Love on the Free Side

by Mariah Ankenman

  “Go on now.” A hand, aged and worn from years of hard serving work, shooed her along. “You don’t want to be late or Richard is likely to add on double interest to your loan.”

  “Mr. Anderson still runs the bank? Isn’t he in his seventies by now?”

  “Seventy-nine, and the old sour puss refuses to die and give us all peace.”

  Jamie clapped a hand over her mouth to hold in a laugh. It might be mean, but Mr. Anderson had been running the bank since before she’d been born. She couldn’t remember a time she’d ever seen the guy smile, and he was a stickler for the rules. No budging when people needed extra time for their payments on loans. Folks in town liked to call him Scrooge—behind his back, of course. Thankfully, she had been dealing with a lovely woman named Melissa, a recent hire to the bank. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to interact with Scrooge at all.

  “I better run, then. Bye, Ellen.”

  “Bye, dear. Good to have you home.”

  Quickening her pace, she jogged to the bank, arriving just in time for her appointment. The teller directed her to a small office in back where a short, curvy woman with carrot orange hair sticking out to all ends sat at a desk, tapping away at a computer.

  “Ms. Brown?”

  The woman’s head swung around, a large smile brightening her face. Rising from her chair she stretched out a hand. “Call me Melissa, please. You must be Ms. Thompson.”

  Jamie accepted the handshake. “Yes, and you can call me Jamie. It’s nice to finally put a face to the name.” They had been conversing over the phone and through email for months.

  “Yes it is, Jamie.” The other woman laughed as she returned to her seat, motioning for her to take the chair in front of the desk. “We have all the final paperwork here, ready for you to sign. And of course,” she pulled a small silver object from her desk drawer. “The key.”

  There it was. Her dream. The start of her life’s work in gleaming silver. The thump of her heart pounded in her chest, excitement bubbling inside.

  “I have to say,” Melissa continued, pushing the contract across the desk. “I was very surprised you wanted to buy the property without even looking at it first. It’s a wonderful house, but it could use a bit of…” The woman hesitated, smiling with a slight grimace. “Elbow grease.”

  She took the papers, glancing over them to make sure nothing had change since the last email, and grabbed a pen from the holder on the desk. “I’m from here, so I know the area. I’ve been to the Dunn ranch many times over the years.”

  “Oh, then you’re familiar with it.”

  Intimately.

  When she found out old Mrs. Dunn was selling the place after so many years leaving it empty, something inside her clicked. She always planned to come back home and open a therapy ranch. It had been her dream for years. When this particular ranch became available, she knew it was fate. The old Dunn property held so many special memories for her. And the price was right. Starting a business—especially one where a large parcel of land was needed—was expensive. She’d managed to receive a few grants and procure a small business loan, but she still had to make every penny count.

  A shudder passed through her body as one unwanted memory pushed through the darkness in the back of her mind. The last time she set foot on that particular ranch, her heart had been shattered into a million pieces. She should hate the place and the dark memories it brought back, but she couldn’t. There had been too many good times. Besides, it wasn’t the land’s fault. No, the blame lay with a sexy, smart-ass of a man who threw away something beautiful and magic for no good reason.

  Shaking herself from unpleasant thoughts, Jamie went through the papers in front of her, signing where indicated. Once finished, she looked up into the friendly, smiling face.

  “I have to tell you, I’m really excited.” Melissa leaned closer. “Can I tell you a secret? You’re my first loan.”

  “Well, I promise to be an impeccable customer. Never a late payment.”

  Soft green eyes went round behind thick, tortoise-rimmed glasses. “Good, because between you and me, Mr. Anderson is one scary almost octogenarian. I’d hate to give that man any bad news.”

  A loud bark of laughter escaped her. She liked Melissa. The woman seemed to fit right in with Peak Town’s friendly atmosphere. “You and the rest of the town are in agreement on that. I think that’s why no one has defaulted on a loan in decades.”

  She chuckled, joining in this time. “Well, Jamie. You are all set. Here’s the key.” The metal scraped softly against the desk as Melissa pushed it toward her.

