Rancher's Refuge (Whisper Falls)

by Goodnight, Linda

  “Uh…thank you.” That was different.

  “You want to come and sit with us? Daddy will buy you a root beer, won’t you, Daddy?”

  Her father laughed, but Annalisa could see his daughter had embarrassed him.

  “Paige,” he said, “leave the lady alone.”

  “I’m not bothering her.” She turned to Annalisa. “Am I bothering you?”

  Before Annalisa could answer, Austin’s voice came from somewhere over her shoulder. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Austin Blackwell.”

  He walked up beside her and offered a hand to Davis. “Annalisa’s staying at my place.”

  Annalisa flushed. “Temporarily.”

  Miss Evelyn, who, surprisingly, had ceased talking and moving during the exchange, started up again. “Austin, why don’t you have some more pie and get acquainted with Davis and these little cuties while I show Annalisa around? And don’t run off. I want to talk to you about something important.” She took Annalisa’s elbow and guided her to the counter. “Digger, honey, get Austin some more pie.”

  The older gentleman touched the brim of his conductor’s cap. “Coming right up. How about you, Davis? You and the kiddies want the last couple pieces? No use in good pie going to waste.”

  “I want some.” The boy, Nathan, looked at his dad with comical hope. Smaller and fairer than his sister without the benefit of freckles, the boy would someday be the image of his handsome father.

  “With ice cream on top. Okay, Daddy?” The freckled-nosed girl bounced back to her seat with all the confidence of a well-loved child. “Remember what you told the teacher? We’re great kids. We deserve it.”

  Davis ruffled her hair. “I think maybe you do.”

  Annalisa wondered how different her life might have been if she and Olivia had had a father like Davis Turner.

  But they hadn’t and she’d already spent enough years mourning what she’d never had.

  Leaving the men and children, Annalisa followed Evelyn to a tiny office with double doors, one leading in from the snack shop and the other leading out to the museum. The office wasn’t much—a telephone, a computer, a small desk and a display rack of tourist information. An assortment of brightly colored brochures proclaimed antiques shops, bed-and-breakfast inns, helicopter flights over the waterfall, a romantic boat ride down Blackberry River and a prayer chapel proclaiming the most beautiful place for weddings in the state. Whisper Falls was a lovely mix of modern tourism and down-home charm.

  “Sit right over there, hon.” Evelyn pointed at the single chair against one wall. “And tell me all about yourself.”

  The hopeful haze evaporated faster than sweat under AC. She wasn’t prepared to talk about herself. No way would she tell this sweet woman about James or the reasons she’d ended up in Whisper Falls.

  But she had to say something.

  She fidgeted, cleared her throat. It seemed stuck full of the lies she didn’t want to tell. “I— There’s not much to say. I’m a good worker. Honest.” Most of the time. “I learn fast.” Though I didn’t learn my lesson about James nearly fast enough.

  “Cassie tells me you’ve been down on your luck a bit.”

  “That’s right.” Please don’t ask me why. “That’s the reason I need to find employment. The Blackwells have been very kind, but I prefer to pay my own way.”

  “You been friends with Austin and Cassie a long time?”

  “Not long.”

  “They’re good kids.” Miss Evelyn chuckled. “Well, they’re kids to me. That Cassie, she’s a dilly. Austin’s on the quiet side. Keeps to himself, but I’m thinking he needs to come out of his shell. Maybe you can help me with that. I can’t quite figure him out.”

  “Welcome to the club.”

  “You, too, huh?”

  When Annalisa nodded, Miss Evelyn went on, “Got our work cut out, then. But I got me some ideas percolating.”

  Annalisa had no clue what she meant. “Ideas about a job?”

  “About Austin.”

  “Oh.”

