by Aimée Thurlo
Lanie stepped out of the shower, and towel-dried her hair. Wearing Marlee’s bathrobe, she picked up her clothes and the items she’d selected from her boxes to fill out the load and started down the hall. She was about halfway down when she saw Gabriel.
He strode toward her, his eyes bright with a fire that made her body tingle. She hugged the bundle of soiled clothing closer to her, aware that the belt of the bathrobe was too loose for comfort.
“I see you’ve settled in.”
He stopped so close to her she could feel the warmth from his body wrap itself around her. Despite the robe, she felt naked under the constant gaze that held her captive.
“What brings you here?” she asked, amazed at how steady her voice sounded.
“I live here.”
The news was as alarming as it was thrilling. Trapped between conflicting emotions, she struggled to hold on to her focus. “The town doesn’t pay the sheriff enough for a place of his own?” she added quickly, realizing she’d remained silent too long.
“It’s not necessary, at least not in my case. A house is something that goes better with a wife and family. A place like this suits all my needs.” He grinned slowly. “Well, almost.”
She felt her cheeks grow hot. “Well, your needs are your problem. Now, if you’ll let me pass, I’ve got clothes to wash.”
He laughed. “Testy, aren’t we?”
“I’ve had a long, difficult day. Then there’s this sheriff, you see, who keeps getting in my way.” She glared at him.
“You didn’t mind so much when I carried you out of the fire.” He stepped closer, his voice a husky murmur.
She moved back and bumped into the hall table behind her with a thump. Her heart began pounding; her hands were trembling. It was hard to think with him only inches away.
He placed one finger beneath her chin, and tilted her face up toward his own. “What? No snappy comeback?”
Giving him the haughtiest look she could manage, she edged past him and continued down the hall. Her attention was suddenly diverted as she walked past the window. Headlights illuminated the front room. Lanie glanced outside and saw a familiar vehicle driving by slowly. “There’s that van again.”
Gabriel went to the window and glanced out. “You’ve seen that van before?” he asked.
“Twice now. Why?”
“I don’t recognize it, and we don’t get many strangers around here. If Four Winds had burglaries, I’d swear he was casing the place. I’ll be back.” He slipped out the door.
Marlee came out of the kitchen and hurried unsteadily toward Lanie. “What happened?”
Lanie gestured outside. “There’s this van I keep seeing,” she said. “I think it came into town when I did, but for some reason it keeps popping up every time I turn around.”
“A van?” Marlee’s voice shook slightly. “Did you see the driver?”
She shook her head. “Just his outline.”
“What kind of van was it?”
“Nothing special. Just an old VW model without any back windows.”
Marlee’s face paled. She went to the window and stared out. “So it’s time again,” she whispered under her breath.
“Time?” Marlee’s tone was enough to send a chill up Lanie’s spine.
“Time for the trouble to start,” Marlee answered. Suddenly she turned around and gave Lanie a disarming smile. “Don’t listen to me. I’m just crabby because of my leg. Why don’t you put your clothes in the washer, and then come into the kitchen and have something warm to drink?”
“I think I better go back to my room while my clothes are washing. I feel almost naked just wearing this.”
“Okay. Tell you what, I’ll bring you a mug of hot chocolate. How’s that?”
“I hate for you to go to any trouble….”
“No trouble at all,” Marlee insisted.
“Okay.”
Lanie went to the laundry room, started her first load, then returned to her room to sort the rest. Her thoughts were racing. Marlee’s reaction to the van had piqued her curiosity, and she was eager for a chance to find out more.
Speculations filled her mind. Something wasn’t right here in Four Winds. Just beneath the people’s friendliness was an edge of tension that never went away. Their insistence on treating her as if she intended to stay in Four Winds was as disturbing as it was disarming. Even Gabriel seemed to be intent on making her an instant member of the community. She would have liked to think it was because he found her attractive, but she was beginning to realize that nothing in this town was as simple as it appeared at first glance. There were secrets here, and no one was sharing any with her.
