Yukon Cowboy

by Debra Clopton

  It was a fair question and a good reason, Bethany thought. So why did Sue blush slightly? Had she said something she didn’t mean to say?

  “If you didn’t come back for Nate, then I guess I’ll just have to pray something changes your mind and the both of you get some sense. And soon.”

  Before going into her shop, Bethany stopped by the tour company to see Amy.

  “Bethany! Are you okay?” Rachel, the receptionist, exclaimed, the instant she walked through the door. She’d been in conversation with Delilah, the woman who’d come into the shop and told Bethany she was going to be married by Christmas.

  The woman wore a big, furry, black parka that made her look like she’d climbed into a gorilla suit. The matching black, furry ski boots were actually an improvement over the black, spiky-heeled ones she’d had on when Bethany first met her.

  “I can’t imagine how horrible it was finding this dead man. Tucker Lawson, isn’t that his name?”

  Bethany was startled. “Did they ID him?” She’d thought it would take a little longer than a few hours.

  “No,” Rachel was quick to interject. “Gage came by on his way over to the sheriff’s office and said it was too soon.” She was standing behind Delilah and shot Bethany a look of exasperation aimed at the newcomer.

  Delilah placed a dramatic hand over her heart. “You aren’t telling me that running across dead bodies is common around here, are you? I mean, really—from what I’ve heard, this Tucker guy had a plane crash. Aren’t they still conducting a search for the plane?”

  “No,” Bethany explained patiently. “Reed said they would begin an extensive search the minute they knew whose body we found.”

  “Perfect. I just booked a day trip for tomorrow with that handsome Morgan Todd.” She gave Bethany a knowing look. “I’m hopping a blizzard strikes and we have to hole up in a miner’s cabin. If I’d have known about the tour you just went on with that handsome hunk of cowboy, Nate McMann, I would have signed up for that. Now there’s a man. I just can’t figure out how to get him to notice me. I don’t really know what to think about these rugged types. I just can’t seem to do anything right to get their attention. Hopefully, tomorrow my luck shall change.”

  Bethany didn’t exactly know what to say about that. Yes, Nate was most definitely a man—and she was pretty sure that he’d noticed Delilah. How could he not? How could anyone not notice her? Catching sight of Amy at the end of the room, past all of the cubicles, she started to head that way. “I hope you have fun on your tour tomorrow. And I’ll be in the shop for our appointment on Thursday, if you still want to come by.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Who knows? I might even have a prospect by tomorrow.” Winking, she waved her bejeweled fingers and sashayed toward the door, gorilla hair swinging in all directions with each swaying step. No sooner had she left the building, when suddenly, men came from everywhere. Only then did Bethany realize exactly how few people had been in the room when Delilah was there.

  “I can’t believe you booked me with her!” Morgan Todd came marching from the broom closet—a scowl wreaking havoc on his rugged face. He was in his midthirties, and not one of the guys she’d known when she lived here. Though he’d driven them in last night, she’d been visiting with Shelly, Robert and Cody, and had left him and Nate to sit up front in the van.

  Another cute guy, a thin fellow with an engaging smile and a faint scar on his face, looked relieved. He’d edged out of the break room after making certain the coast was clear. “Better you than me. That woman scares me.”

  “Ethan, that might just be your woman right there,” Rachel said, teasing. “You’d better be glad you have to teach school, or I might have talked her into a trip with you, too. You both know she needs a husband by Christmas, and I think one of you should step up and accommodate her.”

  “Not me,” Ethan said.

  “Your gonna have some payback comin’ from me,” Morgan said to Rachel, a teasing, half serious glint in his eyes.

  Bethany laughed and headed toward Amy. It was nice to know life in the tour company was still upbeat and fun. That was the way it had been when she was a part of it.

  “Thanks for coming by,” Amy said. “Come in the office and give me your version of the story. I am so sorry this happened on your first tour back. Are you okay? It didn’t upset you too bad, did it? It’s just a horrible thing.”

