“Mmm. No one bakes desserts like Eva Stockton,” she said after she’d swallowed the bite. “It’s a good thing she does most of her pastry cooking here at Daisy’s Donut Shop instead of home on Sunshine Farm. I’d be weighing fifty pounds heavier in no time.”
“Sunshine Farm,” Drew repeated thoughtfully. “I’ve heard that name mentioned around the clinic. Someone said it’s the old Stockton place. Is that right?”
“You are right,” she answered. Then she asked, “Are you acquainted with the family?”
He nodded. “I’m acquainted with most of the long-standing families of Rust Creek Falls. Some of the Stricklands have lived here for many years, so this town has always been like a second home to me. In fact, my four brothers and I attended Luke Stockton’s bachelor party.”
She said, “Since I’ve moved to the area, I’ve learned to be cautious about what I say. Everyone seems to be related or, at the very least, friends. As for Sunshine Farm, some folks around here are beginning to call it the Lonelyhearts Ranch because of all the people who seem to find love there.”
“Is that where you live?” he asked.
Sitting across from Dr. Drew Strickland, enjoying pie and coffee, was the last thing Josselyn had expected to be doing tonight after the library meeting. She still couldn’t quite believe he’d invited her, or why he’d bothered. With his good looks and social standing as a doctor, he couldn’t be desperate for female company. And for all she knew, he might have a sweetheart back in Thunder Canyon. Someone who was helping him get over his lost love.
“Yes. I live in one of the cabins,” she told him.
“I haven’t driven out that way in years,” he admitted. “I guess I’d forgotten about the place having cabins.”
She nodded. “From what I’ve been told, the Stockton boys were helping their dad build them at the time the parents were killed in that horrible car accident. But I’m sure you know all about that.”
His face paled noticeably and then his gaze dropped to the cup he was clutching with both hands. “Yes. It was tragic. Even more so because it split up the family by forcing the siblings to go to separate homes. But then, tragedies tend to tear people apart.”
There was no mistaking the grim bitterness in his voice, and Josselyn decided that at one time or another this man must have experienced his own private hell. Had he lost Dillon’s mother to an accident? She was beginning to think so. And though she desperately wanted to ask, she tamped down the urge. It was far too soon for such a personal question.
“Or bring them closer together,” she suggested on a more positive note. “The Stocktons are continuing to do repair and remodeling work around Sunshine Farm. Especially on the cabins. There are seven cabins in all. Although not all are rented because of the ongoing construction. They also rent out a few rooms in the big farmhouse. Actually, a patient of yours, Mikayla Brown, lives in one of them. That is, she’ll be living there until Jensen Jones finds a house for the three of them—which I’m sure will be sooner rather than later.”
He looked up and she was relieved to see the color had returned to his face.
“I’m happy to say things worked out well for Ms. Brown and her newborn. I was told her baby was released from the hospital a couple of days ago. Everyone on staff at the clinic was glad to hear it.”
Josselyn’s smile took on a wistful quality. “I’ve already met the baby and she’s gorgeous. She named her Hazel.”
He didn’t say anything, and as she lifted her coffee cup, she noticed he was regarding her with a thoughtful eye.
After a moment, he said, “You say that like you wish you had children of your own.”
She sipped the coffee, then placed the cup back onto the table. The man’s job was delivering babies. That was the only reason he was asking the question, she silently reasoned. Not because he was that interested in her personal life. “I do want children. When the time is right. And the perfect man comes along.”
A wry smile slanted his lips. “I didn’t know such a thing existed.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks and she laughed, hoping the sound would divert his attention. “Well, I should’ve said the perfect man for me.”
He continued to study her closely. “So you’re saying you haven’t found him yet?”
His question caused her pulse to pick up its pace. “No. I dated a few men back in Laramie, but none seriously. For a long time I was mainly focused on my education. You see, acquiring my degree took a while. I had a scholarship and grants to help with expenses, but college doesn’t come cheap. My parents are hardworking, but not wealthy. I had to work part-time while I took classes.”
“Same here. I received a few small scholarships, but they weren’t enough to see me through years of med school. I worked at odd jobs to help with the cost.”
And what about Dillon’s mother? When had she come into the picture and where was she now? The questions were burning Josselyn’s tongue, but she kept them to herself. This was the first, and probably the last, time she’d be on an outing with this man. She didn’t want to ruin it by prying. Even though it hadn’t seemed to put him off from asking her whether she had a special man, she thought.
“So you’re from Laramie,” he said after a moment. “I’ve been to Cheyenne, but never to Laramie. Did you always live there?”
She nodded. “Born and raised there. Dad is a lineman for a local electric company. He’s worked at that for close to thirty years. And Mom is a practical nurse at one of the city’s hospitals.”
He settled comfortably back in the wooden chair and Josselyn couldn’t help but notice the wide breadth of his shoulders and the way the fabric of his shirt stretched taut against his muscled chest. In spite of his having an indoor job, he looked very strong and fit. Which made her wonder if he visited the gym or hiked some of the nearby mountain trails. Whatever he did for exercise appeared to be keeping him in top physical condition, she decided.
