so she could open it. She sincerely hoped the lawman was of a forgiving nature.
"So you're taking over the Night N Gale?" He asked as he snaked a hand through the broken window to unlock the door and push it open for her. The door caught on the floor and dragged, making a horrid screeching noise. They both glanced at the floor then looked at each other.
She nodded. "As of today, I'm the new owner, yes."
He gave her a once over then proceeded to push the door open.
"This old door needs to be rehung. The weather sometimes makes for trouble with doors around here." The lawman added as he let her enter.
"Yes, it looks like a lot of things need redoing." She replied, smelling a slight odor of stale whiskey and old furniture polish. She moved into a huge room, feeling smaller by the moment as she glanced at the high ceilings and long fans with glass jar lights on them. Sammie Jo smiled; she liked the décor already. Mr. Tucker might have been from Texas too; she smiled at the thought.
She'd been prepared to see a bar, but not like this one. Made of pure oak and as long as the building itself, the bar was an outstanding feature. It hosted a mass of stools and spittoons too. Groups of chairs and tables surrounded the room and fireplace on the opposite side. There was even a sawdust dancing space. She liked it. It lived up to the pictures she'd seen of it.
Just then a dog, a husky came up to her and licked at her boots, and whined.
Sammie Jo looked down in surprise, "What's this? Your dog?" She inquired.
"No…"
The dog whined a bit as she bent to look at the animal and pet him. "Well now, my first customer, where did you come from?" She asked as though the dog might speak.
"That's SeeMe," The deputy replied bending down to give the animal a quick back rub. The dog licked his gloved hand and whined again.
"SeeMe? What kind of name is that?" Sammie Jo laughed.
"Well, he's old man Tucker's dog or was. And there is a story to this dog. You see, he wandered into this bar a long time ago and wouldn't let the old man alone. Tucker wasn't used to dogs or animals for that matter. The old man had become quite the loner. But this dog wouldn't take no for an answer. No matter how many times Tucker drug him out, he'd manage to sneak back in. So finally Tucker gave up and began to accept him, but he didn't call him anything for a long time. It's just my opinion, but by naming him he was afraid he'd get too attached. Then one day a customer stumbled over the dog as he staggered out the door. The drunken man apologized feeling sorry that he'd stepped on the dog's paw and hurt him. And SeeMe just stared at the old drunk and whined a little. The drunk had hollered back at Tucker. "I didn't see him, is all." So old man Tucker laughed and said, "You didn't see SeeMe, huh?" That's how he got the name. Almost everyone in town knows and loves SeeMe now. He's kinda like a mascot in the area. I guess you could say he goes with the place. But don't let his demeanor fool you, SeeMe will protect you in a pinch."
"But why did he leave him here? Didn't he get attached to him in the end?" Sammie Jo asked as she looked at the dog once more. "I had no idea; he'd be here."
"Mr. Tucker was an unusual kind of man. He and the dog were inseparable after a while; I expect SeeMe saw him through a lot of lonely winters. But SeeMe isn't a young pup anymore, and this is the only home the dog has ever known, so I guess he thought he was nice by leaving him here. He's become a part of the Nite N Gale. I would have thought Tucker would have said something to you, of course. I mean he probably didn't know if you liked dogs or not. And maybe he thought if he didn't say anything to you, you couldn't refuse."
Sammie Jo stared at the dog who seemed content just to curl up at the end of the bar. "Well, he has a home if he wants it…"
"I guess ole man Tucker thought if he could learn to love the dog, so could someone else…"
Sammie Jo saw the paper on the bar and picked it up. She glanced up at the deputy. "It just so happens I love animals. I always have. But look…maybe this explains it."
"Dear Miss Travers. I've left everything as it was; the suppliers are listed by the phone in the kitchen. Anyone you need to reach should be there for you. I'm also leaving my dog as I can't take him with me, and he's too old to root out. Hope that's okay with you. If you don't want him give him to someone who will take good care of him, as he's done me for so long. Good luck."
Sammie Jo looked up, her eyes misting, her voice tremulous. "He's left him for me. Isn't that sweet?"
"Like I said, old man Tucker was unusual. Are you going keep him?"
"You know I often wonder what the animal would say if they could talk. If they had a choice. It looks as though SeeMe has found his home here, who am I to discourage him from it. I welcome him. A dog can be a lot of company. It only makes me a little sad that Mr. Tucker had to leave him. I'm sure he'll miss him. And will he pine for his old master, or take to me?" Sammie Jo bent and stared at the dog for a moment, and that's when SeeMe licked her face. She laughed and stood up again, "I guess I have no choice in the matter. I think he likes me."
