“Don’t you have work?”
“We have time for a quick ride. Hop in.”
When he folded his long legs into the small compact, they both laughed. Austin shot her a wry look. “Snug fit.”
With a light heart, she drove him down the road and back. The little compact zipped along without a sputter. “Great gas mileage, too.”
“You got a deal on this baby,” he said with a pat to the dashboard.
Annalisa felt as if she’d burst with pride. It was ridiculous how much his compliment meant. James would have whined that she should have let him pick out the car, that she couldn’t make that kind of decision by herself, that buying a car on her own meant she didn’t trust him.
But it was time to forget James. Forget the past and move forward.
She pulled the little white car close to the porch. Austin unwound long legs and pried himself from the seat, then came around to the driver’s-side window and leaned in. “Mind if I come by the Iron Horse later?”
“I’ll be disappointed if you don’t.”
A slow smile lifted the corners of his eyes.
Annalisa tugged at his shirt sleeve, still smiling up at him with expectation. He didn’t let her down. His tall form bent low, he kissed her once, then again, lingering until her breath shortened and her pulse rattled madly.
Curious, Jet raised his paws up to the window opening and jammed his massive black head between them. Annalisa jerked back against the headrest with a snort as Austin pushed the dog away. “Get down, you crazy dog.”
Jet didn’t take offense. He plopped on his bottom and pawed at Austin’s jeans, whining.
“Didn’t know we had a canine chaperone,” Austin said, grinning. “You’d better get going before we both get in trouble.”
Annalisa laughed and rolled up the window. With a final wave, she pulled away and headed for the Iron Horse, mood light and happy.
*
Austin stood in the yard with Hoss and Jet, and watched Annalisa spin down the driveway in her dandy little compact. She’d changed in the weeks he’d known her. Changes for the good. She no longer jumped when he raised his voice or when the telephone rang. And now, she’d bought a car. She was looking at apartments, too, and he knew she’d soon be gone from the ranch.
He was okay with that, or at least he told himself he was. He could still look out for her. They could still be friends.
He removed his hat and ran a hand through his hair. Friends. Who was he kidding? He’d kissed her. She’d kissed him back, the look in her eyes pulling him in, giving him hope. They were more than friends.
Could a man and woman build a relationship when one was less than honest?
He’d done some praying lately and gotten exactly what he’d expected. Nothing.
“Come on, boys,” he said, replacing the hat with an unnecessary shove. “We got work to do.”
A few hours later, he brushed and dried Cisco’s glossy coat and turned him loose in the pasture, the cows successfully moved to new grazing land for the coming winter. Clouds gathered in the west, banking up the promise of much-needed rain and probably cooler temps. Winter was coming, all right.
Overhead, a flock of geese honked, drawing the dogs’ attention. Jet went crazy, leaping into the air as if he could pull one down. Hoss, who loved cattle but had no interest in game, gazed at his friend in mild amusement. At least, Austin thought the old shepherd seemed amused. Maybe he’d been alone too long.
Annalisa had changed some of that aloneness. She’d drawn him out into the community and even with the fear of others learning about Blair’s death, he enjoyed the new friends.
“Annalisa.” He said her name aloud, softly, liking the feel of it on his lips.
He gazed up at the huge V-shaped flock, hoping Annalisa didn’t share their urge for a warmer climate.
A spiral of dust rose from the curve in the road leading to his ranch. He watched it grow larger, aware that just about any car driving down that road would be coming to his place. Hoss and Jet trotted out to the driveway, expectant.
A late-model sports car, flashy red and laced with chrome, roared into his yard and a man stepped out. Dressed in dark slacks, a yellow pullover and fancy loafers, the stranger looked out of place.
Austin had never seen this guy in his life, but the hairs on the back of his neck prickled. “Hello, there, are you lost?”
The blond man, a bodybuilder type with wide shoulders and powerful arms, speared him with a glare. “Are you Blackwell?”
“I am. Who’s asking?”
