Except that it wasn't. Just as she did, Willard reached for hers, and their hands met in the middle, each finding warmth in the presence of the other.
“After all, I wouldn't want you to be cold,” Willard said, looking carefully to make sure the coat would keep her warm. “It would be quite awful if you caught a chill after such a long trip.”
Lisa smiled, feeling a blush circulate through her entire body. “I think my heart has just been warmed considerably, Mr. Jameson,” she said shyly. “I don't think there's a blast of wind anywhere in the West that could penetrate it now.”
“Good!” he exclaimed, opening the door for you. “Just wanted to make sure you're safe and warm.”
“Very much so,” Lisa said as they walked out into the Colorado night.
It was nigh on a full moon when they got outside, and they watched the night sky together, amazed at how brilliant the stars were.
“Is it like this all the time?” Lisa asked, nearly speechless.
“Not quite,” Willard said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “They are putting on quite a special show tonight.”
“And is that common?” she followed up, feeling flirtatious for the first time in ages.
“It's not uncommon,” he replied with a grin. “But I think it's entirely possible they may be showing their brightest lights just for you.”
“Oh, you!” she said, slapping his shoulder affectionately. “You're just making that up.”
“Not at all,” he answered, gazing fondly at her. “I love the way your face shines in the moonlight.”
She blushed. “You're just saying that, too.”
“Not at all!” he insisted. “It's something I'd like to see many times. . .and for a long, long time at that.”
Lisa glanced into his kind dark eyes and held Willard's gaze. “And I would like that as well,” she said, smiling. “But I'm sure you already know that.”
They decided to take a brief walk down Main Street together, in large part because the thought of separating had become painful for both of them. Willard was rapidly overcoming his intrinsic shyness, and his comfort level with Lisa made him want to spend far more time with her.
“I was serious about what I said before,” he said quietly as they embarked on their brief walk.
“About?” Lisa asked. The crisp air sharpened her thought process a bit, but the day had definitely been a long one, and much of what had happened was still a blur, so she wasn't quite sure exactly what he was talking about.
“The observatory,” Willard said. “I really would like to take you up there.”
“Oh!” Lisa exclaimed. “Of course! I would love to see it!”
Then she thought about his words for a moment. “Up there?” Lisa asked, looking up at the night sky again, this time in confusion. “I don't understand.”
Willard laughed softly. “I didn't mean up there,” he said, nodding up at the stars. “It's actually on a large bluff just outside of town.”
“Bluff?”
“Yes,” he began. “A plateau, to use a different word. You probably have much to learn about the terms used to describe the landscape here in Colorado.”
“I should say so,” Lisa agreed. “I think that I would need a good guide for that, though.”
“I agree,” Willard said, smiling slightly.
“Do you know anyone who might be well-suited to do that?” she asked, giving his hand a playful squeeze.
“Well, I don't know if I'm qualified,” he replied. “But I'd certainly be delighted to take it on.”
“Good!” Lisa said, pausing and turning to him. “Because I can't imagine anyone I'd rather have to guide me through that particular journey.
Willard studied her face in the moonlight, and for a moment he thought Lisa wanted him to kiss her. That's impossible, he said to himself, no woman in her right mind would want someone as boring as me, a town clerk.
Then Lisa leaned up to him, tilting her face and closing her eyes, and suddenly there was no doubt that this was the moment he'd been dreaming of all his life.
Her lips were bright red from the night air, and Lisa's cheeks were flushed as well. She looked quite beautiful, and Willard decided that not all of her color was due to the cold—she seemed to be as excited as he was about what was happening between them.
Willard took her in his arms firmly but gently, determined to take advantage of the moment. He pressed his lips against hers, and Lisa responded in kind, in a way that told him that she was as serious about this as he was.
The kiss seemed to go on forever, even though it lasted for only a few moments. Willard lost himself in Lisa, and she did the same with him. The stars twinkled slightly, and just as the kiss began a meteor streaked across the night sky, as if signaling the onset of their love.
Lisa and Sally both slept in the next morning, exhausted by their long, arduous journey. Fortunately the Lazy Layabout was well known for being extremely comfortable and accommodating, and they were more than happy to take advantage of the amenities.
They met in the morning for breakfast, greeted at the door of the hotel dining room by none other than Harlan Courtwright. The man seemed to be everywhere when it came to servicing his guests, and Lisa and Sally shook their heads at his omnipresence as they took their seats.
“This place is definitely something,” Sally said, carefully tucking in her napkin to protect her dress.
“Without a doubt,” Lisa agreed as she carefully scanned the menu. “All the comforts of home, I should say.”
“Better than home, as far as I'm concerned,” Lisa said firmly. “Other than Lucinda's, I can't think of a place back in Maryland that would come close to measuring up to the service we've received so far here.”
Sally winced slightly at the reference to Lucinda's, and suddenly she recognized that there was much she still missed about Maryland, despite her desperate desire to get away from the mess she'd discovered with her father and the young girl.
