Rancher's Refuge (Whisper Falls) (7 page)

Miss Evelyn had hired her. Good. Fine. Perfect. Austin’s responsibility ended here and now.

He readied once more to depart. As he stood, Annalisa looked his way.

“Austin, are you leaving?”

He cupped his hat in one hand, fingers wide on the crown. Did she expect him to stick around and play bodyguard and listen to her chat up the smiley single guy with the two cute kids?

“Are you staying?”

“Evelyn’s going to show me around.” She pushed at her perfect hair. “I’m going to work here, starting tomorrow. Isn’t that great?”

“Congratulations.” Austin didn’t see all that much to learn in the small snack bar, but her eyes were so sparkly and happy he wasn’t going to rain on her parade.

“Thank you.” She glanced at Miss Evelyn who was beaming like a proud mama.

“I’ll see you later, then.” He jammed his hat down on his head and turned to leave.

Evelyn’s voice stopped him. “Don’t run off, Austin Blackwell. We need to talk.”

Austin pivoted. He’d almost forgotten that the Whisper Falls mastermind wanted to talk to him. Was he ever going to get out of here? Fingers circling the brim of his Stetson, he waited to hear what she’d say.

Miss Evelyn bustled toward him.

“Your sister is a fantastic advocate for Whisper Falls and always willing to lend a hand,” she began.

“I’ll tell her you said so.”

Miss Evelyn parked her short, stocky self in his circle of personal space and demanded, “When are you going to do
your
part?”

He blinked, frowning. “Pardon?”

“In a week or so, we’re tearing down the old Rankin house and clearing off the mess of outbuildings and chicken coops in the back. The whole place is an eyesore and a danger. We need some men to do the heavy work.”

Davis Turner, who’d been smiling at Annalisa as though she was the last apple on the tree, piped up. “You can add me to the list.”

Miss Evelyn fairly beamed. So did Annalisa. In fact, the look she gave Davis was warm enough to melt chocolate.

“That’s the spirit,” said Miss Evelyn. “What about you, Austin? Surely, you can spare a day or two.”

She’d put him on the spot, and he’d look like a horse’s backside if he said no. Not that he minded the work. He just didn’t want to get involved with a lot of nosy people.

“I guess I could.”

Davis Turner’s son slid from his bar stool. “Daddy said Mr. Blackwell should open a riding stable. Don’t you think that’s a great idea, Miss Evelyn?”

She clasped the boy by the shoulders, but her eyes were on Austin. “That’s a marvelous idea, Nathan. Austin, you’d be good at that and you’ve got the land. Maybe you could open up an RV camp and guide trail rides. The council would print up a nice, colorful brochure and post it on the website.” Evelyn was off on one of her brainstorms. “Horse lovers would flock to Whisper Falls like summer geese.”

Exactly what he did not want. “Not interested. Too much liability.” A good excuse even if it wasn’t the real reason. “Let me know about the work day.”

Once more he headed for the door. This time he safely made his escape.

Chapter Six

A
nnalisa found the cowboy in the horse barn, pitchforking clean straw into a stall. He must not have heard her come in, so she watched for a moment as the muscles in his broad back flexed with the rhythm of his work.

The dust and hay smell of the barn drew her back a few years to a happy time and place when life had not been so complicated. She could almost hear her grandpa humming “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” in a voice roughened by years of work in the Kansas wind and dust. Olivia had been there, too, riding the top of the gate, her double ponytails a frame for her oval face and brown eyes.

But that was before they’d burned all the bridges and left each other behind.

“Would you like some help?”

The pitchfork stopped moving as Austin swiveled to face her. Sweat beaded his forehead. Specks of straw rode his shoulders and black hair. He looked incredibly masculine, a ruggedly outdoorsy look that sent tiny needles of interest dancing along her skin.

“How did you get home?”

“Uncle Digger drove me.”