Popeye arms fisted on slender hips. “Where’s Annalisa?”
Austin’s blood froze in his veins. This had to be James Winchell.
He battled to keep his expression bland. “Who?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. I know she’s staying here. With you.” He spat the last words, accusing.
Austin hackled. His fists flexed. “I live here with my sister. What do you want with this Annalisa woman, whoever she is?”
“Don’t play me for a fool, Blackwell. I’m smarter than either of you give me credit for. I know she’s living here. I even know about her pathetic little job at a snack shop.” He spat the words as if they tasted nasty.
Not good. Not good at all.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about, buddy, but I suggest you take your problems elsewhere.”
“I’ll tell you what I’m talking about.” The man jabbed a finger toward Austin’s face. “Annalisa took what’s mine and I aim to get it back. And no ignorant cowpoke is going to stand in my way. She owes me.”
Heat rose up the back of Austin’s neck. He fought the urge to shove his fist through James’s smirk. “I think you have that backward. She doesn’t owe you anything. Go back to your life. Leave her alone.”
Shrewd eyes, hard as blue glass, glinted daggers. In the distance, thunder rumbled. “Why? So you can have her?”
Austin clamped his lips into a tight line. So much for staying cool. “Look, man. I don’t know you, but I do know what you did to Annalisa. She wants no part of you.”
James mottled red, the veins in his neck extending. His lips twisted in a sneer of disgust. “I should have known she’d latch on to the first man that looked at her. She’s like that. Has to have a man to take care of her.”
He made a motion toward Austin. Austin took a step back. He didn’t dare punch a cop. But he wanted to. Badly.
Beside him, Jet let out a soft growl, his black fur bristling. Hoss edged closer to his master, expression alert and concerned. Austin dropped a hand to each noble head.
“Easy, boys.” To James, he said, “I don’t think my dogs like you. I suggest you hit the trail before they get nervous and do something you’ll regret.”
James eased back, but his tight-jawed determination didn’t lessen. “What are you going to do? Kill me? The way you killed your wife?”
A fist of fear encircled Austin’s windpipe, cutting off all his air. The thing he’d feared had come to life. James was a cop and he knew about Blair.
Shock and anxiety must have shown on Austin’s face because James’s defensive stance changed. His expression grew knowing and predatory. He leaned in. “You didn’t tell her, did you? Annalisa doesn’t know.”
Austin thought of all the chances he’d had to come clean with Annalisa, but fear of losing her had held him back. He should have told her. He wished he had.
“Well, well, well, cowboy. What do you have to say now? Cat got your tongue?” Like a predator in for the kill, James saw his advantage and pressed in, his smile cruelly pleased. “Annalisa doesn’t know she’s sleeping with a murderer. Now, isn’t that an interesting little tidbit?”
Austin lurched toward the intruder. Jet barked. Hoss growled. His head screamed a reminder not to put his hands on a cop, not to assault an officer of the law. Not again.
Through gritted teeth and more self-control than he dreamed possible, he pushed his face into James’s and growled, “Get…off…my
…land!”
With the upper body strength of a steroid user, James shoved him backward. Austin stumbled, his boots awkward and heavy. He thought of those powerful arms and hands on Annalisa, hurting her, and anger charged through him like electricity. He shook with the urge to retaliate.
God help me. Help me be strong for her. Show me what to do.
Drawing on every fiber of self-control he had, Austin stepped away and let James win.
The thunder rumbled closer, clouds darkening with each passing minute.
James smiled his cocky, mirthless smile. “You’re not dealing with Annalisa anymore, cowboy. You’re dealing with a man with the power to make you crawl. So let me give you fair warning. If you like your freedom, stay out of my way.”
Executing a mock salute, Annalisa’s tormentor—and now Austin’s—got into his sports car and roared away.
A chill ran down Austin’s spine. He knew exactly where James Winchell was headed.
Chapter Fifteen
Humming softly, Annalisa slid four of Miss Evelyn’s frozen pies into the oven and set the timer.