For all his flaws, Sally loved him dearly, and it was hard to think of what might be happening back there now. There would be a scandal, Lisa knew that, and the word about it would spread like wildfire.
Lisa reminded herself to tread lightly around this particular subject, and to tone down her enthusiasm slightly as well. Fortunately, though, she knew just how to turn Sally's attention back to something positive.
“So what are your thoughts about Carson?” she said, grinning.
“Oh my goodness, he's wonderful,” Sally said, shaking her head in disbelief. “Everything I'd dreamed of and more.”
“That's quite impressive,” Lisa said, “considering how high your expectations were.”
“Yes and no,” she replied. “I know how much I talked about him, to be sure, and I've certainly met my share of legislators in the past. So I was more than prepared to have him be something of a letdown.”
“But he's not.”
“Not at all!” Sally exclaimed. “He's engaging, charming and eager to please. . .he has many serious ideas about the things he wants to do for Last Chance.”
Lisa gave her a sly grin. “Not to mention the fact that he's devilishly handsome,” she noted. “If I was the jealous type, I have to confess I'd be quite envious.”
Sally tilted her head and returned her friend's grin. “Well, you seem to have your hands full as well, romantically speaking,” she commented. “I saw what was happening between you and Willard Jameson last night.”
Lisa blushed furiously. “It was that obvious?”
“And then some,” Sally nodded. “And I daresay I wasn't the only one who noticed.”
She cocked her head in curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“Well, the mayor said something to me about it a couple of times,” Sally said. “And Carson said something about it a couple of times as well. Although we did have our own affairs to discuss, of course.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely,” she said, nodding again. “He noticed what was h
appening right away, just as I did. So I'm afraid your little secret is out.”
Lisa beamed at her. “Well, I have no desire to have it be a secret, really,” she explained. “I've been dreaming of meeting someone like Willard for years.”
“The town clerk,” Sally kidded.
“You know what I mean!” Lisa said, making a face at her. “He's smart, interesting and kind. And he's very attentive as well.”
Sally tilted her head and studied her friend. “But there's more to it than that,” she said.
“Well, maybe,” Lisa said, blushing once again. “I do have to say that there's something about his eyes that I find irresistible.
Sally grinned. “Windows to the soul, and all that?”
“Perhaps,” she said, thinking about the way Willard had looked at her, as if she was his entire world. “If I didn't know better, it was as if he was looking into my very soul itself.”
“So you're smitten,” Sally said simply.
“And then some,” Lisa said, pressing her hands together. “And he kissed me, which was really quite wonderful!”
Sally grinned. “Well, that certainly is impressive for a first meeting,” she said. “It's always good to know when feelings are running both ways. And of course you can tell a lot about a man from that first kiss, from what I've heard.”
“Well, I certainly wouldn't know about that,” Lisa said. “I'm a little short of opportunities in that regard.”
She sighed, thinking about how bereft of love her life had been. The kiss had transformed Lisa, to the point where she felt like a different woman.
“It was wonderful, though,” she said softly, still amazed by how gentle Willard was. “And I can only hope that things continue to go so well.”
After that they discussed their plans for the day. Sally talked non-stop about the election for several minutes, and when she was done Lisa's eyes began to glaze over at the intricacies of their plans.
Compared to her friend, Lisa had precious little to do. She had a brief feeling of emptiness when she realized how busy Sally was going to be, and Lisa hoped she could fill in the time getting to know Last Chance.
“So what are your plans?” Sally asked when she saw that Lisa had taken in as much as possible about her election plans with Carson.
“I'm not sure,” Lisa said, smiling and chuckling slightly. “It just dawned on me that for the moment I really have nothing to do here.”
“Well, that's not such a bad thing,” Sally replied, tilting her head in thought. “You can spend some time getting to know the town.”
“Yes, I suppose I could,” Lisa agreed, not sounding terribly enthusiastic about it.
“What's wrong?” Sally asked, seeing her friend's uncertainty.
“Nothing, really,” she said softly. “I don't want to be a burden to you.”
“What?”
Lisa shrugged, looking down at her food. “Its nothing, really,” she said. “I just thought we would spend some time together exploring the town.”
“Ah, I get it,” Sally said, nodding. “Well, I can certainly cut back on my plans with Carson and set aside some time for us.”
“No!” Lisa insisted. “I do understand completely. There's an election coming, and the two of you have much to do.”
“True enough,” she acknowledged. “But you're more important than any of that. I wouldn't have been able to make it here without you.”
“But you're here now,” Lisa said. “And you have Carson.”
“And you have Willard,” Sally said firmly.
“But he's working,” Lisa said, realizing that she sounded a bit whiny.
“So?” Sally shook her head in exasperation.
“Well. . .I don't want to bother him.”
“Bother him?” Sally exclaimed, nearly exploding with frustration. “Lisa, he kissed you. The man obviously adores you.”
“Yes, I realize that,” Lisa said. “But he's working.”
“Well, so is Carson, in a manner of speaking,” Sally countered. “But we're still spending our time together.”
