by Cindy Stark
She nodded in understanding. “Maybe you should think about hiring someone to come in and help with things.” If only she lived in their quaint little town, she’d be happy to stop by every morning and help her aunt.
“I have had Piper come a time or two to help with the spring cleaning. And Rick’s always good if I need a helping hand.”
“That’s very kind of him,” she said, grudgingly giving the man kudos. Color had returned to Annabelle’s face, giving Erin a measure of reassurance. “Could I get you some water or something?”
“Some tea sounds lovely. If you’ll be a dear and put away the vacuum and then cart these sheets down to the washer, I’ll get the kettle going.”
“Sounds like a good plan.”
Erin did as she was asked and threw the bedding into the washer before she joined Annabelle in the kitchen.
“I love the way you’ve tried to preserve the old-time feeling in your house. You’re lucky to have found so many treasures from the past.”
“Indeed.” Annabelle removed the tea bag from her cup and set it on the saucer. “Truth be told, I have to thank the people who lived here during the time between me and Rosa who kept everything in such great condition. Most of the time, the house belonged to our family, but strangers did own it for a short period of time. Fortunately, they didn’t stay long.”
She met Erin’s gaze with a penetrating one of her own. “They thought the house was haunted.”
A laugh escaped Erin’s mouth. “But it’s not, right? You told me that the first day.” Though there had been a couple of times when she’d felt an odd presence, but she’d chalked that up to sleeping in an old house.
Annabelle dropped her gaze, peering into her teacup. Her aunt’s reaction brought forth a shiver.
“Aunt Annabelle? Are you now saying that it is?” Intrigue with a touch of fright colored her voice.
“I should have been honest with you upstairs.” She blinked a couple of times, her eyes seeming large behind her thick glasses. “There are odd things that happen, like you smelling lavender.”
“But that can be explained.” She decided she didn’t want a ghost living in this charming old house.
“And Henderson. He said during the year he lived here alone before he met me, he’d sense a woman’s presence. And sometimes she’d…”
“She’d what?” Erin asked with an uncomfortable laugh.
A blush swept over Annabelle’s cheeks. “He said he’d feel like someone was touching him.”
“Touching him?”
She shrugged. “You know, touching him. As in trying to pleasure him.”
Erin choked on a sip of tea. “And you believed him?”
“I don’t know. The man was a pillar of honesty. It wouldn’t have been like him to make it up. He said it stopped once I moved into the house, but several in town accused him of being a crazy old man when he told them.”
She cleared the last vestiges of errant tea from her throat, not quite sure she believed her aunt. “That’s a…great story, but I hope she doesn’t ever visit me.” She glanced around the cozy room, trying to sense if they were truly alone.
“To be honest, I like the idea of Rosa being here. There have been times when I thought someone was here with me.” Sadness claimed Annabelle’s features. “But maybe I imagined it because I wished Henderson was still here.”
“You really miss him, don’t you?”
“I sure do. Even though we didn’t meet until later on, he was the love of my life.” She gave a thoughtful nod. “I’ve always tried to live each moment the best I can. But the moments with him were the ones I cherish the most.”
Erin leaned over and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, giving her a squeeze. “You’re my inspiration, you know. When I met you, I realized life is passing me by, and I’d better get my butt out there before I miss too much more. It’s time to climb out of my shell.”
“You’re out of it right now.”
“I know, and it feels good. I was such an idiot to hide for so long.” She was part of the world again, having new experiences and meeting new people. Although she might be more careful before venturing into places like Krog’s alone.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s okay to take some time to lick your wounds.”
“Two years?” Craig hadn’t been worth two months.
“He hurt you. “
Her simple acknowledgement brought tears to Erin’s eyes and stole the control she had over her emotions. No one had given her that necessary validation. Perhaps that was why it had taken her so long to get over the death of her marriage.
“Oh, love.” Her aunt pulled her toward her, and Erin wept against Annabelle’s shoulder as her festering pain surfaced.
Why couldn’t her mother have shown her that kind of concern? It would have made things so much easier, and she probably wouldn’t have married a man who didn’t love her in the first place.
A few moments passed before she was able to wrangle in her flailing feelings. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall apart like that.”
“It’s okay. If you don’t let it out then you’ll carry it with you always, and negative emotional feelings have a tendency to grow as toxic as a dead carcass rotting in a clear pond.” Annabelle pulled a folded tissue from her cleavage and handed it to Erin. “It’s clean.”
Erin gave her a watery smile as she dabbed at her tears.
Annabelle patted her arm. “You feel better already, don’t you?”
She did. “Thank you for listening.”
“Anytime, love. Anytime.” She stood and reheated her tea in the microwave. “I remember my first divorce. I was barely twenty-one years old, and my mama was completely horrified when the whole town found out. You would have thought I’d committed murder or something equally heinous. But I’d married a drunken bastard who thought his lot in life was to tear me down. I wasn’t having none of it. I couldn’t stay here, not with all the gossiping and such, so I took myself to Denver where I worked as a typist. That’s where I met Frank.”
Erin sniffed, grateful to lose herself in Annabelle’s stories. “Did you love Frank?”
