“A very good friend of mine told me there might be someone here who would be interested in hiring on as a housekeeper and caregiver for my young daughter.”
“I see.” Roxanne's interest was piqued. She was suddenly very intrigued by this handsome cowboy's situation. There was a daughter, but no wife? So who was the woman at the train station?
“Is your wife ill?” Roxanne asked before she could reign in her curiosity. She was shocked at her own boldness when the words tumbled from her mouth.
She watched the man tense, his fists clenched at his sides. Then he took a deep breath and relaxed. “No, she isn't ill. She's... no longer with us,” he seemed hesitant to say the words.
Roxanne felt horrible. She should have known something awful was the cause for a man alone to be caring for a young child. How heartbroken he must be to have lost his wife so young. And recently it would seem.
“I'm so sorry, Alex. Please accept my condolences for your loss, both you and your poor little girl. What it must be like for her to lose her mother so young.”
The man’s face paled and she felt even worse for causing him more pain. She apologized again. “I’m so sorry for your loss. What can we do to help you? It can’t be easy caring for your daughter while working on your ranch.”
“No, it isn’t, but I’ll make certain my daughter is just fine. And the best way I can do that by hiring someone to help with the cooking and cleaning, and to teach my daughter the basics of her education. I need someone who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty. In exchange, I'll pay good money and there will be no strings attached.”
“Are you saying you need someone to help you with your daughter during the day? You are always welcome to enroll her here. There are several caretakers who would be more than happy to—”
“No, that won't work. I don't live in town. I live on a ranch about five miles north of Durango. I can't bring her into town every day or I'll never get any work done and I won't leave her in town with strangers. What I need is someone willing to come to my place.”
“I see.” Roxanne was trying to understood the man's situation. He was a widower with a small daughter and a ranch to run. Yes, he did indeed need help, but wasn’t there a woman with his little girl that day she arrived in town? “I seem to remember there was a woman with your little girl the day we arrived? Isn’t she able to help?”
Alex shook his head. “She was just someone who was paid to deliver my daughter to me. I didn’t even catch her name.”
Now, Roxi understood. “I see, well, I can check with some of the staff here at the school, but most of the employees here have young children and husbands to care for once their workday is done. I’ll certainly be glad to ask about. Perhaps there’s someone who is looking for—”
“Are you married? Do you have young children?” he asked. His question caught Roxanne off guard.
“Me? Um, no, but if you are insinuating that I take the job, I'm not sure that would be an appropriate arrangement. Being unmarried—”
“But you just said that the married women can't do it. Now, you’re telling me an unmarried woman can't do it either?”
“Mr. Harp, you can't be so naive as to not understand what I'm alluding to. As an unmarried woman, I have my reputation to think about.”
“It seems I'm naive about a lot of things lately...”
She watched him pause. It was obvious he was referring to something other than their present conversation. And, it was very clear that the man had some pretty big problems weighing him down.
“. . . but I can assure you, the last thing you will need to worry about is your reputation. I have references as to my character.” Then he softened his proclamation with a smile that stole her breath away. If she thought him handsome while brooding, she thought him devastating when he smiled.
It was the first time she had been thunderstruck by a man's smile and she had to admit, perhaps for the first time in her life, she had been rendered speechless.
It suddenly dawned on her what he said. “References to your character? Well, I’m new in town so I wouldn’t know the sources of your references so—”
“Everyone knows John Kingston, but since you are new in town, I can have his wife speak with you. She and I are friends and she owns this school so that would make her your employer.”
“Are you referring to Regina Kingston?” Roxanne was surprised he knew her cousin and decided it was very fortunate indeed.
“Yes, your employer,” he said again.
“I see, well, I think references are a bit premature since I haven't said I would accept your position of employment.” And yet, she surprised herself when she realized she was considering it. But why on earth would she do such a thing?
“Miss Sheffield, I can assure you that even if I was inclined to philander with my employees, which I am not, I simply don’t have the time. I have an enormous amount of work to do, so much in fact, you'll probably never even lay eyes on me. And I can sleep in the barn in order to make you feel more secure.
“You and my daughter can have complete control of the house. If that isn't proof enough your reputation will remain untarnished, I can assure you, most ardently, I'm not the least bit interested in pursuing a woman. Not after...”
She watched him struggle for his words. It must be hard for him to talk about his feelings for his dead wife. She could see him gather his emotions and check them.
“Ma'am, I have a ranch to run and a motherless daughter to raise. All I need right now is someone to care for my little girl.” He paused and thought a moment. “You should also know that I have another employee who would bear witness to everything that goes on at the ranch. Shouldn’t that help tame your fears for your reputation? And if Mrs. and Mr. Kingston’s references aren’t enough, I can provide references from any number of people here in Durango who can vouch for my character.”
“I see.” Roxanne couldn't exactly explain these feelings of disappointment at hearing the man's words that he had no interest in any romantic liaisons. Was it because he was not interested in any or just with her? That was certainly something to be examined later.
