Abigail snickered.
"Because if they're like you and Abigail, this town has no idea the trouble headed their way."
The women glanced at each other and smiled. Bella knew this town needed shaking up. Sure, women had limitations placed on them, but in this town, they expected you to almost walk behind your husband instead of beside him. And there was no way any man was going to get her to follow him like a blind person.
"All we want is to be able to make a choice on whether or not we want to marry. Not that we have to marry in order to own or run a business, a bank account, or even get a loan. We just want to live our lives in a way that shows we are strong women who like and want a man for something other than his paycheck and ability to take care of us," Bella said softly, her voice full of strength.
Women had so few rights. It wasn't only the fact they couldn't vote. If a woman decided to leave her husband, she gave up everything. Her home, her children, her money, and anything else the couple had obtained while married. If your man died, it was difficult for you to move or have access to the family money. The bankers wanted to deal with men, not women.
"Oh, Lord," Jack said. "Right there is why this town is in so much trouble. Abigail has gotten one law changed, and yesterday you beat a man who has reigned as top baker in this town for as long as I can remember. Yet, your peach turnover beat his castagnoli. Change is happening faster than I think the men here are prepared for, and now you've got recruits arriving to help you. New Hope is in for a bumpy ride."
But once they became accustomed to women running businesses and doing something besides catering to their husbands, this would be a sweet place to live. Or at least, she hoped so.
Abigail lifted her wine glass and clinked it against Bella's and Jack's. "To new beginnings and strong, independent women."
They set their wine glasses down and Bella glanced at Jack while she cut a piece of meat. "Tell me about Franco Ruffini. He came by the mercantile this morning to ask about my baking until his son took him away."
She really wanted to ask more about Luca, but hoped when he told her about Franco, he would also mention the son.
Jack shrugged. "They're a nice Italian family who moved here twenty years ago, at least. Franco and his wife ran the bakery until the mother died. Then Franco and his son tried to continue the bakery until Franco came down with pneumonia and almost died. I think the bakery holds lots of memories for them.”
Turning toward Jack, Abigail frowned. "What happened to the building the bakery occupied?"
"Oh, it’s down the street, up for sale," Jack said.
Bella felt a tingle travel the length of her spine. It was a silent message of excitement and thrill. Maybe she could somehow purchase the building from the family.
"Bella, you should think about buying that building,” Abigail said, her voice rising in excitement.
If only she could get to her trust fund, the building would most certainly be hers. But maybe there was some other way.
"And how would you suggest I purchase it?" Bella asked. "I can't afford it without getting my father involved, and well, I'm not ready to deal with that drama."
Jack frowned as he took a bite of steak.
"No, but you could rent it from Luca. If it's just sitting empty, and if it has great ovens, just think of the pastries, cakes, and breads you could create. And since they closed, there is no bakery in town."
Leasing the building was not a bad idea. He would be receiving money and she would have a building to do her cooking.
"People love fresh bread," Jack replied. "Luca comes into town on Mondays and takes his sister to piano lessons at Mrs. Jackson's house. Usually he sits outside in the wagon or comes by the saloon and waits. You might catch him alone then and see if he would be interested in leasing the space."
A shiver rippled through her at the thought of going into the saloon to meet with him. But she would if she had to. She only hoped she'd catch him outside the Jackson house so they could talk alone.
Would he rent the space to her, and could she make enough money to keep a business going?
On Monday, Bella walked through town in the direction of Mrs. Jackson's house, her gloved hands shaking, a parasol shading her face from the blistering rays of the hot Texas sun. In St. Louis, there had been hot days, but the nights were cooler and fall was a pleasant time.
Here, the sun just continued to shine brightly, and so far, the trees had not started to drop their leaves. Her shoes clip-clopped along the wooden sidewalk before she turned to a residential area and walked up the dusty street toward the house hoping that today was not the day Luca decided to wait in the saloon.
When she turned on the street where Mrs. Jackson lived, she saw him sitting in the buggy, his hat pulled low over his head, his legs stretched out, waiting. She walked up to the wagon. His body was long and lean, and she had the strangest urge to run her hands down his muscled arms.
"Excuse me, Mr. Ruffini," she said softly, hoping he wasn't really sleeping.
He jumped and looked down at her. "Miss Sullivan," he said sitting up straight and putting his hat on his head.
She always was startled when people called her by that name. She would never get used to it and couldn't wait for the day when she could reveal her real name. But then, maybe that day would never come. She didn't know.
"Sorry to disturb you, but could I have a moment of your time?"
"Sure," he said and jumped down from the wagon. His feet slapping the ground right in front of her. She leaned her head back and peeked up at him from her bonnet.
Licking her lips nervously, she gazed into his dark eyes and felt a rush of warmth spread through her. There was something about this man that intrigued her. She wanted to learn more about him, yet she knew that wasn't possible. Not with her family searching for her.
"I peered in the window of the old bakery and wondered do the ovens still work?"