“I suppose, as much as one person can love someone she’s only known for two months. He was in the service and was killed by friendly fire. A tragic accident. My heart was broken at the time. But you know, the times that we had were real good, and that’s when I learned to appreciate each moment.”
The woman completely amazed her. “Thank you for sharing that with me. It means a lot. Someday, I hope to fall for someone as wonderful as Frank or Henderson.”
“What are you waiting for? Today is as good of a day as any to stake your claim on life and start living it the way you want to.”
Her words were like a slap of frigid winter wind. What the hell was she waiting for? “You’re right.” Why had she not seen it before? This was her life to live how she wanted.
“I’m thinking about driving up in the hills a little way,” Erin said. “I’d like to take some pictures of the mountains and the little town nestled below. Would you like to come with?”
“No, you go. I’m a little tuckered out after this morning. I think I’ll read for a while and then maybe take a nap.”
“Do you want me to stay here with you? I don’t need to go.”
Her aunt narrowed her eyes. “Did you not just hear anything I told you? This is your life. Now go live it.”
“But I wanted to spend time with you.”
“We just did. And we’ll spend more time together later on, but for now, you need to follow your heart. Your camera is calling.”
A warm smile grew in her heart and blossomed on her lips. “I think I will.”
“Take a sandwich with you. This area is full of beauty, and you might be gone a while.”
One little niggling fear of doubt kept her in her chair. “Rick said there could be bears or mountain lions up there. Is that true?”
Annabelle rolled her eyes. “That man is certainly
the worrying kind. Yes, once or twice they’ve been spotted, but it’s very rare. Many people go up there all the time with no trouble. If you were doing any sort of dangerous hiking or going off the beaten path, then I might be more concerned, but you’re not.”
“I won’t do anything stupid.” Despite what Rick seemed to think, she did have some intelligence.
“Of course you won’t.” Annabelle patted her hand and then nodded toward the doorway. “Get going.”
This time when she ventured out, she told Annabelle exactly where she was headed and what time she intended to return. She climbed into her vehicle, firing it up for the first time in days, which seemed really odd. Everything here was close, so driving had become pointless.
As she headed out of town, her gaze snagged on a white brick building with Rick’s Auto Repair painted on the side. The thought of starting fresh in her new life urged her to stop. It seemed right to try to settle the one rough spot she’d been dealing with since she’d arrived in Argent Springs.
Chapter Eight
Erin pulled to the side of the road in front of the building and exited her car. As she entered the open bay, the scent of grease and gasoline tickled her senses. Her friends had always thought she was weird, but a man who could take a few tools and put together an engine that would take her across country fascinated her. It might not be as glamorous as a lawyer or doctor, but no one could deny a mechanic held a vast amount of power. Any man who could take care of his own things was attractive, indeed.
She recognized one of the latest country hits coming from the small radio, the static buzzing accompanying it almost as loud as the music. Rick had his back to her, bent over the engine of a snow machine that had been raised on a platform.
He wore a tight gray t-shirt and jeans, the day still warm enough to not wear a jacket. She wished she could say nothing about him appealed to her, but that simply wasn’t true.
For a moment, she didn’t make her presence known. Instead, she watched the way the muscles in his back bunched and stretched as he leaned closer to the engine. He haphazardly felt along the work bench next to him until his hand came into contact with a wrench. It disappeared from view as he used it, and she enjoyed watching his well-defined triceps move with his efforts.
Something made a clanging noise, and he straightened as he let out a string of curse words.
Maybe now wasn’t the best time to approach him. It seemed all they did was irritate each other, and he already struggled with his work. She could make peace with him later.
She took a step back, and then suddenly, his dark eyes pinned her.
“Did you need something?”
Immediately, she felt the sting of his words and regretted her decision to apologize. “I just…never mind.”
She turned and headed for her car. Maybe they never would be friends. Maybe he’d always distrust her and dislike her regardless of her actions.
“Wait,” he called as she opened her car door. “Tell me what you need. Is Annabelle okay?”
She forced her emotions back into the shadows and faced him square on. “Annabelle’s fine, and I don’t need anything.” Damn it. Why did everything have to be so awkward with him?
He cocked a dark brow, his fingers covered in grease, his hair looking like he’d just gotten out of bed. “You must have stopped by for some reason.”
She released a heavy sigh, knowing she might as well get it over with. “I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I shouldn’t have made everyone worry.”
“Annabelle was the one worried, not me.”
Could he be more of a jerk? She gritted her teeth long enough to let her irritation settle. She didn’t want to cause her aunt any more angst, and as much as she disliked Rick, she didn’t want to throw sand in his sandbox. “Fine. I’m sorry I worried Annabelle and that you had to come find me.”
He studied her, his eyes narrowing as though he didn’t trust what she had to say.
She waited another moment and then opened her car door. She could only hope they’d see each other as little as possible during her stay.
“Thank you.”
She was already halfway to sitting in her seat when he spoke, and her momentum carried her the rest of the way. She’d have to climb back out of her car if she wanted to continue the conversation. Which she didn’t, but somehow felt obligated to do.