“You should have called.” He stabbed the pitchfork into the remaining pile of straw and left the tool standing straight as a new fence post.

Annalisa wasn’t sure if he was angry or concerned.

“I didn’t want to bother you. You’ve done enough.”

“I forgot you didn’t have a car.” He frowned, his breath puffing from the exertion. “I should have stuck around.”

She reached out, started to touch his arm, but changed her mind and let her hand fall to her side. “Don’t look so guilty. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

He looked as if he didn’t believe her, and for good reason. From the moment they’d met, she’d leaned on his good nature and done anything
except
take care of herself. But no more. Even though the snack shop pay was small, the job was a start. Somehow she’d get back on her feet and never have to depend on anyone, especially a man, again. She never wanted to be as vulnerable as she’d been that day at the waterfall.

“How did things go at the Iron Horse?”

His question surprised her. She hadn’t expected him to care one way or the other. “Very well. The work is easy, and I have no problem as long as I don’t have to lift anything.”

“Uncle Digger can do the lifting.”

“That’s what he said.” She smiled, relaxed a little. “Cassie was right. They’re nice people. So are Davis Turner and his kids. She says they all attend the same church.”

“Whisper Falls is kind of churchy, if that’s a word.” He ran the back of one arm over his damp forehead.

“I used to be like that.” And she wanted to be again. Since that bizarre incident at the waterfall when Austin had showed up after she’d prayed, Annalisa had tried to refocus on God. Praying eased her anxiety and helped her sleep. Talking to Cassie, who had the faith of Abraham, eased her self-recriminations. Life was too hard without God to lean on. “Cassie invited me to church. Do you attend?”

“Nope.” Abruptly, he jerked the pitchfork from the straw and jabbed a forkful, spreading the scent as well as the substance around the stall. She saw the stiffness in his body, heard the tension in his voice. Instinctively she knew. Like her, he’d stumbled somewhere along the muddy path of life.

She didn’t ask, couldn’t. But she wondered what had happened.

A wooden-handled rake leaned against one wall of the stall. She took it in hand much as she had the broom and began smoothing the straw.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know. I want to.”

“Suit yourself.” With a shrug he went back to work.

His wasn’t the friendliest invitation she’d ever had, but it would do. At some point this morning, he’d lifted the three-day injunction. At least, she thought he had, and she wanted to pull her weight.

“I’ll get an apartment as soon as I have the money saved.”

Austin peered at her over his shoulder. “You’re safer here.”

Apparently, that was as much of a commitment as she was going to get. She’d take it. Gladly.

One of the horses, this one a tall buckskin with black mane, tail and stockings and an eggshell-colored body, ambled to the stall door and stuck her head inside.

“We have company.”

Austin’s head turned toward the fancy-looking mare. “Dixie’s a pest. Thinks she’s a dog.” He stepped to the animal, wrapped an arm around her head and stroked her long face. “How you doing, pretty girl?”

The mare blew softly and licked her lips.

“She trusts you.” Animals instinctively know, she thought.

Austin gave her a curious look. “You familiar with horses?”

“A little. Enough to know a horse is comfortable when she licks her lips.”

He backed the mare into the open area of the barn. Annalisa set the rake aside to follow, watching his gentle way with the animal. He went to a fifty-gallon barrel, dipped in a hand and came out with a handful of cubes. The horse snuffled. Her ears flickered and she bobbed her big head until he offered the treat.

Yes, there was a lot of good in Austin Blackwell. At least, his animals thought so.

“I took you for a city girl,” he said.

Annalisa ran her hand down the mare’s sleek, warm neck. “I grew up in Wichita but spent summers on my grandpa’s farm.”

“So you’re a Kansas farm girl.”

Smiling softly, she pointed at him. “Don’t say it.”

“What?”

“We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.”

He huffed, expression amused. “I guess you’ve heard that a million times.”

“You have no idea. Cassie said you moved here from Texas?”

