Chapter Two
Jack idly toyed with the napkin holder, his fingers tracing the intricate design etched into the metal. The soft clinking of silverware and chatter filled the air, creating a comforting bustle around them. Women had never intimidated him; after all, he was forty-three years old. Any lingering shyness from his youth had long since evaporated.
“So, how did your grand opening go?” he inquired, leaning against the counter and feeling completely at ease.
A wide smile spread across her face, making her eyes light up. “It went fantastic. I’m going to need to hire some help.”
“Smart move, especially during this time of year,” Jack nodded knowingly.
“Because of the tourists?”
“You already know about that?” Jack raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Yes, my real estate agent mentioned it,” Randi replied.
“You’ll be swamped from May to mid-October,” Jack explained.
“What happens after that?” Randi asked curiously.
Jack chuckled. “Nothing much.”
“Well, maybe a break will be nice after a busy tourist season,” Randi mused.
“Where are you originally from?” Jack asked, genuinely interested.
“Mobile, Alabama,” Randi replied.
Jack couldn’t help but be intrigued. “What brought you all the way to Clifton, Montana?”
She laughed, and Jack found himself grinning along with her.
“I needed a change of scenery,” she explained. “I went through a tough break-up and wanted to get as far away as possible. So, I closed my eyes, pointed at a map, and ended up on Clifton.”
“Lucky for me,” Jack said softly, feeling grateful that fate had brought her to the small town.
Randi turned toward him; her gaze curious. “Jack, are you currently seeing anyone?”
“No,” he shook his head. “That’s been over for almost two years now. What about you? How long has it been since your last relationship?”
“Three years,” she replied, her expression turning wistful. “I wanted to leave then, but I needed to sell my shop first and that took some time. Once it sold, I made the decision to move here.”
“Do your parents still live in Alabama?” Jack asked, wanting to know more about her.
“My grandparents do. They raised me after my mother gave birth to me at sixteen and ran away. They’re wonderful people.” A fond smile graced her lips as she spoke of them. “My grandmother was the one who taught me how to make soap and candles.”
“Well, it looks like your shop will do well,” Jack commented, impressed by her skills and determination.
“I hope so,” Randi replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. “What does everyone do when tourist season is over?”
“As I said, nothing much,” Jack said with a shrug. “When it snows, no one goes anywhere.”
Randi grinned at the thought. “I can’t wait. We don’t get a lot of snow in Mobile.”
The bell above the door jingled, signaling the arrival of new customers. Jack couldn’t help but grin when he saw his sister and brother-in-law enter the restaurant. He got to his feet and smiled at them.
“Jack! How’s the job going?” Brenna exclaimed as she enveloped him in a warm hug.
Beau shook his hand with a friendly smile. “Great to see you again, Jack.”
“You too, Beau. The job is great,” Jack replied with a smile as he introduced them to Randi. “Brenna, Beau, this is Randi Guthrie. Randi, this is my sister, Brenna and her husband, Beau McCallister.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Randi said, shaking their hands with a warm smile.
“Randi just opened a candle, bath salts, and soap shop across the street,” Jack added.
“Really? I love homemade soap. I’ll have to stop in,” Brenna exclaimed excitedly while Beau groaned playfully.
“Please do. It’s called Randi’s Scented Haven. Please come in,” Randi said with genuine warmth in her voice.
“Oh, I will. We’re going to grab a booth; would you like to join us?” Brenna invited them.
“I don’t have much time,” Jack replied with a frown as he noticed Brenna raise an eyebrow and Beau smirked.
“Yeah, okay big brother. We’ll see you soon,” Brenna teased before walking off with Beau toward a booth.
“I can’t believe she’s your sister,” Randi remarked, her gaze flickering between Jack and Brenna. “I mean, you have the same eyes, but she’s blonde and your hair is dark.”
“Our mother is blonde, and our father has dark hair. Both have blue eyes,” Jack explained with a shrug, used to this reaction from people who didn’t know them well.
“So, how long have you been a deputy?” Randi asked curiously, wanting to keep the conversation going.
Jack grinned. “A week.”
Randi laughed in surprise. “Really?”
“Yeah, I worked for the US Marshals for years,” Jack continued. “I decided to come home. I was born and raised in Clifton.”
“How long were you a Marshal?”
“Twenty-two years,” Jack replied.
“That’s a long time.”
“Yes, it is,” Jack agreed with a nod. “But I got burned out. I’m still in law enforcement, but it’s a lot slower pace here.”
“I bet. And how old are you?”
“I’m forty-three.”
“Wow, downhill from here.” She laughed.
“Yes, some days it definitely feels that way.”
“I’m thirty-eight, so I know what you mean.”