  Jamie placed her hand over the small object, curling her fingers to clutch it in her palm. It seemed funny how something so tiny could represent the weight of her entire world.

  “It has been a pleasure working with you, Jamie.”

  “You, too.” With happiness bursting inside her, she rose. “Do you know the shop Cupcakes Above the Clouds?”

  The other woman barked out a laugh, motioning to herself. “Know it? That delicious bakery has ruined my New Year’s, birthday, and Arbor Day’s resolutions.”

  “Arbors Day?”

  A blush rose on freckled cheeks. “Who says you can only change your life at the start of the year?”

  Indeed. Jamie planned to make some major changes in her life this summer. Starting with getting this ranch up and running.

  “Anyway, losing weight has always been a goal of mine, but those delicious cupcakes are too darn tempting to resist.”

  Knowing exactly what the woman spoke of—having worked in that very shop during her high school days—she smiled. “I think you look perfect, and I’m sending you a dozen Sinful Strawberry Shortcakes as a thank you for all your help.”

  Melissa clutched a hand to her chest. “I both love and hate you right now.”

  She laughed, waving as she exited the office. Once she got settled in, she’d go to her previous work, see her old bosses, and place the order.

  Thing were going great. Now, more than ever, she knew she made the right choice in coming back. She’d stayed away so long, relegating herself to short visits consisting of family interaction only when she did come home, and for what, all because some man—no, boy—had broken her heart years ago with his rejection? Well, she was a grown woman now with an education, life experience, and a goal to accomplish. True, she just bought the scene of the crime, the place where her young dreams of love and forever were shattered and stomped into the hard ground. But it didn’t matter. She wasn’t broken anymore. Over the years, she’d worked hard to rebuild herself, just as she would rebuild the ranch into something useful, helpful to others. She had a purpose, a plan.

  She was home.

  As they say, home is where the heart is…and hers had never left Peak Town.

  Chapter 3

  The sweet, sugary smell hit her nostrils the moment Jamie walked through the door of Cupcakes Above the Clouds. Memories flooded her, causing her lips to twist in a happy smile. Maggie Evans—Denning now for some years—had been the best employer ever. The woman, as sweet as her cupcakes, had always been more of a big sister than a boss.

  “Jamie!” Her name was squealed out as the woman rushed from behind the counter to envelop her in a fierce hug. “Your mother told me you were coming back to town. I am so happy to see you.”

  Bending slightly to return the shorter woman’s embrace, she chuckled. “I’m happy to see you, too. It’s been too long.”

  “Yes, you don’t visit as often as you should.”

  There’d been reasons for that. Reasons that, as far as she could tell, were long gone. A good thing, too. She never would have risked starting her ranch back in Peak Town if he who is a giant ass and will not be spoken of still lived in town. According to the town gossip mill—which reached anyone who ever lived there it seemed—Tony had left long ago and hadn’t been seen for years.

  Good riddance.

  It might be petty to hold a grudge for so long, but he’d been the first boy s
he ever loved, and he’d taken that love and stomped it into the ground with big Clydesdale hooves. The psychologist in her might even say because of Tony she never had the courage to…

  No, no point in going there right now. Sure, she still had issues over her first love breaking her heart, but she was a new Jamie, a stronger Jamie. She was going after her dream, and once she achieved it, she would see to the other matters in her life she’d been neglecting.

  “Lizzy, come out here,” Maggie called as she turned to the back of the shop.

  “Well, look what the cat dragged in.” The familiar tall, strawberry-blonde woman who looked as though she should be walking runways in Paris instead of filing paperwork at a bakery came out from the back of the store. “You have some explaining to do, young lady. You’ve been negloiding us.”

  A chuckle escaped as Elizabeth Denning stopped two feet in front of her. “That’s not a word, Lizzy.”

  “Yes it is.” The haughty nose lifted high in the air. “Neglecting and avoiding—made all the worse by doing both. Now, come here and give me a hug.”