  “I’m fine. Really,” Bethany said, taking a seat across from Amy as she plunked down behind the desk and let out a sigh. “I hated that we found this poor man, but at least we’ve found him. And now, whoever he is, he’s not out there forgotten. His family can be notified if they’ve been searching for him.”

  “That’s what I’m thinking, too. Glad you’re looking at it that way.”

  Bethany realized Amy was pale. “Are you all right?”

  Amy took a breath and confessed, “Not really. Its just that I have a lot on my mind, and this has just brought back memories of Ben’s death. It’s hard.”

  “I’m so sorry. I know it can’t be easy.”

  “No. And on top of that I got another wedding proposal this morning, from some man over the phone.” She made a strangled sound of frustration. “I mean, it’s one thing to get them from the guys here in town who think they are helping, but it’s an entirely different thing to get them from strangers looking to make a buck on the treasure!”

  The very idea had Bethany’s dander up. “I hope you hung up on the creep. That really burns my bacon.”

  Amy chuckled. “Actually, I told him no, then hung up on him. Anyway, on to more important things… What about you and Nate? How did you get along?”

  “That depends on which moment we’re talking about. We were civil one moment, and not the next.”

  Amy brightened. “That sounds promising to me. A few sparks never hurt any relationship.”

  “Amy—”

  “Bethany, that man may have told you he didn’t love you, but you and I both know deep down that he did. I for one can’t figure out why he would do such a thing.”

  Bethany toyed with the idea of telling her what she thought he might have been thinking, but that would mean exposing to Amy that she wanted a new romance with him.

  “If you figure it out let me know, but I’ve moved on with my life, Amy. Ben is trying to help you move on with your life. Yes, I was crazy in love with Nate—until he broke my heart. I moved away and had to force myself to move forward. It’s not easy, but it’s the healthy thing to do.” They stared at each other for a moment.

  “I didn’t mean to cause you pain with all of this,” Amy said at last. “But you’re right. I guess I got caught up in the idea that while I can’t have Ben back, there is still a chance for you and Nate. Forgive me. I wasn’t thinking about how hard that might be on you.”

  “If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that I can deal with more than I ever thought possible.”

  “God is good to stand beside us, isn’t He?”

  Bethany thought about that. On the hike she’d begun to pray more, and she had started trying to rebuild her relationship with God. She thought about what Shelly said about God’s timing in her life, and the way everything worked out so perfectly.

  “Yes, that’s true,” she said, trying to see it through Amy’s eyes. “Well, I have to go to the shop. I have a lot to get set up and I have to run over to the hotel and see about a room.”

  “I thought you had one.”

  She quickly told her what had happened.

  “Oh, I see. You’re more than welcome to stay at my house. I have an extra room.”

  The offer made Bethany feel good. “Thank you so much. They said I’d have one tonight, so I’m not worried.”

  “I just had an idea. I’m getting together several ladies to help make costumes for the Christmas pageant. Would you be interested in helping out with that?”

  Bethany didn’t hesitate. “Sure. That sounds like fun—just don’t ask me to sing.” />
  Amy laughed. “That was my next question. But at this point, it’s more your talent for sewing that I’m looking for than your singing ability. It is amazing how many people can’t sew these days.”

  “In my case, it’s the can’t sing that’s appropriate. Look, I’d better run. I have furniture to move and boxes to unload. Will you let me know when you hear something about the body?”

  “Do you need some help?”

  “I think I’ve got it. The movers will place the big things, but if I need you I’ll holler.”

  “Okay, and I will let you and everyone know as soon as we hear back on the identity. Thanks again for coming to my rescue on this tour. Everyone had only high praises for you. Shelly said Cody loved you to death and that you made a lifelong impression on him.”

