Texas Rainbow

by Caroline Clemmons

  “I suppose there were no theater seats available for your living room. Your television set is large enough to warrant them.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Ah, my dear Ellie, you have a lot to learn on that subject.” He explained about home theaters and the various arrangements one could have.

  Didn’t she feel dumb? “Don’t I feel like a Rueben? What next I wonder—a personal bowling alley?”

  He laughed at her obvious disgust. “I understand a few people in the North have small ones. Houses up there are built differently and many have large basements. Of course, if we had snow several months of the year, we’d be glad of any arrangement that offered indoor entertainment.”

  “I love snow when I’ve been in it for a week or two, but I’d feel differently if I had to tolerate it for months at a time.” She shrugged. “Probably I’d just get used to dealing with the cold.”

  “Yeah, me, too. I prefer our winters, though. I could stand less heat in the summers. I’ll bet you sunburn easily.”

  “You’d win that bet. I stick to the shade when possible. I always went swimming in the evening or very early morning.”

  “So, you had a swimming pool?”

  “A really pretty one and a man who took care of it.” She couldn’t suppress the wistful sigh that escaped. “I know I’ve had an easy life compared to most, but what I mind losing are friends. I wonder what happened to the staff at my home, for instance.”

  “You can probably find information in the newspaper. Most have their back files online. Not our local one, unfortunately.”

  “Penny helped me look up my disappearance but we didn’t see anything about staff. You know, I still haven’t tried going back to the ravine? Although, I don’t hold out much hope of that working.”

  “I doubt it will. Does that make you too sad?”

  “Funny, but it doesn’t. There are so many great things about this time, especially now that Penny has approved my grant and I know I’ll have a way to earn a living.” She gave a sheepish grin. “Assuming I make a success of the shop.”

  “Hey, I have faith in you and you should have confidence in yourself. Penny told me you’re an amazing shopper. That tells me you’ll be able to please your customers.”

  Penny’s comment surprised her. “Penny was nice to say that. She hates shopping, but she was a good sport about choosing things for you. I’m sure she enjoyed our outing.”

  “That’s what brought on the comment. She was surprised she had so much fun and credited you as the reason.”

  “I’m lucky she’s become a good friend.” She laid her hand on his arm. “And, I’m really lucky you saw me and stopped to rescue me.”

  When he glanced at her his blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “I specialize in coming to the aid of damsels in distress.”

  “Hmm, I can imagine women all over the county contriving situations so they can call on you to rescue them.”

  “Might have happened. As my cousin says, I can neither confirm nor deny that accusation.”

  “What do you do to serial offenders?”

  “I send Horace Webb to help. He’s about fifty, round as a barrel, and married with grandchildren.”

  She laughed. “You are a tricky devil. If I need help and Deputy Webb shows up, you are in big, big trouble.”

  He sent her a heated glance. “Believe me, if anyone but me came to your aid, you’d know I was genuinely unable to respond. Otherwise, I’d be there as fast as possible.”

  He turned down an alleyway and stopped. “This is the back entrance. You can see there’s a small concrete area of customer parking available.”

  Ellie slid from the truck and scanned the vicinity, noting there were lights at the eaves and at the edge of the concrete lot. Moving back a few steps, she took in the shop’s appearance from the back. At the rear of the lot, there was one of the large dumpsters Penny told her were common now for businesses and apartments.

  “The paint doesn’t look bad.” She met his gaze. “You must own the entire block.”

  He didn’t deny her charge. “What makes you think so?”

  “Everything back here is the same color and looks to have been painted at the same time.”

  He placed a hand at her waist. “Shall we go inside?” He held up a key.

  “I’m so excited. You’d think we were looking at Buckingham Palace.”

  “If you’re expecting palatial, you’re going to be disappointed.” He unlocked the door and stood back for her to enter.

  She stepped into a dark foyer. The smell of barber shop and another, odd odor teased her nose. Sort of like the scent of her grandfather’s sweater.

