Yukon Cowboy

by Debra Clopton

  He’d heard yesterday that she was arriving, and he should have stayed out of town. But he’d had to get birthday candy for Sue, his housekeeper. In and out had been the plan, with no expectation of running into Bethany. His legs went weak at the thought of seeing her.

  When he’d looked up and locked gazes with her it was like seeing a mirage. Like she’d always done, she took his breath away. She’d had the greenest eyes—like translucent green glass, they sparkled and captured the light and held it. He’d always gotten lost peering into their depths. And her dark hair, straight and shiny—just like he’d remembered—framed her heart-shaped face…the same sweet face that had haunted his dreams for nearly a decade.

  He closed his eyes and tried to ease the turmoil that rumbled inside of him.

  Why did she come home to Treasure Creek?

  The question had been eating at him ever since word had gotten out that she was returning. He didn’t understand it and hadn’t believed it at first. She’d had big dreams and wanted to leave Treasure Creek and pursue them more than anything when they were in high school. She’d had the grit to make those dreams reality, too…so why was she here now?

  He knew all about the wedding-planning business she was supposed to be opening, but like he’d told her, that didn’t explain why. Why had she given up her dream job in San Francisco to open up a shop here in Treasure Creek? It didn’t make sense. That was for certain.

  He hadn’t handled seeing her very well. Ever since their encounter, he felt like he’d been trampled beneath the hooves of a herd of stampeding cattle.

  He needed this tour. He’d been too busy at the ranch over the last couple of months to take one out, and he was chomping at the bit to get out there on the trails. For more reasons than to get away from Bethany. He needed to do his part in helping find the treasure that the town was searching for.

  Ever since Ben James, owner of the tour company, had died, the town had struggled economically. The tour company brought in most of the revenue for the town, and things had not been the same since Ben had passed.

  Amazingly, an old treasure map that belonged to Amy’s great, great grandfather, Mack Tanner, had been discovered after years of merely being a rumor. The discovery had thrown Nate for a loop, because his grandfather had died almost fifteen years ago searching for the stupid treasure—a fact that had torn Nate up all these years. Realizing that his grandfather actually might have died for more than just a rumor didn’t make him any less fond of the idea of a real treasure, but if there actually was one, and it could help the town, then it was worth something. The town had high hopes of finding it.

  Nate still had his doubts that the treasure existed; however, if it did, he wanted a crack at finding it. And he wanted this tour because of its location.

  Amy was sending the treasure map out with the guides so that they could check different locations, in the hope of finding the right one. He was leading this family tour on a five-day excursion that would go past the place where his grandfather had died. It wasn’t a place he was fond of…Nate had almost died there himself. He’d been on a mission to figure out what his grandfather had seen before he’d fallen from the mountain.

  After his near-fatal slip, and almost following in his grandfather’s footsteps, he’d never gone back…until now. This time things would go better. He was determined to find out what his grandfather had found inside the crevice two hundred feet up the face of that cold, ragged rock.

  He welcomed the trip more today than yesterday. Today he needed something to focus his anger and disillusionment on.

  Glowering, ready for distraction right at that very instant, he stalked up the sidewalk toward the “log cabin” office that housed the tour company. It was nice to see a buzz of activity humming about it, as people came and went out the door. He tipped his hat when a gaggle of women walked past, ogling him like a slab of bacon. He preferred to ignore them, but for the sake of the town he’d play the friendly cowboy role and tip the Stetson and show hospitality. As long as everyone in town understood that tipping his hat was as far as it went with him in letting these bride wannabes try to hook him as a husband. He’d already had a dolled-up redhead named Delilah pull two crazy cons on him. The woman had cornered him in Lizbet’s Diner and asked him if he was alone. Of course he’d said yes, because he was. If he’d known she was going to plunk herself into the booth with him and invite herself to lunch, he’d have said he was leaving.

  He didn’t even want to think about the second time she’d cornered him. It was enough to make a man walk off into the wilderness and never come back.

