Where the Heart Leads

by Jillian Hart

  “We all think the Klemp brothers are going to keep running,” Burton added, a strong, lifelong cowboy. He radiated the honor of his trade. “But we’ve thought that before. The man who was after Verbena, he got away and came back. Something like that’s hard to forget.”

  “So we and the deputies are going to keep an eye on this town.” Beckett planted his hand on his hips, a natural leader, the kind of man who stood for what was right. “Seth, Adam and Tyler are in on this too. We’d like to ask you to join us.”

  Gabriel’s hand shook, nearly spilling his coffee. That wasn’t what he was expecting. Not at all. “I’d be right happy to help out.”

  “Good. Glad to have you with us.” Beckett’s grin said everything Gabriel could have hoped for.

  That was one obstacle down. He had her family’s approval. Now all he needed was hers.

  Chapter Eighteen

  It felt like a long day, and it wasn’t over yet. Aumaleigh had spent half the day cooking ahead to help make up for the fact that she wouldn’t be working that evening, and also cooking up a few extra meals for Iris’s family.

  As she drove through town, she dodged school kids racing through the streets, freed from their prison of school. Their happy shouts and squeals put a smile on her face as she went over the errands she had yet to run—bakery, mercantile, newspaper office.

  “Aumaleigh!” Fred leaning against the railing in front of the post office, sunning himself on this fine day. “Did you hear all about the Klemp brothers?”

  “Yes, I did.” She pulled Buttons to a stop and hopped out of her buggy.

  “And here I felt sorry for the one who was limping.” Fred shook his head. “Guess you never really know about folks. Wonder what they were doing in town? Aside from stealing from us, that is. Living in George’s cabin. I heard the Deer Springs sheriff is furious mad. Brought in a huge posse to hunt ‘em down.”

  “That’s what I heard too.” Aumaleigh grabbed a crate from the floor of her buggy and hefted it into her arms. Good old, Fred. He was always full of speculation. “My theory is that the boys wanted a new start, but couldn’t leave their old ways behind them. My nieces felt sorry for Junior too. They were going to offer him a job.”

  “I heard that too. Don’t think I’m gonna let a pretty lady like you carry something heavy. Not when I’m alive and kicking.” Fred came over, took the box from her and escorted her up the steps. “What’s this I hear about you and Gabriel Daniels?”

  “There’s no more new news to get out of me, Fred.”

  “Rats. Here I was hoping for a good scoop. Well, a man’s gotta try.” He pulled open the bakery door. “I’m hoping things work out for you. I think he’s got a courting look in his eye.”

  “Thanks for carrying the crate for me.” She laughed. “I adore you, you know.”

  “Everybody does.” Fred winked, sliding the crate onto a nearby empty table.

  “We certainly do.” Dottie circled the counter with a cookie in hand. “No good deed goes unpunished around here, or at least it’s rewarded with a cookie.”

  “That’s right.” Rhoda agreed from behind the counter. “I just heard some gossip about you. Your wife was in here not an hour ago for some of our cinnamon bread—”

  “—it’s a favorite of mine,” Fred admitted.

  “And she said your daughter is coming to visit.” Rhoda beamed. “I’m so excited. We were friends back in school.”

  “I remember.” The proud father flushed with pleasure. “She’s a good girl, coming back because we’ve been begging her to see us.”

  “We’re thrilled—oops! I see a customer. I’d better go. Thanks for the cookie!” Fred scuttled off, the bell above the door jangling in his wake.

  “I love him.” Dottie flushed. “If I could pick anyone for a father, I would pick him. He’s so fatherly. And sort of like Santa Claus.”

  “Without the beard and the red suit,” Rhoda agreed.

  “And the spectacles,” Aumaleigh chimed in. “Dottie, come over here. I’ve been going through the extra rooms at the kitchen house and I found some extra things we don’t need. I thought they would help you out.”

  “You mean for my new place?” Dottie’s eye widened with surprise. The shy girl lit up. “Aw, you didn’t have to do that. I’m getting by just fine.”

  “Come take a look.” Aumaleigh knew what it was like to be alienated by your family. She wished she’d made the decision Dottie had, to find a place for herself in this world.

