Colorado Cabin in the Pines (Peakview series Book 3)

by Jill Haymaker

  A few minutes later, she gave up. She smiled, remembering the feel of Luke’s body against hers. She was too wound up to sleep. She pulled her furry friend closer and buried her face in his soft coat. What was she going to do about Luke Walker? After all, she had a life and a boyfriend in Chicago. Darrell’s face popped up in her mind. Oh my God, what had she done? In her twenty-two years of life she had never cheated on anyone—never even considered it. But now here she was having spent a wonderful night with someone from her past. And the bad part—it didn’t feel wrong. When she awoke to his kiss her world felt right. Right for the first time in four years.

  ***

  Luke watched her ride away. He turned and walked back into the cabin, picking up his flannel shirt and pulling it on. He grabbed a Coke from the small cooler and headed back out to the porch. He popped the tab as he slid down with his back up against the pine rail. The sun was now fully visible in the eastern sky, casting a warm, red glow over the summer dawn.

  Despite the night he spent with Penny snuggled in his arms, a deep stab of loneliness pierced at his heart. What had he been thinking? This—him and her—wasn’t real. She’d made it clear that her home was in Chicago. Why did she come to him last night? Did she want a summer fling? Well, that wasn’t his thing. He loved her, as he loved her every day since junior high when she found him in the barn. He lost his heart that day and never got it back, even in the four years she’d been gone. What happened last night was his dream come true, but was it hers? He needed to talk to her, find out once and for all if there was anything more than memories between them. Yeah, the physical attraction was definitely still there, but was that all? He needed to find out.

  ***

  Penny winced. That last step always creaked as you walked into to kitchen.

  “Good morning sweetheart. I didn’t hear you come in last night. Were you enjoying the full moon?”

  Thankful her mom’s back was turned to her, she felt her checks warm with the thought of what she’d done in the moonlight.

  “It was a beautiful night.” She replied as casually as possible. Reaching for the pot, she poured herself a cup of coffee and changed the subject. “What’s on the agenda for today?”

  “I’m headed out to the garden to do some weeding before it gets too hot. Would you care to join me?”

  “I’d love to. The main reason I came home is to spend some quality time with you and Dad.” Had she subconsciously wanted to spend some time with a certain sexy cowboy, too? “I’m afraid once I’m teaching full-time that it’ll be harder to get back here.”

  “We’ll have to make more trips to Chicago to see you then.”

  Penny smiled. Her mom meant it, but her dad was a fish out of water in the big city. Doubting that even her persuasive mother could get him to visit often, her heart clench with sadness. She tried to envision Luke coming to visit. Nope that wasn’t going to happen. She had known better than to invite him to visit her at college, he’d have hated everything about the Windy City, and they’d have ended up fighting. She’d been right to end things when she did. There was no other choice, despite how he made her tingle.

  Penny hooked her arm in her mother’s. “Come on. There are weeds waiting to be destroyed.”

  Working in the dirt with her mom always brought a sense of peace to Penny. She was only two or three years old when Mom first starting letting her come out and help. At that age, she pulled out as many vegetables as weeds, but her mom never got mad or impatient. Mom started with an 8x8 patch of soil outside the back door. Over the years her “little garden” grew to almost an acre. Penny didn’t know anyone with a green thumb like her mom. Everyone loved her fresh veggies and came from all over Peakview County to get her produce when she set up her roadside stand each fall. So being back here, pulling weeds, wasn’t a chore but a happy memory. They worked side by side for most of the morning. The sound of crunching gravel, made both women look up. Following her mom’s gaze toward the gate, she saw a car turn and slowly make its way down their lane, a trail of dust in its wake.

  Ann wiped her brow with the back of her hand. “I wonder who that could be? I don’t recognize the car.” Her mother stood up, stretched, and walked around the side of the house. Soon she was back, a familiar face following her into the garden.

  “Darrell! What are you doing here?” She caught herself with her hand, before she tumbled backwards into a row of carrots.