  “Hey, Nate,” Gage Parker called, falling into step beside him. Gage was a tour guide and also a member of the search and rescue team.

  “Any luck finding Tucker Lawson?” Nate asked, not breaking step. Tucker was a former local. He’d moved away after a rift with his dad but recently his dad had passed away. Tucker had come in for the funeral then disappeared. His best friend Jake Rodgers was funding an ongoing search for him that Gage and police chief Truscott were heading up.

  “Nothing new since I saw you last week. We’ve been out a few more times but we can only hope he’s found refuge somewhere…if he’s alive.”

  “There’s always a chance.” Nate knew as well as Gage that every day that passed was a bad sign. There was no need to state that. “Everyone is still praying for him.”

  “Tucker needs every one of them,” Gage said, studying him. “I’ll be driving your group to the drop point out at Chilkoot Trail day after tomorrow.”

  “That’ll be good,” Nate grunted, sliding him a glance. Gage looked happy. He was glad someone was. Gage had recently fallen in love with Karenna, a nice girl who’d fallen for all this craziness about finding a husband in this town. Crazy as it was, something good had come out of all of this.

  “You look about as happy as that cougar you had to rescue out of that tank last week,” Gage said, matching him step for step. “You’ve seen her, haven’t you?”

  There was no use pretending he didn’t know who “her” was. Everyone would be speculating on the same question, and he had no doubt he’d be asked it by every person he met—especially his fellow tour guides. He figured, since he’d run into Bethany on the street in front of The General Store, that someone would have seen them and that the grapevine would be alive by now.

  “Yes, I’ve seen her,” he said, sliding Gage a look that hopefully told him to back off. Yeah, right.

  Gage grinned. “Mom was shopping in town and saw you run into each other in front of The General Store. She said it was about as awkward as two porcupines in a box together. She also said Nadine rented Bethany that vacant building around the corner from the store.” Gage turned toward town and pointed. “That one. The one you can just see the front of from here. You know, where Frank Drew had that lousy bakery.”

  Nate spun and stared toward the shop. The front door was visible from this angle, though the rest of the stores on the side street were blocked from view. As he stared, she actually came outside. Even from this distance she could push his buttons. He swallowed hard and told his feet to march straight inside and not to look back.

  “She’s still as pretty as ever,” Gage said.

  Despite not wanting to have this conversation, Nate’s feet wouldn’t move. “Yeah, she is,” he admitted. “She really rented the space?” It was a stupid question, since Gage had just said the words.

  “Looks like she’s staying.”

  It did. She really was staying. Nate reached for the door when he preferred to head for his truck. Instead of pulling it open he let go, snatched his hat from his head and rammed his hand through his hair. Bethany always liked his hair.

  The thought came out of nowhere, like so many others had the night before. He’d ridden a horse for hours after he’d gotten home to the ranch yesterday. But nothing had stopped the memories from tearing him apart.

  “Are you all right?” Gage asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fi
ne.” It was a flat-out lie. He knew it and so did Gage.

  “You know I’ve never been one to pry, but this could turn out to be a good thing, Nate.”

  Nate shot him a scowl. “I’m not going to worry about it. She’ll do her thing and I’ll do mine.”

  “Good luck with that.” Gage grinned and headed down the sidewalk. Nate watched him go, trying to get his thoughts together. She wouldn’t stay. She had wanted to leave too much when they were in high school. She was here for a reason he didn’t understand. But one thing was certain…he wasn’t all right, and he wouldn’t be until she hopped back on a plane and headed back to her life and her dreams. The ones he’d wanted her to have more than anything.

  Even more than his own dreams.

  Chapter Two

  Feeling almost giddy with expectations, Bethany stood out in front of her new space and studied the whitewashed, planked siding. She loved it. Amy had been so completely right. The space was perfect, and Bethany had rented it on the spot.