  She obliged the co-owner of the cupcake shop, squeezing the woman who smelled like rich perfume, sweet icing, and home.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been home much, but I hope my news makes up for it.”

  Both women eyed her with eager gazes.

  “I’m moving back.”

  “Yay!”

  “Wahoo!”

  The two rushed to embrace her again, shouting their glee. It made her heart soar, the love coming off these amazing women who influenced her so heavily as a teenager, humbled her.

  “Tell us everything.” Maggie took her hand, leading her to one of the small tables by the front window. Thankfully, it was close to closing time, so there were no customers for them to attend to.

  “Wait,” Lizzy ran behind the counter, rummaging around in the glass display case. “We can’t talk without snacks.”

  “Elizabeth Audrey Hayworth Denning, you have already had four cupcakes today. That much sugar is not good for you.”

  “Oh, hush. Baxter is teething again and Elle is being an absolute terror lately.” She gave Jamie a wry glance. “Toddlers are cute, but so tiring, and don’t even get me started on first graders. Seven year olds think they know everything. I need the sugar to keep up with them, so stuff it and stuff it.” She said the last part as she arrived at the table and set down a plate piled with half a dozen assorted heavenly confections.

  Jamie grabbed a Vanilla Strawberry Swirl with cream cheese frosting. The first bite made her sit back and moan as decadent flavors exploded on her tongue. Creamy, sweet, and just a hint of tartness bombarded her taste buds. Absolute euphoria infused every inch of her as she took another large bite.

  “Oh, Maggie,” she said around the mouthful. “How is it possible your cupcakes have gotten even better since I left?”

  The dark-haired woman blushed. “You’ve just been gone so long you forgot.”

  “No. It’s not possible to forget something this amazing.”

  “Yeah, yeah, Maggie is a kitchen goddess. We all know that already.” Lizzy took a huge bite of her own cupcake, eyes closing for a moment, a sigh escaping her lips, before continuing. “What we don’t know is why you are back in town, so spill.”

  Polishing off the last of her cupcake—and grabbing another from the plate—Jamie dipped her finger in a bit of frosting, licking the sugary treat before answering. “I’m opening up an equine therapy ranch, right here in Peak Town.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Maggie exclaimed.

  “Oh, sweetie, that’s amazing,” the fairer woman chimed in. “Where are you planning on having this ranch?”

  “I bought the old Dunn place.”

  “About time someone did.” Perfectly manicured nails tapped the Formica tabletop. “I thought that old biddy was going to let the place fall to the mountain lions before ever selling. Did you get a good deal? What kind of therapy are you offering? Tell us everything.”

  Over the next hour, Jamie filled her old bosses in on all her plans for the ranch. She had almost everything set in place: staff, patients, licensing, even the horses. All she had to do was get to the ranch and spruce it up a bit before her employees arrived in two weeks.

  Then Maggie and Lizzy filled her in on all things Peak Town. The joys of marriage and family, the struggles of babies and patience. Though Jamie had been back for holidays, they’d always been short visits, and she hadn’t had much chance to catch up with people. A purposeful move on her part. The town still held some bad memories for her.

  Memories she was determined to get over.

  “Wow, the twins sound like an absolute terror, Maggie.”

  “Oh no, I didn’t mean to sound like that.” The cupcake maker twisted her hands together. “I love them to pieces. It’s just four-year-olds can be a bit of a handful, and two at once…well, I feel like they gang up on me most days.”

  “They do, because they know if you shout at them you’ll feel bad and make them cookies.” Lizzy laughed.

  “They do not!” A moment of silence passed before Maggie groaned, placing her head on the table. “Oh, crap. They totally do.”

  Jamie burst out laughing as Lizzy joined in. After a moment, Maggie’s sullen lips started to quiver, turning up into a smile. All three of them whooped with gales of laughter.

  Happy tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. A joy she hadn’t experienced in a while infused her. She missed laughing with friends. She hadn’t made many in school or her residency. The world of academia was extremely competitive, or, that’s what she told herself. Honestly, she’d been accused more than once over the years of being closed off.

