by Rita Hestand
She sighed a little too slowly.
There she went again, analyzing every move the guy made. When would she learn?
What surprised Sammie Jo was how disappointed she was that he hadn't kissed her. She liked him.
Perhaps it was best though. She was still very much a stranger here and it would take a while before she felt at home enough to question him about his feelings.
Chapter Eight
She hadn't seen Cody all week and she wondered if somehow she had run him off. She thought for sure he'd have been in by now. The thought that she missed him made her wonder. Was she letting herself get too involved too quickly? She could be in for a big disappointment.
Yes, it was easy to apply the brakes when he wasn't around. Cody's charismatic personality definitely had an effect on her.
It was the eve of her opening, and she was nervous as a cat. She'd polished the bar once more, making it shine so she could see her face in it.
Glancing about the place, she realized she was already lonely. That would never do. She was in for the winter in just a month or two and Cody had warned her about how lonely she would be. Determined not to be swayed by the lack of people or the weather she hummed a tune while she worked.
She wouldn't feel sorry for herself. She'd been warned.
There was no reason to panic. She'd gotten her supplies, she was ready for the opening. She'd met lots of lovely people this week and she should be celebrating.
She checked all her supplies once more.
She tried out the jukebox she had delivered. She put on some sixties' music and relaxed.
"SeeMe are we ready for this?"
SeeMe laid his head on his paws.
She cleaned the mirror over the bar, then the mason jar lights. She had to get a tall ladder out back for it, but she managed it. After a few calamities.
Her floors were buffed to a shine. She was ready.
But with that readiness came the jitters.
She missed Cody more than she cared to admit. She had no right to miss him. She'd seen him nearly a week ago, but he'd said he would be by often, and he hadn't been. She must have scared him away.
She shrugged. She shouldn't have allowed herself the pleasure of liking someone so soon. Already she was a mess. What would it be like in the throes of winter when he didn't stop by for long periods? He never promised her anything except to look in on her.
She was making way too much of their relationship.
Relationship? Where had that come from?
"I don't like him that much." She argued with SeeMe. But SeeMe didn't argue back. "Okay—maybe I do."
Feeling a sorry for herself she pulled out a bottle of blueberry wine and after chilling it half the day, she warmed herself by the fire. She stretched out on her pallet in front of the fire with a glass in her hand. She remembered the many times she had celebrated with her family.
She missed everyone tonight.
It was time to rest, relax and prepare herself for the endless nights of noise, laughter and drinking. Right now was a lull in her life and she should be glad of it.
She looked at SeeMe. "I guess I ran him off quick enough, didn't I?"
SeeMe whimpered a bit and closed his eyes. "Even you are going to desert me on the eve of my opening." She looked over at him.
The first glass of wine warmed her. The second tickled her and the third made her the least bit tipsy. She watched the flickering of the flames in the fire. They mesmerized her.
"I don't need a man, SeeMe. Nope…I got you, don't I? And you won't leave me, will you?" She chuckled.
She was knee deep in a small pity party when there was a knock on her door.
She ignored it.
Probably just the wind, she told herself. So many times she had gone to the door thinking it was someone there and it was only the wind. She wouldn't worry with it tonight.
But when Cody pushed his way through the door and closed it quickly, she was startled.
"Oh…I thought that was just the wind…" She exclaimed, raising her glass in the air. "I'm sorry, come on in."
"I can see that." He smiled, his glance going over her with keen precision.
A flash of humor lit his eyes. "What are you celebrating?"
"I open tomorrow." She said. "Want some wine?"
"Sure…" He sat down beside her in front of the fire. She had lots of pillows and blanket piled on the floor and it was comfortable in front of the fire.
She poured him some and she missed the glass and he grabbed the bottle before it got all over her blankets.
"I better do the honors." He smiled at her. "So, are you all ready for the opening?"
"Of course I am. I've scrubbed, and polished and fixed the place up as nice as I could. I'm completely stocked now and I have live entertainment scheduled for the first couple of nights." She said glancing around the bar. "The boys came and chopped me several cords of firewood. What more do I need?"
"I like the music…" He murmured. It was Elvis singing, "Only You."
She glanced at the jukebox, as she let the music relax her. "As soon as I learn what everyone likes around here, I'll buy more, but right now they will have to put up with what I like…" She chuckled.
"Well then, here's to your success." He tipped his glass to hers. Her eyes were brilliant, sparkling with life.
"Why are you staring at me, like that?" she asked.
"Like what?" He leaned on one elbow and smiled.
"I don't know…like you can't quite make me out or something." She began to slur her words a little.
"How much of this stuff have you had?" He asked, taking the bottle and putting it on the counter.
"I don't know. I'm not keeping a count. You don't keep count when you're celebrating" She hiccupped. "Excuse me…"
She put her hand over her mouth.
"Is something wrong?" He inquired.
"No, what could be wrong? My daddy's okay, I got a new dog and a new business. I've made a few new friends. I'm opening tomorrow. Everything is just grand."