"Of course," he said his eyes staring at her puzzled. "Why do you want to know?"
A trickle of excitement scurried through her at the thought of leasing this space. She wanted it so badly. It was the answer to her prayers and perfect for what she wanted to do.
"I know you're trying to sell the building and I'm unable to buy it from you for now, but I was wondering if it would be possible for me to lease that space from you. I want to start a bakery and your building is already setup. It would be perfect."
She watched as he stared, his eyes widening. "You know, even if I hadn't sold the building a couple of weeks ago, I still would not let you open your bakery in my family's old location. It just seems wrong to let you, the woman who somehow outdid my father, take over his bakery."
Bella stepped back a little stunned. The son was angry at her because she'd beat his father at the bake off? Ridiculous. "I'm sorry. I didn't know it would upset you that I beat his father."
"My family means everything to me and while I understand you outdid him fairly, I just couldn't let you put your business in where my family has worked so hard for so many years."
What could she say? In her own clan, she loved them, but she also did not have this need to protect them like he obviously did. His father seemed like a strong gentleman who could get by on his own.
"I see it differently. The space your father produced so many great cakes and breads in would continue to honor his work by hopefully producing the same quality of food as his. It would be an honor to bake in his ovens and share the space where he once worked."
Luca looked toward the house and then down at her. "Even if that were so, I've made a commitment to a buyer and he intends to finalize the plans in the next three weeks. The bakery is no longer available."
An ache began in the center of her chest. She'd gotten her hopes and dreams up, and now they were once again dashed. She sighed and felt her shoulders release the tension. "I understand. But please, don't think that because I beat your father at the Fall Festival that I would dishonor his baking in any way. He won for a
long time."
Why were they all taking this so personally? Was it because the older man had won so long that they had never considered someone else would eventually win? Or were they all angry she had beaten the older gentleman.
"Why are you being so nice to my father?"
"Why not? We share a love of baking."
Bella held nothing but respect for this man's father and even hoped that someday they could bake together. She probably would learn a lot from the gentleman.
Just then the door opened and a young girl came bouncing down the steps, almost running to the wagon. "I'm done, Luca."
She stopped when she saw Bella. The girl looked so much like Luca, but her eyes sparkled with merriment. "Hello, I'm Cara."
Bella held out her hand. "I'm Bella Sullivan."
The girl’s eyes widened. "You're the lady who beat our papa at the baking contest."
Oh, dear. If Bella had known the contest was going to give her this much grief, maybe she should never have entered. "Yes, I won."
The girl tilted her head and smiled. "Papa came home last night talking about your turnovers. He said they were really good."
"Thank you. I'm honored he thought so," Bella said, glancing at Luca.
The girl looked at her brother and then back at Bella. "You should come to dinner some night. I'm sure you and Papa would have a lot of things to talk about."
Bella glanced at Luca, unable to hide the smile on her face. The brother didn't want her near his family bakery and the sister wanted her to come to dinner. "Thank you, but I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"We need to go," Luca said, running his hand through his hair nervously. "Sorry, Miss Sullivan, but you'll need to find somewhere else to have a bakery."
"Yes, I will."
Again, she was not going to let him stop her. Now that she had decided this was what she wanted, she would do everything in her power to make it happen.
His sister's eyes widened. "You wanted to open the bakery again?"
Bella nodded her head. "I wanted to lease the building from your family. But your brother tells me it’s not available."
Cara turned and glanced at her brother with the oddest expression.
"We have to go. Good evening," Luca said.
Luca helped his sister into the wagon and then crawled in beside her. He clucked to the horses and the wagon pulled away, leaving Bella standing in the street. With a sigh, she turned and headed to the mercantile. She'd have to keep looking. She wanted to open a bakery and she wouldn't let this or any man stop her. But in the meantime, there was bread rising that probably needed her attention.
Luca was lost in thought as they headed out to the vineyard. His mother insisted they buy the land before she died. They planned on it being where his parents spent their last years. After he shut down the bakery, they made the decision to move from town and live full-time at the vineyard. A decision they didn't regret.
"Bella seems like a nice girl."
"I guess," he said, thinking about the woman's proposal. The buyer was in hand. He couldn't walk away from the chance of selling the building outright.
Yet, he still had qualms about giving up his family’s bakery. And the lovely Miss Sullivan almost scared him. All he could do was stare at her full lips and wonder how they would feel beneath his own and was her skin as silky to the touch as it looked. He so wanted to trail his fingers down her face, to touch her.
Sighing he tried to keep his focus on getting home and not on how the woman had awakened him to how much he missed a woman's touch. He'd had girlfriends, but nothing serious. Flirtations that ended almost as quickly as they started.
"Why don't you want to lease the bakery to her? It would be one way of keeping the bakery running. Everyone in town has complained about the lack of fresh bread available. We could even take a small portion of her sales."