“Mr. Harp, even with all of your assurances, I would need to give your proposition some thought. And mind you, I’m not sure I can give your idea any serious consideration, but I will give you the courtesy of thinking about it. Would you mind if I take some time before I give you an answer?”
Why was she even considering his proposal? Was it the attraction she felt for the man? She certainly didn’t need his money. Her mind drifted over several possibilities until it settled on one in particular. This was just the sort of adventure she’d been looking and fate had dropped it right into her lap.
“Of course. I have some business to take care of over at the bank. I'll be back in about an hour. I'd like to say take all the time you need, but I need an answer sooner than later. I’ve got a lot riding on finding the right woman and I need to find her as soon as possible.”
“I understand. I'll let you know.” Roxanne watched the man as he nodded and turned to leave.
He stopped and turned back to her. “Roxanne, I don't need a fancy lady who doesn’t like to get her hands dirty. What I need is a woman who doesn’t mind hard work, because there’s a lot of it at my ranch, and there’s not enough hours in the day for me to do it all. If for some reason, you have any reservations about giving this job your all, tell me now because I'll need to look elsewhere. As I said, I need someone who isn’t afraid to work. No offense to you. I do hope you understand.”
“Yes, I do believe I understand your situation completely. No offense taken, Alex.”
“Good. Well then, I'll leave you to think about my offer.”
Roxanne watched the handsome cowboy turn and leave. The sight of his drooping shoulders made her empathetic to his plight, but could she agree to his offer of employment and risk her reputation? After all, she had promised her father she would return home in September and choose a husband. Perhaps she n
eeded another opinion on the matter.
“Mary, I’m going to have to leave unexpectedly. Would you ask one of the other caregivers to take over for me until I get back? Perhaps an hour or so is all I will need. There's something I need to speak with my cousin about, and it cannot wait.”
Alex rushed around town trying to get as much done as he could during the next hour. He had left Grace with Regina Kingston and he needed to get back to the ranch to help Jeremy feed the horses.
The last few days had taken a toll on him. He had kept Grace by his side much of the time, but this couldn't continue without consequences. He had colts to break and train. For the hundredth time since Grace arrived without her mother, he wondered what on earth Kate had been thinking when she sent Grace here alone. He had no idea what kind of woman he had married—until now. Though he supposed it was better to have found out while Grace was still too young to be irreversibly affected by her mother’s selfish ways. Or worse. Grace could have followed her mother’s example and learned to behave just like her. It made his stomach turn just thinking about it.
Alex turned his attention back to his task at hand. He stopped by the bank and made a deposit of cash. He had already sold six of the two-year-old fillies he had decided not to use in his horse breeding operation. They didn't measure up to his high standards. He wanted to use only the best breeding stock for his business.
He stuffed the receipt for his deposit deep into his jeans pocket. It was enough to keep him afloat until his money arrived from New Orleans, which he hoped was any day now.
“Alex, good to see you again.” He turned to see his friend, John, walk out of the bank president’s office.
“Good to see you too.” He shook hands with his friend and then John introduced him to the man he was with.
“Arnold, I want you to meet a longtime friend. This is Alex Harp. His uncle owned the Bar H Ranch outside of town until his passing. Now, it belongs to Alex. Alex, this is Arnold Godfrey. He's in town looking for some investment opportunities.”
Alex shook hands with the man. “Glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Godfrey.”
“I've heard of the Bar H Ranch. Quite a nice little setup you’ve got there. Would you consider taking on an investor? Maybe even selling it?” the man asked.
“No, sir. The ranch means a great deal to me. I spent a lot of summers visiting Uncle Zack as a kid. That's actually how John and I became friends. We spent many a day roaming the streets of Durango, doing our best to stay outta trouble. Though we seemed to get into more than we managed to stay out of.”
The portly man laughed. “I'm sure there are more than a few stories to be told there. Next time you are in town, let's get together at John's gaming room over cards. Maybe talk a little more about that ranch of yours.”
“That sounds good.” Alex shook the man’s hand and left the bank with John. They walked down Main Street together.
“Did your wife and little girl get to town safely? I saw you at the train station, but I was called away before I could say hello to you.”
Alex didn't know what to say to his friend about his wifeless plight, so he changed the subject. “Were you meeting someone at the train station?”
“Yes. Regina's cousin is here and the two of them have been almost inseparable. As soon as your wife settles in, let me know. We'd love to have you all over. I just know our wives are going to get along like a house on fire.”
Alex knew that wasn't the case. Perhaps he should tell John the truth now. “I'm not sure that's going to happen, John. My wife—Kate—didn't make it to Durango.”
“Oh, Alex. I'm so sorry to hear that. What happened? Was she ill? Was there an accident?”
Alex felt bad about the worried look on his friend’s face.
“No, she wasn't ill and there was no accident. She—”
John interrupted him. “Where on earth are my manners? I apologize for keeping you standing on the sidewalk, Alex. This is not the place to be talking about your poor wife. Come with me. Let's go to my house and we can get comfortable, then you can tell me all about what happened over some good Scotch whiskey.”
