by Faye Sonja
Melody shrugged. “I don’t know. I feel like I’m free to be anyone I want to be.” She looked at Harmony. “I loved Austin, but I think leaving Michigan has helped ease my sense of attachment to him.”
Harmony smiled. “That’s wonderful Melody, and if you wish to marry, I can stop turning down every man that knocks on the door.”
Melody laughed. “No, I’m not ready to marry yet, but it feels nice to know that I’m appreciated.”
Harmony nodded.
Melody tightened her grip on Harmony. “One day, I’ll marry, but right now I want to help you be happy, Harmony. You’ve always taken care of me. It’s my turn to care of you.”
Harmony sighed, but then smiled again. “Alright.”
Melody hugged Harmony and then pulled back. A huge grin was on her small face. “Great! We start tomorrow.” She got up, taking Harmony’s hand with hers as they headed out the door.
“Where are we going?” Harmony asked.
“We need to hire some help.”
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“But everything is moving so quickly.”
Melody stopped and looked at Harmony. “Aren’t you a Christian?
Harmony narrowed her eyes. She remembered saying those same words to Andrew on their wedding day. “What do you mean?”
“Harmony, there are people in this city that have no jobs and no money. There are no jobs. We have to help them. Think of mom.”
Harmony frowned. “You’re right. Why didn’t I think of this?”
Melody smiled. “Because, I’ve been spending so much time in the community and you haven’t.”
Harmony shook her head. “Some Christian I am.”
Melody patted Harmony’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. You’ve seen the errors of your ways. I’m sure you’re forgiven.”
Harmony smiled. “Let’s get to work,” she said as she took Melody’s hand. A joy filled Harmony that she hadn’t felt before. For the first time, Harmony felt like she had a sister. Before this moment, Melody had always just been another responsibility for her, but now, she’d become a friend. Melody was years younger than Harmony, but still, Harmony saw the potential in their newfound relationship. Melody was right. There was something about being away from home that was freeing. California was a new world and a new adventure. She had no idea what the future held with Andrew, but the pleasure she found in sharing Melody’s confidence was more than Harmony would have ever hoped for. It was something that she hadn’t even known she wanted. Now, she was glad to have it.
* * *
5
Chapter FIVE
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“ She’d be having her first Christmas without
the fragile white flakes … She’d miss that. ”
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Harmony held on the reins of the horse underneath her with a deathlike grip. Roy was saying something to her, but she truly couldn’t hear him over the beating of her heart and the sounds coming from the horse underneath her. The black stallion had allowed her to climb onto her back, but now, she seemed to want Harmony off.
“Just relax, Harmony,” Roy said. “She can feel that you’re uncomfortable.”
Harmony sighed, trying to steady her breathing. The horse took a few steps backwards before swaying forward again. Harmony’s hair fell in the way, blocking her sight. She swung her head back in an effort to move it out of the way without letting go of her hold on the horse. Her eyes met Roy’s. The young man with shiny brown eyes and dark hair was staring at her openly. His mouth hung open as he gazed at her. Harmony lifted a brow, but mentally shook her head. She was wearing her hair down and it was all Melody’s fault.
It had been a week since the sisters had had their first real heart to heart. Since then, they’d had plenty more as Melody helped her shop for things that Harmony would normally never buy. There was makeup, bright clothing, and even a few different hair styles. Harmony didn’t know how to really throw an outfit together, but Melody was always thrilled to help her, and after a week of prep work, Melody had sent Harmony outside to show off her new look.
Harmony’s hair held large and loose curls. Melody had done something to make her gray eyes stand out more, had cleaned up her brows, put some blush on her cheeks, and a pink color on her lips. Red was the style, but the color really wasn’t Harmony. She was also wearing a light blue dressy top with dark blue femininely styled trousers that hugged her waist, but flared at the ends. Harmony had never worn them before, but they’d seemed like a good idea if she was going to get on a horse.
“Are you going to help me, Roy?” Harmony asked.
Roy smiled and tilted his head. “Oh yes, Mrs. Pitch.” The boy didn’t move.
Harmony couldn’t help but laugh. “Where are the other ranch hands, perhaps someone more… older could assist me.”
Roy’s eyes widened. “Everyone else went to take the cattle out to pasture, but I can help you, Mrs. Pitch.”
Harmony sighed. “Roy, call me Harmony.”
Roy smiled. “Harmony.”
Harmony nodded. “Now, help me, Roy. I want to be able to ride before we go to the rodeo in San Diego next week.”
Roy nodded. “I could sit behind you and help you steer?”
“I don’t think so,” said a deeper voice from somewhere.
Harmony turned and met Andrew’s hazel eyes. He hopped the short fence and walked smoothly over. He spoke to Roy, but his eyes stayed on Harmony. “Go home, Roy.”
Roy frowned. “But Harmony wants me to help her ride the horse.” His lip pouted.
Andrew narrowed his eye at Roy. “That’s Mrs. Pitch to you.”
“But—” Roy said.
