A Moment To Love

by Jennifer Faye

  “You were looking for me?” The man with thick, wavy silver hair and a friendly smile stopped in front of them. “I’m such a lucky man to have two lovely ladies looking for me. What can I do for you both?”

  “Let me introduce Alexis Greer. She’s visiting us from New York City. And she’s interested in the Lawson land.” Mrs. Sanchez lowered her voice. “I’m guessing that Cord isn’t being reasonable and she may need your help.”

  “Is that so?” The man’s blue eyes turned to Alexis with much interest. “I’m always happy to help out. I was just stopping by Tilly’s Café for a cup of coffee. Would you care to join me?”

  “I’d love to.” Alexis was never one to pass up coffee. And since her meeting with the county and state officials had gone quite well, it was time to get the local community on board with her plans. “I’d like to discuss the future of Whistle Stop with you.”

  The mayor’s bushy brows rose. “You will have my full attention.” He pulled open the turquoise-painted, intricately carved door for her. “Shall we go inside?”

  Alexis thanked the man as she passed by him. She noticed that Mrs. Sanchez was hot on her heels. This meant everything said in the meeting would spread around Whistle Stop faster than an express train. She would have to be extremely tactful.

  Although if she worked this meeting just right, it might be what her plan needed to be a success. Alexis smiled. Her father wasn’t the only one who could think fast to salvage a deal.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Cord gripped a large coffee mug in his hand as he stepped onto the porch. It was mid-morning, but he still couldn’t seem to wake up. Nor could he sleep for worrying. He rested the cup of steamy and strong black brew on the white wood railing before stretching his tight muscles. There had to be a solution, a way to pay off the loan without selling out.

  He yanked the papers Lexi had left him from his back pocket and unfolded them. At first glance, the words looked like gibberish. A groan started to form deep in his throat. He swallowed it down. He could do this. He just needed to take his time and focus like his mother had taught him all of those years ago when she’d patiently helped him with his studies.

  With considerable effort, he saw the print on the page form words. He’d been struggling with this his whole life. He’d always been the last to finish school assignments, and the other kids had made fun of him for reading slowly or mispronouncing a word. Against his mother’s wishes, he’d finally dropped out to help his father around the ranch—the only person to truly understand what Cord had to deal with day in and out. His father had the same disorder and insisted reading wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

  Cord’s mother had vehemently disagreed with her husband and refused to let Cord give up. Each evening after chores were done, she’d work with him to learn how to cope with his severe dyslexia. Thanks to her love and determination, he’d earned his GED and could read when necessary. It was necessary now.

  He’d made it through the first paragraph of Lexi’s legal document when the drone of an engine caught his attention. Expecting to find Lexi, he got to his feet. He straightened to his full height and pulled his shoulders back, ready to do business. It was time they got a few things straightened out. His gaze focused on an old but familiar pickup, definitely not Lexi’s late-model SUV. His shoulders sagged. What in the world had gotten into him? Since when did he sit around waiting for a woman?

  Manny, his foreman, pulled to a stop in front of the porch, turned down a Johnny Cash tune and leaned an elbow out the window. “Hey, boss. I thought you were checking on the herd.”

  “Getting some coffee first.” Cord rested his elbows on the rail. “The new guy, Jesse, how’s he doing?”

  Manny’s tanned face crinkled with confusion. “Thought you’d be asking about the new woman in town.”

  His neck tensed. “Why? What should I know?”

  “She stopped me when I was at the end of the drive, grabbing the mail.” Manny held out a hefty stack of bills. “She wanted some information.”

  “Get to the point.” Cord stomped down the steps and accepted the various envelopes. “What did she want?”

  “Directions to Haggerty.”

  Alarm flooded Cord’s system, sending his pulse racing and chasing away any lingering tiredness. “I take it she’s going alone?”

  Manny pulled off his straw cowboy hat and ran a red bandanna over his forehead. “Sure seemed like it. I told her not to go, that it was dangerous, but she ignored me.”

