Chapter Four
Aftyn approached the counter where a woman with warm brown eyes and a ponytail stood arranging vintage brooches on a velvet display pad. The shop smelled of lemon polish and old books.
“Good morning, welcome to Timeless Treasures.” The woman’s voice was warm against the soft classical music drifting through the shop. “Is there something I help you find?”
Aftyn’s lips had barely parted when the bell above the door jangled. Cole entered, bringing the heat of the afternoon with him, his Stetson casting a shadow across his tanned face.
“Hi, Cole,” the woman called, fingers lingering on a pearl-encrusted butterfly pin.
“Good morning, Maggie.” He touched the brim of his hat, then fixed his gaze on Aftyn. “Any luck?”
“I just got here.” She smiled.
He nodded and crossed to her side, boots creaking on the polished hardwood. Aftyn turned back to the counter and pulled her phone from her purse.
“Have you seen this woman?”
Maggie squinted at the image under the glow of the antique lamp. “She looks familiar, but she also looks like you, so maybe that’s why.”
Cole leaned his elbow on the glass countertop. “There’s a subtle difference.” He took the phone, thumb tracing the edge. “Darker blue eyes, darker hair.”
“Yeah, I can see that now,” Maggie said, “but the shape of their faces is the same. Is she related to you?”
“She’s my sister.” Aftyn’s voice caught. “I’m trying to find her.”
Maggie’s expression softened. “I hope you do. She does look familiar.”
“I’m Aftyn Hutchins. My sister’s name is Avery Newton. She may have been with a man, blond hair, blue eyes, around five eight. Do you think she’s been in here?”
“Maggie Lancaster.” She extended her hand, a diamond catching the light on her left ring finger. “Nice to meet you. I don’t remember a man being with her but let me ask Vanna. She has an eye for faces.” Maggie disappeared down a narrow hallway.
Aftyn turned to Cole. “Thank you.” She shook her head. “No luck so far. I’m hoping someone has seen her.”
“You’ve still got quite a few shops to get through,” Cole said, his voice low.
“I’ve been going since nine.” She checked her watch. “It’s almost twelve thirty.”
“Did you ask Connie and Owen? A lot of people pass through the diner.”
“I know, but with that many people, how would they remember one face?”
Cole’s lips curved. “Those two remember every usual a customer orders, down to how many sugars in their coffee. They never forget a face.” He leaned slightly closer. “Did you even tell Connie about your sister?”
“No.” Aftyn studied the worn floorboards. “I wasn’t sure how.”
“Tell her the same way you told me. Connie isn’t going to think any differently of you.” His gaze was steady. “Trust me on that.”
Aftyn pressed her hand to her lower back and surveyed the sun-drenched street through the window. “There are so many shops.” She sighed. “What a way to spend a Saturday.”
Cole straightened. “I need to head home. Horse to work with.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Good luck, Aftyn.”
“Thank you, Cole.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He lingered a heartbeat longer, his gaze holding hers, then turned and strode out. The bell chimed softly behind him.
Aftyn watched him go. “Damn,” she whispered. “What a man.”
She blinked as Maggie reappeared, leading a woman with auburn hair cascading over her shoulders.
“Aftyn, this is Vanna Collins. She owns the shop. Vanna, this is Aftyn Hutchins.”
“Ms. Collins.” Aftyn extended her hand.
“Please, call me Vanna.” Her eyes crinkled warmly as she shook it, then turned thoughtful as she glanced at the phone.
“I remember this woman. She came in about a week ago looking for work. I didn’t need anyone at the time.
” She ran a fingertip along the phone’s edge.
“She was polite enough, but she seemed very fidgety. Couldn’t stand still. Almost like she was about to bolt.”
Aftyn’s stomach clenched. “She was here? Was she alone? Did she mention where she was staying?”
“Alone, yes. No mention of where she was staying.” Vanna’s expression softened with regret. “With tourist season in full swing, most places are booked. I told her to keep checking back as business picks up. She said she would.”
“If she comes back, would you let me know?” Aftyn asked. “And please don’t mention I’m looking for her.”
“Of course.” Vanna slid a pink Post-it across the counter. “Write your name and number here.”
Aftyn scribbled quickly, the pen scratching against the paper. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Good luck,” Vanna said.
“Thank you both so much.” Aftyn pushed through the door into the sizzling sun. The sidewalk stretched before her, lined with brightly painted storefronts. She breathed in the mingled aromas of roasted coffee and pastries, then slipped into the next shop.
The bakery across the street, Sweet Nothings, had been too busy earlier to get inside. She made a mental note to circle back.
When she finally left The Everyday Grind, she crossed over and went in.
Hours later, having worked her way through nearly every establishment on Main Street, Aftyn pushed open the diner door. The bell tinkled overhead and the familiar clatter of dishes and low hum of conversation wrapped around her like a warm blanket. A half-dozen locals turned and waved.
She gave a tired laugh and sank onto a stool at the counter, the red vinyl squeaking under her weight.
“Don’t you get enough of this place during the week?” Connie called from the counter; her apron dusted with flour.
