An Unlikely Rancher

by Roz Denny Fox

  “I have the address,” Jenna said, turning off the main street and driving in the direction the Realtor had marked on the map. The residential area didn’t look overly prosperous. Not that the homes were in decay, but they were far from being as elegant as the residential areas in Florida and Maryland.

  “There. It’s that cream house with the dark green shutters.”

  “I don’t see Beezer.”

  Jenna rechecked the address on the back of Flynn’s business card. It was the right house. “It’s just five o’clock. Apparently we’ve beaten the repairman and Flynn.”

  “Ah, you didn’t call him Mr. Sutton, either.”

  Jenna frowned and parked at the curb. Oddly, in spite of counseling Andee on what to call him, she’d begun to think of him as Flynn, too. “He is renting from us, honey, so we’ll probably be on friendly terms.”

  A panel truck with the Hometown Electric logo splashed across the side pulled to a stop behind Jenna. She got out of the Cherokee and put on her sunglasses.

  “Mr. Fuller?” She extended her hand to the young man, who’d also gotten out.

  “Ms. Wood, I guess?” He grinned and briefly touched Jenna’s hand. “Flynn said he might be detained. I’ll just run up a ladder and have a look at the unit.”

  “Fine, we’ll wait under that tree.” Even now she felt a trickle of sweat under her bra.

  J. D. Fuller was on the roof by the time Jenna saw Flynn’s pickup round the corner. He pulled into the driveway and sprang out of his truck, removing his sunglasses as he greeted her. He wore gray pants and a pale blue short-sleeved shirt that matched the color of his eyes.

  He looked as handsome in civilian dress as he did in a flight suit. Better, maybe, she thought grudgingly.

  She wished she hadn’t changed into her worn jeans.

  Beezer leaped from the pickup, zeroing in on Andee, who greeted him with a big hug.

  “Those two are quite a pair.” Flynn smiled at Jenna. “Have you been here long? Any verdict from J.D.?” He squinted up to the top of the roof.

  “No, but he’s only been up there a few minutes. I’ve heard some banging around.”

  “I’d open up and let you inside, but in this five-o’clock heat it’s probably cooler out here.” Flynn put his sunglasses back on.

  “That’s okay. I’m pleasantly surprised to see this home is among the nicer ones on the block. And you have flowers along the front. That’s more than I have.”

  “Yeah, I even have a nice patch of grass out back. Oscar said the couple who rented before me loved to garden.

  “There, looks like J.D. is finished his inspection.” Flynn moved toward the ladder and Jenna took in his limp again.

  The repairman stepped to the ground and adjusted his baseball cap. Waggling his clipboard, he beckoned Jenna closer.

  She didn’t like the deep grooves between J.D.’s eyebrows.

  “The compressor is shot,” he said.

  That didn’t sound good. She could see the two men share a look.

  “What does that mean in the way of repairs?” Jenna asked.

  “It means you need a new air conditioner. As old as this unit is, it’s more costly to replace a compressor than to buy a new unit with a current SEER factor.”

  Jenna glanced between the two, silently asking for more explanation.

  Flynn undid his top button to open his collar and rubbed his neck as he hooked his sunglasses on the shirt. “SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. New regulations come out every few years.”

  “I see. But this house passed inspection a few weeks ago,” she said. “Shouldn’t I have known about this issue then?”

  J.D. shook his head. “When these suckers go, they go fast, often without warning. I maintained this for Mrs. Wilson. It operated fine. Now, poof, it’s shot.”

  Taking a deep breath, Jenna pinched the bridge of her nose.

  “I have brochures in the truck on the types we handle. Any of them could be installed as soon as possible.” J.D. ripped the sheet off his clipboard and passed it to Jenna. He loped off to the open back of his panel truck, where she heard him rummaging around.

  “This is a bummer,” Flynn murmured, eyeing Jenna.

  J.D. jogged back and gave Jenna three brochures. “The cheapest we recommend is $5,500 on up to $12,000. For a house this size I suggest the one at $8,000. It’s a workhorse and over the long haul will give you the best bang for your buck.”