Dejected, she sat down on the edge of her bed heavily. One thing was clear. She was trapped here, at least for now, and she’d have to make do.
Marlee knocked, then came in slowly, favoring her injured leg. In one hand was a steaming cup of cocoa. “It’s an old family recipe. I hope you’ll enjoy it.”
Lanie sipped it slowly. “It’s very good. Very rich. What’s in it? It has an undertaste I can’t quite place.”
“I make it with half-and-half and some spices. I use a special cocoa, too.” She watched Lanie savor it. “The exact recipe is a family secret,” Marlee answered with a mysterious smile. “Just enjoy it.”
Lanie had finished almost all of it when she saw the look of smug satisfaction etched on Marlee’s face. Uneasy, Lanie set the mug down.
“I better be going and let you rest,” Marlee said, moving toward the door. “Just remember, Lanie, that you’re here now and part of this town. No matter how crazy it seems, you’ll find things always work out in Four Winds.” With those cryptic words, Marlee went down the hall.
Lanie stared at the cocoa suspiciously, her eyelids growing heavy, her thoughts fuzzy. She was tired; that was all. Marlee had no reason to harm her. The cocoa had been a gesture of friendliness, warm and caring.
Lanie leaned back on the bed, an intense weariness stealing over her. She couldn’t stay awake anymore. She closed her eyes, intending to rest them for just a moment or two.
The next thing she knew, sunlight was peering through the curtains. Lanie sat up with a gasp. All her clothes were clean, not just the load she’d started last night, and were folded by the chair. She stumbled out of bed quickly and tried to clear the cobwebs from her mind. She’d never slept that soundly. She splashed cold water on her face. The first thing she intended to do was find Marlee and ask a few pointed questions about that secret cocoa recipe.
Chapter Four
Lanie helped herself to some coffee from the pot. “I’d intended to be a bit more useful last night, but it seems I just conked out. Though I’m normally not a heavy sleeper, I had the kind of rest that goes well with a headstone,” she added, watching Marlee’s reaction.
Marlee smiled sheepishly. “I’m really sorry about that. It’s my cocoa. The special recipe includes some herbs that help soothe and relax, but I guess I made it too strong. When I saw you fast asleep, I realized what had happened. I was hoping you wouldn’t hold it against me. That’s why I decided to make up for it by finishing the wash for you.”
Lanie forced a grudging smile. There wasn’t much point in staying angry. “Well, I needed the sleep anyway.”
“Good. I’m glad that’s settled.” Marlee walked inside the pantry. “I’ve got a list of things I’d like you to pick up for me at the grocer’s,” she called back. “Can you go first thing this morning?”
“Sure.” Lanie turned to add milk to her coffee cup and caught sight of Gabriel in the kitchen doorway. “Good morning. Did you find out anything about the van?”
Gabriel shook his head. “I didn’t think I was too far behind, but I couldn’t find any trace of it last night. There aren’t that many vans here in town, either, so you’d think it would stand out.”
Marlee came out of the pantry and smiled at Gabriel. “Help yourself to some rolls while I go find my grocery list.” Marlee walked out of the kitchen an
d down the hall.
“What’s with Marlee’s cocoa? Have you ever had some?” she asked softly.
“You’ve got to watch that. She laces it with some herbs said to be natural tranquilizers. I had a cup analyzed once. Everything in it is harmless, but it’ll put you out like a light, particularly if you’re the least bit tired.”
“You should have warned me earlier,” Lanie said.
Marlee came back into the room before Lanie could say anything more, and handed Lanie the list. “Here you go. The grocery store is a little ways down the street, on your right. It’s easy to find. Just have Rosa put everything on my account.”
Gabriel set his cup down, then went to the door with Lanie. “Time for me to get to work. Do you want a ride?”