  But if she had, she wouldn’t have had this life. Maybe it was one of those mid-life things, or maybe with the nieces coming to live here in Bluebell she’d spent more time thinking about young love than she used to.

  The decision she’d made in her youth had long reaching consequences, but that was true for anyone. She treasured her life here because she could see everything she had. Family, friends, a community. She had a life filled with love.

  “Oh, there are mixing bowls in here, and a fry pan and, oh, Aumaleigh. A set of ironware that matches!” Dottie looked overwhelmed. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you seems too little.”

  “Why don’t you think of me as your aunt. That’s what I want in return.” Aumaleigh had a soft spot for little Dottie, who was just as sweet as pie. “This way you have enough kitchenware to fix supper for a certain interested gentleman.”

  “Oh!” Dottie turned beat red, but her happiness was hard to miss.

  Aumaleigh gave her a hug, and the bell above the door chimed again.

  Magnolia tumbled in, wild-eyed and disheveled. “Fanny Dobson and I just had a big argument in the alley behind her store. They just opened, can you believe that? They put out a sign, she had the employees she brought in from Deer Springs standing on the boardwalk giving out samples. All our school kids are there, munching on Dobson’s cookies instead of ours.”

  Aumaleigh had a bad feeling. “What happened with you and Fanny?”

  “She backed her wagon out of the alley and rammed into my buggy.” Magnolia fisted her hands. “I think she did it on purpose too. The cake for Bradley Calhoun’s wife’s birthday flew off the seat and hit the ground. It was a disaster. It’s nothing but crumb and frosting bits.”

  “Are you okay?” Dottie rushed toward her.

  “Magnolia, come sit down.” Rhoda pulled out a chair.

  Aumaleigh crossed to the stove and poured a cup of tea. “What matters is you, Magnolia. Did you fall out of the buggy too?”

  “Perhaps a little.” Her distress gave way as her mouth twisted into a grin. “Okay, it was funny. Maybe it was really funny. I totally flew off the seat too, but I grabbed the dashboard. Quick thinking on my part. Honestly. So I was hanging there when Carl came out onto the loading dock.”

  “Wait, you were hanging on the buggy?” Dottie looked aghast. “Were you stuck?”

  “No, I was just dangling there, holding onto the dashboard for dear life. I was just about to let myself down when I realized my skirt had flown up from the force of the impact and I was showing off my nice lace stocking all the way up to my knees.”

  “Now I can’t say I’m the only one to show off my bare legs in this town.” Rose blew into the shop with the sunshine. “Glad to know I’m not the only one who humiliates myself around here.”

  “Hi, Rose.” Magnolia dropped into the chair. “Do you know what the worst part was? Fanny climbs down from her wagon and clomps over in her man boots and says real sweetly. Oh, did I do that? I didn’t see you there.”

  “Ooh!” Dottie scrunched up her face and fisted her hands. “You know she was lying. You know she did it on purpose. She’s a bully, and there’s no way to stop her.”

  “You could get Nathaniel involved,” Rhoda suggested. “He’s a good attorney. She’s responsible for the damages.”

  “That’s the second time I’ve been in a wreck with that buggy.” Magnolia rolled her eyes. “What if they hold that against me? Like I’m a bad driver or something.”

  “You really a
re kind of a bad driver,” Missy came out of the kitchen to add. “Not that I’m judging, but you’re more one of those near miss drivers.”

  “You know my motto. A miss is as good as a mile.” Magnolia started laughing. “You should have seen it. Wham! The cake goes flying, I go flying and poor Marlowe, the sweetest horse in the world is like, I didn’t do anything. What’s going on? He reached around in his traces and was checking on me, lipping me with his mouth while I was hanging there off the dash with my skirts up over my hips.”

  “Wait. That wasn’t part of the story before,” Aumaleigh pointed out.

  “Okay, I showed off more than my stockings.” Magnolia doubled over, laughing.

  So did everyone else. Peals of laughter echoed in the bakery. Wynne came out, spatula in hand, to see what the fuss was all about.

  The bell above the front door chimed.

  “Magnolia, are you sure you’re all right?” Oscar stormed in, breathless, worry lining his chiseled face. “I took the bashed-in buggy to the livery stable. Seth said he’ll fix it up for you and give Marlowe some extra loving.”

