Alyssa’s heart sank as she weighed her choices.
* * *
Dare watched as Alyssa meticulously set potted plants within the circular garden they had been working on since the day before. She said she was determined to finish it today so that she could spend the last two days of the week and Saturday tying up the hospital job.
Her words and plan all made sense. Her silence and what was virtually a cold shoulder did not. While Noah was his normal, happy self and content to chat away to Dare, it seemed as though Alyssa had little to say.
It left Dare both confused and worried. Had he done something to upset her? Had something happened she hadn’t told him about?
After seeing her yesterday, he’d tried to call her last night. However, it went to voicemail. Later, Alyssa apologized by text for missing his call and said she was getting Noah settled for bed and would see him today. Now, other than the pleasantries, they hadn’t talked about much.
Alyssa stepped away from the garden and studied her notebook layout. “I think that looks good. This one will look better if the sage is trimmed regularly, but even if they aren’t, the colors will look pretty together.” She checked her watch. “We’ll plant these, get the Texas stone in place, put the border around it, and be good to go.”
Noah had brought a Nerf gun with him today. He was busy setting up empty soda cans on a log and shooting at them. Alyssa went to the bed of her pickup to retrieve her hand tools, and Dare followed her.
From there, they could see Noah, but he couldn’t clearly see them. When she reached for her small shovel, Dare put his hand over hers. “What’s going on?”
Her chin dipped but she didn’t turn around. “What do you mean?”
He tugged on her hand until she faced him. “I may not know why, but I can tell you’re avoiding something. I’d much rather you talk to me.”
Alyssa cast a furtive glance in Noah’s direction before settling her gaze on Dare, her eyes brimming with a storm of emotions. “My boss is relocating the garden center to Houston and has offered me a big raise and will cover moving expenses if I move there to manage it for him.”
There were several things that had gone through his mind over the last day or so, but this wasn’t one of them. “When?”
“I’m supposed to give him an answer on Monday.”
“And if you don’t move, you’ll lose your job.” His words sounded flat.
Alyssa’s shoulders sank. “I can’t be unemployed, Dare. Not with Noah. We barely make it as it is.”
His mind raced with different possibilities. He took both of her hands in his and gave them a squeeze. “I can help you look around, see if there are other jobs you could apply for.”
“I’ve been doing that the last couple of days. There isn’t much, and what is available pays less than what I’m making now.” Her gaze traveled to their joined hands. “The choice may be made for me.”
Dare refused to accept that. As far as he was concerned, alternative choices existed. They just had to find them. “You’re not alone in this, Alyssa. Let me help.”
This time, when she lifted her chin, he wasn’t sure if there was more sadness or determination in her eyes. “This isn’t a project you can fix, Dare.”
Her words caused a surge of annoyance. “That’s not what I’m doing, and I think you know it.” He paused, waiting for her to respond. When she didn’t, he sighed. “So, is that it, then?”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry, but if we’re going to have to leave, it’s probably best if we don’t make it any more difficult than necessary.” With that, she took her tools and went back to the garden.
He wanted to ask her if it’d be easier to walk away than to try and fight for what they might have together. Instead, he let her get back to work, his mind churning as he tried to grasp what was happening. This isn’t a project you can fix. The words stung. Did she really think he felt that way about her and Noah?
She seemed like she’d made up her mind, but Dare didn’t miss the way her shoulders drooped. She’d been working with far less enthusiasm, too, compared to normal. She’d talked all last week about how excited she was to complete this main display. Now it was as though she had somewhere else she’d rather be.
The thought of her moving away squeezed at his heart and created a hollow ache in the pit of his stomach. Whatever they had between them had barely begun, but it was powerful enough that Dare wasn’t ready to let that potential go.
What about Alyssa? Was she ready to walk away from everything as though the last few weeks had meant nothing? Or was she putting on a brave face and acting like it didn’t matter?
