A Moment To Love

by Jennifer Faye

  He pulled to a stop in front of the adobe building. “This place has the best food in the state.”

  “I’ve had all of my meals at Tilly’s Café. It’ll be nice to try something different.” She reached for the door handle. “I’ll see you soon, and maybe you can tell me some more about Mimi. She seems…interesting.” With her laptop in hand, Lexi climbed out of the truck and headed for the Cantina.

  The very last thing he wanted to discuss was Mimi. He didn’t want to explain how he’d briefly dated her before he’d met Susan. No way. Things with Lexi were already complicated enough. And right now, he had one last chance of stalling the foreclosure, of clinging to the only world he’d ever known.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Why in the world had she referred to this as a date?

  Alexis paused in the restaurant’s entryway and sighed. She’d noticed how her slip of the tongue had made Cord stiffen. There couldn’t be any more slipups. She had to stay focused. Her chance to carve out a delicious memory in Cord’s arms had passed her by. She told herself it was for the best, but she still wasn’t convinced. There was something different, something special about him. And she wanted to help him save his home, if only he’d listen to her and really hear what she was saying.

  Inside the spacious dining room a large ceramic Native American Indian chief solemnly greeted her. While she waited to be seated, she glanced around, taking in the details of the quaint restaurant. Her gaze scanned the dining room with its red tile floor and white walls. Though the furniture was basic and a bit on the old side, the colorful red chile ristras, brightly painted Southwestern folk art, and Native American paintings brought life to the place. The decorations were almost as colorful as the town in which the restaurant resided.

  A petite, dark-haired woman showed her to a corner booth. “Hi. Have you been in here before?”

  “No. But I’ve heard great things about the place. And I’ve been anxious to try your food.”

  The young woman smiled brightly. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Ana.”

  “Hi, Ana. I’m Alexis.”

  “So what brought you to our little corner of the world?”

  “I have some business in town.” She wasn’t about to tell this woman about her plans for the resort. There would be time enough for that later, when she could properly present her ideas.

  But this was an ideal time to learn more about Cord’s corner of the world—more than the statistics and data she’d already collected. She wanted to know more about the people who lived here, what their lives were like. Sure it would help her pitch, but it was more than that. This town and its residents were growing on her. She truly wanted to do what she could to help revitalize Whistle Stop.

  “Would you mind telling me a little about the area?”

  Ana walked to the front door and grabbed a pamphlet. She returned to the table and set down the canary-yellow paper. “This lists most of the area’s highlights. You’ll love the homey feel of the town. Now, what can I get you?”

  “How about some coffee to start with?” After the waitress moved toward the kitchen, Alexis flipped through the pamphlet. There were numerous community activities listed for Whistle Stop, such as the dart league and the quilting guild and many events.

  When the waitress dropped off the steaming cup along with a basket of chips and some salsa, then moved to a nearby table to refill the salt and pepper shakers, Alexis said, “Thanks for the information about the area. It’s surprising how much a small town can offer. The Whistle Stop Labor Day Picnic sounds like a big deal.”

  “It’s more important around here than Cinco de Mayo or the Fourth of July.” Ana screwed the cap on a refilled saltshaker. “There’s a rodeo, a best-shot competition, and lots of kids games.”

  “No sporting events? Or concerts?”

  “In this area, rodeo and shooting are considered sporting events.”

  She could easily imagine Cord taking part in both events. Too bad Labor Day had already passed. She’d love to see him bull riding…on second thought, it sounded too dangerous.

  “Did you grow up here?” Alexis asked, taking a liking to the woman who appeared to be about her age.

  “Born and bred.” Ana turned her attention to screwing the lid back on a peppershaker. “And you’re from New York.”

  “Good guess.” She didn’t think she had much of an accent.

  “No guessing involved. Mr. Forbes has been talking about a woman who’s in town to build some fancy resort. I put two and two together.”

  So much for keeping her project low-key. She took a tortilla chip still warm from the deep fryer and scooped up some of the chunky salsa. “This is exceptionally good.”

  “Thanks. It’s homemade from an old family recipe.”

  “I’m impressed. It’s the best I’ve ever had.” Alexis took another bite. “So what’s a person to do around here for evening entertainment?”

  “The cinema’s new releases run a couple months behind the rest of the world.”

  “I’m not much into movies.”

  “There are a couple of saloons scattered around town, but nothing to rival Albuquerque’s night life. You could try bingo at the town hall on Wednesdays. But go early to get a seat. A large number of Whistle Stop’s residents play.”

  “Really? I’ve never played, but I just might give it a try.”

  “Meet me here on Wednesday at six, and we can go together.”

  Alexis smiled. “Sounds good—”

  “What sounds good?” Cord asked, approaching the table.

  Ana’s gaze moved from Cord to Alexis. “I’ll stop back to get your order.”

  After Ana moved on, Alexis turned to her lunch date—erm, her, uh…to Cord. “She was just telling me a little about Whistle Stop and what there is to do around here.”

  He hung his hat on a post at the end of the booth, combed his fingers through his unruly hair, and slid into the seat. “You made friends with Ana already?”

  “Would there be a problem if I had?”

