She took down the dusty brown curtains hanging at the room’s only window. The sudden presence of light lifted her spirits considerably and she determined that one of the first things she would do after they were settled somewhat would be to make bright, cheerful curtains for all the rooms.
She gingerly picked up the rug and, with the curtains, marched outside, dumping them over the porch rail. She slapped her hands together to remove the dust and paused to admire the scenery. Everything looked brown and bare except for the green prickly pear cactus dotting the landscape. Tumbleweeds rolled gently across the sand. Perhaps most people would call it desolate, but Jenny could see the beauty everywhere she turned. Shifting patterns of sand gave an eerie movability to the terrain and the sky was so blue it almost hurt the eyes.
Hattie peeked around the door. “By the way, do you happen to have any sheets and such to make up your beds?”
Jenny turned and went past her into the house. “We have some, but they won’t arrive until tomorrow. I hadn’t thought about it. I’m not really very prepared to stay out here, am I?”
“Well, don’t let it worry you. I have some you can borrow until yours arrive.”
They returned to their respective rooms and Jenny could hear Hattie softly humming to herself. Jenny recognized the hymn and stopped to listen. Hattie had a beautiful voice and the hymn reminded her of the days when she had gone to church with her parents. Those had been happy times.... She pushed away the feelings of sadness that were trying to overtake her once again.
Various noises indicated that Hattie was well on her way to having her part done, so Jenny hurried to complete her tasks, as well. Having removed the curtains and rug she was now able to clean the window, sweep the floor and dust the furniture. Scrubbing was a must, she decided, and a definite priority.
An hour later Hattie came into the room where Jenny was still on her knees scrubbing. “How about a cool drink? I could use a break.”
Sweat beaded the other woman’s brow; her shirt was dampened with perspiration. As the day grew progressively hotter, the little cabin was becoming stifling. Since Hattie had told her there was no air-conditioning, fans would have to be a first priority.
Jenny slowly rose to her feet, one hand pushing against the small of her back. The perspiration trickled down her spine in rivulets. “You don’t have to ask me twice.” She smiled ruefully. “I think I’m getting old.”
Hattie laughed, the sound echoing merrily through the room. “Just remember, you’re only as old as you feel.”
Entering the kitchen behind her, Jenny grimaced. “Then I must be at least ninety-nine.”
Still smiling, Hattie poked her head into the little refrigerator, which Jenny was thrilled to find worked. “Diet or regular?” Hattie looked around at Jenny. “Forget I asked,” she remarked, handing Jenny a regular cola. “I know it’s fashionable to be thin, but aren’t you overdoing it just a tad?”
Too embarrassed to explain their impoverished circumstances, Jenny remained silent.
They sat at the table that was nestled snugly in the corner of the kitchen. Four chairs surrounded it, remarkably sturdy. All the furniture seemed to be hewed from raw wood. When Jenny commented upon it, excitement sparkled in Hattie’s eyes. “Tito loved working with wood. He even built this cabin himself.” She surveyed the cabin and its interior. “The cabin was actually a kit that he purchased in Phoenix. They’re quite popular here. He made most of the furniture in this cabin. Let me show you my favorite.”
Jenny followed her into the living room and watched as Hattie began pulling covers from the furniture. Lovingly she slid her hands over the surface of a rustic table sitting in front of the couch. The top seemed to be made of some sort of stone.
“This is shale, a natural stone found north of here. Mitch brought it back with him from Flagstaff and Tito decided it would make a perfect tabletop.”
Jenny marveled at the beauty of the piece. Why hadn’t she taken the time to look more closely? Now she noticed several things she had missed before. The tables and chairs were made from carved wood and stone, beautiful in their simplicity. Jenny remarked upon the uniqueness of the end tables gracing each side of the sofa.
Hattie wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure I should tell you about those.”
“Why?” Jenny’s curiosity was aroused.
