The Divine Creek Ranch Collection Volume 3

by Heather Rainier

  * * * *

  Lydia looked ready to bolt, so Chance didn’t say anymore. He decided to wait a while to give her the gifts. She seemed to need a little time to settle in his company first, so he changed the subject.

  “I think I asked you one time how you came to be in Fort Stockton, but you never got to answer me. Your boss interrupted you, as I recall,” he added with a grin.

  “I’m originally from San Angelo.”

  He nodded and said, “That explains your ak-cint.”

  She chuckled and with a pronounced Texas twang said, “I don’t have an ak-cint. I lohst it in Austin.”

  He winced and replied in kind, “Austin only made it stronger, darlin’.”

  They laughed at each other’s accents, and she continued, “I moved from San Angelo to go to the culinary institute in Austin.”

  “Culinary institute? Really? And you were working in a café?”

  She nodded sheepishly and said, “I found myself in Fort Stockton, in need of a job and took the only one I could get.”

  Chance recalled eating at least a couple of meals at the Oasis Café that had tasted unusually good for café food and said, “You’ve cooked for me before?”

  She nodded and smiled, “A couple of times. I help LaMont when it gets busy, but I like to stay in the dining room because I make more in tips there.”

  He realized she was speaking of the café in present tense when he was already thinking of it in the past tense. The realization hit him that he was already expecting she would quit the diner, but why should she? Where would she go if jobs were that scarce? He didn’t want her to work there anymore, and a plan formed in his mind.

  If she cooked that well with the ingredients a café kept in supply, what would it be like if she had a huge kitchen and anything she wanted in the way of tools and foodstuffs at her disposal?

  “Lydia, you’re a damn fine cook.” In more ways than one, baby.

  A blush rose in her cheeks, and she thanked him as their perky waitress sped up to his window on her roller skates. He paid her for the treats and then handed Lydia her chocolate shake.

  “So how did you wind up in Fort Stockton if you were living in Austin?”

  Lydia toyed with the wrapper on her straw and said, “I don’t like the big city. I’ve always wanted to live in a small town and the constant traffic really got to me. I was contacted after graduation about an opportunity here. They had interviewed me while I was at school and evidently I’d done well. I was offered a job, and sold or gave away almost everything I owned to come here. I packed up Gunther—”

  “Gunther?” Was there somebody else in her life he didn’t know about? He hadn’t even thought to ask about that, and his heart began a free fall in his chest. Maybe that was why she’d looked a little pensive earlier.

  Lydia nodded and smiled brightly. “Yeah, Gunther. He’s my ’73 Karmann Ghia.” Chance almost broke a sweat in relief at that news. “My brothers bought him for me and rebuilt his engine.” She chuckled in embarrassment and added, “I know, it’s kind of juvenile to name my car, but I took one look at him five years ago and he’s just so cute I had to name him.”

  Chance smiled at her as she blushed again and admitted to himself that he was completely beguiled by her. “So you packed up Gunther,” he prompted, using the German pronunciation as she had.

  “Yes, and I drove from Austin to Fort Stockton. In theory, I knew how far it was, but I thought the drive would take forever. I was thankful it was still spring then because I don’t have air-conditioning in my car. I dread the thought of driving away from Fort Stockton in this heat with no AC.”

  “But what happened when you got here?”

  “The operation had folded before it even got started. They lost two of their investors. The person who should have let me know about the change in status must have thought someone else would and I somehow slipped through the cracks. They felt bad when I contacted them, but there was nothing they could do. I was living on a shoestring in Austin and I didn’t have much money when I’d started on the trip. I had just enough to get a motel room and I found a job at the café. Until I could get groceries, Mr. Cortez bartered my meals for part of my pay, at full price, even though I cooked them myself.”

  Chance looked at her with admiration. Somehow she’d taken on a very disheartening situation and managed to survive. It made him want her even more. She was like a wildflower, blooming out there despite adversity.

