Boone bit the inside of his lip. “What you’re saying is that he’s at risk for another cardiac episode if he doesn’t straighten up his act.”
“Yep. That’s what I think,” Liam said. “He needs to start taking his conditions seriously instead of creeping around in caves chasing gold.”
Liam’s thoughts mirrored his own. Hearing it confirmed by a medical doctor cemented his opinion that Jasper needed to rein in his activities and make a few lifestyle changes. No more burgers and fries or corn dogs.
Boone realized he needed to take a more active role in Jasper’s health. “When I get back to town I’m going to swing by and see him at his office. We have a town council meeting tonight, so I’ll make it seem as if I want to talk to him about the town budget. I won’t let him know we talked.”
Liam shot him a wary glance. “Don’t go overboard, Boone. You tend to barrel in like a bull at a rodeo. This needs to be handled delicately, otherwise Jasper will just dig his heels in and refuse to budge.”
“I promise to tread lightly,” he said, realizing that both of his siblings had garnered a promise from him during this visit. He intended on honoring them both.
“He’s awful fond of your friend Grace,” Liam said. “Aidan and I think she’s pretty amazing, as well.”
Boone felt a rush of pleasure at the notion that his family had given Grace their stamp of approval. It matched up with the way he felt about her. She was delightful in every way. Funny. Sweet. Beautiful. And kind. And he got the feeling she was looking for the same things he was seeking. A strong, faithful partner. Wide-open arms to embrace her. A love for all time.
“I think if Jasper was a few years younger, he’d make a play for her,” Boone said with a chuckle.
“Who’s to say he won’t?” Liam said with a shake of his head. “He told me they were doing some treasure hunting today. Maybe he has a little crush on her.”
Treasure hunting. Grace and Jasper? No. It wasn’t possible. He’d already explained to Grace that enabling Jasper in his pursuit of the town legend wasn’t healthy for his grandfather. And she’d promised him that she wouldn’t do anything to encourage him any further. Liam must have misunderstood. Grace wouldn’t go back on her word.
“Are you sure about that?” he pressed. He was getting a funny feeling in his insides. Little prickles of awareness rose up on his arms. That sensation usually heralded bad news. He shook it off, realizing he was jumping to conclusions.
Liam nodded. “He went on and on about it. Said he was ordering lunch at his office for the two of them so they could map out some stuff.”
Map out some stuff? Such as another location to go treasure hunting? He stuffed down a burst of annoyance. He needed to reserve judgment until he knew something concrete. Hadn’t he just promised Honor to be more flexible and less unyielding?
Boone glanced at his watch. Perhaps if he headed back to town right away he’d be able to see what Jasper was up to and allay some of his concerns about his grandfather. After abruptly saying his goodbyes to his family and promising to take Aidan sledding on the weekend, Boone got in his cruiser and headed back to town. His first stop was the mayor’s office. As much as he told himself his main interest was assessing his grandfather and his well-being, another part of him knew that he was also checking in on Grace. He uttered a quick prayer that his faith in her hadn’t been misguided.
Chapter Ten
Sitting on the floor of the mayor’s office with maps and diagrams spread out all around her made Grace feel like an adventurer. Truthfully, this was even more fun than their spelunking escapade, especially since it didn’t involve her freezing her tootsies off. And she’d managed to keep her promise to Boone. Looking at maps of Love with Jasper wasn’t treasure hunting, and it wasn’t putting him in any danger. It was simply spending time with a friend who badly needed a shoulder to lean on.
The truth was, Jasper was lonely. When he’d invited her to have lunch with him in his office a few days ago under the guise of showing her an antique map of Love, she’d agreed on the spot.
She didn’t have the heart to cancel on him, especially since he told her no one else wanted to entertain his talk about Bodine Prescott’s treasure. Grace had come to the conclusion that for Jasper the treasure represented something he needed to cling to, like a beacon of hope for the hometown he loved so dearly.
Hope couldn’t be a bad thing.