He glanced at his sister. Where had she learned how to be so innovative in business? "I guess we could. But I'd rather just sell it out right. Then I could take that money and put it into the vineyard. Besides, the idea of someone other than our family in that kitchen...well, it bothers me."
She shook her head at him. "Beneath that tough male exterior, you are such a softy. You're like dough. Marry the girl, and then we'd still have family in the kitchen."
His sister could believe what she wanted, but Luca knew he tried to make his papa happy with how he was running the business.
Luca laughed. "And you, sister, are a dreamer. I'm not getting married anytime soon. Are you going to start in on me like Papa?"
"No, but I was just throwing out a solution. She's a baker. She's one of us."
Maybe that's what frightened him most of all about Miss Sullivan. She was attractive, and she loved to bake.
"Yes, well, she also beat our father in a contest he's won for years."
"But that just shows how good a baker she is. You know Papa is the best and for her to beat him, that makes her exceptional." She sighed. "I watched you two. There is something there you are ignoring. You like her, and well, I think she would fit into our family."
He had to shut Cara up before they reached the house or his father would be jumping all over the idea of him and Bella.
"Would you stop? Don't let Papa hear you saying these things to me or I will convince him to send you off to a nunnery."
She laughed. "No, you wouldn't. You'd miss me."
"Like rat poison."
"Ha!" she said. "You know it’s okay for you to like a woman. You can still be the head of the family and have a girlfriend."
Yes, he had been a little focused on trying to make sure he didn't lose their money. After all, his father had entrusted him when he had gotten sick, and Luca wanted to do a good job.
"It's a lot more responsibility than I anticipated. I just want to make Papa proud."
"And you will. But you'd make him even happier if you found a wife."
Why was it that everyone thought if you didn't have someone by your side that you were missing out on life? When he fell in love, he wanted to have time to spend with his wife and children. He didn't want to be so focused on the vineyard and the family business that he couldn't enjoy his marriage. Now was just not the right time.
Luca groaned. "I'm going to change everyone's focus from me finding a wife to you finding a husband. You are old enough. Our mother was married when she was your age."
"And who would you choose for me?"
Luca thought for a long moment. There was no one in town he wanted near his little sister. In fact, he'd fight any man that tried. But he knew sooner or later, someone would choose her and he just hoped it was someone who treated her right, otherwise, they would answer to him.
"See, you answered my question. There is no one in New Hope that even interests me. So I'm safe. You, on the other hand. I think someone has arrived that has put a twinkle in your eyes, a smile on your face, and a spring in your step. Oh yeah, you can deny it all you want, but Bella Sullivan intrigues you."
"Stop. Now you're just creating drama."
But she wasn't and he knew it. There was something about the girl that drew him to her. Right now was just not the time for her to show up in his life. He didn't have time for a woman. Especially a woman who enjoyed baking like she did because she would fit into his family so well.
"Promise me you won't say anything to Papa about Miss Sullivan wanting to rent the bakery."
If his father found out, he would probably give it to her, just to stop him from selling the place.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want him upset. And I haven't told him I have a buyer for the place."
That was one fight he wasn't looking forward to. Sure his father had agreed to put the “For Sale” sign on the door, but he hadn't believed anyone would want the building. Now Luca had a buyer and someone who wanted to lease the space.
"Good luck convincing him to sell. I don't think he will."
"We've talked about it, but I don't k
now. We'll have to wait and see."
Cara shook her head at him. "I think you're going to be disappointed. He and Mama spent so many years working side by side there that I doubt he will go through with the sale. It's one thing to talk about getting rid of the place, but it’s another to actually sell his business."
His sister could be right. That's why he was waiting until everything was ready and then he would tell his father. Hopefully the amount of money would be enough that he wouldn't hesitate to sell.
"I know. So I'm waiting until the buyer is all lined up. Then I'll bring it to him."
"Just lease the place to the girl."
"No," he said. "Not unless I have to."
If he leased the bakery to Bella, he would feel compelled to go by and check on it almost daily and seeing another person where his family had worked so hard, well...he didn't know if he could do it. Not even the beautiful Bella.
Chapter 4
As the morning light brightened the window, Franco stood over the pan where he was frying dough. Looking up, he watched his daughter come traipsing down the stairs. With her long, dark hair she reminded him of his wife and his heart ached with longing for Maria. She'd been gone two years, three months, and nine days. And not a day went by he didn't miss her touch.
"Good morning, Papa," his sweet angel said, coming to kiss him on the cheek.
"Good morning, love."
"Why are you frying castagnole for breakfast?"
She reached for one sitting on the counter, waiting for him to dust with the sugar he'd ground. “These are not for you. These are for Miss Sullivan."
His daughter laughed. "That woman has managed to bewitch the men in this family. Don't let Ricci near her or you will all be under her spell."
When did Cara meet the young woman? And why did she believe Luca and him were enthralled with the girl. "What are you talking about? I want her to experience my pastry. When did you meet her?"
Wild Western Women Spring Into Love: A Western Historical Romance Box Set Page 25