  “That woman’s nothing but trouble.” Cord’s fingers clenched, crinkling the mail.

  Did she expect to reach Haggerty on her own? The ghost town sat in the middle of a desert mesa. There were no roads leading the way and certainly no signs to guide her. His gut knotted. If she ran out of gas or, worse, got lost, the consequences could be dire.

  “Well, boss,” Manny settled his hat back on his head, “what’re you gonna do?”

  “Me? Why should I do anything? If that woman is brazen enough to trespass and go hiking alone in the middle of nowhere, she has no one to blame for what happens but herself.”

  His speech sounded good, but it did nothing to calm the unease he had over her safety. He’d warned her not to go out there alone. Manny had told her not to go. Why should he have to forfeit his morning to go rescue her from her own stupidity?

  Manny sighed and shook his head. “I just keep thinkin’ ‘bout those inexperienced hikers that nearly died last summer out in Red Devil Canyon.”

  His foreman had a valid point, but Cord wasn’t her designated babysitter. She was a big girl. “I’m not responsible for her.”

  Manny didn’t say a word. He just adjusted his hat and averted his gaze.

  The nagging worry that something bad could happen to her ate at Cord’s gut. Even a frustrating, pushy businesswoman didn’t deserve to be lost in the desert. “How long ago did you see her?”

  “Just a few minutes ago. She can’t have gotten far.”

  Cord turned to head up the steps.

  “You goin’ after her?” Manny called out.

  Cord nodded but kept moving.

  “You want me to go with you?”

  Cord paused and turned. “You can help me out by handling any problems that crop up here.”

  Manny gave him a two-finger salute. “Will do, boss.”

  Cord checked his wristwatch. Not quite nine. “I’ll be back by lunch, at the latest.”

  “Good luck.”

  Lexi was the one who needed the luck. His back teeth ground together as he thought of the naïve woman out there on her own. Out in the harsh terrain, Mother Nature didn’t take pity on anyone, especially the inexperienced.

  ♥♥♥

  Where was it?

  Alexis pulled her SUV to a stop at the edge of a dry gulch and ran the back of her arm across her forehead. The ghost town shouldn’t be much farther. She’d been following a map and directions jotted out by one of Cord’s men, but this obstacle wasn’t mentioned on either document.

  She got out and examined the drop-off. It didn’t look so bad up close. If she went real slow, she shouldn’t have a problem. Acres and acres of desert grass stretched out for miles in every direction. Sagebrush dotted it in a haphazard fashion. Cracks in the hardened soil crisscrossed and snaked their way into the distance. It’d definitely been awhile since this place had seen rain. She glanced up at the big blue sky, unable to find one single cloud anywhere in the heavens.

  Suddenly, she knew what she’d forgotten—sunscreen. Too late to go back for it now. At least she’d remembered to throw on a lightweight long-sleeved top. It’d give her a little protection on her arms. Her jeans and boots would take care of her lower limbs. That left her face and neck exposed. She’d take her chances.

  The only thing that would make the trip any better was if she could share this magnificent view with someone. Cord’s handsome face sprang to mind. Why she thought of him was beyond her. He’d no sooner join her for this adventure than h
e would trade in his faded jeans for a business suit.

  Ready to move on, she glanced around one more time and spotted a dark speck far off in the distance. The breeze kicked up, swirling a cloud of dirt and obscuring her vision. She turned her head and shielded her mouth and nose with her shirt sleeve.

  The wind eased up, allowing her to turn and scan the terrain. This time the speck was more of a dot and seemed to be heading for her. A vehicle? Out here?

  She waited. Curious.

  In no time, a pickup pulled to a stop next to her. Cord jumped out. His brows were drawn together into a formidable line. His dark eyes left no doubt about his agitation. If she hadn’t known better, she would have said he’d followed her out here because he was worried about her.

  “Are you out of your mind?” His voice rumbled.

