She'd given herself completely to Luca, but she was an independent woman. She would be fine. Only now, she feared her father was on his way and how could she convince him she wanted to stay here. And did she really want to?
"I think I will spend some time in the kitchen baking today. It always seems to soothe my soul when I have flour between my fingers."
Callie smiled. "We'll take care of the store."
"I'm going to run to the bank. Maybe you should go with me since you want to open an account here in town."
"Yes, I'll go with you and we can visit the bank together."
"Thanks. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have all of you," she whispered feeling tears welling in her eyes.
She hadn't told them what had happened between her and Luca for fear they would have hunted him down. But she knew in her heart and would carry that afternoon by the river with her forever.
As the sun rose, Luca rode into town, bleary-eyed after spending most of the night thinking he'd just made the biggest mistake of his life. The image of her face while in the throes of passion would sneak up on him and then he'd remember how he'd broken her heart. He had to speak with her before his father arrived at the bakery this morning.
He strode through the door of the store just as they were opening. A woman he'd never seen before stood behind the counter. "Where's Bella?"
She smiled at him. "What would you like, sir? We have fresh bread, shortbread cookies, apple turnovers, or cream pastry."
"I want to see Bella," he said anger rising in him filling him.
"I'm sorry, but she's concentrating on her business and we're not allowed to interrupt her," the redhead said. "Seems someone tried to use her to his advantage, and now she's more determined than ever to make the bakery a success."
Luca took a deep breath knowing if he released the fury that flowed from him, it would get him nowhere. Another woman came to the counter. "Is there a problem, Diamond?"
"No problem, just a hound dog looking for a bone."
"Look, I know you probably think the worst of me, and I don't care, but I need to speak to Bella. I want to make things right between us," he said.
The woman named Diamond stared at him. "She doesn't want to see you."
His chest felt like someone had punched him. If only he could explain what a fool he'd been and how she had changed his life and his mind and he would give her the damn bakery if she'd just speak to him.
"Bella," he yelled. "Bella come out here, right now. I need to talk to you."
The two women looked at each other and then they marched around the counter. One had a broom in her hand and the other a mop. They came on either side of him and grabbed him by the arms and started to pull him towards the door.
"I’m not leaving until I see Bella," he yelled. "Bella."
He dug his heels in refusing to leave. Diamond picked up her broom and hit him on the buttocks. "Leave or I'll get the sheriff."
Just then his father walked in the door. "Luca?"
Luca was a man who would do whatever it took to see his woman.
"They refuse to let me see Bella," he said. "I need to talk to her."
Franco glanced at the women and then at Luca. "Release him. I will take care of him."
His father took him by the arm and led him outside the bakery. "Papa, she won't speak to me. On the drive home last night, she told me we were done. She's mad and believes I didn't want her to be successful and seeing her only to make her fail."
"Were you?" his father asked.
Luca threw his hands into the air. "It started that way, but, Papa, after our first kiss, I fell in love with her. She's my anima gemelli, my soul mate."
At this moment, the bakery, the vineyard, none of it mattered. All that mattered was him getting to speak to Bella.
His father sighed. "When you love someone, Luca, you put their needs above your own. You give them whatever they need to be happy. You get joy in making them contented. And you learn very quickly that when you make a strong woman angry, your life is going to be hell."
"But, Papa, how do I get her back?"
He wanted Bella back. He wanted her in his arms. He wanted to marry her and make her his wife.
"You can't, right now. Walk away and let time work its magic. It may be that you can never repair the damage you've done, but for now, you have to wait until she's ready to hear you."
Luca hung his head. “Papa, is this how you felt about Mama?"
His father laughed. "Yes. And your mother had me ready to jump off the nearest cliff because she refused to speak to me. And then I married her."
Luca looked in the window of the bakery where the two women were almost guarding the door.
"Let me see if I can talk to Bella. You should go to work," he said patting his son on the back. "Let me see what I can do."
Luca gave one last look at the bakery. Why did he feel like he was losing everything? All because he'd gotten greedy and wanted the money from the sale of the bakery to help his vineyard. He'd acted so stupid, and now, he was paying for his lack of good judgement.
Bella and Callie sat in front of Samuel O'Brien, the banker at the New Hope Bank and Trust. They had waited almost an hour before he'd finally agreed to see them.
"What can I do for you ladies," he said.
Callie looked at Bella. "I need to open an account."
He leaned back and crossed his arms across his chest. "Are you married?"
"No," she said.
Bella felt a trickle of alarm go down her spine. Wasn't this man Tim Barton's good friend?
"I'm sorry, but per bank policy, we do not open accounts for single women. When you marry, your husband will be free to open an account with us."
"You don't think I have need of a bank account before then?" Callie asked.
He laughed. "Your father or brother, they can take care of any money needs you may have."
Callie laughed and shook her head. "Unbelievable."
"And you, Miss Sullivan, how can I help you?"
"I want to borrow money to purchase the building the bakery is located in."
The man leaned back and laughed out loud. "Bank policy does not allow us to lend money to women."