"Sure looks like it." The deputy smiled.
"Well, I hadn't planned on company, but he's in luck, I do like animals. All animals. I hated leaving my horse at home, but the airlines wouldn't accommodate" Sammie Jo replied with a chuckle.
The deputy stared at her, his mouth curling into a slight, sexy grin.
"Just hadn't planned on inheriting one. And so soon, too. I wonder how long since he had some food?"
"He usually lays right by the end of the bar. He's a good dog, and he'll be some company and protection for you. Come on; let's see if we can find some food for him."
The deputy moved about the bar as thoug
h he knew it by heart. She quickly realized that this man and Tucker had probably been friends. Sammie Jo smiled and followed the deputy into the big kitchen and pantry. She was silently glad he happened by as she was already feeling a tad lonely.
The deputy poured a big helping of food into the silver bowl on the floor, under the cabinet. Then he proceeded to fill the water bowl, and SeeMe helped himself as he followed them. He ate like he moved, in no hurry.
After a moment of silence and letting her get used to the idea, the deputy twisted his head. "I'm a little surprised that one so young would come all the way to Alaska to open a new business. Buying a saloon, in the wilds of Alaska, is a big undertaking for a little lady." The lawman smiled charmingly at her.
"So I've been told by my well-meaning parents." She answered, not giving the man another glance. He was too handsome. She didn't have time for handsome men. She was too wrapped up in her surroundings to give him her full attention right now. Too wrapped up in her problems. Problems she had come here to escape. Problems she hoped would disappear with plenty of work to be done.
"Ever owned a saloon?" The deputy asked, as though he knew the answer.
"No…never."
"You mean you came here, bought the place, and you don't have any experience running a bar?"
"How hard could it be? You pour drinks, and I know how to mix them and pour them. I'm pretty good with socializing."
"I think you're about to find out how hard. The weather alone can beat you down, here. The loneliness and isolation can also get to you."
"I'll make out." She smiled.
She admired the huge mirror hung behind the bar, lined with beautiful glasses and aged whiskey of every sort.
At least that was still in place, just needed dusting, she decided as she ran a quick finger over the wood shelf.
"Well, you'll have to excuse old man Tucker. He wasn't the best at keeping things clean. But I'm sure you'll know how to make it shine. I just hope you know what you are doing. I take it you have a license to operate?"
"Yes, I have a license. That was one of the first things I looked into before buying. The laws. But feel free to keep me informed of them as we go along because I'm not up with all the Alaskan state laws, so if I mess up, feel free to correct me."
"Have you ever lived here?"
"No," she answered distractedly. "I've researched it on the net a lot though."
He whistled softly, "Never run a bar, never been to Alaska. All these things you've done is a lot of firsts for you then."
"I'm not afraid of hard work or Alaska." Sammie Jo laughed.
"Where you from, if I might ask?" The deputy seemed bent on finding out all he could about her and she reckoned that since he was the law she should cooperate. Maybe he'd forget about the broken glass in the door.
"Texas…"
"Texas," he whistled, "That's a long way away."
"Yes…"
Then she turned her attention to him. It wasn't something she was used to, being attracted to a complete stranger, but the man was gorgeous in his thick parka and big black boots. His cheek had a shadow, and his hair needed a ruffle when he pushed his hood down. The way he smiled had Sammie Jo taking notice again. She felt she might have gone home for a moment. He was very tan too as though he spent most of his time outside. Of course, Sammie Jo wasn't paying that much attention, or was she? At least that's what she told herself. Her last boyfriend found someone else when he found out she wasn't interested in sex before marriage. She'd always dated young men her age.
This man was out of her league; he was much more mature. Although, he wasn't old by any means, she quickly figured him out of her league.
Sammie Jo wondered about him. Did he have good morals? Would he be the type to understand her old fashioned ideals?
"I bought the place last month. Old man Tucker as you refer to him sold it to me and asked for a month to get things together and get out. I told him I was in no hurry."
"I see. So, you planning on making this your new home, are you?" the lawman continued to probe.
"Maybe. I sure want to give it a try. Like Texas, it has a lot to offer."
"Why?"
His bluntness took her by surprise.
"Huh?"
He set his elbows on the counter and looked at her. "I was asking you why you came here, in the middle of nowhere practically to run a bar you haven't ever run before? Not that we aren't tickled to have you. On the contrary, we're glad to have you. Although a little puzzled as to why. Alone, I mean…I assume you are alone. I mean they must have a lot of them in Texas." When she frowned, he added. "Saloons that is."
Sammie Jo smiled; sure she wasn't going to get rid of him until he knew more. She sat on a stool, glanced about and prepared herself for a barrage of questions from the handsome lawman.