When Grace had arrived at his office, she’d made it clear that her spelunking days were over. Jasper said he understood, but he still wanted to show her some potential spots for the location of the treasure.
Grace had her notebook out and was scribbling down some notes for Jasper. Something was niggling at her, some fact they’d come across that didn’t compute. It was hovering on the edge of her brain, but she couldn’t connect the dots.
“Jasper, what year did Bodine and his brother drown out on the bay?”
Jasper scratched at his chin, a thoughtful expression etched on his face. “Hmm...must have been not long after he found the gold in Juneau. Eighteen eighty-one, I believe.” Grace wrote the date down on the page, along with the year he’d discovered gold. She was working on a timeline.
“Was it his own boat?” she asked.
“I assume so, but to be honest, I don’t rightly know,” he admitted.
Again, Grace scribbled down that tidbit of information.
“Grace, I want to show you a picture of my wife.” The tone of Jasper’s voice quieted and softened. It sounded as gentle as a caress. He reached over to his desk and carefully picked up a picture frame. Jasper extended it to her and she let out a gasp at the fragile beauty who stared back at her. The woman in the picture had long dark hair and gray-blue eyes. There was a look of sadness in her eyes, as well as a determination that resonated with the strong tilt of her jaw.
“That was my wife, Harmony.”
“Oh, she was lovely. And she looked happy,” Grace remarked.
“Most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. God-fearing, too. And the most humble. That woman had no idea how stunning she was or how many men in town were crazy about her.” He grinned and pointed a thumb at his own chest. “But she picked me. Me. Proudest moment of my life.”
“Sounds like a love match,” Grace said, knowing the story was bittersweet due to its ending.
“It was. Until it wasn’t.” Jasper let out a sigh. “Always remember to hold on to love, Grace. Never let it go.”
“If it ever happens for me, I promise to cherish it,” Grace said, her thoughts straying toward Boone.
Jasper winked at her. “Rumor has it you’ve been spending a bit of time with my grandson.”
Grace laughed. “Uh-oh. Boone and I are the topic of town gossip?”
“Don’t let that bother you none. People have been waiting a long time to see Boone come out of his romantic funk.” He reached out and clutched her hand. “He’s a good man, Grace. As solid as they come. Gruff on the outside, but as tender and kindhearted as a lamb on the inside. He’d make a nice father, too.”
“Jasper? Are you playing matchmaker?” Grace asked, buoyed by the wonderful things Jasper had told her about Boone. She’d already figured out what kind of man Boone was, but it was nice to hear Jasper corroborate her opinion.
Instead of answering, Jasper winced and began rubbing his chest.
“Hey. What is it? Did the food not agree with you?” Jasper had ordered some sandwiches and side dishes for their lunch, along with two cans of cream soda and two éclairs for dessert. They’d gobbled everything up in record time.
Jasper pressed a hand to his head. “I’m not feeling so good all of a sudden. Something in my chest feels tight.”
Grace scrambled to her feet. “Let me get you some water.” She quickly went over to Jasper’s water cooler and filled a plastic cup to
the brim with ice-cold water. Grace walked back toward Jasper and held the cup up to his lips. “Take small sips,” she instructed.
The door to the mayor’s office abruptly flew open, right before Boone marched into Jasper’s office, his face as stormy as a thundercloud.
* * *
The moment he stepped in to the mayor’s private office, Boone realized that his belief in Grace might have been misplaced. Not only was she in Jasper’s office, but the floor was scattered with maps and notebooks. There was no doubt in his mind that Grace was Jasper’s sidekick, despite her promise not to encourage his grandfather in his dreams of rivers of gold flowing through Love.
He drew his brows together. Something was going on with Jasper. He didn’t look so great. “What’s wrong?” Boone blurted out.
“He’s not feeling well. He was having a pain in his chest,” Grace explained, a look of concern radiating in her eyes.
Boone strode forward and leaned over so he was eye to eye with his grandfather.