"Somehow I don't think it is." He took her glass that she swung high in the air and nearly dropped and put it on the counter too.
"I think I'll make us some coffee." He patted her on the shoulder and left for the kitchen.
She closed her eyes and imagined him kissing her. It was so real, she moaned. She couldn't get past that image. What was wrong with her? Cody was just a friend.
When he returned to her side, he had a cup of coffee and handed it to her. But he stared at the look on her face. "You better drink this."
"Thank you, I don't drink…" she giggled.
"Coffee…." He suggested.
"Oh, coffee. Yes, I'll have some…" She almost got up, but he took her hands and put it around the cup.
"There you go."
"Thank you, are you having any?"
"Not just yet." He smiled.
She blew on the coffee, then took a sip.
"So did John come over and visit with you?" Cody asked out of the blue.
"Oh yes, he stopped by. But I was kind of busy counting my inventory. He didn't stay long. I guess I wasn't a very good host. I kept losing my count because of his endless questions. He was as inquisitive as you. I guess that comes from being a lawman. I like him though. Will you tell him that?"
"Sure, sure I'll tell him. I didn't know you drank?" He asked as he watched her every move.
"Only when I'm celebrating…" She smiled and hiccupped again.
"Well…I'd suggest you finish that coffee, then." He said as he pet SeeMe.
"Coffee…yes. Are you having any?" She repeated.
"Later…"
"I was about to go to bed…when you came…" She hiccupped again.
"Maybe I should go, then…" He started to get up.
"I wish you wouldn't…" She murmured.
He turned to look at her.
His eyes were gentle on her. It warmed her.
"I only came to wish you luck on your first o
fficial day open." He defended his being there.
"Oh…" The disappointment leaked from her voice. "That was sweet of you."
When his brown eyes probed her, she squirmed.
She blinked feeling light-headed.
"I've been out skirting the area…" he said.
She looked at him. She spoke in a strangled whisper. "Skirting the area, what does that mean?"
"Once a month we go to the outskirts of the town and make sure that everyone is ready for the coming season. You know the ones that seldom make it to town before they are frozen in their homes. Makes for a lot fewer accidents, we've found. As lawmen, we know most of the people around here. And like I told you, winters up here can kill if you don't know things. We don't have many newcomers, mostly just tourist. So we try to check out all the remote places and people. And sometimes, not always there will be someone who camps in a vacant cabin, we need to know who they are and what they are doing there. Next week I'm going to see my Uncle up the mountain. I want to go early before the avalanches start. Anyway, we take our time, talk to people, make sure everything is going the way it should. We check for any problems people might be having and it takes about a week to do that." He explained. "We also check on any invalids in the area, and make sure they have what they need through the winter."
She could listen to him talk all night. His voice was deep, and velvety smooth like a Kentucky bourbon. It felt like he was romancing her with that quiet whispering.
"That's so sweet…" she murmured. "You're a regular boy scout, aren't you?"
Her mind began to calculate. So that's why he hadn't been around. She thought she'd scared him away.
A gleam of interest in his stare caught her unaware.
"I guess that's a good thing?" She asked blinking hard.
"Saves us some trouble later. We check all the creeks and valleys. Most of the time we can spot trouble before it happens. If a beaver dams up the creek beds, naturally we have to keep an eye out for our bears every winter, although they hibernate, if any are out and about we want to know about it. We let the park people know if there are any signs of trouble along the way. It's sort of a joint venture."
She laid her head in his lap. The wine was going to her head and her head was swimming. "I think you are wonderful for doing that…" She murmured.
He looked paralyzed for a moment, as though he didn't know quite what to do with her. She closed her eyes and sighed. "I missed you…" She murmured.
He bent to hear her. "What did you say?"
"I said…" she took a breath. "I missed you…"
He smiled into her eyes…"I missed you too."
She kissed the leg of his pants and curled herself around his leg. He watched fascinated by her trusting nature.
"Seems like your sleeping every time I'm around…" He started to move her onto her pillow.
But her eyes flew open and she sat up straight as though she suddenly sobered.
"What are you doing?" She shrieked.
"Putting your head on the pillow so you can sleep."
"I'm not asleep." She fumed. "I'm just resting my eyes."
"Sure did look like it." He mumbled some of the romance going out of him.
"I was just resting. Honest" She insisted.
"Really, then you know what you said to me?" He questioned his brow going upward.
"What I said…what did I say?" She demanded to know. Her eyes widened for a moment.
"You said you missed me…" He smiled.
She shrugged. "Well, …I did. A little."
When she started to get up, he pulled her chin around to look into her eyes. There were tears there.
"I've made you cry?" He frowned.
"Of course you haven't. It's just the wine. It always does that to me…when I drink it. I should have known better. I just thought I should celebrate a little. You know…the opening." She muttered miserably. "You seem to catch me at my worst, though. First there was the bear thing, then I fell asleep at your cabin, and now, I've had a little too much to drink."