"Are you the Sheriff?" she decided to turn the questions on him instead. Her eyes quickly traveled up and down him, taking in the breadth of his broad shoulders and narrow hip to his long legs. His scuffed boots told her he wasn't just a pretty picture, the man worked for a living; she liked that.
"Nope, just an active deputy. Why?" He answered without batting an eye. Eyes that were as warm as country bourbon on a cold night gave her the same once over. The fringes of lashes were so long she had to take a second look.
From the slow burning smile, she took it as his approval.
"Well, you ask questions like a detective or something."
"I'm sorry, force of habit. Up here we are a little blunt I guess about business. The whys are constant questions."
"I see. Well, what do you want to know about me Deputy? I'm pretty much an open book." Her breath hitched a notch when those brown eyes landed on her full force. She'd never been exposed to this kind of man before.
"I hope I haven't upset you with my twenty questions."
"No…not at all. Down in Texas we call that being nosey."
"Guilty as charged. So what was your name again?" he smiled.
Dear God, she wasn't prepared for such a stunning movement of the lips. The man was lethal when he smiled.
"Sammie Jo Travers."
"Sammie Jo, I like that. Southern, sweet, and a tad like a baby."
She smiled back, and she thought she saw some reaction in him.
"So, are you going tell me why you came to Alaska, or is that going take some time to dig out of you?" He smiled again.
"Why I came to Alaska? Do I have to have a reason?"
"No, but there usually is one. Broke up with a boyfriend, lost your job. Running away from something…"
"Why deputy, I'm surprised at you, many people come to Alaska these days. We are curious; we just want to know what's under all the snow and ice." Sammie Jo nearly laughed. "Because we still think Texas is bigger, if you melted all the ice and snow."
"Yeah, that's probably true enough. Texas might be bigger, but I have no way to measure and answer that question for you. But you don't look like tourist material. And you bought a saloon. Not many lovely young women do that, now do they? Especially out here in the interior where you certainly won't get rich, and you very likely will be lonely."
The word hit a chord with her. With her grandpa gone, her cousin moving, a torn relationship she couldn't and wouldn't fix, not to mention her father's illness, there was no room for loneliness. But she there was some kind of strange separation from it all.
Sammie Jo stared up at him, liking the easy way he struck up a conversation and kept it going forever. "Funny, I didn't think it a bit strange to buy a …saloon. But, I needed a job, and buying my own business seemed the logical choice. I read up on your state before I came, and it says that things are very expensive up here. So I came prepared. From what I learned, you need some cold hard cash to make it. Since I had a college savings that I never used, I'm prepared for that. There aren't a lot of female kinds of businesses to be had up here in your remote part of the country. I'm not a seamstress; I'm not a tourist, and I'm not much of anything. But I'm famil
iar with saloons, and as I read about the seclusion in the winter, I thought, what better way to get them to come out of their homes than a saloon. I don't want to create a business, but a home. You see, the way I look at it, I'm not running a bar. I'm opening a place for people to gather and enjoy the rest of the day after work."
He nodded, "That's true, I guess you did your homework. So at least I know you like the internet and saloons."
"Well, of course, back home, our saloon as you call it was a long warehouse building out in the middle of nowhere, we had parties there, dances, and sold liquor. We called it a saloon, but it had a homier flavor and that's what I want to establish here. I thought I could bring a little bit of Texas to Alaska. Believe it or not, I read about the boredom and loneliness out here too. That's what I wanted to help change, the loneliness. I mean, you have a truly lovely state, but the boredom of staring out at so much snow gets to most people, after a while. But Deputy I don't want you getting the wrong idea about me. I'm here to make this my home. I'm not a tourist. I'm not on vacation. I want to grow some roots in Alaska."
He stared at her strangely for a moment; his eyes were more expressive than he knew.
"That sounds promising. And it's true…it is a lonely place on the map. If it wasn't for the tourist that comes through here, we might go completely mad during the winter. With not seeing any new faces. So you want to change all that, huh?" he asked raising a brow.
"If I could make this place, a place people wanted to cozy up to, a place they can relax and not worry about anything, including the weather, then I'll have accomplished something. I want to make it a real, warm and comfortable home. Something to come home to, something to come back to, more than a place to buy a drink, but finding a friend, relaxing at the end of a hard day's work. I want to serve chili and chili dogs along with drinks. I've also read up on the area, and every place that I've read says that boredom leads to fights and problems for the police. I want to offer people a place to come and just chat with friends, have dances, have a good time and relax. I want this place to be open as much as possible to any and every one and a place they want to hang out. Does that seem strange, too?"