  Bart flipped the light switch by the door. Ellie slowly examined this rear entryway. Stairs on the left led to what must be the apartment. On the right was an area suitable for extra stock. Beside that was a small office. Between them were the water heater, washer and dryer, and what must be the air-conditioning/heating system.

  “Hmm, no room for a refreshment area or customer fitting room. Perhaps I can figure that out after I see the front portion.” She stepped into the main store.

  Bart gestured to the fixtures. “These will be removed, of course. I suppose we can repaint in your choice of color.” He scraped a toe across the floor tile. “If I were you, I’d want these replaced. Otherwise, you’ll have holes where permanent installation has been done.”

  “I love the tiles, though. So perfect for a vintage store. Is there a bathroom?”

  “By the staircase when we came in and it’s tiny.”

  Walking slowly, she examined everything in sight. “The wide front windows are nice and let in the perfect amount of light. Do you know the dimensions?”

  He handed her a sheet of paper. “From the plans. That’s your copy. Caleb has the original at his office.”

  She twirled with her arms outstretched. “Wonderful. Can I see upstairs now?”

  “We’re here for you to survey your new place. After you.”

  Ellie ran up the stairs. A little steep but not bad and there was a hand rail. She stopped at the landing. The stale odor that greeted her intensified.

  “D-Did the barber die up here?”

  “In the hospital. I’ll open a couple of windows.” Bart strode to the closest and shoved it open then walked through to the front and did the same.

  Air circulated and diminished the stale odor. “Thanks, that helps.”

  She stepped slowly, noting the stairs opened to the living room. “Why is the furniture still here?”

  “He didn’t have any kin locally. His son came from Ohio but didn’t want to mess with the furnishings. He packed a suitcase of photos and small items and said he was donating the rest to the new tenant.”

  Ellie sat on the sofa and gave a test bounce. “Not bad.” She moved to the armchair. “Lumpy. The television is not up to your standards, is it?”

  His face was solemn. “Nothing here is, Ellie. Will you have enough money to refurnish the place?”

  She shook her head. “I’m going to be very careful with my funds. I’ll use what’s here and gradually replace one thing at a time as I have profit. What I read said it takes three years to break even in a new business. I don’t want to fail.”

  “I’m confident in your ability but you’re being smart to be cautious.” He followed her to the small kitchen.

  She opened the refrigerator. No place in the door for tiny ice cubes to shoot out. “This isn’t bad. Not that I’m an experienced cook, mind you, but I can make simple meals here. There’s even a microwave. I’ve never used one, but I’ve watched Sally.”

  “This is the one Mrs. Noah used on the Ark.”

  She smiled. “As long as it works. I love the wooden table and Windsor chairs but I’ll repaint them green.” She walked toward the front—which in this case was the apartment’s back.

  When she opened a door, she discovered a small bathroom. “Only a shower but I can live without a tub.”

  He peered over her sh
oulder. “There’s enough room for a tub if you wish.”

  “Oooh, wouldn’t a clawfoot tub be great?” She withdrew and checked the other door. A closet the size of the bathroom.

  “Probably won’t hold all your clothes, will it?”

  “Since I only have two suitcases of them, yes, it will.” Her usual wardrobe wouldn’t come close to squeezing in the closet. Thinking about her new life, she didn’t believe she’d need a huge wardrobe. No one would keep track if she wore the same things over and over.

  She closed the door and turned toward the rest of the bedroom. Each of the rooms was a good size but this was her favorite. Fresh air blew in from the opened windows. The bed was an old-fashioned Eastlake style with an ornate headboard and other pieces to match.

  She plopped onto the mattress for a test bounce. “Not bad.”

  Bart propped a shoulder against the wall. “Are you gonna feel creeped out sleeping in a dead man’s bed?”

  “If you’d told me he died in this bed, I might have. This is no different than staying in a hotel. You never know who slept there before you. If it’s clean, you don’t care.”