He’d only be guessing unless she started talking to him, and it didn’t look like that was going to be today.
12
It was no surprise when Dare’s phone continued to sit in silence. He’d tried to call her, and sent two texts. She refused to answer any of them, which only frustrated him more. He’d been half tempted to wait for her to arrive at work one morning—except if she didn’t want to talk to him, he wasn’t about to force the issue. Maybe she believed what she said about him trying to fix her problems. Either way, it was up to her to make the next move. Even if it meant making no move at all, which was a possibility Dare didn’t care for but may have no choice in accepting.
It was Saturday, and the first one in several weeks where he wasn’t working. He’d promised his mom, Marie Jackson, that he’d visit and have lunch with her. With no work week traffic, it didn’t take that long to drive from Sage Valley to where she lived on the east side of San Antonio. He’d offered to take her out to eat, but she insisted he stop by the house instead.
The moment the door opened to his childhood home, Dare noticeably relaxed. “Hey, Mom.” He hugged her close. “I’m sorry it took so long to come visit.”
“Don’t you worry about it. It can take several months for a new job to settle down.” She smiled at him in that understanding way that always put Dare at ease. But after studying his face for several moments, she got that look he knew all too well. “Something’s bothering you. Come sit down. I made a roast last night. We’ll have some sandwiches while you tell me what’s going on.”
An hour later, Dare’s stomach was full, and his heart less heavy. He’d told Mom about Alyssa and Noah, how they’d gotten close while working together. He admitted that he could see a future together, and that finding out she may have to move had been difficult to hear.
Mostly, he expressed his frustration with her lack of communication. “How am I supposed to help if she won’t even talk to me?”
Mom sipped at her iced tea. “Sometimes the best way you can help is by offering your support and then taking a step back.” She set her glass down. “It wasn’t easy for me to let your grandparents in and help after your father took off. It felt like a sign of weakness. I thought that if I admitted I needed their help, it meant I was weak on my own without your father.” She gave a quiet chuckle. “It took some time for me to realize that was far from the truth. I was stubborn. But do you know who was even more so?”
“Grandma and Grandpa?” Thinking about his grandparents brightened Dare’s mood.
Mom bobbed her head. “Yes. They didn’t push me to accept help, but they didn’t give up on me, either. They waited until I was ready to accept it, but I knew they were there for me all the while. Later after you were born, and I was working to support you boys, your grandma would pick Flynn up from school and make sure he got all his homework done. She’d do the dishes and vacuum. She made it possible for me to spend my spare time with the three of you instead of having to handle all of that after I got home. Your grandpa would come to the house and mow during the day when I wasn’t here. I knew they were helping, and it made a huge difference in my life. But most of it was in the background. Subtle things that made an impact without being too pushy.”
She reached across the table and patted his hand. “You have to find a way to be that kind of a person for Alyssa. She knows you’re th
ere for her, and that you’re more than willing to help if she needs it. There’s nothing wrong with being the type of person who wants to fix things and make another person’s life better. But sometimes, part of that is waiting until that person knows exactly what it is that needs to be fixed first.”
Dare hadn’t thought about it that way. He assumed Alyssa would want to stay in Sage Valley and had been prepared to help her find the job that would make that happen.
But what if Alyssa felt a move to Houston was the right thing for her and Noah? Would he be willing to relocate if that’s what it took for them to be together?
Immediately, he knew that he was.
But he hadn’t told her that, if she chose to move to Houston, he’d still make sure they stayed in contact. That he’d drive there every weekend he had free. He enjoyed working at Sage Valley Ranch and would prefer to continue doing so, but if moving to Houston was necessary at some point, he’d happily make that transition.
Would telling her all of that now make a difference? Maybe. But did it matter if she didn’t know yet what she wanted to do? Probably not.
Maybe Mom was right, and he needed to step back and let Alyssa decide what needed to be fixed first. He could only hope that the solution, whatever it was, would involve him as well.
