Dawson Reilly is excited to be signing the contract on the old building in downtown Marmot Creek that used to belong to his family. Until he gets to the meeting and finds out the owner has passed away. And left the building to someone else.
Rian O’Shea doesn’t care that the antique mercantile used to belong to Reilly’s family. He’s sunk everything into moving to Marmot Creek and turning the building into a B&B. He might think Dawson is pretty amazing, and Dawson might be very attracted to Rian, but can these hard-headed men find some sort of solution that works for both of them?
Chapter 1
Dawson Reilly headed into Marmot Creek, his truck loaded with all sorts of building supplies. He was supposed to be signing the contract on the old Reilly mercantile building, which had been converted into a house at the end of Main Street a good fifty years ago. The main part of the house was still log jam chinking, the original sign still there, if repainted a million times since the gold rush days.
It had passed out of his family’s hands when they’d bought the Double R ranch back in the day, but Dawson was ready to get it back in the family, and Mrs. O’Shea was finally ready to sell, her bad health making it hard to get around the creaky old place with its cobbled together back half, which had narrow, kinda dangerous stairs to the second level, which had been put in during the 1920s. But today, once he signed the contract, he would do a little work shoring up windows and doorways.
Dawson wasn’t sure if he was going to refurbish the place where it stood and make it a museum for paying customers, or if he would move the oldest section of the building out to the ranch, but he was buying the damn place today.
Finally.
Brenda O’Shea was a hoot — a firm, stern battleaxe of a woman who had held every student in Marmot Creek’s high school’s Freshman English class in sheer terror. Once you were out of school, though, she was a funny, wickedly smart lady that could tell stories over a glass of iced tea that would leave you gasping with laughter. He kinda felt sad that she was having such a tough time, but she was very pragmatic about it, so he took the same tack.
Clouds gathered on the horizon has he drove, and he frowned. There hadn’t been any rain in the forecast. Not that he couldn’t use it. They could always use it this time of year. Still, that would put a kink in any plans he had to do exterior work.
He was going to pay cash for the building today, sign the paperwork, and get to work discovering what needed doing, what was still in good shape. Excitement pinged him, because he loved a new project, and he finally had the ready cash to do it justice. All his hard work was paying off.
Ten years of building his free-range online meat business had taken every dime he had for a long bit, but finally things began to click and the money started coming in. This year he’d sold several million pounds and the profit was real and…
He cruised into town, frowning at the number of cars parked along the street outside the mercantile building. What the hell was going on?
Dawson found himself a parking spot and hopped out. Maybe she had decided to bring a lawyer for him along too. She seemed worried that he would be disappointed. He tucked his padfolio thingee under his arm. He’d gotten it for his first meeting with a meal kit service, hoping it had made him look more professional. Now he had no idea how to live without it. His whole life was in there. Then he strode to the main entrance and knocked.
A man he’d never seen before opened the door, his eyes bloodshot and bruised. “I’m sorry. We’re not taking visitors.”
“Oh.” Taken aback, he straightened his not inconsiderable shoulders. “I had an appointment with Brenda.” He wasn’t just a visitor, right? The guy looked exhausted. Maybe he’d just flown in to visit? He had a similar look to Brenda somehow, with his bright blue eyes and raven’s wing hair. Hers had been gray for years, but he’d seen pictures.
“An—Oh. Oh, god. I just—I—Aunt Brenda…she had a massive heart attack last night. We turned the machines off about two hours ago.”
Stunned, he stepped back, his breath slamming out of his lungs. “Oh my God. That’s awful. I’m so sorry. I— who are you?” He needed to know who he was talking to.
“I’m Rian — her nephew.”
Oh, that was why he recognized the man. Brenda’s brother had died when they were middle aged, and Brenda’s house had photos of them — this Rian, a niece, and a great-niece that she doted on.
“Well, I’m very sorry, Rian. I’m Dawson Reilly. I own a ranch not far out of town. How long are you all in town for? If you need anything while you’re here, just holler.” Did he bring up the mercantile? Maybe he should get the executor’s number. Or see who all else was here.
Rian held out one hand. “Thanks. I appreciate it. We…we’re all shocked. I mean, just gobsmacked.”
They shook hands, and he nodded. “I bet. Lord, I’ve known her most of my life. I can’t imagine how you have to feel.” He pulled a card out of his padfolio. It was for the ranch, but his cell was on there. “I hate to sound all weird, but could you give that to whoever is dealing with her estate? We were doing some business together.” That wasn’t skeezy, right? It was just… what it was.
“Business?” Rian’s light blue eyes glanced over the card, and he tucked it in his pocket. “Sure. Sure, I don’t…I mean, I don’t know yet, but I’m sure I will. We’re the next of kin. We’re who the hospital called.”
“Sure. I’m sorry if that seems weird right now, but I’m trying to wrap my head around it. Do you need help with getting in touch with anyone in town?” He gave Rian a wry smile. “I mean, I know everyone. Pastors. The funeral home folks.” Flowers. Food. You name it, he knew it. God help him, his family had been gold rush era founders.
“There’s a Victor Freeley here now?” Rian seemed a little shell-shocked, and Dawson got that.
Victor was a holy roller, and Brenda hadn’t held with that. She’d been a steadfast member at the tiny liberal church.
“Victor is a nice guy, but let me make a call. Brenda’s pastor could really be a help.”
“Would you like to come in? We have coffee and doughnuts.”
“Sure.” That way he could actually help, and not just stand outside and wonder who else he should tell.
“Come on in. We’re in the drawing room, whatever that is.” Rian’s laughter was soft, but it seemed to fill the entire space.
“Thanks.” He grinned. Brenda had loved the whole old west aspect of the building, and she’d made a grand drawing room out of part of the old sales floor, with the old built in shelves turning into a library. It was kind of the best thing about the place turning into a house. He tugged out his cell as he stepped inside, pulling up Reverend Julia’s number.
“Hey, y’all. This is Mr. Reilly. He knew Aunt Brenda.”
He got a tentative smile from the niece, and the little girl — who couldn’t be older than five or so — just burst into tears.
“Come here, Elsie.” Rian opened his arms, and she came running.
He nodded at them. “Let me just call the Reverend.” He stepped to one side, hitting dial.
What a fucking mess.
“Hello?”
“Julia? Hey, its Dawson.”
“Is everything all right?”
He glanced at the assembled family. “Have you heard about Brenda?”
“What about her? Is she okay?”
He turned his back on the room. “She had a heart attack last night, lady. She didn’t make it.”
“What? Brenda O’Shea? I just saw her yesterday for lunch!”
“I’m sorry, Julia. I am. I just think you might want to come. Your, uh, well,the other reverend in town is here.”
“That ass. I’ll be over in thirty. Thanks.” Click.
“Sorry about that. I’m very sorry for your loss. Her pastor, Reverend Julia is on the way.”
“She’s a heathen.” That came from Victor Freely, who looked down his nose at them all. He was a decent guy, really, but he did hate t he idea of losing even one person in this county to another church. And he was kind of a wind bag.
“Watch your mouth, man.” That was the niece. “We don’t need that negative energy.”
Victor opened his mouth, but the young lady stared him down. He cleared his throat. “Sorry.”
Dawson had to bite back a smile. “What else can I do to help?” he asked.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Rian asked. “This is my sister, Fiona, and this is Miss Elsie.”
