by Judy Duarte
Steven had invited Callum to join them on the expedition to Mariana’s Market, but Callum had passed. He and Becky had taken the twins to the Austin Zoo today. Steven thought the toddlers were a little too young for a trip like that, but both Callum and Becky had seemed excited about the family outing.
Of course, that just went to show you how little Steven knew about babies—or modern parenting. Their father, David Fortune, might have been a good dad and a great financial provider, but he’d left the daily child-rearing tasks to their mom. And when their mother’s health issues struck with a vengeance, the boys had had to look after their younger sisters. Callum had made it clear that he’d grown tired of the responsibility. That fact coupled with a rocky first marriage that ended in divorce, he’d been reluctant to have a family of his own and had been hesitant to get involved with a single mother.
Before meeting Becky, Callum had put the construction company and business first. But he fell in love with the pretty, kindhearted nurse, and she’d left her mark on him, making him a new man. Not that the change wasn’t a good one. It’s just that Steven was still getting used to seeing his brother carrying toddlers, wiping noses and changing diapers. The guy even seemed to enjoy it.
Steven wasn’t going to swear off having kids or a family, but if and when the day came, he wasn’t going to take such a hands-on approach to fatherhood.
He glanced over his shoulder at Dillon, who looked a bit cramped sitting in back. Dillon hadn’t complained, but then again, he hadn’t said much of anything this morning.
“You doing okay back there?” Steven asked.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You’re pretty quiet.”
Dillon shrugged a single shoulder. “I don’t have anything to say.”
Steven shouldn’t find that unusual. His brother had been pretty tight-lipped since moving to Rambling Rose. Probably because he’d loved living in Florida and seemed to be having a hard time adjusting to life in Texas.
He occasionally seemed to retreat into himself about something, but on the whole he was a pretty quiet guy, and his brothers hadn’t wanted to poke too much.
“You want me to move my seat forward to give you more room?” Steven asked.
“No need. I’m doing all right.”
Maybe so. But as Steven turned around and faced the front, he wished he’d insisted that they take his Cadillac Escalade instead of Ellie’s sedan. At least the SUV would have provided his brother with more leg room. But Ellie had made it clear that she was running the show today, so he’d let her take the lead.
As they drove down a long rural road, he spotted an abandoned factory up ahead, where a wide variety of trucks and cars parked in an adjacent graveled lot.
Ellie turned on her blinker, indicating a turn into the place, and Steven’s brow furrowed. Seriously? This was the place where all the locals hung out?
He wasn’t sure what he’d expected Mariana’s to be—a coffee shop, maybe—but it looked as if Ellie was taking them to a flea market. He scanned the periphery, the shaded tables, the trucks parked with open tailgates that displayed their wares. If these were the locals Ellie had wanted him to meet, he’d have to agree—her constituents weren’t likely to shop at high-end stores.
As they got out of the car, Steven turned to his lovely tour director for the day, who’d dressed casually in a pink T-shirt, black jeans and a pair of sneakers. “So this is Mariana’s?”
She nodded, a bit smugly.
“I never would have guessed.”
At that, she smiled, a bit of pride glimmering in her eyes. “Mariana’s Market has been around for as long as the town has. And this is the real deal. Rambling Rose at its best. I wanted you to meet some of the people who’ve lived here for years, the folks who keep everything running smoothly—mechanics, handymen, waitresses, farmers. You’ll even see some of the ranchers who live nearby.”
“I live on a ranch,” Steven reminded her.
Ellie laughed. “Is that what you call it?”
“Okay, so the Fame and Fortune isn’t actually a working ranch, if that’s what you mean. But we have a stable and horses.”
Ellie clicked her tongue. “Oh, come on, Steven. That isn’t a house you live in. It’s a sprawling mansion with enough space for your entire family to live on the property and still maintain their privacy.”
All right. He had to give her that.