“But that's different,” Lisa pointed out.
“How?” Sally asked. “You and Willard have the same common interests that Carson and I do.”
Lisa cocked her head and thought about it. “I suppose you could be right.”
“You know I am,” Sally insisted. “Trust me. . .just go to the town hall and find him. Everything will be fine.”
Lisa knew Sally was right, but she still had her doubts. It seemed like a big leap from what had happened last night to having it carry over into the next day.
Would he change his mind? And what would she do if he did? Lisa still felt all alone in Last Chance, despite the success she'd had so far, and she knew she had to get rid of her doubts somehow before she saw Willard again.
So she walked. Lisa needed to see the town once more, so she could convince herself that it was all real. The air was crisp, with sun shining radiantly in the bright, expansive prairie sky, and when she felt a chill Lisa knew she needed to don her coat.
Once she got to Main Street, Lisa quickly realized that there were plenty of other people out and about. This surprised her; she would have thought that with winter fast approaching, people would have gone indoors.
But the people of Last Chance were a hardy bunch. They were used to pioneer winters, and the business of the town continued unabated despite the shorter days and falling temperatures.
Moreover, Lisa was greeted constantly as she began to walk. People who didn't even know her waved, and several walked right up to her and introduced themselves with no prompting at all.
This place definitely was different, she thought to herself; Lisa could have walked all day in Annapolis without being greeted by a single stranger.
Fortified by the greetings and the friendliness of the townspeople, she started to pay more attention to her surroundings.
For such a small town, Lisa thought, Last Chance certainly did have more than its share of shops and such, from the dress store to the general store and a store where they sold nothing but feed for the horses and cattle.
What was it about this town that made it so special, she thought to herself. Last Chance seemed to draw kind, good people like a magnet, and from what Lisa had been told so far the friendliness of the town continued to grow with each new arrival.
Finally, after she walked for a bit, she realized it was time to get on to the business at hand. Willard would be working, for sure, but Lisa also knew Sally was right—her arrival would be welcomed.
With that, she turned and headed for town hall, her confidence renewed. Perhaps this place would change her for the better, Lisa thought, until she was like everyone else, bright and confident and happy in the promise of a better future.
There was one final moment of hesitation when Lisa opened the heavy door to town hall, but once she was inside that vanished instantly.
“There you are!” said the mayor, Owen Standard. “We've been quite worried about you.”
“Worried?” Lisa said.
“Of course,” he said. “Willard has been expecting you for hours.”
“He has?” she asked, shaking her head in confusion.
Owen shook his head. “He's been fidgeting and fussing all morning,” he said. “Driving us all a little crazy.”
“Really?”
“Yes, absolutely,” he said, nodding. “You simply must go to his office and rescue us all from the effects of his nervousness.”
“Well, I'd be happy to spend time with him, of course,” she said. “I thought for sure he'd be very busy.”
“Oh, he is,” said the mayor. “Trust me, though, you're exactly what he needs.”
“How so?”
“Willard tends to get extremely wrapped up in the details of what he does here,” Owen explained, shaking his head slightly. “But I'm sure you already know that to at least some extent.”
“I do,” Lisa said, grinning. “I actually find it q
uite endearing.”
“I know,” he said, nodding. “That's one of several reasons why you're actually perfect for him.”
“I am?” She grinned, her heart warming at the mayor's assessment, informal though it was.
He smiled at her, then looked down the hall toward Willard's office. “I think you already know that, Lisa,” he said.
“So why don't you go keep our town clerk company?”
As soon as he said that, Lisa heard footsteps coming from the hallway. She wondered who it was, and Lisa prepared to break off her conversation with the mayor.
Suddenly, though, Willard burst into the foyer, joining them. He saw Lisa and rushed over to her, eagerly taking her hand.
“There you are!” he said, not even noticing the mayor standing there smiling at him. “I was soooo worried about you! Where were you?”
Lisa smiled at how comically exaggerated his concern was. “Umm. . .I was having breakfast with Sally,” she said shyly.
“Oh!” Willard exclaimed, and then he blushed furiously. “I'm so sorry to make such a fuss about it. I should have known. It was such a long trip, and I know both of you were quite exhausted.”
She took his hand, then looked at the mayor and gave him a sly wink.
“It's fine, Mr. Jameson,” Lisa said, wanting to give him a quick good morning kiss but knowing it was inappropriate under the circumstances. “Perhaps we can retire to your office and I can help you with whatever it is you're doing.”
“Why, I'd love that,” he said eagerly. “I have so many things to show you.”
“Well, I'm eager to see them all,” Lisa said. “And it seems the mayor is somewhat eager to have me help you.”
“Without a doubt,” Owen said, realizing it was time to get out of the way of this budding romance. He grinned at Lisa, acknowledging her wink.
“Please, take him. We'll be just fine here without him while Willard catches you up on his duties and what he's up to these days.”
Christmas Miracles: Mega Mail Order Bride 20-Book Box Set: Multi-Author Box Set Page 76