Andrew’s stare caused Roy to stop mid-sentence. Roy sighed. “Yes, Mr. Pitch.” He gave a parting look that made Harmony smile before turning to leave. Harmony was still smiling when she looked at Andrew. He didn’t look pleased. Harmony caught her breath. The horse swayed. She frowned. Can a horse really know when someone is nervous? She asked herself.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” Harmony confessed.
Andrew crossed his arms. “Yeah? Well, what do you think you’re doing?”
Harmony sighed. “Well, I wanted to go to the city, but I didn’t know how to drive, but I also hadn’t ridden a horse since I was a girl, so I thought I’d give it a try. It’s not too far to town.”
“Well, that’s nice, but I’m not talking about the horse.”
Harmony’s heart sped up. The horse swayed. Her hair fell in her face. She let go of the reins and pushed her hair back. She looked down at Andrew to find his expression blank. Harmony lifted a brow. “What?”
“You know what.”
“If I did, I wouldn’t be asking you.”
“What are you doing?”
“I just told you.”
Andrew shook his head. “No, I’m not talking about the horse.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
Andrew waved his hands in her direction. “I’m talking about the woman on the horse.”
Harmony shrugged. “I’m going to town.”
Andrew narrowed her eyes. “For what?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you all dressed up?” Andrew looked down and sighed. He looked back up at Harmony. “You meeting someone?”
Harmony narrowed her eyes. “Why would you think that?”
“Well, you look… like you’re meeting someone.”
“I think I’m lost now.”
Andrew closed his eyes for a moment and took another breath. “You look nice.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Harmony looked away. “Did it pain you so much to say so?”
Andrew opened his eyes. “No, it didn’t.”
“Seemed like you were having a hard t
ime getting it out.”
“Well, I wasn’t.”
Harmony looked at Andrew. “Would you go get Roy for me?”
Andrew frowned. “Why?”
“Because, I don’t feel like fighting with you at the moment. I just want to ride into town.”
Andrew’s hard breathing became visible with his chest rising and falling. “You sure that’s all you want Roy for?”
Harmony sighed and faced forward on the horse. She was regretting dressing up. She slightly kicked the horse forward. “I’ll go find Roy myself. Good day, Andrew.”
Andrew jumped in front of the horse and grabbed the rein. “No, I’ll teach you to ride.”
Harmony shook her head.” No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
Harmony stared down into his eyes. “Because, I don’t want to be around you at the moment. I haven’t seen you all week and the first time I do see you, you pick a fight. I can hold my own if I have to, but I’m not in the fighting mood, at the moment, Andrew. So, you’ll have to take your anger, or jealousy, or whatever it is out on someone else.”
Andrew frowned. “My jealousy?”
Harmony nodded. “Yes, jealousy. You’re fighting me, Andrew, but you’re not really fighting me. You’re fighting your past and I’m not up to that fight. I know, as your wife, I should want to help more, but I won’t do it at the expense of you tearing me down.”
Andrew looked away. “I’m not tearing you down, Harmony.”
Harmony swallowed. “When a man calls his wife ‘ugly’, he’s tearing her down.”
Andrew’s head came up. “I never called you ugly.”
Harmony sighed. “You did. In the kitchen.”
Andrew shook his head. “No, I didn’t. I said, ‘that I didn’t want an attractive wife’. I never said that I got what I wanted.”
Harmony narrowed her eyes. “So, you don’t think I’m ugly?”
A dark brow lifted on Andrew’s face. “Would a man kiss an ugly woman the way I kissed you?”
Heat crept up the back of Harmony’s neck. She looked away. She remembered their kiss and had hoped there would be more, but Andrew’s words in the kitchen had hurt, and now, he was telling her that he’d never meant what she’d heard. Harmony wanted that to be true, but was afraid of allowing Andrew to manipulate her. “Some men kiss any woman that’s around.”
Andrew stood by her. He grabbed hold of the horn and the cantle of the saddle, giving himself leverage before pulling himself up on the horse and sliding behind Harmony. His arms came around her.
“What are you doing?” Harmony asked.
“I’m going to teach you to ride.”
“Why?”
“Because, I’m the best rider in Santana.”
Harmony rolled her eyes. She pulled back at him. They were eye level and close.
Andrew’s hand cupped Harmony’s chin. “I’m also going to kiss you.”
The horse swayed. “Why?” Harmony whispered.
Andrew smiled. “Because, I want to.”
Their lips touched and Harmony knew the southern California heat couldn’t rival Andrew’s kiss. Harmony felt like she was melting right into her peep toe shoes. When the kiss ended, Andrew pulled away. A faint pink stain was on his lips. Harmony smiled. “My lipstick is on you.”
Andrew shrugged. “It’s a price I’m willing to pay.”
Harmony sighed and turned forward on the horse. Andrew started them off at a slow gallop and stirred the horse out of the fence. They started for town. Harmony tried to keep her back straight, but when one of Andrew’s arms came around her and began to hold her tight, she stopped fighting, and leaned into him.
“What’s in town?” Andrew asked.
“I wanted to look at material for a table runner to use on the dining table for Thanksgiving.”
“We’ve never had dinner in the dining room. It’s never been clean enough for all that.”
“I know. Marie and the other women are excited about it.”
Andrew’s smile could be heard in his words. “Trying to turn my house into a home?”
