Rancher's Refuge (Whisper Falls)

by Goodnight, Linda

  Austin removed his gloves and hung them on his back pocket. “That’s because men love to tear up stuff. Putting it back together is the hard part.”

  “Ain’t it the truth,” Davis added, shaking his head in mock despair.

  The more Austin worked beside him, the more he liked Davis Turner. He was witty, a hard worker and knew construction work like the palm of his hand. A Christian, too, but his frequent comments about God didn’t bother Austin. Maybe Annalisa was getting to him on that count, too. Her quiet determination to set things right with God and herself touched him. He was still puzzled at how a woman of her intellect and strength could have ever gotten caught up in a relationship with an abuser. Maybe he would ask her sometime.

  Davis reached the ice chest first and handed around bottles of cold water. Austin unscrewed the lid and downed half of his. Annalisa hopped up on the lowered tailgate to sip at hers. Feet swinging, she daintily wiped the condensation on her jeans. Austin rubbed his across the back of his neck, relishing the cold.

  “How long do you think this job will take?” Annalisa asked.

  “From start to finish?” Davis hiked an elbow on top of the pickup bed as he let the half-empty bottle dangle from long fingers. “We should be finished by late afternoon. Getting the old house down is one thing, but then we’ll need to load the trash and wood, rake up the nails, run the weed eater.”

  “I have a feeling my whole body will hurt by sundown.” Annalisa rotated her neck. A bone popped.

  Austin laughed. He resisted the urge to rub the back of her neck. “It will. Like riding a horse all day, you’ll feel every muscle tomorrow.”

  “At least I have both arms now. Sort of.” She flexed her elbow. The new cast, a hot pink, was small, light and came only a few inches above her wrist. “I feel invincible.”

  But the cast was a reminder that she wasn’t. That someone out there had hurt her and maybe would again if given the chance. Austin’s jaw tightened. No one was going to hurt Annalisa. Not if he had anything to say about it.

  “You look intense.”

  Annalisa’s quiet voice brought him back to the moment.

  “Sorry. Thinking.”

  “Should I ask?”

  Davis spoke up. “Never ask a man what he’s thinking. We’re basically clueless.”

  Annalisa laughed, engaged in some light banter with Davis and Austin was off the hook.

  He owed Davis one.

  Directly in front of the pickup truck, Austin spied Miss Evelyn. Bent low into the backseat of an enormous 1980s model Lincoln Town Car, she came out waving a huge plastic zip-bag of cookies. With a voice that could be heard over Uncle Digger’s passenger train, she hollered, “You kids want some of Miss Evelyn’s homemade chocolate-chip cookies?”

  A half dozen children, there with their parents, raced toward her like wild rabbits.

  “Hey, what about us big boys?” Davis called. “Don’t we deserve cookies?”

  Davis’s child, Nathan, spun around. “I’ll share with you, Daddy.”

  Austin witnessed the sweet consideration of Davis’s son with a nagging conscience. Not only did Nathan offer to share with his dad, but he also didn’t push or shove in the line of kids; he actually waited his turn along with his sister. Davis had taught them well. They were nice children. He also supposed they wouldn’t cause any problems at the ranch. Giving the boy a ride or two wasn’t that big a deal.

  “You have good kids.”

  The big, sunny smile spread across Davis’s work-flushed face. “I think so, but any dad likes to hear a compliment from someone else. Thanks.” He downed the rest of his water and tossed the bottle into the trash bag Annalisa had hefted onto the tailgate. “Ready to get back to work?”

  “Might as well.” Without thinking about the action, Austin offered Annalisa a hand down from the tailgate. She hopped lightly to the ground, landing inches from his chest. Having her close was…nice. Torturous, but pleasant. Too bad neither of them was ready for a relationship. He didn’t figure he ever would be.

  “There’s plenty of trash over our way,” he said.

  Her mouth curved upward. She reached for a new bag from the giant container in the back of the truck. “Trash Girl is on her way.”

  “Trash Girl? Is that a new comic book hero?”

  “Haven’t you heard? Annalisa by day. Trash Girl by night.” Eyes dancing, she flexed a muscle. “Saving the environment from litter and other smelly things.”

