Love Finds You in Last Chance, California

by Miralee Ferrell

  Alex frowned. “I didn’t realize they’d be making a decision so soon. This is the first time I’ve not delivered an order on time. It would’ve been nice if they’d have let me know before reassigning the contract.” She reached for her mug of coffee. “I’m sorry; my problems aren’t your concern.” She put on a smile and straightened her shoulders. “It’s too bad Uncle Joe couldn’t be here to visit with you. He and Frank are checking on the mares and won’t be in for a couple of hours.”

  “I’ll see him another time, but I didn’t come to visit Joe. I hoped you and I might have a little time to ourselves this evening.”

  Alex blushed and reached for her mug of coffee, but she was saved from having to respond when Toby dropped his fork with a loud clatter.

  Carter turned his gaze on Toby and stared for several seconds before he chuckled softly. “You’re right, young man; we shouldn’t be ignoring you.” He cleared his throat and spoke a little louder. “How old are you, son?”

  Toby held up three fingers. “Free. I a big boy.” A sweet grin lit up his face.

  Alex beamed at the boy. “And a sweetheart he is, too. His father has done a wonderful job raising him.”

  Carter’s cold eyes bored into Justin, but his posture remained relaxed as he leaned his shoulder toward Alex. “Poor little tyke. I understand that he lost his mother. Must be hard for ’im.”

  Something in the statement put Justin’s senses on alert, but Alex turned her compassionate gaze from Toby to Carter. “I know what it’s like to lose a mother, and you’re right; it is hard.”

  “I’m sure he’ll benefit from your presence, my dear.” Carter laid his hand over hers resting on the table, and it seemed to Justin that she didn’t withdraw it overly fast. Maybe it was the supposed sympathy he’d shown for Toby or the memory of her own loss, but Alex appeared captivated by his charm. Whatever the case, Justin couldn’t stand sitting at the table much longer.

  He laid his fork by his plate and pushed to his feet. “Martha, Alex. I hope you’ll excuse me. I have something I need to tend to in the barn.” He laid a hand on Toby’s hair for a moment. “I’ll be back in time to settle Toby into bed.”

  Martha picked up a cloth and wiped a dribble from Toby’s chin. “Sorry you can’t sit with us awhile longer, but you do what you have to. Don’t worry none about your boy. He’ll be fine.”

  Justin nodded and strode from the room feeling as though the soles of his feet were on fire. He’d done it again—been tricked by a pretty face. He suddenly realized that despite his resistance, he’d allowed himself to believe that Alex might someday care for him. And as unwilling as he was to admit it, it stung to discover that she was interested in someone else. Women. Why’d he think this time might be different?

  Disappointment turned bitter in his mouth, and he wanted to choke and spit. He’d keep his distance, be a good employee. Even a friend, if Alex showed she needed one. But he’d not set himself up for the depth of hurt he’d experienced in the past. He’d do the favor Travers had asked of him and then move on. No matter how much his heart yearned for a home, it wouldn’t be here.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  One week later, Alex stood at the bottom of the stairs and raised her voice a notch. “Martha? Uncle Joe wants to know if you’re ready. He’s got the horses hitched to the buggy.” Filtered sunlight cast soft beams over the polished wood floor, and not a speck of dust lingered on any of the pine furniture in the entry just off the parlor. Martha had risen early to leave her household spotless before she ventured off to town.

  “Yes, dear. Tell Joe I’ll be down in a minute.” Martha’s excited reply drifted from her open bedroom door. “I’m trying to decide which hat to wear. The blue is my favorite, but Alice has never seen the green one. What do you think?” She stepped out of her doorway and leaned over the banister running across the landing at the top of the stairs.

  Alex bit her lip to quell the grin that threatened to escape. Martha and her hats. She gazed up at a straw creation perched on the gray hair. “The blue feathers are pretty, but since you haven’t worn the green one, I’d choose it.” She glanced out the front door. “But you’d best hurry. Uncle Joe gets testy when he has to wait.”

  “Oh, balderdash. It’s not going to hurt the old coot to sit in the buggy for another five minutes.” Martha pulled the hat off, leaving small tufts of hair sticking up in several directions. She swung on her heel and headed back to her room. “Please let him know I’m on my way. The green will do.”

