Steel Resolve

by B. J Daniels

  As she moved to the counter, she saw that there was a new young woman working. Had they already replaced Christy? The woman’s dark hair was styled in a pixie cut that seemed to accent her dark eyes. She wore a temporary name tag that had LUCY printed neatly on it.

  “So what can I get you?” Lucy asked with a slight lisp and a Southern accent as she flashed Mary a wide gap-toothed smile.

  “One of your ultimate caramel frappaccinos to go.”

  The young woman laughed. “That one’s my favorite.”

  “I was so sorry to hear about Christy,” Mary said.

  “I didn’t really know her.” Lucy stopped what she was doing for a moment to look over her shoulder at her. “I was shocked when I realized that Christy was the one who took my application. She was nice. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call. I hate that her bad luck led to my good luck. My application was on the top of the pile.”

  “What brought you to Big Sky?” Mary asked, seeing that she’d made the young woman uncomfortable.

  “Wanderlust. I had a job waiting for me in Spokane, but I found exactly what I was looking for right here in Big Sky, Montana. Is this the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?”

  Mary had to smile. “I’ve always thought so. Where are you from? I detect an accent.”

  Lucy laughed. “Texas. I can’t seem to overcome my roots.”

  “I’d keep it if I were you.”

  “You think?” the woman asked as she set down the go cup on the counter in front of her.

  Mary nodded. “I do. I hope you enjoy it here.”

  “Thanks. I know I will.”

  * * *

  CHASE WAS RELIEVED when he got the call from Mary. He’d had a lot of time to think, and he didn’t want to spend any more time away from her. He’d gone over to her place last night in the hopes that they could talk. But she hadn’t been home. Was she out with the deputy? The thought made him crazy.

  But he had only himself to blame. He’d broken her heart when he’d left Montana. Even now though, he knew that he’d had to go. He was definitely too young for marriage back then.

  But he’d grown up in the years he’d been gone. He’d learned a trade he loved. He’d seen some of the world. He wasn’t the kid Mary used to hang out with. He’d known for some time what he wanted. It wasn’t until he’d gotten her letter that he’d realized there was still hope. He’d been afraid that Mary had moved on a long time ago. But like him, she hadn’t found anyone who tempted her into a relationship. That was until the deputy came along.

  “I’m sorry about the other day, surprising you like that. You were right. I should have called.”

  “That’s behind us,” she said in a tone that let him know there was a lot more than a simple phone call to be overcome between them. He’d hurt her. Had he really thought she’d forgive him that quickly? “Just understand, I wrote that letter to tell you about the package that came for you. The rest of it was just me caught in a weak moment.”

  “I didn’t think you had weak moments,” he joked.

  “Chase—”

  “All I’m asking is for a chance to prove myself to you.” Silence. “There’s something I didn’t tell you. My mother contacted me. She’d been sick off and on for years, in and out of remission. This time she was dying and wanted to see me. That’s why I went to Arizona. She recently died.”

  “Oh, Chase, I’m so sorry. I hadn’t heard.”

  “She asked me to bring her ashes back here. To Big Sky.” He could almost hear Mary’s hesitation.

  “Did she...?”

  “Tell me who my father was? No. I was with her the night she died. She took it to her grave.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Mary knew how not knowing had haunted him his whole life. It was a mystery, one that had weighed him down. He wanted to know who he was, who he came from, why his mother refused to tell him. Was his father that bad? He’d known there was much more to the story, and it was a story he needed to hear.

  “She did tell me one thing. She’d met the man who fathered me here in Big Sky. It’s why she wanted her ashes brought back here.”

  “But that’s all you know.”

  “For now. Listen—”

  “I called about the package,” Mary said quickly. “If your mother met your father here, well that would explain why a woman saying she was once your mother’s friend left you the package. If you’d like to stop by my office to pick it up—”

  “I can’t come by before tomorrow. I’m working on the Jensen Ranch to earn some extra money. I had pickup trouble on the way back to town. But I was hoping we could go out—”

  “I need time. Also I’m really busy.”

  “Is this about that deputy?” he asked, then mentally kicked himself.

  “I’m not seeing Dillon right now either, not that it is any of your business. You don’t get to just come back and—”

  “Whoa, you’re right. Sorry. I’ll back off. Just know that I’m here and that I’m not going anywhere. I want you back, Mary. I’ve never stopped loving you and never will.”

  * * *

  AS IF MARY could forget that Chase was back in town. After the phone call, she threw herself into her work, determined not to think about the handsome cowboy who’d stolen her heart years ago. Dillon kept leaving her messages. She texted him that she had a lot of work to do, and would get back to him in a day or two.

  That night, she lay in bed, thinking about Chase, her heart aching. He’d hurt her, and angry, she’d broken up with him only to have him leave. She’d lost her friend and her lover. After all the years they’d spent growing up together, Mary had always thought nothing could keep them apart. She’d been wrong, and now she was terrified that she’d never really known Chase.