  Davis joined the fun. “I hate to burst your bubble, Trash Girl, but it’s broad daylight.”

  “Oh, rats.” She snapped her fingers. “You’re right. I’ve blown my disguise.”

  Yes, and she was blowing all his resistance right out of the water.

  Feeling light and easy, the trio returned to the rapidly disappearing shell of a house. Annalisa donned a pair of rubber gloves and began picking up debris while the men went back to ripping boards.

  Still, Austin couldn’t get Davis’s sweet son out of his head. He wanted to. He just couldn’t. Finally, he said to Davis, “I was thinking…”

  He shoved the claw of a hammer behind a rotted board and yanked. The resulting screech of nails and snap of old wood momentarily drowned out the conversation. Dust and wood chips spewed, polluting the air. A flurry of bugs swarmed upward. Austin shook his head and stepped back to breathe. “Whew, nasty stuff.”

  “No wonder the place is in such bad shape. Termites.” Davis jammed a work boot against the side of the structure while loosening a window frame. “Sorry, I missed what you were saying.”

  “I was just thinking about your boy.”

  Davis paused and turned his quiet gaze on Austin. “Yeah? What about him?”

  “Is he still asking about horses?”

  “Practically every day. Why?”

  “I’ve got a couple of good broke geldings. Dog gentle.” He huffed out an ironic laugh. “Creed’s chopper doesn’t even scare them. They’re perfect for a first ride. Bring Nathan out to the ranch sometime.”

  A wide smile spread across Davis’s affable face. “Any specific day better for you?”

  “Nah, just give me a call.”

  Davis whipped a cell phone from his pocket. “What’s your number?” Austin told him. He jabbed the information into the cell before pocketing it. “I can’t wait to tell Nathan. He’ll go crazy.” He hitched a chin toward the little boy. “Do you mind?”

  “Go ahead.”

  As Davis walked away, Annalisa tossed a handful of dirty paper into her sack and said, “That was incredibly kind, Austin.”

  “No big deal.” He yanked at a rotted board, found the wood stronger than he’d suspected.

  “Yes, it was. I know how you feel about your privacy.”

  He paused. “Do you?”

  “I think I do. For some reason, people make you uncomfortable. Your ranch is your refuge.”

  Her assessment was right on target. Austin put his discomfort into the stubborn board and yanked with all his strength. When the board gave, he stumbled back, lost his footing and landed on his backside.

  The fall jarred his teeth and knocked the wind out of him. Dust flew around his head. Coughing, he removed his hat and fanned. Before the dust could clear, Annalisa was beside him, holding back a laugh, eyes twinkling as she managed to ask, “Are you okay?”

  Work around them had stopped. Only the whine of the boom box playing “Rolling in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” broke the sudden pause in activity. Austin’s sense of the ridiculous, something he’d considered long dead, heard the words of the song just as Annalisa offered a helping hand. Everything in him wanted to yank her down onto his lap.

  Her gloved hand touched his. He wrapped his fingers around her wrist, fighting the urge. By now, the onlookers had released a collective breath and laughter floated over him. His eyes met Annalisa’s twinkling blue ones.

  He squinted playfully. “Are you laughing at me, Trash Girl?”

  “Well, yes.” She giggled, a musical
sound that warmed the lining of his chest. “A cowboy in the dirt is a funny sight.”

  The urge became too strong.

  With an answering snort, he tugged and brought her toppling down.

  *

  At first, she was stunned, but then Annalisa began to laugh harder than she had in a long time. Austin was sitting amid a pile of dirt and trash, long, jean-clad legs stretched out before him and covered in dust. She had fallen across him like a downed tree, though his muscular cowboy body had taken the brunt of the impact.

  “Hey, what’s going on over here?” Austin’s sister charged toward the fallen pair, black ponytail flapping beneath a bright yellow ball cap.

  With mock anger, she slammed fists onto the waist of now filthy sweatpants. “Are you taking advantage of my brother?”

  Heat suffused Annalisa’s cheeks but knowing Cassie joked, she shot back, “I’m trying to, but he won’t cooperate.”