Again, his face closed up tight and defensive. “Cassie talks too much.”

He turned away from her, leading the horse toward the open pasture and several other horses. Annalisa knew she’d touched a sensitive nerve but didn’t understand why. When Cassie had told her about Texas, she hadn’t mentioned anything troubling. But clearly something about his Texas past had rubbed a blister on Austin’s heart. Was that the reason he was such a loner?

“I didn’t mean to pry,” she said, and when he didn’t respond, she shifted gears. “What did you think of Miss Evelyn’s idea about a riding stable?”

“I didn’t think about it at all.”

“Davis Turner and his kids were wild about the idea.”

Austin didn’t respond immediately. He appeared to mull the comment while he slid a halter onto Dixie’s head and latched the clasp. “What did you think of him?”

The question caught Annalisa off guard. “Who? Davis Turner?”

“Uh-huh.”

Austin picked up one of the mare’s feet and inspected her hoof. His head was bent so that the autumn sun gleamed off his dark hair, an iridescent spectrum of color. In the pasture beyond, one of the other horses whinnied and the mare answered.

“He seems nice. His kids were well-behaved and cute.”

“He’s single.”

She stiffened. “What an odd thing to say. Am I supposed to care about that?”

Austin opened the gate, patted the horse’s hip and turned her out. Head high and black mane flying, the mare galloped toward the others.

He shut the gate and leaned his forearms on the top rail, gazing out toward the mountains. “After what happened with the boyfriend, you need to be careful.”

Was he accusing her of inviting trouble? Of flirting with a strange man?

Annalisa’s hackles went up like porcupine quills. “People in Whisper Falls are friendly. To make friends, you have to be friendly, too. I’m lonely here, Austin. I want to get to know people.” She slapped her hand atop the iron railing. The sound echoed like a gunshot and startled a nearby crow into flight. One of the dogs, asleep in the sun next to the barn, raised his head in curiosity. “Let me be very clear about one thing. I just escaped a horrible, controlling relationship. If I never get involved with another man, it will be too soon. Davis Turner seems like a nice man, and that’s all I have to say.”

“Didn’t mean to get you all twisted up.” With deliberate ease Austin turned his rugged face in her direction and stared long enough that Annalisa squirmed beneath his scrutiny. After a minute, he turned back to the gate, propped a boot on the bottom rail and motioned toward the mountains. “Whisper Falls is beautiful this time of year. I figure you didn’t notice much that first day, you being hurt and all. If you’re up for the trip, I’ll saddle a couple of horses and we can ride.”

Annalisa felt off balance as if she’d missed part of the conversation. One minute she was spouting off in blistering terms and the next she was considering a pleasant horseback ride in the color-splashed forest.

“I’d love to, but my arm—” she raised the green cast.

The corners of Austin’s mouth tipped up as he swiveled his head in her direction. “You only need one. The horses do the rest.”

“Well, I...” She stopped and cocked her head to one side. “You’re a strange man, Austin Blackwell.”

He snorted. “That’s not the first time I’ve heard that. You want to ride or not?”

They squared off at each other like two prize fighters. Annalisa didn’t know whether to laugh or run. Deciding she’d done enough running, she said, “I do.”

As if the matter was of great importance, Austin’s shoulders relaxed. He dusted his hat against his jeans and said, “All right, then. Let’s go.”

* * *

They rode along in silence at first, the Indian summer sun warm and relaxing. Austin didn’t know what had come over him but when Annalisa had feathered up like a mad hen, he’d wanted to laugh and kiss her. Lord help him, he hadn’t wanted to kiss a woman in—well, in a long time. His was a silly reaction and one precipitated by having a pretty, vulnerable woman underfoot again. Cassie was pretty, but she was his sister and certainly not vulnerable. She’d take a man’s knees out if he messed with her. Annalisa, on the other hand, worried him.