  All Jenna could think was that $8,000 was way more than a buck. Way more than she had in the savings account. “Is there such a thing as buying used?” she asked hesitantly.

  The repairman looked sympathetic. “No.”

  Not looking at Flynn, she paced back and forth, trying to figure out what to do. “The truth is I can’t afford any of these air conditioners at the moment. I’ll need to arrange for a bank loan, and I worry that since I’m new in town that may take time.”

  The men didn’t respond. Flynn ran a hand through his cropped blond hair. “My rent’s paid up for this month. To be honest, I’ve sunk so much into the airpark I’m sort of strapped for cash, so I’m not in a position to front you the money and take it out in rent.”

  Jenna glanced at Andee, who sat beneath the tree pretending to read to the dog.

  Turning her gaze on Flynn, Jenna took a deep breath and said in a rush, “All I can think to do is to temporarily offer my upstairs. It’s vacant. Two bedrooms with a full bath. One room has a double bed and dresser and a TV. The movers hooked up cable. The second room has a daybed, a nightstand and bookcase. As for kitchen privileges, I can make room in a cupboard and the fridge. We can set a timetable so we don’t trip over each other.”

  Flynn scrutinized Jenna for the longest time, then his dog. Even though Beezer sat in the shade, he was panting hard from the heat. “It isn’t ideal,” Flynn muttered darkly. “I’ll give you a month to square things with the AC. Just so we’re clear, there’s no need to get chummy because we’re sharing a house.”

  Jenna’s mouth dropped open, then snapped shut. She sensed heat rising to her cheeks and was sure of it when J.D. said, “My card’s stapled to those brochures. Call when you decide which unit you’d like.” He left in a hurry.

  Jenna clutched the brochures, locked in a glaring match with her renter.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “LOOK, THE THING IS...I don’t keep regular hours,” Flynn said, grasping at straws. Of course he couldn’t admit he didn’t want to live with her, but it sure didn’t look as if he had another choice.

  He should have known he couldn’t trust this woman to keep a simple business contract; he paid rent, he got a decent roof over his head...and air conditioning.

  And now, burned by another woman who couldn’t keep a commitment.

  He’d given Saundra an engagement ring shortly before he’d gone on his last tour abroad. She was to live in his apartment while he was gone and they’d get married as soon as he came home. His family had been ecstatic. Only, things changed drastically when he returned home broken, needing a new knee and months of rehab. Saundra wasn’t meant to play nursemaid—not that he’d asked her to—and hadn’t dealt well with his decision to leave the military, either.

  “I haven’t established a routine yet,” Jenna said, plainly putting the brakes on her own irritation. “Believe me, this isn’t an arrangement I’d opt for if I could see another choice. I spent part of today insisting to Andee that Beezer could not come to our house for a sleepover.”

  That triggered a full-bodied laugh from Flynn.

  “It’s not as if we’re going to be roommates,” she was quick to add.

  Flynn lifted an eyebrow before dropping his sunglasses to cover his amusement. He guessed Jenna Wood had stronger objections to this forced situation than he did.

 
What was there about him that she found so objectionable? Shouldn’t he be relieved? Well, he wasn’t. And that gave him pause, which killed his sense of humor.

  He cleared his throat. “The bank is already closed today. I hope you plan to see about that loan first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “I do, so don’t lose sleep over it.” Jenna put on her own sunglasses. “Andee, bring your book, honey. We’re finished here.”

  “Beezer likes The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I told him next time I’ll read Goodnight Moon.” Andee hugged the dog, then skipped to the car. The dog shook himself and ambled after her.

  “I bet those two will be happy,” Flynn muttered.

  “Undoubtedly,” Jenna snapped. “I certainly hope Beezer doesn’t scare my ostriches like the low-flying aircraft from your airpark.”

  “I did mention your concern to the pilot,” Flynn said.

  “You did? When? I’m sure the same plane scattered my birds again today. It was noon or a tad later.”

  “Hmm. I spoke with him when he showed up to fly today. It was right before I went home for lunch.”

