Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
Hannah grabbed her purse and exited her hotel room. Even coming in the night before so she wouldn’t be late, she was barely going to make it downstairs before Brody arrived. Was he an on-time kind of person or a five-minutes-late type of person? It was weird how little she knew about him and yet how much she trusted him. He had gone out of his way to help her, plus he was a cowboy. Those two reasons alone had her guard down.
She rushed down the grand stairs of the Old West-themed hotel. When she’d looked it up online, she knew she had to stay there. It was toward one end of the Main Street of Four Peaks, so a great place for exploring the town. Plus, the 1800s décor was adorable, with its curved grand staircase into the lobby, the pale pink wallpaper with red roses, clawfoot tubs, and four-posted beds. The owner, Mrs. Ava Gutierrez, who was not much older than she was, was a sweetheart. She had an aquiline nose, thin shaped eyebrows, and long, straight black hair that she kept in a bun at the nape of her neck. Though she let her staff dress more casually, she always appeared incredibly neat, not a hair out of place.
Once on the first floor, Hannah started to walk past the front desk toward the large window that looked onto the street, so she could watch for Brody.
“Miss Kingsley, Brody is waiting for you in the dining room.”
She stopped in midstride and looked at Ava. “He is?”
The woman nodded. “Yes, he is. That man is always early, especially when a woman is involved.” Ava rolled her eyes as if with Brody, there was always a woman involved.
That gave Hannah pause. “You know him well?” Now, that was a stupid question.
Ava chuckled even as she moved to the ringing phone. “We all do. This is a small town, Miss Kingsley. Everyone knows everyone.” The woman answered the call. “Good morning. The Lucky Lasso Hotel and Saloon. This is Ava Gutierrez. How may I make your day wonderful?”
For some reason, Ava’s answer made her feel better. If everyone knew everyone, then she could find out a lot about Brody, the Dunns, the other landowners, and even the best place for enchiladas. It would also be hard to be dishonest and have no one know, which would fit her own needs perfectly.
Quickly, she made her way to the dining room. As she stepped past the small arched entry, she barely had time to notice the pale pink drapes on the windows or the white tablecloths on the small round tables, before Brody waved his arm and caught her attention. Smiling, she made her way across the ironwood floor, stepping in-between the tables, over half of them filled already. Either the room had a lot of locals who got up early, or the guests were anxious to get on with their day.
Brody stood and held out a chair for her. “Good morning.”
His smile warmed her while his manners charmed her. “Thank you.” He slid her chair in as she sat. “Good morning to you, too. If I had known you’re always early, I would have been down sooner. I had the most wonderful sleep.”
His brows raised as he took his seat. “Now you have me doubly curious. How do you know I’m always early and—oh, Ava. Never mind. I’m glad you had a good rest. I rarely sleep well if not in my own bed.” He picked up a carafe on the table. “Coffee?”
“Absolutely. I can barely think without some caffeine in the morning.”
He poured hers, then topped off his own.
How long had he been waiting? “I’m so glad you could make time to meet with me today. I have so much I want to talk with you about. Ever since I discovered I inherited the land next to Rocky Road Ranch, my mind has been spinning with possibilities. I’d very much appreciate your honest opinion and experienced knowledge.”
He set his cup down and opened his mouth to reply when the waitress came over. “Well, Brody Dunn. I haven’t seen you in here since New Year’s Day.” The young blonde woman paused. “Funny, you don’t look hungover.”
Hannah pursed her lips to keep from laughing, because from the looks of the red flush creeping up Brody’s neck, he was not amused.
“I’m not. I’m here meeting a friend.” He gestured toward her. “Hannah, this is Stacy Mitchell.”
The woman’s too-large-for-her red Lucky Lasso Hotel t-shirt fell to her thighs, barely showing her short black skirt beneath. “Hello, Stacy. Nice to meet you.”
Stacy’s blue gaze studied her. “You must be from Phoenix. Wait until you taste our French toast. Texas Toast has nothing on ours.”
“Then I must try it. Could I have a side of bacon with that?”
Brody chuckled. “All the breakfasts come with bacon. Ava’s cousins raise pigs.”
“Ahh, so then it must be the best bacon north of Phoenix.”