  She straightened her shoulders. “Hello to you, too.”

  “What are you doing out here alone? If something had happened, no one would have known where to find you.”

  Had she been right? Was he truly worried about her? Impossible. Right now, he looked like he was about to throttle her. “I wasn’t aware you cared so much.”

  “I don’t.” Anger flared in his eyes. “When we get back to town, I intend to have you arrested for trespassing.”

  Her mouth gaped. “You wouldn’t.”

  “How much do you want to wager?”

  “This isn’t funny.” She glared at him.

  “You’re right, it isn’t. You intentionally broke the law. Once I turn you in, the case will be open and shut.”

  Worried he just might be serious, she flashed him her biggest and brightest smile, hoping it would thaw his frosty attitude. “Come on. Just forget you found me. I’ll have a quick look-see and leave. No harm, no foul.”

  “I don’t think so. Last summer, a couple of tourists decided to hike around a remote canyon south of here. I’m sure they thought nothing would happen either.” He drew in an uneven breath. “Then one fell and the other hiker went for help, but he got lost. I was one of the volunteers on the search party that spent hours looking for them.”

  “What happened?”

  “They survived, but it could have easily gone the other way.”

  She refused to be deterred. “Does this stern warning mean you’ll accompany me?”

  “It means I’ll show you the way back to town—straight to the sheriff’s office.”

  She crossed her arms, feet planted in the dirt. “I’ve come this far, and I’m not turning back until I’ve seen Haggerty.”

  Cord’s lips pressed together in a firm line as his gaze narrowed. “It’d serve you right if I tossed you over my shoulder and threw you in the back of my pickup.”

  His words conjured up images. His hands on her. Their bodies rubbing against each other. His breath mingled with hers. His lips hovered over hers.

  “What are you smiling about?”

  His voice snapped her out of her daydream. She hadn’t realized her thoughts had been translated onto her face. She’d have to be more careful in the future—especially around this sexy cowboy.

  “Not a thing.” She settled her hands on her hips. “Now wouldn’t it be easier to satisfy my curiosity?”

  “I’m quickly learning that nothing about you is easy.” His unrelenting stare held hers as though he contemplated his options. “Why in the world would I help you after you’ve started a public campaign against me?”

  “I did what?”

  He shook his head. “Don’t try the innocent act. I know for a fact you’ve been going around telling the whole town that I’m standing between them and economic prosperity.”

  She saw a flicker of pain in his dark eyes, but in a blink, it was gone. Had she imagined it? No. Impossible. But then again, could it have something to do with the warnings she’d received about him? Did he have any idea what some of them were saying behind his back? She sure hoped not. He might be a bit blustery at times, but she’d seen the other side of him—the kind, gentle side. She longed to see more of that.

  She tilted her chin upward. “I may have spoken to some people about my proposal, but by no means did I speak with the whole town.”

  His weight shifted from one foot to the other. “You obviously don’t know much about small towns. You only have to tell one person or be overheard and the gossip mill is fired up.”

  Tired of being on the defensive, she decided to turn the conversation around. “And why should that bother you? Afraid of a little public pressure?”

  His brows drew together as storm clouds gathered in his eyes. “If you want to do business with me, speak to me. Don’t drag outsiders into it. Understand?”

  And yet another man dictating terms to her. It jangled her nerves. “I’ll do whatever I need to do to conclude my business here. The sooner you agree to sell Haggerty, the sooner I’ll head back to New York and get out of your way.”

  “It might just be worth selling.” Though he’d been muttering under his breath, she’d caught every syllable.

  The thought that he wanted her gone that badly pricked a spot in her chest. She may be a businesswoman on the outside, but on the inside, where no one could see, she wanted to be liked just like any other woman. She’d been kicked aside and forgotten enough in her life. First by her mother and then her fiancé. The backs of her eyes stung. She blinked repeatedly.

  Refusing to let him know his words had hurt her, she kept her voice even and calm. “Are you offering to give me the grand tour? Or shall I continue on my own?”

