The clerk tapped on his straw hat. “Ain’t got one. Tucker Truesdale, the town attorney, handles most all land deeds around here. ‘Course there was the time when him and his wife—”
“Where can I find this Truesdale fellow?” Aaron wasn’t in the mood for a rambling story. His reputation was on the line.
“Why, most everyone’s at the box social over at the church. I’m headed there myself.”
“Excellent. I’ll walk with you, and perhaps you can point out Mr. Truesdale.”
The skinny clerk nodded, put a board behind the grill in his window, then closed and locked up the depot office. They walked the short four blocks with the clerk talking the whole time.
Aaron just wanted to finish his business so he could find something to eat and get a room at the boardinghouse. He’d traveled from Phoenix and was tired and dirty from the train soot. He knew the previous hotel had burned down a few months ago, and he hoped building a new one in Cactus Corner would earn his father’s stingy praise, but so far, things didn’t look good.
“That there’s Truesdale.”
Aaron watched a tall man stride to the front, drop some coins in the preacher’s hand, then pick up a box covered in yellow ribbon and fripperies. The man’s smile came easily as he held up the box and the crowd cheered. Mr. Truesdale sidled through the horde and stopped beside a pretty dark-haired woman. She looped her arm through his and gave a smile that sent a surge of longing through Aaron.
He’d love to settle down and get married, but he’d never met a woman who intrigued him enough to make him cease his endless work. Building hotels took up most of his time, and no woman wanted to come in second to a man’s occupation.
As he made his way toward the lawyer, the man noticed his approach and handed the fancy box to the woman. She glanced curiously at Aaron, smiled, and then headed toward an empty quilt spread in the shade of the church building.
The lawyer held out his hand as Aaron stopped in front of him. “Tucker Truesdale.”
Aaron shook hands and introduced himself. “I’m terribly sorry to bother you at a time like this, but I have a huge problem.”
Mr. Truesdale’s brows lifted. “What kind of a problem?”
Aaron held out the deed. “I bought the mercantile property through an agent but was under the impression that it bordered the railroad.”
“No, it doesn’t.” The lawyer took the deed and looked at it.
“I know that now, but that doesn’t help me.” Aaron heaved a frustrated sigh.
Mr. Truesdale glanced over toward the woman and then back at Aaron. “I fail to see how I can assist you.”
“I need to acquire the land by the railroad. I’m planning to build a hotel there.”
“The orphanage is located next to the railroad.”
Aaron restrained himself from sighing out loud. “I know that now. I don’t suppose the land the orphanage is on is for sale.”
Truesdale shrugged. “I doubt it. You’re fortunate you bought the mercantile when you did. Some women—my wife included—have been raising money to buy that property so the orphanage could expand. They’ll be sorely disappointed to find out it’s been sold.” He pressed his lips together and glanced toward his wife again.
Aaron wasn’t sure if he’d been deliberately misled or if it was an honest accident, but either way, he’d lost money and his father would be furious.
Truesdale started toward his wife, but Aaron stepped in front of him. “I was deceived about that property. There’s not enough room to build a decent-sized hotel, and there’s a gulch in back.” He waved his rolled-up deed in the air, more annoyed than he could ever remember. He knew his behavior wasn’t Christian-like and lowered his arm.
Could things get any worse?
The animated pastor pointed his direction and held up a box dinner with a frilly blue ribbon tied around it. “Sold to the gentleman in the back for four dollars.”
Chapter 2
Tucker Truesdale crossed his arms and stared at Aaron with upraised brows and an amused smirk. “Looks like you just bought yourself a dinner, Mr. Garrett.”
“What? No, I didn’t.” Aaron darted a glance at the minister, who was looking across the crowd straight at him, motioning him forward with his finger.
The man hoisted the frilly box in the air. “Come on up and claim your dinner, stranger. Your generous donation will help our orphans.”
Aaron groaned under his breath. He was starved, but a picnic with some farmer’s wife or an old spinster wasn’t what he had in mind.