She attempted to get up again. He pulled her down and into his arms. "Wine or no wine…I've missed you too…and it wasn't something I expected. I haven't known you long enough to have any feelings for you, but…dammit, I do…" He whispered just before his lips touched hers.
Like hot fudge flowing over vanilla ice cream, he warmed her. Her lips melted against his. Not just her lips, but all of her. Slowly, progressively, with smoldering nips at her lips, her chin, her eyes, and back to the waiting warmth of her kisses. Her body screamed awareness she had never experienced. A shocking ecstasy took over. This was where she wanted to be all week. In his arms. She moaned against his lips or was that him.
When they finally came up for air, she was flushed and breathless. Her heart pounded like a hundred horse hoofs. He had to hear it.
"I wish I had a camera." He whispered, and kissed her on the nose.
"Why?" she barely managed to ask.
"So I could show you how beautiful you are right this minute." He smiled.
"I bet you say that to all the girls…" she giggled.
"Not really." He moved away from her. "Look I better go. Are you alright though? Do you need anything?"
"Just another one of those kisses…" she closed her eyes and smiled.
But he didn't wait for another invitation, his mouth was warm, sweet, and she was drowning in him. Her arms went around his neck and she pulled him down on the blankets once more.
This wasn't a kiss that she could back away from. She didn't realize how hungry she was for him. She knew she should put on the brakes, but even though her mind told her one thing, her heart told her another.
He was hovering over her when she opened her eyes and staring at her in a perplexed manner.
"There you go again, with one of those looks. Why are you staring at me like that?" She asked, trying to form some kind of control of her rioting emotions. It was impossible to think coherently when she was in his arms.
She'd never been kissed like that before. It left her curious where her feelings were going for this man.
Realizing it was much too soon to form a relationship, she moved away slowly.
"I didn't mean for that to get so out of hand…" He shook his head. "I better be going."
"Oh…" her voice held regret, but somewhere in the back of her mind she reminded herself he was a gentleman.
She was intoxicated and in more ways than one.
She nodded. "I guess you better." Her voice faded into instant disappointment. She'd frightened him away from her. How had she done that? "Goodnight." She said softly.
He looked at her once more. "Yeah…goodnight!"
When he left, she laid her head down and started to go to sleep once more.
But the door burst open again and he was frowning at her. "Aren't you gonna lock this?" He asked his brow going up.
"Oh…yeah…I guess I better…" She got up and locked it, and waved at him.
Her sleep was full of dreams. Dreams she never had before. About a man and a woman….
It was all wrong…but it was so right!
Chapter Nine
Her grand opening started slowly, with just a few dropping by to see the place once more and have a drink.
She met new people and encouraged them to come back often.
As she glanced outside she saw people bustling about, but there was no crowd to come in and congratulate her. No eagerness to participate.
She calmed her nerves and made a huge pot of chili. The smell naturally brought a few more people in.
Sal came by.
She looked at him. "Want a beer or something?" she asked him.
"Naw…I'm working, can't drink on the job. Lots of people are working right now, there'll be a lot coming tonight though. They'll be curious and want to see if you changed much about the place."
"I haven't changed much, just added a jukebox and a few extra types of drinks. I've included several kinds of cider from har
d to sweet, and hot chocolates too. And of course there is the chili. I want the women to enjoy coming here as much as men." She informed him.
"That ought to do it, then. I better be going, here's your mail and I'll see you this evening. How late are you staying open?" He asked.
"Well, in Texas we closed most bars at 2am. But I'm not sure how late to keep it open."
"That's plenty for this area. I dare say if you stayed open much longer there would be some that would spend the night with you, regularly." He chuckled. "See you later."
"See you." She smiled.
When he left she had a minute to herself, only an older couple lingered in a booth at the front.
She wrapped her arms around her and instantly the feel of Cody's kiss entered her mind and heart. She'd never been kissed like that. She had definitely graduated from boys to men. She wasn't sure boys would ever be enough now.
What did it mean?
He's a man, you silly girl. That's the difference. You've been dating boys. So how did you like it?
She hugged herself a little tighter, remembering the warm embraces they had shared last night. But it was the kisses she couldn't get out of her mind. She'd played them over and over this morning in her mind. She blushed at the things that popped into her mind.
She hoped she didn't look like some silly school girl with a huge crush.
She had to get Cody off her mind. She had a business to run, and this was the first day!
Around noon, a few people drifted in to sample her chili and have a beer. Most of them enjoyed the chili and complimented her on it.
She met two couples that were interesting. One was Mavis and Clarence Muldoon. They'd lived here all their lives and loved the winter weather.
"And when we get lonely, we strike up an argument, just so we can spend the next day making up to each other." She chuckled.
"Sounds wonderful to me."
"Ye aren't married?" They asked.
"No…" Sammie Jo tried to laugh about that, but secretly she yearned to have someone to share her life with.