  He eyed her up as though deciding if she were serious. “You certainly can’t be trusted to be left alone.”

  “I’ll take that as your offer to show me around.”

  He sighed. “I’ll lead in my vehicle. You can follow in yours.”

  Alexis didn’t care how she got to the ghost town as long as she had a chance to do some exploring and make certain it suited HSG’s purposes. She also had to snap some pictures to send to her father. The unexpected bonus of having Cord as her guide would only add to the experience—if his mood lightened.

  Maybe she had come on a little strong. Maybe she needed to back off a little. Showing him a little more sweetness might help. In fact, maybe this little sightseeing trip would be a chance to move past their business relationship to a more personal level.

  “Ready to go?” She took a step toward her vehicle.

  “I don’t know what you think you’re going to find there. This ghost town is most likely not what you’re imagining. There aren’t any saloons with ghosts hanging around the bar, ordering another round of tequila. No skeletons dancing atop the player piano.”

  She laughed. “So this isn’t going to be a spin-off of some sitcom?”

  The corners of his mouth lifted a little. “No, and don’t expect some bearded prospector in overalls to pop out of the woodwork and lock you up.”

  “That’s reassuring.”

  “We better get moving.”

  They climbed into their respective vehicles. Her foot hovered over the brake, tapping it now and then as the SUV dipped down the side of the arroyo. Stones ricocheted off the undercarriage as the vehicle crept forward. The uneven ground jostled her back and forth in her seat. The rift wasn’t too wide, and soon they rolled up the other side.

  Less than ten minutes later, a rocky outcrop jutting out from the earth came into view. Cord’s brake lights flashed on. She pulled up beside his truck and got out.

  “We’re here.” He waved his hand around. “This is Haggerty.”

  “It certainly is a long way off the beaten path.” She gazed at the remnants of Haggerty, awed by its rustic charm. It was like stepping out of a time machine. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine the clomping sound of horse hooves and piano music from the saloon.

  “More than a century ago, settlers moved here for the promise of a new start. While they waited for the railroad to be built, scarce amounts of supplies were brought in by wagon. When they relocated the proposed rail line, people
followed the train to Whistle Stop. Eventually, my great-great-grandfather was left with nothing but dry scrub weed and an empty town.”

  “Sounds sad.” Thinking of the neglected town square, she hoped Whistle Stop wasn’t heading for the same fate.

  “There’s folklore linked to the town. Would you like to hear some of it?”

  What she really wanted to learn more about was him and why he let the townsfolk believe he was some sort of monster, when in fact she’d found him utterly captivating, even if he could be quite stubborn. Instead of caving in to her mounting curiosity and plying him with a bunch of nosy questions, she said, “I’d love to hear some.”

  He led her a short distance to a wall of rock. The opening to the mine was boarded up with weathered wood planks. A big Keep Out sign was nailed in the center. “Legend says many years ago, a young couple desperately in love wanted to marry, but the bride’s family didn’t approve of the match—”

  “This is great.” Alexis smiled and pressed a hand to her chest. “Everyone loves a tragic love story. It’ll tug at the hearts of female visitors.”

  Cord frowned. “I’m not telling you this for you to plan out some promotional campaign—”

  “Oh. I know.” She didn’t want to start another heated discussion with him. “Please tell me more of the story.”

  He cast her a doubtful look. Did he have any clue that he looked more cute and ornery than intimidating? In fact, she found him more attractive than she should.

  Not about to let her thoughts dwell on his mesmerizing eyes or the bit of scruff trailing down his chiseled jaw that led to his inviting lips, she said, “I’ll be quiet. I promise.”

  He cleared his throat. “The young man moved here, planning to strike it big in the mines. He needed to prove his worthiness in order to marry his true love. Months went by, and at last he’d saved up enough money to send for her. The day before she arrived, a cave-in at the mine buried an entire crew of men, leaving behind heartbroken widows and fatherless children.”