The little one blinked at him, her eyes full of tears. “Auntie Brenda died.”
“I’m so sorry, hon.” He squatted down. “Did you know she was a teacher? She taught me a long time ago.”
“Are you very old?” She sniffled hard.
“I’m pretty old compared to you. Your uncle says you have doughnuts.”
“Uh-huh. You want one?” That seemed to stop the sniffles.
“Sure thing. You want to show me where they are?” It was probably weird, inserting himself into their life right now, but that’s what neighbors did. They helped out when weirdness happened and these folks had no idea what to do, he could tell. So he held out a hand to Elsie, and she immediately grabbed it to take him to the kitchen.
Now that was a nice space. She’d kept the old stove, with its enamel sides and its warming box. But there were new counters and cabinets, done in a rustic style that matched the era of the building. Really cool. This place would be a neat event space, really, and he absently pondered all its uses while Elsie told him all about the doughnuts.
“The best ones have the cream inside. They have the chocolate on top.”
He looked at the giant box of doughnuts and had to hide another smile. Someone had stopped on the way into town and just bought out the Doughnut Mart. He could tell.
“I like the apple ones. Is there enough of those for me to have one, do you think?”
“Uh-huh. Uncle likes the blueberry and momma likes the logs with the brown goo on top.”
“Maple. Did you know that comes from trees?”
She tilted her head. “You can eat trees?”
“Well, in this case, you can eat tree sap. It’s really cool. Which one should I get?”
“That one.” She pointed to the biggest apple fritter.
“Cool.” He grabbed a paper towel and the fritter, then looked around for a coffee cup.
“Here. Let me get you coffee,” Fiona said, coming to grab him a mug. She glanced at Ellie. “Thanks,” she said quietly. “Distraction is good.”
“I remember from when I was her age.” There had been a good bit of loss in his life at a young age.
“Dawson Reilly, what are you doing here?” Victor asked, following Fiona into the kitchen. He sure was sour today. Which, to be fair, was understandable. He and Brenda were of an age.
“Helping. I had an appointment with Brenda this morning, and I thought since I was here I could do anything they needed me to do.” He gave Elsie and wink and a grin. “Lord knows I know everyone in town.”
“Yes. But I have things well in hand.”
Fiona rolled her eyes. “Look, Rev, we’ll take all the help we can get, okay? We have all these numbers of people to call and stuff to get done, so if you want to help, stop being all territorial. Please.”
Victor’s angular face softened with real sympathy. “Of course. I apologize. Brenda was a friend, if not a member of my congregation.”
There. That was much better, and he nodded at Victor, offered the pastor a smile.
“She was a fascinating lady. She was always good to us.”
“She was a good soul.” That was saying a lot for Victor, but he had to nod.
“She was. Stern, but good.”
“And that’s how I know you were her student!” Fiona’s laugh filled the air. “They all said that!”
Dawson had to grin. “She made you work for it. But we’re all better people because of it.”
“Yeah, she used to send us books to write book reports on. All sorts of books — some fun, some less so, but it was always neat to get them.” Fiona sighed softly and shook her head. “I can’t believe she just popped off.”
“What did she pop?” Elsie’s eyes were wide as she looked at her mom.
“Do you like coffee, Elsie?”
“Ewww! It’s all sour.”
He got a grateful glance from her mom.
“What do you like?”
“Milk. Sprite. Strawberry milkshakes.” She gave him a grin, and she was missing one tooth. “I like those the best.”
“That’s because you are clearly a very smart girl.” He grinned back.
The doorbell sounded, and Rian gave an exasperated sigh. “Be right back.”
“This house has lots of folks,” Elsie whispered.
“It’s going to for a few days, I bet,” he said back just as softly. “That’s what happens when people pass on from this life. Others want to come tell the family how much they cared.” And bring casseroles.
“Do you know where she went? Is she a ghost now?”
“I’m not sure where we go, kiddo. But I know she believed that she went to a better place, and she believed that God was love. So that has to be good, right.”
“Goodness, Dawson, you would think you went to my church.” Reverend Julia came to pat his shoulder before smiling down at Elsie. “You must be Miss Elsie. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I am. Are you nice? Would you like a doughnut?”
“I would, please. Why don’t you pick one out for me?” Julia gave him a nod, and he headed over to Rian.
“I think you’re in good hands now. I’m going to head on out, but you have my card if you need help. Thanks for the doughnut.”
“Of course. Thanks. I appreciate the visit. Once I know when the funeral will be, I’ll make sure you get the info.”
“Thanks so much.” He headed for the door, a little frustrated that he was going to have to wait, but he couldn’t be an ass about Brenda dying. It wasn’t in him. “Like I said, man, I’m so sorry.”
Rian nodded, and Dawson made himself leave. He wasn’t family, for all that he felt a kinship to the house.
He’d been patient for years. What was a few more weeks?
Chapter 2
“Rian! Grab that box marked silverware for me? Once I get that put away, we can actually eat real food.”
Rian rolled his eyes at Fiona, but he didn’t argue. The last two months had been the wildest in his life.
In eight weeks they had lost their aunt, inherited a huge building, sold a house and a ranch, decided to make a bed and breakfast, packed two homes, and moved from Texas to Colorado with two dogs, three cats, and a guinea pig named Magic Mike.
The old building his aunt had lived in was too damn cool, for all that it needed a ton of work. It had been a mercantile, and at some point before she’d bought it to make it a home fifty years ago, it had been a tearoom. The old gas range itself was worth a fortune.
“Uncle Rian!”
He jogged the two flights of stairs, telling himself that the exercise was going to make his ass amazing. “What do you need, ladybug?”
“I putted my Barbies in the their house. What next?”
“Put. You put them. Next, why don’t you put your books on your bookshelf?” They were moving into the third floor, which was a warren of little rooms, most of which needed something done to them, but they were safe and solid. Nothing leaked. That was a huge thing. And his aunt had been meticulous about gas and electric, heating and cooling. So that meant a lot.
“‘Kay.” Elsie dragged a box of books over to her shelf. She was very pleased with her room. It had a window box seat and yellow cabbage roses on the wallpaper. Lola and Miss Patty were doing their kitty-best at lounging in the sunlight, in fact.
“Where’s Magic Mike’s cage set up?”
“Momma’s going to let him live in her room. She gets lonely at night.”
“Ah. I thought the dogs slept with her.” At least that’s where Sparky and Jerome started out. Sparky ended up barking at the foot of his head to be picked up.
“But the kitties sleep with me, and she says the twain should not meet. What does that mean?”
“It means kitties and Magic Mike alone in a room might be bad.”
“Oh…yeah. That would be scary.”
“A little bit. I’m going to help your mom, ladybug. Holler if you need me.”
“‘kay! Are there going to be other kids soon? Someone to play with?”
God, he hoped so. He knew there were families in Marmot Creek, and schools for Elsie, but he had no idea how many might live in downtown, or what the deal would be. At the ranch, Elsie had been social with a group of other homeschooled kids, because it had been a long haul in to go to school…
“Momma says we can go to story time at the lib’ary.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.”
“Will you come with us?”
Rian nodded and grabbed her up for a kiss. “Of course I will. I love libraries!”
“Oh, good. I like stories. Especially about dragons. And horses.”
“Ooh. Dragons and horses? Those sound like the best books. I’ll have to read along with you, okay?”