  “Thanks for the help, Oscar. You’re a gem.” Magnolia’s praise was genuine.

  It was easy to see they all felt the same about Oscar. He was always ready to lend a hand, always helping out. He was a good man. How were they ever going to let him go back to his logging profession?

  “Is there anything I can do?” Aumaleigh offered. “I have some free time.”

  “No, I’m fine. All that’s wounded is my pride.” Magnolia patted her hair, trying to tame it. “And maybe, just maybe, my reputation, but it won’t be the first time. Do we have a spare cake?”

  “I made an extra for the display case.” Wynne swung around, bustling back to the kitchen. “Missy, come help me with the frosting. We’ll get it fixed up as good as we can. Let’s move!”

  “Gotta go!” Missy waved and scampered off, disappearing through the swinging doors.

  “Oh, I almost forgot your order.” Rhoda circled the counter and plucked two small bakery boxes off a shelf. “Cinnamon rolls for Verbena, with extra icing just the way she likes it. And dinner rolls for Iris. I threw in a cupcake for everyone. I couldn’t resist.”

  “Thanks, Rhoda.” Aumaleigh took the box, noticed that Magnolia was fully recovered, retelling the tale for Fred who had popped in for the latest scoop. She accepted Dottie’s thanks one more time, gave the girl a hug, boxes and all, and headed out onto the boardwalk.

  Buttons lifted her head in greeting, so good and patient as always.

  “I didn’t mean to be so long,” she told the mare and stowed the boxes on the buggy floor. “Let’s go down to the mercantile. There are other horses tethered down there. Oh, and a donkey too. Let’s go, girl.”

  Buttons waited until Aumaleigh was seated before daintily making her way down the street. It was hard not to feel resentment when she saw the A-board on the other side of the street advertising Now Open! Free Samples! Several young ladies holding trays full of cookies. School children crowded around, taking as many as they could hold.

  “Is Magnolia okay?” Lawrence Latimer was stowing a box of groceries in his handmade cart. “I heard what happened in the mercantile. Everyone’s talking about it. Did that Dobson woman really run into her?”

  “Yes, but Magnolia’s okay.” Aumaleigh pulled Buttons to a stop. “You’re looking happy, Lawrence.”

  “Why, thank you, Ma’am.” He gave a humble shrug. “Guess my life’s going pretty well these days. I’ve caught the attentions of a fair lady.”

  “Yes, so I’ve heard.” She hopped down and smoothed her skirts, glad for the lost little man. It was hard not to like him. Everyone deserved love and the chance for happiness. “I’m hoping good things for you and Dottie. Have a good afternoon, Lawrence.”

  “You too, Aumaleigh.” His handlebar mustache twitched when he smiled.

  Leaving him to untie his donkey, she lifted her skirts, skipped up the steps and let the warmth of the sunshine sift over her. The world felt brighter. Better.

  “Hi, Aumaleigh.” Gemma greeted the instant the door swung open. “I saw you out there chatting with Lawrence. Isn’t it an improvement? He hardly talked my ear off at all this afternoon. I sure hope things work out for him and Dottie.”

  “Me, too.” She stopped to loosen her sunbonnet strings and pushed it back, letting it dangle down her back. She took a moment to study Gemma. The girl looked better today, less sad than the last time she’d seen her. Family troubles were never easy. She knew that firsthand. “Did you get the new button shipment in?”

  “Yes! I just finished putting up the new display this morning. We’ve got some lovely mother-of-pearl ones in.” Gemma opened the account book on the counter in front of her, flipping through the pages. “Is there something specific you’re looking for?”

  “I’ll know it when I see it. Thanks, Gemma.”

  She wandered over to the sewing corner, her thoughts turning to her morning’s conversation with Gabriel. Every once in a while, something—or someone—is worth anything to have.

  Had he meant her? Oh, she hoped so. She wished it with her whole heart.

  She moved into the kiss of the sun, streaming through the window, and made her way through the packets of buttons on display. Pink ones, red ones, blue ones, metal ones. She stopped at the card of carved ivory roses, dainty and intricate.