Stacy nodded vigorously. “Got that right. You know, if you’re looking for another ‘friend,’ I have a brother?—”
“Stacy, she’s not here to date anyone.”
The waitress raised her hand as if held up at gun point. “I was just sayin’. What do you want, Brody, besides a new haircut?”
“I’ll have the chorizo scramble.”
With that, Stacy turned and headed for the kitchen.
Brody shook his head. “Sorry about that. You were saying?”
She looked at him, still trying to wrap her head around how small the town really was, if the waitress wanted to set up her brother with a guest at the hotel. “Honestly, I’ve completely lost track. Oh wait, no, I do remember. I’ve been thinking a lot about the land. I have so many ideas, they keep me up at night. So I’ve made a couple of decisions and wanted to get your input.”
His whole body seemed to freeze as if he were afraid of what she might say. “Of course. I promise to give you my honest opinion.”
Not sure why he seemed wary, she continued. “The first decision I have made is to not make a decision on the land right away. My grandparents left me a letter and asked me to visit it. Which I have done. I can see why they fell in love with it and spent their honeymoon there.”
“Right, they spent their honeymoon on the land.”
“They did.” She took a sip of her coffee, a bit hesitant to tell him her second decision, but truly wanting his honest opinion. “My grandparents also asked me to stay on the land for a while before making any decision about selling it or keeping it. And I’ve decided to do just that.”
His eyes rounded before he lowered his brows. “You want to stay on the land? Where?”
“In the casita.” She grinned. “I know it’s small, but it’s just me now. I don’t need two bedrooms anymore. Plus, I can carry out my grandparents’ wishes. It’s perfect.”
“But the roof is rusted, the appliances are worthless, and…and there isn’t even electricity out there.”
His voice had risen with each point and she could see he wasn’t happy. “I’ve already contacted someone about the roof, which is one of the questions I had for you. Do you think I need to replace the tin roof or can the rust be treated?”
He stared at her, his mouth open.
She glanced around at the other tables to see if anyone was watching them, and a few people quickly glanced away. “Why are you so shocked?”
His brows rose as his mouth snapped shut, before it opened once again. “Where do I start? The casita is uninhabitable. It’s in the middle of nowhere. You’re a woman alone. There are a number of dangerous critters out there. And again. There is no electricity. Not to mention the commute to your job and to your volunteer work would be over an hour. I understand that your grandparents wanted you to stay on the land for a bit, but I doubt they realized the conditions there now. There isn’t even a road.”
She knew he would have some misgivings, but didn’t expect such a strong argument. After all, she had asked his opinion as a courtesy. But before she could respond, Stacy came back with their food.
Since she wasn’t happy, and didn’t wish to appear ungrateful, she cut a slice of her French toast and took a bite, letting her temper cool. That was easy to do because the French toast was so unique, she found herself attempting to decipher the flavors. It definitely had an almond hint to it, but there was another flavor she knew but couldn’t put her finger on.
“Do you like it?”
At his question, she cocked her head. “I do. It’s different.”
“Yeah. It’s got coconut in it. Not my favorite.”
“Coconut, of course. Very unusual. I would have never thought of that in French toast.”
“The cook vacationed in the Caribbean last winter, and added some island flavors to a few of the dishes. For me, I prefer the same old eggs and meat.” He held up a forkful of chorizo and stuffed it in his mouth.
“That makes sense. You do seem to be a traditionalist.” She took another bite, liking it even more now that she understood what she was tasting.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“No, it works well for many people. It also explains why you can’t see my vision. That’s okay. It’s not like you’ll have to live in the casita. I was just curious about your opinion on a few choices I have to make, since if I sell it, it would be yours. Or rather, your family’s. But if you’re not interested. That’s fine.” She shrugged, more than a little irritated, and stuffed another piece of French toast in her mouth to avoid saying something downright rude.
He had a forkful of eggs and chorizo halfway to his mouth, and stopped at her response. He put the fork down on his plate. “I apologize. I just didn’t realize you would contemplate living in the desert, roughing it. How long do you plan to stay? That should impact your decision on how much to put into it.”
Though his words were soothing, he didn’t look pleased at all. “Maybe this was a bad idea to ask your opinion. I’m sure you have to milk the cows or spread the hay or do whatever it is you do. You don’t need me bothering you.” She took a sip of coffee before taking another bite.