“Okay! We can talk about it as we read.” She bounced and twirled. She looked so damn tickled. This was all an adventure to her.
“We can! No running on the stairs. Don’t forget.”
“I won’t. Emily told me that was dangerous.”
“Who’s Emily?” Rian asked.
“My new friend. She lives in my closet.”
“Oh, wow.” So he was so looking in Elsie’s closet before he went downstairs. “How cool is that? All right, slow and steady down to Mom. I’ll be right there.”
“She’s nice. Mom, can we go to the lib’ary?”
He opened the closet door, surprised to find the walls covered in a child’s drawings. Stick figures. Flowers. Sun. A carefully printed EMILY.
Thankfully, there were no children. Or bones. Huh. He wondered who Emily was, and if his Aunt had known about this. He’d always stayed in a guest room on the second floor, but for them, those rooms would be for guests.
Still, it was deliciously creepy, and he couldn’t wait to show Fiona. He snapped a couple of pictures, sending them to her as he headed downstairs.
“Holy crap.” She met him at the base of the stairs, glancing over the picture. “That’s wild. Elsie’s in the kitchen.”
“Isn’t it cool? Like seriously? Don’t you love it?”
“I’m painting over it.”
“No!”
She glared at him. “Rian, it’s creepy.”
“Well, Elsie is already saying that’s her new best friend.” He shook his head. “If you paint over it now, it will just make her feel like it’s weird.”
“Oh, man. That is just like a horror movie asking to be made.”
“I know. So just let her enjoy it and grow out of it as soon as she meets real kids.” And he would research who had lived in the building before his aunt.
“Right. Because there are children in this town, right?”
“I assume so. There were when we were kids, remember?” When they visited in the summers, there had always been kids at the park.
“Do you remember that one kid — Billy something? He ate paste.”
Rian snorted. “Wasn’t that at school?”
“No…he used to collect rocks by the river?”
“Oh! Right. Wow, he did eat paste.” They’d seen that at a library art day. “I’d forgotten all about that.”
“Yeah.” Fi wrinkled her nose. “I hope there aren’t any paste eaters around for Elsie.”
“Nah, just ghost kids.” He winked when she stuck out her tongue.
“Stop it. You’ll give us a reputation, you turd!”
“Hey, it could be a viral marketing tool.” Anything they might use in their favor had to be good right?
“Shut up. Silverware. In drawers. Now.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned. “Are we going to story hour if we’re good?”
“Only if you’re very good.’ Fi rolled her eyes, a drama queen as always.
“Momma, I made us sammies.”
They glanced at each other in dawning horror and hurried into the kitchen. “She was only alone for a minute,” Rian murmured.
“Uh-huh. Yay.”
It was amazing how high mustard could get out of one of those squeeze bottles…
Chapter 3
Dawson limped into the feed store in Collier’s Creek, feeling pretty damn fed up with the whole freaking world. Lolo the retired draft horse he’d rescued from auction had stepped on his foot when he was trying to dose her with some dewormer, and now he needed more dewormer, too.
So he was going to get meds, some dog food, and a new halter for Lolo before he took his ass lunch at Fox’s Restaurant. He was craving something greasy and blue plate special. Dammit.
“Hey there, Dawson,” Lew called. “You’re early for your regular order, buddy.”
Lew Howe was the center of all communication in this damn town, like the phone lines went right through his damn brain.
“Well, I need more wormer, since my last dose ended up on the barn floor.” He shook his head. “God knows why I keep that damn Belgian.”
“Because they get abused more than any other breed of horse?”
He glared at Lew. “Stop it. You know she’s going to be fine now. I’m just grumpy.”
“I know. I do. I’m tickled you saved her from that auction. How’s the mini doing?”
Dawson had bought a tiny little Falabella at the same auction. “His feet are almost back to normal.” Poor baby. They’d been all curled up and neglected. But he had a great farrier who had been working that little guy like a champ.
“Oh, good to hear.”
“Uncle Rian! I finded the dog food!”
“Found the dog food,” a soft voice corrected the little girl who barreled into him when he started toward the dog food aisle.
“Oof!”
“Hey, whoops.” He caught her as she rebounded. “Sorry about that… um. Elsie, right?”
“That’s right, Mr. Cowboy Sir!” She beamed at him. “We have two dogs and three cats and a Magic Mike.”
“What’s a Magic Mike?” He grinned down at her, because how could he not?
“Momma’s guindy pig. He’s cute, but he bites a little so he sleeps in Momma’s room.”
“Ah. They do have big teeth, huh?” He hadn’t realized Brenda O’Shea’s family was back in town. He smiled at the uncle… Or Brenda’s nephew, depending on who he was thinking of. “Hey. How’s it going?”
“Hey, man.” The guy closed one eye. “Dawson. Dawson Reilly, right?”
“That’s it. And you’re… Rian?” Yeah, that was it. Rian O’Shea.
“Yessir. Pleased to see you. How’s it going?” Rian had dog food, cat food, bird food, grass seed, and rodent bedding.
“Good. Well, better now that I see Miss Elsie’s smiling face. I got stepped on earlier, by a big horse.”
“Ouch. That sucks. Well, I hope you get better. That sounds terrible.” Rian winced for him, shook his head. “I assume you have a ranch?”
“We solded ours to move to here! Do you have any little kids I can play with?”
“No. I sure don’t.” Wait, they’d sold their ranch? “Are you… You decided to come up here?” All he’d ever heard from the lawyer representing Brenda’s estate was, “We’ll inform you when a decision has been made about the sale.”
“Yeah. Aunt Brenda left us that building, and Fiona and I want to make a little boutique hotel. Something she can leave to Elsie.”
“A hotel…” Shit. Shit, no way. “Did you know your aunt was going to sell it?”
“Sell what? Her house? She never said anything about that. That was her pride and joy.”
“She was having a hard time keeping it up, and she told me none of her family were interested.” He watched Rian carefully, wanting to see what he’d say about it.
“Well, none of us were here. She was fiercely independent.”
“She was.” He cleared his throat. “I was going to buy it.”
“Oh? I’m sorry. I had no idea. Was there earnest money put down? I can make sure you get it back.”
“No. No money. We had a handshake on it, and I was coming to sign the contract the day I met you.” Dammit. Damn. It. This day was just getting worse every goddamn minute. “It was the Reilly Mercantile when it was built.”
Rian’s eyebrow shot up. “I—That’s cool. If I find anything historical, I’ll holler, you know? We’re still in clean up mode.”
He gritted his teeth trying not to growl. “Cool. I appreciate that. Since it was a family property.”
Rian tilted his head. “Right, but now it’s my family’s. And it has been since my aunt bought it in the seventies.”
He breathed deep through his nose. “You know we have a B&B.”
“It’s a wee bit shabby. And with the arts festival and all, another little place will be good.” Rian gave him a bright smile. “Right, Elsie?”
Oh, no fair, bringing the kid into it.
“We’re going to have our own hotels. Uncle Rian is helping. Momma says he’s her hero.”
“Well, that sounds great, kiddo.” No way was he going to be mean to that little girl. “Good luck, huh?” He would— who knew what he would do? He guessed he was back to square one. Maybe they would just fail in the first year like most businesses.
“Uh-huh. Fanks! If you decide to have kids, I’ll be their friends, okay?”
Jesus, that was too cute. Too bad she was going to have to find somewhere not his family heritage to go.
“You got it.”