  She used to have buttons like these, in fact they were the same buttons she was buying when—

  The door whooshed open, and warm spring air breezed in. A shiver of recognition tingled down her spine, and her gaze flew upward. Gabriel. He stood braced in the doorway, dark-haired and handsome, so rugged he dwarfed the entire shop. A black, wide-brimmed hat shaded half his face, so all she could see was the straight blade of his nose, a masculine, sculpted mouth and an uncompromising iron-hewn jaw.

  Wow. Just wow. Her jaw dropped, her soul stilled and she knew she would never be the same again.

  She felt the impact of his gaze long before he tipped back his hat to reveal intense gray eyes fringed by black lashes. The force in his gaze startled her, made her heart lurch into a frantic dash. It was as if he could see inside her, past her facades and her defenses. Just the way he used to.

  “Hi, Mr. Daniels,” Gemma called from the counter. “How’s Leigh?”

  “She’ll be mad when she finds out I came here without her.” He may be speaking with Gemma, but his attention stayed riveted on her, standing in front of the button display.

  A strange sense of déjà vu whispered over her.

  Their gazes met and locked. An eternity passed in that moment. Recognition came to the innermost part of her. She knew this man down to his soul. She’d always known him.

  And forever would.

  “Gemma, could you get me a bucket of nails?” He called over his shoulder, breaking eye contact.

  Aumaleigh grabbed the edge of the counter. She felt wobbly, dizzy. Breathless.

  “Burton and I worked out a deal.” He strode up to her, long, denim-encased legs, a blue shirt covering muscled arms and torso. He tipped back his hat. “I’m the proud owner of some of your best horses.”

  “Oh, good.” Flustered, she couldn’t seem to make her brain work. Words tangled on her tongue. Or maybe it was the disappointment he’d come to talk business when she’d been expecting…well, what exactly was she expecting? She shrugged. “They couldn’t have a better home. This way I’ll get to see them now and again. Your fields come up to my side yard.”

  “Yes, I know. You’re welcome to climb the fence and visit them any time. I promise not to chase you off.”

  “Generous of you.”

  “Yes, I know. It’s just in my nature.” The corners of his chiseled mouth hooked upward, and his laughter rumbled rich and low.

  “Shouldn’t you be home sleeping? You were up all night.”

  “I’m on my way. Just stopping for some nails. I’m hoping to get in some repair work this afternoon befo
re I’m hauled in for deputy duty.”

  “So you’ve been drafted, have you? You’re already part of the community.”

  “It feels that way. It’s nice. I’m starting to feel at home around here.” He turned when Gemma called out to him, nodding in acknowledgement. “Guess I’d better head home.”

  “Guess so.” Her voice cracked. Maybe because of the longing filling her up. She wanted more than this friendliness. Much more.

  “See you later, Aumaleigh.” He backed away. “You can count on it.”

  His gaze met hers, and the connection left her reeling. Steady eyes, radiating integrity and something more.

  That wasn’t desire, was it?

  There was the murmur of his voice, then Gemma’s answering and he was out the door, crossing the boardwalk and heading out into the street. Muscular form, impressive shoulders, iron strength. The bright rays of the sun drown him out, and he was gone.

  “Aumaleigh, did you find what you were looking for?” Gemma swished over, business-like in her plain brown dress. “Aumaleigh? Are you all right.”

  “F-fine.” She stared down, realizing she held two packets of the carved rose buttons in her hand. “I’ll take these.”

  “I’ll put them on your account. Anything else?”

  “N-no.” She didn’t trust her voice to say more. This feeling Gabriel had left with her, this awareness of him deep in her soul—she’d felt it before.

  “Okay, do you want me to wrap them up for you, or do you want to put them in your reticule?” Gemma asked.

  In answer, she loosened her reticule strings and popped the buttons inside. “There.”

  “Great. Have a good day, Aumaleigh. Tell Iris I’m thinking of her and Milo.” Gemma retreated behind the front counter.

  “Iris?” Her brain refused to work. She reached for the door knob, trying to remember what she’d been planning to do with the rest of her afternoon.

  “Aren’t you going to see her? Tell her I’ll stop by for her grocery list this evening. I do not want her leaving Milo’s side.”