“No, thanks. I’ll walk. A little fresh air is just what I need this morning.” As she stepped outside into the crisp morning air, a school bus drove by slowly. She watched it for a moment, her heart pounding like a hammer in her chest.
“Why are you so intent on not teaching? It’s obviously something you miss.”
The question was spoken in a soft, oddly persuasive tone, and Lanie almost answered before she realized what she was doing. “It’s a private matter,” she finally said in a clipped tone.
“And painful, too,” he observed. “What are you running from, woman?”
“I’m not running.”
“But you don’t stay any place for long?”
“That’s my choice.” Although she didn’t look at him directly, she knew he was studying her, trying to read her thoughts.
“Marlee told me she can give you room, but not board. Does that mean you’ll be job hunting in town today?” he asked.
She nodded. “I’m hoping I can find some odd jobs I can do for cash, or even better, a temporary job.”
“You’ll be able to get work. People will help you. It’s just the way they are here.”
The way he said it made Four Winds sound like just another particularly friendly small town, but Lanie suspected it was much more than that. “How long have you lived here?” The question slipped out, but unlike the others she’d spoken to here, Gabriel didn’t seem to mind.
“I grew up here, left for some time, then came back to stay about four months ago. My family’s always lived in this area. Lucas, my brother, is the medic. He got his training in the Marines, then he came back here and set up that clinic you saw. The town needed one, since we have no doctor here.
“Joshua, my youngest brother, wants to be a medicine man.” Gabriel placed his hand on the leather pouch at his waist. Lanie noticed the gesture, but didn’t interrupt him. “He’s still training, but he shows great promise, I’m told. He and my dad are off on the reservation now, but they’ll be back eventually. There’s something about this place that always draws us back.”
“Small-town living isn’t for me,” she answered. “If I ever do settle down, it’ll be in a more urban area.”
“Where you can get easily lost in the crowd?”
She shrugged, but remained silent.
“By the way, you might ask Alma at the antique shop about a job. This is her busy time of year. Her business is mostly mail order. She makes up catalogs and sends them all over the U.S.” His gaze stayed on her, his eyes filled with a dark intent she couldn’t define. “If you need help with anything, let me know.”
“You’re so helpful, it almost sounds as if you want me to stay,” she said slowly. She was aware that what she was doing was as dangerous as baiting a bear, but she felt compelled to learn what was on his mind.
“You’re here, woman,” he said after a moment. “That’s a fact. All I’m doing is trying to give you a hand.” Gabriel regarded her for several seconds. “Is that what worries you? You’re not used to having someone help you without trying to take advantage of you?”
“What makes you say that?” she demanded.
“You’re traveling alone, running from something, and defensive more often than not.” He held up one hand, stemming her protests. “Caution is a learned response that usually comes from experience.”
There was no criticism implied in his words. It was an observation and one, she had to admit, that was remarkably accurate. “I’m a survivor. You don’t have to concern yourself about me.”
“A survivor is just someone who has lived through great pain. The ability to get through it and go on is often nothing more than a mark of patience.”
Gabriel’s eyes met hers, and the warmth and understanding in his gaze penetrated the walls she’d so carefully constructed. Though she didn’t know his story, intuition told her they were kindred spirits.
She broke eye contact suddenly, thinking she was going crazy. The last thing she needed was to entertain fanciful notions that only led to trouble.
“Don’t be so wary around me. There’s no need,” he said in a quiet voice. “I’m not looking to seduce you. If I were, I’d do a better job.”
She nearly choked. “Your ego is certainly healthy, but let me bring you back to earth. To get anywhere with me, I’d have to be interested in you, and I’m not.”
“If you say so.” Gabriel gave her a cocky grin that told her he hadn’t been fooled.
“You’re free to dream, I suppose.” Lanie shrugged.
“I’m not a dreamer. I live in the present, pretty woman, and deal with things as they happen.”
She buttoned up her jacket. He was making her feel as nervous and awkward as a teenager. “I better get started,” she said. “Thanks for tipping me off about the job.” She crossed the street then, and as she reached the sidewalk, she glanced back.
