by B. J Daniels
It was time to end the suspense. She needed to get the bracelet back and move on.
Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket. She quickly checked it since only one person had the number. She’d lied to Darby about not having a phone, always leaving it behind when she went to work.
Taking a shaky breath, she answered the call, knowing it would be bad news. “Yes?”
“He was here looking for you.”
“Did you talk to him?”
“No, of course not. Auntie handled it. She wouldn’t let him inside. He wanted you and then he asked for me. Auntie told him neither of us had been around.”
“You know he’ll be back. It isn’t safe—”
“I had Auntie whisked away in the dead of night. I got word that she is safe.”
“What about you?” Mariah hated the fear she heard in her voice.
“I left, as well, when it was safe. No one saw me leave, so don’t worry. Anyway, I can take care of myself.”
Not against this man. “You know what he’s capable of.” There was silence on the other end of the line. “Maybe you should pick up another phone.”
“I won’t call unless...well, you know.”
She did know. Tears filled her eyes. Her hand went to her wrist to stroke her grandmother’s bracelet, only to remember it was gone. The loss hadn’t hurt as badly as it did at that moment. “Please be careful. I know you don’t believe in the evil eye—”
“I’m wearing my pendant,” her best friend, Serra, said. “Why not? We both need all the luck we can get and our grandmothers lived to ripe old ages—maybe we will too.”
Mariah disconnected and tucked the phone behind the pillow on her bed. She had to end this and get moving again. He wouldn’t quit looking for her.
But she wasn’t leaving without her bracelet. Her friend was right. She needed all the luck she could get.
Tonight, though, she needed to clear her head and there was only one way. She grabbed the key to her bike. When she got like this, the best thing she could do was hit the road, let the motorcycle run and push away all the crazy thoughts.
Slipping on her jacket, she stepped outside. The moon peeked over the mountains, a brilliant glowing sphere that gilded the landscape. The air felt chilly and wonderfully scented with pine.
Swinging up onto her bike, she started the engine, loving the sound of its throaty roar, and turned toward the highway out of town. Once she hit the wide pavement, she opened it up and let it run. There was no traffic on the highway this time of night. It was just her and the road. The speed blew back her long hair in a dark wave. She breathed in the night. She was Mariah Ayers, granddaughter of a Roma queen. Nothing could stop her. Not even Darby Cahill.
The thought of the handsome cowboy with those dark-fringed gray eyes and easy smile made her even more restless. He was a temptation, one she couldn’t afford. If she stayed here much longer—
She took the next curve too fast. The bike leaned dangerously, but she managed to pull it back out as the road straightened again. Her heart was pounding. Darby and this place, this feeling, were dangerous. They made her reckless.
Mariah slowed the bike to turn around and head back, feeling as if now she could get some sleep. It was time to move up her plan, time to put Gilt Edge and Darby Cahill behind her. Tomorrow night.
* * *
“SOMETHIN’S UP,” BILLIE DEE whispered and pointed toward the bar.
“Something like what?” Lillie whispered back. The two of them had been in the kitchen talking while Billie Dee made cornbread to go with her pot of Texas ham and beans cooking on the stove.
“Your brother and Mariah.”
Lillie’s attention perked right up. “Like what?”
“I can’t put my finger on it, but they act very strange around each other. Kinda too polite and yet I see each of them watchin’ the other.”
“She’s new. Darby probably just wants to make sure she does a good job. And she’s probably self-conscious knowing he’s watching her.”
Billie Dee laughed. “That woman is anything but self-conscious. She knows exactly what she’s doing—driving your brother crazy.”
“What?”
“He has it bad. Haven’t you seen how off-center he is around her? He’s not his usual cool self.”
Lillie thought about it for a moment. “You’re right. He hasn’t been himself since the Chokecherry Festival. Do you think they met there and don’t want us to know?”
“Why would they do that?” the cook asked frowning.
“Maybe because my brother doesn’t like anyone to know his business. Do you realize he hasn’t even invited me up to see my apartment?”
“You mean his apartment?”
“Whatever. But I think you’re right,” she said, watching Darby behind the bar as Mariah came up to place a drink order for one of her tables. “He’s definitely interested in her. So why hasn’t he asked her out?”
“Because he’s Darby. Or because she works for him. Or because—”
“If he’s really interested, then none of that matters. Maybe there is something we can do to help them along.”
Billie Dee was already shaking her head. “No way,” she said, heading for the stove to stir the beans. “I’m not gettin’ involved in that.”
“I thought you were a romantic,” Lillie teased.
“I keep my nose out of other people’s business. I suggest you do the same.”
Lillie laughed. “You know me better than that. But first I need to know more about this woman.”
* * *
“WHAT IS THIS obsession with Mariah?” Darby asked after being confronted by his sister when he came downstairs to the kitchen the next day. “So what if she doesn’t have a Facebook page? A lot of people don’t.”