  “Let’s talk about your employment problem first. I’ll work on Austin later. Here’s what I think. Uncle Digger, bless his heart, prefers tinkering with the museum and the train to working in that snack shop. He’s the perfect person to man the museum desk and tell folks all about the town and our wonderful recreational amenities. I’m busy as a beaver at a wood chopping contest with the city council and the tourism board, especially now when we’re gearing up for Pumpkin Fest.” She glanced at a giant pocket watch hanging on the wall. “I should be over at city hall right now. So what do you say? Do you want to try your hand—” she chuckled at the reference to Annalisa’s broken arm “—at the snack shop? Doesn’t pay much, but the work is easy, the people are friendly and you can get acquainted with practically everyone in town.”

  “Will you mind that I’m slow at first until I get a smaller cast?” Annalisa elevated the prohibitive green plaster, her arm frozen at a right angle.

  Miss Evelyn laughed heartily. “Hon, anyone is faster than Uncle Digger. You’ll do fine.”

  Relief flowed through Annalisa. Somehow they’d gotten past all the usual employment questions and personal history. Maybe God was watching out for her after all.

  *

  Austin stirred his fork in the puddle of melting ice cream and waited for the women to return. He didn’t know what Miss Evelyn wanted with him, but she’d said it was important, and he didn’t mind the wait. He worried about leaving Annalisa alone in a strange place, especially out in public. The unknown whereabouts of James the jerk made him nervous. His fingers tightened around the fork. Even though he knew better, he itched to throw a couple of good punches if the sleazeball decided to show his face in Whisper Falls.

  “You own the ranch near the waterfall, don’t you?” Davis Turner asked, interrupting his thoughts of revenge. “The pretty ranch that sets down in the valley.”

  Austin put his fork down and shifted slightly toward the other man. “That’s my place. Have you been out my way?”

  “The kids and I picnicked near the waterfall a few weeks ago. Paige would take a tent and move out there if I’d let her.” The little girl grinned up at her dad. “Beautiful area.”

  “We like it. It’s peaceful.” Or it had been until the Whisper Falls madness began and a certain blonde whacked him upside the head.

  His ears strained toward the closed office. What was taking her and Evelyn so long?

  “You got a ranch?” Davis Turner’s little boy eyed Austin’s boots and hat with interest. “Do you have horses, too?”

  Austin dipped his head at the eager face and a mouth smeared with vanilla ice cream. “Sure do. You must like horses.”

  “Yes, but Daddy says you can’t have a horse in town.” The boy’s disgust with this unfortunate turn of events was accented with a deep sigh.

  “Sorry, buddy,” Davis said, touching the boy lightly on the shoulder. “That’s the way things are. Someday, maybe we’ll buy some land in the country and you can have a horse all your own. Until then…” As if he’d suddenly come up with a solution, Davis looked to Austin. “You don’t happen to give riding lessons, do you?”

  The idea set Austin back. Riding lessons? “Never thought about it.”

  “Nathan’s wanted a horse since he was big enough to talk.” Davis wadded a paper napkin and placed it on the counter. “I’d be glad to pay if you’d be interested in teaching him.”

  “I don’t know. I’ll have to think on it,” Austin said, more to be polite than because he was actually considering such an invasion of his privacy.

  “With the influx of tourists a man could make good money with a stable of riding horses.”

  A shiver of dread ran through Austin. The last thing he wanted was more strangers traipsing around his land, poking into his business. “Not my kind of thing.”

  The affable Davis smiled as he lifted his drinking cup. “I understand. You did mention peace and quiet, something you won’t get wi
th kids around. But if you change your mind…” He reached inside his golf-style shirt pocket and handed Austin a business card.

  “Sure, sure.” Austin glanced at the card. “Ceramic tile? So you’re a tile mason?”

  “Showers, kitchens, floors. I should be working today, but school is out for a parent-teacher conference.” He rattled the ice in his cup. “Being a single dad, I took off for that.”

  “And to hang out with your favorite kids, right, Daddy?” Paige batted long, pale lashes at her father.

  He scuffed the top of her head. “Right.”

  Austin’s gaze fell to the little boy. Nathan had gone from hopeful to deflated when Davis had asked about riding lessons. Austin’s conscience niggled. What harm was there in giving one little kid a ride on a well-broke horse? On the other hand, he didn’t want to get something started. Familiarity breeds contempt, and he’d had enough of that to last a lifetime. Still, Davis seemed like a good guy, and a boy who loved horses needed to learn somewhere.

