by Jillian Hart
"Very funny!" Mindy called out as she closed the back door, her voice echoing faintly through the kitchen and into the front room of the shop, muffled by the distance between them. "Since we aren't being robbed, can we put more coal on the fire?"
"No, we have to save as much as we can since I can sell it to Joel next door. He's a good neighbor, and we need every penny we can get. My goal is to keep from touching my savings. It's there for an important reason. We need a rainy day fund, and it's not raining hard enough yet. So, for now, brr." She told herself that she wasn't cold and was thankful for the wool cardigan she wore over her flannel dress. "So be careful not to freeze back there."
"That is if the burglar doesn't shoot me first, which would be me." Sarcasm, but good humored, rang in Mindy's words.
Laughing to herself, Jada unrolled the newspaper. She turned the rustling, ink-scented pages, keeping her gaze sharp for the classified advertisements. She had an affordable retail space to find, which would be a challenge. Money was the issue, especially since her hefty deposit for this place was unlikely to be refunded, putting them definitely at a disadvantage.
The unfairness felt like sorrow as she folded the newsprint in half and squinted at the fine black type-set print on the page. Her vision seemed to be a tiny bit blurry. So, she blinked away the sting and excess water, which she refused to call unshed tears, and took a wobbly breath.
I can do this, she thought. I can find a way to hold onto our independence. It wasn't as if she had many employment options at all, even here in this small, backwater frontier town.
"Are you sure we can't put more coal on the fire?" Stella popped her head around the door frame, her teeth chattering, and her eyes full of a mischievous plea. "Do I have to bribe you?"
"I'm impervious to bribes." With a wink, Jada glanced up from the classified section she was pursuing. "But they say money talks."
"I've got an extra penny."
"What? A whole penny? Coal doesn't come cheap. That would buy, what, how many pieces of it? I'm going to need more than that, sorry."
"I can scrounge up a nickel."
"Well, if you've got six cents, then we have no worries at all."
"I still can't get over my fury at our landlord's injustice! She just wanted a reason to keep our enormous deposit they charged us because they can."
"True. We are a risk, and we know it. Pa doesn't have the best reputation in this town, and neither do I. And worse, there are those who don't trust women to know how to run a business."
"Well, some women know what they are doing."
"But it's not us." Jada grinned, shook her head and couldn't deny the truth that they were simply hoping to make a stab at a business and cross their fingers that hard work and honesty would help them to stay afloat. Maybe even prosper.
Naive, that's what they were, apparently. She hung her head. This felt like her fault. "I don't know how to fix this, but you know I'm going to try my hardest."
"Oh, I think we know just who to blame, and it's not you." Mindy's face scrunched up sympathetically. "We just have to find somewhere else to live immediately. Staying here won't work out. Well, what will?"
What a good way to hide the fear and worry. Jada admired that and lifted her chin, squared her shoulders and felt glad she was not alone. There was nothing better, in her experience, than a life with her sisters. "There are a few rentals available now. One is next to the hog farm on the road out of town."
"What? No! You can smell that farm long before you see it. Phew!"
"Phew? That's putting it mildly!" Stella's voice came from the kitchen. "I'd rather sleep in the alley outback like a vagabond."
"Or move in with Pa. That would be no worse than the alley."
"Except we'd have a canvas roof over our heads. Not so good when it's snowing." Jada eyed the window. Giant white flakes pummeled down with the force of hail. "I guess we've got quite a storm rolling in. Do you think it will keep customers away today?"
"It's hard to tell. No one has come in so far."
"I don't think it's only the storm. Starting a business like this in a tiny town mostly full of men and very few women, well, we don't have a very big customer base to start with."
"There's no point in doing the free cookie promotion you were going to put in the weekly paper. Buy one, get one free. That sounded like a grand idea to me."
The bell above the front door clanged, shattering the quiet. The cold air whipped into the store and there stood a man of average height, extra lean with an extremely long black beard in the doorway bundled up in a black winter coat. Rudolph Simms rushed inside and closed the door. "Brr! It's cold out there. Well, howdy there to you fine ladies."
