Tularosa Moon

by Stacey Coverstone

  “All done. Do you feel better?” she asked Sheryl while covering her body with a lightweight blanket and patting her back. Sheryl could only groan her response.

  “Take your time getting up from the table,” Lindy told her. “When you’re ready, come downstairs and I’ll have a tall glass of ice water waiting for you.”

  “Okay,” Sheryl moaned before Lindy left the room.

  Upon returning to the ranch before lunch, Lindy had checked her schedule. Pam was set for two-thirty, and another guest had scheduled a massage for four o’clock. That would keep her busy for the afternoon.

  She went downstairs to look at tomorrow’s appointments and found Ella’s office was open but unoccupied. Lindy ran her finger down the reservation book. Nelda Caldwell was booked for an early morning massage and Jordan Mackenzie was slated for ten o’clock. There was nothing else until late afternoon, so Lindy decided she’d use the free time to go to town and get her taillight fixed in the afternoon.

  Meeting Jordan should be interesting, she thought as she walked to the kitchen to pour Sheryl a glass of water.

  “Hello, Lindy,” Luz greeted. Her apron was dusted with flour, and she was elbow deep in biscuit dough.

  “Hi, Luz. Have you seen Mrs. Roberts since this morning?” Ella hadn’t eaten lunch with the group, which worried Lindy.

  Luz rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “She’s in her room. It’s little Jill’s birthday today.”

  “Cole mentioned that to me. Is Ella all right? Do you know if she needs anything?”

  “She’ll be as right as rain tomorrow,” Luz replied. “We all leave her alone on Jill’s birthday.”

  “I understand.” Lindy’s head swung to the staircase when Sheryl descended. “Here you go, Sheryl.” She handed her the glass of water. “Stay hydrated today.”

  Sheryl drank the water and promised she would. “That was the best massage I’ve ever experienced, Lindy. My muscles don’t feel tense anymore.”

  “Thank you. I’m glad I could help.”

  “With a trail ride planned for every afternoon, I’m going to schedule another massage before I leave here. But right now, I’m headed to the barn. T.J. is showing us how to rope cows.” She finished the water and handed the glass to Lindy.

  “Real cows?”

  “Dummies. But after we learn the basics, we’re getting on our horses and trying to rope a real one. You should join us if you have time.”

  “My schedule is booked this afternoon, but maybe next time. Have fun.”

  Sheryl waved and exited the front door.

  Lindy placed the glass in the dishwasher. “I’ve got to head back upstairs and get ready for my next massage,” she told Luz. “Do you think Mrs. Roberts will join the guests for supper tonight?”

  “Probably not. I plan to take her a tray.”

  Lindy frowned. Picturing Ella upstairs in her bedroom alone, grieving over her deceased daughter and husband saddened her. It also made her think about her own mother, who she hadn’t seen in such a long time.

  Since her mom had been her only living relative, Griffin had given Lindy the opportunity to bring her into the program with her at the time she chose to enter. But Lindy had felt it would be unfair to uproot her mother from the home she’d lived in for over thirty years. Besides, the stress that went along with life on the run would have taken its toll on a woman her mother’s age. Stress had killed her father. There was no way she would sacrifice her mother’s life.

  With sacrifice came more pain, however. The two women had not seen each other or even spoken on the phone for three years. But despite missing her mom terribly, Lindy knew it had been the right decision. She couldn’t have lived with herself if anything had ever happened to her mother.

  The remainder of the day passed quickly, and when the supper hour arrived, neither Ella nor Cole attended the meal.

  “I took Mrs. Roberts a tray,” Luz told Lindy after the guests and wranglers had departed. She had cleaned the kitchen and was ready to go home.

  “Should I knock on her door? Ask her if there’s anything I can do to help?” Lindy asked Luz as they stood in the doorway saying goodbye.

  “No. She’ll be fine in the morning.” Luz’s warm brown eyes smiled when she patted Lindy’s hand. “Thank you for being concerned for Mrs. Roberts. You’re a good woman, Lindy. I’m glad you’re here. We’re all glad you’re part of our ranch family now. See you tomorrow.”