  “Just like a man.” Cassie pulled her to a stand, and they both reached back to help Austin. He got to his feet and shook like a dog, sending dust into the air again with intentional mischief.

  “If you women are going to mistreat me, I’m going back to work.” He stalked off a few feet before pivoting to declare, “No girls allowed. Just us guys.”

  Cassie stuck her tongue out at him. “Dream on, cowboy. We are women. We go where we want, do what we want. Right, Annalisa?”

  She slapped Annalisa on the shoulder.

  “Yeah! That’s right.” Annalisa thumbed her nose for good measure and was rewarded when Austin shot her a hard-eyed squint before he laughed again.

  “Women,” he said, shaking his head in mock disgust before retrieving his crowbar and rejoining Davis and Creed. She could hear the men’s good-natured ribbing as they got back to work.

  “I’ve never seen this playful side of Austin,” Annalisa said. “He’s different today. Friendlier, funnier and definitely more playful.”

  “Getting out with friends is good for him, whether he knows it or not.” Cassie slung an arm around Annalisa’s shoulders. “You’re good for him.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you. He’s been different ever since the day you arrived. He’s falling for you, Annalisa.”

  Annalisa’s stomach wobbled. A mix of dismay and pleasure warred inside. “Do you really think so?”

  “I know my brother.” Cassie dropped the arm to her side and faced Annalisa with a serious expression. “He’s been through some stuff. Some bad stuff. For all his cowboy bluster, he’s a softie.”

  Annalisa considered the way he was with his horses and dogs, the kindness he’d shown Nathan Turner and the way he’d helped her, a total stranger. “I can see that.”

  “So don’t take offense when I ask you this, but are you still in love with your ex? If he calls or shows up, are you going back to him?”

  “No! Good lands, no. I’m not that crazy.”

  Cassie’s shoulders relaxed. She picked up her trash bag and started walking. Annalisa joined her. “People do crazy things for love.”

  “Yes, they do. I have. But I won’t again.”

  “Be careful of making that promise.” Cassie bent to add a rusted pop can to her bag. “I like you, Annalisa. In such a short time, you’ve become a friend, like the sister I always wanted.”

  Annalisa swallowed the rise of emotion. The term sister brought visions of Olivia. “I feel the same. You and Austin and this town. Sometimes I think I’d be dead without all of you.”

  “Your boyfriend is a scary man.”

  “He was. But I can’t put all the blame on him. I should have left long ago.” It felt right to take responsibility for her own actions, something she hadn’t done in a while. James had controlled her world, but she’d let him.

  Cassie squeezed Annalisa’s forearm. “Well, you’re here now and God has a plan. He always had a plan for your life, but like my mule-headed brother, you weren’t cooperating.”

  With a deep ache of longing Annalisa admitted, “I wish I knew what His plan is. Sometimes I wonder what I’m supposed to do, where to go, if I’m right or wrong.”

  “We all struggle with that. The best thing I can tell you is to pray, listen hard and then put one foot in front of the other. If you’re going astray, God will put a check in your spirit.”

  That much was true. She’d felt that check before she’d gone back to James after the first time he’d hurt her. Yet, she’d ignored the tug. Now she understood that God’s warning had not been to interfere in her life, but to save her from heartache. “I wish I’d listened.”

  “If you had, you wouldn’t be here.”

  Interesting take on the matter, but true. Did God have a hand in that, too?

  Inadvertently, Annalisa’s gaze found the cowboy. His back was turned, and the muscles of his shoulders and back flexed beneath his plaid shirt as he and Davis lifted a window free from the old house. Taking care not to break the glass, they put the old window in a stack of salvageable goods.

  Davis said something and Austin glanced back to catch her looking. She smiled. He lifted a gloved hand. They continued to stare across the space until Davis chucked a stick at Austin’s chest and captured his attention.

  What if she’d not met Austin Blackwell under Whisper Falls? What if he hadn’t come to her rescue? Where would she be today?

  One thing she knew for certain, she wasn’t ready for a new relationship. Even though she’d grown and changed since that awful day, her judgment still needed work, and so did the rest of her life. But something sweet was fermenting between her and Austin. She thought again of God’s plan. Was Austin Blackwell part of hers? Did she even want him to be?