Truesdale patted him on the shoulder. “Aw, don’t look so troubled. It’s for a good cause.”
Mrs. Truesdale’s shoes scuffed against the dry ground as she hurried to her husband’s side, hazel eyes alight with excitement. “That’s Jody’s box.”
Truesdale lifted his brows again and looked Aaron up and down. “Is it, now? Elmer will sure be disappointed.”
With the whole town turned in his direction and suddenly silent, except for a squalling baby, Aaron had no choice but to accept his fate like a man. He plodded forward, hoping this Elmer fellow wasn’t the beefy husband of the woman whose box he’d accidentally purchased.
He shelled out the money and claimed the container, surprised at how heavy it felt and at the delicious fragrance of chicken emanating from it. His stomach gurgled. For a moment, he considered letting the pastor keep his money and offering the box to be auctioned off again, but he didn’t want to hurt some old woman’s feelings or embarrass her in front of the townsfolk.
Sighing, he glanced around, and the crowd seemed to be waiting as a whole to see the box’s owner. A loud murmuring erupted in the crowd as a woman of average height and slender build stepped forward, looking both curious and hesitant. Her honey blond hair glistened in the sunlight like a shiny gold coin. Her long blue dress swished around her legs, and as she drew closer, he saw that her eyes were a pretty blue-green. Surely she wasn’t a farmer’s wife.
Apprehension surged through him, and he glanced around the crowd to see if he’d upset some hulking husband. People visited in small groups, no longer paying them any attention now, except perhaps the lawyer’s wife and two other ladies chattering beside her.
The pretty woman gave him a hesitant smile. “Um … that’s my box.”
Aaron grinned. Perhaps his luck had just changed.
Jody’s heart still pounded a frenzied beat. Watching several men bid on her box had been nerveracking, but when the handsome stranger topped all offers, she’d been both relieved and thunderstruck.
How could she be expected to dine with a stranger?
She glanced at her three friends. Anika, Elaine, and India had their heads together, ignoring their own dinners, most likely scheming and matchmaking.
The gentleman cleared his throat and held out his hand. “I’m Aaron Garrett from Phoenix.”
Jody shook his hand, trying to ignore its warmth. “Jody McMillan.”
“Uh … would that be Miss or Mrs. McMillan?”
“Oh, it’s Miss.” She pulled her hand free and glanced past Mr. Garrett to see Anika motioning them to join her and Tucker. The last thing she wanted was to have her friends questioning this stranger and making him uncomfortable with their pointed questions. When she saw that Dan and Joshua had moved their quilts next to the Truesdales, Jody knew she had to get Mr. Garrett away from them.
He stood with her box under one arm, jingling some coins in his pocket with his other hand. He seemed as uncomfortable as she felt. Was he disappointed in her?
Jody swallowed the lump in her throat. “Um … why don’t we see if we can find some shade?”
He nodded and looked around, then pointed to a place near several saguaro cacti a little ways past the adobe church. Jody took his offered arm and allowed him to lead her.
Behind her she heard Elaine call out in a singsong trill, “Jody, come and eat with us.”
With her free hand, she waved off her friends and could hear their not-so-su
btle laughter as she and Mr. Garrett walked away. Tension tightened Jody’s neck. Her irritation with her friends surged. Why couldn’t they leave well enough alone instead of embarrassing her?
Mr. Garrett stopped in front of a tall cactus and stared at the ground. “Will this do?” He kicked away several small rocks, then glanced up.
Her gaze collided with his, and she thought she’d never seen brown eyes as intriguing as his. He wasn’t especially tall, probably just under six feet, but his curly dark brown hair and hat made him seem taller. Dressed in his stylish business suit, he stood out in the casually dressed crowd. Jody realized she was staring and forced her gaze away. What’s wrong with me?
Perhaps she would have been better off dining with Elmer. At least she knew what to expect with him.
