One Hundred Secrets

by Collins, Kelly

  Doc clucked his tongue. “All that woman cares about is her bees. She’s not losing sleep over finding out who Walt Carver was. If the rumors are true, he’s your kin too by way of a dalliance.”

  “That might be the most disturbing bit of information I’ve learned through the whole thing.”

  “Can’t say I’d disagree. Now, do you have a question for me?”

  Tilden thought about all the things he could ask Doc. What was the one thing he might know that could solve the mystery? For the last two years, he felt like a character from the book “Holes,” except he wasn’t searching for gold but the smoking gun.

  Right then he had an epiphany. Maybe he was looking for gold.

  “Do you know where Walt Carver had set up his mining operation?”

  Doc smiled. “Now, son, you’re getting somewhere.” He took his time chewing his next bite. He sipped his coffee before he said, “Used to play in the old shaft as a kid.”

  Holy hell, all this time he could have known if he hadn’t been too afraid of what people would think of him. Hadn’t Goldie told him the same thing? Her words echoed in his thoughts. “You’ve talked to them like a man interested in history. It’s different when you’re looking to vindicate your family. Their memories might get better.” She was right. He’d been asking the wrong questions to the right people.

  Doc offered to drive out to the Carver ranch with him, but after the detailed directions Doc gave him, he was certain he could find it on his own.

  “Thanks, Doc.”

  He held up his hand. “One more thing, son. Remember the truth always lies somewhere in the middle and life is full of compromises.”

  “I get that.”

  “I’ve seen Goldie around town a lot. You should tell her the truth too.”

  “She knows everything.”

  “I’m not talking about your past, but about your feelings.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t have any feelings for Goldie.”

  The old man lifted a bushy brow. “You need to stop lying to yourself.”

  Tilden chuckled. “I will.” He moved out of the booth and took out his wallet.

  “Don’t forget you lost and you’re buying mine too.”

  What started as a chuckle turned into a full laugh. “Cheaper than therapy.”

  “I’ll send you my bill.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Every time the bar door opened, she held her breath, hoping it would be Tilden. What would she do if he showed up? Part of her wanted to walk up and slap him silly, but another part wanted to apologize and tell him she loved him. She had no right to broadcast his secrets. She’d learned all too well in her youth that the truth should come straight from the horse’s mouth. She’d crossed a line. Couldn’t blame him for not coming to the bar when he knew she’d be working.

  “Hey, lady.” Katie walked in the bar holding a poorly wrapped gift. For a woman who paid attention to the details, the package looked like it had been wrapped by her toddler Sahara.

  “What’s up?” It wasn’t often that Katie came into the bar, though she made it on most karaoke nights because Maisey watched Sahara and Katie loved to sing but she wasn’t a drinker, so the bar had no pull for her.

  “A very handsome and lonely-looking man dropped this off for you. Said he’d bought it a week ago but still wanted you to have it.”

  “Tilden?”

  Katie smiled and placed the gift on the counter. “He looks miserable. Mind you, I don’t know him all that well, but his normally unfriendly demeanor looks worse. Maybe it’s time to bury the hatchet.”

  She thought about the day they had their blowout. “It was a hatchet, or an ax that started all of this.”

  Katie sighed. “Whatever it was, don’t you think it’s time to put it in the past?”

  She considered the suggestion. “Problem is that Tilden lives in the past. How can you have a future when you’re not even in the present?”

  Katie slid the package closer to her. “He wrapped it himself.”

  Goldie laughed. “I wouldn’t say it’s at the top of his skillset.” She picked up the package that had more tape than paper.

  “We have to love all of them, not just the parts that make our hearts squeeze and our bodies melt.”

  Why did she have to bring up those parts? She craved Tilden like she craved chocolate, only the need was stronger for the man she loved. She hated to admit it, but she loved him. He was a bear of a man with too much pride. Life had dealt him some dirty hands and somehow, he’d come out on top. Each time she thought of him all she could say was he was a kind and honorable man.

  “Thank you for this.” She picked up the package and brought it to her chest.

  “Do the right thing.”

  She wasn’t sure what the right thing was.

  She caught Cannon’s attention and pointed to the back door to let him know she was taking a break.

  She walked into the chill of the night and leaned against the brick wall of the building. She felt the package but couldn’t guess at what was inside.

  Like a child at Christmas, she tore through the wrapping paper and found a Kindle. On the screen was a yellow sticky note.

  I’ve loaded some books I think you’ll enjoy. The font is set to one that should be helpful. You’re the most beautiful woman I know, Goldie, but you're smart. Wisdom doesn’t come from books. It comes from life. I miss you. Everything about you.

  With love,

  Tilden

  She opened the cover and the book lit up. Just like he said, the font was like a miracle. Why wasn’t everything in the world printed like this? It was because the world wasn’t inclusive. There would be the haves and have nots. The pretty and the not as pretty. The smart and the intellectually challenged. Nothing about life was black and white. The truth was often found in the gray areas. She pulled the screen to her lips and kissed the note.

  “I miss you too. Everything about you.”