  “Not at all. I just didn’t think you’d be making friends since you’ll be leaving town soon.”

  His comment struck her as odd. What exactly was he saying? Was he trying to usher her out of his life? The thought saddened her. Surely she hadn’t understood him correctly. “But you and I are friends, aren’t we?”

  His gaze met hers. “I don’t know what we are.” He fidgeted with the menu. “It’s complicated.”

  She couldn’t argue. When it came to Cord, there were no easy answers. Perhaps they were better off not trying to define their relationship.

  Thinking Ana looked to be about Cord’s age, Alexis asked, “How well do you know Ana?”

  His brows rose. “We were in the same grade in school. She was always nice to me.”

  Always nice to him…Definitely not a normal thing to say about a friend. Was he implying that other kids weren’t so nice? One by one, pieces of Cord’s life started to fall into place. She’d bet he’d learned at an early age to keep to himself. And the ranch probably provided a buffer between him and the rest of the world. Her heart went out to him.

  When she found herself staring into his eyes for much too long, she turned away. Her gaze stumbled across something on the floor. “What’s that? A penny?”

  He glanced down at the floor. “Yep.”

  “Aren’t you going to pick it up?”

  “Nope. Don’t need a dirty old penny.”

  She hustled out of the booth and picked up the coin. “Find a penny, pick it up. All day long, you’ll have good luck.”

  He chuckled. “You sound like a little kid.”

  Heat warmed her cheeks. “Maybe, but guess who’s going to have a good day and who isn’t?”

  “We’ll see about that.” He pulled a folded document from his back pocket. He laid it on the table and smoothed the creases with his palm. “I just picked this up at the Realtor’s office, and it needs your signature.”

  “Dare I ask what it is
?”

  “It’s an intent-to-purchase form, giving the bank holding my mortgage proof of your interest in buying the couple hundred acres.”

  “I see.”

  So that’s where he’d gone. He was doing everything in his power to save his home—except accepting that the resort was the answer to all of his problems.

  He slid the letter and a pen across the table. “It just needs your signature.”

  “And if I don’t sign it?”

  His lips pressed into a firm line. “Why wouldn’t you? It’s a non-binding letter. Besides, it’ll forestall the foreclosure.”

  “So far you’ve sworn you won’t sell me Haggerty.”

  “But I will sell you the other land. Land you could build a home on. You could buy your own horses. Heck, you could buy a stableful if you wanted. Just sign the paper.”

  She wanted to help him, really, she did, but he’d presented her with a bargaining chip, and she intended to make the most of the opportunity. Now was her time to strike.

  “I want something in return for signing this letter.”

  He paused and shot her a suspicious look. “You don’t mean Haggerty, do you?”

  She shook her head. This was much more personal. Alexis clasped her hands together and flashed Cord her brightest smile. She couldn’t believe this prime opportunity had landed in her lap. This was way too good to pass up.

  Frown lines bracketed his eyes and mouth as he slouched back against the booth. “What’s your price?”

  “Don’t look so worried. This won’t cost you a dime.”

  “Spit it out.”

  She placed her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “I want to go horseback riding.”

  Disbelief reflected in his eyes. “Let me get this straight. All I have to do is take you riding and you’ll sign?”

  She grinned before nodding. It was time she got over her riding accident…way past time. And with her hectic work schedule, this might be her only opportunity.

  His facial muscles relaxed. “Okay, what’s the catch?”

  “I want to go tomorrow—after lunch.” After her meeting with the railroad about its part in her pitch to Whistle Stop and before she lost her nerve.

  He rubbed his chin. “I was planning to check the progress on the new fence line then, but I guess I can do it another time. Anything else?”

  “I want to ride Midnight Star.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  She crossed her arms. “Those are my terms. Accept them or take your paper back.”

  He sighed. “Are you always this difficult? No wonder you aren’t married.”

  His words stabbed at a tender spot in her chest. She blinked away the stinging sensation at the backs of her eyes. She remembered how her ex-fiancé, Steven, had said something quite similar when she hadn’t been willing to toss aside her career at HSG and leave her father to follow him across the country. Steven never understood her need to please her father or her inability to abandon him—for so many years, it’d been only the two of them.

  “I’m sorry,” Cord muttered.

  Her chin jutted out. “My marital status has nothing to do with this. If you want the papers signed, you’ll have to let me ride your horse.”

  “What about your hand?”

  She held up her injury. “Good enough to hang on to some reins.”

  “You haven’t been on a horse since your accident—that must have been some fall. Mind telling me about it?”

  She worried her bottom lip. He’d get the wrong idea. He’d react like her father and insist she had no business riding a horse. She didn’t want to hear it all those years ago, and she didn’t want to hear it now. But with Cord staring at her with an expectant look on his face, what choice did she have? Besides, it wasn’t a secret or anything.

  “If you must know, I was competing at a district horse show when my horse unexpectedly stopped. I didn’t.”

  “And…”

  Why did he push? Was he still looking for an excuse to keep her from riding? If that was his intent, he wouldn’t get her signature. Armed with that thought, she continued, “My arm ended up with a compound fracture, requiring surgery and months of physical therapy.”