“Mitch and Tito went elk hunting one fall.” Hattie pointed to the tables in question. “Those are the horns from their kill.” She watched Jenny’s face and was rewarded with a puckered frown.
“Ugh! You mean those are the horns of a dead animal?”
Hattie nodded solemnly, her eyes sparkling with suppressed merriment.
Jenny headed back to the kitchen, throwing Hattie a disgusted look over her shoulder.
Several hours later they were headed back to town. Hattie pointed out the road to Mitch’s ranch as they passed and Jenny frowned. The troublesome man had been in and out of her thoughts all afternoon. She turned her eyes back to the road ahead, refusing to give Hattie the satisfaction of seeing her interest.
Dusk was descending and with it the desert blossomed into color from the setting sun. Jenny was awed by the colorful panorama spreading out in front of her eyes. Vivid hues of orange, red, yellow and purple met her eyes everywhere she turned. “Is it always like this?” she breathed.
Hattie’s face reflected the glory of the sunset. “Almost always,” she said softly. “It’s times like these when I feel closest to God. I love the sunsets here.”
Most people were not so open in speaking about God. Jenny felt slightly uncomfortable, but watching Hattie’s face she once again felt a yearning to have that same sense of joy. She had never met anyone quite like Hattie. Her faith was as real and natural as the woman herself.
Jenny’s father and mother had always had a deep faith that they had tried to pass on to their offspring. Somehow she had gotten away from that in college and it hadn’t occurred to her that perhaps that was something her brother and sister needed right now. Guilt clogged her throat as she realized that she had failed her parents in this regard.
It was late when they reached Hattie’s home, a low, sprawling building with immaculate desert landscaping. The twins came out to meet them with Mark following at a leisurely pace. Being fourteen, Mark felt the need to maintain some superiority, although the grin he gave his mother was endearingly boyish.
“Hi,” he drawled. “The kids and I had pizza for supper. That okay?”
Although Renee ignored him, David obviously couldn’t let the matter of being called a kid slide by without some comment. “If we’re kids, what’s that make you?”
“Why, I’m the kid sitter,” he stated, his eyes twinkling with a humor he had obviously inherited from his mother.
David punched him good-humoredly on the arm. It was obvious that David and Mark had become fast friends despite the difference in their ages. Renee, on the other hand, held herself aloof, but Jenny watched her quick glances at Mark when she thought no one was looking. He was certainly a handsome lad, Jenny mused, with an athletic build and dark auburn hair. If he was anything like his mother he would undoubtedly be good for David.
Hattie and Jenny finished off the remaining pizza and lounged back in their chairs. “A hot bath would be heavenly right about now,” Hattie moaned.
Jenny sat up quickly. “Oh, my goodness! I forgot about the bathroom! We can’t use the bathtub yet.” She slid back down in her chair dejectedly. “That means we need to clean the bathroom before we can go to bed.”
Hattie handed Jenny the keys to an old car of her husband’s that she had told Jenny he no longer used and she was welcome to borrow. Brown eyes regarded her sympathetically. “Why don’t you stay the night here and go back to the ranch tomorrow?”
“I couldn’t put you to all that trouble. I appreciate all you’ve done
for us already, but I can’t continue to impose on your hospitality.”
Jenny rose slowly from her chair, stiffness at the unaccustomed exercise already telling on her muscles.
“It’s no trouble, really.”
“Aw, Jen,” David whined. “Can’t we stay? I don’t want to go back to that old musty cabin tonight.”
Renee said nothing, but Jenny noticed the tired droop of her shoulders. She was being so sweet about all of this upheaval in their lives. It suddenly became too much. Jenny’s body sagged and, turning to Hattie, she gave a tremulous smile. “Thanks. We’d like to stay, if you’re sure it’s no trouble.”
Hattie breathed an obvious sigh of relief. “Of course you won’t be any trouble. Jacob won’t be home until tomorrow night, anyway. His business in Prescott took longer than he anticipated. Besides, we have plenty of room.”