  Bart glanced around. “Afraid old Herbert didn’t feel cleanliness was next to Godliness.”

  Ellie gazed upward. “Is there attic space?”

  “Pull down stair in the bathroom. The attics are divided by brick firewalls but there’s no flooring up there. Not really set up to be a storage area.”

  “I was thinking about a firewall and about rats. Old buildings attract vermin.”

  “We include an exterminator in the rent. He checks the place twice a year but will come anytime if you have a problem. He also sprays for bugs once a month.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like those sprays, but I can’t afford to have any stock ruined. Roaches and crickets—even ants—will eat holes in fabric.”

  “So we’ve heard. Well, what do you think of the place?”

  She stood and crooked a finger at him. “Come here, Sheriff Knight.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Bart sent Ellie a puzzled glance but did as she asked.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Why don’t we try out the bed and make whoopee?” She leaned in to nip at his lips.

  He captured her wrists in his hands. “Um, I know we’ve had fun flirting, but I can’t take advantage of you. Surely you can see that you’re under my protection.”

  “Don’t you want me?” She leaned in to kiss his chin and his jaw.

  He took a step backward. “Come on, Ellie. You’re smart enough to know I do but I can’t let my hormones take over.”

  She pouted and slid her hand across his chest. “You don’t want me to be blue, do you? You don’t want me to feel lonely, do you? You don’t want me to feel neglected, do you?”

  He captured her hand. “I want you to realize that I have to take the high road.”

  She gave in and sent him an annoyed glare. “I’ll bet you don’t even date women from Terry Springs, do you? I’ll bet you go to the next county for… your recreation, don’t you?”

  “It’s a small—”

  “A small town, I know. Rhatz, you are annoying sometimes.” She sighed. “I can’t force you so I’ll try to keep my place.”

  Damn, he’d hurt her feelings. He pulled her into an embrace and held his mouth against her hair. “I would love to take you to bed and keep you there for several days before either of us came up for air. You have no idea how hard you are to resist.”

  “Nerts. Doesn’t appear you have any trouble.”

  “Shows what you know. I lie awake nights because of you. When I’m awake, I have to fight to block you from my every thought.”

  She touched the gun he kept shoved in his waistband when he was off duty. Her eyes were wide when she leaned back to meet his gaze. “I tease you by calling you Sheriff but I sometimes forget what that means. You’re in danger because you never know when someone might open fire on you or rob someone nearby.”

  He smoothed a loose curl from her forehead. “Please don’t let it turn you off lawmen. At least, not this particular lawman.”

  She met his gaze. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, Sheriff Knight.”

  “Good.” He kissed her sweet lips.

  Damn, big mistake. She molded to him so closely a sheet of paper wouldn’t have slipped between them. His libido took over and he took charge of her mouth.

  “Yoo-hoo? Sheriff? Yoo-hoo?” Sounded like Margaret Turpin.

  He broke the kiss, gasping for breath while he tried to breathe. “Up here.”

  Eyes wide, Ellie stared at him and whispered. “Oh, good heavens, a fire extinguisher.”

  “Go meet her while I get myself under control.”

  After glancing at the front of his jeans, Ellie giggled but rushed toward the living room. “We’re up here so I can check out the apartment. Come on up.”

  Margaret said, “I’ve always wanted to see this place. I hope you don’t mind that I popped over. My helper is here today.”

  He saw Ellie spread her arms wide. “Ta da, here it is. I don’t think home decorating was the barber’s strong suit.”

  Margaret laughed. “I could have told you that by the way he dressed. He was a nice man, though, and I was sorry to learn he’d passed away. Are you going to be my new neighbor?”

  “And live up here, at least for a while. Do you live nearby?”

  “A block away.” She motioned for Ellie to come to the window. “See that yellow house there? That’s mine.”

  Bart knew where Margaret lived but she’d never called on him for help at her home or her store. “Yours is a pretty place, Margaret.”

  “Thank you, Bart. I love it.” She smiled at Ellie. “Of course, living above the shop would be more convenient, especially in bad weather.”