  “You put up with an awful lot from that boss of yours.”

  “I did. I honestly did look everywhere in town. No one is hiring right now. Mr. Cortez was an asshole but basically harmless, or so I thought until today. He yelled a lot and he didn’t manage the café very well. He was a little ‘handsy,’ too, but I dealt with that straightforwardly and he stopped it, until today.” She put her hands to her temples and shook her head. “I can’t believe he robbed my motel room and slashed my tires. He knew I would have no choice but to call him.”

  Chance wanted to go find the bastard and pound him into the ground. The man had systematically backed Lydia further and further into a corner trying to make her dependent on him.

  “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he was behind my car problems all along.” She looked up at him with bright eyes, looking like she felt a little better. “Anyway, that’s why I’m here, for now.”

  Curiously, Chance asked, “Where will you go? Do you have interviews lined up?”

  Lydia shrugged and shook her head. “Once I have the money saved up for a deposit, rent, and living expenses for a month or two then I’ll start putting out feelers. Unfortunately, if I move it will have to be back to a larger city where the prospects are better.” She looked disappointed at that notion, and Chance smiled inwardly. He thought he had the perfect solution for her. “So tell me about the ranch, Chance. Every time I meant to ask you more about it we’d get busy so I don’t know much. Do you and your brother run it together? I don’t even know where it is.”

  “The Rockin’ C is a big cattle ranch. Ten thousand acres. We have a cow-calf operation and we provide stock to other ranchers. There are about one thousand head of cattle on it right now, but the number fluctuates seasonally. In recent years we’ve sunk several oil wells on the back side of the property that have done well. The ranch is located in Divine, about two hundred and fifty miles from here.”

  He got curious when her mouth popped open and her eyes got big. “Divine, Texas?”

  Chance chuckled and said, “That’s the one. Have you heard of it?”

  Lydia groaned and nodded her head. “Yup. I have two very overprotective brothers who live there.”

  “What are their names? I probably know them.”

  She paused before responding and said, “You probably do know them. Two of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet but ‘big brother buttinskis’ of the first order. Ace Webster and Kemp Whittier.”

  Chance snorted as he drew on his straw and barely swallowed his strawberry shake before he choked. She patted his back and said, “Oh hell, you do know them, don’t you? Actually, Ace is my brother by blood and Kemp is my brother by adoption.”

  Chance chuckled and nodded, “Yes. I do. How long has it been since you’ve talked to them?”

  Lydia thought about it and replied, “It’s probably been a few weeks. Maybe a month. Last time we talked was really brief because they were working. Why?”

  If it had been that long then she knew nothing about Ace and Kemp’s recent proposal to Summer Heston, Discretion’s co-owner. “It might be time to check in, baby.”

  “Are you going to tell them about…everything?”

  Chance frowned. “Why? Don’t they know? Oh! I see. They’ve nominated themselves as your personal savior committee? Without permission, I bet?” When she nodded emphatically he continued, “You know, sometimes receiving help from people who love you is a good thing. Do they have any idea what your circumstances are right now?”

  She cringed and gave hi
m a lame smile. “Not really. They know I’m living in Fort Stockton. They know the chef job didn’t pan out.”

  “I hear a big ‘but’ in there.”

  “But they think I just found another job as chef in a different restaurant. I told them I was fine and I want to make it on my own. They said they respected that.”

  “If you were my little sister, I’d want to do whatever I could to help you out of this situation.”

  “I know, but I need to do it on my own. Are you going to tell them?” She asked the question as if she wondered if he was going to tattle on her.

  “No, baby. Getting in touch would be a good idea, though. They might have news of their own.”

  “True. I’ll have to do that.”

  “If you left Fort Stockton, where would you go if you had your way?”

  Lydia smiled at him and shrugged. “It may not matter what I want, but if I had my way it would be to another small town, somewhere a little greener. I love this part of Texas, but it can feel desolate and lonely at times.”

