by Faye Sonja
Austin sighed. “If that’s what you want to call it.”
June narrowed her eyes. “What should he call it?”
Austin shook his head. “Orlando was a terror—”
“How do you know?” Orlando put his cola down. “You were only four.”
Austin shook his head. “I was old enough.”
Orlando rolled his eyes. “Anyway, my mother attributed my bad attitude with the fact that our father was never around, so he took me with him on his next trip to Connecticut.”
June brightened. “So, you visited the Mohegan tribe.”
Orlando’s eyes widened. “You’ve heard of them before?”
June frowned. “I’m not just a pretty face.”
Orlando stared into her green eyes and spoke very low. “I never said that you were.”
June turned back to her sandwich. “Finish your story. What happened when you got there?”
“Well, the Mohegan people had met my father before. He knew their customs and they had accepted him into their fold years ago, so when I came, I was accepted as well.” Orlando frowned. “I had wanted to hate them, but they’d taken me in as one of their own, thankful for the work my father was doing on the tribe’s behalf. These people knew my father better than I did and I wanted to hate them both for it. But they wouldn’t let me hate them. They treated me like a family member that they’d never met before.”
June placed a hand on Orlando’s arm, and Orlando pulled himself out of the memory. For a moment, he’d been that fourteen-year-old boy again. He’d sat around the fire and listened to tribal tales. He and his father had never been allowed to join in any of the ritual dances, but there had been some dancing and face painting. “It was years later before I fully understood my father.”
“What do you mean?” June asked.
“It was the travelling, the sense of freedom, the meeting of different people from different places. It was experiencing life.” He smiled at June. “He was doing what you want to do. You want to see the world.”
June smiled. “I think you got some of his traits yourself.”
Orlando frowned. “Yes. I do enjoy the travel, but I would never marry, have children, and leave them at home. I would never forget my responsibilities.”
June’s arm tightened on his.
Austin touched Orlando’s other shoulder. “I think I got some of him too. I love travelling and working for you in the northwest offices—”
Orlando turned to Austin. A heat wave hit him. “Yes, but the possibility of leaving Melody behind was not why you ran from her. You ran for selfish reasons. You enjoy being single, yet you decided years ago that you wanted to marry Melody. You proposed to Melody twice, and twice you cancelled the wedding. I chose my path long ago. Marriage may never come for me. I may never be ready.”
Austin put his hand down. “You're right. I wasn’t ready to marry, but I am now. I’m ready to settle down.”
Orlando shook his head. “You’ve said that before.”
Austin frowned. “Orlando, you said you’d tell me where Melody was if I came on this trip.”
Orlando lifted a brow. “I think you mistook me.”
June cleared her throat. Both men turned to her. She stood. “Maybe, I should give you both some space.”
Orlando sighed. “No, the conversation is over.”
Austin was breathing quickly, but closed his eyes, and tried for deeper breaths. “For now.”
Orlando stood just as the train conductor came through.
The man was young and his eyes were wide. “Mr. Bakely, I’ve come to tell you that we won’t be leaving today.”
“Why?” Orlando asked.
“The tracks are buried in snow. It looks like we’re stuck, but you’re more than welcome to stay on the train, but you must understand that it will get cold in here.”
Orlando shook his head. “How long do you think we’ll be here?”
The conductor frowned. “With the level of snow that’s coming down, we aren’t sure. It would be a waste to get men out here so close to Christmas just having them working against the weather. We’ll have to wait for the snow to stop. Still, you’re more than welcome to stay aboard. Some of the others are going to try for the inn next door.”
June went to the window and tried to peek out in the white world. “It looked like a mob of people leaving the train. “By the time we get to the inn, there won’t be any rooms.”
Orlando turned to the conductor. “Thank you for the information. Will we be able to get our luggage?”
The conductor frowned. “We advise that people simply take what they have with them if they plan on getting out. The train is getting buried and the men are working to get all the food we have together first before that car is no longer accessible due to the rising snow. If you’re staying on the train, we’re moving everyone to one car, but we also do not have a lot of food left, since we’d planned on loading up at the next stop. I advised some people to walk in a large group to the next town. It’s bigger and they have a bigger hotel, and it’s only half a mile away.”
June wrapped her arms around herself. She frowned. “Orlando, it’s dangerous to walk in this snow. What are we going to do?”
Orlando turned to the conductor. “Thank you for your help.”
The conductor nodded his head. “The staff will make rounds to the hotels and inns once the weather lets up and we can be on our way again.” He left on those words.
Orlando turned to Austin and June. “Grab your things. We’re going to the inn.”
Austin frowned. “But there’s not going to be any rooms when we get there.”
Orlando grabbed his carry-on and loaded his papers from earlier back into his briefcase. “They’ll have rooms for us.”
“This is my first time away from home and now I might freeze to death. How do you know that they’ll have room for us?” June asked. She was kneeling over her bag on the floor, placing some of the things she’d taken out back into it. Her hands were shaking.
Orlando walked over to her and grabbed her hands. “I reserved rooms with the store owner. He owns the inn. There’s nothing to worry about. You’re safe.”