“She has no online presence at all,” Lillie said from the table where she sat with her laptop propped open. “How is that possible in this day and age?”
“Maybe you haven’t noticed, but the woman travels by motorcycle and lives out of a backpack. She doesn’t even have a cell phone.”
“Exactly. That’s not...normal.”
He laughed. “It sounds great to me.”
His sister shook her head in exasperation. “I saw the paperwork on her. She hasn’t stayed at any job more than a few weeks. What do you even know about her?”
“I know she’s a good waitress. That’s all I have to know about her. And if she doesn’t stay around long...well, that’s fine too since mostly we need the help through these busy weeks of summer.”
Lillie mugged a face at him. “So you expect her to leave soon too.”
“Based on her past employment, probably. She says she’s looking for a place to settle but hasn’t found it yet. I really doubt that place is Gilt Edge.”
“Why not?”
He groaned. “If you’re looking for an argument—”
“It’s not like you to hire someone off the street.”
“We hired Billie Dee and Kendall that way,” he pointed out.
“So you’re telling me that’s all that’s going on?” Lillie pressed.
Darby did his best to look innocent. “What else?”
“I don’t know. I just get this feeling that you’re interested in her but...”
He rolled his eyes. “You and your feelings. Or maybe you just need something else to occupy your mind other than your wedding and furnishing your new house and starting your new life. By the way, Dad’s definitely back at his cabin. I saw his Jeep parked out front in a different spot. It’s strange though that he hasn’t contacted one of us. I wonder why he came out of the mountains so early?”
She sighed. “Mariah is sure beautiful, but kind of secretive too.”
He cut his eyes to her. “Seriously,
you’re that determined to talk about her?”
“Okay, I’ll lay off, but I think there is more to the story.”
Darby was saved as Billie Dee came in the back door singing about saints marching in.
* * *
“CAN I GET A color this week?”
Maggie looked up from her scheduling book in surprise to see Wendy Westbrook standing in front of her. She glanced around expecting to see Tori Clark with the girl. The two were inseparable. Across the street, she spotted Tori with her little sister Quinn. The younger one seemed to be arguing that she wanted to leave, but Tori was holding tight to the back of her sister’s hoodie.
“Did you have a day in mind?” Maggie asked, noticing that Wendy was trying to read the schedule book upside down.
“I don’t know. What do you have?” the teen said around a wad of gum.
“I would imagine you’ll need it after school—”
“No, it doesn’t matter. During the day is fine. Maybe...” Her gaze was on the book in front of Maggie. “Wednesday’s good at nine. I don’t have a class until after lunch that day.”
“Fine, I’ll pencil you in. You’ll let me know if you change your mind.” Maggie had dealt with these girls when they were younger.
“I won’t,” Wendy said, and she popped a bubble with her gum as she turned and left.
Across the street, Tori Clark finally let go of her little sister as Wendy streaked across to join them. She watched for a moment as the two friends put their heads together, then laughed, but they were soon chasing after Quinn who was a half block away.
Maggie wondered for a moment what she’d just witnessed. Then she picked up the phone and called Wendy’s mother.
Rachel Westbrook answered on the fourth ring. She sounded out of breath. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry, this is Maggie Thompson at Just Hair. Did I catch you in the middle of something?”
“Yoga.”
“I’ll let you get right back to it. Wendy was just in and scheduled—”
“Do you need my credit card number right now?” She still sounded out of breath. Also from some distance, a male voice said, “Hang up. Buy something later,” then laughed.
“Not necessary. Sorry to interrupt.” Maggie hung up, telling herself that if Wendy didn’t show for her appointment, she thought Rachel would be happy to pay anyway since everyone in town knew that her pilot husband, Don, was away flying the Seattle–New York route for the next two weeks.
* * *
DARBY REALIZED THAT every day Mariah was scheduled to work, he found himself listening for the rumble of her motorcycle. Today was no different. And every day he knew that he might not hear it. He might not hear it ever again.
Would she just give up and leave? That he doubted. No, he thought she would come for the bracelet. He just didn’t know how—or if she would have help. So far he hadn’t seen her with anyone. Men hit on her at the bar, but she brushed them off like flies. No, he didn’t think she would enlist anyone to help her. Mariah was too independent for that.
Darby had watched her rub her bare wrist sometimes as if it hurt. As if the bracelet was a missing limb. We should stop this, he thought. End this before it goes any further.
But this past week, he’d awakened every day with excitement in his belly. He’d looked forward to the days that he worked with Mariah. There was an anticipation in him that made the food that Billie Dee cooked taste even more amazing.
Darby couldn’t explain this feeling. All he knew was that he didn’t want to go back to the days before Mariah.
It was crazy and he knew it. His sister was right. He still had no idea who the woman really was. Or what she was capable of. But as insane as it seemed, that was part of the excitement.
At the growl of her motorcycle engine, he felt himself relax. It was just another day at the saloon. But at the back of his mind, he wondered how long this could last. How long she was going to let it?