  Lindy touched her shoulder, grateful for the kind words. “Good night, Luz.”

  She bolted the door and strolled up the stairs and glanced toward Ella’s room. Tiptoeing, she crept down the hall and put her ear up to the door. The television was on. She heard no crying, which she supposed was a good thing.

  Taking Luz’s advice to leave Ella alone on her day of mourning, Lindy quietly padded up the hall and softly closed her bedroom door behind her and locked it. According to the talk around the supper table, the boys would be taking the guests on a moonlit hayride tonight. But Lindy didn’t feel like going. A hayride under the glow of the shimmering moon reminded her of romance. Romance reminded her of Cole and his kisses of fire.

  She flopped onto the mattress on her stomach, clicked the television on and channel surfed. Hard as she tried to concentrate on one program, her mind kept wandering back to Cole. It was impossible for her body not to ignite as she recalled the way he’d pressed her against the truck door that morning and kissed her until her lips had felt bruised. If she hadn’t finally pulled away, they might have succumbed to their mutual desire right there in the cemetery.

  Lindy smiled, thinking how crazy, but fun, that would have been.

  Was he at home thinking about her right now? Did he regret not inviting her into his bed last night, like she did? Could he be cursing himself for not taking her back to his house today, before returning to the ranch?

  She buried her head in a pillow and moaned. Despite her vow not to get tangled up in an intimate relationship, her defenses were melting with every one of Cole’s touches. With each kiss. With every sexy look, and each question he asked.

  Don’t get involved. Don’t get involved. The words chanted in the back of her mind. Leave the man be. It’s better this way.

  “How would it be better?” She had to ask herself. She was lonely and needed an ally. He was lonely and wanted to help. How could isolation and frustration be better than taking a chance and telling him the truth?

  The answer was always the same. Because you’ll keep him alive.

  Her shoulders slumped on that, and the knowledge that when she’d entered the Witness Protection Program, she’d promised to not tell anyone the truth. In doing so, she’d not only given up her identity, she’d given up her entire life; the people she cherished, a satisfying career, and perhaps even marriage and a family. She’d sacrificed everything to stay alive. But at what cost to her happiness?

  She’d agreed to it all back then, thinking she had no other option. But the extent of the loss was fully understood now that she’d come to the ranch and met Cole.

  A tear rolled down her cheek as Lindy flipped onto her back. Then a revelation struck her like a lightning bolt. She shuddered, swallowed hard, and stayed with the notion as it rooted itself deep in her heart.

  The next time there was an opportunity to let Cole know how she felt about him she was going to grab it. Yes! She’d grab her chance the same way cowboys took down cows—with confidence, grit, and by the horns. And if it went well, Cole wouldn’t know what had hit him.

  Twenty

  By the time Jordan arrived at the ranch at nine o’clock on Monday morning, the garden arch was done. Thoughts of Lindy had kept Cole tossing in his bed all night. So at six a.m., he’d filled a thermos with hot coffee and had driven here ready to work as soon as the sun rose.

  His mother stepped around the corner of the house with Jordan at her side. “Look who’s here,” she said, smiling.

  With the previous day behind her for another year, Cole could see
his mom was back to her old self.

  “Hey, Mom.” He was careful not to thump the tool belt around his waist into her hips when he kissed her cheek. “Hi, Jordan,” he said, giving her a brotherly hug.

  “Good morning, Cole,” Jordan greeted. “Ella is going to show me around the ranch. She said the first stop had to be the meditation garden.” Her gaze swept in a horizontal direction, taking in the bubbling fountain, the benches, the blooming flowers, and the new wooden arch that was still wet with white paint. “Wow, this garden is beautiful.”

  “Thanks,” Cole and Ella replied in unison.

  “Cole is the mastermind behind it all,” Ella said.

  “What do you think of the arch?” he asked, leading them past the fountain to the far side of the garden.

  “Great job, son,” Ella answered.

  “I love it,” Jordan said, beaming. “This will make the perfect spot for Wyatt and me to say our vows.”