As they neared the open-air marketplace, Steven spotted a couple of vendors along the edge, their tables shaded by colorful canopies, as well as a variety of shoppers, all of whom seemed to know each other.
“Mariana’s has sure drawn a crowd,” Steven said. “What do they sell here?”
“All kinds of things. Vintage clothing, discount perfumes and even some homemade goop that’s guaranteed to clean oil leaks off the driveway. You can also buy used furniture and handmade crafts and baked goods. Frances Elliot makes these great hand-knit scarves and sweaters. And Alice McKinley’s quilts are amazing. In fact, she’s making one to order for me, a shabby-chic style for my bed.” Ellie tossed him an enthusiastic smile that put a spark in her pretty brown eyes.
Damn, he could get lost in that sparkly expression.
Were they somehow becoming friends? He hoped so. And not just for business or political reasons.
“Looks like the high school cheerleaders turned out.” Dillon pointed to a table where a couple of teenage girls were selling tickets of some kind.
“Rambling Rose High School is having a talent show next week,” Ellie said. “It would be a good idea if you and your brothers bought a few tickets in support of the kids.”
Steven wasn’t so sure he wanted to attend an event like that, but she was right. It would probably help if people saw him and his brothers getting involved in the community, and especially with the youth. So what the hell. “Sure, I’ll buy some tickets.”
Ellie’s face brightened, and he had to admit, it was worth the cost of the tickets just to see it. So he reached into his pocket, pulled out a money clip and removed a hundred-dollar bill.
“How much are the tickets?” he asked one of the teens.
“Five dollars each.”
“Then I’ll take twenty.”
While the teenager counted out the tickets, Steven turned to Ellie. “Are you going?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
Then neither would he.
“You won’t be sorry,” Ellie said as he pocketed the tickets. “Some of those kids are incredibly talented. I really enjoyed it last year.”
Steven had planned to give away the tickets he’d just purchased, but maybe he ought to actually attend, especially if it would help him get on the mayor’s good side.
As they strolled through the open-air marketplace, Steven and Dillon were met with more than a few wary stares. One guy wearing a red plaid shirt and a pair of denim overalls narrowed his eyes and studied them suspiciously. The obvious distrust in the older man’s gaze didn’t seem to bother Dillon, but it troubled Steven—probably more than it should.
Back in Fort Lauderdale, the Fortune family had a stellar reputation. Their father had made millions by getting in on the ground floor of the video game industry. And after he married Steven’s mother, Marci, the couple soon got involved in several charities and philanthropic projects that had benefited the entire city. People appreciated them there.
But that wasn’t the case here in Rambling Rose, and Steven found the locals’ animosity unsettling and bothersome.
When David Fortune married Marci, he’d had two sons of his own, Callum and Dillon. Soon after, he adopted her sons, Steven and his younger brother Wiley. The couple then went on to have four daughters together.
Ever since he was a boy, Steven had been proud of the family name and had tried his best to prove himself worthy of it. His father might have treated all of his childre
n the same, but Steven couldn’t seem to forget that he wasn’t a Fortune by blood. But that didn’t make him any less loyal.
Ellie strode toward the scowling older man and reached out her hand to greet him. “How’s it going, Frank? Did you and Helen take that trip to Oklahoma last weekend to visit the kids?”
“We sure did.” Frank’s expression morphed from suspicion to outright pride and joy. “We drove up there last Friday. And on Saturday afternoon, we got to see Billy play basketball. I have to tell you, Ellie. That boy isn’t too tall, but he’s got a good eye and quick hands. He’s fast on his feet, too, and he’s becoming a dang good player. I hate to brag, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the college scouts got wind of him and started banging on his door before the end of the season.”
“That’s awesome, Frank. I don’t blame you for being a proud grandpa.” Ellie turned to Steven and Dillon. “Frank, have you met Dillon and Steven Fortune yet?”
A slight scowl returned to the older man’s face. “Can’t say I have.”