Rian gave him a tight smile, then pushed past him with the cart.
He shook his head, heading for the wormer. This really wasn’t his day. But he was going to figure this shit out if it killed him.
By the same he got back up to Lew, he’d built up a head of steam. Honestly? That was his family’s legacy, dammit.
“You’re looking grumpier than when you came in,” Lew said. “My kids do something wrong?”
“God no. They’re fine. You know they’re good folks.” No, he was pissed because that place had been promised to him.
“Oh.” Lew glanced at the main doors. “You see Brenda’s nephew?”
God. Everyone knew everything before he did. “Yep.”
“Did I hear him say he was staying? I thought he was getting it ready to sell.”
“Brenda was selling, but I reckon he’s not.” He sighed, rolling his head on his neck.
“Dammit. What are they going to do with it?”
“A boutique hotel, he says.”
Lew tilted his head. “What the hell is that?”
“Dunno. Like a B and B?”
“We got one of them. We don’t need two.”
“I hear you.” No. They could have used a museum…
“Eh, they’ll head home. They’re not used to life up here. You know that.”
“Yeah. And they’re not rich enough to be a real nuisance.” He grinned at Lew.
“So, just be patient, eh? They’ll go home to…wherever they came from.”
“That’s it.” Even if they had sold the ranch, Texas was cheaper than Colorado, warmer in the winter, and… well. Politically they were in line.
Lew rang up the wormer. “You need anything else?”
“I’m sure I did when I came in, but I can’t remember.”
“When you do, text. I’ll put it aside.”
“Thanks, Lew.” He needed… well, it was too early for a drink. But maybe a coffee and a breakfast sandwich.
That would have to do, at least until he could figure out how to encourage the O’Shea’s to go.
Chapter 4
Rian thought that someone was poisoning folks against them.
The feed store stopped carrying their dog food. The hardware store lost their order—twice. No one at the coffee shop would speak to Fiona, and goodness help anyone who was mean to his Elsie-bug.
What he really wanted to tell people here in Marmot Creek, though, was they had no place to go back to. So this was it. They were staying.
If they had to, they would just buy all their equipment from out of town and he would go get it.
They’d poured everything into this hotel.
Every single dime.
There were a few people in their camp, he thought. Brenda’s best friend, the town librarian, was very kind. Their next door neighbor, who he was convinced was a literal witch, was always bringing dal and chicken fried tofu…
He was learning a lot about plumbing and electricity, and he and YouTube were becoming the best of friends. He liked the work, actually, and Fi was taking online cooking classes in a variety of cuisines and diets.
“Uncle Rian? Can I play outside with the dogs in the yard? Please?”
“Let me check the fence and the gate for little Sparky.”
“Okay.” Elsie sighed. She hadn’t met any other kids yet, and she was wilting. She needed for someone to open the door and let her in.
He checked the gate, then noticed that there were a bunch of kiddos at the city park, and he pursed his lips, texting Fi.
{Taking the kiddo and Sparky to the park.}
“Want to walk to the park with Miss Sparky, Ladybug?”
“Okay!” She bounced. “Please. I need to go do stuff.”
“Let’s go play, then.”
Elsie was a ray of sunshine, and it wouldn’t take long for her to win these folks over. As soon as they allowed themselves to meet her, they would figure it out. Even the Reilly guy couldn’t bring himself to be mean to her.
“Can I go say hi, Uncle?” She was vibrating with excitement. Sparky
“Sure, I’ll keep Sparky. I’ll be right here.”
Elsie went running, waving. “Hey, guys!”
“Hi! Who are you?” That was a little girl who looked about five.
“I’m Elsie O’Shea! I’m almost six, and I’m new!”
“I’m Hallie Yardley. This is my brother Ollie.”
“Hi!” She waved and then bounced away to the swings.
Perfect. That was what they needed. Elsie had to have friends. He and Fi could survive being shut out, but not his vibrant niece. She needed to be welcomed in and, thank God, kids came through when you needed them to.
He sat on the park bench, letting Sparky run around on the end of her leash. The weather was perfect, and Elsie was having a ball.
“Can I pet your dog?”
“Let me pull her in, and then we’ll see how she feels.” He smiled at a dark-haired little girl who had been quietly playing by herself.
Sparky wagged and wiggled, totally willing to be loved on and scritched, and the little girl was gentle and clearly understood not to touch a dog on top of the head or loom over them.
“What’s your name?” Rian asked.
“Ginny. My mom is over there with my baby brother.” She pointed to a lady feeding a tiny baby.
“New baby, huh?”
“Uh-huh. He’s boring.”
“He’ll get better. I have a sister, so I know. Do you not know the other kids?” He hated that she was all alone.
“I’m new. My mommy just moved here. Which one is your kid?”
“My niece is Elsie.” He pointed her out, her pretty, wild dark curls making her easy to spot.
“Oh.” Ginny looked at the ground. “Could I say hi?”
“Of course. Come on. Sparky and I will walk you over.” Poor baby. Not everyone was as outgoing as his Elsie.
“Yeah? Thank you. You’re nice.”
“I try. I think Elsie and you are nice too. You can be friends, I bet.”
“I hope so. I’m lonely.”
That broke his heart, and he felt her. So hard. He was too. He hadn’t had a ton of buddies in Texas, but some of his childhood friends had still been around, and now he had Fi, who he loved, but that was it.
“Well, Elsie has been too. Hey, guys. This is Ginny. She just moved here too. Can she come play?”
“Hi, Ginny!” Elsie ran over to grab her hand. “I’m Elsie. Do you like baby dolls? I have three. Their names are Cherry, Happy, and Susie.”
“I do. I have three too!”
“We can be best friends! Come and swing!” Elsie dragged her over, talking a smile a minute, and Ginny’s relief was a real damn thing.
He felt buoyed by the fact that he’d helped two little girls feel more happy today. He’d take it.
“Hey. I’m Vi.” Vi was the spitting image of Miss Ginny —dark haired and delicate, with deep brown eyes that read friendly as all get out. “And this little man is Michael.”
“Hey. I’m Rian. I hear y’all just moved here. Us too.”
“Yeah. I—Well, yes. We’re staying with my folks right now. You know. Coming back to the old home. Yay.”
Oh, dude. There was a story there…
“We spent summers here sometimes. I wonder if we ever met.”
“Did you? What’s your name?”
“I’m Rian O’Shea. Aunt Brenda is my, well, aunt. My sister is Fiona?”
She frowned, and then her eyes went wide. “Fi? We used to call her Fi? She was a great friend when I was just little.”
“Oh, wow. So you know my sister! She would love to know you’re here.”
“I’d…I’d really love a friend.” Vi gave him a shaky smile. “It’s been a rough six months.”
“I’m sorry.” He pulled out his phone to text Fi. “Y’all should come over for supper.”
“We’d love to. What time and what can I bring?”
That was a perfect answer.
Fi texted back, and he grinned. “Is six too late? And Fiona says a green salad and whatever you like to drink.”
“So long as there’s somewhere I can put Ginny down if she crashes, that’s perfect. You know how little girls get.”
He did, but more than that, he knew that Fi and Elsie would feel so much better having friends, folks to talk to.
God, how was he going to make this whole thing work until he figured out who the hell he could connect with. He’d had a moment, when his aunt had first died, when he thought it might be the pretty cowboy. Dawson. Then the man had got his panties in a wad about the house.