  “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”

  She detected a slight irritation in his voice. Recovering from her initial shock, she stood up brushing the soil from her hands. “Of course I’m happy to see you. I just wasn’t expecting you, that’s all. You should have let me know you were coming.” She walked over to where he stood and gave him a hug.

  “I wanted to surprise you. I got a week’s break between camp sessions and decided to come see for myself these Colorado Mountains you’re always talking about. Plus, it’s been hard doing our lesson plans by email. This will give us a chance to sit down and really work some things out.”

  Remembering her manners, Penny turned to her mom. “Mom, you remember Darrell, from graduation?”

  “He refreshed my memory. How nice that he came all this way to see you.” Her mom’s comment lacked enthusiasm.

  “Come on in the house, and I’ll clean off some of this dirt. Would you like something to drink? You didn’t drive all the way from Chicago did you?”

  Darrell laid his hand across her shoulder as they walked toward to house. No sparks, no flames, nothing like the way she felt when Luke engulfed her in his arms last night.

  “No, of course not. I flew into Denver and rented that little Subaru. I have to say, I don’t know how anyone lives this far from civilization. I understand now why you left and came to Chicago.”

  Penny frowned. Why did his statement make her mad? He was right, that was what she’d done, hadn’t she? This was just a vacation. Last night really did a number on her head. She needed to face reality. She didn’t belong here anymore. It was probably a good thing Darrell showed up now, before she made any more stupid mistakes.

  Once cleaned up, Penny added some makeup and a smile. It really was nice for Darrell to come all this way to see her. When she walked into the kitchen, he was seated at the table sipping some of her mom’s fresh lemonade. She walked up behind him and laid her hands on his shoulders.

  “Would you like to take a drive into Peakview? I’d love to show you my hometown the same way you showed me yours when I first arrived in Chicago.”

  “I’d like that. Thanks for the lemonade, Mrs. Anderson. Darrell pushed back his chair and stood up to join her.

  “Call me Ann. No need to be formal here.”

  “We’ll be back in a little while, Mom.” Penny gave her mom a hug before they walked out into the sunshine.

  “I’ll drive.” Penny led Darrell out behind the barn where she parked the Camaro.

  “Wow, I never thought I’d see you driving an old gas guzzling car like this one.”

  Penny fought back the anger that rose in her throat at his words. “It’s my car from high school. The Silver Knight holds a special place in my heart. My first love. Besides, I wasn’t going to buy a new car for a few weeks this summer.”

  “I guess that makes sense, but still, maybe your parents could trade it in for something more fuel efficient.”

  What? Get rid of her Knight? She was mortified at the thought. He had no idea the sentimental attachment she had to this car. So many memories…most of them with Luke.

  She snapped her attention back to the present and peeled out of the driveway, throwing gravel in her wake.

  Darrell chatted about the kids and summer camp as she drove the three short miles into Peakview. She smiled at the stories of some of their antics. She did miss those kids. She glanced over at the man sitting beside her. When she’d arrived in Chicago, she’d been so lost, and if she’d admit it, scared. The City, traffic, lights, trying to maneuver the “L”. She me
t Darrell that very first day of classes. He’d been so passionate about giving back to the South Chicago neighborhood where he was born and raised. He quickly took her under his wing, taught her how to navigate the city and became her best friend. Those first two years it had been purely platonic. He was like the brother she never had. Then her junior year, they had moved off campus into a big old home along with three of their classmates. Somehow living in the same space had gradually turned their friendship into something more. It seemed a natural progression. Although she enjoyed his passion for his community and admired his determination to help disadvantaged children, she’d never felt the fireworks that she experienced with Luke in high school. The last two years she’d let herself believe that this was what mature love felt like. All those butterflies and thrills were a high school thing. She’d accepted it. That is until last night when all of her former passion came crashing back in Luke’s arms.

  They curved to the left around the hill, and the small wooden sign bearing the Peakview name came into view. “Here we are,” she announced.