This time his fork did make it to his mouth, and as he chewed, he studied her, so she took another bite as soon as she swallowed. Was she being rude? Not really. Was she being nice? Not really. It’s why her grandparents called her a peach. They said she was fuzzy and soft on the outside, but had a hard pit if pushed.
Then Brody smiled, and she found herself distracted by how warm and friendly he seemed when he relaxed. “Actually, our herd are meat cows, so no milking involved. And since we hired two new ranch hands this summer, they can handle mucking out the stalls while I enjoy my breakfast with you.”
So now he was being nice, or was he laughing because she knew nothing about ranching. “Thank you for telling me. I’ve never visited a ranch before, though I’ve seen them on television.”
“Well then, we need to change that. You need to come out to the Rocky Road so you can see a working ranch in person.”
Her belly flipflopped at the thought of visiting a real ranch. “I’d like that. I love learning new things.”
“Good, you can come out tomorrow.”
“Actually, I can’t. I’m meeting a mason at the end of Mesquite Road to bring him to the casita to patch up any holes in the walls. Those mice got in somewhere. Then later, I have a plumber coming to install a new toilet. Today, I plan to go out there and clean out the entire building, except that bed.”
“You really plan to stay there, don’t you.”
“I do.” She took her last bite of French toast and wiped her lips with her napkin. “I want to stay at least six months.”
He coughed, quickly covering his mouth before clearing his throat. “Six months? In that little place?”
“Brody, it’s just me. I don’t even have any pets. Which is a little sad, now that I think of it. Maybe I’ll get a pet. Anyway, I don’t need a lot of room. It will be perfect.” She smiled, truly excited by the prospect of living is such a quiet, beautiful landscape.
He set down his utensils, his food growing cold on his plate. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?”
She gave a nod, not sure if she could truly explain what it felt like to actually own a home and a family legacy. “I am. I owe it to my grandparents. They raised me. I was only four months old when I lost my parents. My grandparents sacrificed so much for me. Then to learn they had this place all along, but never lived here so I could have all that the city offered—well, I feel I owe it to them to seriously consider their gift.”
Even as she spoke, she could see he had made up his mind to argue the point further, so she switched her tactic. “Have you always lived on the Rocky Road Ranch?”
“Of course. My great-great-grandfather bought the land. My whole family has grown up there, which is why I know how hard life can be out here.”
She held up her hand to forestall what she was sure to be a long explanation of why she wasn’t up for it. “I’m most certain you do. I admire how much knowledge you have of this area, which is why I had hoped for your opinion on a few things, but you should also understand that living on my property is something I will do no matter what you say. What you can’t understand is what it is like to have never owned a home, or even your parents or grandparents having not owned a home. This is my very first home, and I’m going to live in it.”
He stared at her a long moment before he actually nodded. “I can’t say I truly understand what it’s like to never own a home.”
She raised her brows and cocked her head. “You can’t? Do you own a home?”
“I…I guess I don’t, actually.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “It’s not a tin roof.”
His switch in topic caught her off guard. “Excuse me?”
“You asked me about your tin roof. It’s not tin. It’s a metal roof, and the color actually provides added protection. It will last a long time and is low maintenance. No need for a new roof. What else did you want my opinion on?”
Beyond thrilled that he was willing to help, she pushed her plate aside and took out her phone from her purse to jot down some notes. “I’m going to need a driveway if I’m to get anything delivered out there, like a mattress to sleep on. Do I have someone lay down pavement, or have stone trucked in?”
He was back to looking at her as if she had three heads and fangs. “No and no. You’re talking about six months. Your best bet is to simply decide the most direct route to the casita from Mesquite Road and drive it every day. If you want to put in the work, you can dig up some shrubs and cacti, but I’d just drive around them.”
Surprised it could be so easy and so inexpensive, she grew excited. “How would I remember the route? Do I stake it out or just remember to bear left at the saguaro?”
He shrugged. “Either way works. But you’ll want a truck or something. That desert dust will eat away at your little car in no time.”
She waved off his comment. Why was it that men thought women knew nothing about cars. “I already took care of that. I traded in my car for a used Jeep. Now, what do you think is best for power out there—solar, wind, propane, or electric?”