  In the morning, she went down to work early, thankful for work to keep her mind off Chase even a little. Midmorning she looked up to see the new barista from the Lone Peak Perk standing in her doorway.

  “Don’t shoot me,” Lucy said. “I just had a feeling you might need this.” She held out the ultimate caramel frappaccino.

  Mary could have hugged her. “You must be a mind reader,” she said as she rose from her desk to take the container of coffee from her. “I got so busy, I actually forgot. I had no idea it was so late. I can’t tell you how much I need this.”

  “I don’t want to interrupt. I can see that you’re busy,” Lucy said, taking a step toward the door. “But when I realized you hadn’t been in...”

  “Just a minute, let me pay you.”

  Lucy waved her off. “My treat. My good deed for the day.” She smiled her gap-toothed smile and pushed out the door.

  “Thank you so much!” Mary called after her, smiling as she watched the young woman run back across the street to the coffee shop.

  * * *

  HUD FOUND CHET JENSEN in the barn at his father’s place just down the canyon a few miles. The tall skinny cowboy was shoveling manure from the stalls. He heard him gag, and suspected the man was hungover even before he saw his face.

  “Rough night?” he asked, startling the cowboy.

  Chet jumped, looking sicker from the scare. “You can’t just walk up on someone like that,” he snapped.

  “I need to talk to you,” Hud said. “About Christy Shores.”

  “I figured.” Chet leaned his pitchfork against the side of the stall. “I could use some fresh air.” With that he stumbled out of the barn and into the morning sunshine.

  Hud followed him to a spot behind the ranch house where a half dozen lawn chairs sat around a firepit. Chet dropped into one of the chairs. Hud took one opposite him, and pulled out his notebook and pen.

  “You heard about the fight.”

  He nodded. “What was that about?”

  “Christy.” Chet scowled across at him. “You wouldn’t be here unless you already knew tha
t. Let’s cut to the chase. I had nothing to do with her getting run over.”

  “Who did?”

  He shrugged. “Not a clue. Beth Anne heard that a motor-home driver must have clipped her.”

  Hud shook his head. “I’m guessing it was someone local with a grudge. How long have you been involved with her?”

  “It wasn’t like that. I brought her back here a couple of times after we met a few weeks ago. I liked her.”

  “But?”

  “But she liked Grady who was always throwing his money around, playing the big shot. I tried to warn her about him.” He shook his head, then leaned over to take it in his hands.

  “Are you saying you think Grady Birch might be responsible?”

  “Beats me.” Lifting his head, he said, “After we got thrown out of Charley’s, I came home and went to bed.”

  “Did you see Grady leave?”

  He nodded. “That doesn’t mean he didn’t come back.”

  “The same could be said about you.”

  Chet wagged his head. “Beth Anne was home. My sister knows I didn’t leave. She was up until dawn making cookies for some special event she’s throwing down at the flower shop. I couldn’t have left without her seeing me.”

  “Christy have any enemies that you knew about?” he asked.

  “I didn’t think she’d been in town long enough to make enemies.”

  “But she’d been in town long enough to have the two of you fighting over her,” he pointed out.

  Chet met his gaze. “Grady and I would have been fighting over any woman we both thought the other wanted. It wasn’t really even about her, you know what I mean?”

  He did, he thought as he closed his notebook and got to his feet. “If you think of anyone who might have wanted her dead, call me.”

  Chapter Eight

  Mary was just starting across the street the next morning to get her coffee when the delivery van from the local flower shop pulled up in front of her building. It had been three days since she’d seen Chase. Both men had finally gotten the message and given her space. Not that the space had helped much except that she’d gotten a lot of work done.

  She groaned as she saw Beth Anne Jensen climb out of the flower shop van. “I have something for you,” the buxom blonde called cheerily.

  Mary couldn’t remember the last time anyone had sent her flowers. Reluctantly, she went back across the street since she could already taste her ultimate caramel frappaccino. Also, the last person she wanted to see this morning was Beth Anne. The blonde had her head stuck in the back of the van as she approached.

  As her former classmate came out, she shoved cellophone wrapped vase with a red rose in it at her. “I’m sure you’ve already heard. Chase is back.”

  “I know. He came by the ranch a couple of days ago.” That took some of the glee out of Beth Anne’s expression.

  “He’s gone to work for my daddy.”

  Mary tried not to groan at the old news or the woman’s use of “daddy” at her age. Of course, Chase had gone to work for Sherman Jensen. The Jensen Ranch was just down the road from the Cardwell spread. No wonder Chase had said he would be seeing her soon. The Jensens would be rounding up their cattle from summer range—just like everyone on Cardwell Ranch.

  “Chase looks like being gone didn’t hurt him none,” the blonde said.

  She didn’t want to talk about Chase with this woman. She hadn’t forgotten catching Chase and Beth Anne liplocked before he left. Mary didn’t know if she was supposed to tip the owner of the flower store or not. But if it would get Beth Anne to leave... She pulled out a five and shoved it at her. “Thanks,” she said, and started to turn away.