“They’re eager to meet some of the people who’ve lived in town for years,” she said. “They’d like to get your take on their plans to open that new hotel.”
Frank waited a couple of beats, then extended his arm and greeted each brother with a work-roughened hand. “I won’t pull any punches. Most of us don’t like the idea of that hotel one little bit.”
“What don’t you like about it?” Steven asked.
Frank chuffed. “It’s too damned big and fancy for a town like Rambling Rose.” He studied Steven for a beat, then folded his arms across his chest. “I suspect that’s why you boys are having trouble getting the planning commission’s approval.”
That was true. The commission seemed to be split right down the middle, with very little sign of yielding.
“They have a few concerns,” Steven admitted, “and we’re trying to work them out.”
“No surprise there,” Frank said. “If you ask me—and practically everyone else you’ll find here at Mariana’s Market—you’d be a heck of a lot more successful if you were building a motel instead of a five-star hotel, although some folks are opposed to any additional lodging in town that would attract more tourists.”
Yeah. Right. There was no way Steven or his brothers would even consider downsizing to a motel. But he didn’t want to stir up trouble before they’d taken more than ten steps into the market. “Thanks for the suggestion, Frank. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“We’d best be moving along,” Ellie said. “Give Helen my best.”
Once they’d gotten out of earshot, Dillon let out a soft whistle, followed by a half chuckle and an elbow nudge. “You’re going to think about it, huh? There’s no way you or Callum would agree to a project like that.”
Steven shot his brother a look meant to suggest he should keep his mouth shut. He was making some headway with Ellie and didn’t want to risk losing what little they’d gained. Besides, the longtime Rambling Rose residents might not trust the Fortunes or any other newcomers, but it didn’t take long for Steven to realize they adored their young mayor.
Up ahead, a middle-aged man wearing a straw hat with a torn brim and a green apron stood behind a produce stand. When the ruddy-cheeked fellow spotted Ellie, he called out, “Good morning, Mayor. I got some of those sweet strawberries you like. They go pretty fast, so I put a couple of boxes under my table for you.”
Ellie brightened, and while her smile was directed at the produce vendor, just seeing it turned Steven’s heart on end. “Thank you, Pete. I’ll come back to get them before I leave. And I’d like some of your broccoli, too.”
“You got it!”
As they made their way through the market, Dillon asked, “So who’s Mariana? What’s her claim to fame?”
“She has a food truck in the center of the market. It’s been there for years, but over time, as she and her menu gained popularity, other people who had stuff to sell began showing up. And that’s how this became known as Mariana’s Market.”
“Sounds like an interesting beginning to an unusual business,” Steven said.
“Yes, and it’s a little mysterious, too. Even though she’s been around for ages and is loved and well-known in the community, I don’t think Mariana is her given name. She’s a bit of an enigma, especially when it comes to her roots. When she and her mother first acquired that food truck, it had Mariana’s painted on the side. So she took on the moniker herself for promotional purposes. Since she never talks about her past, some of the locals think she had a personal reason for a name change. No one knows for sure, and she won’t confirm anything. So people keep guessing.”
“She sounds like an intriguing character,” Steven said. “I’d like to meet her.”
“You will.” Ellie tossed him a bright-eyed smile that turned him inside out. “A trip to Mariana’s Market wouldn’t be the same without stopping by and ordering one of her meat-loaf sandwiches or the chicken fried steak and potato salad.”
“So she specializes in down-home cooking,” Steven said.
“For the most part. She also includes a couple of southwestern specialties on her menu, which vary. But on the weekends, she always has menudo. People claim she makes the best in town, but I’d have to disagree. When it comes to Mexican food, Alma Hernandez—my mother—is the best cook in all of Texas. But don’t tell Mariana.”
“Menudo?” Dillon scrunched his brow. “Is that the spicy soup made out of tripe? If so, I think I’ll pass.”
Ellie gave Steven a playful nudge with her arm, as if they’d become friends. “What about you? Are you braver and more adventurous than your brother?”