Jada took one look at the overeager man, folded the newspaper and set it on the cushion beside her. "Welcome, Mr. Simms, we're glad you came to see us. Would you like a cup of free hot coffee to help thaw you out? You look half-frozen."
"It's a hard, cold walk from the bank where I deposited another bit of gold dust from my claim. Not that I can prospect in weather like this, right? Thank you kindly for offering, Miss. You look fine today, all three of you."
"Thank you, Mr. Simms." Jada stood and crossed toward him. "Please come in and I'll show you the freshest bread choices. The loaves just came out of the oven a little bit ago."
"Why, that sounds fine to me. You've got the best bread in town, at least that's my humble opinion. You three ladies have homemade baking talent. It's a real treat to eat bread like this. It reminds me of being back home. I hope you will still be in business after the horrible incident the other day. I was paying my rent a little while ago and I heard all about it."
"It was quite an adventure and very funny." Jada skirted the counter and swished into place. She grabbed a bakery box just the right size. "Now, which loaf would you like?"
"I saw only part of the happenstance when I was riding by, I must say." Rudolph Simms squinted at the display glass, studying his choices. "I saw those twins bareback on that pony, running out of control down the street. I saw trouble, but others said the pony just hadn't been ridden in about ten years."
"I guess they gave riding him their best shot." But it was Frisco she thought of, the impressive, manly image of him expertly mopping the floor, and his kindness and good humor remained, impressing her. He'd even paid for her gift of the cookies. Top-notch man, she had to admit. And had to find a way not to let that affect her. It wasn't as if it were wise to raise her opinion of him.
Just yet.
"Well, at least you're here in business today." Rudolph shuffled over a step and considered the selection of rolls as well. "I'll just take a loaf of the sourdough, please. Where are you ladies relocating to?"
"It's going to be a complete and total surprise, even to us." Jada did her best to hide the lurch of anxiety in her heart and chose the best loaf and boxed it. "And we will let you know where we go. Is there anything else you would like?"
"No, thank you, Miss. Did Miss Stella bake this bread?"
"Why, yes, it's true." Stella swished into sight, looking dear in a dark maroon-colored wool dress, the straight fall of the bell skirt swishing elegantly about her trim figure. What a pretty picture she made in the brush of the lamplight. "Although I'm not the baking genius around here."
"My palate would never know it. You ladies have some of the best bread in town. Mark my words, news of that will get around." He was an awkward man with an unfortunate chin and a bulbous nose, but that did not diminish his quality, someone who worked hard on his gold claim along the creek and who also worked a job unloading freight. He gave a gap-toothed grin, a very nice one. "I grew up poor as dirt and that's why I'm working so hard here and on my claim, too. I intended to make something of myself."
"You already have in our eyes, Mr. Simms." Jada set the box on the polished counter. She slid the penny change across the counter. "You have a very good day. Thank you for coming by."
"It was my pleasure, and I know I'm going to enjoy this bread. Goo
d day to you, lovely ladies." He tipped his hat before opening the door and ambling away, bakery box in hand.
"One of our best customers." Jada didn't add they had few of them, but slowly they were gaining some. And she hated to think they were doomed now. This had to work out or she would have to go back home, where her pride had taken such a hard fall and her reputation a harder wound.
"Did you see anything in the paper?" Stella asked as she poured a cup of tea from the pot on the counter.
"The cheap place next to the livery barn's muck out pile is still available. And very odorous. I checked." Jada plunked back onto the sofa cushion and reached for the newspaper determined to search until she found the perfect solution. It had to be here. She flipped her attention back to the page where the out-of-price, only other available shop space was right next to the Pratt office. And both places had no living quarters above or behind them.