June’s eyes went wide right before she leaped into his arms and hugged him. Orlando was shocked by the gesture, but then wrapped his arms around her. She squeezed him and Orlando breathed in her soft fragrance. She smelled like flowers. June tightened her hold before pulling away, but held his shoulders. She looked up at him, smiling. “I’m so glad you’re here. I would have never thought to prepare like this.”
Orlando’s fingers were still on her arms and he didn’t want to let her go. He frowned. “And I’ll make sure you find a husband who thinks ahead as well.”
June’s frown came in degrees. She put her hands down and pulled away from Orlando. She gave him a quick smile and went back to her bag and closed it. She looked up. “I’m ready.”
Austin walked over. “Ready.”
Orlando stood and then held his hand out to June. She took it and he lifted her onto her feet. He let go of her hand once she was steady, and felt the warmth leave his fingers when she let go. He frowned some more.
Austin started for the door. “Let’s go.”
June picked up her bag and then headed for the door.
Orlando followed them out the door and through the snow, heading to The Bethlehem Inn. They’d be staying with Mary and Joseph for Christmas. How appropriate.
* * *
4
Chapter FOUR
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“ We’ll marry New Year’s morning.”
.
June followed Orlando as he navigated through the large crowd of people in the dining room. Conversations were happening all around her. A baby cried from one side of the room. A man’s screaming came from up ahead.
“You can’t throw us out! It’s against the law!”
he shouted.
“Sir, I’m sorry,” a woman said. “But the food we have left will be saved for our guests. I’ve already told you that my husband next door will discount anything in the store for you all if you’d like to head to the town half a mile back—”
“No,” the man yelled. “You can’t throw me out!”
“We’re taking paying guests and then women with children second.”
“I’ve got a family back home.”
“Yes,” she said calmly. “But, they are not here. So, you’ll have to leave.”
“I’m not leaving.”
Orlando was finally to the woman’s side. “Are you Mary?”
Mary’s eyes fluttered over to Orlando. She was a small woman with dark eyes. She looked at Orlando and let out a breath of relief as though he’d come to save her. “Yes.”
The man interrupted. “Hey, I was here first.” He stepped in front of Orlando.
Orlando frowned at the angry man who stood an inch or two shorter than him. The stranger puffed his chest out. He was shorter, but he also had more bulk than Orlando’s more lean athletic form. June tightened her hands around her bag and tried to slow down the rapid beating of her heart. She thought about Birdie, the little girl she’d met at the store. Her father had been stabbed in a fight. The state of America’s finances was turning people ugly and June didn’t want Orlando to be a victim of it.
Austin stepped up behind Orlando. He eyed the angry man over Orlando’s shoulder, but he spoke to Orlando. “Should we take care of him?”
Orlando frowned. “I believe we should.”
The man narrowed his eyes. “Fine. I can take both of you.” His fist came up and hit Orlando in the jaw. Screams came from all over the room as a herd of men moved in. The men seemed to come out of nowhere. Austin and Orlando hadn’t even been able to get a fist in before the angry man was being carried out by the crowd. There was a man holding each of his limbs as they escorted him to the door. The frustrated man screamed the entire time as he fought to free himself to no avail.
June rushed over to Orlando, who was now sitting in a chair. Austin went with Mary for ice. June lifted Orlando’s handsome face. There was a red spot right along the left side of his jaw. Orlando’s expression was neutral. June sighed. “What were you thinking?”
“I couldn’t let the man yell at the woman like that. She was doing her best.”
June frowned, her hand still on his chin. “You could have been killed.”
Orlando frowned. “You think so?”
June’s eyes widened. “You didn’t think of that before you decided to fight him?”
Orlando shrugged. “I’m really not much of a fighter.”
June narrowed her eyes. “Then, you should have let someone who was step in.”
“But no one stepped up, so I had to do something.”
“He’s right,” a deep rumbling voice came from behind June. She turned around and her eyes had to travel up for what seemed like forever until she met his eyes. The man had dark hair and dark eyes. He wore work clothes and worn out boots. A large dark beard covered the bottom half of his face. He frowned as he sighed. “I should have stepped in sooner.” He held his hand out to Orlando. “You’re a good man.”
Orlando shook the other man’s hand. “Thanks.”
“Peter Cain.”
Orlando frowned as he dropped his head. He gave the man a once over. “From the Cain Company?”
Peter lifted a brow. “Yeah. You heard of me?”
Orlando sighed. “I was heading to Aspen and knew you’d be there. Orlando Bakely.”
Peter smiled. “Oh. The American Cupid.”
June frowned between the two men. “What am I missing?”
Orlando smiled. “Peter Cain, this is June Boone. Her father is Judge Boone of the sixth district. Peter Cain owns a lumber company in Aspen. His company is one of the largest in the state.”
June shook the man’s rougher and larger hand. She looked him over. “You own a company?”