They couldn’t sell it, though. This was Fi’s dream, and so now it was his. Fi had never let him down, had never once asked him for anything, until this.
She needed his help, his support, and he was doing it, dammit. He could make new friends. Just like Elsie there.
If anyone would ever actually talk to him.
“There’s a ton of room. We’re turning Aunt Brenda’s house into a B and B.”
“Oh, how neat! Well, I would love that, then.” Vi smiled. “We’ll be there.”
“Excellent.” He laughed as Elsie waved at him from the swings, her curls just bouncing.
They watched the kids until the other two had to go, and then he took Elsie’s hand. “Vi and Ginny are coming to supper later, okay? We need to go help your mom.”
“Okay! I’ll show my babies to them.” She took his hand, singing and skipping. “It’s so much better to have friends, Uncle.”
“I know, baby girl. We’re just new to town, that’s all.”
She squeezed his hand. “Uh-huh. Momma worries. She thinks no one likes us ‘cause we’re not selling the house.”
“Is that what she said?” Goddammit.
“She was on the phone with Aunt Patty. I heared her.”
“Well, we’ll fix it. We’re making a neat place to stay, huh?”
“Yep! A haunted hotel!” She spun in a circle. “Spoooooky.”
Rian chuckled. “Well, that’s for the fundraising, really.” He’d hit on the idea of having a haunted house to raise the money for some of the reno they needed to do. “It will just be a B and B after that.”
“Nope. No, we got us ghosties, and we’re going to party with them. Momma says so.”
“Does she?” He grinned. So much for his sister thinking Elsie’s closet was creepy, huh? Embracing it did seem the best idea. “Well, then. We should do that.” They got back to the house, and he let her hand go once they were inside. Collier’s Creek wasn’t exactly traffic central, but it was a good habit.
“Mommy! I made a friend! We swinged, and she’s coming for supper!” Elsie’s voice pierced the quiet of the house.
“Hey.” Fi came out of the kitchen, pushing her hair back into its messy bun. “I heard. Yay. So this is really Violet? God, I remember her. She was all big brown eyes and mischief.”
“She’s very sad now. So I hear we have a problem in town with folks wanting us to sell?” Who did he need to kick? “Is it Reilly doing this?”
“I guess? I mean, who knows. He seemed like such a decent guy.” Fi’s mouth firmed into a straight line. “But I can let you beat him.”
“Fair enough. You know I’ll take care of things.” He wasn’t going to let anyone hurt Fi and Elsie. It was his life’s work.
“I know. I trust you.” She gave him a grin, watching Elsie dance, ignoring them completely. “I just want this to work.”
“Me too. I’ll fix it. I’ll just go to him and talk to him, man to man.”
“Okay. Yeah? You’d do that?” She beamed at him, and damn, he was locked into it now.
“Yep.” He was shorter, but he was tougher, and this was his life here.
“Cool. Thanks, bro. So what am I making for supper?”
“Hell, I thought you knew when you said to bring green salad.”
“Nah, that’s just what everyone says.” She grinned. “I can whip up a pasta that’s kid friendly pretty quick. And some garlic bread.”
“Sounds perfect to me.” He loved pasta. He was not a man that avoided carbs.
“Good deal. Well, can you pick up a little? I didn’t expect to have company.”
He clasped his hands over his chest. “Oh, ho! Now I know why you said yes to the dinner invite!”
Her eyes went comically wide. “Whaaaat? Never say so. Elsie, honey, I need you to pick up your shoes and toys, huh? We want the house to look nice for your new friend.”
“Okay, Mommy.” Elisa bounced around, mostly singing and not putting much away.
“Come on, bean. Let’s really clean up for mommy. I’ll hand you things and you put them where they go, okay? And then we can have some apple juice.”
“And a peanut cookie?”
“And a cookie. If you help me.”
“‘kay, Uncle! Hand me a thing!”
He grinned. Cookies remained the best way to bribe kids Elsie’s age to help. Later it would be cash. He began handing her stuff, and she put it in toy boxes and show cubbies and the closet.
They had company coming. It was time to put their best faces on.
Chapter 5
Dawson loaded feed into the back of his truck, the hairs on the back of his neck prickling. He could always tell when folks were talking about him, or staring at him, and when he casually turned his head slightly, sure enough, Junior Watson and Lyle Means were staring. Just leaning on Lyle’s tailgate. Staring.
The urge to snap at them was huge, but he didn’t. He calmly tossed his last bag into the bed of his pick-up, then let Buster out of the passenger side so the big collie mix could go in with him while he paid and pick out a toy or a treat.
“Hey, Dawson,” Junior said, “What’s this I hear about you missing out on the O’Shea house?”
“Well, Junior, if you’ve heard about it, then you know.” Dawson blew out a breath, shaking his head.
“I reckon so. Donnie in there let the word out. We’re all trying to make it hard on them for you.”
Dawson frowned. “On who?”
“Them O’Shea kids. They’re not from here.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. “I’m perfectly capable of handling my own shit, Junior. Really. I’ll tell Donnie.”
Lyle snorted. “You cain’t tell him nothin’, Daws. Once he gets it in his head he’s going to do something, he does it.”
“Well, I don’t need people being mean to them on my behalf.” Now, if they should fail in this whole B&B thing on their own and want to sell, fine. He would be right there to scoop up the property. But he was doing other things in the meantime to make improvements on his ranch and get ready for that eventuality. “I’ll talk to him.”
“Might be a few other people you want to talk to as well,” Junior said. Then he spit on the ground.
Dawson just smiled sweetly at the old farts. “Oh, I’m sure you can tell them what all I said.” God help him, why hadn’t he gone into big time rodeo and won a ton of prize money and bought a big old spread in say, Texas? Or New Mexico? “Come on, Buster.”
His dog followed him inside, and he let Buster sniff the toy aisle, but it looked like he wanted treats today. “No rawhides, buddy. They’re not good for you.”
Buster stared at him, then bowed deeply as if to say, “Please, Dad. Just. One. Bone.”
He laughed. “How about one of those elk sticks you like, huh?” He grabbed one of the long, Slim Jim style things. “And we’ll get a yak milk bone too.”
Buster danced a little bit, and he heard the bell over the feed store door ring.
He glanced up, hoping it wasn’t Junior and Lyle coming to have another go at him. But it was Rian O’Shea. Oh, man.
Rian met his eyes, frowned, and came right up to him. “Mr. Reilly.”
Ah. They were being formal. “Mr. O’Shea. How’s the renovation going?”
“They’re going better now that I’m shopping elsewhere for supplies.” Those bright blue eyes seemed to snap from under the gimme cap. “Someone seems to have told the locals that it’s time to run us out of town.”
He tilted his head. “I’m guessing you mean me, but I got to tell you, I’ve been holed up at the ranch. Buster, stop it.” Buster was sniffing Rian’s jeans cuffs and shoes.
“He smells my dogs.” Those eyes were like lasers. “Well, Fiona and I sold everything we had to make this work, so we’re not going anywhere, but the simple fact is my niece is five. A five year old little girl that wants to make friends at the park. I will protect that. Full stop.”
His jaw tightened, and Dawson wanted to pop off with something flip, but he got what the man was saying. “I reckon people might be mistakenly doing things on my behalf, but I never told anyone to shut you out.” That wasn’t the cowboy way.
“I appreciate that. I’m sorry about you not getting the house, but no one told us a sale was even being discussed. That house has been in our family since before we were born.”