  Cassie followed the line of her gaze. With another arm squeeze, she murmured, “Don’t hurt him,” and moved away, leaving Annalisa to ponder.

  Chapter Nine

  By late afternoon the house project was well under control when Miss Evelyn had the wild idea to load up the crew of volunteers and head downtown to Easy Street.

  “Pumpkins,” she explained from her dais on the tailgate of a pickup truck. “Jack Macabee just called and said he had loaded a trailer with pumpkins and was heading our way. Let’s go set up some displays!”

  To a person, they were dirty and tired, but only a few refused to help, and those had legitimate reasons. Austin watched, wondering at the spirit of community in Whisper Falls. His hometown had been like this in many ways, but they’d turned on him when the going got tough. He couldn’t help believing Whisper Falls would be the same.

  “All right, crew, we’ll meet at the depot in ten minutes. See you there.” Miss Evelyn bustled toward her Lincoln while the rest of the group broke up and headed toward vehicles.

  Cassie, Austin, Annalisa, Davis and his children and Creed Carter milled around the work site, finishing up as trucks and cars pulled away from the curb.

  Austin tossed a crowbar into the back of his truck when he spotted Annalisa dragging her last filled bag of trash toward the Dumpster. He’d started toward her when she was intercepted by Creed Carter.

  “I’ll get that for you.” The good-looking pilot took the bag, muscles flexing as he easily hefted the trash into the industrial-sized Dumpster. Dusting his hands lightly, he said, “Need a ride into town?”

  Austin tensed, waiting for her answer.

  Annalisa flicked a glance in his direction. “Well, I—I rode in with Austin. I guess I should go with him.”

  She guessed? Did she feel obligated?

  He crouched to his toolbox and pretended to check the contents. He wouldn’t interfere. She was a grown woman. It was probably best for everyone if she preferred the flyboy’s company to his.

  A truck started and then roared away.

  Austin slammed the lid with more force than necessary and rose to his feet. As he expected, Creed and his truck were gone.

  But then he saw Annalisa striding toward him, ponytail bopping. Her obligation comment soured his stomach.

  He opened the
truck door for her. “You could have ridden with Creed.”

  “I came with you. I didn’t want to be rude.”

  Was that the only reason? “Who you ride with is no big deal.”

  She gave him a strange look before climbing with agile grace into the passenger seat. “It is to me.”

  Austin stewed on the comment for the next two hours while the committee of joking, chattering volunteers carted pumpkins all over the downtown area. Not that they had far to go in Whisper Falls. They’d piled the orange fruit on street corners, atop hay bales, in black kettles and brightly painted wheelbarrows.

  “We don’t need streetlights,” Annalisa joked. “The pumpkins are bright enough to glow in the dark.”

  The two of them had ended up in the tiny park at midtown where someone had positioned an old wooden farm wagon. Cassie and others were working inside the gazebo while Austin and Annalisa filled the wagon with hay and pumpkins.

  “I’ll have nightmares,” Austin said. “Attack of the killer pumpkins.”

  “Wasn’t that a movie?”

  “If it wasn’t, it should be.”

  “But the displays are beautiful.”

  She was right, of course. The bright orange pumpkins, flanked by flowerpots in contrasting colors and lots of greenery, gave the streets a festive mood.

  Cassie came up to them then. Her ponytail had come loose at the sides and her fingers were stained with orange. “Some of us are going to the Pizza Pan to grab a bite. Want to come?”

  Austin groaned. Annalisa giggled.

  “Pizza? We’ll pass.”

  Annalisa remained quiet and just that quick, he regretted the refusal. Not that he wanted pizza, but he shouldn’t have spoken for Annalisa. She’d had enough of a man telling her what to do.

  “Go with them if you want to,” he said to her.

  She shook her head. “Maybe next time.”

  Her answer was the same as his, a refusal from a person tired of eating pizza. Not a desire to hang out with him. But he was glad anyway.

  “You don’t know what you’re missing,” Cassie said cheerfully as she meandered away to join the waiting group.

  “What sounds good to you?” His diner sandwiches and Miss Evelyn’s cookies had long since disappeared. “I’m starved.”