His friend slapped him on the back and guided him down the street. Alex went along without protest. He needed the time to figure out exactly what he was going to say. He hated lying. It went against everything he believed in, but he was in a hard spot. If he didn’t get the help he needed for Grace, he would have to pack up and move back to New Orleans. The thought made him sick at his stomach.
Besides, it was embarrassing to have to admit he couldn't hold on to his wife, but then he didn't think lying about the matter would gain him much respect either. Perhaps if he explained the situation to John, but asked him to keep the matter private, Alex could keep his pride intact and still get the help he needed.
John slowed his step and turned to him. “Alex, do you mind if we stop in at the hotel for a few minutes? I have some business to attend to and there's someone I'd like you to meet.”
“Not at all. Lead the way.” Alex and John walked the three blocks to the hotel. They passed several business owners along the way and stopped to chat. John always took the time to introduce Alex and to include him in their conversations. Alex appreciated his friend's inclusion. He was going to need all the help he could get if he had any hope of making his dreams for him and Grace a reality.
Half an hour later, John led the way to his hotel. It was the pride of Durango and it was quite a sight to see. The grand lobby was impressive and there was a separate room where men could gather to smoke cigars and play a little harmless game of cards without incurring the wrath of their wives. That was because his friend didn’t allow his female staff to dress in scanty outfits or offer their services to his customers above stairs.
John was adamant that he didn't make his money off the backs of others. Any fraternization between employees was also frowned upon.
His strict policies were some of the reasons why the dedicated members of The Ladies Club of Durango placed their stamp of approval on the hotel.
John ran a strict, but fair, establishment. At least, that's what Regina Kingston had assured him when speaking about the possibility of his own wife's objections to the place. He almost laughed at the thought that Kate would object to where he went and who he went there with. It was obvious she didn’t give a damn—
“Follow me to my office, Alex. I want you to meet a friend of mine.” John's voice pulled him from his thoughts. He followed John down one hall and then another. John opened the door and ushered him in.
A man stood and greeted them. “There you are. I thought I had mixed up our meeting time.” The man grinned at John and extended his hand in greeting to Alex. “And you are?”
John made the introductions. “Alex, meet my friend Will. Will, meet Alex Harp. He just took over his uncle's horse ranch west of town.”
“Good to meet you, Alex.” He watched the man frown. “Harp, did you say? Is your uncle Zack Harp?”
“Yes, he is. Well, he was. My uncle passed away this last winter and I inherited his ranch.” Alex felt the same twinge of sadness he always felt when he was reminded his beloved uncle was no longer alive.
“I remember. The Bar H Ranch. That is quite a handsome spread you have.”
“Yes, it is,“ Alex said with pride. “I used to visit my uncle when I was a kid. That is until my parents shipped me off to boarding school and then college. After that, they insisted I go back to New Orleans and work in my father's bank.” Alex cringed at the memory.
“And what do you do now?” The man questioned him.
“I am working on a two-year plan to breed the best working cow horses in these parts. And what do you do, if you don't mind me asking?” Alex directed his question to John's friend.
John grinned and slapped the man on the back. “Will here is a federal judge. Meet the Honorable William E. Baker.”
Alex was impressed with the man's credentials. “A federal judge, huh? That sounds interesting.”
“One of those benefits being a girl in every town pining away for our man here,“ John joked. “He's a confirmed bachelor. And as far as I know, he's never even considered taking a wife.”
Alex watched John stop short. “Oh, Alex. I'm so sorry. That was very inappropriate of me to make a joke like that when your wife is—”
Will leaned in closer. “When your wife is what? What did I miss?”
John answered his friend’s question. “Alex's wife is deceased, Will. She didn’t make the trip to Durango.”
Alex’s guilt mocked him. Now there were three people who believed Kate to be dead. What was he going to do now? What could he do?
Chapter 3
Roxanne made the short walk to her cousin's house in minutes. She stepped inside the cool interior of the stunning spacious home her cousin's husband had bought, and just for a moment—a tiny moment—Roxanne felt envy for Regina.
Her cousin was a very lucky woman to have found a man who loved her so selflessly and unconditionally. She wanted to find a man like that, but she feared her cousin may have landed the last one. All the men Roxi was acquainted with were either fortune hunters or rounders, and she didn’t want either as a husband.
She would have to ask John sometime how he knew Regina was the one for him.
Taking her hat off and placing it on the table next to the front door, Roxi called out, “Regina, are you home?”
Her cousin rushed into the room. “Roxanne? I'm surprised to see you. I thought you would be at the school until late this afternoon. Is everything alright?”
Regina walked across the room carrying two vases of fresh-cut flowers from her bountiful garden in the back of the house filled with a profusion of color.
“Yes, everything is fine, but I did have something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you have a moment?” Roxanne took one of the vases from her.
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