by Eileen Green
The diner was closed for the night, a note on the door indicating they were closed for a private party. Now, it was a matter of time before the partygoers would be arriving.
Not dressed to attend a party, and not wanting to be around anyone, Blair was just waiting for Glen to come back to take over. With all the food finished or cooking, it wouldn’t take but a few minutes to set the dishes out on the counter for the buffet. The chafing dishes were set up, the Sterno cans all set to be lit, prepared for the dishes to be brought in from the ovens to place in them.
The bells above the front door tinkled gaily as someone arrived. Looking out through the serving window, she saw that several of the ladies were entering, laughing and smiling.
Over the past year and a half, she had been employed by Glen Slater at the Polson Diner. She worked long hours, which she didn’t mind. Many days she worked from open to close, and if she had it her way, she would work seven days a week, but Glen wouldn’t let her. She had no life, no friends.
Once Glen arrived, she would go home to her small two-bedroom house and read or watch TV. It was the same way she lived over the past twenty-some-odd-years.
Two ladies walked in the front door. One was an older woman with light brown hair. Gray streaks were evident although she had it swept up into a bun. She was a bit on the plump side and had an infectious smile. The other woman was middle-aged with brown hair kept back in a braid. She too was a bit on the plump side.
Blair wasn’t sure who the women were, but they were both carrying aprons.
“Hello?” the older woman called out.
Removing her own apron, Blair walked out of the kitchen. “Good evening,” she replied.
“Hi. We’re here to help with the dinner.” The younger woman moved toward Blair as she spoke. “I’m Ruth, and this is Martha.”
Martha stepped forward. “If you want to show us what foods are for the party, we’ll help you set them out.”
“Sure. If you’ll follow me,” Blair said, a bit confused. She thought Glen was going to be handling the dinner.
She walked back into the kitchen and moved to the industrial-sized refrigerator. Opening one of the doors, she began to pull out large disposable pans of salads so there wouldn’t be so many dishes to wash. She handed them to Martha and Ruth, and they turned to place them on the counters.
“There’s more of the green salad mix in bags in here, and backup pans of the potato, macaroni, and pasta salads,” Blair explained. “Glen told me an approximate amount of people coming, and that most of them were big eaters.”
“That they are,” Ruth agreed. “Six of the guys from where I work are coming, and they can chow down. They’re cowboys and are always hungry.”
“We’ve seven from the ranch I work at coming, and then there’s Lawrence.” Martha spoke proudly of the men at her workplace.
Blair was curious on why this Lawrence guy didn’t register the same enthusiasm as the others. “What’s wrong with this Lawrence guy?” she had to ask.
Martha laughed. “Oh, there’s nothing wrong with him. He’s just a different breed than the others. He’s big city all the way. You know the kind. Always watching what he eats, wears suits. But he has a kind heart and is a good husband and father.”
“So, you two work for some of these people, and then you mention multiple men. Where do you work?” Blair inquired.
“We work for two of the largest ranches in western Montana. Our men are cowboys,” Martha replied as she looked under the foil of one of the pans. “And then, there’s Lawrence. He doesn’t ride much even though his partner started up an equine therapy program out at the ranch. He’s getting better though, but he does have a stressful job.”
Nodding her understanding, Blair closed the fridge. Opening a deep drawer, she pulled out serving utensils and walked them to the counter in the front.
“Sounds like you two are kept on your feet a lot,” she said, her thoughts going to two sexy cowboys. Sadly, she shook her head to get rid of them.
It was Ruth’s turn to laugh. “They do at that. You’ll see what we mean when they all begin to arrive.”
Blair moved to the oven and checked the entrees. “I’m not staying.”
The two women stopped moving around. Martha was the one to ask, “Why not? Glen’s not the type to exclude anyone from attending any of the family get-togethers. Gina is like a daughter to him.”
Shrugging, Blair moved over to the sink and washed her hands. They didn’t need to be cleaned, but she needed something to do as she thought of an answer. Finally, she replied, “I have to be up early in the morning. I’m the one opening and have to do the prep work. Glen knows I’m not staying.”
“Nonsense,” Martha chided. “I know you have been working here for quite a while. You’re family to everyone, Blair. Glen would be disappointed if you didn’t stay.”
“Of course you’re family!” a new voice said from the doorway exclaimed.
Looking in that direction, Blair saw Tanya standing there with a confused look on her face.
Tanya had been a waitress at the diner for several years, until she met two men and fell in love with them. Whenever one of the waitresses called in sick, Glen would call her to help fill in.
When Blair first began here, Tanya was friendly and helped make her feel at home. She had always taken time to talk to Blair.
“I will come in and help you in the morning to open up,” Tanya nagged, “but you are not going to go shut yourself off from people.
The tall blonde with large blue eyes walked up to Blair. She was a beautiful woman, and Blair was envious of her at times.
In fact, Blair was jealous of all the women who were coming tonight. They were able to live their lives and find love, and she wasn’t. They were able to have friends who really cared about them and vice versa, yet she had to keep a low profile.