  Warring with himself, Austin returned to his pie and ice cream. He scooped a giant bite of ice cream and shoved the fork into his mouth. A powerful pain shot from the roof of his mouth to the top of his head. He dropped the fork and pressed a hand to each temple, certain his brain was about to explode.

  “Uh-oh, brain freeze,” the little girl said and hopped from her stool to stand beside Austin. “I’ll pray for you.” And she did.

  When the moment passed, Austin shook his head to find the headache gone. No surprise there. An ice-cream headache came and went. The relief had nothing to do with prayer.

  He shifted uncomfortably on the bar stool. All this company was starting to get under his skin. When Annalisa had entered the snack shop, she’d looked too pretty with her hair all fluffed up and glossy, and now some kid prayed for him while another looked at him with a mix of hero worship and disappointment. He should have stayed home.

  But there was the matter of his unwanted houseguest who chose that moment to reappear from the back room, a dazed look on her face. Interestingly, she went behind the counter. Miss Evelyn, who’d followed her from the office, pulled an apron from a hook. “Let’s see what you can manage with that hand of yours.”

  Miss Evelyn had hired her. Good. Fine. Perfect. Austin’s responsibility ended here and now.

  He readied once more to depart. As he stood, Annalisa looked his way.

  “Austin, are you leaving?”

  He cupped his hat in one hand, fingers wide on the crown. Did she expect him to stick around and play bodyguard and listen to her chat up the smiley single guy with the two cute kids?

  “Are you staying?”

  “Evelyn’s going to show me around.” She pushed at her perfect hair. “I’m going to work here, starting tomorrow. Isn’t that great?”

  “Congratulations.” Austin didn’t see all that much to learn in the small snack bar, but her eyes were so sparkly and happy he wasn’t going to rain on her parade.

  “Thank you.” She glanced at Miss Evelyn who was beaming like a proud mama.

  “I’ll see you later, then.” He jammed his hat down on his head and turned to leave.

  Evelyn’s voice stopped him. “Don’t run off, Austin Blackwell. We need to talk.”

  Austin pivoted. He’d almost forgotten that the Whisper Falls mastermind wanted to talk to him. Was he ever going to get out of here? Fingers circling the brim of his Stetson, he waited to hear what she’d say.

  Miss Evelyn bustled toward him.

  “Your sister is a fantastic advocate for Whisper Falls and always willing to lend a hand,” she began.

  “I’ll tell her you said so.”

  Miss Evelyn parked her short, stocky self in his circle of personal space and demanded, “When are you going to do your part?”

  He blinked, frowning. “Pardon?”

  “In a week or so, we’re tearing down the old Rankin house and clearing off the mess of outbuildings and chicken coops in the back. The whole place is an eyesore and a danger. We need some men to do the heavy work.”

  Davis Turner, who’d been smiling at Annalisa as though she was the last apple on the tree, piped up. “You can add me to the list.”

  Miss Evelyn fairly beamed. So did Annalisa. In fact, the look she gave Davis was warm enough to melt chocolate.

  “That’s the spirit,” said Miss Evelyn. “What about you, Austin? Surely, you can spare a day or two.”

  She’d put him on the spot, and he’d look like a horse’s backside if he said no. Not that he minded the work. He just didn’t want to get involved with a lot of nosy people.

  “I guess I could.”

  Davis Turner’s son slid from his bar stool. “Daddy said Mr. Blackwell should open a riding stable. Don’t you think that’s a great idea, Miss Evelyn?”

  She clasped the boy by the shoulders, but her eyes were on Austin. “That’s a marvelous idea, Nathan. Austin, you’d be good at that and you’ve got the land. Maybe you could open up an RV camp and guide trail rides. The council would print up a nice, colorful brochure and post it on the website.” Evelyn was off on one of her brainstorms. “Horse lovers would flock to Whisper Falls like summer geese.”

  Exactly what he did not want. “Not interested. Too much liability.” A good excuse even if it wasn’t the real reason. “Let me know about the work day.”