“I understand.” He did. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t salty. “If you ever do decide to sell…” He saw Rian’s expression and chuckled. “In the meantime, I’ll try to put the word out not to be unneighborly on my behalf.”
Rian nodded to him, tipping his hat. “I’d appreciate it. There’s a single mom and a little girl’s future at stake.”
And what about Rian’s future, he wondered. What did Rian want out of all this?
“Sure. Look, I might be a stubborn ass, but I ain’t a dick.”
“I’m not either. I just want to build something good here.” Rian shrugged, offering him a quirked smile. “Glad I ran into you.”
“Yeah. I am too, because I just found out about this myself. How is that little girl, by the way?”
“She met another new girl at the park. She’s over the moon to have a friend.”
“Good deal. I hope she gets on well. I really do.” What a fucking tangle. He was just— small towns. Deep breaths.
“This is a big change.” Rian offered over the cutest little grin, and Dawson felt his body tighten. “Huge, really. I can’t wait for her to see snow.”
“Yeah, I guess coming from Texas you wouldn’t see that much, huh?” He put a hand down for Buster, and his dog came right up, wagging hard and heeling. At least that went right.
“Yeah, we’re not super familiar with winter weather, but we’re smart dogs. We’ll figure it out, right?”
“Snow won’t defeat you. Just be careful with heavy rains. And be aware that you’re going to have a slow season.”
“Yeah, we’re hoping for an amazing Halloween and Christmas, and then enough winter sports people to stay full.”
“Sure.” He wanted to just shout at the guy, but he couldn’t in the face of that hopeful statement. “Well, I’ll put the word out, like I said.”
“I appreciate it. We just want to be…people, you know? Members of the community. Aunt Brenda wasn’t a distant family member or anything.”
“No. No, and she was a part of this community for sure.” He felt like a man standing on the platform watching his train pull off without him. Bye bye mercantile. The he straightened his metaphorical shoulders. Big deal. He had other ways to honor his family memory in this town, and he needed to stop being a fool. “I also have a bunch of building supplies left over from a couple of jobs on the ranch if you wanted to come have a look.”
There. That established his position firmly in front of all the old man-gossips.
The look of gratitude was quick, but almost painful to see. “That would be a huge help. I’m happy to buy any extras off you.”
“Sure. Why don’t you come on out to the ranch this weekend?” He was neighborly. Dammit. He was living the cowboy way. And he was going to feel good about it. Soon.
“Sure. I’d be happy to. I don’t have a trailer or anything, but I have the truck and a red handkerchief for a flag.” Rian held out his hand to shake. “Thanks. I really appreciate that you’re willing to let the dust settle.”
He shook on it, and the hairs rose on his arm and on the back of his neck. That was a littlest spark, huh? He nodded. “No problem.”
“Can you text me the address at some point, and we’ll set up a time?”
“You bet. Let me get your number.” He pulled out his phone, aware of every eye in the place on him.
Rian shared his number, then nodded. “Thank you, sir. I’m going to pick up some guinea pig bedding, unless they’re still out. Apparently there’s run. on the stuff in town.”
“I—I’m sure they just don’t have it, man. We’re not assholes.” He was two shakes from losing his temper.
“No, of course you’re not. You’re just…hard to get to know. Have a good one.” Rian turned and walked away.
“Come on, Buster. Let’s go.” He didn’t need this shit. He was not the fucking bad guy.
He was being neighborly, for fuck’s sake.
Chapter 6
Was he really going to do this?
Was Rian really going to call Dawson Reilly and ask for what? His leftovers? His cast offs?
It didn’t take long to come to the unfortunate answer to his question. It was yes. Yes he was because they were running low on money, and they had to get all of this taken care of before the summer was over.
Before school started.
Before booking started for Halloween.
The whole idea of hosting a haunted B and B for the month of October had been a stroke of genius on his sister’s part, but there was still a part of him that wondered about that scrawled name in Elsie’s closet.
It creeped him right the fuck out.
After all it wasn’t as if they could let guests go into Elsie’s room, and it wasn’t it wasn’t like Elsie was willing to leave her room and move into another one.
They’d already tried that, and it had been an absolute bust involving a temper tantrum.
Still they could decorate everything up and make it look like an old haunted mercantile. They’d hang a few cobwebs, prop up a few skeletons. Then they could hope for an actual ghost sighting.
That would rock.
He shook his head at himself. Listen to him — all they had to do was make enough money to get them through the Christmas season, and then hopefully things would improve.
They didn’t have to have someone in the building every day, but if they could have booked weekends, the periodic event.
God, he was tired.
Like all the way to the bone exhausted.
This sucked hairy monkey balls.
What was he gonna do?
He glanced up at the Mercantile Building – trying desperately to see past what was three stories of repairs and age. Once upon a time, this place had to have been amazing. There were still hints of it really. Wood floors, fascinating little warrens of rooms, especially on the third floor.
That had been the living quarters of the shop keep back in the day, and it fascinated him. Marmot Creek had been a mining town back in the day, and it was a hardscrabble life. Some of those stories were told in the walls. Bullet holes. Heavy locks on the doors. A secret room with a huge wall safe.
How had they even gotten that thing up there?
A motion at the window caught his attention, and he glanced up. Elsie must be playing. Rian took a deep, deep breath as if he was smoking the first cigarette after a year of quitting, blew it out in a long stream, and then he sucked it up like the cowboy he was. This wasn’t fucking brain surgery. This was recycling, right?
Right.
He found Dawson’s name in his contacts and dialed.
The phone rang a couple of times, long enough in fact that he thought he was going to have to leave a voicemail, when the phone was answered. He heard a huge rattling noise, and then a ground-out, “God damn it! Hold on just a second. I dropped the fucking phone.”
Okay… that was pretty funny.
Rian smiled, because how many thousands of times that he done just exactly the same thing? He had to wonder if Dawson was on a horse or in the barns, but he didn’t hear anything it sounded like animals. He’d find out soon enough.
It took a second, but he eventually heard the oh so familiar sound of a phone being picked up off the floor, and then Dawson’s voice sounded again. “Sorry.”
“No problem happens all the time. You okay?”
“Fine as frog hair,” Dawson bit out. Oh, someone was pissed
“This is Ryan O’Shea. I’m sorry to be a bother, but I was just calling to see if I can pick up some of those supplies. If it’s a bad time…” It sure sounded like a bad time.
“No, no. It’s fine.” Dustin actually chuckled. “Believe it or not, I was trying to change a light bulb, and I dropped my phone and cracked the screen. The damn thing fell out of my pocket”
“Maybe you need tighter pants” Oh shit. Had he said that out loud?
“Hey now! I only wear those when I go out on the town. At home I wear the loose ones.” Seemed like Dawson was in a way better humor than he’d expected. “I texted you my address. You know how to find it?”
“Yeah, I googled it. I’ll be able to find you, no sweat. I’ve got my truck all ready, and I’ve got gloves.” Rian paused. “Would you like me to bring you anything from town?” It seemed like the neighborly thing to ask, and he could stop and get burgers and fries and cokes or something. It was only fair to offer to feed the man lunch. “I mean, like, I could stop at the burger barn…”
“Oh! I was going to say no, but…” Dustin hesitated. “Man, I do love their green chile burger. Could you get me a double bacon green chile burger with pickles, a large fries, and a Dr Pepper?”