  “Why haven’t you ridden since?”

  “My father canceled my association membership and sold my horse. He said he wouldn’t pay for me to break my neck riding some fool horse.”

  The long-ago argument and her subsequent sobbing echoed in her mind like the continual wave sounds from a conch shell. She’d been devastated by the loss of something else she loved dearly—her Black Beauty.

  “That had to be tough for a kid.” Sincerity rang out in the somber tones of his voice. “I remember the first time I got bucked off. After my father knew I was okay, he laughed. A big old belly laugh. I refused to let the horse get the better of me and climbed right back on. I think that’s the day I won my father’s respect as a cowboy.”

  If she’d learned anything about Cord, it was that he definitely didn’t give up. He kept trying until he got it right. Kind of like how he’d defend his family’s land until the bitter end—she just hoped he didn’t wait too long to make the right decision.

  “So now you see why this ride is so important to me?”

  His brown eyes warmed to a milk chocolate. “Yes, I do. I just don’t think you’re ready to ride Midnight Star.”

  Before Lexi could respond, Ana approached the table. “You two ready to order?”

  They both ordered the same thing—huevos rancheros with a sunny-side-up egg and red sauce. Alexis’s stomach rumbled at the thought of food. She hadn’t bothered this morning with anything more than coffee. With Cord up and out of the house before she’d even opened her eyes, she hadn’t seen any point in messing up the kitchen just for herself. Besides, breakfast was never a big deal for her. Toast and coffee usually covered it.

  “You aren’t going to change your mind, are you?” He leaned back in his seat, but his eyes never left her.

  She shook her head.

  “I should make you sign a paper saying I’m not responsible if you break your neck. How in the world I let you talk me into these things is beyond me. You know there’s a possibility he won’t let you ride him?”

  “I understand. So do we have an agreement?”

  “You’re either one of the most daring women I’ve ever met or one of the most foolish.”

  She smiled while nerves churned in her stomach. “I’ll go with daring.”

  “Now, will you sign?”

  “Not until I get my ride.”

  He shook his head, but a smile lifted the corners of his lips. “Stubborn.”

  “And hungry.” She returned his smile.

  As if on cue, Ana returned with a fresh basket of chips and another bowl of the homemade salsa. Alexis’s mouth watered. She reached for a handful of still-warm chips.

  Lunch was delicious. And for once, Alexis didn’t worry about the countless calories. There’d be plenty of time for dieting when she returned to New York and had to worry about fitting into one of her many business suits. But for now, she was enjoying her new casual wardrobe and the fact that she no longer stood out—she looked like she belonged in Whistle Stop.

  Cord insisted on buying lunch, saying it was his idea so it was his treat. Alexis settled for leaving the tip. When they reached the door, it swung open, and a tall, rugged cowboy stood before her. They sure grew them big, strong, and handsome in these parts.

  He tipped his cowboy hat at her and smiled. “Howdy. Are you feeling better?”

  “Hi.” How in the world did he know about her run-in with the scorpion? “Yes, I am. Thanks for asking.”

  The handsome cowboy held the door for them to exit. He and Cord exchanged a couple of pleasantries before continuing on their way.

  Once the friendly cowboy was out of sight, Alexis turned to Cord. “Who was that? And how did he know about my incident?”

  Cord smiled. “I told you, this is a small town—”


  “And everybody knows everything that happens.” She worried her bottom lip. “That means they all know I spent the night at your house.”

  “Yes, they probably do. But relax, they’ll also know why you were there. And that man is an old friend. His name is Tony Granger. And he happened to be in Doc Willard’s waiting room with his nephew when I took you in the first time.”

  “Oh.” Now she felt silly for being paranoid. “He seems like a nice guy.”

  “He is. But life hasn’t treated him fairly. When his brother and sister-in-law died in an accident, he became an overnight parent to his nephew. I get the feeling the adjustment has been far from easy for both of them.”

  “That’s awful. Hopefully things will turn around for him and his nephew.”

  Cord shrugged. “I hope so—”

  “Alexis! Alexis!” Mrs. Sanchez’s voice had them both turning around. The woman rushed down the sidewalk in a burnt-orange and royal blue dress and big-rimmed sunglasses. Her face, as always, was made up with bright pink lipstick. And her dark hair was piled high on her head with a plastic clip.

  “Hello, Mrs. Sanchez.” Alexis smiled.

  Cord mumbled a greeting before stuffing his hands in his pockets and shifting his weight from foot to foot.

  Mrs. Sanchez fanned herself with a stack of colorful papers. “It’s going to be another hot one.”

  “It sure is.” Alexis glanced up at the clear blue sky. It was only going to get hotter out. “I’m thinking I might have to start drinking iced tea instead of coffee.”

  Mrs. Sanchez frowned and shook her head. “I could never do that, no matter how hot it gets out here.” She stopped fanning herself and removed a baby-blue sheet of paper from her large stack. “You’ll be wanting one of these.”

  Mrs. Sanchez handed her the paper and then handed one to Cord. “The mayor was so impressed with what you had to say the other day that he had flyers printed up announcing the town meeting. He’s hoping to get everyone there. It’s going to be exciting.”