Mom cleared her throat. “I hope I didn’t overstep my bounds with the advice.”
Dare gave her a reassuring smile. “You didn’t. You just gave me a lot to think about, which isn’t a bad thing. By the way, in case I haven’t told you enough, thanks for everything you did while we boys were growing up. I know it wasn’t easy.”
“Maybe not.” Mom gave him a wink. “But it was always worth it.”
* * *
Alyssa blew a final kiss to Noah and closed his bedroom door Saturday night. With a deep sigh of relief, she went to the kitchen where Morgan was waiting, a cup of coffee in each hand. She gave one to Alyssa. “Here, girl. You look like you need this.”
She wasn’t wrong. Alyssa cupped it in both of her hands and took a tentative sip of the hot, bitter liquid. She normally drank her coffee heavily sugared but didn’t care tonight. “I’m not sure how many times I was on the receiving end of questions regarding Dare. Or had to hear from Noah how great he is.” The trouble came in knowing her son was right. “I hate this, Morgan.” They both sat down at the small kitchen table.
“Yeah, me too. I don’t like the idea of my best friend moving away.” She raised an eyebrow over the top of the coffee mug she held in front of her face. “Or watching her run away.”
Alyssa shot her a pained look. “You’re not helping. Houston is still in Texas. It’s not like I’d be moving to California or something.”
“My point exactly. So, find a job in San Antonio instead. The commute isn’t that horrible, and at least you’d still be in the area. Close enough for us to see each other. Close enough for you and Dare to still be together.”
It’s wasn’t like Alyssa hadn’t thought of it already. But she’d looked around and hadn’t found any job opportunities. It was a gamble to tell Ben no and hope she found one afterward. A gamble she might make if she were on her own, but one she couldn’t justify when it came to caring for Noah. They had no savings to fall back on. And while what she said to Dare about him trying to fix their situation might have been unfair, she knew he would try if it came down to it. And that wouldn’t be right.
All she knew was that she couldn’t allow him to be saddled with her financial burdens, and she couldn’t make it harder on Noah or herself if it came time to move away.
“I wish it were that easy, Morgan.”
Morgan looked like she wanted to argue, but she finally sighed and relaxed against the back of the kitchen chair. “I know. But it seems like you’re giving up. Even after Russell died and you had to figure out how to raise Noah on your own, you stuck with it. Kept your chin up. I hate to see you back down from a fight now.”
Alyssa wanted to argue with her but knew it was pointless. In many ways, Morgan had hit it right on the nose. So where did that leave her? “I wish I knew what I was supposed to do.” She set her mug down on the table before slumping onto the scratched wooden surface.
“Don’t we all? What you can do is your best. The key is to choose your destiny rather than sitting back and letting it choose you.”
Alyssa raised her head again and gave her friend an amused smile. “You are the most oddly romantic person I’ve ever known.”
Morgan raised an eyebrow. “Thank you.” She tried to keep a straight face, but within minutes, both women were laughing, their hands clapped over their mouths so they wouldn’t keep Noah from falling asleep. “Seriously, though. Follow your heart. If you do that, everything else will eventually fall into place.”
It all sounded like such a straight-forward plan, but Alyssa knew better. Every ounce of her common sense said she should keep distance between herself and Dare. She’d already cried more tears over him than she cared to admit. But when it came to what her heart wanted, there was no doubt Dare had made a significant mark there that she doubted would ever fade away.
Alyssa needed a change of topic. “How was the farmer’s market today?” Morgan made a face. “Uh, oh. That bad?” Normally when Morgan took items to the farmer’s market at Sage Valley Ranch on Saturdays, she sold most of her supply.
Morgan shrugged. “Sales were fine. But I ran into Gabe.”
Alyssa knew they saw each other once in a while at the ranch. It was impossible not to when he worked and lived there.
Morgan rolled her eyes. “I mean literally. While carrying a box.”