  “That’s not all,” the blonde said as she pocketed the five and handed her a wrapped bouquet of daisies in a white vase. “Appears you’ve got more than one admirer.” Beth Anne raised a brow.

  Mary assumed that the woman knew who had sent both sets of flowers—and had probably read the notes inside the small envelopes attached to each. But then again seeing the distinct handwriting of two men on the outside of the envelopes, maybe Beth Anne was as in the dark as Mary herself. The thought improved her day.

  “Have a nice day,” she sang out to Beth Anne as she headed for her office. Opening the door, she took the flowers inside, anxious to see whom they were from. She didn’t want to get her hopes up. They both could be from one of the ranchers she worked for as a thank-you for the work she’d done for them.

  She set down the vases on the edge of her desk and pulled out the first small envelope. Opening it, she read: “I know how you like daisies. I’m not giving up on us. Chase.”

  It would take more than daisies, she told herself even as her heart did a little bump against her ribs.

  Shaking her head, she pulled out the other small white envelope, opened it and read: “Just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you, Dillon.”

  “I don’t believe this,” she said, and heard the front door of her building opening behind her. Spinning around, she half expected to see one or both of the men.

  “Lucy,” she said on a relieved breath. As touched as she was by the flowers, she wasn’t up to seeing either man right now.

  “Did I catch you at a bad time?” the barista asked, stopping short.

  “Not at all. Your timing is perfect.”

  “I saw you start across the street to get your coffee and then get called back, so I thought I’d run it over to you. Your usual.” She held out the cup.

  “Thank you so much. I do need this, but I insist on paying you.” Mary looked around for her purse. “Let me get you—”

  “I put it on your account.”

  She stopped digging for money to look at her. “Lucy, I don’t have an account.”

  The woman smiled that gap-toothed smile of hers that was rather infectious. “You do now. I just thought it would be easier but if I’ve overstepped—”

  “I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it, as many of these as I drink,” Mary said, and raised the cup.

  “I hope you don’t mind. But this way, if you get too busy, just call and if we aren’t busy, one of us can bring your coffee right over.”

  “Lucy, that’s so thoughtful, but—”

  “It really isn’t an inconvenience. We haven’t been that busy and I could use the exercise. Also it looks like you’re celebrating something.” She motioned to the flower delivery.

  Mary laughed. “It’s a long story.”

  “Well, I won’t keep you. I better get back. It wasn’t busy but it could be any minute. My shift ends soon, and I have to get back on my search for a place to live.” She started to open the front door to leave.

  “Lucy, wait. I have an apartment open. I haven’t put up a notice that it’s available. Christy was going to move in.”

  “The girl who died.” She grimaced. “The one I replaced at Lone Peak Perk.”

  “Is that too weird for you?” Mary asked.

  “Let me give it some thought. But could you hold on to it until later today? Thanks.” And she was gone.

  Mary sipped her coffee, thinking she probably shouldn’t have offered the apartment without checking the young woman’s references. But it was Lucy, who’d just bought her a coffee and run it across the street to her.

  She turned to look at her flowers, forgetting for the moment about anything else. What was she going to do about Chase? And Dillon?

  Sitting down at her desk, she picked up her phone and called her best friend, Kara, who had moved to New York after college. But they’d managed to stay in touch by phone and Facetime. It was the kind of friendship that they could go without talking for weeks and pick up right where they’d left off.

  “Chase is back,” she said when her friend answered.

  “In Big Sky?”

  “He says he loves me and that
he won’t give up.”

  Kara took a breath and let it out slowly. “How do you feel about that?”

  She sighed. “I still love him, but I’ve been seeing someone else. A deputy here. His name is Dillon. He’s really good-looking in a kind of nothing-but-trouble kind of way.”

  Her friend was laughing. “When it rains it pours. Seriously? You have two handsome men who are crazy about you?”

  She had to laugh. “Crazy might be the perfect word. They met the other day and sparks flew. I still love Chase, but when we broke up he didn’t stay and fight for me. He just left. What’s to keep him from doing it again?”

  “And Dillon?”

  “It’s too new to say. They both sent me flowers today though.”

  “That’s a good start,” Kara said with a laugh.

  “Chase sent daisies because he knows I love them.”

  “And Dillon?”

  “A rose to let me know he was thinking about me.”

  “Mary! Who says you have to choose between them?”

  “My father doesn’t like me dating either one of them.”

  “Which makes you want to date them even more, knowing you.”

  “You do know me,” she said, and laughed again. “How are you and your adorable husband and the kids?”

  “I was going to call you. I’m pregnant again!”

  “Congrats,” she said, and meant it. Kara was made to be a mother.

  “I have morning sickness, and I’m already starting to waddle.”

  Mary felt a stab of envy and said as much.

  “Excuse me? If anyone is envious, it’s me of you. You should see me right now. Sweats and a T-shirt with a vomit stain on it—my daughter’s not mine.”

  She laughed. “And I’ll bet you look beautiful as always.”

  A shriek and then loud crying could be heard in the background.

  “I’ll let you go,” Mary said. “Congrats again.”

  “Same to you.”