  When she returned to the bar, he was sitting at the end staring at her. There was no time to approach him because the bar was busy, and he already had a beer.

  Each time she looked at him her heart ached. Her body craved him. She pulled her camera from her pocket and went live for a few minutes. She panned the bar and zoomed in on him before turning the camera back to her.

  “You can love a man, but you have to love yourself more. Not in the self-centered way but in a self-care way. Loving yourself is understanding what's healthy for you. It’s kind of like having one piece of cake when you want two. Know your limits. I’m in love with Tilden Cool but is he the single piece of cake I need, or the extra slice I want?”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Tilden sat at the bar and watched Goldie. She was golden: everything and everyone seemed to shine in her presence. Even he was a better man when she was around.

  “Tilden, it’s been a while.”

  He smiled. “I was here last week.”

  “I suppose.” Sage followed his line of sight. “Have you ever caught her broadcast?”

  He didn’t want to say he was obsessed with it. That he listened to every post daily just to hear her voice. “I’ve caught a few.”

  She nodded to his phone. “You should catch tonight’s. It’s really moving.” She left him, but it was too noisy in the bar to hear what Goldie posted, so he went out back and leaned against the wall.

  It was so cold that his breath turned into cloudy puffs on each exhale. Snow had been falling for the last hour but seeing her on the screen warmed him up. He started at the beginning of her blog called Getting Real with Goldie. He never tired of seeing it. He loved where she'd apologized to her fans and gave the lowdown on beauty products. Loved when she told them that true beauty came from within.

  In another one, she flashed her driver's license to reveal her true age but claimed she didn't weigh what it said anymore because Tilden liked mac and cheese with bacon. He watched for close to an hour. Her posts were short and to the point. Sh
e was keeping it real. Then he saw her post from tonight, and his heart skipped a beat. She loved him despite everything.

  Doc was right, he had been lying to himself. To keep the secret of his feelings from her was as bad as a lie. It was time to come clean.

  As he turned to walk back into the bar, he walked into her.

  “What are you doing out here?” he asked.

  “I saw you come out here an hour ago, but your truck is still parked out front. Are you okay?”

  “No, I’m not.” He lifted his hands to cup her cheeks. “I haven’t been okay since you left the house. Nothing is the same. Nothing is good.” He lowered his head. “I found out the truth about everything and it means nothing without you. Dammit, Goldie, I’m less when you’re not by my side.”

  She leaned into his touch. “Not true.”

  “Yes, it is. Even the annoying squirrels don’t come by the house.”

  Her shoulders shook with laughter. “It’s because you’re not leaving nuts out for them.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “Didn’t I tell you not to feed the wildlife?”

  She stepped toward him. “If I listened to you, you’d starve to death.”

  “Can we start over?”

  “All the way over? As in I shake your hand and tell you I’m Goldie Pearl Sutherland, cocktail waitress and vlogger?”

  He took a step back. “Hi, Goldie. I’ve read every one of your posts. You might be the smartest woman I’ve ever met. I’m Tilden Isaiah Cool but my family name is Coolidge. It’s a long story that I’d love to tell you over breakfast.”

  “Tilden Cool, are you asking me on a date?”

  Heat flooded his entire being. It wasn’t the kind of heat that came from passion but the heat that came from love.

  “I know this great place that serves decent coffee and great pancakes. You may have heard of it. Maisey’s Diner at nine tomorrow morning?”

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you like me.”

  He leaned in so close he could smell her perfume. He put his lips against her ear.

  “Get real, Goldie. I love you.” He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. “Tomorrow at nine? Is it a date?”

  She giggled. “I’ll try to drag myself away from Mr. Darcy.”

  He took a step back, afraid if he didn’t, he’d pull her into his arms and never let go. “I promise a good time.”

  She cupped his cheek. “You were always that.” She blew him a kiss. “See you tomorrow, Tilden.”

  He turned around and walked away. His life had come full circle. He had a chance to make everything right with Goldie, but she deserved something special. He’d deliver it in true Goldie style.

  * * *

  He was never happier than when Bowie’s black suit fit him like a glove. He hid in the closed bait and tackle shop until he saw Goldie walk into the diner that morning.

  “You got it bad.” Bowie reached up like a father sending his son off to prom.

  “Oh, I do. She’s … she’s a pain the ass and yet, she’s my pain in the ass.”

  Bowie laughed. “I said something similar about Katie. The best thing about women like them is life is never boring.”

  “How do I look?” He picked up his props and stood tall.

  “Like a man heading to the gallows.”

  He was nervous. They’d barely made up. That little kiss outside could hardly be called more than an ice breaker, but if he had learned anything about his time with Goldie it was that she jumped in with both feet.

  She’d gone from penthouse to outhouse and never once complained. Everyone could learn something about strength and fortitude from a woman who’d seen the best and the worst of circumstances.

  “I’m so damn nervous. I’ve got nothing to offer her.”

  Bowie turned him around and pushed him toward the door. “At the end of the day, all we have is our heart to give. Go give her yours.”