  Bethany left the tour company with a spring in her step, thinking about Cody. It felt good to know that she’d touched Cody’s young life in a positive way. There had been a time when she wouldn’t have considered adoption. It was something people who couldn’t have their own children did. She’d never really thought about it as an option. But as she entered her shop, the idea weighed heavy on her heart.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Nate hated leaving the house before saying goodbye to Bethany. He and Royce had to check on a load of cattle that was supposed to be shipped, and there was a conflict that he had to rectify.

  A little before noon, he watched the semi full of cattle pull out, headed for the border. “Glad that’s done,” he snapped, then turning, he stalked into the office. Inside, he slammed the drawer to the file cabinet shut then slumped into his chair behind his desk. This had been his father’s desk and his grandfather’s before that. The office was small for the operation they ran, but held such sentimental value that Nate hadn’t ever wanted to enlarge the space. Decorated with Alaskan carvings and cattle hides, the room usually gave him at least a semblance of peace.

  Not today. He turned his chair to the window and scowled at the sweeping vista before him. The same view his dad and grandfather had studied. He’d hoped to pass this on to his son one day. Only, there wouldn’t be one for him. The buck stopped here.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Royce asked, stomping into the office. “You’ve been in a foul mood from the moment you woke up this morning.”

  “A man has a right to a foul mood if he wants it,” Nate grunted.

  “I reckon that’s right, but you take that attitude back home and show it to Sue, and you’ll get more questions than you want. I can guarantee it. This is about Bethany, isn’t it?”

  Nate turned his chair halfway around and glanced sideways at his old friend. Royce knew the truth when no one else did. He’d come up on Nate back behind the barn, right after he’d told Bethany he didn’t love her. Royce had seen the way it had torn his heart out to lie to her like that—to see the pain in her face and the betrayal. He’d been so upset that he’d blurted out to Royce what he’d done and why; and to his surprise, Royce had told him to go after her. When he hadn’t, Royce had kept his secret, even from his parents and Sue. And after a few times of trying to convince him to go after her, he’d respected Nate’s choice and stopped talking about it.

  “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, Royce. She’s here, and she still is affected by what I did to her.”

  “She’s not the only one. Son, you’ve never been the same since that day. Everyone can see it. They may not know what it is that broke you and Bethany up, but they know that the day she left you shut down a part of yourself that ain’t never been opened up again. I thought your spending time with her out there would be a good thing.”

  Nate grunted again. “She tolerated me. She hasn’t ever forgiven me for betraying her like I did.”

  “You need to come clean with her. Tell her you love her but you can’t give her kids. Like I said before, she’ll be fine with it…if she still loves you.”

  Nate shook his head. “I let her go to pursue her dreams—”

  “And those dreams have brought her right back here, where she belongs. So what are you waiting on? The Lord is giving you a second chance to set things right.”

  He hadn’t thought about it that way. “I don’t think so. When she finds out I lied to her, she’ll never forgive me. Never trust me.”

  “Love can forgive a lot.”

  Nate wasn’t so sure of that. He’d been thinking long and hard about what he’d done. He didn’t think he could ask her to do such a thing. But he couldn’t stop thinking about her, either.

  “You got it from here?” he asked, standing and heading to the door.

  “I do. You headed to town?”

  “Yup.”

  “Give that little gal my best, and my recommendation is like it always has been. Tell her the truth.

  Put a little faith in the fact that she can make the right decision, given all the facts. A woman has the right to her own mind. I’ve stayed out of it because I’m your friend, and I’ll go to my grave with what I know if that’s the way you want it. But that ain’t saying I agree. You did what you thought was right because you loved her. But the truth is always the best route. Like the Good Book says, the truth will set you free.”

  “I’m not going to see Bethany. I’ve got a staff meeting at the tour company.”

  Royce followed him outside, tucked his fingers into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Tell Bethany hello for me.”

  “I’m not going by there, Royce.”

  “Look, all I’m sayin’ is don’t shut her out. Go see her. Talk to her—about anything.”

  “That’s not going to help.”

  “Nate, you can’t go through life living a lie.”

  “Well, hi, honey,” Joleen Jones said, just before lunch.

