Last Chance Harbor

by Vickie McKeehan

  Before either man could say anything, Ryder barreled on. “And that’s what I like about both of you. You’re hard workers. You’ll commit to a job and won’t look for ways to shirk a responsibility. That goes a long way in my book.”

  Ryder looked Zach in the eye. “What I don’t like about you is that major chip on your shoulder you carry around. It’s a real problem. Ask yourself why you do it? My guess is you’d like to see a little more emotional support from the people close to you. But how can anyone give you what you need when you refuse to let them? We’ve all tried to be your friends here but you do your damnedest to push us away at every opportunity.”

  “Are you done?” Zach demanded. “Because I don’t like how bossy you are.”

  “But Logan made him foreman when the project started,” Troy reminded him. “With all Ryder’s construction expertise Logan thought he was the best man for the job.”

  “I don’t care. He’s always pointing out how to do this better or that better,” Zach insisted.

  “How many construction sites have you worked on?” Troy asked, his voice rising.

  “It’s okay,” Ryder said to Troy. “Let’s hear it all, Zach. This is a clear-the-air venue. Get it out now or forever keep your trap shut.”

  Expecting the worst, Ryder stood there waiting for Zach to take a swing at him. Instead, he watched as Zach dropped down on a wooden crate that held laminate and put his head in his hands.

  “God, I’m so angry.”

  “About what?” Troy said.

  “I got arrested in Colorado Springs on a job for stealing.” He quickly lifted a gaze at Troy. “I didn’t do it, so I know what it’s like when everybody looks at you as though you’ve committed a crime. Turns out, a few of my construction buddies set me up to make it look like I’d pilfered supplies and equipment. The owner, Jacob Hettinger, bought into the whole thing and pressed charges.”

  “That’s why he owes you a favor?”

  “Yeah. But not before I spent almost a week in jail. Those so-called ‘friends’ of mine thought they’d set up the stupid guy from out-of-town because he’s a chump and wouldn’t be able to figure out what was going on.”

  “How’d you get out of the mess?” Ryder wanted to know.

  “Sheer luck. Before I rolled into town there were other major thefts at sites going back five years. It turned out the cops had been keeping track of the players, waiting to bust them. But I was furious that these guys I thought were my pals would turn on me like they did. They never saw me as a friend at all. From the get-go I was nothing more than their convenient scapegoat.”

  “I got framed for murder. How’s that for world-class chump?” Troy uttered.

  “Yeah, I guess that trumps stealing.” Zach waited a beat. “I don’t have a problem with you and Bree.”

  “That’s good because I think I might want to marry her.” At the frown on Zach’s face, Troy added, “One day, not like, June or anything.”

  Brent’s earlier words came back to Ryder. “You two aren’t the only ones who have ever been conned.”

  “But you wouldn’t so easily get set up like that,” Zach shot back.

  “Wanna bet?” Ryder decided then and there if he was going into business with these men he needed to come clean about what happened with Bethany, all of it. “We’ve all crossed paths with people we wish we hadn’t. As Brent reminded me this morning, we’ve all had incidents that put a major ding in our egos. Bethany was my personal disaster, a major regret in my life I can’t change.”

  “I’m sorry,” Zach finally said. “Not about Bethany but about coming across as an asshole. I’m really not like that. Ask anyone that’s known me here in town, they’ll tell you I’m a pretty decent guy.”

  “So is this it?” Troy wanted to know. “Because I couldn’t really come up with anything I don’t like about the two of you. I mean, except for the fact Zach’s been pissed off about me spending time with Bree. That was the main thing on my mind. But now that that’s out of the way…”

  Ryder started laughing and shook his head. “I’m sweating bullets about getting a business loan and this guy’s thinking about his love life.”

  “Do you think we’ll get it?” Troy wondered.

  “Hey, even if we don’t I’m convinced there’s plenty of work around town to keep us all three busy with renovations.”

  “What do we call our business?” Zach asked hopeful.