“Do you think four is enough for the rest of the day?” she asked Uncle Digger.
In his usual blue-and-gold hat and striped overalls, Uncle Digger motioned toward the store room. “If not, Evelyn has more in the freezer.”
She knew that, but she didn’t like to keep customers waiting. Or worse, have them leave without buying anything. The Iron Horse did all right, but according to the owners, business had improved with Annalisa at the counter. Even though suspecting they were being kind, she nonetheless wanted to prove her worth.
This little snack shop in Whisper Falls was a far cry from her former life, but she loved it. She loved the people, the work, her new car and most of all, she loved Austin Blackwell. If she wasn’t mistaken, he loved her, too, though something held him back.
But she was in no rush. Not this time, not after the mistakes she’d made. As her arm had healed, so had her heart and soul. This time, she’d take her time, let love grow and learn who God intended her to be along the way.
She prayed that Austin’s wounds, whatever they might be, would also heal. She touched her lips, remembered the sweet way he’d kissed her goodbye and thought of the old adage that love heals all wounds.
“Where is everyone today?” she asked. A handful of customers lined the counter, but the shop was quieter than normal.
“I think we’re in for a storm this evening,” Uncle Digger said, “but business is always slow after the Pumpkin Fest.”
She could tell the situation worried him. It worried her, too. Without business, the Iron Horse had no need of her.
“When will it pick up again?”
He rubbed his mustache, his white eyebrows dipping. “Generally lasts until Christmas, but Evelyn’s steaming up new ways to get folks here through Thanksgiving. Chamber’s kind of lagging, but she’ll stoke a fire in their coal bin.”
Salt shakers clattered as she grouped them for refills. “Any ideas yet?”
“Some silly notion about getting play actors to hold up the train. Something like Jesse James.” He shook his head. “I can’t get on board with that one.”
Annalisa unscrewed shaker lids and hid a smile. She was coming to love this odd little man with his train comments. “There has to be something that would attract visitors in the off season.”
“Speaking of attracting things.” Uncle Digger hitched the straps of his overalls. “I noticed a few sparks between you and Austin. How’s that working out?”
“He’s a good man.”
Austin was more than a good man. He was the man she wanted in her future. For the first time in a long time, life was good. Eventually, she might even stop looking over her shoulder expecting James to burst in and ruin everything.
“Uncle Digger, could I ask you something?”
“Anything at all. Even if I don’t know the answer, I know Him who does.” They were interrupted when several customers came to the cash register. Uncle Digger, in his usual half-speed mode, rang them up.
Annalisa topped off the salt shakers. The timer on the heating unit tinged. Grabbing a hot pad, she removed a sub sandwich and wrapped the Philly cheese for the local barber. “Anything else for you, Sid?”
The barber, whose head was as clean as a cue ball, answered, “This will do for now. Got to get back to the shop.”
“Clipping a lot of ears, are you, Sid?” Uncle Digger asked as he took the man’s money.
“Not near enough.”
Uncle Digger nodded sagely. “Hold tight to the rails, son, and keep looking up. Whisper Falls is on the rise. This time next spring we’ll be on the gravy train. Just you wait and see.”
With a wave, Sid exited the Iron Horse, and several other customers soon followed. She was left with only the two coffee drinkers at the counter. Annalisa topped off their cups and put the carafe back on the heater.
With her customers taken care of for the moment, Annalisa returned to Uncle Digger. Idly, he took a wet cloth and began wiping down the work station. Uncle Digger had one speed. But Annalisa knew his thinking was anything but slow.
“Now, what’s on your mind, missy? Wouldn’t be that cowboy, would it?”
She fought a blush, gave up and let it heat her face. Was she that obvious?
*
Austin pulled into the parking area outside the train depot with his heart on his sleeve and a vise around his heart. One quick look around allayed his first concern. No fancy red sports car. With his knowledge of back roads, he’d easily beaten James into town, but he didn’t have long. Winchell was the kind of man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. And he wanted to make Annalisa pay for leaving him.