Alyssa tried not to laugh but was wholly unsuccessful.
Her best friend gave her a pointed kick beneath the table. “Your support and sympathy are overwhelming.”
“I’m sorry.” Alyssa tried to swallow back her giggles. “I’m sure that was horribly mortifying. Of all the people to run into there.” Morgan and Gabe had spoken little since they’d broken up a couple of years ago. “How did it go?”
“He carried the box to the booth for me, told me to have a nice day, and I didn’t see him again.”
Alyssa waited for her to continue, but it didn’t seem like Morgan was going to say anything more. “Well, at least he was a gentleman.”
Morgan stared at the coffee in her cup as though she could see right through it.
It was Alyssa’s turn to kick Morgan to get her attention. “What’s the matter?”
With a sad frown, Morgan shrugged. “I’m wondering how long it’ll take before I’m no longer still in love with him.”
Alyssa’s heart ached for her friend. “I’m sorry, girl.”
“It is what it is, right?” She stood and went to her bag that was sitting by the front door. “By the way, I grabbed something for you.” She returned with a business card and handed it over.
Sage Valley Nature Center and Farm was printed in green with a phone number beneath it. “What am I missing?”
“They had a booth at the farmer’s market like they always do, and I overheard them say they were looking to hire someone who would be in charge of the garden and teach classes to educate people about the local plants.”
Alyssa let that sink in. She’d been so focused on finding another garden center to work for, that she never thought to look at something like this. She blinked at her friend. “And you couldn’t lead with this tonight?” She sat up straight. “I wonder if they’re open on Sundays?”
Morgan laughed. “I’m sure they aren’t, but I’ll bet you could call them first thing on Monday morning. You’d be perfect for that job, girl. Seriously. And with your experience using local plants in your landscaping, you’ve probably got an advantage.” She leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed, and a smug look on her face. “Besides, if I’d led with that, you might not have worked through some of your other pressing issues.”
“You are terrible, do you know that?”
“And you love me anyway,” Morgan said wi
th a wink.
13
Dare managed to make it through the rest of the weekend without trying to reach out to Alyssa. When Monday rolled around, curiosity burned as he wondered whether she’d decided to move to Houston or not. At least he stayed busy all day helping Gabe improve the goat pen to ensure Hopscotch couldn’t get out again.
Between the day Hopscotch had decided to chase Noah and now, they’d been keeping him in a separate location. It wasn’t nearly big enough for the large goat, but at least he couldn’t escape.
By mid-afternoon, Dare escorted their reluctant goat friend to his new and improved place of residence and then closed the gate with a satisfying click. As though he sensed they’d put a stop to his fun, Hopscotch turned his back on both cowboys and walked to the opposite end of the enclosure.
Gabe chuckled. “His life is going to be a lot less interesting now.”
“I’m sure he’ll find other ways to cause mischief.” Dare would not miss having to regularly wrangle the goat.
He thought about the first time Alyssa saw Hopscotch and how shocked she was by his size. He imagined her keeping dwarf goats. He had no doubt she’d have them following her around and eating out of her hand in short order.
Dare wouldn’t blame them one bit. “What’s next on your agenda?” He took his hat off, wiped his damp brow on the sleeve of his shirt, and put it back on again.
“Mason has me checking on some fencing on the north side of the property. You?”
“The faucet is leaking in one of the cabins. Mr. Buchanan turned the water off, but they have it rented later this week, so I need to get in there and see what the problem is.” At least he’d be indoors with the window air conditioning unit he could turn on. “I guess I’ll see you later, yeah?”
“Yep.” Gabe gave his bunkmate a salute before walking toward the stables.
Dare took his phone out so he could check his notes for the cabin number. He doubted the sink would take too long to repair. As soon as he was inside, he switched the air conditioner on and enjoyed the cool air for several moments before he got to work.
Charmed By The Daring Cowboy (Sage Valley Ranch Book 4) Page 10