  Tilden shored up his shoulders and walked out the door. Dressed in the black suit Bowie got married in, he marched across the street and entered the diner.

  He looked around at the people sitting in the booths. People he’d known for a couple of years. People who liked him when they didn’t know who he was and liked him more when they did. Not one person had turned away after his truth came out. In fact, he’d collected enough information about the feuding families to write a book.

  He spotted Goldie sitting at his table. She glanced up from her coffee and cocked her head.

  Inside his head, he heard, “Lights, camera, action.”

  He raised five one-dollar bills in his hand. “I need a wife and I need one now.” He walked over to her and sat in the very seat she’d sat in the day she showed up in a cloud of white material. “What about you?” He slapped the bills on the table.

  She stared at him and then at the ones. “You’re offering me five dollars to marry you?”

  He reached out to take her hands. “It’s all I got. I maxed out my credit card to put running water into my place.”

  Her eyes lit up with mischief. “Oh, you’ve got running water?”

  He nodded. “And a water heater.”

  “Wow.” She dropped one of his hands and reached over to touch his tie. “I always thought I was a suit and tie girl but then I met this history teacher, editor, and sometime lumberjack and I grew fond of him.”

  He reached up and loosened the tie. “Honey, I’ll be anything you want me to be as long as you say yes.”

  She leaned back and sipped her coffee. Her eyes went to the tie and then to the dollar bills on the table.

  “I used to think it was about the package, but now I know it’s about the people.” She plucked up two of the bills. “How about this. I’ll say yes if you promise to keep me in books for the next ten years, and you take part in my vlog. I’m told the couple that plays together stays together.”

  “I’m all about playing together. It’s what we do best.”

  She blushed. “We do, don’t we?”

  “You ready to go home, Goldie?”

  She scooted her chair out. “Yes—”

  “Excuse me.”

  They looked up to find a man in a gray pinstriped suit standing above them.

  “Can I help you?” Tilden asked.

  “I think it might be the other way around. I’m here to help you. That is if you’re Tilden Cool.”

  “I am.”

  The man asked for some form of identification and when Tilden gave him his driver’s license, he pulled a pink envelope from his pocket.

  “We’ve been looking for you for over two years.”

  Tilden stared at the stationery. “I’ve been here.”

  The suited man laughed. “Imagine that.” He pivoted on his loafers and walked out the door.

  “What do you think that is?”

  Tilden’s hands shook. “I have a feeling this will change our lives.”

  She placed her hand over the envelope. “Then don’t open it. I don’t want anything to change. I want to bask in the glory that I took two dollars to be your wife.”

  “You should have asked for more.”

  She moved her chair so she sat beside him. “I would have taken less.”

  They stared at the stationery. “Not opening it is like keeping a secret,” he said.

  She let out a heavy sigh. “You’re right.” She pulled out her phone. “Let’s get real.”

  He tore into the envelope to find a handwritten letter on the top.

  If you’re reading this, it’s because you’re a Coolidge. You come from a line of amazing people. Over the years you may have heard lots of stories about your family. Their history is quite a tragedy. It never sat right with me that a founding family could be run out of town by the very people who begged them to stay.

  Yes, that’s right. The Coolidges had their hearts set on the fertile soils in California but the Parkers, Carvers, Guilds and the Bennetts asked them to stay. While they held different last names, they were a family.<
br />
  The last thing I did was have a surveyor scour the land because I knew the truth was in the gold mine. Enclosed is the report and the deed to the land. I can’t make up for everything, but I can right a wrong. You might ask why I felt compelled when my family’s name wasn’t involved? Because this is Aspen Cove and we’re family. Families fight and quarrel, but eventually, they make up. Make your family proud and do what’s right for the land.

  With love,

  Bea Bennett

  “Who is Bea Bennett?” Goldie asked.

  “I’ve been told she’s a saint.”

  He looked through the reports and found the same things he’d done. The soil test he had overnighted showed heavy lead and cyanide from the leaching materials Walt used in trying to pull gold from the land. When they’d diverted the water, it flooded his mine. When the pond had bubbled up to the surface, it was full of the toxins that killed Walt and his cattle.

  “They didn’t do it.” Goldie jumped out of her chair and climbed into Tilden’s lap. “Your family didn’t do it.”

  “No, they didn’t.” He pointed to the land deed in front of them. “You know what this means?”

  “You’re rich?”

  He laughed. “Nope, but we have resources and we can build a house on the prairie where there aren’t as many wild animals to eat you.” He nuzzled his beard into the crook of her neck.

  She laughed and plucked up the last three dollars from the table. “Now you can afford more, but I’m not moving out of my cabin. It’s got everything I need because it’s got you.”

  Maisey walked over. “You kids want anything?”

  Tilden looked up. “Just the check, Maisey. Goldie and I are heading home to play.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Three months later.

  “We don’t need a bigger house.” Goldie stood on the sagging porch and watched the big equipment level the soil next to the cabin.

  “Yes, we do. We’ve got friends I’d like to invite over to dinner, and I don’t want them in our bedroom when they eat.”