“Do I need to take you to the clinic? Does it feel like you’re having a heart attack?” Boone asked in a gentle voice.
“I think it’s just gas,” he said with a sheepish look. “I thought it was my heart for a second.”
“Are you sure?” Boone asked. “Sometimes the symptoms are hard to pinpoint.”
“I’m sure. My stomach is all bubbly and making funny noises,” Jasper explained. “It’s my stomach, not my chest. Thank the Lord for small mercies.”
Boone felt beads of perspiration gather on his forehead. He swiped them away with the back of his hand. He’d felt a sense of rising panic before Jasper had dispelled his fears.
“I’m going to mosey down the hall so I can raid the first-aid kit for some antacid,” Jasper said.
“You sure you’re okay?” Boone reached out and helped Jasper with his crutches. He held his arm to steady him.
Jasper shrugged off Boone’s hand. “I said I’m fine. Don’t treat me like an invalid.” He wagged his eyebrows in Grace’s direction. “I’m sure you two lovebirds won’t mind a few moments alone.” Jasper swung himself on his crutches toward the door. Boone held his breath as Jasper maneuvered the opening and closing of his office door.
Boone turned back toward Grace. “What’s going on here?” He darted a glance at the materials scattered on the floor. It was fairly shocking that Jasper had nothing better to do as town mayor than to research the family legend. And Grace had given up her lunch hour to help him!
Grace shrugged. “Nothing much. We were just having a little fun. Jasper was showing me on the map where your ancestor Bodine went down with his ship.”
Part of him knew he shouldn’t take out his frustrations on Grace, but he was so sick and tired of hearing about gold and buried treasure and legends. He’d grown up hearing about it and he knew how Jasper’s obsession had been one of the factors in the dissolution of his grandparents’ marriage. He couldn’t help but think it had trickled down to his own parents’ marriage. At what point did it all end?
He shook his head. “Fun? Was that before or after he started having chest pains?”
Grace’s eyes flickered with surprise. “He ate too much or too quickly. You heard him. It’s gas.”
Boone folded his arms across his chest and began tapping his foot. “Am I wrong here, or did you agree not to get involved with Jasper’s legend theories? I seem to recall a certain promise you made to me.”
Grace wrinkled her nose. Her eyes flashed with surprise. “I kept my word. We didn’t go treasure hunting. Jasper just showed me some old maps and a few diagrams. I acted as a sounding board. Nothing more.”
“You’re encouraging him.” Boone knew his words sounded like an accusation, but more and more it was beginning to sound as if Grace might actually believe in the legend herself. That would only make things worse.
Grace cocked her head to the side and gazed at him curiously. “Boone, you seem upset with me, and I don’t know why. We were having fun. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a little joy in the middle of a humdrum day.”
“Grace, this might be some fun little diversion for you, but it means a whole lot more to him.”
Grace visibly bristled. “Oh, I know what it means to him. He’s made it very clear to me...along with the fact that no one in his family listens to him or takes him seriously. Jasper thinks by finding the treasure he can help the town financially. He wants to save his hometown. That’s his big dream.”
Boone shook his head in disbelief. Was she suddenly an expert on Jasper? Was she really trying to make it seem as if she knew more about his grandfather than his own family? And to suggest that no one listened to him, when they’d been doing so for decades. She had no clue, he imagined, how close they’d come to losing him with his cardiac episode last year. He bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from saying something he might regret.
“What you don’t know is that Jasper has been chasing this legend ever since he was a kid. His obsession with it was one of the reasons my grandmother left him. He’s lost a lot because of this single-minded pursuit. Last year he had a heart attack. And having a little fun shouldn’t place his health in jeopardy,” Boone explained in a curt tone.
Grace’s mouth swung open. “I would never place him in harm’s way. You’re blowing this all out of proportion. I care about your grandfather. “
“If you cared about him you wouldn’t be sitting here on the floor scanning maps with him!” he snapped. “Isn’t it bad enough Jasper broke his ankle? What’s next? Toppling down some stairs or another heart attack?”
