The Maverick & the Manhattanite (Montana Mavericks: Rust Creek Cowboys)

by Banks, Leanne

  Walking into the office, he saw the dispatcher and Lissa still working at their desks. “Hello, ladies,” he said.

  “Hi,” Vickie said. “I’m headed out in five minutes. It was better than usual today.”

  “Good,” Gage said and turned to Lissa. “How was your day?”

  “Good,” she said. “I would still benefit from a vehicle.”

  “As a matter of fact, one of our citizens is willing to donate a truck for your use with the contingency that you don’t drive when there’s more than a thirty percent chance of snow,” he told her.

  “I’m grateful for the transportation, but I’m curious how this negotiation took place.”

  “Harry Leonard has five trucks in his backyard garage and he’s willing to let you use one of them, the oldest one.”

  “Well, Harry sounds like a sweet guy,” Lissa said.

  “Don’t wreck his truck. He’ll get cranky,” Gage said.

  “I’ll be careful,” she promised, thrilled to have wheels.

  “But no to the snow,” he told her emphatically.

  “Unless you give me a snow-driving refresher course,” she said.

  “No to the snow,” he repeated. “But I’ll give you a snow driving course. Just don’t test your knowledge.”

  “Thanks,” she said with a huge smile that chipped at his heart. “Whew. It’s been a long day. What are you doing now?”

  Gage frowned. “Paperwork.”

  “Bummer,” she said and shot him a sideways gaze. “Maybe a pretty girl named Jasmine will keep you company for dinner.”

  He frowned. “Who told you about Jasmine?”

  “Vickie,” she said. “She seems to know almost everything.”

  “Jasmine’s a nice young girl working with one of the carpenters,” he said.

  “Uh-huh,” she said. “Nice and attractive. I don’t want to keep you from her.” Lissa rose from her chair and picked up her iPad.

  “No one is keeping me from her. I got a casserole and invited her to have dinner because she was trying to find out how to contact a senior citizen.”

  Lissa met his gaze for a long moment. “You’re a good guy,” she said.

  “Some people say good guys finish last,” he said.

  “I wouldn’t say that, but I’m headed back to the rooming house,” she said. “I have volunteers arriving tomorrow.”

  “You seem pleased.”

  “I’m so excited I can’t stand it,” she admitted. “We can finally start getting something done.”

  Her enthusiasm burrowed inside him. He smiled. “Yeah, that’s good. And we all appreciate it.”

  “Thanks,” she said. “I’m going to make an early night of it, so I’ll be ready to greet the volunteers tomorrow. Thank you for getting me some wheels from Harry Leonard.”

  “My pleasure,” Gage said. “But no—”

  “Driving in the snow,” she finished for him. “That ditch was no fun for me, either.”

  “It’s dark. You want me to walk you back to the rooming house?” he offered because he wanted to extend his time with her.

  “I think I’ll be okay,” she said. “Rust Creek isn’t the most crime-ridden place in the world. But thank you for your chivalry.”

  Gage gave a rough chuckle. “No one’s ever accused me of being chivalrous.”

  “Well, maybe they haven’t been watching closely enough.”

  Gage felt his gut take a hard dip at her statement. He knew that Lissa was struggling with her visit to Rust Creek and he hadn’t made it as easy for her as he should have. There was some kind of electricity or something between them that he couldn’t quite name. Just looking at her did something to him.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment. Call me if you need me,” he said.

  “Thank you,” she said. “Good night.”

  “Good night,” he said and wished she was going home with him to his temporary trailer to keep him warm. Crazy, he told himself. All wrong. She was Manhattan. He was Montana. Big difference. The twain would never meet. Right?

  * * *

  The next day Lissa was so busy she could barely remember her name. Her truck was delivered to her, but she barely drove it because she was busy organizing her first group of volunteers. Gage made a surprise visit at the church.