She stood and faced him, her little red Focus a nice barrier between them. “I mean it. I’m sorry for worrying Aunt Annabelle and for causing you grief. I’ll try not to do it again.”
He stepped off the curb and walked around to her side of the car. Each step he took toward her sent her blood racing at a faster pace. He stopped inches from her.
“It’s not just you.” He tilted his head in apology. “I’ve been less than welcoming, and I’m lucky Annabelle hasn’t put a boot in my ass.”
“She wouldn’t do that.”
“You’re right. She’s too much of a lady.” He studied her for a moment, the sunlight delving into his eyes, showcasing golden flecks that she hadn’t noticed before. “How about a truce?”
Something in her warmed. “I would be agreeable to that.” She stuck out her hand as a show of sincerity.
He wrapped his warm fingers around her hand and shook it. A hint of a smile curved his lips as he released her. It grew wider as he glanced at her hand and took it back into his own. “Shit. I forgot I had grease all over me. Now, you’re dirty, too.”
She looked down to where he cradled her hand in his large palm. She seemed so small and delicate against his work-roughened fingers. “It’s okay.”
“Come back inside. I have some cleaner.” He didn’t release her hand until they stood in front of a smudged utility sink. “That soap should clean you off.”
“Okay.” She gave him a tentative smile. Her fingers—make that her whole body still tingled from his touch. She awkwardly washed off the grease while he watched, and then she looked to him for a towel.
“Uh…” He glanced around his shop. “I just usually use the underside of my shirt.”
Without waiting for a response from her, he lifted his shirt, drying first one and then her other hand. As he finished her second hand, her knuckles grazed the bare skin of his warm stomach. The innocent, yet intimate contact made her jerk in reaction.
She took a step back, feeling off balance. “Thanks. I should probably go now.”
He nodded, his dark eyes regarding her with an unreadable expression.
She gave a quick half-wave. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
“Where are you headed?” He nodded to her car parked outside.
“I thought I’d take a short drive up in the hills. I’ve let Annabelle know where I’m going, and I’ll be back this afternoon.”
“Don’t try to hike to the cross by yourself.”
Irritation scratched at her again. Truce or not, he was treating her like a child. “I wasn’t planning on it. I’m just shooting photos. No big deal.”
“Be back by three. There’s a storm coming in tonight.”
Annabelle hadn’t said anything about an approaching storm, but she’d heed his warning. “I’ll be fine.”
“I mean it.”
It hadn’t even been five minutes, and he was already getting on her nerves again. “See you later,” she said without giving him any further opportunity to try and control her life. She reminded herself that his worrying probably came from losing his family, but it didn’t help much with easing her irritation.
It took her a short amount of time to drive through the town and reach the bottom of the mountain. Argent Springs covered the bottom of a bowl comprised of glorious mountains surrounding it on all sides. As her little car started up the steep incline, the motor bore down to give it more power. She pushed harder on the accelerator to help it along. Soon, numerous pines swallowed the road, and she could no longer see the tiny town behind her.
She slowed and lowered her windows, allowing the cool mountain scents
of pine and earth to fill the interior of her car and her lungs. She had known visiting Aunt Annabelle would be a fun and enlightening experience, but she’d had no idea the town itself and the mountains surrounding it would feel like such a haven.
The narrow dirt road twisted and turned, and she took care to avoid the large rocks that occasionally stood in her way. She hadn’t intended to go too far up the mountain, but the pristine scenery was so amazing, and there really wasn’t anyplace to pull over or turn around.
She rounded a bend and finally came across an area that had been cleared wide enough to allow vehicles to turn around. A white SUV had been parked along the side, the bottom of its back window littered with various surfing stickers. A brown sign highlighting the trailhead leading to the locally famous cross had been set back off the road. She had no idea how much farther she’d be able to travel up the hillside, and this seemed like a good place to stop her car.
She’d had no intention of violating Rick’s orders, but the trailhead was the first place she’d come across where she could stop and get out. She grabbed her camera out of her bag and exited the vehicle, locking the door behind her. She’d be fine if she stayed somewhat close to her car. Obviously others hiked in the area, so she wouldn’t be all alone.
Cool mountain air rushed beneath her jacket, and she took a moment to zip it up. The silence of the place overwhelmed her. She paused and closed her eyes, allowing her hearing to become the dominant sense.
Birds chirped in the trees above her, and the breeze occasionally made secretive noises. Other than that, tranquility ruled the air.
Stately aspens with their yellowing leaves along with fragrant pines provided her with a place to think, a place to heal. She was surprised that Annabelle would leave this quaint town to begin with, but then again, she knew well the awkwardness and loneliness which accompanied an outcast. Apparently it had taken time for Annabelle to feel like she could come home once again. Maybe at some point, Erin would be able to go back to her family and feel like she belonged.
A sarcastic chuckle escaped her. Who was she kidding? She would never belong in that world. Argent Springs was her kind of town. Annabelle, Livia and Piper were her kind of people. If she could figure out a way to make a living here, she knew Annabelle wouldn’t be opposed to her staying. Maybe she could make enough by providing massages to the skiers in the winter and tourists in the summer if she could find somewhere to set up shop. The more she thought about it, the more the idea excited her.