Peter laughed. White teeth showed from underneath his beard. Laughing took ten years off the age June had thought him. She now placed him in his early thirties. “Yeah,” he gestured to his clothes. “I know you wouldn’t be able to tell from my appearance that I have money, but I like working with my men. I was just on my way back from visiting another branch of my company when the train broke down.”
June blushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that you didn’t look—”
Peter shook his head. “It’s alright. I’m used to it.”
“What business could you have with Orlando?”
Orlando said. “The ski resort. He’s one of the potential investors.”
Peter frowned. “Not really my thing, but the resort would bring in more women for my men.” He shook his head. “Everyone’s looking for love.”
“Ain’t it grand?” Orlando smiled.
Peter shook his head. “More like he could make you a grand.”
Orlando laughed then winced.
June went back to look at his face. “It’s turning purple.”
Peter said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you and your lady—”
“She’s not my lady,” Orlando frowned as he looked into June’s eyes.
June went very still as she stared into Orlando’s hazel eyes. She watched as his frown went away until he no longer gave any readable expression. June pulled away from him. She turned to Peter. “No, I’m not.”
Peter nodded. “Well, I’m sure I’ll see both of you around. I’ve got a room here, and no doubt, Mary is going to want to keep her champion around.”
Mary and Austin had finally made their way through the crowd. Mary spoke. “You’re absolutely right.” She placed a hand on Orlando’s shoulder. “This man stays even if he has to sleep on the kitchen floor.”
Orlando smiled as he took the offered snow and placed it on his jaw. “That won’t be necessary.”
“I insist,” Mary said.
“We have rooms if you haven’t already given them away.”
Mary’s eyes went wide. “What’s your name?”
“Orlando Bakely.”
She smiled. “Well, my husband called the inn just before the crowd got here. He told me you paid for three rooms. We left them for you.”
Orlando nodded.
June let out the breath she’d been holding and took a seat at the table.
Orlando gazed over at her without turning his head much. “Didn’t I tell you I’d keep you safe?” He held the cloth wrapped snow against his jaw. His face was very serious.
June smiled, but her heart pounded in her chest. She had no doubt he’d keep her physically safe, but June didn’t know about her emotional well-being. She sighed. She needed to get a grip on herself. Orlando was making it very plain that he had no intentions of courting her and June needed to accept that.
A woman came over. “My sister isn’t feeling well. I was wondering if there truly were no more beds?” The woman’s hands rested on a little girl’s shoulders. June recognized her. It was Birdie. The girl had been crying.
Mary frowned. “I’m sorry, honey, but we’re all out of rooms.”
Austin said. “She can have mine. My brother and I can share a room.” He was sitting next to Orlando.
Orlando nodded. “That’s quite generous of you.” He narrowed his eyes.
Austin shrugged. “Just doing what I can.”
The woman smiled. “Thank you, so much.”
June frowned. She wondered why Orlando was upset with Austin. Would he really leave a sick woman to sleep in the hallway?
Another man came over. “It seems these two are planning to be everyone’s champion today.” He was obviously young and handsome as he smiled. He had light brown eyes and light brown hair that he wore just long enough to hang by his eyes. He moved his fingers through his hair, pushing it back into something more sophisticated. His jacket was opened, revealing a dark tailored suit. “I was just about to offer the w
oman my room. I’m Clarence Cardosi, and I already know that you’re Cupid”
Orlando narrowed his eyes as he shook the man’s hand. “And you’re the Candy Man. Were you on the train with us as well?”
Clarence nodded. “On my way to Aspen as a potential investor, as you already know.”
June frowned at the man. “Candy Man?”
Clarence laughed. “Yes. I’m a chocolatier. I created the Cardosi Bar.”
June’s mouth fell open. “I love that bar!” She smiled.
Orlando nodded and then introduced the two formally.
Clarence’s eyes went wide. “The Judge Boone is your father?”
June nodded.
“You’re a long ways from home.”
June smiled. “Yes, and it’s turned into quite the adventure.”
Peter laughed. “That’s an understatement.”
“We have Cupid and the Candy Man. What do they call you?” she asked Peter.
He shrugged. “They’re just nicknames that some of the wealthy call one another. I’m The Man on the Mountain. Aspen is my territory, but it’s spreading.”
June looked between Peter and Clarence. They were both handsome in their own right. She shook her head. How is it possible that two… no three wealthy men were stuck in the middle of nowhere at the same time? She turned to Orlando and found him smiling at her. She frowned, not liking the light in his hazel blue eyes. She stood. “Well, if it’s alright with everyone here, I’d like to go to my room.”
Mary said. “I’ll take you.” She turned to Austin and Orlando. “I can show you the way to your room as well.”
The men stood. Everyone said their goodbyes and then the four were off. They followed Mary towards the back of the inn, skirting around people as they passed. Couples and singles were standing outside of their rooms talking about the weather and the various destinations they had planned to go for Christmas. But the consensus was clear. Everyone was thankful to be alive and sleeping in a warm bed tonight.
Orlando slowed down to stand next to June. He whispered, “I saw you looking at Mr. Cain and Mr. Cardosi.”
June whispered. “So? What of it?”