  There was an office area and plenty of room for her to display the various props and wares she offered when planning and staging a wedding. It was just around the corner from Main Street, and there was an apartment above it for rent, too. She wasn’t sure how long she’d stay in Treasure Creek, only time would tell; but right now she had a great feeling about it—despite her less than promising meeting with Nate the day before.

  Hopefully, time would fix the strain their past cast on them, but for now she wasn’t going to dwell on it. She’d awakened feeling refreshed and excited about being in Treasure Creek. She was even thrilled about helping lead the family tour.

  But getting her shop up and running was her first priority. She’d called the electric and phone service and those utilities would be on by the time she returned from the tour. Her things should have arrived by then, too. It wouldn’t take long to set up after that, once she knew how she wanted things placed. Walking back inside, she placed her hands on her hips and surveyed the long, narrow space. It had promise. The tour would keep her from getting impatient. She hated waiting.

  From the look of things, she wasn’t going to be able to get unpacked quickly enough. There had already been five women who’d come by and made appointments for consultations. She was flying by the seat of her pants, using a wooden crate as a reception desk and a piece of notebook paper as an appointment book. These women were ready to get married.

  She checked her watch. She needed to be at the tour company in less than fifteen minutes for her briefing. Amy had assured her that everything she needed would be packed and ready for her when they left, and all she needed to worry about were her jeans and tops. Boots, jackets, food and sleeping bags would all be ready. She smiled at that. After packing to come home to Treasure Creek, the last thing she wanted to do was pack some more. It was an easy plan, and she was really glad she’d agreed to go.

  Yes, opening the shop was a priority, but there was just something about being back in Alaska that called her to the wilds of the breathtaking frontier.

  She folded the paper with appointments on it, and was about to stick it in her purse when the door opened.

  “Knock, knock. Anybody in here?” a sweet Southern voice with a raspy edge to it called.

  Bethany turned to find a blonde of about forty peek her head through the cracked door.

  “Well, hi-dee! There you are, standing in the dark!”

  “Hi,” Bethany said, moving forward. The woman was smiling wide and warm and was as pretty as Dolly Parton. She even reminded Bethany of the country singer, with the cute way she’d greeted her and the smile that took over her heart-shaped face. And her big, blond hair was poofed and sprayed as heavy as any of Dolly’s styles. Bethany had worked with many, many wealthy mothers of the bride who’d looked just as overly coifed. Usually, she had the insane urge to sink her fingers into the stiff dos and shake hair loose from the lacquer holding it in place. Like all those other times though, she curbed the insane thought and held out her hand. “I’m Bethany. Can I help you?”

  “Oh, honey, I hope so. Are you the new wedding planner?” she drawled, flushing slightly, as if embarrassed about something.

  “That’s me,” Bethany said brightly.

  “That’s just wonderful. I’m Joleen Jones,” she gushed. Extending a perfectly manicured hand, she shook Bethany’s hand gently. “I can’t tell you how excited I was to find that you were coming to town. I’m here to talk about my wedding plans.”

  Bethany couldn’t help smiling at the cute lilt to her voice. “That’s great. I’m not officially opened and I have to be at the tour company in a few moments—”

  “I understand. This won’t take a minute. I was hoping to get an appointment on the books.”

  Bethany couldn’t say no, so she set her purse down and opened the paper where she’d been writing the brides’ and grooms’ names down. It was exciting to see business going great guns, even before there was a stick of furniture in the place. “I’ll set you up with an appointment for when I get back in town. I’m actually leaving on Wednesday to help out with a tour—I used to work for Amy James in high school, and I’m going to help out for a few days while I wait for my things to arrive.” She wasn’t sure why she was explaining so much, but the look in the woman’s eyes had her wanting to put her at ease about as much as she could. “You said your name was Joleen Jones. And the groom?” She wrote her name on the page. When Joleen didn’t say anything Bethany looked up and asked again, thinking she hadn’t spoken loudly enough, “And the groom is…?”

  Joleen looked sheepishly at her, with big, long-lashed, amber eyes. “Harry Peters.”