  Ryder looked at his watch. “A discussion for another time. Right now, we’re on the clock.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  A week later, Julianne sat on one of the pews inside the auditorium at the Community Church waiting her turn to address the town council.

  The sanctuary was jam-packed. Apparently, word had spread about the vote tonight. Everyone wanted to be a part of it. From young to old, she recognized many faces in the crowd, especially those she’d met during the street fair. They seemed excited which had her a little nervous to speak before such a large assembly.

  When Mayor Murphy called her name, she rose and walked to the podium. “Although I haven’t moved here yet, I feel as though I’m already a part of your community. I almost feel like I belong here already. What I’d like to propose is simple. I think the town should turn the tract of land between Murphy’s Market and the bank into a park and that it be officially dedicated and renamed for one of your longtime residents, Scott Phillips. Everyone knows the soldier who grew up here and lost his life in Iraq. I recommend the name be Phillips Park.”

  Applause broke out. Julianne cleared her throat and leaned into the microphone again. “And if you do agree, then I’d like to further suggest we add more benches, make some improvements to remove weeds and trash along the back so that the children have more room to play and to picnic, maybe add a swing set or slide.”

  More clapping had her waiting for it to die down before going on. “I’d also like to suggest that once we dedicate the park, come summer, we begin holding movie nights there during the week throughout the months of June, July and August, movies that the entire family will enjoy.”

  Another roar went up and again Julianne waited for calm. Since she seemed to be on a roll, she quickly added, “Further, I think it would be a good idea if we used the wharf to hold concerts on Friday or Saturday nights. It would offer a venue for any local musicians who want to try out and perform there. We could call it something like, ‘a night of music over the bay.’”

  The room erupted in more applause. Hoots and hollers rang out as everyone got to their feet to show their support. Even the entire council stood up and started applauding her ideas. That’s why she was shocked to hear a dissenting voice drone from the back.

  “Big plans but who pays for all this?” Joe Ferguson grumbled. “I’m not doing it.”

  Julianne turned to address the hardware store owner. “I made a spreadsheet before I suggested this. Knowing how tight city budgets are these days, I calculated the cost, Mr. Ferguson.” If we have donated labor and hold a few bake sales along the way, it won’t cost the taxpayers anything.”

  From his seat at the council table, Nick glared at Joe. “Your attitude is one reason we won’t trouble you further. Since we’ve had this discussion with you over other improvements many times before, we’ll leave you the hell alone from now on. We’ll take our business over to San Sebastian and order the benches from someone there.”

  “Now wait a minute,” Joe returned. “That isn’t fair.”

  “Sit down, Joe. You’re out of order anyway,” Murphy said, banging his gavel. “Your objection is duly noted. Since it’s already been resolved, we’re moving on. Anyone else?”

  From the back, another voice rang out. This time it was Milton Carr. “Who says the park should be named for Scott? My daughter Sissy’s dead, too. Why not name it for her?”

  Even Julianne knew about Sissy Carr’s history with the town. Stolen money didn’t prevent a father from grieving for his daughter. She didn’t want to upset the older man bu
t felt the need to defend her proposal. “Scott is a fallen hero, a shining example to the community. That’s my reasoning for putting forth the idea,” Julianne explained. “But if you’d like to dedicate something to your daughter, we could certainly plant a tree there in her honor, or you could pay for one of the benches and add a nameplate to it in her memory.”

  “That’s an excellent suggestion,” Wade Hawkins tossed out from the stage, not waiting for any further discussion. “I say we bring this to a vote.”

  “I second that,” Nick said in fast agreement.

  From there, each idea passed without further rancor. In addition, the council voted for a resolution to pay for the benches and any playground equipment would be paid for by donations or fundraisers. Murphy called for volunteers to clean up the property and scheduled another meeting to choose a date for the park dedication.

  With business concluded, once everyone started to leave, Ryder leaned in with an amused twinkle in his eyes and whispered in her ear. “Have you ever thought about a career in politics?”