  “I’m Sheriff Gage Christensen,” he said to the group. “And I want to thank you for what you’re doing for Rust Creek Falls. You may not get a mention on the national news, but you’ll be heroes in our hearts forever.”

  Lissa gave him the heart sign with her fingers pinched together, then shuttled her volunteers toward the vehicles that would transport them. She drove the ancient truck Harry Leonard was allowing her to use. It took some getting used to, but she was thankful to have wheels. The day passed in a flurry of work. The volunteers repaired four houses by the end of the day. Lissa was thrilled. She had estimated three houses, so they were ahead of the game.

  She worked nonstop from six in the morning until nine at night every day, making sure the volunteers were well fed and got good rest. By the end of the week she was ready for a long night of rest. She gave her volunteers a recognition banquet provided by the local church and stumbled toward her rooming house.

  “Want a beer?” Will asked as he met her on the street.

  “I’m too old for a beer,” she said with a laugh.

  “You’re not too old for anything,” Will said. “You’re hot.”

  She laughed again. “Not tonight. I just want a good night of sleep. But you’re a nice guy to say that. You need to pick someone closer to your age,” she said. “You’re a great guy.”

  “You calling me a great guy? That almost makes me feel better that you turned me down,” Will said.

  “Well, it’s the truth. You’re a great guy. Don’t forget that,” she said.

  Will tipped his hat. “Thank you very much, Miss Roarke. I’ll never think of you as old.”

  “Thank you for saying that, because I sure am feeling my age tonight.” Lissa continued to the rooming house and climbed the stairs to her room. Tonight she pulled out one of those bottles of red wine and took a swig. She took another sip and wasn’t the least bit interested in finishing her glass of wine. Instead she stripped and flung herself into a hot shower. She didn’t bother drying her hair, which meant it would be a mad mess in the morning.

  Putting a towel on her pillow to absorb the moisture from her hair, Lissa climbed into bed and fell asleep almost immediately. The last image that flew through her mind was of Gage. She could almost feel his arms around her as she drifted off.

  Lissa dragged herself out of bed and tried to slide past Melba and her big breakfast the next morning. Melba, however, caught her.

  “There you are—our sweet heroine. I’ve been getting calls all week about what a great job your volunteers are doing. You come sit down and let me give you a good breakfast,” Melba said.

  “Oh, Melba, that’s not necessary,” Lissa said.

  “Of course, it is. You sit down while I fix you a proper breakfast,” Melba said.

  Soon enough, a huge platter of eggs, bacon, sausage and pancakes was placed before Lissa.

  Lissa bit her lip. “Melba, this is wonderful, but I can’t eat all this,” she whispered.

  Melba’s gaze softened. “You don’t have to eat it all. My dog, Taffy, will eat anything you don’t.”

  Lissa laughed. “Taffy’s getting a bonus meal today, but thank you for being so sweet to me.”

  “You’re the one who’s doing so much for us. If you need anything at all, you ask me for it,” Melba said.

  “Thank you, Melba. You’re the best,” she said and ate the rest of her eggs and bacon. Who could resist bacon?

  She finished her breakfast and went out wi
th the volunteers to the next citizens who needed help with their homes. The day went a bit slower, but it was still productive. She dropped by the sheriff’s office before she returned to her room.

  “It went well today,” she said to Gage.

  “So I heard,” he said in return.

  “Not as fast as the first day, but I’m not complaining,” she said.

  “Neither am I. I keep getting praise—even from Vickie,” he said.

  “That’s good to hear,” she said. “But I’m beat.”

  “Call me if you need me,” he said. “It’s supposed to snow tomorrow. I don’t want you driving.”

  “Okay, I won’t,” she said. “But the church van will be leaving in the morning. I hope we won’t have trouble on the roads.”

  “Check in with me every hour or so,” he said.

  She nodded. “Okay. Hopefully, the weather won’t prevent us from doing our job. I’m determined.”

  “I like that about you,” he said.

  She stared at him for a long moment and wished he would take her in his arms and kiss her. It didn’t happen.