  “I’m pleased,” Cole said. “When is the big day?”

  “One month from now. It’ll be a small and simple wedding, so there won’t be much planning involved. Ella has already marked the date on her calendar.”

  Ella nodded to confirm.

  “Wyatt seems very happy,” Cole said. “I saw him at Lowe’s yesterday morning.”

  Jordan’s lips and forehead puckered. “He told me. What’s wrong with the two of you? You didn’t get fist fighting out of your systems last summer?”

  “Fist fighting?” Ella cocked a curious eyebrow.

  Cole waved her off. “Nothing happened. The store manager stepped in before any blood was shed.”

  Jordan punched his arm lightly. “Don’t be getting my fiancé into any more scrapes. You hear? He doesn’t need his face rearranged before the wedding. I like it just the way it is.”

  “Sorry, Jordan. Wyatt showed up out of the blue and was ready to jump in. There wasn’t any stopping him.”

  “I suppose he thinks he owes you,” she huffed good-naturedly.

  Cole thought back to last summer’s county fair and how he’d defended himself after being ambushed by local hoodlum, Cimmaron Cruz. Then he’d punched Joe Campbell silly for brutally attacking Wyatt. The police had pulled him off Campbell just as Cole was about to shatter his nose.

  “For a man of his advanced age, Wyatt has guts. I’ll tell you that much,” he said, jovially, while getting in a dig about Wyatt’s age. Jordan rolled her eyes and sighed.

  Cole unhooked the tool belt and dropped it on the ground. “Let me show you around the ranch, Jordan. It’ll give us time to catch up. Do you mind, Mom?”

  “Not at all, as long as you take notes on her thoughts for the wedding and reception.” She thrust a notebook and pen into his hands.

  “I think I can handle that,” he said.

  “All right then. Jordan, come to my office after your massage and we’ll talk and get some details ironed out.”

  When Ella left the garden, Jordan told Cole, “I have a massage at ten o’clock.”

  “I know. Our masseuse’s name is Lindy Grainger. Mom hired her on the phone sight unseen. But she seems to be working out okay.”

  Jordan smiled. “Your mom says she’s very pretty.” When Cole faltered, Jordan said, “It won’t hurt my feelings for you to admit she’s pretty. Or that you like her.”

  He grinned and felt his face warm. “Okay. She’s very pretty. And I do like her. There’s only one problem.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I don’t know anything about her. She’s as tight-lipped as an oyster shell when it comes to discussing her family or her past. Do you think you can coax some information out of her when she’s giving you a massage?”

  Jordan laughed. “So that’s why you wanted to show me around. What makes you think she’s going to tell me anything?”

  “You’re a woman. Women tell each other stuff, right?”

  “Yes, women friends talk. But Lindy and I don’t know each other. She’s not going to confess her deepest, darkest secrets to a stranger. What do you want to know about her, anyway?”

  He shrugged. “Anything. Where she grew up. Where her parents live. Whether she has brothers or sisters or is an only child. Where she went to school. You know, the usual things people talk about when they’re getting to know each other.”

  “Maybe she’s not sharing because she’s not that into you.”

  Cole’s mouth dropped open and then he shook his head, realizing Jordan was teasing. “You really know how to hurt a guy. It’s not bad enough that you dumped me for that old coon dog, Wyatt. But now you have to insult me, too?”

  She leaned into his shoulder and chuckled. “Just joking with you.” Her gaze connected with his. “You really like this girl, don’t you?”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yes.”

  “So, does this mean you’re over Rachel?”

  “Rachel got over me, remember? Besides, you’re the one who told me I should move on.”

  “I think it was Brannigan who said that.”

  “What difference does it make which of you said it? The advice was sound.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question,” Jordan pressed.

  Cole answered her honestly. “I knew for some time that Rachel and I were through, even before she took that job. I was attracted to her and fell in love, but we didn’t have the same goals.” He looked off into the distance for a moment. “I don’t want to go through that again. I’m ready to settle down. I want a wife and children. I don’t know if Lindy wants the same things. There’s no use in me losing my head over her if she doesn’t.”