“You don’t have to do that, Tanya. I’ve been working all day, helping to get the food ready for this. I’m tired and just want to go home,” Blair explained. She made a sweeping motion with her hands up and down her clothes. “I mean, look at me. I have no clean clothes to wear.”
“Oh, that’s no problem,” Ruth cut in cheerfully. “I went shopping before I came here, so I have some new clothes in the car you can wear.”
Getting irritated yet trying not to show it, Blair quickly said, “I can’t wear your new clothes.”
“I won’t take no for an answer,” Ruth scolded.
“None of us will,” Tanya added and took a step closer to Blair, so she was directly in front of the woman. “I remember a woman who followed me into the ladies’ room when I was having a difficult day and two men came in and threw me for a loop. I was afraid to take the leap into the unknown, and you told me I needed to live in the moment and not the past.
“I don’t know what you’re afraid of, Blair, or who you’re afraid of, but you really need to start living, period. This life is passing you by, and you’re sitting on the sidelines. Please stay for the party. You know most of the people coming, and they all like you. A person needs friends, and all those people have room in their hearts for more friends.”
Tanya did have a point, but her past was totally different from Blair’s. Tanya had been having issues with her father and chasing the wrong men, whereas Blair’s was a life-and-death situation.
Knowing that these three women weren’t going to let her walk out of here, Blair resigned herself to staying. “All right,” she conceded, trying hard not to sound ungrateful. “I’ll stay.”
Tanya jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “Yay! Now, let’s get this party put together.”
Defeated, Bailey picked up a set of pot holders and moved back to one of the ovens. After opening it, she pulled out a large pan and walked out of the kitchen to the counter out front. She placed it in one of the chafing dishes. Lighting the Sterno can, she stepped back into the kitchen for another dish.
The four women moved about the kitchen and the serving area of t
he diner. By the time the partygoers began to arrive, all the food was set out on the counters. Dishes had been stacked up at one end, and the silverware was waiting in their trays. Drinks were going to be a serve yourself deal. Blair had made sure glasses were plentiful.
Glen arrived first with his beautiful wife, Virginia. Blair was surprised to see her boss wearing dark blue slacks and a light blue button-up shirt that set off his eyes. She was used to seeing him in white pants and shirt, along with his usually stained apron.
Virginia, the mayor of Polson, was wearing black jeans that showed off her long legs and a gray formfitting sleeveless blouse that wrapped around one side. A pair of black heels gave her another three inches to her already model-like stature, putting her just slightly taller than her husband. A gray snakeskin handbag hung off her arm along with a sweater.
Besides being a beauty, she was a great mayor, having brought some new business to a failing town. The citizens praised her and had elected her for another term.
“How’s everything…” Glen began before being interrupted by his wife.
Virginia jabbed Glen’s side with her elbow before chastising him. “Now, sweetheart, this is a fun night. Let’s not be all about business.”
Blair had to bite back the laugh that threatened to bubble up within her. Glen had always been a bit on the gruff side, and to see him taken down a notch was amusing.
The man nodded before he smiled at Blair. “Hello, Blair. Is everything set up?”
“Yes, sir,” she said as she looked around at the counter to double-check. “All the food is set up. There are backup dishes in the fridge and ovens, and the desserts are ready when needed. Also, the cake is in the bottom of the fridge, as the bakery owner brought it in herself about an hour ago. She said she’d be back in a while to join in on the festivities.”
“Fantastic,” Glen said happily. He pulled out a chair at the table for Virginia, who placed the black knit sweater that she had over her arm on the back of. “I want everything perfect for Gina.”
Blair watched as Glen hugged Virginia to him and before kissing her cheek. That green-eyed monster streaked through Blair, not because she was jealous of them personally, but because of what they had. Something she would never experience again.
Ruth stepped up to her with a couple bags from the local Walmart. “Here’s the clothes I said you could borrow. Pick out what you want to wear.”
Feeling her cheeks heat with embarrassment, she avoided eye contact with Glen and Virginia. “Thank you,” Blair said quietly.
She took the bags and headed toward the restroom. Feeling the quizzical eyes on her of the few people in the restaurant, she hoped she was walking gracefully.
Once in the bathroom, she pulled out several items from the bags. Checking the tags, she found they would fit her. She chose a pair of jeans and a green sweater. Her white sneakers should be fine.
Blair took her time dressing, hoping to take up as much time as possible. She really didn’t want to socialize. After fluffing out her hair and wiping off a smudge of tomato sauce from her cheek, she took the bags and walked out of the bathroom.
Voices reached her in the hallway, a lot more than what were in the restaurant before. Slipping into the kitchen, she peeked out through the service window.
The restaurant was full of people now, laughter and conversations happening. A fine sheen of perspiration formed on her face and neck as her anxiety level shot up.
There were women in dresses and men dressed in nice jeans and western shirts. There were several men in uniforms from the Montana State Patrol and one gentleman in a Lake County Sheriff’s Department one. Two men were dressed in suits sans ties, one of them probably being that Lawrence guy Martha had spoken of.
Blair set the bags on the counter and took a deep breath. Stepping out in to the dining area, she hung back at the counter.