"Not even a business loan?"
"No, ma'am. Besides, that building is being bought by Tim Barton. You're not going to buy it because he would never sell to a woman."
Bella felt her insides churn. Not only had Luca lied, but the buyer was none other than the hated Tim Barton who had been so rude to her in her own place of business? The devil take them both. Now she was mad. Fighting mad.
She glanced at Callie who seemed to have steam almost coming out her ears. She watched her friend take a deep breath, pick up her reticule and smile at the banker.
"Sir, I'm sure you're one of those crazy men who think a woman's place is in the home, following ten feet behind her husband, but let me make you aware of something you don't know."
She smiled. "My name is Callie Chesterfield. I'm an heiress. At last count, I was worth over a million dollars. I had planned on putting some of my money into your small bank. But doesn't look like that's going to happen, now."
They rose and walked to the door.
Mr. O'Brien's face was red and he sputtered. "Miss Chesterfield."
She turned around and smiled. "Yes?"
"Let me talk to the board and see what we can do."
She shook her head. "I'm afraid it's too late. You see my friend is going to need a loan and a bank to help her business. I have other friends who need a willing bank to help them out. While sitting here listening to you, I thought to myself, this bank needs some competition."
"No," he said staring as his eyes widened in fright.
"Oh, yes. A bank owned by women for women and anyone else who can't get a loan at your place of business."
"Wait. Let's talk."
She smiled. "Good day, Mr. O'Brien."
They walked out the man's office and into the bank lobby that
only had a few men doing business.
"Shake the dust off your feet when we walk out the door. We aren't coming back," Bella said, as they strolled through the door.
Later that day, Bella had her hands in flour almost up to her elbows as she kneaded the dough. She'd heard Luca screaming her name, but she refused to see him. She was not going to see him until after her six weeks were up, and she could prove to him how successful she'd made the bakery.
She now knew he would never sell the place to her because Tim Barton was the new buyer. But still, she would have the satisfaction of knowing her business had not been derailed by his courtship.
Callie came into the kitchen. "Franco would like to speak to you."
"Send him back," Bella said hoping he wasn't here to plead his son's case.
A few minutes later, Franco came around the corner putting on an apron. "What are we making today?"
She glanced at him suspiciously. "Cinnamon rolls."
He nodded his head. "I've never made them. What can I do to help you?"
That was a good sign. She wasn't ready to talk about Luca with Franco. After this morning's trip to the bank, she was seething mad. Why did society make it so difficult not to depend on a man?
"While I'm finishing this bread dough and getting it ready to rise, you can take that dough in the bowl and punch it down. Then wait about ten minutes."
"What are cinnamon rolls?"
Bella was finding it difficult to talk. She just wanted to sit in a corner and cry, but she was not going to give Luca the satisfaction of knowing how much he'd hurt her.
"It's a Finnish recipe our cook use to make. They're a pastry with cinnamon and sugar wrapped inside the dough and then on top you put cream icing. When I was a child, it was my favorite pastry. I was kind of missing home today and decided to make some."
"I can't wait to try them," he said punching the dough. "We really enjoyed having you for dinner the other night. Cara is worried she may have caused problems between you and Luca."
She didn't want the girl to feel bad that her comments were what ended their courtship. In fact, Bella felt grateful the girl had told her what was going on.
"No problems between me and Luca. I now know exactly how things are between us."
Bella's chest ached at the way even saying his name brought up so many emotions. She'd trusted him completely. But to sell the bakery to that creepy Tim Barton, that made her angry. If Luca loved the memories he had of his mother and father in the bakery, why would he let this man buy the place?
"In some ways, Luca is like you. He is fixated on being a success. He sometimes does things that if he were older and wiser, he would know was foolish. I have just as big a part to play in this scheme of his, I'm afraid."
Bella felt her heart almost stop. She'd come to trust Franco and his opinions, she liked the old man and now he was telling her he'd also wanted her to fail?
He sighed. "You see, I thought if I baited Luca into seeing you, he would fall in love with you. And you, dear Bella, are exactly the kind of woman I want for my son. I dreamed of the two of you falling in love and marriage and bambinos. So I am just as much to blame as him."
If she had her way, he would never know how much she'd thought the same thing. She'd been dreaming of marriage and babies with Luca, but not anymore.
"But you didn't want me to fail. You’ve helped me, showing me shortcuts and ways to sell more items. You have been a huge help to me. Luca wanted the bakery not to make a profit so he could sell the building. My dream is not as important as his."
Franco sighed. "I fear you're right. But I had hoped he would see the value of the bakery enough that he would decide to keep them both. I'm not going to interfere, but I hope somehow the two of you will work this out."
Bella closed her eyes and shook her head, her heart breaking. After what she'd learned yesterday, she didn't know if she could forgive Luca.
"I don't see how. I'm going to start looking for a place to have the bakery, and if I can't find one, then I'm returning to St. Louis to my family."
Callie came running into the kitchen, her eyes wide. "Bella. You have to come out to the front."
