by Aimée Thurlo
“Yeah, I do, but eventually I’ll find the right position and be back in business. I’m not worried. There’s one thing architecture teaches—patience,” he said.
“I heard you’re working with Betty and Will on the B and B,” Grandma said. “That’ll take a lot of patience.”
He laughed. “Betty’s fine. In fact, I’ve got some new drawings I need to show her. Will...isn’t sure of me. Myka thinks he’s trying to look after the women in his family.”
Grandma shook her head. “There’s more to it than that.” She stared into her coffee mug for a moment, lost in thought, then looked up at him. “I don’t know if you’ve heard about this, but after Tanner died, Myka didn’t get out of bed for nearly a month. Her mom finally forced her to snap out of it by refusing to cater to her. She stopped bringing Myka food, and wouldn’t go shopping for her any more.”
Grandma paused, gathering her thoughts and sorting her memories. “Tanner was the other half of Myka. People saw them as a unit, not two separate people, and they saw each other in much the same way. After he was gone, she had to redefine herself and find her own footing.
“Myka’s a different woman now,” Grandma added. “She’s stronger and more independent, and can stand on her own—but Will hasn’t realized that yet. He continues to worry about her.”
“And he sees me as a potential problem,” Joshua replied. “I’m no threat to Myka. I’m only here for a while, then I’ll be gone again. My career lies elsewhere.”
“I know, but a lot can happen between now and then,” Grandma said. “That’s what worries him.”
“You’re right.”
A long silence stretched out between them. “You’re working on the Brooks Mansion, I hear,” Grandma said at last. “Will you be restoring one or both of the buildings as a public attraction, or will they be offered to potential tenants? Either way, the town could certainly use the money.”
“I’m not sure what the mayor plans to do with them yet,” Joshua said, explaining what he’d been hired to do. “Both structures are still in very good shape. I had the electrical and plumbing systems checked out after my first visit and it turns out there are no major issues. The building facing Main still has potential as a business. The adjoining adobe is already zoned as a residence, so maybe the town can find someone who likes living close to their work, as Silas Brooks did.”
After she’d finished her coffee, Grandma excused herself and returned to work. Joshua picked up some canned goods and brought them out to his truck. Placing the bags in a portable cooler, he grabbed the sketches he’d made for Betty and decided to walk down Main Street. He’d stop by the inn, then maybe take another pass through the Brooks estate.
As he walked down the narrow sidewalk, Joshua recalled how Myka had gone on the defensive the first time he’d come to her with detailed business plans. She’d been so enthused after the town meeting, he’d expected her to want to act quickly, and her reaction had thrown him. Now he finally understood. No wonder she’d been so reluctant to follow his lead. She’d worked hard to blaze her own trail and having him prodding her must have seemed like a step back in time.
A few minutes later he entered the lobby of the Blue Spruce Inn.
As the door jingled, Betty looked up from behind the counter.
“Hey, it’s good to see you!” she said with a bright smile.
He showed her the plans he’d drawn up.
“I love this! When everything’s done, the archways are going to look great!”
“Once the framing and the wiring are complete, the masons will be able to lay in the brick for you. After that, the finish work should go pretty fast,” he said.
“I can’t wait!” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Features like that will help the inn retain an Old West feel, and they’ll lighten the place up. But I’m also thinking about replacing the flooring, if I can afford it.”
“What did you have in mind? I don’t think you want to use brick or ceramic tile, but you could consider oak or pine. Resawn lumber would be attractive—it’s less expensive and practical.”
She thought about it a moment, then smiled. “I have an idea, Joshua, and it should be well within my budget. I’ve heard you’ve been given the keys to a lot of the abandoned houses and businesses, and you’ll be deciding what gets salvaged. I’m guessing that the old Mabel Soto house is going to be torn down. What if I put in a bid for the wood plank floors? Those beams might take a lot of finish work, but I’d love to use them here. They’d give the inn a more rustic look.”
“You’re right. I looked that place over yesterday. Work up an offer in writing. I’m sure you’ll be able to get them at a great price,” Joshua said.
“Can I go in and take a look around?” Betty asked. “Maybe there’s something else in there that’ll catch my eye.”
“It’s not safe for you to go alone. I’d have to come with you or you could go with Will. Since he’s the town’s fire marshal, he’s got legal access to all the abandoned buildings in the community.”
Joshua showed Betty some additional plans he’d drawn for remodeling the other rooms at the inn. “We can alter anything at this stage, so if there’s something you don’t like, just say so.”
She studied the detailed images. “Josh, these are perfect—exactly what I had in mind! Can I hold on to these for a while? I’d like to show them to Will.”
He nodded. “Take as long as you want. Just be aware that your brother might hate anything I come up with on principle.”
“Yeah, I know.” She shrugged. “He’s just...hurting.”
“He and Tanner were close,” Joshua said.
“Yeah, they were...”
After saying goodbye, Joshua headed toward the Brooks Mansion. He still hadn’t walked completely around the compound, which spanned the entire block. It was time for a closer look.