“Well, at least you still have a little way to go. It seems like once you hit forty, your body starts to feel it.” Jack chuckled. “I used to swear I’d never wear glasses, but now I have to if I want to read anything.”
“I haven’t had to use them yet, but my grandparents both wear them so I know I will eventually.”
Jack observed as Connie placed Randi’s lunch on the counter and then turned to him.
“Hey Jack, do you want your usual?”
“Yes please, thank you Connie.”
“Of course, dear. I’ll be right back.” She touched Randi’s hand affectionately. “Enjoy your meal.”
“Thank you, it smells amazing.” Randi smiled with anticipation.
“Is this your first burger from the diner?” Jack inquired.
“Yes,” Randi confirmed as she picked up the burger, took a bite, and let out a satisfied groan that made Jack chuckle.
“I have a feeling it won’t be your last.”
Randi reached for a napkin to wipe her mouth before looking at Jack again.
“This is the best burger I’ve ever had. It’s incredible. But there’s no way I could come here every day. I’d have to buy a new wardrobe.”
“That’s one of the many things I missed while I was away.”
“I can see why,” Randi agreed before taking another bite and letting out another appreciative moan.
Chuckling, Jack pulled out his phone when he felt it vibrate in his pocket. He excused himself and stepped outside to answer the call. “Sam?”
“Jack, where are you?”
“At the diner, getting lunch. Is everything okay?”
“Never mind, there was just a robbery at the convenience store. I’ll handle it. You go ahead and eat your lunch.”
“I could take it to go if you need me, Sam.”
“No, I don’t want any hungry deputies on my hands. It’s all under control.” Sam hung up abruptly.
Jack chuckled to himself as he put his phone away and returned inside, heading back to his stool. However, he stopped short when he saw another man sitting in his spot. Taking a deep breath, he approached the man, as Connie set his lunch on the counter.
“Excuse me, but you’re sitting in my seat.”
The man looked at him and shook his head.
“You snooze, you lose, Deputy.”
Jack glanced at Randi before turning back to the man.
“Is that right?”
“Yep, that’s right.”
Jack couldn’t help but laugh. “Get up, Harrison.”
Cole Harrison laughed as he stood up and extended his hand toward Jack. Smiling, Jack shook it.
“I heard you were back in town. How’s it going, Jack?”
“Great.” Jack’s gaze shifted to Randi who was smiling at him. “Randi, this is Cole Harrison. Cole, meet Randi Guthrie. Cole and I used to be friends.”
“Used to be? Hell, I only sat down,” Cole said with a chuckle.
“Well, you took my seat,” Jack retorted good-naturedly.
Cole turned to Randi and touched his hat. “Pleasure to meet you ma’am. I saw Jack standing up and just had to take the opportunity.”
“I didn’t even notice you in here,” Jack admitted in surprise.
“That’s because your attention was on other things, and I can see why,” Cole joked.
Jack stole a glance at Randi who was blushing before turning back to Cole. “It’s good to see you again. How’s your brother?”
“He’s great.”
“Cole? I heard about Christine. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, Jack. I appreciate that. I should get back to the office. Ma’am? It was nice meeting you.” With a pat on Jack’s shoulder, Cole walked over to the register to pay for his meal and then left.
Jack sat back down just as Connie brought his order over and set it on the counter.
“He seems like a nice guy. Very handsome,” Randi commented.
“I won’t tell him you said that. We’ve been friends since we were kids.”
“Who’s Christine?” Randi asked.
“His ex-fiancée. She left him to work at a hospital in New York. She’s a pediatrician. It was hard on him.” Jack shrugged.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I think everyone goes through heartbreak at some point in their life.”
“You’re right about that,” Jack mumbled, picking up his burger.
“How did Connie know what you wanted? Do you come here often?” Randi chuckled.
“Nope. That woman knows everyone’s usual order. You could be gone for years and come back, and she’d still remember.”
“Come on, I don’t believe that.”
Jack placed his burger back on the plate and looked her in the eyes.
“I haven’t been here since I moved back at the beginning of June.”
“Seriously? How does she do it?”
Jack shook his head. “I have no idea. Her husband, Owen, is the cook and he remembers them too. Connie just writes your name, puts ‘usual’ on the ticket.” He shrugged. “And then Owen makes it.”
“So, Cole had to leave for work. What’s his job?”
“He works for MDOL. Montana Department of Livestock. He’s a livestock agent and deals with theft.”
“Like rustling?” Randi asked with surprise.
“Yes, that’s one aspect of it. He’s been doing it for years and he’s very good at it.”
“I can’t imagine dealing with people who steal livestock. It must be tough.”
“It definitely has its challenges.”