  If he had his way he’d give her what she wanted and make sure she never felt desolate or lonely again.

  Inside her purse, her phone rang.

  She answered it and spoke to the caller while Chance worked on his strawberry shake. It sounded like she was talking to a police officer. When she put her phone down, he asked, “Everything all right?”

  “Yes. The police have finished. The old fool confessed to slashing the tires and tampering with the engine. They need to get pictures of my car and they were willing to drop my things off at my motel room.”

  “Oh. Okay. I’ll take you home if you’ll give me directions. I probably ought to see about a room before it gets much later, too.”

  “Chance, thank you for all you’ve done to help me through tonight. I want you to know I really appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome, baby. I’m glad I was here. I’d hate to think of you going through what happened tonight all by yourself.”

  He started the truck and followed her soft-spoken directions to the western edge of town, where her motel was located.

  Chapter Four

  Lydia’s mind urged caution as they pulled up to the inauspicious, faded building that had served as home for the last five months. Chance was there only temporarily, and she reminded herself of that as he pulled into a parking space next to Gunther who appeared rather sad with his four flat tires. She felt violated as she looked at her Karmann Ghia. Sometimes it seemed like her transportation and the earnings she made each day were all that stood between her and the wolves at the door.

  Chance cut the ignition on the big pickup and jumped out of the truck. She reached for the handle but was surprised when he opened it and smiled at her.

  “Mom raised us right, Lydia. Let me help you.”

  His words from earlier, about having come for the sole purpose of seeing her, battled with her inner mantra that he was there temporarily. Confusion was the result as she placed her hand on his shoulder and allowed him to lift her by her waist and place her on the ground. Her heart hammered at the feel of his hands on her, and she bit her lip self-consciously.

  “Careful, Chance. I don’t want you to hurt your back.”

  “Baby, I routinely lift calves that weigh more than you. You’re light as a feather,” he replied, smiling as he brushed a lock of hair away that the steady, hot wind had blown in her face. His callused fingers were gentle, and she found herself mesmerized as she looked up into his eyes. Her heart hammered in her chest as she soaked up the nearness of this warm, hard-working man. It was going to hurt something fierce when she watched him drive his truck away again because she had a distinct feeling she was already past the crush stage.

  A car pulled up next to the truck, and they were shaken from the moment by a motel room door shutting and the sound of laughter. Looking around, Lydia noticed the parking lot was full of cars.

  “Shoot. It looks like I may be sleeping in my truck tonight.”

  Making a split second decision she hoped she didn’t regret, Lydia said, “Nonsense. If there isn’t a vacancy, then you can stay with me. It’s not much, but I keep it clean.” She chuckled and said, “I’ll even let you help me move back in. Come on.” She beckoned to him as she walked past Gunther and patted his hood.

  “So that’s Gunther, huh?”

  “Yes. He’s never let me down.” Today was not his fault.

  “Those little VWs will run forever if you take care of them.”

  “He’s living proof of that. Well, I mean, I know he’s not…Ugh. You must think I’m crazy.” She was a little punchy and needed to go to sleep.

  Chance laughed and said, “Not at all, baby. I understand what you mean. Vehicles develop personalities, and you’ve become attached to him. It happens.”

  Her heart swelled with appreciation for his understanding, and she gazed up at him as he matched her stride on the cracked sidewalk. His hand slid around hers, and he smiled warmly at her.

  As they approached the motel office, he released her hand and opened the door, allowing her to walk in first. Unfortunately, there were no vacancies there or at any other motel in the area, according to the manager. Families were even doubling up in rooms because there was nothing else available.

  As they walked out of the office, the police officer who had spoken to her at the café pulled up in his cruiser and parked on the other side of Gunther.

  Officer Sepeda climbed from his vehicle and smiled at her as he took a look at Gunther. “Don’t see too many of these around here.”

  “No, sir.”