  A few minutes later Martha bustled down the stairs, carrying her canvas grip in one hand and her hat with the other. “Can you fasten the hat pin a little more securely, Alexia?” She set the grip down and turned her back.

  Alex secured the hat firmly in place then gave the older woman a quick hug. Martha pulled back, her hands on Alex’s shoulders. “Maybe I should stay home. It’s going to be too much, you taking care of Toby and doing the cooking.” She reached up to undo the hat.

  “Nonsense.” Alex picked up the small canvas grip and headed for the front door. “We’ll be fine. Justin will be here for part of the day. I’ve cooked more than a time or two, and I can handle things. Besides, you don’t get to visit Alice very often, and she’s expecting you and Uncle Joe.”

  The horses hitched to the buggy in front of the house whinnied and stamped. Martha looked outside to where Joe patiently sat on the front seat. “Perhaps one of the hands can drive me. That way Joe could stay around here.”

  Alex laughed and reached for Martha’s hand. “Come on, you old dear. I’m not six years old; I’m a grown woman. Frank is here, and Justin and Davis are both working close by. Now go—or Uncle Joe will unhitch the horses and sit on the porch.”

  “Oh my.” Martha rushed for the door, stopped, and then trotted back to plant a kiss on Alex’s cheek. “Thank you, love. I’ll try not to worry.”

  “Good.” Alex walked her to the front steps and handed her off to Joe.

  He helped Martha into the seat then stepped up and grasped the reins. “We ready to go, ladies? Or do I sit here another hour or two whilst you decide somethin’ else?”

  “Oh, pshaw, Joe. You didn’t wait on me no time at all. Let’s get a move on, or we’ll miss havin’ tea with Alice.”

  Joe rolled his eyes at Alex and winked. “Git up there, boys. You heard the lady. It’s time to go to tea.” He slapped the long reins against the team’s haunches and clucked, sending them surging forward. “Have yourself a fine day, Alex,” he called back over the sound of the rumbling buggy.

  She waved and didn’t suppress a chuckle this time. Those two characters bickered at each other half the time, but truth be told, they were the best of friends. Martha behaved like a big sister to the crotchety old Joe, and while he loved to tease her, Alex knew he’d defend her to the death.

  Time to get to work. It would be up to her to prepare lunch for Toby today—and Justin, if he got back from checking the mares in the south pasture. She reached up to rub the gold locket hanging around her neck. “Mother, you would’ve loved Toby.” The precocious little boy was hard to resist—as was his father.

  He’d seemed to be warming up to her until the evening Carter came to call. She frowned, trying to remember if anything untoward had happened that day. Justin had stabled Carter’s horse and joined the group for dinner. He’d been silent through most of the meal, even though Carter had gone out of his way to be charming and pleasant. In fact, even Martha had thawed toward their guest.

  So what was Justin’s problem? She walked to the kitchen and pulled open a cupboard. Maybe some of Martha’s bread and a slab of meat for a sandwich would do, with some fried onions and potatoes on the side. She’d have to make a trip to the cellar for the vegetables.

  She shook her head. Men were beyond her understanding, especially the ones who kept to themselves. She narrowed her eyes and her hand stilled in its work cutting slices of bread. Carter hadn’t put out an effort to speak to Justin, come to think on it. Could Car
ter be jealous? She’d didn’t want to think of that possibility.

  She sawed at the bread, not paying close attention to the blade. “Ouch!” She dropped the knife and stared at the blood dripping from a cut in her finger. “I can’t believe I did that.”

  A tap sounded at the open front door. “Anyone here?” Justin’s deep voice vibrated through the entry and back to the kitchen.

  “Come in.” Alex stared at the deep cut, walked to the basin, and pumped the handle. A gush of water flowed over the cut, spreading it open to reveal a patch of white beneath the blood. A faint feeling settled over her, and the room darkened and spun. She tried to grab for the counter but instead caught air and felt herself sinking toward the floor.

  “Whoa, there.” A pair of strong hands clasped her under her arms and lifted her off her feet. “You’re bleeding. Alex…Alexia! Don’t faint on me!”