“Apparently not.” Aftyn tugged at her collar. “Could I talk to you when you get a chance?”
Connie’s brow furrowed as she set a plate down. “Of course. Just a few more minutes, we’re winding down lunch.”
Relief bloomed in Aftyn’s chest. “Thank you.”
“Help yourself to something while you wait.” Connie nodded toward the beverage station.
Aftyn slipped behind the counter, filled a tall glass with cold water, and returned to her stool, letting the diner’s warm chatter ease some of the day’s tension.
When Connie waved her into the kitchen, Aftyn followed and told her everything, showing her the photo.
Connie studied it, nodding slowly. “You know, the first day you came in I thought you looked familiar but couldn’t place why. Now I know.” She sighed. “She came in looking for work, but she couldn’t seem to concentrate. Kept glancing at the door like she was expecting someone to walk through it.”
Aftyn took a breath and told her the rest. What Avery had taken, what she’d done to their aunt, the history with Judd. Connie listened without interrupting, her expression moving from surprise to quiet anger on Aftyn’s behalf.
“Timeless Treasures and here are the only two places that have seen her,” Aftyn said. “I have to find her, Connie. Family or not, what she did was wrong. And it’s not about Judd. I couldn’t care less about him. It’s Avery I’m after. I want her to know her days of hurting people are over.”
“Some people just take and take,” Connie said. “I understand completely.”
Aftyn hugged her. “Thank you. I’m going to head home, do some laundry, and rest until Monday.”
“Have you talked to Sam about this?”
“I told him about it. I’ll talk to him next.”
“Do that. He’ll do everything he can. But you’ll have to press charges when she’s caught.”
“I know. I hate it, but she can’t keep doing this.”
Connie squeezed her hand. “You need a night out. Do something good for yourself.”
Aftyn smiled. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t know how to act.”
“We’ll see you Monday.” Connie nodded toward the back. “You can head out the service door.”
“I appreciate that.” Aftyn pushed it open, stepped out into the alley, and smiled when she heard the lock turn behind her.
She climbed the stairs, unlocked the door, and set her purse on the kitchen counter. Sneakers off, she padded to the bathroom to gather her dirty clothes.
Connie was right. She did need a night out. But she didn’t know Clifton well enough yet to know where she’d even go, and going anywhere alone wasn’t happening. The other women at the diner were married. They’d rather spend a Saturday night with their husbands than babysit the new girl.
She loaded the washer with her whites and headed back to the living room, perfectly content to be lazy for the rest of the day.
****
The late-afternoon sun hammered the corrugated metal roof, turning the air inside the barn into a wavering mirage.
Cole stepped out of the stall, his T-shirt plastered to his back.
He yanked off his straw hat and slapped it against his thigh, watching a cloud of grit drift away.
The heat was brutal and wrestling a stubborn gelding all day had him cussing under his breath.
He ached to shed his sweat-drenched clothes, stand under a scorching shower until the grime and tension rinsed away, then collapse into a quiet evening.
Over a year ago he’d carved out Sundays as his one day off, no training colts, no tending the barley or golden peas for Beckett Feed.
Forced rest had been foreign at first. Now it was sacred.
His brothers had followed suit, and every Sunday night they gathered at their parents’ house for a big, boisterous dinner. Cole looked forward to it all week.
He kicked the dirt from his boots on the steps and pushed open the back door.
Ollie bolted across the kitchen, skidded to a stop, and grinned up at him.
Cole crouched and ran a hand through the golden coat.
“You feel this heat too, huh, buddy?” Ollie promptly flopped onto his back, paws in the air.
Cole laughed and obliged, scratching until the dog’s tail thumped against the floor, then straightened and headed for the bathroom.
The shower worked miracles on his sore shoulders.
Steam curled through the air while he lathered up and shaved away the day’s stubble.
After toweling off he pulled on a faded gray T-shirt he’d had forever and a pair of threadbare sweatpants.
In the kitchen, the refrigerator light revealed nothing he wanted.
He glanced at the wall clock. Seven-fifteen. “Shit,” he muttered, and decided to head to the diner for a burger. But he knew the truth. His craving had less to do with food and more to do with hoping to see Aftyn.
He shook his head. He’d thought Callie was irreplaceable, but since she’d left, the pain had dulled until he no longer felt it.
Maybe it was time to let someone new in.
But Aftyn wasn’t here for the long haul, and she’d leave him too.
He sighed, changed into a black T-shirt, tugged on his jeans and boots, and snagged his clean white straw hat from the rack by the door.
The diner bell jingled as he stepped inside. A few locals lingered over coffee in one corner, the rest of the room mostly tourists in jeans and sun hats. He offered a friendly nod and slid onto a stool at the counter.
“Evening, Cole.” Connie smiled. “Same as always?”
“Sure thing. No hurry.” He dropped his elbows on the counter, breathing in frying onions and fresh coffee.
While he waited he spun on the stool to survey the room and caught the eye of three women in a corner booth. They looked away, cheeks pink. Cole tipped his hat in their direction, a slow grin spreading across his face.