Mr. Garrett set her box down and peeled off his suit coat. She shifted her gaze away, knowing she was blushing.
He spread the jacket on the ground with the lining side against the dirt, then offered his hand. “Allow me.”
Jody realized he meant for her to sit on his coat, and her insides turned to mush at the thought of such an intimate action. “Oh, that’s not necessary. I’m used to sitting on the ground.”
One of his dark brows lifted; then he pressed his lips together as if holding back his amusement. “I’m afraid that comment intrigues me so that I can’t allow it to pass without further elaboration.”
“Uh … well, I mean, I sometimes sit on the ground when playing with the orphans.”
“Ah … sounds delightful.” He chuckled, then held out his palm. “Please have a seat, Miss McMillan. I insist.”
“All right, then.” She took his hand, sat down, and rearranged her skirt, just wanting this afternoon to end. When she got back to her room, she’d kick herself for organizing this event. What had she been thinking?
“So how does this work? I’ve never eaten at a box social before.”
Jody tilted her head up, holding her hand over her eyes to block the sun. “Well, first you have to sit on the ground.”
“Ah … point taken.” Mr. Garrett tugged at his pant legs and eased down. He smiled, and Jody tried not to notice how white and straight his teeth were.
Focusing on their dinner, she dragged the heavy box toward her, untied the bow, pulled off the lid, and spread open two cloth napkins. Then she laid a plate on each one. “I hope you like chicken.”
“Love it.” The gleam in his eye told her he was telling the truth.
She loaded his plate with three pieces of chicken, green beans still slightly warm in their canning jar, and buttery new potatoes.
“Mmm … it looks wonderful. I haven’t eaten since this morning before I left Phoenix.”
Jody handed him his plate and silverware, wondering what business he had in Cactus Corner. She’d never seen him here before—she was sure she’d remember him.
He took a bite of chicken and closed his eyes. “This is positively delicious. I’m going out on a limb here, but this might even be better than my mother’s. Please don’t ever tell her I said that, though.” One corner of his mouth quirked up, and he winked.
She couldn’t help the delight that coursed through her. Elmer never seemed to notice her food that much, because he was always gawking at her. A shaft of concern for her boss speared her, and she glanced around to see where he was. She didn’t want to marry Elmer but hated the thought of his being left to himself without dinner. When she noticed him eating with the Widow Classen and her sister’s family, she blew out a sigh. Thankfully, he didn’t look as if he missed her at all.
“Have you lived here long?”
She turned back to Mr. Garrett and nodded. “Most of my life. I was raised in the local orphanage after my parents died.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” His dark gaze softened.
“It was a long time ago.”
He pressed his lips together in a sympathetic smile.
Who was this man? And why were her insides in such turmoil at his nearness?
She picked a piece of the chicken’s crisp buttermilk coating off her skirt and flicked it away. “So … are you in town on business or pleasure?”
Aaron couldn’t help feeling sorry that Miss McMillan had lost her parents at such a young age. His father might be tough and expect a lot out of him, but his mother was the heart of his world. He couldn’t imagine growing up without her encouragement and support.
He realized Miss McMillan was waiting for his response to her query.
“I’m here on business. Looking to purchase some land.”
The pretty woman across from him brightened. “Oh, then we have something in common. I—well, I mean, the orphanage committee—will be buying land soon so the dormitory can be expanded. That’s the whole reason for this gathering, and if my calculations are correct, we’ve finally reached our financial goal.”
Two youngsters ran past them, squealing and laughing. He watched them, wondering if perhaps they were orphans. They looked happy enough, but what was it like for them to grow up without parents to love and guide them? He pulled his attention back to the comely woman across from him. “So you’re looking to buy real estate?”
“Yes. We’ve been raising funds for two years to buy the old mercantile property.”
He could tell by the way her lovely blue-green eyes glimmered that she was ardent about her cause. A shaft of guilt surged through him as he realized she’d be terribly disappointed.