“My folks have always been ranchers,” he told her. “I have four brothers. Trey, Benjamin, LJ and Billy.”
Seeing he’d decided to share a little personal information, she decided to follow suit. “Lloyd and Cameron, my two older brothers, are ranch hands. And I have a younger sister who’s still at home finishing her college. Her name is Patricia, but we all call her Patti. We all have our little spats from time to time, but we’re actually a very close family.”
“Sounds like us Stricklands. So why did you want to move away from your parents and siblings? No job openings around Laramie for a librarian?”
“There were a few positions open. One in particular my family wanted me to accept. The job would’ve paid more than my position here at Rust Creek Elementary. But it was for a private library and I wanted to use my education to work with children. Anyway, I’ve always been considered the adventurous one of the Weavers. I like seeing different things and meeting new people. And I’ve definitely done that since I’ve moved to Rust Creek Falls.”
“Do you like it here?”
She sipped her coffee. “Very much. There’s something about this little town that digs in and takes a hold of a person’s heart. It certainly has mine. So you’re here only on a temporary basis?”
He nodded. “For as long as the clinic needs me,” he explained. “Frankly, I wasn’t too keen on making the move. But my parents suggested the change might be good for Dillon—and for me. Plus, the clinic here in town desperately needed another ob-gyn. And I was in a position to help.”
“I see.”
“You do? Well, I can see that leaving the familiar was easy for you, but it’s different for me. I have to consider Dillon’s needs. And I thought—”
When he didn’t finish, she ventured a question. “The move might be difficult for him?”
A grimace turned down the corners of his lips while his grip on the thick coffee cup grew knuckle white. The negative reactions
told Josselyn this move to Rust Creek Falls had been much more of an upheaval for Drew than it had been for his young son.
“To be honest, it had been years since I’d been away from Thunder Canyon for any length of time. Not since my wife died. I wasn’t sure I could handle Dillon on my own. In Thunder Canyon my parents had always been there to back me up when I needed help with him.”
Since my wife died. Just hearing him say the words and the strained tone of his voice made her heart ache for him. “Oh, I see. I mean—I understand better now. I’m so sorry about your loss, Drew.”
His eyes narrowed with disbelief. “What didn’t you understand, exactly?”
She shook her head. “Dillon said he didn’t have a mother, but I thought he meant she lived somewhere else. Dear God, it’s no wonder he—”
She broke off awkwardly and his lips took on a wry slant.
“He what? Is hunting a wife for his father?”
“Something like that. He definitely gravitates toward female company. I’ve noticed he’s pretty tight buddies with Rory at school.”
“Yes, I’ve already heard quite a bit about Rory. Especially how well she can throw a baseball.” Shrugging, he picked up his fork and sliced off a piece of his apple pie. “I’ve been trying to understand why Dillon has decided he wants a mother at this time in his life. You see, he doesn’t even know what having a mother is like. Evelyn died when he was only twelve months old. It’s not like he can remember. Or miss what he’s never had.”
Josselyn struggled to hide her surprise. Dillon was seven years old so that meant Drew had been a widow for six long years. Was that because he still loved his wife? Or was it because he had no interest in having another one? The idea hit her hard. Which was a ridiculous reaction. She was having coffee with the man. Not planning a future with him.
“Well, this whole thing could have something to do with your move here to Rust Creek Falls. Could be some of Dillon’s new friends are talking about their mothers and he wants to be like them,” she said in an effort to ease his concerns. “I figure he’ll grow out of this. But what about you?”
His fork paused in midair. “Me? What do you mean?”
Recognizing her lungs had quit working, she forced in a long breath. “I mean you’ve been single for a long time now. Is that how you want your future to be—living your life all alone?”
“What we want and what we’re handed in life are two different things. Clearly, it was meant for me to be single. Otherwise, Evelyn would still be alive.”
She’d known a few mulish men, but she couldn’t recall any of them being like Drew. He was looking at the future through a dark, narrow tunnel.
“People do get married again,” she suggested. “After they’ve passed through a period of grief.”
His nostrils flared as though her remark was insulting. As Josselyn studied his brooding expression, she decided she wasn’t about to apologize. If she had to carefully weigh every word she spoke to this man for fear of offending him, then he wouldn’t be worth the bother.
“I’m not some people,” he said bluntly. “And I’ve already had one wife. I don’t want another one.”
Oh my. He was so full of bitterness, she could practically see it oozing out of him. And just when she was beginning to like him, she thought sadly.
“Well, I’m sure when Dillon gets older, he’ll understand why you didn’t give him a stepmother.” To soften her words, she forced a cheery smile to her face. “Who knows, your son might even be glad that you didn’t. Children can change their mind on a whim. Like cornflakes for breakfast one morning and French toast the next.”
He arched a brow at her. “What would you know about kids? Besides helping them with books?”
She let out a soft laugh. “I happen to have been a child once—a few years ago.”
To her relief a faint smile crossed his face.