He shot a glance at the blonde riding at his side on Blaze, the gentlest horse on the ranch. “You’ve ridden before.”

“Plenty of times.”

“Let me guess. Grandpa’s farm?”

“Right.” She smiled and he noticed the slight overbite that enhanced rather than detracted from her appeal. Contrary to what he’d thought the first time he’d seen her, Annalisa Keller wasn’t picture-perfect or overly sophisticated. She was real. Like Miss Evelyn said, she had good eyes. Real good eyes.

“Granddads are special.”

“Mine was. He was my mother’s father, and basically the only dad my sister and I ever knew. That’s why we spent summers with him. Well, that and my mother’s job. She sent us to Grandpa Sims’s to keep us out of mischief while she was working.”

“Did it?”

“Keep us out of mischief?” She shrugged. “Most of the time Grandpa kept us busy, but when we got older we were probably a handful.”

“Teenage girls,” he said with a rueful shake of his head.

“Girls? What are you talking about?” She replied in mock offense. “Boys are the ones who caused all the trouble!”

He laughed at that one. He could just imagine Annalisa and her sister drawing a crowd. Which turned his thoughts back to the snack shop and Davis Turner. She’d claimed no interest in the man even though Davis had certainly perked up when she’d arrived. Not that Austin cared one way or the other about her relationships except for the uncomfortable feeling that he was responsible for her.

“What about you?” she asked. “Were you close to your grandparents?”

“My dad’s parents, Grandpa and Grandma Blackwell. They owned the family ranch where I grew up. In fact, this land was once theirs. I bought it after Grandpa passed on.”

“Any siblings other than Cassie?”

“Nope. One is enough.” But he grinned when he said it.

“She’s awesome. I’m so glad we met.” The sun went behind a cloud and she swallowed, her slim throat flexing. “Not the
way
we met, but I’m happy to know her.”

“What about you? Any siblings other than the troublesome Olivia?”

Her glance fell to the saddle horn where she rested the awkward, heavy cast. In a quiet voice, she said, “All my family is gone now. Even Olivia.”

Compassion pinched his chest. She had no one, no one at all, not even the sister she’d obviously adored. He considered asking what had happened but refrained. His questions would lead to questions from her, and he had no intentions of discussing Blair with anyone.

The horses’ heads bobbed lower as the incline increased and they plodded higher. Austin tilted forward to ease the strain.

One gloved hand holding the reins, he motioned with the other. “Around this bend, you can see where the river starts its descent into the valley.”

“Does the river flow on your property?”

“Along the back edge to the south.”

When they crested the bend, he heard her swift intake of breath, the awed murmur of pleasure at the sight spreading below and beyond. Her reaction filled him with a sense of rightness. He’d wanted her to appreciate the view the way he did.

He pulled Cisco to a stop, leaning forward to pat the dependable gelding’s neck. “Pretty, isn’t it?”

As far as the eye could see, a dappled carpet of brilliant reds, oranges, yellows and greens in every shade undulated over the low, rounded mountains. Down below, in a narrow valley the river was a silver ribbon edged with yellow blossoms—black-eyed Susans, Cassie had told him.

Annalisa shifted toward him with an expression of awe. “Austin, this is glorious.”

“Like it?” He knew she did, but he wanted to hear her say the words, wanted an excuse to watch the pleasure move across her face.

She drank in the panorama, as if her soul was parched and nature’s coat of many colors had the power to refresh. He understood. He’d come here when despair had threatened to overwhelm and no help was in sight.

“God does such good work,” she breathed.

For a second, he wanted to agree but stubbornly held back. He and God weren’t on speaking terms anymore. The spot below his rib, where his soul resided felt as hollow as a rotten log.

He lifted an arm to point. “Look.”

Blue eyes, made more vivid by a matching sky, followed the direction of his aim. A red-tailed hawk, wings spread wide, glided gracefully over the valley in search of prey.

“What a gorgeous sight.”