  “Well, Mr. Cortez confessed to it all. He was blabbering before we even had him in the cruiser to take him to be processed. I don’t know if any of it will hold. They were going to take a statement from him and we’ll see what his lawyer says. You had witnesses to what he was doing in his office and the stuff lying in boxes in the back of his truck is pretty incriminating. All he kept saying was that he didn’t want you to leave him.”

  Lydia shook her head vehemently. “I was nothing to him but an employee. He knew I was trying to earn enough money to leave Fort Stockton. Did you find the money he stole from me?”

  He nodded and replied, “He said he put it in the office safe. The owners of the café will be in touch with you in the morning and fully intend to return it to you since he told us it was in an envelope with your initials on it. He must’ve thought that if he could keep you here by any means necessary that you’d eventually change your mind.” Gesturing at the cruiser, he added, “I have your things in the trunk.”

  Chance followed her to the police car and lifted one of her boxes from it. Lydia took the lightweight laundry basket Chance handed her and the small box that contained her toiletries.

  Officer Sepeda lifted the third box from the trunk, and Chance asked, “Is this everything, baby?”

  Nodding easily, Lydia said, “It is. I never accumulated very much because I knew I couldn’t take it with me.”

  “Well, lead on, Ms. Webster,” the officer said. “Then I’ll shoot pictures of the damage for the report and be on my way.”

  Lydia led the way up the stairs to her room and unlocked it. The door creaked open, and both men placed the boxes carefully on the worn table, treating her possessions like something precious and valuable.

  The officer removed a card from his pocket and handed it to her. “If you’re in need of further assistance while you’re in Fort Stockton, don’t hesitate to call on me. I wish you luck, ma’am.” He nodded at Chance and made his exit.

  She closed the door and set the thermostat to cool the room down, then began removing her meager belongings from the boxes.

  Chance said, “I’ll run down and get my stuff. Are you sure you’re okay with this, Lydia? I really don’t mind sleeping in the truck. I’ve slept worse places than that.”

  “I insist. You’ll have a long drive tomorrow and I’d feel terrible knowing you’re down there trying to sleep in the heat with the
bugs and the wind. I won’t rest, worrying about that.”

  You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re going to get any sleep either way. On top of that, you’ll have to watch him drive away tomorrow. You lose either way, girl.

  A little thrill shot through her when he kissed the top of her head, patted her hip, and then left the room. Smiling, she unpacked the rest of her things and placed the three cardboard boxes by the door to take out in the morning. She looked critically around the apartment and wondered what he thought when he saw how she lived. This was a far cry from the suburban neighborhood in San Angelo she’d grown up in and certainly not how she’d planned to be living by the age of twenty-eight, but she was determined to make some changes soon.

  He returned, and holding up the hangers, he asked, “Where can I put these?”

  She opened her small closet, and he hung them next to her clothing. Looking around the suddenly smaller room, Lydia smiled nervously and said, “If you don’t mind, I’m going to take a shower. It’s been a really long day. The remote for the television is sitting on top of it.” She gestured to the antiquated TV in the corner. “It’s old, but it works fairly well. Thank goodness it’s bolted to that table otherwise Mr. Cortez might have stolen it, too,” she added with a grin. “Make yourself at home, okay?”

  “Actually, baby, I think I’m going to step out to give you a little more privacy and check in with Clayton,” he replied, removing his phone from his pocket.

  How considerate of him. “All right. I won’t be long.”

  He nodded and smiled at her, and she found herself wishing she could just stare into his bright-blue eyes.

  He went to the door as she slipped into the small bathroom. Sighing quietly, she leaned against the door and imagined him standing there smiling at her. She was really smitten. There was no denying it. His words from earlier came back to her again, about coming all that way to see her. He hadn’t said anything else about it, but she hoped he would leave his phone number with her so after she left Fort Stockton they might stay in touch. Maybe someday she might find herself in Divine.