“I didn’t even know there was an office for that here.”
“It’s not a big office, but the agents work hard. It’s on the third floor of the courthouse. They cover a large area in Montana. There are also other offices that handle different areas like managing livestock, preventing disease, and protecting the industry as a whole. This particular department enforces laws related to livestock, such as theft and poaching.”
“That sounds like a lot of responsibility.”
“It is. There’s always something to do.”
“What exactly do they do?”
“Well, they have full law enforcement authority, so they can make arrests, conduct searches, and issue citations. They also work to prevent theft and protect livestock from predators. They oversee the buying and selling of livestock and ensure fair transactions, monitor the health of the animals, identify signs of illness and recommend veterinary care. They also give advice on livestock selection, breeding, nutrition, and healthcare. And if any crimes related to the livestock industry occur, they investigate them thoroughly. Oh, and they have to keep detailed records of all livestock transactions, health information, and client data.”
“How do you know all that?”
Jack smiled. “I almost became a livestock agent myself. I was really interested in it for a while, but then a friend convinced me to become a US Marshal instead. Now he’s the sheriff here in Clifton.”
“I’ve never met him.”
“His name is Sam Garrett and he’s an excellent sheriff. He doesn’t let anyone get away with anything in his county.”
“So, he’s your boss?” Randi asked with a smile.
“Yes, he is, and a good friend, but you can bet that if I screw something up, he’ll be all over me.”
“Friendship stops at the door,” Randi said.
“That’s true.” He picked up his burger and took a bite.
After finishing her lunch, Randi turned to Jack.
“I should head back to work. It was jam-packed before lunch.”
“What are your hours?”
“Monday through Friday, nine to six, and I close at one on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.”
“You should consider hiring someone to help. That’s a lot of hours for just one person.”
“Yes, I want to stay open on Saturdays. I’m sure a lot of business happens then.”
“Well, most of the people coming in are probably tourists, so they’ll be in every day, but once that’s over, you can close earlier through the week.”
Randi nodded. “That’s true. What about your hours?”
“I work twelve hour shifts five days a week, seven to seven, and I’m on every other weekend from seven to three-thirty. It’s nice to have some time off; I’ll be able to go horseback riding.”
“You have horses?”
“Yeah, I have four. Do you ride?”
“I do. It’s one of my favorite things to do. What breeds are they?”
“Two American Quarter Horses, one American Paint, and an Appaloosa. I ride the Paint the most.”
“I can’t tell the difference between breeds just by looking, except for Appaloosas. All I know is that I love them.”
“Me too.”
Randi smiled and got off her stool.
“Come see me again, Jack.”
“I definitely will. Hey, how about dinner one night?”
Her smile made his heart skip a beat.
“I’d love that. Let me give you, my number.”
“Just call me.” Jack recited his number and watched as she entered it into her phone. Then she called him.
“Now you have mine,” she said. “I should get going before the shop is closed for too long.”
“I’ll text you with details on when and where. I’m not scheduled to work this weekend, maybe we can go out then.”
“That sounds perfect.”
“Great, text me your address whenever you get the chance.”
Randi grinned. “I actually live above the shop. There are stairs around the back.”
Jack chuckled. “Alright. I’ll let you know what time once I make a reservation.”
“Sounds good to me,” she said as she grabbed her wallet from her purse. “See you soon, Jack.”
“Sounds good, see you soon.” Jack watched as she paid for her lunch, gave him a glance, and walked out the door.
Jack had a feeling he was going to really like Miranda Guthrie, he thought as he picked up his burger again.
****
Randi carefully crossed Main Street during a break in traffic. Her heart warmed as she glanced at the people gathered outside her shop, looking at the window displays.
“Hello everyone, sorry for the delay. I was on my lunch break,” Randi greeted them with a smile.
“It’s no problem, we all have to eat,” one woman replied kindly.
Randi nodded and unlocked the door, inviting them inside with a welcoming gesture.
“Please, come in and take a look around,” she said as she watched the women enter her shop.
After quickly stashing her purse in the filing cabinet in her office, Randi joined her customers at the front of the store. She observed as they browsed through her products. Each soap and bath salt had a label for easy identification by scent, while candles could be tested by giving them a quick sniff.
“I’m already in love with this place, but I can tell I’ll be spending too much money here,” one woman joked.
“The smell is incredible,” another chimed in.
“I can make any fragrance you want,” Randi offered with a smile.
The two women grinned before continuing their exploration of the shop. Business remained steady from the moment she returned from lunch until closing time when she locked up for the night. However, even during the busy day, Randi couldn’t help but think about Jack.
Not only was he incredibly attractive, but his manners and sense of humor also captured her heart. She had always appreciated a man who could make her laugh.