  Once more he headed for the door. This time he safely made his escape.

  Chapter Six

  Annalisa found the cowboy in the horse barn, pitchforking clean straw into a stall. He must not have heard her come in, so she watched for a moment as the muscles in his broad back flexed with the rhythm of his work.

  The dust and hay smell of the barn drew her back a few years to a happy time and place when life had not been so complicated. She could almost hear her grandpa humming “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” in a voice roughened by years of work in the Kansas wind and dust. Olivia had been there, too, riding the top of the gate, her double ponytails a frame for her oval face and brown eyes.

  But that was before they’d burned all the bridges and left each other behind.

  “Would you like some help?”

  The pitchfork stopped moving as Austin swiveled to face her. Sweat beaded his forehead. Specks of straw rode his shoulders and black hair. He looked incredibly masculine, a ruggedly outdoorsy look that sent tiny needles of interest dancing along her skin.

  “How did you get home?”

  “Uncle Digger drove me.”

  “You should have called.” He stabbed the pitchfork into the remaining pile of straw and left the tool standing straight as a new fence post.

  Annalisa wasn’t sure if he was angry or concerned.

  “I didn’t want to bother you. You’ve done enough.”

  “I forgot you didn’t have a car.” He frowned, his breath puffing from the exertion. “I should have stuck around.”

  She reached out, started to touch his arm, but changed her mind and let her hand fall to her side. “Don’t look so guilty. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

  He looked as if he didn’t believe her, and for good reason. From the moment they’d met, she’d leaned on his good nature and done anything except take care of herself. But no more. Even though the snack shop pay was small, the job was a start. Somehow she’d get back on her feet and never have to depend on anyone, especially a man, again. She never wanted to be as vulnerable as she’d been that day at the waterfall.

  “How did things go at the Iron Horse?”

  His question surprised her. She hadn’t expected him to care one way or the other. “Very well. The work is easy, and I have no problem as long as I don’t have to lift anything.”

  “Uncle Digger can do the lifting.”

  “That’s what he said.” She smiled, relaxed a little. “Cassie was right. They’re nice people. So are Davis Turner and his kids. She says they all attend the same church.”

  “Whisper Falls is kind of churchy, if that’s a word.”
He ran the back of one arm over his damp forehead.

  “I used to be like that.” And she wanted to be again. Since that bizarre incident at the waterfall when Austin had showed up after she’d prayed, Annalisa had tried to refocus on God. Praying eased her anxiety and helped her sleep. Talking to Cassie, who had the faith of Abraham, eased her self-recriminations. Life was too hard without God to lean on. “Cassie invited me to church. Do you attend?”

  “Nope.” Abruptly, he jerked the pitchfork from the straw and jabbed a forkful, spreading the scent as well as the substance around the stall. She saw the stiffness in his body, heard the tension in his voice. Instinctively she knew. Like her, he’d stumbled somewhere along the muddy path of life.

  She didn’t ask, couldn’t. But she wondered what had happened.

  A wooden-handled rake leaned against one wall of the stall. She took it in hand much as she had the broom and began smoothing the straw.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know. I want to.”

  “Suit yourself.” With a shrug he went back to work.

  His wasn’t the friendliest invitation she’d ever had, but it would do. At some point this morning, he’d lifted the three-day injunction. At least, she thought he had, and she wanted to pull her weight.

  “I’ll get an apartment as soon as I have the money saved.”

  Austin peered at her over his shoulder. “You’re safer here.”

  Apparently, that was as much of a commitment as she was going to get. She’d take it. Gladly.

  One of the horses, this one a tall buckskin with black mane, tail and stockings and an eggshell-colored body, ambled to the stall door and stuck her head inside.

  “We have company.”

  Austin’s head turned toward the fancy-looking mare. “Dixie’s a pest. Thinks she’s a dog.” He stepped to the animal, wrapped an arm around her head and stroked her long face. “How you doing, pretty girl?”

  The mare blew softly and licked her lips.

  “She trusts you.” Animals instinctively know, she thought.