  Ellie’s excitement appeared to bubble over. “Come see the rest of the apartment.”

  Margaret stepped toward Ellie. “I’ll let you lead the tour.”

  Bart tagged along, pleased to see Ellie’s enthusiasm for this place he’d label a dump. He hoped she’d be happy here.

  In the kitchen, Ellie stood in front of the ancient range. “Isn’t that stove precious?”

  Margaret didn’t look impressed. “My grandmother had one like it. A Magic Chef that I’d guess is from the 1930s. Do you intend to keep it?”

  Ellie’s face showed her surprise. “I know it isn’t new, but I love it.” She stood gazing at the old ivory and green range with a double oven on one side and a shelf along the top of range.

  Ellie forked a thumb at the water heater. “I’m not fond of that in plain sight, but I can live with it.”

  Bart rubbed his chin. “That could probably be moved and enclosed in a small closet.

  “That would be the berries.” She ran her hand over the drop-leaf table that had been painted ivory with a badly spray-painted red border. “I have no idea who thought the colors on the table and chairs worked but I intend to paint them to match the stove.”

  Margaret nodded and adjusted one of the chairs. “A little paint will do wonders.”

  Ellie drifted toward the bedroom. “Come see the view from the front windows.”

  Margaret followed Ellie and so did he. Glancing at the bed, he was glad he’d taken time to smooth the spread so the place where Ellie had sat and tried to seduce him looked innocent. Recalling their kiss heated his blood and anything but innocent thoughts filled his head.

  Ellie practically danced to the front windows. “I’ll bet this view is lovely at night. Soon I’ll get drapes or curtains instead of just these pull-down shades. Nothing fancy, of course.”

  Margaret scanned the room and looked back the way they’d come. “I’m surprised at how large the apartment seems. You won’t be crowded at all.”

  Ellie’s smile lit her face. “Would you be willing to advise me on the downstairs?”

  Margaret’s eyes widened. “You can’t want advice from a competitor.”

 
Shaking her head, Ellie linked her arm with Margaret’s. “We aren’t in competition. I’m selling vintage clothing. Probably most sales will be online.”

  Margaret stopped and stared at Ellie. “I’m so relieved.” She shook her head. “I can’t tell you how I’ve worried about us both selling the same things. I… I do all right with the shop, but if I halved my sales, I’m not sure I could stay in business.”

  “Please don’t worry. Having my shop near yours will benefit both of us. We can organize events that will publicize downtown stores.”

  The other woman must have caught some of Ellie’s enthusiasm. “Like a girl’s night out once a month or a special holiday weekend?”

  “See, we can kick off an event as soon as my shop is open. Are you ready to go downstairs? I’ll really appreciate any advice you can give about the shop.” Ellie headed for the stairs as if she expected everyone to follow.

  Ellie’s nature made him think of a whirlwind sweeping everything along in its path. In any case, she was an irresistible force. She had no idea how mesmerizing her charms were.

  He wondered if this was how Jake had felt when he was around Penny. From the night she’d appeared at the ranch, Jake had worn a glazed look in his eyes. Though Jake denied it, Bart knew his brother’s fascination with Penny began that first night.

  Man, the shoe was on the other foot now. To his surprise, he figured he was a goner and resistance was futile. Even more surprising was the knowledge that he didn’t want to resist.

  ***

  Ellie knew she was fortunate to have the advice of a successful business woman. She made copious notes of all Margaret’s suggestions.

  “Bart gave me a floor plan so I can pencil in the changes I want.”

  He sat in a barber chair and crossed his legs at his ankles. “You can’t take out any walls.” He gestured to the nearest one. “That’s load-bearing. You can add whatever you need, though.”

  Ellie peered around the shop. “I’ll need this divided up. As Margaret suggested, I need nice dressing rooms I’ll also need a place to prepare the shipments for the online orders.” She twirled around again. “This is such an adventure.”