“Hmm, I need to think about that.” He picked up his fork and plopped another bite of food in his mouth.
As he continued to eat and ponder, she warmed up her coffee and took a sip. Part of why she’d wanted his opinion was because she’d already done her research and made some educated guesses, but upon talking to people in the various trades in Phoenix, she’d found herself at odds with them. But Brody appeared to think along the same lines that she did. Maybe it was because he’d seen exactly where and what her casita was.
Finally, he finished his meal and set his fork down. “I’m no expert, but if it were my place, I’d put up a few solar panels nearby and have a propane generator for back-up. We get so much sun in this valley that you would have plenty to power that little place. But you never know with monsoons and animals, so there could be times you need a back-up. I wouldn’t go with wind, as we don’t get enough, and getting the power company to put poles out that far might just be a study in frustration, not to mention expensive.”
Her heart leapt at his answer. She’d noticed that the stove had been propane, so there had to be an underground tank somewhere. Deciding between solar or propane had been her sticking point, so to have him suggest combining them told her she was on the right track. “Thank you. That’s what I needed to know.”
“What about water?”
“Water? Isn’t there water to the casita? It had a sink, shower, and toilet.”
He shook his head even as he waved at Stacy. “It had water when those were put in. You will want to have the well checked, as well as the pipes. A lot can happen in sixty years.”
“Of course. I hadn’t thought about that. Can you recommend anyone?”
“I haven’t had a need to put in a well, but I have a friend who did, so I’ll contact him and let you know.”
Before she could respond, Stacy came over and took their plates. “What did you think of the French toast?”
“I enjoyed it. It’s very different, but I’d order it again.”
The woman gave her an odd look. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to meet my brother? He also likes the French toast.”
Hannah chuckled as she shook her head. “Not right now, but maybe once I get settled in, I’ll contact you.”
“Settled in?” Stacy’s eyes lit with curiosity. “Are you moving here?”
A warm excitement filled her with confidence and excitement as she answered. “I am.”
Stacy looked to Brody. “Tell me you’re not moving in with him.”
“What? No. Into my own place. We’re just friends.”
Stacy didn’t take her eyes off Brody as she shook her head. “Well, that’s good. The Dunns are known for having heads as hard as a rock.” With that, Stacy dropped the bill on the table and strode off with the dirty dishes.
Hannah expected Brody to take umbrage to Stacy’s words, but he didn’t. In fact, he seemed quite pleased.
“At least we’re not pushovers like her brothers. Trust me Hannah, to live out here, you need backbone.”
Oh, she had backbone aplenty, but he didn’t know that…yet. She picked up the bill and pulled out a pen, quickly adding a tip and her room number. “I appreciate all your advice. I know you have a lot to do on the Rocky Road, and I need to get over to the casita.” She wrinkled her nose. “As much as I like the casita, I need to come up with a name for it.”
He smirked. “You probably don’t want to call it what we’ve called it all these years.”
“I can just imagine. What did you call it?”
“The dump.”
She barely kept from rolling her eyes. Not because of the name, but from the glee with which he said it. “No, I won’t call it the dump. I was thinking something along the lines of “heaven” or “oasis.”
This time it was his nose that wrinkled. “Maybe you should wait until you’re in it to decide.”
She rose from the table, knowing full well she wouldn’t. “Thank you again.”
He stood and held his arm out for her to precede him. “Thank you for breakfast. If you need any more opinions, please call me.”
As they walked into the lobby, he stopped. “Wait, you wanted to see Rocky Road Ranch. If you are busy today and tomorrow, how about Sunday, before you head back to the city?”
“That sounds lovely. What time should I be there?”
“Come by around seven in the morning. We’re done with breakfast by then and it will be cooler.”
“I’m not a great morning person, but if you provide the coffee, I can be there.”
“Will do. See you then.” Brody tipped his hat before striding for the door.
She watched him as he exited the hotel and walked by the large window, giving a wave as he passed. “Well, that was interesting.”
“Ms. Kingsley, anything having to do with Brody Dunn is going to be interesting.”
Hannah spun around to see Ava leaning on the counter, obviously eavesdropping. “Why is that?”