* * *
“SORRY ABOUT EARLIER,” Lillie said as she plopped down at the bar several hours later. “I didn’t mean to give you a hard time about Mariah.” She glanced over her shoulder to make sure the woman couldn’t hear, but Mariah was busy with a group that had just come in. “I hate this new schedule. I never see you anymore. I miss talking with you.”
“I miss you too. But soon your house will be done, you’ll be happily married and summer will be over. Things always slow down in the winter. But right now, you have a lot on your plate.”
She groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
“Oh, come on—it can’t be that bad.”
“Ha. Like you know anything about it. What kind of decorating have you done with the apartment?” she asked.
He laughed. “You can’t stand it. You want to see upstairs, don’t you?”
“I just want to see what you’ve done.”
“Lillie, you know me. I haven’t done anything.”
“I could help you.”
He shook his head. “Don’t look so disappointed. I love you, but the apartment will never be as nice as when you lived there. I like things...simple.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to add just a few things. Maybe some pillows or a wall hanging or—”
“Lillie, what is going on with you?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” she snapped as she got up to come around the bar and poured herself a cola. “I will never understand you. Kendall was all wrong for you, according to you. But Mariah? What are you waiting for?”
He looked across the room at the woman taking orders from the large table. Mariah made it look easy. She made a lot of things look easy and appealing. He liked the way she smelled, that citrusy perfume she wore. He liked the way she moved, like a sleek cat. He liked the way she smiled, her dark eyes gleaming.
“She likes you, so what is the problem?” his sister demanded quietly.
He chuckled. “You’re sure it’s me she’s interested in?”
“What? You think she wants the bar?” Lillie shook her head. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”
“Really?” he asked, turning to gaze into his sister’s beautiful face. “And how exactly does she look at me?”
“Like a woman who is trying to figure out a man. But it is more than that. She looks at you like she has feelings for you and she wishes she didn’t.”
Darby laughed. “All that in a look?”
“Make fun, but it’s true. And you know what? I can tell that you are interested in her. I’ve seen you watching her.” Lillie grinned as if she’d discovered a truth that he’d tried hard to hide. “Admit it.”
“I’m fascinated by the woman,” Darby confessed.
“I knew it. So ask her out.”
He shook his head. “Fascinated from a distance, a safe distance. Like you pointed out before, what do we know about her?”
“You’re going to let fear stand in your way?” She sounded appalled. But then again, she was an engaged woman in love.
“Nothing wrong with a good healthy dose of fear.” He had good reason to fear Mariah’s motivations—and her interest in him.
* * *
MARIAH CAME BACK to the bar with her order. Darby had his arm around his sister as the two stood together laughing.
“You just need to settle into your new lifestyle,” Darby was saying to his sister. “Once the wedding is over and the house is done, you’ll be just fine. Trust me.”
Lillie smiled up at him. “I do trust you. Trust me. Take a chance.”
He laughed and gently pushed her away. “Go, bride-to-be. The sooner this wedding is over, the happier we will all be.”
As Mariah watched Lillie leave, she felt a pang of envy at how close Darby and Lillie were. She’d never had a sibling. Never had anyone who cared the way he did
for his twin except maybe her grandmother, but no one since. Maybe things would have been different if she’d had a brother to look after her. She quickly shoved that thought away.
She’d never been one to live in the past. It did no good to spend her time going over the what-ifs. Things were the way they were. She had to deal with them.
The clock was ticking. She’d been here too long. She couldn’t stay much longer. So what was holding her up? She knew staying here was dangerous. But she couldn’t leave without her bracelet.
That was the only thing keeping her here, she told herself as Darby smiled as he took her drink order. She felt that tug at her heart, the one that told her she’d put off the inevitable too long. She had to end this.
* * *
IT WAS A busy night. Darby had spent it behind the bar, trying to keep up with drink orders. Mariah had kept up well with the demand on the floor. He had to hand it to her, she really was good at this.
When she came in for a drink order, he slipped her a water while she waited. She looked surprised, took a drink and said, “Thanks.” For a moment their eyes met. That thrill he’d felt that first day rippled through him.
He started to lift one of the drinks he’d made up to her tray. At the same time, she reached for it. Her fingers brushed against his. He felt a jolt and dropped the glass. It hit the edge of the bar and shattered, glass going everywhere along with the bright colored liquid.
“Are you cut?” Mariah asked, looking alarmed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have reached for it.” She quickly grabbed his hand, turning it this way and that to see if there was any blood. The bright red of the grenadine had splashed over his skin, but he could see that he hadn’t been injured.
Still she didn’t release his hand. She turned it palm up. He watched her trace a finger along one of the lines and then another.
“What do you see?” he asked, stunned by the shock of her touch. A current ran through his veins, racing toward his heart at a gallop.
“You’ve never had your heart broken,” she said studying his hand with utmost seriousness. “You will have only one love.” Her finger traced a line across the center of his palm to his wrist.