  Wonder what could have caused that. The sarcastic thought popped into her brain.

  Ignoring her rude conscious, she pushed the dark thoughts away. Focusing instead on the here and now. A technique she suggested to her patients when battling their own inner demons. “So, what else is new in town?”

  Maggie opened her mouth to reveal the latest Peak Town news—sure to be thrilling she’d bet—when the bell over the door chimed. A wide grin curved both proprietors’ lips.

  Before she could turn to see who put such bright expression on her old friends’ faces, Maggie spoke. “Well, well, well, two reunions in one day. What are the odds?” One pale brow arched as Lizzy’s cool gray eyes swung back to her.

  Blood rushed to Jamie’s ears, blocking out all other sound.

  Reunion? No, it couldn’t be. She swallowed, ears popping.

  “Holá, Señora Denning, Señora Denning.”

  Oh no, no, no, no, no!

  Fate could not be this cruel to her. But she knew the truth even before she turned in her seat. She recognized that voice, though it had deepened with age, that soft cadence, the smooth accent, the polite tone.

  The bastard!

  She swung her head up, gaze clashing with sinful, dark, chocolate brown eyes set in a sharp, handsome face that—dammit—had only gotten better with age.

  Why the hell couldn’t he be a balding fat load? Maybe then her heart wouldn’t be pounding out the 1812 Overture in her chest.

  “Hello, Tony.” Her quiet greeting was lost in Maggie and Lizzy’s exuberant ones as the two women jumped up from the table to shower Tony with warm embraces.

  The only solace she took was the fact he looked as surprised to see her as she was to see him. His mouth hung slightly open, lips parted. She remembered the exact feel of those lips, their soft and gentle demands as they coaxed her body to places she never dreamed imaginable.

  Shaking off the memory, she stood. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get going.” She nodded to the two women still standing close to Tony, watching her with rapt attention and a hint of pity. Dammit, she didn’t want their pity. She and Tony had been over for years. Years! She was over him.

  Then why are my hands shaking?

  She clutched her purse, hoping to hide the tremors. “Thanks for the cupcake
s. I’ll see you later, Maggie, Lizzy.”

  She made a break for the door, not caring what her sudden departure looked like. She had to get out of there. Her metaphorical baggage just walked in the door with no warning. Rationally, she knew what to do. As she’d instructed many of her past patients, the best way to deal with your past was to face it head on. Don’t give it power over you, but—like many doctors who don’t follow their own advice—she simply couldn’t deal with this right now. She planned to take the coward’s way out and run.

  Before she could make it to the door, Tony stepped in her path.

  “Bonita, wait.”

  “Don’t call me that,” she hissed through clenched teeth.

  He held up his hands in apology. “Jamie, I’m sorry. I had no idea you’d be here. I didn’t even know you were in town.”

  “Well, I am.” So many emotions poured through her at the moment, she couldn’t grasp onto any of them.

  “I—my uncle…he injured himself and needs assistance. I came out to help him. I just stopped by to bring him some cupcakes. He loves Maggie’s Lemon Delights.”

  Everyone loved Maggie’s cupcakes. Her store kept Peak Town in a lot of tourist money.

  “I’m sorry about your uncle.” Some of her anger dissipated. Juan Ortiz had always been nice to her. She had no idea the ranch hand had been injured. “Does he need anything?” she offered automatically.

  Tony shook his head; inky black strands of hair, left a little too long, grazed his brow. “No, but thank you for your concern.”

  There, they could be polite and civilized. It seemed like he would only be here temporarily to help his uncle. Perfect, she could avoid him until he left. She had plenty on her plate to keep herself busy. Not the healthiest way to deal with this whole…situation…and certainly not what she would recommend as a psychologist, but knowing what to do and actually executing it were two very different things. The age-old adage do as I say not as I do came into stark clarity at that moment, shaming her. What would she say to a patient having this problem?

  She knew precisely what she would say; you’ll never get over it if you don’t face it. All true, but as hard as it was for her to admit it, she just could not face Tony and how he’d shattered her heart.