  The dizziness faded, and she heard Justin’s strong heartbeat beneath the light cotton shirt where her ear lay cradled against his chest. “I’m—I’m all right.” She struggled weakly and felt his arms tighten around her.

  “No, you’re not. Now hold still so I can take a look at your hand.” He gently deposited her in a nearby chair and reached for a towel. He held it under the dribbling waterspout and pulled the handle down. “What’d you do?”

  Alex couldn’t tell if the dizziness had been from his embrace or from the cut. She sat up straight and tried to control her trembling voice. “I cut my hand while slicing the bread. I–I’ve never fainted before.”

  “You would’ve hit the floor in another second. You faint at the sight of blood?” He knelt beside her and held her hand, his touch making her arm tingle. “Let me take a look.” The damp towel mopped at the blood and he kept pressure on it for another few moments. “Hmm…it’s pretty deep.”

  “Not usually.”

  “Huh?” He looked up, confusion written across the face that was only inches from hers.

  “I don’t faint at the sight of blood—not even my own. It was strange. I looked at the cut while it was under water and it spread open. I guess I thought I saw the bone. For a second I thought I’d severed my finger.” She waved her other hand in the air. “The room started to spin.” She laughed in embarrassment. “It’s silly.”

  Justin kept pressure on the towel around her hand and looked right into her eyes. “No, it’s not silly at all.”

  Alex caught her breath. His eyes were clear and direct. They seemed to pull her in, drawing her closer. Her heart began to pound and she felt sure the dizziness would overwhelm her again—but for an entirely different reason this time.

  Justin cleared his throat and his eyes dropped. “Well, now. I think we’d better get some salve on this and wrap it tight. You might have a scar if it’s not stitched. You want me to drive you in to see the doc?”

  Alex pulled her hand out of his grasp and held the towel with her other hand. “No. I’m sure salve and wrapping will be fine. Thank you.” She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes, not wanting to meet that compelling gaze again. She chided herself for acting like a young schoolgirl smitten with her first crush. The man likely hadn’t felt a thing as he’d leaned close—except maybe sympathy and a little amusement that a woman who claimed to be capable of running a ranch would get woozy over a cut. “If you don’t mind helping. I don’t think I can wrap it by myself.”

  Justin found the supplies and wrapped the cut without a word. Finally, he pushed to his feet and stood staring down at her with concerned eyes. “If you think you’ll be all right, I’d best check on Toby. He should be waking from his nap.”

  Alex jumped to her feet and gasped. “I can’t believe I forgot.” She started for the door but stopped and clutched the back of a chair, dropping her head.

  Justin glanced back, turned, and walked to her side. “Sit.” He placed a strong arm around her waist and guided her back to her chair. “Stay.” He leaned her back and kept his hands on her shoulders.

  She chuckled and looked up. “That’s what I say to Hunter. ‘Sit. Stay.’ I’m not a dog, you know.”

  “Not hardly.” He grinned and headed for the door then swung around. “But I mean it. Stay put. I’ll check on Toby, and when I come back I’ll finish those sandwiches.”

  “I can do it.” She started to rise, but his stern gaze deterred her. “All right, I’ll wait.”

  “Good.” He turned at the door to the kitchen and glanced back. There was something indefinable in his glance—a hesitancy or caution that she couldn’t quite fathom. He turned and disappeared up the stairs.

  Boots clumping down the stairs alerted Alex to Justin’s return moments before he rounded the corner with Toby in his arms. The little boy rubbed his eyes and yawned. “I waked up.” He looked at Alex, and a sweet smile pulled at his plump cheeks.

  Justin placed Toby near Alex on the elevated chair and handed him a half slice of bread. Toby stuffed a piece in his mouth and stared at Alex’s finger wrapped in the bandage. “You got a owie?” He didn’t wait for her reply but held up his own small hand. “Toby got a owie, too.” He pointed at an invisible spot on his thumb. “Papa kissed it and made it better. Papa kiss your owie, ’Lexie?”

  Justin cleared his throat and ruffled Toby’s hair, anxious to turn the attention away from Alex’s glowing cheeks. “Eat your bread, son, and I’ll make us a sandwich.” He turned toward Alex with twitching lips. “He has a one-track mind if he gets something stuck in his head.”