Ava waved her hand toward the street. “That Dunn changes by the hour. One day he’s trick riding, the next he’s getting his pilot’s license. I pity the woman he sets his sights on. I get dizzy just hearing about his next adventure.”
Hmm, that could be a good thing. Maybe once she was settled, he’d leave off challenging her decisions. Then again, she was the one who asked for his opinion. She wouldn’t do that again. “Luckily for me, he’s only interested in my land.”
Ignoring Ava’s raised brows, she quickly exited the building herself, anxious to get to the hardware store for a few tools to tackle the dirt in the casita. Brody Dunn may not be able to see the potential of the casita, but she did. And if she had her way, she’d be moved in by the time her apartment lease expired at the end of the month.
Her quick stop in at the hardware store ended up taking a good thirty minutes after the store owner, Mr. Hardy, found out she was cleaning up the Harper House, as he called it. Her grandparents had often stopped in to chat with him and to have some of the popcorn he kept popping all day long. It was worth every minute to her because she was able to talk about her grandparents.
By time she hit Mesquite Road, it was mid-morning, and she still had a lot to do. As she headed for the casita, she could see a black pick-up truck was already there. The well-inspection wasn’t until two in the afternoon, and the mason wasn’t coming until tomorrow, along with the plumber. Could Brody have come to help her clean?
Even as she parked her Jeep, she dismissed that idea. He had work on the ranch to do. Besides, the truck was too clean to be Brody’s. She had ordered satellite internet, but they were supposed to text her a timeframe of when they would arrive, and she’d received nothing yet.
Opening the door, she called out. “Hello? Is someone here?”
“Sure am.” The male voice that came from her bedroom was not one she recognized. For the first time she understood Brody’s concerns about her living alone.
She didn’t venture in any farther, seriously contemplating running for her Jeep.
“Miss Kingsley? Is that you?”
Okay, it was someone who knew she owned the place. That had to be a good sign. “Yes, it’s me.”
Footsteps sounded in her bedroom before a large shadow crossed the threshold into the main area followed by an equally large man who wiped his hands on a lavender hand towel that was definitely not hers. “I hope you don’t mind, but my morning appointment cancelled, and since it’s so dang hot in the middle of the day, I didn’t think you’d mind if I installed your toilet a day early.”
Relief washed through her at the realization it was the plumber she’d contacted over the phone, and she let out an uncomfortable laugh. “Of course not, Mr. Lawerence. Who wouldn’t want a toilet a day early?” She continued into her home with the bag from the hardware store, setting it on the dust-covered kitchen counter. “I hope it’s not too unpleasant in there. I haven’t had a chance to clean up yet.”
Mr. Lawerence, who had a full head of long salt-and-pepper hair tied back in a ponytail, shook his head. “Not too bad, considering.”
She wasn’t sure what that meant, but at least he seemed able to work in the bathroom. “I need to get my cleaning supplies out of my car, but I can get things cleaned up for you before you continue.”
He waved his large hand. “No need. I’m just going to make a mess anyway. I’ve already finished getting the bolts out of the floor. Whoever stole your toilet must have broken it into a hundred pieces to get it out.” He shook his head. “People.”
She held back a smile until he’d turned around and returned to the bathroom. People? Wasn’t he “people” too? Grinning now, she returned to the Jeep and pulled out her box of cleaning supplies. She needed to add getting a lock for the door to her to-do list. She didn’t want another worker just walking in on her unexpected.
After depositing the supplies on top of the small counter next to her hardware bag, she went back for the five-gallon jug of water she’d bought, not knowing if the rest of the plumbing worked. She set it down on the floor next to the sink. Maybe she could get Mr. Lawerence to lift it up on the counter for her, once she made room for it.
While Brody had said the casita had been abandoned for sixty years, that couldn’t be. If Mr. Hardy had seen her grandparents, then it would have only been abandoned less than thirty, since they took her in when she was an infant. Still, did pipes stop working after that long?
Maybe she should find out. It was her home, after all. Reaching for the cold knob on the sink, she turned it. Nothing happened. Disappointed but not giving up, she turned the hot water knob. Still nothing. Well, at least she had her jug of water which would help her get started.