“At one time I must’ve been Dillon’s age,” he said. “But that was so long ago. So much has happened in my life since then that it’s hard to remember those carefree days.”
Not bothering to worry about what he might think, she reached across the table and placed her hand over his.
“Would you mind telling me what happened to your wife?”
His brown eyes suddenly filled with shadows and for a moment she thought he was going to tell her to mind her own business. But then his gaze fell to where her hand was lying across his. He stared at the connection as though having a female touching him was something highly unusual.
“She was driving Dillon to day care early one morning. When she stopped at a stop sign, a huge oak tree on the corner of the intersection toppled over onto the front of her car. She was killed instantly. Dillon was in the back seat and escaped the incident without a scratch.”
Her head swung back and forth as she tried to digest his words. “Oh, Drew, I don’t know what to say,” she said gently. “It’s just so freakish and shocking.”
“The tree was half-dead and the night before the accident a storm blew through the area and weakened the trunk. Unfortunately, removing the old oak was already on the city’s agenda, but the maintenance men hadn’t yet gotten around to the task.” His gaze lifted to hers. “For years I was in total shock. Other than work, I could hardly function. Then as more time passed, I got angry at the senselessness of it all. Not to mention I was swamped with guilt.”
She stared at him in wonder. “Guilt? Why? You didn’t cause the accident.”
He grimaced and Josselyn got the impression his wife’s death wasn’t something he often discussed. Which was understandable. No doubt it raked up a pile of painful memories.
“The morning of the accident it was my turn to drive Dillon to day care. I should’ve been in the car. Not Evelyn. But I’d gotten an emergency call from the clinic and she’d offered to drive Dillon in order for me to hurry on to work.”
“That’s only natural. My mom would do the same thing for my dad or vice versa. But all of that is beside the point. Things happen for a reason. Your wife was supposed to be in that car. Not you. And no amount of anger, guilt or grief will change what happened.”
He grimaced. “That’s the logical way of looking at it. But that doesn’t fix the hole in my life or make up for all that Dillon has missed.”
“I suppose not,” she said gently. “But it might help you to move forward. To look toward the future.”
He looked as though he was about to blurt out another bitter remark, but as she watched his lips slowly yield to a faint smile, she decided something had entered his thoughts to change his mind.
He said, “It must be nice to have your optimism.”
The heat emanating from his hand spread through her fingers and rushed all the way to her shoulder. The sizzling sensation reminded her that she’d been touching him all this time. As though she had a right to be close to him.
Embarrassed, she pulled her hand back and quickly hid it beneath the table.
“Now, you’re probably thinking I’m too young to know what it’s like to lose someone you love—that I can’t know how much it hurts. But I do understand.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-five.”
“That’s very young,” he agreed. “Especially compared to my thirty-three.”
She smiled. “You’re hardly over the hill,” she said wryly.
He didn’t reply and an awkward silence began to stretch between them. Josselyn tried to focus on finishing the last of her pie, but as she ate the delicious dessert all she could think about was the man sitting less than an arm’s length away from her.
Why had he asked her to join him here at Daisy’s? she wondered again. Clearly he wasn’t in the market for any kind of romance. He was still in love with his late wife. The fact put a damper on her usually bright spirits.
“You mentioned losing someone you were
close to,” he finally spoke. “Were you married once?”
Surprised by his question, she glanced over at him. “No. I’ve never had a steady guy, much less a husband. I was referring to my maternal grandmother. A few days after I’d graduated high school, she died unexpectedly. I was completely devastated. She’d always been more than a grandmother to me. She was my hero and mentor. No one understood me like she did. It was from her that I got my love of books. Now, well, I think she’d be very pleased about my education and my job.”
His brown eyes softened and Josselyn felt her heart melting like a snowflake on the tip of her tongue.
“No doubt she would be pleased.”
Thankfully, after that he turned the conversation to less personal things. Time flew for Josselyn and before she knew it, she’d emptied her second cup of coffee and finished the last bite of pie on her plate.
“If you’re ready, I think we should be going,” he finally suggested. “Tomorrow is a school day and I don’t want Dillon arguing with my grandparents about waiting up for me.”
Nodding, Josselyn reached for her handbag beneath the table. “Of course. I need to be getting home, too.”
After taking care of the check, Drew drove them back to the school parking lot, where her little car was parked beneath a streetlight.
By now the night mountain air had turned very cool, and before she climbed into the driver’s seat, Drew helped her don the jacket she’d been carrying over her arm.
“There,” he murmured, as his hands smoothed the fabric over the back of her shoulders. “That should keep you warm until your car heater kicks in.”
His closeness rattled her, but she tried not to show it as she turned to thank him for the evening.
“I’ll be fine,” she told him. “It’s only a few-minute drive to Sunshine Farm.”
“You will drive carefully?”
Even though the lighting was dim she could see his brown eyes were traveling intently over her face. Was he thinking about her safety? Or thinking more about his late wife’s accident? Oh Lord, it shouldn’t matter. But somehow it did.
The Little Maverick Matchmaker (Montana Mavericks: The Lonelyhearts Ranch Book 3) Page 6