The room Hattie took them to was a beautiful blend of the colors Jenny had just witnessed in the sunset. The walls were a pale melon color and the comforter on the bed was a mixture of pale sand, green and soft peach in a Native geometric pattern. Brown Saltillo floor tiles peeped from beneath a large area rug, also finished in a Native design. “This room is lovely,” Jenny told her.
From the other side of the room Renee was running her hand gently over an antique dresser. “Mother would have loved this room,” she stated quietly. Tears were very near the surface and to help stave them off Jenny pasted a smile on her own tired face.
“Come on, love. You’re tired. Let’s get you ready for bed.”
When the kids were safely in bed, Jenny sat across from Hattie, who was sitting on the sofa in the living room. Her gaze wandered slowly around, taking in the quiet, understated elegance of the furnishings. Hattie Ames had excellent taste in decorating. It was obvious that the Ameses were wealthy people, yet they didn’t flaunt it.
“Can I get you something?” Hattie’s soft voice broke into Jenny’s reflections. “Would you like a drink? Coffee? Tea?”
Jenny shook her head. “Thank you, no. I was just admiring your home. It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She smiled mischievously. “Realty is actually a hobby with me. My real love is taking care of my family.”
“Have you any other children besides Mark?”
“Oh, yes. Our daughter April is the oldest. She goes to the University of Northern Arizona. Normally she comes home for the summer, but this year she and her roommate decided to stay to see if they could complete a few summer courses.” She picked up a picture from the table behind her and handed it to Jenny. “Paul is my middle child. He’s sixteen and has volunteered as a counselor at our church’s Bible camp for the summer.”
Jenny studied the photo. A laughing Hattie was surrounded by a tall, good-looking man in his mid-forties who was looking at her as though she was the most beautiful woman in the world. A dark-haired pixie of a girl was curled gracefully at her feet and two boys almost identical in appearance leaned in from each side. She recognized Mark; his brother was an older replica.
Hattie got to her feet, stifling a yawn. “I’m for bed. How about you?”
Jenny also rose slowly to her feet. Her back still ached, her knees were sore and she felt decidedly out of place. Almost like a ship tossing in the wind. But tomorrow, Jenny reflected, tomorrow was the beginning of a new life.
As she showered and prepared for bed her thoughts drifted to the events of the day. The cabin would take a lot of cleaning and there were some repairs that needed to be made, but all in all it would be a wonderful home. As she had told David, paradise compared with what they had had to live in for the past few years. She wondered if they had other neighbors besides Mitch Anderson.
She crawled between the cool sheets and tried to free her mind from its confusing thoughts, but little worries kept coming back to plague her. There was so much she needed to accomplish and she was unsure of where to start. Thankfully, she had a wonderful friend in Hattie Ames. But what of Mitch? She wondered exactly what unknown component he would bring to her life. What had he thought of her, anyway? She smiled to herself in the dark. Her last waking reflection was that he probably hadn’t given her a thought one way or the other.
* * *
Jenny would have been surprised to know that at that very moment Mitch was standing on the veranda of his ranch house trying to dispel memories of Jenny that had frequented his thoughts all day. He was disappointed, to say the least. Mitch wanted Tito’s property to help expand his business enterprises, hoping to embark upon a new venture that was more for pleasure than for profit.
A girl alone with two kids. Mitch shook his head in aggravation at her stubborn refusal to listen to reason. He could still see incredibly long lashes curled over flashing sapphire eyes. Staring into those eyes, he had felt as though she’d extracted a portion of his soul, inspected it and found it lacking. A feeling that was decidedly unsettling and not something he cared to repeat. Her eyes had taken on a strange glow fueled by her anger, but he had sensed that she’d felt the connection, as well, and had been just as disturbed by it.
She was certainly nothing to look at, except for those tantalizing eyes, but he had to give her credit for her grit. Now the question was how much stamina did she have? Besides all the other problems he could think of, Tito’s cabin had no air-conditioning and the temperatures were soaring.