All right then. “Absolutely. Man, do you mind if I pick myself up something too? We could sit and have lunch?
“Of course I don’t mind. It takes about twenty minutes to get to the house from town.”
“Got it. I’ll see you.” Rian took a deep breath. That felt like a victory. He popped his head in the door, and called for Fiona. “Hey lady. I’m fixin’ to head out and get those supplies. Is there anything you need while I’m out and about?”
Fi appeared from around the kitchen door. “I don’t think so. I think that I’m going to take Elsie to the little library, and to lunch. She seems down a little bit, and she’s wanting to be ready with her summer reading club.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you both for supper then.” Rian thought it was pretty good for them to have a mother daughter time. They’d have uncle niece date here in the near future. He couldn’t wait for Elsie to start school. He thought things were going to get so much easier so much faster then.
Until then, well, he’d just…do his best?
“Have a good afternoon, Bubba!” She waved at him as he loaded up, pointing his truck toward the Burger Barn.
He whistled as he drove, because that always seemed to improve his mood, and the kid at the Barn was sweet as could be, slapping together his order in record time.
Then he started for the Reilly place. It was a big old place, from the rumors, started by a silver miner back in the day. When he turned on the ranch road, he had to admit, he liked how it was well care for. Well graded. And the house was kind of breathtaking.
It made him feel like a fool for mourning his little place. He’d had a few acres, a few head of cattle, nothing like this.
Dammit.
He pulled up next to the house, the furious barking of dogs greeting him. He wasn’t scared of dogs at all, but he did wait to see body language.
“Hey, you hooligans. Hush.” Dawson walked outside, whistling up the dogs.
Rian offered Reilly a smile that he hoped came off as friendly. “I come bearing greasy spoon food.”
“Yum.” Dawson took the bag. “Come on in. We’ll sit and eat, and then I’ll help you load.”
“Oh, that’s cool. Thanks. Seriously. I really appreciate the help.”
“No problem, man. I mean, I was serious when I made the offer.”
Rian ducked his head. “Yeah. Your place is crazy cool.”
“Thanks. I’ve worked really hard to fix it back up. Some previous generations weren’t… careful.”
“No?” Okay, that made him feel better. If Dawson could do it, so could he. “That totally sucks, man. Seriously. I understand. The building needs a ton of assistance.”
“Well.” Dawson chewed his lip. “I mean, I have a vested interest in it at least having a plaque that says it was the Reilly mercantile. So if you need help, holler.”
“You’re welcome to help. I’d welcome it. Fi is working her ass to the bone, trying to make it a place that can be a going thing.” And she deserved it.
Dawson nodded. “Well, and I had no idea people were making it hard on you.” When he opened his mouth, Reilly held up a hand. “I’m not wallowing in guilt. I genuinely want to help. The idea of being able to get into that building and see all its secrets is a driving force.”
They settled at a big kitchen table that was meant to seat a least fifty. “Well, you’re welcome to come in. We’re trying to recreate all the history we can.”
“Cool. I might have some pictures tucked away.”
“Oh, my God, Fi would hug your neck.”
“Yeah?” Dawson laughed. “You’re sister is adorbs, but she’s not my type.”
“No? Well, uh…you’re not hers either.” Fi tended to date dark-skinned men, and after she’d lost Dayton, she had lost her heart a little bit.
“So is her— I mean, I’m being nosy, but I see she’s not married.” Dawson opened his cheeseburger up, setting it on the wrapper just so, then dumping the fries out and arranging them.
“Her husband — Elsie’s daddy — was in the service. He was killed in by friendly fire.” He’d been a good guy, a decent soldier, and—well, now he was gone.
“Oh my god.” Dawson’s eyes went wide. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was hard on all of us.” But mainly on Fi. Elsie had been so young… “But Fi rallied. She has raised Elsie, she’s worked hard, and she asked me to help her make this dream happen.”
And he was the brother.
He was her brother.
Dawson nodded. “I get you way more now. I do.”
Rian shrugged, his cheeks heated. “I am sorry that you were so disappointed. I didn’t have any idea that Auntie was selling, and by the time you told me? It was too late.”
“I understand.” Dawson shrugged. “I was just really frustrated. But I’m fine.”
“Yeah.” He lifted his burger. “To new beginnings?”
Dawson air clinked their food together. “To a fresh start.”
He could live with that.
Now he just hoped the damn town could too.
Chapter 7
“Dawson! Yoohoo!”
Oh, man. Dawson cringed, trying to pretend he hadn’t heard Miss Dorothy Pierce calling to him. She was, to put it mildly, a giant busybody. A sweet one. Usually with the town’s best interest at heart.
But a busybody.
“Miz Pierce, good morning.” Go away. Shoo.
“Hello, dear. You’re in town early for a weekend.”
“Mmm. I wanted to get doughnuts before they sold out.”
“Oh, they are popular, aren’t they? Where on earth did you park?”
She knew very well where his truck was sitting. It was the only big duallie in front of the Reilly building, dammit.
“Up the road. I was having a walk up to the Sweeties.” God save him from nosy old ladies.
“Ah. Well, it’s a lovely day for it.” She glanced behind him, and he fought the urge to see who was listening.
“Absolutely. Have a nice day, ma’am.” No growling. None.
“You too, Dawson. Say hello to Mrs. O’Shea’s people, will you?”
“Mmm.” He wasn’t sure he could say anything nice, so he just kept walking. If she wanted to meet them, she had ample opportunity.
They literally lived right down the street.
The sign was freshly re-stained, and the roses framing the big porch were trimmed. The flower pots were filled with the last of the summer’s pansies, but as they died, the mums were replacing them. It was really coming together.
He had a feeling that by the fall festival and Halloween season, Rian and Fi would be totally open for business.
The door opened as he turned onto the walkway.
“Cowboy Dawson! Good morning.” Elsie was on the porch, coloring under a blanket, face wreathed in smile.
“Good morning, Miss Elsie. How are you today?” God she was cute.
“I’m coloring. What about you? Would you like to come in?”
“If that’s okay. I brought doughnuts.”
“Oh? That’s nice of you! Would you like a cup of coffee?” She stood up. “Mama! Cowboy Dawson bringed donos!”
“Oh, hey!” Rian came to the door. “Come on in, man. Want a cup of coffee?”
“I do. Want some doughnuts?”
“I do.”
“Cool.” He held out the bag, trying not to feel awkward as fuck. He was here to help with the back stoop, which needed repair.
“Come on in. Seriously, I’ve got those stairs out, but I’m grateful as all get out you’re here.”
“I’ve got my tools in my truck.” Dawson grinned. “You said you were worrying on it.”
“Yes. The last thing I need is Granny and Tweety Bird breaking an ankle on the steps.”
“Yeah, no. It shouldn’t take too much.” Next summer Rian could pour concrete steps but for now, new wood ones would work.
“I still appreciate the extra pair of hands and the company.”
Oh.
Oh, okay.
That didn’t suck.
He grinned. “And the doughnuts? I didn’t know what everyone like so I got the dozen baker’s choice.”
“You are our hero. It’s my morning to cook breakfast, and Elsie hates omelets.”
“Poor kid. I bet she learns to like a Denver one, but that may be a few years.” Dawson took the cup of coffee Rian poured him once they were in the kitchen and traded over the bag of pastry.