  She snickered. “I play politics every day at school. That’s good enough for me.”

  After the meeting broke up, Julianne and Ryder met up with Troy and Bree and Zach at the Diner. As they slid into the largest booth in the corner, the jukebox cranked out the old Beatles song, All My Loving. While the five waited for Mona to take their orders, they pitched names for the boat enterprise. Which Nick had agreed held opportunity as a moneymaker.

  “Smuggler’s Boats.”

  Ryder shook his head. “Sounds too much like a drug-trafficking operation. Wrong connotation.”

  “How about a combo of your initials? ZRT, RZT, TRZ,” Bree suggested.

  “Nah, I don’t like that. Too gimmicky,” Troy asserted.

  “Blue Water Boats.”

  “That isn’t bad, but… Too bland.”

  “You know, River has a fantastic old canoe ready for display when she opens the museum. Maybe you could somehow build off that,” Julianne proposed.

  “Like how?” Zach asked.

  “The Chumash had what was known as The Brotherhood of the Tomol. Ryder mentioned that you thought of yourselves like three blood brothers. Maybe you could use some form of that.”

  About that time Mona ambled over with a new look, sporting short, spiky, bluish hair. “Hey, Troy, how’s it going?”

  “I’m good. How about you? Last I heard you were headed back to Texas.”

  “Maybe this summer. What can I get you guys? It’s Tuesday so you already know the special is Max’s chicken-fried steak.”

  Zach decided on that and Troy went along with it.

  “Make it three,” Ryder stated. “But make mine with fries instead of mashed potatoes.”

  Julianne and Bree decided to split a basket of chicken tenders. When Mona left to put in their order, Bree turned to Troy. “At least you can still be friends with her.”

  “I wouldn’t call it friends exactly,” Troy returned. “She still isn’t comfortable around me. How can someone who claims to know me think I had anything at all to do with what happen to Gina Purvis?”

  There was an awkward silence until Bree intervened. “Sorry. Bad vibes and bad memories. But it’s hard to avoid this place when it’s the only eatery around.”

  “It’s okay,” Troy said.

  “If Nick gives me the loan after graduation to ferry people back and forth to the island and to the shipwreck, maybe I’ll be your first customer. You can build me a boat.”

  “It takes about three months to build one,” Troy told her with a kiss on the lips. “Starting out, the dinghy will work. But for the trip farther out to the shipwreck, you’ll need one of those sixteen-footers to ferry them there. You’ll need certifications to dive. I checked.”

  “You’re graduating?” Julianne asked looking over at Bree. “When? That’s a big deal.”

  “It’s just community college,” Bree said with a shrug.

  “I don’t care. It’s still a big deal. You need a graduation party.”

  Bree’s eyes grew wide. “Really? That would be fantastic. But you know I’ll still be pushing drinks at McCready’s until I decide what to do. It isn’t even a sure-thing about the loan. I haven’t even approached Nick yet.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’m still throwing you a party.”

  “Where?”

  “Depends on how many people you invite. I’ll figure something out,” Julianne promised, wondering how many people her little house would hold. “In the meantime make a list of who you’d like to see there. When’s commencement? You’ll need a cheering section.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Troy agreed. “We’ll all show up and when they call your name, we’ll whoop and holler like they did tonight at the meeting.”

  “You’ll embarrass me.”

  “That’s the point. We’ll do our best,” Zach teased.

  “What with Zach’s friend, Hettinger, and Nick’s getting the word out for us, we might actually have a few customers right up front,” Ryder reasoned. “When not building and designing, we’ll focus on refurbishing older boats, putting in new hulls and decks to help our cash flow.”

  “Maybe pick up emergency work from the fishermen in the area,” Troy added. “Keegan and Cord have that research vessel they take out all the time. It could use an upgrade.”

  “Good call. As long as they don’t come to us needing engine repair and understand we’re strictly doing metalwork and carpentry,” Zach reminded.