  “Thanks for saying something, even if he apparently didn’t pay attention. Yesterday you didn’t sound as if you’d involve yourself.”

  “It’s not my place to. But, like I said, the opportunity presented itself.”

  “He’s probably dropped down on my list of problems anyway.” Jenna frowned. “I really should buy two air conditioners. My house is only equipped with a swamp cooler. I prefer AC. It cools better.”

  “Maybe if you crack open a window it’ll work better.”

  Jenna studied Flynn pensively. “I’m not keen on leaving windows open at night. Especially not downstairs, where Andee and I sleep.”

  “Ah. Well, installing security screens on the lower level might be cheaper than buying a new air conditioner big enough to cool your house. There are bound to be drafts.”

  “Mommy,” Andee called. “I thought you said we had to go. The car is hot.”

  “I’m coming.”

  “Did you ask if I can call him Mr. Flynn?”

  Flynn glanced between the pair. “You can both call me Flynn.” He lowered his voice. “It seems easier if we use first names, considering...” He hesitated. “Will it be less confusing if I bring my stuff over tonight after she’s in bed?”

  “So she can wake up and find you there in the morning? Not that she goes upstairs. I’ll make it plain she’s not to bother you. The dog is a different matter. Keeping her from loving on him will be hopelessly impossible.” She frowned. “Like I need this aggravation.”

  “I’d check into one of the motels, but neither allows pets.”

  “Well, maybe we’ll laugh about it once it’s over.”

  “I really doubt that.”

  Jenna stiffened. “Of course not. What was I thinking? I’ll check to be sure you have bedding and towels upstairs. Beyond that, I’ve no desire to run a motel. The rooms don’t come with maid service.” She turned and marched to her vehicle.

  Flynn pinched the bridge of his nose. He’d set her off again.

  The dog gave a woof as Jenna got in the SUV.

  “Beezer, come here, boy. Let Andee go. Come on, you traitor.”

  The dog finally came to him as Jenna drove off, and butted his thigh. “Hey, careful, buddy.” He stepped out of Beezer’s reach. “Keep your paws crossed that my stupid blood pressure will be normal tomorrow. I need the VA doc to approve my flight physical. I want to start advertising those flying lessons... Maybe get Travis Hines signed up for a refresher course.”

  * * *

  “DID THE MAN fix Mr. Flynn’s air conditioner?”

  Jenna tilted the rearview mirror just enough to see Andee. She had thought to wait until their evening meal to break the news concerning their houseguests. But this was the perfect opening. “The house needs a new one.”

  “Why?”

  “The old one broke and won’t cool the house now.”

  “Beezer was hot sitting with me in the shade. Will living in a hot house make him sick?”

  “Honey, Flynn rents that house from me, so getting a new air conditioner is up to me. Since it will take a while to arrange to get one, I invited him to stay upstairs at our house.”

  “And Beezer?”

  Jenna sighed. “Yes, Beezer, too.”

  Andee clapped. “I hope it takes a long, long time to get a new air conditioner. I want Beezer to stay with us forever.”

  “That’s not even a remote possibility. And Mr. Flynn needs his privacy while he’s at our house. Understood?”

  “What’s pri...va...cy?” Andee dragged out the word.

  Jenna slowed to turn off the highway onto their lane. She didn’t answer at once, because suddenly, talking about inviting a man she hardly knew to move into the house with them gave her pause. What did she really know about him?

  “Mommy? You didn’t answer.”

  She stopped outside the house and turned around. “Privacy means leaving someone alone.”

  Andee scowled at her from between stuffed-animal ears.

  Jenna recognized the stubborn streak she’d run up against before. “The upstairs is off-limits to us. Just like Auntie Melody and Uncle Rob’s bedroom suite was when we lived with them.”

  “They didn’t have a dog. I bet Beezer will want to come down and play with me.”

  So much hopefulness shone through that statement, Jenna sighed and gathered up her purse. Andee had weathered so many disruptions in her life of late, Jenna felt guilty for that.

  Maybe the bank would grant her a loan tomorrow and Flynn Sutton and his dog would be gone within the week.