Austin was certain, from the dark look in the man’s eyes that he hadn’t come to Whisper Falls out of love. He’d come for revenge.
Annalisa was in danger, both from James and from the truth Austin carried inside him like a rattlesnake.
He had no choice. He had to tell her about Blair and about the charges before James did. She would hate him for the lie, she might even fear him, but he would not allow James the pleasure of throwing that ugly surprise in her face.
He nodded to the town barber as he hurried inside the Iron Horse. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her behind the counter, talking with Uncle Digger. She looked up when the door snapped shut behind him.
“Austin!” Pleasure sparkled in her eyes. Her lips curved.
An answering joy touched Austin for a moment, but he didn’t smile. He couldn’t, knowing he was about to erase that look from her face forever.
Worried that James could burst through the door any minute, he hurried around behind the counter with grim determination. Both Annalisa and Uncle Digger stared at him curiously. A coffee drinker tossed some change on the counter and left.
“James is in town,” he blurted.
Annalisa choked out a small, distressed noise and turned as white as the shop’s coffee mugs. She clapped her hands over her mouth, eyes wide with shock.
Uncle Digger frowned, looking from Austin to Annalisa and back. “Who is James, and why is Annalisa afraid of him?”
Austin gave him a quick overview.
Digger’s reply came fast. “Take her and go home. I’ll send that feller flying.”
Austin softened at the older man’s determined look. Uncle Digger cared for Annalisa. He’d protect her if he could, but sooner or later, James would get to her.
With a strength that surprised him, Austin said, “Running won’t solve the problem.”
The truth of his own statement hit him between the eyes. Hadn’t his family said the same thing to him? Yet, he’d run away from Texas, and look what good that had done him. Six years of hiding on his ranch as if he was guilty. Six years of being alone, of refusing to face the past. Six years of barely living.
He didn’t want Annalisa to live that way. If there was to be a showdown with James, better to get it over with now. Then, an
d only then, could she hope to move on.
Austin hurt to know that she would likely move on without him.
Gently, lovingly, with his stomach tied in knots, he gripped Annalisa’s shoulders and stared into her beautiful sweet eyes, willing her to hear his heart and understand.
“Maybe James will come here and maybe he won’t,” he said. “I figure he will. But either way, you and I have to talk. Now.”
Uncle Digger picked up the urgency. He clapped Austin’s shoulder once. “You two talk. I got things to do.” And then he shuffled through the door leading into the museum.
He was no more than out of sight when Annalisa gripped Austin’s forearms and said, “I don’t want to see him. Where is he? Did you talk to him?”
Her voice shook, and Austin thought he’d break in two.
“He came to the ranch. I don’t know how he found it, but he did.” Cops have ways. They even know things that aren’t true. “He said you owed him and that he’d find you.”
She sucked in a nervous breath. “Does he know I work here?”
As much as he despised adding to her fear, the truth was all that mattered now. She had to know. “He seemed to.”
“Of course he knows. He always knows. He’s a cop, a relentless investigator.” She twisted her fingers together. “I should have left. I should have gone far, far away when he first called, but I…”
Austin’s pulse thundered. Hope flared, then sputtered and died. She’d stayed because of him. And now he was about to destroy the fledgling love growing between them.
Hearing the crack and splinter of his own heart, he took her hands in his. Swallowing hard, he said, “I have to tell you something about myself. Something bad. James knows, and he’ll use it to hurt us both.”
Annalisa stilled, blue eyes raking his face. “This is about Blair, isn’t it?”
He blanched, eyes dropping shut. The blinding pain of yesterday’s mistakes tore at him like tiger’s teeth “Yes. My…wife.”
She slid her hands into his and squeezed, willing him to look at her. “I know she died. What happened? Was she ill?”
He heard the terrible hope in her voice. She was smart. She suspected the truth would be too much to bear.
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