Once he arrived, he studied the condition of the building’s exterior. Everything looked good, with only normal signs of weathering. As he went to the north side, he saw that the wrought-iron gate leading to the courtyard was open about a foot.
Joshua hurried over and saw that the locked chain had been slipped off over a broken weld. Someone had pried it loose.
He stepped inside the courtyard and glanced around, wondering if he should call the police. Nobody was in sight, however, and no doors or windows were open.
He was halfway across the courtyard when he heard someone running through the pile of fallen leaves behind him.
He turned just in time to see the back of a person in a denim jacket and tan pants slinking out of the gate. Joshua raced out into the alley just as the fleeing man disappeared, ducking around the corner.
Joshua followed, hoping to get a better look at the intruder, but before he reached the far end, he heard a car door slam and a vehicle race away, tires squealing.
Wanting to see if the person had actually broken into the buildings, Joshua jogged back. As he reached the gate he saw a police cruiser entering the alley from Main Street. Will stopped and climbed out of his car.
“You’re too late,” Joshua said.
“For what? Get away from that gate,” Will ordered. “Breaking and entering is a crime.”
“I didn’t break in. The gate had been forced open so I went inside the courtyard to check things out. Whoever it was sneaked out behind my back, ran down the alley and raced off in what sounded like a pickup. I never got a good look at the intruder or the vehicle.”
“I heard the squeal of tires one street over. That must have been the guy. Anyone else still inside?” Will asked.
“Don’t know.”
Will gestured with his chin for Joshua to move aside. Hand on the butt of his weapon, he called out a warning to any potential intruder, then stepped into the courtyard.
“Stay here,” Will sn
apped, then he disappeared.
CHAPTER TEN
WILL CAME BACK a few minutes later, his shoulders tense. “No sign of a break-in, but we’ve had a problem with vagrants squatting in empty houses all over town. Most of the time they’re harmless, just seeking shelter, but you never know.” He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “Generally, if I catch someone I recognize from town, I cut them some slack. With the weather turning cold, the homeless are desperate to find shelter, and this town cut public assistance programs over a year ago.”
“Lots of people are down on their luck these days,” Joshua said with a nod.
Will’s eyes narrowed as he gazed at Joshua. “What the heck are you doing wandering around the Brooks estate? Treasure hunting like your old man?”
Joshua felt his muscles tensing up, but as he looked at Will he sensed he wasn’t being baited. “This house is one of a dozen the mayor hired me to evaluate.”
He reached into his jacket pocket and brought out a big key ring. “I’ve been given access to all of them, but you’re right. I’m also conducting a search. My dad was working to find some papers for Mayor Allen, and I’ve taken on that job, too. Like Dad, I love solving puzzles.”
“Your dad was a real history buff. He knew more about these old buildings than anyone else in town. He, Benjamin Bruce and Elise Medeiros formed their own historical society. To my way of thinking, if they couldn’t find the missing Brooks will, it’s gone for good.”
“Wait—Mr. B. is still around? He was older than Dad by a good fifteen years,” Joshua said.
“He had a stroke about a month ago, and he’s in a home in Painted Canyon. His mind...is gone.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Joshua said.
Will looked around slowly, his gaze thorough. “If you see anyone wandering around who doesn’t belong, let me know. I’ll handle it.”
“I’m not sure I’d know who belongs and who doesn’t anymore. A lot has changed since I left Independence.”
“You’ll know,” Will said. “Look for someone duded up, not a regular Joe with jeans.”
“Sounds like you’ve got someone in mind,” Joshua said slowly.
“Just keep your eyes open. And if you have the key to the padlock—” he pointed to the gate “—could you lock up?”
“No problem. I’ll also be checking out other empty buildings. I’ll let you know if I find signs of intruders.”
“Watch your back,” he said, then added, “I’m on the clock, so I better shove off. I can be anywhere in town within four minutes, so keep that in mind if you spot trouble.”
“No problem, but I won’t be working for the mayor tomorrow or this weekend.”
“Job interview?”
Joshua noted that he’d sounded almost hopeful. “No.” He didn’t have to give Will any details, but he decided it was better to get it out in the open. “Business trip for HMI. The ladies are running out of wool and the company needs to find new sources. I’ll be introducing Myka to some shepherds on the Rez. Hopefully, they’ll have wool to sell and that’ll open new doors for the company.”
“You two are going alone, the entire weekend?” he asked, an edge to his voice.
“Ease up. If we do stay overnight—which is highly unlikely—we’ll have our own rooms. This is a business trip, nothing more. More likely we’ll drive straight back and get home late.”
Will’s gaze was glacial. “Step out of line with Myka and I’m going to make your life hell. Got that?”
“Your intentions are good,” Joshua said, refusing to flinch or step back when Will got in his face. “But I don’t have to explain who I spend time with to anyone—including you.”
“That’s where we disagree,” Will said, then strode off.
After Will drove away, Joshua stepped back inside the compound. He walked across the porch that ran the length of the territorial home, inspecting the exterior carefully, then opened the door.