  “Okay,” she said. “I’d like to hear back from you in the morning. Sweet dreams,” she said and headed for the door.

  “Same to you,” Gage said.

  Yeah, she thought. The good thing about her sleep tonight was that she was so tired she couldn’t avoid it. She couldn’t help hoping Gage would struggle with his sleep. Wouldn’t it be great if he was tortured by thoughts of her? It would only be fair, she thought.

  Very fair.

  Chapter Four

  What an amazing experience. I’ve already fallen in love with the people of Rust Creek Falls. The former mayor’s elderly mother is determined to continue his legacy by working in the mayor’s office. It amazes me the sacrifices the citizens have made in order to stay in Rust Creek and rebuild. Sheriff Gage Christensen is clearly determined to give his all to get the community back on its feet. I’m humbled by all that I’m learning about the people here and the volunteers coming to help.

  —Lissa Roarke

  Lissa couldn’t get Thelma McGee out of her mind, so she bought some flowers from the grocery store and took them to Thelma before she was scheduled to go out with the rest of the volunteers for the day’s activities.

  “Good morning, Mrs. McGee,” she said to the gray-haired woman. “I was thinking about you this morning and wanted you to have these flowers.”

  Thelma widened her eyes in surprise. “For me?”

  “Yes,” Lissa said. “For you. You’ve been working hard. I thought these might brighten up your day.”

  The older woman fumbled with the blooms. “Well, aren’t you a sweetheart,” she said.

  “You’re the sweetheart,” Lissa said, correcting her.

  Mrs. McGee smiled. “I’m so glad you stopped by. I wanted to invite you to dinner this weekend.”

  Surprised, Lissa blinked. “Um...”

  “Don’t say no. I don’t invite people to dinner all that often, but I promise the food will be good.”

  “No doubt it will be,” Lissa said. “But you don’t have to do this for me.”

  “It’s my pleasure,” Mrs. McGee said. “You’re so full of life. It makes everyone feel good to be around you. We’re blessed that you’re here to help us.”

  Humbled by the woman’s kind words. “It will be my pleasure,” Lissa said. “When do you want me to come?”

  “Sunday night would be fine. Around six o’clock. Thank you for coming. You’ve been so good for all of us. I know my son would be so grateful,” she said, her voice breaking.

  Lissa felt the threat of her own tears. She could only imagine how hard it must be to lose a child at any age. Even an adult child. “I’ll be at your house on Sunday night. Thank you for the invitation. I’m honored.”

  The next three days passed in a blur. By the time Sunday night came around, Lissa was beat, but she was determined to meet her obligation for dinner with Thelma McGee. After the volunteers departed at four, she helped the church strip linens and clean. She took a quick shower before she showed up on Mrs. McGee’s front porch at five minutes after six. She felt guilty about those extra five minutes.

  Thelma opened the door and beamed at her. “Here you are, our angel. Come on in,” she said.

  Lissa couldn’t remember when she’d been called an angel, but she liked it. It made her want to be even more of an angel. “Thank you, Mrs. McGee.”

  “Please, call me Thelma,” she said and led Lissa through the hallway into a den with plump upholstered furniture, soft lamps...and Sheriff Gage Christensen.

  He met her gaze with as much surprise as Lissa felt.

  “Oh,” she said. “Hello.”

  “Hello to you,” he said, holding a glass of something that looked like hard liquor.

  “Would you like a cocktail?” Thelma asked. “I gave Gage some whiskey.”

  “I’m fine,” Lissa said, knowing she needed nothing that would make her sleepy. She’d been fighting sleep the entire day.

  “Okeydoke,” Thelma said. “I’m going to check on my dinner.”

  Silence followed as she left.

  “What are you doing here?” Gage finally asked before he knocked back his whiskey.

  “She invited me a few days ago. I tried to refuse, but—”

  Gage shook his head. “No one can refuse Thelma. Especially now.”

  “So what are you doing here?”