Please, don't make us pick between the two disasters, she thought, rolling her eyes. Because that would be doom, too. Then again, perhaps it would be good for business either way. Next to the livery, people with no sense of smell (say, a cold that day or a bit of an allergy) might get a hankering for a loaf of bread or cookies to treat themselves after just riding into town. Next to the Pratt office, folks might need sustenance after such business dealings with the odious people (or at least something to perk up their will to live). Cakes or a half dozen cookies would do. So, she thought, amusing herself, perhaps neither option happened to be doom after all.
"You're laughing to yourself." Stella's voice broke into her thoughts. "Stop that right now! There's the handsome cowboy, and he's coming this way!"
6
The cowboy? Frisco? Jada's heart gave a bump and she nearly gave her neck a crack turning her head so fast. There he was, looking fine this morning dressed all in black. The door swung open, and he smiled at her like he was used to charming women, as if he were used to them dropping at his feet and batting their eyelashes adoringly at him.
Well, she was no eyelash batter! She wasn't going to fall into that trap of even hoping he would notice her in that way. Not going to happen. Her heart ached sharply and she narrowed her gaze, donning a look she'd perfected long ago to keep her heart safe. It always kept men distant. Better safe than risking her hopes and then her heart and being sorry.
"Hey, I heard a rumor about you ladies." He padded over to tower in front of her, a dashing tilt to his chiseled grin and his wide-brimmed hat.
"A rumor?" Great. I should have known. Of course he would hear about what had happened with Heather Pratt because he was a well-liked man. He knew what went on in his town. She rolled her eyes upward to look at him. "Don't you know what they say? Never believe what you hear. Put no stock or faith in a rumor. Don't listen to gossip, don't do it."
He tipped his head back and let out a soft bark of laughter that warmed the room and chased their sadness away. The day felt brighter as he fixed his dark gaze on hers. "I couldn't resist. I have a weakness in this town and that's when someone says, did you hear about this? I pay attention. And I heard something very disturbing about the consequences of a pony in your store from the postmaster. His wife was shopping across the way when Miss Pratt delivered her missive."
"Nothing is private in a small town. Well, even here in the wild west, that hasn't changed."
"Yep, people are the same, aren't they? And I'm glad about that. It's always good when you meet nice people, and I'm happy that Alder Creek is a town more law abiding than not these days, and I've had some hand in that."
"You sound like a man happy with his volunteer work."
"After twenty years spent in the field of law enforcement, there's nowhere else I'd rather be than not in it for a living. I'm loving the ranching way of life. I'm not looking to change a thing with that."
"Oh. That explains it, then." Did he mean with his profession or his lifestyle? Likely his profession, but for some reason his words hit her like a punch to her heart.
Not that he'd been hoping at all because she knew better, but, still, it felt as if they deflated hard, tumbling painfully. When it made no sense at all. Well, maybe she'd held out a little secret hope after all. And, boy, did it hurt. He would be never be interested in her anyway, she reminded herself. See how important it was to be practical and sensible?
"I've got a nice spread just out of town and who knows how many horses. I'm mostly a trainer, but I love to look out on my paddocks and see my horses grazing. It's a good life." He gave a one-sided grin, accentuating the dimple in his left cheek. "That's a lot of personal information, and more than you were likely prepared for. What do you think about country life, Miss Shepherd, or is it always going to be town or city life for you?"
"What?" Her brain refused to work as he slipped a paper-wrapped box on the nearby table. With that ribbons, why, it looked just like a gift. "I like both, country and town living."
"Good to know. This here is an I'm sorry gift for what my boys did to you and to your business here." He nudged the little wrapped box in her direction. "It's a small gesture, but well-meant."
"You shouldn't go to any trouble for me, Frisco, I mean, you made things right by cleaning the floor."
"Not everything. Go ahead, it's for you. I picked it out myself without hardly any help from my mother."
"I'm not too sure about grown men who go shopping with their mothers."
"You're teasing me. For your information, my ma has exquisite taste in many fine things. And I see that glint of sparkle in your eye. You like that I got you a gift, don't you, but don't want to admit it."