Harmony smiled. “If you let me.”
Andrew sighed. “I’ll try.”
“Good.”
“I’m going to try something else.”
“What’s that?”
“Fight my inner battles and not let them destroy us.”
Harmony leaned back to look up at him. “I want to help you, Andrew. All you have to do is let me in.”
Andrew nodded.
Harmony straightened.
Andrew’s mouth hovered over Harmony’s ear. “You’re beautiful, Harmony. I thought so from the moment I first saw you.”
Harmony stiffened. “Really?”
Andrew sighed. “Yeah, it’s the reason I keep getting upset when you bring up my father.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Let’s just say that my father wouldn’t kiss an ugly woman either.”
Harmony rubbed her hand over Andrew’s arms. “I don’t want your father.”
Andrew laughed. “But it’s like you said. You haven’t met him yet.”
Harmony turned to look at him. “I don’t want your father.”
Andrew’s face was serious. “I wish I could say the same for him about you.”
Harmony frowned. “I thought you said he was married.”
Andrew shook his head. “Billy Pitch wouldn’t let a little thing like a piece of paper stop him from ruining my life.”
Harmony shook her head. “Why does he hate you so bad?”
Andrew sighed. “We never got along while I was growing up, and once I had made enough money, I left his ranch to start my own. He’s hated me ever since.”
Harmony frowned. “But shouldn’t a father be proud of you?”
“Not when your son is the best rider in the city. My leaving cost him dearly, and he’s never let me forget it.”
Harmony hesitated before saying, “Like stealing your first wife?”
“Yeah, though one could say that I can’t have something stolen that I never really owned. Billy Pitch owns everything; including me.”
Harmony’s hold tightened on Andrew. “No, he doesn’t.”
“Tell that to Billy.”
Harmony held on to Andrew. “Oh, I will.”
Andrew laughed. “That’s something I’d love to see.”
“Well, you’re going to see it, because Billy doesn’t own you. You’re mine, Andrew Pitch, and I’m not sharing.”
Andrew kissed Harmony’s cheek causing Harmony to smile. The heaviness that had previously been on her heart softened and for the first time, Harmony felt like she’d be okay.
* * *
6
Chapter SIX
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“ She’d be having her first Christmas without
the fragile white flakes … She’d miss that. ”
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Andrew watched Harmony browse through the front of the fabric store. All the fall colors had been brought to the front. There were greens, oranges, and reds in all materials and patterns that one could think of. The owners of the store, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas were crowding around Harmony. Their store, which had once been three times the size, had downsized quite dramatically due to the economy, but was cluttered with fabric nonetheless. The place was a maze. Andrew hadn’t been in their shop in years, but they’d recognized him immediately. They’d also recognized Harmony. The couple had jumped her immediately after she’d entered. Harmony had bought all her new clothes from them, so they were thrilled to see them.
Mrs. Douglas pulled out another fabric. “What about this one?” The small woman lifted up a silk fabric that was a solid burned orange color. “This would look great over your table.”
Harmony smiled. “I do like that one, but I do wish Melody was here. She knows more about this than I do.” S
he placed an arm around her waist and rested the elbow from her other arm on top of it. Her chin rested in the palm of her hand as she thought. Andrew found himself openly staring at her and couldn’t think of anything else he’d rather do. He was supposed to be working now, but watching his wife in her new clothes and long free hair seemed like so much more fun.
Andrew had been surprised when Harmony had gotten off the train two weeks ago, but seeing her on the horse had nearly thrown him off balance. He’d seen Roy standing by the horse, but hadn’t recognized the woman from a distance. He’d assumed that Roy had brought a girlfriend to the ranch, but then the woman had thrown her hair back and Andrew’s eyes had caught the pair of gray eyes that were haunting him in his sleep. He’d seen her on that horse and had immediately thought that Harmony belonged there, sitting high and in charge, a stallion under her, the wind in her hair. Andrew had been mesmerized and captivated by her completely, and once he’d realize just how captivated Roy was, Andrew had gotten angry. Seeing his wife with another man had brought back awful memories, which had caused Andrew to react poorly.
But watching Harmony now, he realized that Harmony wasn’t his ex. Harmony wanted to help him heal, which meant Andrew would have to let go of his past and move on. A part of him wanted that, but another part of him was scared of trying.
Mr. Douglas brought out a forest green of the same material as the orange that Mrs. Douglas held up. “Though, I’m sure the two would look great together.” He held the fabric up next to the other color in front of Harmony.
Harmony nodded. “I believe you’re right.”
Mr. Douglas nodded. “How long is the table? Our daughter, Diana, could sew the runner for you.”
Harmony shook her head. “I’d rather do it myself.”
Mrs. Douglas frowned. “Oh, but it’s no trouble at all. Aren’t you happy with all the dresses and clothes that Diana had made for you?”
Harmony frowned. “Well, of course.”
Mr. Douglas said, “Diana could make you anything in two days. She’s quick, but does great, quality work. She wants to go out east to fashion school, but we can’t afford to send her. We’ve had to spend her college fund just to survive the past few years. Surely, you’ll let Diana do the runner.”