Looking around the place, she decided to start by hauling the broken wood outside. She didn’t imagine there was trash pick-up so far out. Did she bring it to a dump or could she burn it? There was so much to learn.
Once the coffee table had joined the pieces of wood from the kitchen, she added the couch cushions, finding many more mouse turds. Obviously, they’d been living inside, not outside. “Okay, I’m giving you fair warning. You need to leave the premises or I’ll have to take stronger measures.” She grinned as she imagined the mice listening to her and thinking her loco.
After dumping all the cushions on the pile, she walked to her Jeep and took out the broom she’d bought at Mr. Hardy’s. She also had a vacuum in her vehicle that she’d brought from home, but when she saw the brooms, she remembered there was no electricity.
She had just stepped into the casita, when a thought occurred. Continuing into the bedroom, she stopped in the bathroom doorway. “Excuse me.”
“Sorry, this bathroom is occupied.” Mr. Lawerence, who knelt on the ground, turned his head and grinned at her.
She grinned right back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were paying homage to the porcelain god.”
He sat back on his heels and laughed. “Not today, anyway.”
She decided to ask her question while she had his attention. “I noticed there’s no electricity out here, yet there is a well, a split unit in this bedroom, and even lights and outlets.”
“Propane.”
She frowned. “How can propane make an outlet work?”
He shook his head. “No, the propane runs a generator that powers the electrical panel. From the size of this place, I imagine it wasn’t a very big generator. The well pump would be the biggest draw. That and the split unit air conditioner in the heat of the summer.”
“Oh. Thank you. How’s it going in here?”
He rose from the floor, practically filling the only floor space in the tiny bathroom. “I’ve got the floor cleared and checked the plumbing. It looks good. I just need to get the toilet from my truck. I should have it installed in no time.”
Excited that her little house was already being fixed up, she stepped back to allow him the space to get by. Once he left, she eyed the old mattress. She’d wait to take that out. She might get in the way of her new toilet.
She shook her head as she returned to the kitchen. She’d always taken bathrooms for granted. Who knew getting a new toilet could be so exciting? Chuckling at herself, she opened one of the kitchen drawers to see if there was anything left in it.
Surprised, she stared at the drawer full of receipts. Pushing the box of cleaning supplies to the end of the counter, which gave her a foot of space, she pulled a handful of receipts out of the drawer and started looking through them. There were receipts from a bakery and an ice cream shop, as well as from a western wear store, a place called the Stampede, and the hardware store. She perused the handwritten hardware store receipt for a date and stilled. It was only three years ago.
“What?”
“It’s just me bringing in the commode.” Mr. Lawerence walked past her and disappeared into the bedroom.
She turned her attention back to the receipt. It was dated March. In March that year she’d gone to California for a four-day training for work. She’d invited her grandparents, but they declined.
She widened her eyes. “They were here!”
“I can’t hear you. You’ll have to come in here if you have a question.” Mr. Lawerence’s response to her shout had her taking a deep breath.
“Just talking to myself!”
When he didn’t say anything more, she returned to the receipts. She found about a dozen more for that date, but before then she found plenty of others. Every date was when she was away from home for one reason or another. The implication was clear. Her grandparents had continued to use the casita as a love nest, keeping it as their secret hideaway.
Part of her felt a little betrayed, but the other part, the part that loved them more than she loved herself, melted with happiness. Now the surprise inheritance made sense, as did her grandfather’s ability to keep the secret. A single tear rolled down her cheek at how beautiful their love had been.
At the sound of footsteps, she turned.
“All done.” Mr. Lawerence continued to wipe his hands on his lavender towel as he studied her. His smile faded. “Hey, you don’t have to get all teary on me. It’s just a toilet.”
She sniffed. “Oh, but I’m so grateful to have one.”
He studied her for a moment. “Yeah, I get it. It’s home sweet home.”
Her throat closed at his understanding and she simply nodded.
“Tell you what, since I’m here. Why don’t I check out all the plumbing? You know, just to be sure it works.”
She swallowed hard. “Thank you. I’d like that. And I’d best get back cleaning. I’ll start over there in the living room so I’m out of your way.”
As she moved toward the couch with her broom, a feeling of comfort filled her. She was going to enjoy making the little house into a home.