She regretted it immediately. Gabriel caught her glance, smiled and winked. Feeling her cheeks grow hot, she doubled her pace. There was chemistry between them, pure and simple, and that was what made him dangerous to her. The last thing she needed in her life now was romance. That only led to pain, and she’d had her share of that already.
Main Street was a ten-minute walk, five if you hurried, but the charm lasted longer. Struggling to keep herself from finding the town too appealing, Lanie forced herself to list its limited assets. In addition to the boardinghouse and library, there was a post office, a feed store that also carried clothing, the sheriff’s office, the diner, the antique store Gabriel had mentioned, a small grocery store and the garage where her car was being held captive. As she passed one small intersection, she noted a one-story bank and some other businesses on the next street over. Most of the other buildings she could see looked like homes.
Despite her determination to resist Four Winds’s folksy appeal, Lanie couldn’t shake a crazy sense of homecoming. She’d never been here, didn’t want to be here now, yet it felt as if she’d finally found the place where she belonged. Discarding that unsettling thought, she concentrated on the tasks ahead of her today.
As she reached the feed store, an old van parked on the street caught her eye. It looked to be the same one she’d seen before. Giving in to curiosity, she took a closer look. An elderly man wearing a cotton tunic shirt and faded jeans pulled open the side door of the vehicle, reached inside and brought down a hinged piece of plywood, unfolding two attached legs. It looked a little like an old-style Murphy bed and obviously served as a display counter. He then began arranging some pottery and crafts on the wooden table.
As she watched, Lanie could hear two women talking inside the feed store.
“He’s back,” said one. “I don’t think that peddler has been through here in what, two years?”
“I wonder what he’s brought us this time?”
“Good things wrapped up in a parcel of trouble, no doubt.”
More curious than ever, Lanie found herself walking closer to the van. She really wasn’t positive it was the same one she’d seen the day before, but it intrigued her. She read the peddler’s sign. Curious Goods—Prices To Fit Every Customer.
Her gaze traveled over the pottery collection he’d just laid out. One bowl in particular caught her ey
e. Maybe it was the strange markings that adorned it, or perhaps it was the color, which seemed to be just one shade darker than silver gray. She couldn’t resist taking a closer look.
The peddler smiled, noting her interest, and waved for her to approach. “Come look.”
Lanie strolled to where he was. The peddler appeared to be an Indian man, though she wasn’t certain from which tribe, and he wasn’t nearly as old as she’d thought initially. His face looked weathered, but had a timeless quality. His eyes were dark gray, almost the color of the bowl that had interested her.
Lanie picked up a few of the smaller bowls, but none captured her attention to the same degree.
The peddler reached for the bowl she’d wanted and held it out to her. “I can see this is the one you’re really interested in. I think it’s meant for you.”
Lanie knew she should walk away. She really didn’t have the money to spend on whims. Yet, driven by an urge too strong to resist, she took it from his hands.
The clay felt smooth and cool to the touch, like soft silk or smooth velvet, and she found handling it oddly compelling. Reluctantly she held it out to him. “I’m sorry. I wish I could buy it, but I can’t afford it. I haven’t got any money to spare, or even a job. I’m new in town. In fact, I think you and I arrived about the same time.”
He nodded. “We’re both wanderers, then,” he said with a smile. “Since prices are set to meet the individual, for you, miss, it’s free. A gift.”
“I couldn’t possibly,” she started to protest, when the bowl was pressed into her hands.
“Accept it, to make an old man happy.” he insisted.
His eyes entreated her. Lanie realized that it was important to him that she accept. In many Indian cultures, turning down a gift was an insult. Unwilling to hurt the man’s feelings by refusing his generosity, and really wanting the beautiful bowl, she accepted it. “Thank you very much.”
His expression changed the instant she accepted it. He looked at her in triumph, as if he’d just met a life-long goal.