If his mother and ex-fiancée were anything to go by, he didn’t foresee a long stay. A wicked grin sliced across his face. Wait until she experienced her first rattlesnake, scorpion or dust storm. He’d give her the benefit of the doubt. She’d probably last a month. Maybe.
For some reason the thought of her leaving didn’t give him the thrill he expected. Aggravated with himself, he turned and went inside.
Chapter 3
Jenny leaned her palms against the porch rails and stared out over the sandy desert that surrounded her. The sun was sinking slowly in the west and casting fingers of vermilion and purple across the sky. Already the hot temperatures of the day were beginning to cool.
A feeling of euphoria enveloped her. If she lived to be a hundred years old she would never cease to marvel at the beauty of these sunsets. She could well understand Hattie’s statement about feeling closer to God at times such as these.
Thinking back over the day’s events, she was more than satisfied with what she had accomplished. Thankfully, Hattie had invited Renee and David to stay with her while Jenny returned to the cabin to finish cleaning. Maybe she should have insisted on their help, but she still felt guilty insisting that they live here. Perhaps when she finished with the cabin, they would be more amenable and see what she saw in this desolate but awe-inspiring place.
A soft smile curved her lips. David had actually begged to be allowed to spend the night with Mark so that he could attend church with him in the morning. Her David. Already she could see the advantages of living here. Even Renee was showing signs of benefitting from the changed environment. Although still unusually glum, Jenny could sense a release of anxiety in Renee’s attitude. And Hattie’s genuine faith made Jenny want to be back among people who loved the Lord, to once again have that feeling of family.
As the last rays of sunlight slowly disappeared over the horizon, darkness crept over the land. Turning, she went back into the cabin, flicking the switch beside the front door. She looked around and felt a surge of pride in what she had achieved. All the rooms were freshly cleaned and a faint scent of pine permeated the air. There was no longer the feeling of neglect she had experienced when she’d first arrived. The cabin seemed to warmly embrace her in her solitude. She didn’t feel lonely, only contented.
She walked into the kitchen and went to the refrigerator. Opening it, she peered in and pulled out the meal she had fixed for herself earlier. Just because she was on her own didn’t mean she had to forgo having a civilized meal.
She set a crisp salad on the table, following it with a cold ham, turkey and roast beef sandwich. The sweltering summer heat made the cold food a welcome respite after hours of intense, sweaty exercise. A juicy nectarine would do for dessert, she decided, marveling at the change in her appetite. She was thankful, because, as Hattie had pointed out, she could definitely use a few pounds.
Remembering the long inspection Mitch Anderson had given her brought hot color flooding to her face. His look had been anything but complimentary. She snorted in frustration at having the man constantly jumping into her thoughts with the least provocation, and firmly pushed him from her mind.
Laying the silverware beside her place setting she experienced a moment’s guilt over her contentment without her brother and sister. It had been so long since she had been able to have time to herself and she was thoroughly enjoying this respite from burdens and responsibilities. She loved David and Renee, but being a single parent of teenagers when she herself was only twenty-six was taxing.
She had given up so much, basically her whole life, and yet she rarely experienced any feelings of regret. But there were times when she wished life could be different. Not only for herself but for David and Renee, also. She felt ill-equipped to handle the mounting pressures being foisted upon her by young adolescents.
Jenny seated herself at the table and laid her napkin on her lap. She refused to spend the remaining free hours in the doldrums or feeling guilty.
The rest of the evening she wandered from room to room planning redecorating schemes. If she wanted television reception, she would have to get a satellite dish since cable service wasn’t available this far out. Just another thing to add to the mounting costs of living here.
Only one thing still made her uncomfortable. Every time she went into the bathroom she was assaulted by the presence of the broken pane of glass. The cabin was situated so far out in the desert, she wondered if it could have truly been vandals or something much more sinister.
The Rancher Next Door Page 3