  “Or your heart,” Jordan said, squeezing his arm.

  “Yeah, yeah. Will you see what you can find out?”

  Jordan nodded, and he escorted her around the property giving her the grand tour while feeling a weight lifting off his shoulders.

  ****

  “I haven’t enjoyed a massage since before leaving Colorado a year ago,” Jordan told Lindy.

  Lindy’s hands moved deftly over Jordan’s back and shoulders. When Lindy had been in graduate school and giving massages to help pay bills, most of her clients hadn’t wanted to talk while getting a massage. Part of the pleasurable experience came from listening to the soothing music while relaxing. Some people had even fallen asleep on her. Jordan was different. She was a chatterbox and hadn’t stopped talking since Lindy started. But that was okay. If Jordan wanted to talk, Lindy wouldn’t be rude.

  “Cole tells me you inherited a ranch from your aunt, and that’s how you met your fiancé.”

  “That’s right. Wyatt came over and introduced himself to me almost as soon as I arrived. He had been a friend to my aunt. Then I met Cole at the Tulie diner that same day. He was so outgoing, and I thought he was one of the best looking men I’d ever seen in my life.”

  Lindy smiled, thinking the same thing. “If you don’t mind my asking, how did you end up with Wyatt, instead of Cole?” Although she didn’t want to pry, Jordan seemed open and more than willing to share. And the only thing Lindy knew from Cole was that Jordan had chosen the older rancher over him, but she didn’t know why. What traits did Wyatt have that Cole didn’t? She was curious. Maybe there were characteristics about Cole that weren’t evident yet.

  “Both men are wonderful in their own ways,” Jordan began. “But there’s something that clicked with Wyatt. It’s hard to explain. I liked Cole a lot, and I was physically attracted to him. Who wouldn’t be?” She expelled a chuckle, and Lindy felt a flush of heat race through her veins at Jordan’s confession. Cole was better looking than most movie stars.

  “But the deeper connection just wasn’t there between me and Cole,” Jordan continued. “I knew we weren’t meant to be together. Wyatt and I bonded from the beginning. Some scary things happened to me last summer that Wyatt got me through. I completely trusted him and knew he’d keep me safe. It didn’t take long for me to know he was my soul mate and the man I wanted to spend my life with.”


  Lindy kneaded Jordan’s calves and then started working on her feet. With a hitch in her voice, she said, “That’s very romantic.” She felt that same connection with Cole, and she knew he would keep her safe if he could.

  After a few minutes of silence, Jordan spoke again. “Do you have a boyfriend, Lindy?”

  “No.”

  “Ever been married or engaged?”

  “Nope.” She removed hot towels from the steamer and tucked one around each of Jordan’s feet. Then she rubbed oil into her hands and began massaging Jordan’s arms and fingers.

  “Did you grow up in New Mexico?” Jordan asked.

  One of those red flags that had ruled Lindy’s life for so long began flapping. A familiar knot began to twist in her stomach.

  “No, this is my first time here.”

  “Oh. Where were you raised?”

  Lindy reached for calm. Since Jordan had been free with sharing her personal information, was she simply being polite by asking Lindy questions about her life? Probably. Or was there an ulterior motive? Could she be needling her for Cole’s benefit?

  That thought brought a sudden smile to Lindy’s face. She had to hand it to him. Cole was nothing if not persistent. If it was so important for him to get to know her that he’d stoop to convincing his former flame to cross-examine her, it must mean he cared. And he was desperate. In her new state of mind, desperate was more than acceptable. It was sweet.

  “What’s Cole giving you?” Lindy asked, with a tease in her voice. “I know you’re grilling me for him.”

  Jordan lifted her head from the headrest and smiled. “Busted.”

  “You can turn onto your back now,” Lindy said. With the sheet covering her, Jordan flipped over and Lindy stood behind her head and massaged her scalp with warm oil.

  “Cole likes you very much,” Jordan said. “He wants to know all about you. I offered to help because I want to see him happy. Normally, I’m not this chatty. Whew. I’m exhausted from all that talking.”