  The name was almost a whisper, but it had Bethany’s ears perked up. Harry Peters! “From The General Store?” she clarified, thinking, surely Joleen had said something similar to Harry’s name and she’d misunderstood. This woman and Harry were as far from what she would have ever matched up as any two people she’d ever worked with.

  Joleen nodded. “Isn’t he the cutest thing you ever saw?”

  Well, there you go—love was the weirdest thing sometimes. Bethany grinned, feeling Joleen’s delight roll over to her. “Congratulations. I think that is wonderful,” she said, sincerely.

  “I just came to town a few weeks ago and he has just been so helpful. He is really a dear. Don’t you think so?”

  “Always. When is the wedding date?” Pen poised to write she waited for the answer.

  Joleen placed a long, red fingernail on her bottom lip and hesitated. “Um, there isn’t a date set. Yet. He hasn’t asked me out yet, you see. But I’m sure that he will.” Her words had started out hesitantly, but she ended in a rush, as if she were trying to convince herself of the fact. This was odd…two-in-a-row odd. There had been a lady in earlier, asking about planning a wedding for Christmas. That fancily dressed lady, Delilah Carrington, also hadn’t had a groom. But she was different than Joleen, she hadn’t set her sights on anyone in particular yet. Oh no, Delilah was shopping the field and ready to pounce on whomever proposed first. She’d set a deadline for herself to be married by Christmas, and she’d come to Treasure Creek to fulfill that deadline. She struck Bethany as the type who would get what she wanted. It was crazy, but it might be fun watching her in action.

  Bethany certainly wasn’t here to judge anyone, her job was just to plan beautiful weddings and carry them off with grace and expertise.

  “He hasn’t asked you out?” she asked, because she couldn’t come up with anything better to ask. And she was curious and hoping Joleen would explain.

  Joleen bit her upper lip and blushed. “No. But it’s because he’s shy that way. I guess I’m jumping the gun here, trying to get an appointment. This probably sounds a little crazy, doesn’t it? No, wait, don’t answer that. I know it sounds crazy.”

  “No,” Bethany began, then got honest, “actually it does…a little, but I’ve seen stranger things.”

  Joleen smiled in relief and relaxed. “I guess I am ahead of my
self. I…I do want you to know I will be using you sometime in the near future, though. Harry is sure to come around.”

  Bethany’s heart tugged at the angst she could hear in Joleen’s voice. She knew all too well how it felt to love a man and not be able to have the happy ending she want—stop! She snatched her purse and forced her smile wide. “Joleen, I’m here when you need me. And as soon as I get up and running, you come by anytime you want and we’ll get details perfected, so when your special man does pop the question you’ll be all set. It takes time to get all the details right, so nothing says you can’t already be working on your special day.”

  Her positive words must have seemed like music as they hit Joleen’s ears. She straightened, and a warm smile that was free of any hesitation blossomed across her pretty face. “You really wouldn’t think me too crazy to do that? I mean Harry, the sweet man, is just a bit slow on the uptake—if you know what I mean. He does care for me. I’ve seen the way he looks at me when he thinks I’m not looking. He’s the strong, silent type.”

  Bethany almost choked. “I don’t think you’re crazy at all. Hey, I’m a romantic through and through, and this is very romantic, if you ask me. Harry Peters is a lucky man to have you, and he’d be smart to open his eyes and ask you out.” It was the truth. That dry piece of toast needed a gal like Joleen to top off his life like sweet jam.

  Joleen startled her by embracing her in a big hug. “Thank you. You have absolutely made my day.”

  “You’ve made mine. It was really nice meeting you,” she said, and meant it. As they parted and headed in opposite directions, Bethany hoped Joleen got her happy ending. Glancing over her shoulder, she watched Joleen round the corner and walk daintily toward The General Store. Bethany suddenly wished she were a fly on the wall so she could see the grumpy Harry Peters’s face when Joleen was around.

  Before she realized what she was doing, she said a prayer that Harry would be the hero in Joleen’s life. It would be nice if the Lord chose to work that out for her.