As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he liked her. But that was dangerous with both of them wanting the same property—property he’d already bought. He shook his head. What did it matter if this woman piqued his interest more than any other had lately? If he couldn’t buy the land the orphanage now occupied, he wouldn’t be in town long.
She chattered on and on about her cause, making him feel even guiltier. He’d purchased the land in good faith, not knowing she also wanted it. He decided to try a different approach.
“Have you ever considered relocating the facility? I mean, it can’t be safe for the children with it being in such close proximity to the railroad tracks.”
Miss McMillan blinked. “Why … no. They know not to play around the tracks, and the location is a perfect one, being so close to everything.”
“But children need a place to run and play. Surely being located in town is a hardship for the youngsters. Wouldn’t they be better off on an acreage where they could stretch their legs without fear of the railroad or town riffraff?”
“Just what is your interest in the orphanage? Are you some kind of inspector?” Miss McMillan hiked her cute chin and glared at him. “Because if you are, I can assure you the children are well cared for and loved.”
He lifted his hands in surrender. “Now, don’t get your feathers ruffled, Miss McMillan. I’m just curious. I noticed the orphanage when I came into town and thought to myself that a railroad and children were a dangerous mix.”
“Well, it’s never been a problem. The orphanage was there before the railroad, and it will remain in the same location for many years.”
Aaron sighed, even though he couldn’t help admiring her spunk and determination. He glanced at the sky as his hostess scraped the remains of his meal off his plate. What do I do now, Lord? Just give up? Or see if I can’t help Miss McMillan understand that moving would be a wise decision?
His concentration was pulled away from his prayers as she laid a huge slice of apple pie on his plate. With his mouth watering at the sight of the fat, juicy apples, he reached out, taking hold of the dish and a clean fork. For the next few minutes, he savored each delectable bite, wondering why such a good cook hadn’t been snatched up by some local bachelor.
Miss McMillan ate her pie, taking dainty bites and occasionally wiping her appealing mouth with the corner of her napkin. For a moment, he could only watch her, fascinated with her mannerisms and capriciousness. She was all lady, but underneath her frilly layers, a passionate fire burned.
If he could spend time
with her, he was sure he could change her view about moving the orphanage. It was in the children’s best interest every way he looked at it.
“Will you be in town long, Mr. Garrett?”
“Well … that all depends.” He pinned her with a smile. “Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
Chapter 3
Jody’s shoes tapped against the polished wood floor, then quieted as she stepped onto the braided rug. She paced to the window and back to the door of her small room in the boardinghouse. Mr. Garrett was probably waiting downstairs. She should have told him she lived at the boardinghouse, but it hadn’t seemed a proper thing to be discussing with a stranger.
What was she thinking, agreeing to dine with him again?
She wasn’t thinking. She’d been lost in those expressive brown eyes of his and listening to his wonderful voice. That and trying to avoid glancing at her friends, who’d stared at her and Mr. Garrett the whole time they ate.
She heaved a sigh, thinking about how withdrawn Elmer had been at work today. He’d looked wounded and asked her who that man was she’d eaten with. At least he hadn’t pestered her and Mr. Garrett at the box social. She was thankful he hadn’t even seemed to miss her with the Widow Classen stuffing him full of her homemade sausages and sauerkraut. Jody had been relieved to have Elmer’s attention focused on someone else for a change.
She’d cringed this morning when Elmer had said, “Just remember, I staked a claim on you first. You tell that city feller I intend to marry you.”
She’d tried to set him straight by informing him that she belonged to no man, but he’d simply glared at her and stomped off.
Oh … I have to find another job.
Jody rolled her head to one side and then the other, working the tension out of her neck as she pulled her thoughts back to the man she was to meet. Part of her desperately wanted to get to know Aaron Garrett better, and another part wanted to run the other way. Surely she was mature enough to have dinner with a man without making a big to-do about it.
Love Is Patient Romance Collection Page 39