"I'm in utter and complete denial about that. Thank you for the present. You really are a thoughtful man."
"You are the only person on earth to say that to me." He nudged over the box one more time, his big, larger fingers dangerously close to hers.
When he let go, her heart beat again and she drew in a small, strangled breath.
The dimple in his left cheek dug deeper. "I see that you're mad at me."
"Sure I am. I don't really have any other choice. Look at you, so happy with yourself."
"I try to be a happy guy. Life is good to me, that's all I can say. I'm very glad I tried to do the right thing. Or do you want me to take the box back to the store?"
"No! I'm just at a loss. However am I going to not like you now?"
Her gentle humor made him laugh again. "That's the idea. I want you to like me. I figured this was a good start."
"It's impossible to not like you, so it was a very wise move. And so very thoughtful." Was it her fault that her voice warmed a notch? She couldn't seem to keep the smile and approval out of her voice. "You're not so bad."
"I'm relieved you think so. That's quite an improvement in your opinion of me."
Oh, she was not fooled by his knowing grin or tempted by that glimmer of charm in his dark eyes. She arched a brow at him. "What did you get me?"
"I'm not telling. You open that after I'm gone. I don't want to be taken in by that gorgeous, beautiful smile of yours, and when you see it, I hope you smile." His gaze fastened on hers, and it felt as if the entire world froze, time forgot to move and her heart to beat, waiting, just waiting, as if to see what she would think of that.
"What kind of outrageous compliment is that?" She shook her head, her heart jumping to beat again. He was being kind, just kind, and not sincerely serious. This wasn't a personal gift, but an obligation. She'd do best to remember that. She blushed a little at her foolishness and dipped her chin to hide her disappointment. "You just might be struck by lightning if you keep telling fibs like that. I'd be careful if I were you."
"You're wrong, Jada. But I do want your good opinion." He leaned in, curious. "Is it working?"
"That depends on what's in the package."
"Whew, now I feel much better about what I bought for you and what I just did for you." He took a folded paper out of his coat pocket. "I talked to Miss Pratt."
"You did? Heather?" She nearly fell ove
r onto the floor with surprise. "What do you mean you talked with her?"
"I bet you're afraid to, most folks are rather afraid of her sharp bite and her family's authority in this town."
"Yes, they are best friends with the county judge. And own a lot of this town."
"True, but I pointed out that they were being awfully harsh to you. You are a nice lady just trying to do a kind, quiet and honest business. Don't think I haven't heard through the rumor mill how good you treat people around here. I've seen it with my own eyes. Do you know what would have happened to my sons and that old pony if he'd opened the Pratt's office door?"
"I hate to think." She bit her lip, trying not to say anything more, tears in her eyes. "The family would have been rather upset."
"Upset? They would have had my hide. They would have taken a broom to my boys and worse to Chester. You gave them cookies and good humor."
"Oh."
He unfolded the sheet of parchment for her. "So, speaking with your landlord and convincing her to revoke your eviction was not easy, and it cost me any chance I have for a good reputation in this town, but I was glad to do so. And I did it for you."
"You did? Well, thank you. I don't know what to say. You really did this? It had to be a lot of pain for you to go through."
"True. That was one odious woman, but for you, and I was happy to let her shriek at me and chew me out. Does this mean I'm finally out of bad favor with you?"
"Unlikely." A smile tugged up the corners of her mouth. "I'm afraid there's no chance of it at all."
"I see you laughing, and I don't believe you. Not one word. Not for a moment. Which is smart on your part. This means I'll have to try harder. So prepare yourself. I'm going to win you over one day."
"You just go ahead and try." She took the paper from his large, capable, thick-fingered hand. The terms of your lease are reinstated without punitive fees or charges, she read and relief flitted through her like a warm summer rain.
She set the letter down on the cushion beside her, paper rattling so hard that she could not disguise her trembling. "This is great of you and incredibly wonderful. Don't think I'm going soft on you or anything, or that I'll appreciate you greatly after this."