  “Let’s go in. I’ll fix spaghetti and a salad for dinner. How’s that?”

  Andee tried to hold on to her frown, but spaghetti was her favorite and she shot inside. Jenna employed bribes judiciously, but this was one time she didn’t feel bad about in the least.

  As Jenna prepared the meal, she took a moment to phone Oscar Martin in Hawaii.

  “Mr. Martin, this is Jenna Wood. I bought your property in New Mexico.”

  “Right. How are you getting along? I hope my notes make sense.”

  “They’re very detailed. Thank you. I hadn’t realized you would already be gone when I arrived—that was a bit of a surprise.”

  “Yeah, about that. I should’ve let you know, sorry, but I had an opportunity come up that...wouldn’t wait. Couldn’t have really told you much more about the birds than are in those notes, though.”

  “It’s...fine. We’ll figure it out. I’m afraid I had to let your manager go, which hasn’t helped matters.”

  “What? What did he do this time?”

  “This time? So he’s... Never mind. He’s gone now. He demanded more money, which I didn’t have to pay him. Got a little heavy-handed about it, and I’m relieved to be rid of him.”

  “Well, he always did have a temper.”

  “I’m calling because my daughter would like to get a dog. Do you know if that poses a problem for the birds?”

  “Well, I never had one. But lots of times folks driving past on the highway stopped in to see the birds—ostriches aren’t your everyday sight in New Mexico—and often they had kids and dogs. Little yappers disturbed the birds. I think I put in the notes that noises give them a fright. I suppose there are dogs that don’t bark much.”

  “Yes,” Jenna murmured, her thoughts on a big, lumpy dog that barked whenever he saw Andee and airplanes that swooped overhead. “Well, thank you for sparing the time to chat with me. I hope you’re enjoying retirement.”

  “Living by the ocean is great. I do miss the ranch, though. You enjoy the place. And sorry Winkleman didn’t work out. Don’t hesitate to call if you have other questions.”

>   Certainly some surged to the fore. But they were all impossible for the man to help with from so far away. “Thanks.”

  Jenna hung up after he said goodbye.

  She guessed she’d see how much Beezer barked.

  * * *

  JENNA SAT AT the kitchen table after dinner studying Oscar Martin’s notes. Andee sat across the table putting together her second puzzle.

  “I don’t know, Andee,” Jenna said for the umpteenth time. “Relax. Beezer and Flynn will get here when they get here.”

  “That doesn’t say when. Where will the hands on the clock be when they come?”

  Her uncle Rob had begun teaching Andee how to tell time. She did pretty well for six, Jenna thought, glancing up at the cat-shaped kitchen clock. “Can you tell me what time it is now?”

  “Um. The little hand is on seven. And the big hand is on six,” Andee said, pointing. “I don’t get the between numbers. It’s after seven, but it’s before my bedtime.”

  Jenna was about to explain again how the minutes worked when she heard a vehicle pull to a stop outside.

  Andee saw the splash of headlights on the wall. “It’s them. They’re here. They’re here!” she shouted, scrambling off her chair to dash and open the door.

  “Wait!” Jenna jumped up, spilling her coffee and almost knocking over her chair. “Andee, we need to look out the window to see who’s coming before we open the door.”

  Andee blinked. “Who else would come? We don’t know anybody here ’cept Flynn and Beezer.”

  By now Beezer had both paws on Andee’s shoulders and was licking her face. The girl giggled and the sound swept aside most of Jenna’s lingering reservations.

  “Do you need help bringing in your stuff?” she called to the man sliding two boxes and a large canvas duffel bag over the tailgate of his canopied pickup bed.

  “I’ve got it, but thanks. One box stays in the kitchen. The other has Beezer’s food and bowls. You decide if you want those to go upstairs. The duffel goes to wherever I’ll be...uh, living.”

  “There’s a laundry room off the kitchen. It has a tiled floor and a back door leading outside. I assume you take Beezer out after he eats and drinks. That would be handiest. But the upstairs bath is also tiled.”