  “This is it?” Darrell frowned. “This is a town?”

  Penny ignored his tone and smiled. “Yep, I love this place. Everyone is like family.” She pulled her car to a stop near the café. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to Violet and anyone else who happens to be around this afternoon.”

  Penny jumped out of the car, leaving her window rolled down. “Um. Don’t you want to lock it?” Darrell asked.

  “In Peakview? Heck no. No one will mess with it.” Penny led the way, opening the old wooden screen door with bright neon OPEN sign.

  A familiar voice greeted them. “Hey Penny. Who do you have with you?”

  “Violet, this is Darrell, my friend from Chicago.”

  “Nice to meet you. Welcome to Peakview.”

  Penny sat down at the counter and motioned for Darrell to join her. “Violet has the best food and coffee in town.”

  Violet laughed. “The only food and coffee in town. What can I get you two kids?”

  “A cup of your wonderful coffee, of course.” Penny smiled. The aroma smelled like home.

  “Just water for me.” Darrell replied.

  Violet set their drinks in front of them. “So Darren, how long are you in town?”

  “It’s Darrell. I’m staying for the rest of the week. Then I need to get home. It’s a busy time getting ready for the start of the school year. I’ll be glad when Penny is back in a couple more weeks, too.”

  “Well, it sure is good to have her home this summer. We all miss her.”

  Several locals came and went, all stopping by to say hello to her and give her a hug. Penny felt so comfortable here, but it was clear that Darrell wasn’t comfortable at all. He fidgeted on his stool and commented about the unhealthiness of the food being served. Her walking tour of the two short blocks that made up “the business district” of Peakview seemed to leave him equally unimpressed.

  “What on earth do people do for a living here?” He asked frowning.

  “There’s a sizable tourist population in the summer. The businesses here in town mostly cater to them. Most everyone else is a farmer or rancher. There are many more cows and horses in Peakview County than people.”

  “Interesting,” Darrell replied. But she could tell by his tone that he didn’t find her hometown interesting at all.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Penny steered the Camaro back into their lane. How she loved the view just as you turned off the main road. The Peak Range to the west, covered in snow most of the year, and the sprawling acres of dark green fields that comprised the Anderson and Walker spreads. You could see it all from here. When she first arrived in Chicago, the city felt so claustrophobic compared to this. She supposed she’d gotten used to the tight buildings and lack of open space over the years.

  She turned her thoughts back to her passenger who had come so far just to spend some time with her and smiled. “Oh good, Daddy’s home. I’m so glad the two of you will have the chance to get to know each other.”

  Her father had met Darrell at graduation, but Daddy had seemed so out of place and uncomfortable in Chicago, the two men in her life hadn’t had the chance to spend much time with each other. In her eyes, Daddy was the perfect man. She needed him and Darrell to like each other.

  “I’m looking forward to it,” Darrell said.

  Penny detected a less than enthusiastic tone to his voice. Before she could respond Gary Anderson walked up to the car to greet them. “Darren, nice to see you again.” Gary held out his hand to the younger man.

  “Darrell, Dad. It’s Darrell.”

  “Well, Darrell. How are you enjoying our mountains so far?”

  “They’re beautiful, sir. This is the first time I’ve been west of Illinois.”

  “It’s about time you got to ‘God’s country’. You may not ever want to leave.”

  “I doubt that. I’m really more of a city boy. I can understand why Penny was anxious to move to the city. It seems very isolated here.”

  Gary frowned and quickly changed the subject. “I hope you’re hungry. I pulled some huge T-Bones out of the freezer for the grill. Nothing better than Colorado beef grown right here in Peakview County.”

  “Darrell’s a vegetarian, Dad.”

  “Oh.”

  The awkward pause lingered as her dad struggled with what to say next.

  “In that case, I’m sure Ann can whip you up a salad from the garden. More steak for the rest of us. Come on up on the porch and sit a spell before the food is ready.” Her dad turned and returned to his rocker.