“Yeah. I love an omelet with green chile, but I try hard to never to get any in hers.” Rian’s cheeks were rosy, and wasn’t that cute?
“I bet. That’s definitely more of an acquired taste.” He loved green chile too. Like on the burger Rian had brought the other day.
“I know, but I love it so bad.” Rian chuckled, the sound wry. “The spicier the better.”
“Yeah.” He sipped his coffee. Yum.
“Do you need cream?”
“No, this is good coffee.”
“It is. Fi is addicted. Seriously.” Rian winked at him.
“I can see why.”
“Did I hear there were doughnuts?” Fi came in holding Elsie’s hand.
“You did, ‘cause I telled you.”
“Told you,” she corrected.
“Uh-huh. Just right now.”
Fi gave him a long-suffering look, and Dawson laughed. “What’s your favorite kind, Elsie?”
“Chocolate ones! I love those so bad! Did you bring those?”
“I did. With and without cream.” She was all bright eyed and bushy tailed.
“Ooh…no creams for me. Please. I just like chocolate.”
Rian chuckled. “Very polite, sweetheart. Seriously. I’m going to fix the back. What plans do you have today?”
“Someone needs a new pair of shoes, so we’re heading to a Walmart. She’ll need warmer clothes, sooner rather than later, too.”
“Uh-huh, and a new backpack. My old one was fine for summer, but not school.”
““I can understand that.” He nodded sagely, and pulled out a custard filled long john. She was adorable, and it was impossible not to like her.
“Are you going with Vi and her two?”
Sparky and Jerome came wandering in, all Mutt and Jeff, with drool and wagging.
“Uh-huh.” Elsie was the one to answer. “We’re besties. I even showed her the ghost.”
“You did?” What ghost? There wasn’t a ghost in here.
“Yep. In my room.”
He raised his eyebrows at Rian.
“Emily.” Fi and Rian spoke, in unison.
“Yep. She lives in my closet.”
“What kind of a ghost?” Maybe he wasn’t supposed to egg her on, but now his curiosity was up.
“A little girl with curly hairs and a doll dress. She is so pretty.”
“Wow.” He’s never heard of a ghost like that in town, let alone this building.
“I know, right? I am the coolest, ‘cause I got a ghost room.” She sing-songed that last part.
“And now we have doughnuts.” He held his out to touch hers, ready to change the subject.
“Yay! Best day ever!”
“I think you might be right, kiddo. I’ve always wanted to see this place, and the company is the best.”
“Well, you are always welcome here, Dawson.” That was Fiona. “Honestly. Always.”
Rian nodded to him, and Dawson felt a not-entirely welcome little tingle in the pit of his belly, like a spark.
They grabbed mugs of coffee and wandered out to the backyard. “After we get that back from getting that deck shored up, I’ll take you on a big tour along the house. It’s a fascinating old place. You said it belonged to your family, right?”
They’d gone over all of this before, and it wasn’t that Rian thought he was lying or had forgotten.
It was just the way of cowboys. They told the same stories over and over again. Sometimes with an embellishment, most of the time not.
It was just their way to get to know one another, to connect.
Dawson kinda liked how he was connecting with Rian.
It made him happy because it proved that Rian was as much a cowboy as he was, and as much of a bullshitter.
“It was. I was going to fix it up kind of like y’all are doing. I wasn’t intending on living here though.”
“No, I cannot imagine you moving here after having had lived in that ranch house. That place is beautiful, absolutely stunning.”
Dustin preened a little bit. “It is nice, isn’t it?”
“Shit, it’s better than nice. I mean, don’t get me wrong. This place is neat and old and creaky in all the right ways. But your place is a showplace.”
“Thanks.”
They started pulling up boards and checking underpinnings and shoring this and that up, so that it was safe for guests and for the little bit. He didn’t want Miss Elsie to get hurt either.
He wanted this whole family to be safe, dammit. He wasn’t sure how, but this had become important to him. Very much so.
“So what made y’all decide to do a B and B?”
“Y’all is a strong word.” Rian looked up as if to make sure that his sister wasn’t listening. “This is her dream, and she’s been good to me, you know? There was no way she could do it without me, and I had a little place. You know, it wasn’t anything like what y’all have. It’s just this a little ten acre ranch. So I sold and made good money off of it and told her we’d throw in together.”
“There was real regret in Rian’s voice, and that was a shame.
“This is an awful small town for two Bed and Breakfast type places.” He had to point that out. Not even because he wanted them to do poorly now. In fact, it was the other way. He didn’t want them to leave. He didn’t want them to fail, but there already was a little B and B on the other side of town.
“I know, but this isn’t… She’s hoping that this will be something where people come just for this, just to come and see the house. And we can kind of build up a little business around that.”
“So the rumors are true.”
“That depends on which rumors you’re talking about.”
“You’re going to sell this as a haunted house?”
“Yeah, not so much as scary than atmospheric. Although probably around Halloween, we’ll be going full on spooky. But she’s advertising it as a haunted place. There’s tons of history that Fi is digging up. People get interested in that sort of thing. There are people that would come out just for that, and then once they come and see how nice it is? That’s when we get repeat business. I think this would be the perfect place to stop as you’re going off into the mountains, for camping.” Rian offered him a hopeful smile. “You know, you stop here, you go out and you go camping for a couple days, you come back, you go home.”
“Okay. I mean, if you say that there’s a market for it, I don’t know. I’m a rancher.”
“So am I. But more than that, I’m a little brother who has two women that are counting on him to make this a going thing.”
Man, Rian was fucked. There was a lot of pressure to put on one cowboy. There had to be a way to help him out.
“Have you hooked up with the Chamber of Commerce?”
He got a wide eyed look. “Marmot Creek has a Chamber of Commerce?”
“Hey!” He tried for shocked, but he had to laugh. “We got a bank, a post office and library. We got two B and B’s. A bar. Three restaurants, a feed store, and a candy store. What else could we possibly need? Of course we have a Chamber of Commerce.”
Rian’s lips quirked. “You need some sort of a weird boutique that has handmade clothes in it. Also? A place that sells tea and weird stones. Doesn’t every little town have a witchy woman that sells tea and weird stones and does tarot card readings?”
“I’m going to send. Miss Jeanette over here. She says she’s an artist. She does that sort of thing.”
“Please do. Fiona would be pleased as all get out to meet her. Maybe they could set up a thing — art in the parlor, tarot cards and seances or something.” Rian shrugged. “My job is to make sure that all the nails are nailed in, and the rooms are all cleaned up, and everything looks alright. Enough to sleep in, but still a little spooky.”
He started chuckling. “Just a little spooky.”
“Hand me the hammer.” Ryan started fixing a stair step. “You know that place in Elsie’s closet is really damn weird.”
“You’re not serious.”
“As a heart attack, I’ll take you up there. There’s all this little kid drawing and the name Emily written up there. I’m telling you. I don’t love it.”
“I swear to God, man. If your niece gets all possessed and blows smoke and shit—”
“Don’t say that. You do not say that.”
Somebody was way more worried than he was letting on.
“Well, I reckon Miss Jeanette knows what to do if you want to do anything.”
“Not my business. This is.Fiona’s thing, and she says. Leave the ghost alone. So I’m leaving the ghost alone. We’ll go take a tour here in a bit. There’s a basement, you know, and an attic. And then three floors in between. It’s like a warren. Especially for a guy who grew up in a ranch house.”