  Bethany had been sorting things in her shop—in between dealing with curious women peeking in to see if she was open for business yet. Goodness, but the ladies were “chompin’ at the bit to get married,” as her daddy was fond of saying. She’d decided to take a break and head over to Lizbet’s for a hamburger and maybe a milkshake. She was still debating this issue when she turned the corner and literally ran into Joleen.

  “What are you doing? Are you all right?” If Bethany was seeing things right Joleen had been hovering at the edge of The General Store, peeking inside.

  Joleen waved a hand of dismissal. “I’m fine. Really, I am. Are you? I guess I shouldn’t have been in your way.” She leaned forward and whispered, “I hope you know I haven’t told anyone that I’m planning on marrying Harry. He—well, it just would seem a bit odd if I started spouting that sort of thing. Don’t you think?”

  She was so cute, Bethany thought. And sweet…but yes, if she started telling the world her plan to marry Harry, others might think there was a screw loose or something. Then again, Delilah was telling the world that she’d made a bet with one of her male friends, that if she wasn’t married by the time she was thirty that she would marry him. Bethany had heard the entire story from Sue that morning on the way into town. Apparently, Delilah was not afraid to tell her story to anyone who would listen.

  Poor Morgan. Bethany would like to be a fly on that wall tomorrow. Of course, no one took her seriously. And no one would take Joleen seriously, either. Especially Harry.

  “What are you doing out here?”

  “Oh, nothing. I…well…” Joleen blushed. “I have been in there four times already. I’ve been trying to get up the courage to ask Harry out to dinner. And well, he just keeps—well, he is just so cute, and I can’t get up the nerve to do it.”

  Cute. Joleen had called Harry cute! Bethany glanced in the window at the proprietor. If he didn’t look so blah, maybe had a little life in his round face, maybe he could be considered cute. Well, kind of cute.

  “Would you go in and help me?”

  Bethany blinked in dismay. “Help you?”

  Joleen smiled a hesitant but hopeful smile. “Yes, you go in ahead of me. Then I’ll go in, and if I can’t ask him
, you can maybe stand to the side and prod me on. You know, like they do in the movies? Be my rooting section.”

  Bethany had just said she’d like to be a fly on the wall, and now she was being asked to be one. But no. She couldn’t do this. Joleen’s smile faded and her big honey eyes misted.

  “Sure, I can do that.” Bethany would have kicked herself if she could have twisted around enough. Of all the crazy things to do. Talk about unprofessional!

  “Oh, honey, I just knew you wouldn’t let me down. Okay, you go first. Don’t let him know you know me. I mean, does that sound like the best thing?”

  “Whatever you think.”

  Joleen nodded. “I think that’s right. I can do this. There is no law that says a woman can’t ask a man on a date. She can even ask him to marry her—”

  “Wait, maybe you should just stick with asking him for the date.”

  Breathing nervously, Joleen nodded. “Right. That’s what I’ll do. Okay, go.”

  Bethany walked into the store. There were a few people milling around up front. Harry was helping an older man pick out a pair of socks. “Good afternoon,” he said, when she entered.

  “Hello,” she said. “I’m just going to check out, um, the preserves.” Not exactly sure how to handle herself in this situation, Bethany moved to stand next to the canned goods. She studied them intently, watching the door out of the corner of her eye. From where she was standing she could see Harry’s profile.

  The older man was holding up two black socks.

  “All I’m sayin’ is, do you think this length is the one I should get, or this length?” he asked, holding up first one sock and then the other. Harry studied them intently.

  “Personally, Mr. Billerbeck, the longer one—” he halted talking as Joleen moved into the store.

  And moved into was the term. The woman flitted in like a butterfly. She stopped at first one bin and then the next. Dramatically, she picked up a package of batteries and studied them as though they were gold. And then she slid a sideways glance Harry’s way. Instantly, Harry started talking about socks again. “Short, I mean, long socks is what I wear.”