  This wasn’t going well. Darrell did seem out of place here. He’d always been so self-assured in Chicago. Why did he come? She frowned and went inside to see if she could help her mother.

  “Mom, where’s the Tylenol?” She said entering the kitchen.

  “In the cupboard on the left where it’s always been. Do you have a headache?”

  “Yeah. It’s been a long day.”

  “How did Darren like our lovely little town?”

  Penny was too tired to correct her mom again. “I don’t think he was too impressed. He was expecting more shops and businesses.”

  “I guess our way of life isn’t for everyone.”

  “Darrell’s a vegetarian. Can you make sure he gets a big salad and potato?”

  “A vegetarian, really? I can’t imagine how the two of you fix meals together. You’ve always loved beef.”

  “Actually, I’ve been eating a lot more fruits and vegetables. It’s a much healthier diet.”

  “Don’t let your father hear you talk like that. He might disown you.”

  Together they set the picnic table in the back yard with the checkered tablecloth and colorful plates and cups. Mom loved to entertain and serve a good meal. While Dad grilled the steaks to perfection for everyone but Darrell, Mom made sure their guest had plenty of other food to fill him up, along with a big glass of her homemade iced tea. Penny relaxed and enjoyed the warm, sunny June evening, listening to Darrell asking her parents about ranch life in Colorado.

  ***

  Luke smiled as he and Dad finished a long, hot day of working with horses. He leaned back on the stack of hay bales removing his hat and wiping his forehead with his bandanna. He could feel the dirt and grit on his skin. Some men might hate the feeling, but he loved everything about the rancher life.

  “You coming up to the house for dinner?” Jeff asked.

  “No, I don’t think so. I’m going to jump in a quick shower and maybe take Geronimo out for a long ride. It’s such a beautiful summer evening.”

  “That it is. Maybe June and I’ll take a ride after dinner, too. I’ll have her wrap up some leftovers in the fridge in case you get hungry later.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Luke entered the main house by back door which led directly up to the bathroom that connected to his childhood room. As much as he loved this house, he’d be glad when the plumbing was in his cabin, and he could move in ful
l time. As rivulets of brown water ran down his body in the warmth of the shower, his thoughts ran back to last night and Penny. It seemed so right to have her in the cabin, but he didn’t like the way she left in such a hurry this morning. Their time together seemed incomplete. They needed to talk about what the night meant. Maybe there was still a chance for them after all. He’d ride over to the Anderson place. Ask her to spend some time with him. A long ride together in the sunset could be a great time for them to process how they felt. It had always worked back in high school.

  Toweling off, he put on a clean pair of his better jeans and chose a deep blue button down western shirt from his closet. Penny had always said that blue was his color, bringing out the sparkle in his eyes. He ran his fingers through his wet hair. It would dry in the wind as he rode. He splashed on some cologne. On the rare occasions when he wore cologne these days, he still wore the same scent she gave him for Christmas when he was fifteen. It reminded him of happier times. Slipping into his boots and grabbing a less dusty Stetson, he quietly made his way down the back staircase, avoiding being seen by his dad or June. He didn’t want to answer questions about his attire. He wasn’t ready to share his feelings for Penny with anyone but her. Safely out of sight of the house, he jumped on Geronimo and headed toward the Anderson’s place.

  Before he even dismounted at the corral, he breathed in the tantalizing aroma of grilling steaks and saw a small plume of smoke coming from the backyard. The Andersons must be having a picnic. He’d come at the right time. His mouth watered in anticipation. He tied Geronimo to the fence and hurriedly walked around the house. Gary stood turning a nice juicy T-Bone to perfection. He looked past the man to the wooden table where Penny sat, and stopped dead in his tracks like a horse encountering a rattler.

  Gary looked up from the barbeque. “Luke Walker. What a pleasant surprise. You don’t come around near often enough.” Penny’s father wiped his hands on his jeans and walked over to clasp Luke’s hand in welcome. “What brings you over our way?”