All the color suddenly leached out of Grace’s peaches-and-cream complexion. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to him.”
“Well, Grace. Something already happened and you couldn’t stop it. Could you?”
“It was an accident,” she said in a soft voice. She paused for a moment as if she was struggling to keep her composure. “I know you want to protect everyone in your family from getting hurt, but you can’t lock them up in a tower to do it. Jasper isn’t an invalid, and he’s not a child. You need to let him live his life.”
Boone felt his chest getting tight. An accident was how Liam had lost Ruby. His own father had been severely injured in that same avalanche rescue operation. “Were you here when Jasper had his heart attack? Or when he got so consumed by legend hunting that my grandmother left him? You can’t just show up here in Love acting like you have all the answers.”
A look of hurt passed over her face before she quickly shuttered her expression. After grabbing her notebook, she scrambled to her feet and snatched her purse from the edge of Jasper’s desk. Without a word of goodbye, she stalked out of the room, leaving a huge void in her wake and a feeling of discord lingering in the air.
As soon as Grace left, Boone propped himself against Jasper’s desk, his entire body sagging as he exhaled. Although it had felt good in the moment to unleash all his worries, he didn’t feel right about lashing out at Grace. She’d been a scapegoat for all his pent-up feelings about Jasper’s health and the angst of his siblings. Now, with a few careless words, he might have ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him. And he had no idea how to make things right.
* * *
Returning to the Moose Café and finishing her shift took all the composure in the world for Grace. She should have been awarded an Oscar for smiling and making pleasantries with customers while her mind was swirling with chaos. In a few sentences Boone had reduced her to a careless, thoughtless airhead, who butted her nose in his family’s’ business and placed Jasper in danger. And she’d barely fought back. Tears stung her eyes as she tried to push Boone’s words out of her mind.
So much for the romantic kiss they’d shared or the feelings that were blossoming between them. Why in the world had she fallen for one of the most arrogant,
opinionated men in Alaska?
“What’s wrong, Grace?” Sophie cornered her in the kitchen, placing her arm around her shoulder and peering into her eyes. “You don’t look so hot.”
“I don’t feel so good,” she said, placing her hand across her belly.
“Did something you ate disagree with you?” Sophie asked, concern etched on her face.
“Something disagreed with me all right,” she mumbled. “I’m going to lie down for a bit as soon as we get back to the cabins.”
The whole ride back to the Black Bear Cabins, Sophie and Hazel tried to engage her in conversation, but Grace couldn’t focus on talk of ice fishing and sledding at Deer Run Lake. A slow fury was building up inside her like a volcano on the cusp of bubbling over. With a halfhearted wave to her friends, she let herself into her cabin.
Anger beat a fast path through her as she stalked backed and forth across the hardwood floors in her cabin. Tears of frustration pooled in her eyes, but she wouldn’t allow herself to cry. Frankly, Sheriff Boone Prescott and his high-handed attitude weren’t worth a single tear. Just when she thought she’d gotten a true glimpse of the real Boone Prescott, he’d reared his ugly head and bared his fangs.
Humph! What a joke! He hadn’t even listened to what she’d had to say. He’d acted as judge, jury and executioner. What a fool she’d been to think she could ever love a man like him. It had been a ludicrous idea in the first place to even consider settling down with a sheriff who lived in a remote fishing village in Alaska. There wasn’t a single shoe retailer in this town that could keep her in the shoe style to which she’d become accustomed.
Not that she’d pinned her hopes and dreams on Boone or anything, but she’d allowed herself to imagine what the future might hold in store for them as a couple. Holding hands as they walked down Jarvis Street. Riding snowmobiles. More ice skating lessons at Deer Run Lake. Against her better judgment, she’d allowed herself to dream of building something lasting with Boone. They’d been foolish dreams! Unrealistic and fanciful. It would take more than a gorgeous sheriff to make her give up the life she’d built for herself in New York.
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