  Alex laughed. “I’ve noticed. Like the day you came, when he begged to ride a horse.”

  Toby’s head snapped up and his eyes grew large. “Toby ride the horsey?” He began to squirm in his chair. “Please, Papa?”

  Justin rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Now we’re in for it.”

  Alex leaned back in her chair and cocked her head to the side. “Sure, why not?”

  “I beg your pardon?” Justin stopped cutting the bread and stood with the knife poised in the air.

  She grinned and pointed at the knife. “Watch what you’re doing, or you’ll be next. Uncle Joe’s been leading the pony in the yard, but I think it’s high time Toby had his first real lesson. I was riding all over the barnyard at his age.”

  Justin took the lid off the crock of butter and spread a liberal amount on each slab of bread. “I’d be obliged, if you really don’t mind. Now, what do you want between these slabs of bread?”

  “The meat is in the cellar. We carved out some ice this winter and wrapped it in burlap. Uncle Joe slaughtered a steer last week, and the ice has kept it fresh. There’s a crock of cool milk down there, too.”

  “I’ll get it.” Justin turned to Toby. “You be good and don’t get down. When we’re done eating, Miss Alex says you can ride her pony. But you have to eat your dinner first.”

  Toby’s dark curls bobbed as he nodded. “I be good. I eat all my dinner.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Justin headed for the door and pulled it shut behind him, turning Toby’s words over in his mind. Kiss her owie and make it better. Part of him had wanted to bolt from the room, while another part had wanted to laugh and raise her finger to his lips.

  The meal passed in silence, but Alex had no sense of the discomfort that she’d felt with other people when conversation lagged. This felt right—safe and companionable—like a family should. She jerked her thoughts back—she didn’t need a ready-made family. She took a quick gulp of milk and choked.

  Justin grabbed a towel and stuffed it into her hand. “You all right?”

  She raised wet eyes to his and nodded then gave a final cough and smiled. “I hope that doesn’t become a habit—your having to ask if I’m all right.”

  A sly grin crept over his face. “Yeah. Wouldn’t want the hired hand taking care of the boss lady. Might not be good for your reputation.”

  She stared, hardly able to believe her ears. He was teasing—actually teasing. She grinned back and narrowed her eyes. “You’d best watch your step, cowboy, or this b
oss lady might put you to mending fence.” She laughed at the chagrin that covered his face and reached for another drink of milk. She could get used to this.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Christy Grey sat easily in her sidesaddle on the mare she’d rented from the big blacksmith, Ralph. He’d not wanted to take her money, but she’d insisted. She didn’t care to be beholden to any man. He’d given good directions to Alexia Travers’s ranch, and from her estimation, it should only be another mile or less. The mare covered the ground with an easy, long trot, and Christy set her mind to planning.

  Much would depend on who happened to be home. She hated the thought of the sweet Travers girl hearing what she had to say, but she’d not been given a choice. Why did Alexia have to treat her with such kindness at the store the day after she’d arrived? It would’ve been so much easier had she slighted her.

  Her mare snorted and shied to the side. Christy glanced around. All she saw was brush, towering trees dotting the sparse meadows, and the tinkling stream not far behind. The mare had crossed the fast-moving water without hesitation and didn’t seem to spook easily.

  She drew back on the reins. “Whoa, girl. Easy. That’s right.” The mare gave a soft nicker and flicked her ears toward the hill up ahead. Christy stroked the glossy chestnut neck, ruffling the long mane with her gloved fingers. “Nothing’s going to hurt you.” She felt the tense body relax under her hand, and the horse’s head lowered a few inches.

  A flash of something reflected for a moment on the hill above, and just as quickly it disappeared. She narrowed her eyes and peered through the brush but didn’t see any movement. A rider? Probably one of Alexia Travers’s hands.

  She urged her mare forward and trotted up the trail but didn’t meet anyone along the way. When she crested the ridge, she drew her horse to a stop and gazed down on the scene. A green plateau spread beneath her, dotted with horses and trees, and a meandering stream wove off to one side. A two-story, bat-and-board-sided house perched on the edge of a large grassy meadow, and a huge barn sat a hundred feet away. No buggy appeared outside the barn or house, but she discerned movement in a corral. A horse and a person—or two.