“I don’t know about that,” Steven replied. “Dillon’s not afraid of much. But if you say it’s good, I’ll give it a try.”
As they ventured on, Ellie stopped to introduce Steven and Dillon to some of the vendors and several shoppers. As long as the brothers had the pretty young mayor to vouch for them, most of the people seemed to accept them.
Next up was a group of senior citizens who met every Saturday morning at the community center and caught a shuttle van to the market. Some came looking for knickknacks or arts and crafts, but most seemed to consider the outing a social event.
Steven had to admit he’d met a lot of colorful but likable characters, but none of them was likely to venture to the Shoppes to purchase a bespoke suit, a Louis Vuitton purse or gourmet vegan cuisine. And when asked, not a one was in favor of the hotel development.
No wonder the planning commission had been giving Fortune Brothers Construction such a hard time. But Steven wasn’t one to shy from a fight.
They paused when they came upon a card table with four older men playing gin rummy.
An older man with a head of thick white hair looked up from his cards with a smug grin. “Well, I’ll be damned. Would you look at this?”
“Oh, for cripe’s sake.” A balding fellow sitting next to him furrowed his brow. “Don’t give me that, Cotton Head. You can’t possibly have gin now. I just dealt the cards.”
Another guy said, “Norm, you didn’t shuffle them very good, so if he does, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Oh yeah?” Norm let out a snort. “Cotton Head, if you can call gin now, I’ll give you two hours to gather a crowd in town square, then I’ll kiss your ass.”
Cotton Head offered up a big gap-toothed grin, laid down his hand and said, “Then you’d better pucker up, Norm.”
At that, Dillon let out a laugh. A bright smile, once a familiar sight Steven hadn’t seen in a while, stretched across his face and glimmered in his eyes. “Those guys are a hoot.”
“Aren’t they?” Ellie lowered her voice. “And you haven’t seen anything yet. But they’re more than a couple of funny old men hanging out at a flea market and poking fun at each other. They’re actually veterans who do a lot for the town. In fact, twice a week, th
ey drive out to Austin and volunteer at a soup kitchen. They don’t just dish out plates of food and pat themselves on the back for doing a good deed. They actually sit down and eat at the tables, talking to people and treating them like old friends.”
“Do you think they’d mind if I watched for a while?” Dillon asked Ellie.
“No, not at all. They always draw a crowd and seem to like it.”
As Dillon lingered behind, Steven and Ellie continued to walk through the market.
“It’s good to hear my brother laugh,” Steven said. “He’s been pretty quiet and low-key ever since we moved here.”
“Sounds to me as if your brother misses his life in Florida.”
“Maybe so. But he’s a big part of Fortune Brothers. And he’s adjusting.”
Ellie’s pace slowed as she approached a weathered brown-and-white motor home with an outstretched blue canopy. Various pieces of antique furniture had been placed in front of it, while a rectangular table displayed smaller items for sale.
“I love antiques,” Ellie said. “And my mom collects old jewelry. Do you mind if I look around for a minute or two?”
“Not at all. Take your time.”
As Ellie picked up an elaborate necklace with blue, green and purple stones set in a peacock design, Steven made his way to the left of her to look at a couple of old books and magazines that rested at the edge of the table.
He spotted a fragile brown copy of The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott that had to be more than a hundred and fifty years old. He was about to pick it up when a faded red scrapbook caught his eye. He opened it instead. “Wow.”
“What did you find?” Ellie asked.
“This.” He pointed to the old newspaper clippings someone had carefully glued inside. “It’s a bunch of articles about Rambling Rose. Some of them date back to the early 1900s.”
He carefully paged through it. “I can’t believe this, Ellie. There’s even a feature about Fortune’s Foundling Hospital.”
“That’s awesome.”
“I’m going to buy it.” He glanced over his shoulder and motioned to the dark-haired vendor. “How much do you want for this?”