Glen moved around to the front side of the counter, cleared his throat, and said loudly, “Everyone, can I have your attention, please!”
The room quieted at Glen’s words, as the occupants turned toward him. Before Glen could speak again, the door opened, letting in two more men. Two men who had Blair’s heart slamming against her ribcage and her breathing nearly coming to a stop.
Chapter Two
Everyone had turned to see who had walked into the restaurant, but only one person had his attention. She stood next to the counter, staring at them.
It had been twenty years since Martha had left them. Twenty years of them grieving and shying away from any woman who reminded them of her because it hurt so much.
Now, for the first time since that tragic day, Tanner was looking at a woman who resembled Martha. This woman’s hair was mahogany instead of burgundy, save the gray streaks in her hair, and she had a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes that weren’t there before.
By the way that the woman was staring at them, with a mixture of surprise and fear, Tanner knew in his heart that this was the woman who had broken his heart so long ago.
“Jesus!” Brock exclaimed next to him.
The woman didn’t say a word, but her lips mouthed, Oh, shit, before she turned and ran into the kitchen.
He could see her through the service window running toward the back of the diner. When she disappeared from his sight, Tanner knew he had to go after her. He wasn’t going to lose her again without an explanation.
Ignoring the gasps and questions people were spouting, he took off running through the restaurant and then the kitchen. He followed the sound of the slamming door and was only a couple of seconds behind her. He yanked the door open that stood in his way and ran out into the alley.
Footsteps rang out to his right, causing him to follow them. He could hear Brock behind him.
The footsteps bouncing off the back walls of businesses in the alley were beginning to slow. In the dimness, he could finally see her despite the dark clothes she wore. At the end of the alley, she ducked off to the right. He knew he had to catch her, for if she tried to cross the street there, she could possibly be hit by a car. Although it was evening, and a weeknight, Highway 93 was a busy highway, and travelers tended not to obey the speed limit when going through town.
Closing in on her, he lunged for her, grasping his arms around her waist. A scream sounded from her as she began to fall to the sidewalk.
He wanted to protect her from getting hurt, so he twisted his body and hit the pavement with her landing on top of him. The breath was knocked from his lungs, and pain pierced the back of his head where it hit the ground. Holding tight, he felt her fighting against him, trying to pull his arms from around her.
Stars erupted in his head as a ringing in his ears sounded. He knew the blow to the back of his head was bad, but he wasn’t going to let the woman loose without finding out what the hell was going on.
“Let me go!” she wailed. “Please, let me go!”
“No, Martha! We’re not letting you go until you explain yourself,” Brock said above him.
Martha was still fighting them, but her slight frame belied her strength. “Damn it, Tanner! Release her!” Brock shouted.
Doing as his brother requested, Tanner let go. Martha screamed. Tanner looked up, and through his slightly blurred vision, he could see Brock holding Martha around the waist. They were facing each other, although Martha was still fighting.
“Stop!” Brock roared. Martha stopped fighting him.
Except for the traffic that was moving along, all was silent for a few moments. Tanner shook his head, just to make sure it wasn’t the injury to his head causing it, but since he could hear the cars, he knew it wasn’t.
Footsteps came running up on them, drawing Tanner’s attention. People from the party were coming to find out what was going on.
Connor stood over him, a hand out to help him up. Jared stood next to Brock, an angry look on his face.
Tanner rose with Connor’s help while Glen pulled Martha out of Brock’s arms. “What the hell do you two think you�
��re doing?” Glen shouted.
“This woman was our fiancée twenty years ago,” Brock began. “She wrote a note saying she had to leave, and then to top it off, she faked her own death.”
Their Martha was crying as Gina, Anita Olsen-Tilsdale-Bowman, and Siobhan Hawthorne all gathered around her. They made a cocoon, wrapping her in their supporting arms while speaking soft words to her.
It was Gina’s look of disbelief that had Tanner wondering if they were going to be unemployed and homeless over this. Could it have been a case of mistaken identity? No, he didn’t think so.
* * * *
Connor grabbed hold of both him and Tanner and pulled them aside so that they were standing up against the wall of the building next to them.
“What in the blazes had you chasing a helpless woman?” he asked, using his sheriff’s voice.
“You saw her, Connor. She took one look at us and ran. We didn’t do anything but walk in and look over at her. She recognized us and ran.” Brock was hoping he was making a good case. If not, he and Tanner were screwed. “Ask her why she ran. If she’s not who we know she is, then why did she run?”
Connor looked over at the now tight circle of women around Martha. Glen was standing next to Gina, glaring at Brock and Tanner. However, it was Glen who agreed with them. “Let’s take this inside, and then we’ll get some answers.”
Brock nodded his thanks toward Glen.
Feeling like a criminal and a cad for the way he had manhandled Martha, Brock walked next to Tanner back to the diner. Connor and Jared walked close behind them as if they thought the brothers might take off.
Entering the restaurant, they found Martha from the Circle G and Ruth from the Lazy R ranches sitting at a table in the corner with the kids who had come with their parents. Martha, the older one, was holding the Goodall-Lighthorse’s baby, while Ruth was helping the four older kids with their coloring.