Upon arriving at her apartment, Randi made sure to lock the door behind her before hanging up her purse and kicking off her shoes. She made her way to the bathroom, shedding layers of clothing along the way; reminding her of Blake Shelton’s song, Who Are You When I’m Not Looking because she left a trail of clothes in her wake.
Once in the bathroom, Randi turned on the water for her bath and added some scented salts. The room was soon filled with a pleasant aroma, along with steam rising from the tub. As she submerged herself in the warm water, Randi leaned her head back and closed her eyes, fully relaxed after a long day at work.
As she prepared dinner for herself, she dialed her grandmother’s number and put her on speaker, setting the phone on the counter.
“Hello, Randi! How is everything going?” her grandmother, Arlene Guthrie asked.
“I’m doing great, Nana. And how are you and Pap doing?”
“We’re doing just fine. How’s your shop coming along?”
“I couldn’t believe how busy my first day was. It was amazing.”
“I can tell by the excitement in your voice. Your grandfather and I are so proud of you.”
“I sold a lot of soap and candles today, but the bath salts were the top seller. I’ll have to restock. You and Pap should come visit soon; this town is wonderful.”
“It sounds like you’ve fallen in love with it already.”
“I have. It feels like something out of a postcard. I bet it looks even more stunning during Christmas.”
“Well, make sure to send us some pictures.”
“I’ll take some of the town tomorrow and send them to you tomorrow night.”
“Can’t wait to see them. We miss you.”
Tears welled up in Randi’s eyes. “I miss you both too.”
“Perhaps we could come visit next spring. What’s the weather like there?”
“It was warm today, but apparently it could start snowing as early as mid-September. I can’t wait for that. Oh, and remember how much Pap loves hamburgers? There’s a diner here that serves the most delicious ones I’ve ever had. He would absolutely love them.”
Her grandmother chuckled. “Well, now that’s a reason to come visit, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
“So, have you met anyone yet?”
“Oh yes, I’ve met quite a few people since moving here.”
“That’s not what I meant Miranda Jean Guthrie, and you know it.”
Randi laughed. “Actually, there is someone who has caught my eye. He’s a sheriff’s deputy.”
“Oh, a man in uniform.” Her grandmother let out a dreamy sigh, causing Randi to chuckle.
“Not much of one. He wears a khaki shirt, jeans, cowboy boots, and a hat.”
“Honey, it doesn’t get much better than a hot deputy in jeans, cowboy boots, and a hat.”
“You’re right. He’s tall, dark, and incredibly handsome. And his light blue eyes are simply mesmerizing.” She let out another sigh before her grandmother’s laughter brought her back to reality.
“Well, I hope you have some fun with him, if you catch my drift.”
“Nana! You’re terrible,” Randi exclaimed with a grin.
“I’m just saying, you need some steamy action. How long has it been?”
“I don’t think I want to continue this conversation.”
“I’m teasing you, but I do think you need to find a good man. What’s his name?”
“Jack Lawrence.”
“I’ve always liked the name Jack.”
“I’m going to see how it goes. He invited me to dinner and I’m excited to go.”
“Well, keep me updated. You deserve to be happy, Randi, especially after what that jerk put you through. Speaking of him, I heard he’s engaged again.”
Randi laughed. “How many times is this now?”
“Counting you, I’d say it’s his fourth time. But we both know it won’t last. He can’t seem to stay with one woman for too long.”
“Yeah, I know. Good luck to the next ex-fiancée.” Randi chuckled.
“Well, I should get going. It’s getting late and we’re ready for bed.”
Randi looked at the clock and realized it was almost ten in Alabama.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize the time difference. It’s only nine here and I’m getting something to eat.”
“You shouldn’t eat so late, Miranda Jean. It’s not good for you to go to bed right after.”
“I know, Nana, but when I got home, I just wanted to relax. I ended up taking a long bath. I didn’t leave the shop until after eight because I had to make some notes on ingredients for my orders. There’s been a high demand for certain scents in my bath salts that I don’t have in stock.”
“You really should eat by six at the latest. Take care of yourself, honey.”
“I will, Nana. I’ll do better, but starting this business is starting all over again. I know what needs to be done, but finding the time to do it is tough. I need to hire some help.”
“Do that as soon as possible, dear. You can’t do everything on your own. Get some rest now. We love you.”
“I love both of you too. Goodnight, Nana. Sweet dreams.”
“Goodnight, dear.” Her grandmother hung up.
Randi turned off her phone and plugged it in to charge before heading to bed. She watched some TV until she felt sleepy enough to fall asleep.
As her eyes began to droop and close, she dreamed of a tall, dark, handsome cowboy with piercing blue eyes.