  “Exactly. Now if we could only settle on a name.”

  “I like the brothers’ angle.” Bree threw in.

  “Yeah, but we’re not really brothers or Chumash,” Ryder concluded. “Besides, Blood Brothers Boatyard is kind of a mouthful.”

  “Simple then. What about Tradewinds Boatyard,” Julianne concluded.

  Ryder’s eyes went wide. “Not bad. I like it. Guys?”

  Zach nodded. “It’s a keeper. How about you, Troy?”

  “Tradewinds Boatyard it is.”

  About that time a young woman walked through the door, a beautiful exotic creature that all but had Zach coming up out of his seat.

  “Who is that?”

  Troy elbowed Bree in the ribs, nodded his head in the direction where the woman had taken a seat at the counter, waiting to pick up her to-go order. “That is Logan’s new tenant. He calls her Izzy. She helps out Kinsey with the babies sometimes.”

  “Izzy,” Zach repeated as if in a trance. “You mean like a nanny?”

  “Never said she was the nanny. Since Kinsey doesn’t have any family, she needed help with the twins. All I know is that Isabella showed up here about the same time the Doc put Kinsey on bed rest. She’s from Italy, I think.”

  “Then she won’t stay. A woman like that won’t stay around here for long.”

  Bree slapped at her brother’s arm. “What a thing to say! How would you know? What exactly does that mean for the rest of us? What are we? Excess waste hanging around waiting for a better place to go?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “No, I don’t,” Bree snapped back. “This town isn’t the dump you make it out to be. And you’re getting ready to start a business here with these guys? Invest in a future? Sometimes I wonder about you, Zach.”

  Troy snickered out a laugh. “So much for hooking Zach up with the florist, I don’t think he’s interested in Drea.” He snapped his fingers in front of Zach’s face. “Hey, you want to meet Izzy?”

  “You could arrange that?”

  “Maybe. But what will you do for me?”

  Like brothers, the two men quibbled about it first, railed on each other next, then got down to striking the deal. Troy would set up a meeting with the enchanting Izzy and Zach would forever let him pick the music when they worked next to each other.

  After they finished the meal, Zach, Troy and Bree took their squabble and went their separate ways.

  On the walk back to Julianne’s minibus she’d left parked at the
church, Ryder tugged her along on the sidewalk as if in a hurry to get somewhere.

  Once they reached the van, he pushed her up against it, fused his mouth to hers, kissing her breathless. “You’re here in town already. Come home with me. Or I’ll go home with you. I don’t care which. Either way I want to spend the night with you.”

  “Same here,” she whooshed out. “But your place is a lot closer.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  March kept its lion tendencies intact as it roared into April. The same kind of intense storms hung around to wreak havoc on Julianne’s plans to take her class to Taggert Farms. Twice she’d been forced to cancel the field trip. She refused to set out in bad weather with her charges after what had happened in the orchard. That’s why she didn’t mind bumping it to later. The previous month, she’d sent out permission slips to parents. She’d even talked a few of them into volunteering to come along. Turns out, the kids were excited about tromping around a real farm while the adults could meander through the fruit stand.

  So when the elements finally gave way to spring like conditions, Julianne lined up the driver again, did the scheduling and prepared for an adventure with thirty kids in tow.

  With skies that looked as though an artist had dabbed his brush into cobalt blue and put it to canvas, they started the long drive into the countryside.

  From the minute her rambunctious, inquisitive class piled off the yellow school bus en masse, she had a difficult time maintaining order and getting them to stay in line. Spending ninety long minutes cooped up inside a vehicle, the kids itched to bust out and go every which way at once.

  While it certainly wasn’t the first field trip she’d taken with students, it was the first time she had so much ground to cover. In addition to the cows, there were newborn calves to hold, seeds to put in the soil, solar-powered watering systems to learn about, along with water conservation. For many, it was the first opportunity to see where food started out, how it was packaged and how it ended up at their local market.