She gazed at her strangely. "Why?"
"Your father is here."
She felt her heart skip a beat. Could this day get any worse?
Sighing, she turned and looked at Callie. "I'll be right out."
Chapter 10
Bella went upstairs and freshened up, washing the flour from her hands. Then she asked Callie to send her father upstairs. They needed somewhere to talk privately, away from her customers. As she waited, she glanced around the apartment and wondered what he would think. It wasn't exactly a mansion, but it was nice. Too bad she'd be moving out soon.
She heard the creak on the stairs. She opened the door surprised at the sudden flood of tears that filled her eyes. No matter what, she still loved her father and mother.
"Father," she said blinking rapidly.
He took her in his arms and kissed her on the cheek. "Bella, we've been worried sick. Your mother feared you were dead."
She'd never thought they would think her dead. She had put her parents through a terrible ordeal and for that she was sorry. But she had to find her own way. She knew that more than ever.
"I'm sorry, Father. But when you told me you were coming to Boston to take me home and that you’d found a man for me to marry, I panicked and ran."
She motioned for him to come in the apartment. Up here, the smell of bread permeated the rooms. She sank on the couch and he sat across from her.
"Are you that afraid of marriage?"
"No. I just don't want to marry someone you choose for me. I want to make the decision who I marry."
Why was this so difficult for him to understand? You would think it would be easy that she didn't want some rich, boring man who only married her for her money.
"But, Bella, you have wealth and your family name to think of. I don't want someone who would take advantage of my daughter."
Part of her wanted to laugh. It was a little late for that.
"And I don't want to be a commodity you are selling," she said to him.
He frowned. "I've never thought of my daughter as a commodity. I just want the best for you and felt that, as your father, I should make that decision for you."
"Why? Do you think I'm not capable of finding a good man?"
Maybe he was right. Obviously the man she'd fallen in love with had not been exactly perfect.
"Of course not, but there are predators out there who want to marry girls who have money. I don't want someone hurting you."
Too late, she thought, her heart breaking.
She thought for a moment as to how to make him understand. "Do you love, mother?"
"We've been together for almost twenty-five years."
He wasn't answering her question. In fact, he almost seemed uncomfortable.
"Who picked her out for you?" she asked.
He leaned back against the chair. "You have to understand. My family was not as prestigious as your mother's. We had new wealth but were not accepted because we were not of that social class. My father chose her for me. He made the deal with her father and paid his gambling debts."
Bella shook her head. "So your father chose who you were going to spend the rest of your life with. You can't tell me you love her and I know for a fact you keep a mistress on the side."
Her father's mouth dropped open and he sputtered. "Your mother is perfectly fine with it."
"Of course, she is because the two of you don't love one another. She was sold as a commodity just like you're trying to sell me," she said raising her voice. "And yes, it was noticeable to all the children. We knew there wasn't something right in our household. But we didn't know what. Now I know. And I am not going to let you choose my husband for me."
Her father's mouth meshed into a tight line across his face and his eyes looked tired. "Is there someone you want to marry?"
S
tunned at the question, she didn't know how to answer. Yesterday, she would have answered yes, oh yes, but today she didn't have an answer for him. "I don't know. There was someone, but now…I just want to own my own business."
Her father threw up his hands. "I'm rich. You don't have to work. You have a trust fund that should easily take care of you."
He would never understand her love of the flour and the baking. Her love for the smell of the bread as it cooked.
"But I enjoy working. I enjoy baking and creating things with my hands. I don't just want to sit around doing nothing like I see my mother."
He laughed. "She is very good at that, isn't she?"
Her mother's life was nothing but one society function after another and that bored Bella to no end. She couldn't imagine what those women had to talk about all day besides what the latest gossip was and Bella didn't want to know.
"Yes, and I want to take care of myself."
"Yet your letter said you needed funds from your bank account."
"I did. I wanted to either buy the bakery or give Luca the money he needed for his vineyard. But now, now I don't know," she said. "I'm so disappointed."
Everything had fallen apart. She'd been going to present Luca with the necessary funds to buy the bakery she loved, but he didn't want to sell it to her. Oh no, he wanted to sell it to the meanest man in town, Tim Barton.
"Come home with me, baby girl. Come home and let me help you start a business in St. Louis."
She gazed at her father, seriously considering his offer. "You would help me? You wouldn't try to marry me off?"
He laughed. "I would help you. I would also introduce you to men I thought were appropriate, but I would not force you to marry them. As much as I hate to say it, I think you're right.
“I wish I had married a girl I met when I was your age. She was probably the love of my life, but I wasn't strong like my daughter. I let my father convince me to marry your mother. Who is a good woman, but she's not the love of my life."
Sadness overwhelmed Bella and she threw her arms around her father. "I'm so sorry, Father. But that explains so much. Thank you for telling me."
He sniffed. "Don't ever forget I love you. You're my daughter. And you are so much more like me than your mother."
Wild Western Women Spring Into Love: A Western Historical Romance Box Set Page 33