As he entered the foyer and looked around, he smiled. He loved this place. The old vigas, the brick floors, the old world feel of the place appealed to him on every imaginable level.
As he walked around, he tried to imagine how it would feel to own a place like this. His gaze took in the beauty already there—and what could be. In his mind’s eye, he saw the updates he’d make, like opening the second-floor landing to create a double-height space and a balcony that went over and into the space below. He’d also enlarge the windows and add more corbels. A little manpower could make the Brooks Mansion the place of elegance it had once been.
After locking up, he walked back into the alley, then reattached the chain and padlock to a solid portion of the gate. A few minutes later, he was walking back up the sidewalk along Main, headed for his pickup.
Daydreams could be beautiful, but they weren’t much if they remained dreams. His real future was far away from Independence. Joshua glanced back one last time, then kept his eyes on the path ahead.
* * *
MYKA AND SOPHIE worked side by side, sealing the cardboard boxes scattered around Myka’s living room and affixing mailing labels on each one. As the minutes ticked by, Myka noticed that Sophie was uncharacteristically silent.
“Okay, spill it. What’s wrong?” Myka asked.
“There’s something I want you to hear from me first,” her friend said softly.
“What’s up?”
“You’ve probably seen Will’s squad car driving up and down our street a lot lately,” she said.
Myka smiled. “Yeah, but don’t worry. He feels the need to keep an eye on me. We’re not having a surge in crime.”
“It’s not just you he’s keeping an eye on,” Sophie answered.
“You think he’s harassing Joshua?”
Sophie shook her head. “Will and I are seeing each other.”
“What?” Myka asked, surprised.
Sophie nodded. “Sometimes he can’t get away until late, and he’ll drive by slowly to see if Mom’s light is on. If it isn’t, he doesn’t stop. I’ve told him that it’s okay as long as he doesn’t ring the doorbell, but he won’t risk waking her,” Sophie said. “He’s like that, real sweet in a rough-around-the-edges kind of way.”
“You and Will... Wow! I never saw it coming. For the record, I think it’s wonderful news!”
Sophie smiled. “He’s caring and strong, and he makes me feel special.”
“Is it serious?” Myka asked.
“It’s too early to know, but I really like him.”
“I’m happy for you, Sophie,” she said, giving her a hug. “Will’s a good man. He’s old fashioned, and the kind you can always count on.”
“That’s what I like most about him. He’s...” Her words trailed off.
“Steadfast?”
“Yeah, that’s it exactly.” She grinned.
Myka and Sophie finished packing the boxes, then Sophie left, and Myka set up the new bookkeeping software.
She was tired by the time she finished it all, and as she leaned back, Myka saw it was nearly ten.
Bear had laid beside her the whole time, so she bent down to pet him. “What a great buddy you are! I’m so glad you’re here with me.”
Bear licked her face, and Myka laughed.
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING, it was still dark outside when Myka heard a light knock at her door. Bear stood, but he didn’t bark or growl. Though she was certain who it was, she played it safe, turning on the porch light and checking through the peep hole before opening the door. Seeing Joshua, she invited him inside.
“Your light’s been on for almost an hour, so I figured you’d probably be ready to go,” he said. “I’ve got directions to the trading post. It should be an easy two-and-a-half-hour drive. Since we’re leaving early, and the roads will be cl
ear, I expect we’ll make good time.”
“Assuming we get the wool, we’ll need lots of room to process it quickly. Have you made any progress finding a home for HMI?”
“I’ve got the search narrowed down to two buildings. The mayor’s checking out the legal status of both places for us.” As headlights illuminated the street, Joshua went to the window and glanced out. “Will’s cruiser,” he said. “And I thought we were up early today.”
“He’s seeing Sophie, did you know that?”
Joshua’s head snapped around, and he stared at Myka for a second. “Sophie...from across the street? Are you serious? Those two don’t seem right for each other. Sophie’s always upbeat and all smiles,” he said. “I can’t remember seeing Will smile—ever.”
“He does—just not around you.” Myka, laughed. “Will’s really the perfect guy for Sophie. He’s strong, honest and dependable. He’ll treat her right and that goes a long way. When Will commits he gives his all and that’s just what most women—including Sophie—are looking for...a forever love.”
“Does that include you?” he asked after a beat.
She shrugged but didn’t answer directly. “There’s no such thing as forever. That belongs only in fairy tales.”
He didn’t reply right away, but when he did, his voice was low and gentle. “You’re wrong, Myka. When we get to the Rez, look at the sacred mountains. You can see forever etched in every cliff, snow covered peak and sandstone ridge. Forever is written in traditions as old as these mountains and it’s at the heart of our clans,” he said. “Forever exists, though maybe not where you’ve been looking.”
“Handmade in Independence... Maybe it’ll become a forever thing, something that’ll be there from one generation to the next, like the mountains,” she said in a wistful voice.
“Only time will tell.”
* * *
FIVE MINUTES LATER they were on their way, armed with snacks and strong coffee in an insulated metal bottle. The GPS on the truck had been programmed, and just in case, Joshua had brought maps of the area.