  “I come every other week. I know she’s lonely, and with her son gone...”

  He looked at his glass as if he were wishing for more whiskey.

  “Well, hey, we repaired some more houses today,” she said cheerfully.

  “That’s good news.”

  “Another crew is coming next week,” she said.

  “Gotta give it you, you’re pulling in a lot of help. We’re really grateful,” he said.

  “It’s what I do,” she said. “Just like being a sheriff is what you do.”

  He paused then nodded and took one last sip from his squat glass. “Yeah.”

  That one word was just too sexy. If anyone else had said it, it wouldn’t have affected her, but when Gage looked at her that certain way and said yeah, something inside her quickened and shifted.

  Thelma returned with a smile and clasped her hands together. “Dinner is ready.”

  Grateful for the distraction, Lissa focused her attention on Thelma. “Perfect,” she said. “I can’t wait.”

  Lissa did the best acting job she could ever remember. She focused on Thelma and her pot roast and vegetables. She enjoyed the sweet potatoes added to the traditional mixture.

  “I cook it all in the oven, covered and at a low temperature for a long time. That’s the secret. Low temperature, and don’t rush,” Thelma said. “Everyone is in such a rush these days, cooking everything in a microwave. If you’re not careful, your dinner will taste like cardboard.”

  Lissa nodded and spared a quick glance at Gage. “I can’t deny what you’re saying. When I’m in New York, I either heat something up in the microwave or order takeout.”

  Thelma laughed. “The only takeout we have here is when a friend delivers a meal.”

  “I get a lot of those,” Gage said. “I’m lucky, though. Just like tonight with your pot roast. I’m a charity case.”

  Thelma laughed again. “You’re anything but a charity case. The old women are grateful to you. The young women want a date with you.”

  “And in between?” Gage asked as he took another bite of pot roast.

  “In between, they want you to help with their kids. Tell me I’m wrong,” Thelma said.

  Gage shook his head. “Can’t say you’re wrong. You’re a smart woman, Mrs. McGee.”


  “I keep asking you to call me Thelma so I’ll feel younger,” she said with a coy smile. “Well, I must make a toast,” she said, lifting her still-full glass of wine. “To Gage, for working too much to help Rust Creek Falls recover. And to Lissa, for giving us the spark we needed to make our community better. I am so grateful to both of you, just as my son would have been.”

  Lissa lifted her water glass as Gage lifted his. “Cheers,” she said along with him and saw the pain in his eyes.

  An hour later, Lissa saw that Mrs. McGee was fading. Lissa covered a yawn. “Oh, my goodness, I’m so tired. You’re putting me to shame. Your dinner filled me up and made me want to go to sleep.”

  Thelma caught her yawn and covered her mouth. “You’ve been working hard. Having both of you here tonight has been so wonderful.”

  “Oh, no,” Lissa said. “This has been a huge treat for me.”

  “And for me,” Gage added. “I would have had muffins and a burger for dinner if not for this. And trust me, your company was much better than my own.”

  Thelma sighed. “Well, we’re all connected by our love for this community. I’m so grateful for both of you.”

  “We are grateful for you,” Gage said. “Now let us help clean up, or both Lissa and I will be offended.”

  “Well, now, I wouldn’t want to offend you,” Thelma said.

  Lissa and Gage cleaned up the dishes in a short time, chatting all the time with Mrs. McGee as she sat in a chair in the kitchen. They both said their goodbyes and thank-yous to the lovely woman and walked out the door.

  On the porch, she looked up at Gage. “She’s a great woman.”

  “Yeah, and she had a great son,” he said, his gaze sad.

  “She seemed happy,” Lissa said, inhaling the cold night air.

  Gage nodded. “I can drive you home,” he said.

  “It’s not that far,” she said. “I can walk.”

  “I’ll drive,” he insisted and escorted her to his SUV. He opened the door to the passenger side and helped her into her seat then rounded the car to the driver’s seat.