When Connie set the plate before him he leaned in, savoring the smell of melted cheddar and sizzling beef. The fries were crisp at the edges and soft inside. He picked up the burger and groaned at the first bite, rich and savory. Reached for a fry and bit down with a satisfied crunch.
Connie slid a tall glass of water in front of him. “Everything good?”
“Always.” He wiped his mouth. “Did you talk with Aftyn today?”
Connie leaned her hip against the counter and perched her reading glasses on her head. “She stopped in earlier. Told me about her sister and her ex. I hope she finds them soon.”
“Me too.” He turned the glass slowly in his hands. “Must’ve cut deep, a betrayal like that.”
Connie shrugged. “She’d been in a couple weeks back looking for work. Polite enough, but she kept drifting mid-sentence, like her thoughts were somewhere else entirely. I need someone sharp. No room for mix-ups in here.”
Cole nodded, taking another bite. “A wrong order could ruin someone’s night.”
“I might not have chandeliers and white tablecloths,” Connie said, “but I want people to remember this place for the right reasons.”
Cole glanced toward the door as the bell jingled behind a departing customer. “So, Aftyn called it a day?”
“She’s upstairs. I told her she needed to get out, but she’s not going to wander a strange town alone at night.” Connie dried her hands on her apron. “She mentioned talking to Sam. She can’t do this by herself, Cole.”
“I agree.” He wiped his hands on a napkin. “I was thinking of heading to Dewey’s for a cold beer.”
Connie’s eyes lit up. “Ask her to go with you. She doesn’t have anyone here besides Deidra, Rissa, and Lanie, and they’re all tied up with their husbands on a Saturday night. You’ve been good to her. Invite her along.”
He smiled. “I’ll see if she’ll go.”
Connie patted his shoulder. “That’s all she needs. A friendly nudge.”
He finished the last fry, left a generous tip on the counter, and pushed through the front door.
The evening air hit him, warm and scented with asphalt and distant honeysuckle.
He crossed the dim parking lot under a lone streetlamp and climbed the metal stairs at the building’s rear, each step creaking under his weight.
At the landing he paused and removed his hat. Heat radiated off the brick. He knocked firmly.
He heard the latch click, and then Aftyn’s surprised face appeared in the doorway, framed by pale hallway light.
“Cole. What are you doing here?”
“Just had dinner downstairs.” He turned his hat in his hands. “Connie suggested I invite you to Dewey’s for a beer.”
“Dewey’s?” She cocked her head.
“Local cowboy bar. Live band every Friday and Saturday.”
Her brows lifted. “I haven’t been out in ages. I’d love to.” She stepped aside. “Come in, I’ll change.”
He wiped his boots on the welcome mat. The apartment smelled faintly of roses, a sofa facing the large window that looked out over Main Street below.
“Have a seat,” Aftyn called, disappearing down the hallway. “Just a few minutes.”
He sank onto the sofa, its cushion sagging under him. When she reappeared, he rose to his feet. Faded blue jeans, a sleeveless blouse the exact shade of her eyes, white canvas sneakers. A shy smile playing on her lips.
“I’m ready.”
“Under ten minutes. Impressive.”
She laughed, light and genuine. “I told you.”
He held the door open. “Let’s go.”
Outside, she locked up and Cole took her hand to guide her down the stairs, the metal railing slick with summer humidity. At the bottom he led her to his Silverado gleaming under the streetlamp and opened the passenger door.
She slid in. He closed it, circled around, and the engine rumbled to life, ready to carry them into the promise of the evening.
****
Aftyn tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m glad you stopped by. I can’t remember the last time I went out.”
Her heart fluttered at the thought, not just a night out, but one with Cole.
She smoothed her blouse and tried to ignore the warmth spreading through her chest whenever he was near.
She shouldn’t be thinking such things. But there was something about his broad shoulders and the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled.
And beyond the good looks, she kept coming back to the memory of him helping with her car, making sure she had something to eat.
She wondered how many others would have done that.
Then again, Clifton kept surprising her.
“I had a long day and nothing appealing in the fridge,” he said. “Figured I’d grab a burger at the diner and maybe swing by Dewey’s for a cold beer.”
“Is it a nice place?” she asked, imagining a cozy wood-paneled room filled with laughter.
He chuckled. “It’s the only place in town, but yeah, it’s great. I don’t get there as often as I’d like. Hard to feel social after wrestling a horse all day. But it’s a good crowd and the band never disappoints.”
“Do you dance?” She bit her lower lip, watching his reaction.
“Slow only.” He shook his head. “You won’t catch me out there in a line dance.”
“Well, I might join a line dance, or two, if you don’t mind.” Her fingers fidgeted with a button on her blouse.
“Go for it.” His eyes lingered on hers. “You’re there to have fun.”
“I can’t wait,” she said, laughing.
When Cole turned into the dusty lot, the music was already spilling through the walls, each thump of the bass matching the flutter in her chest. He eased into a slot and cut the engine.
“I can hear the band,” Aftyn said, unbuckling her seatbelt.
“Hope we find a couple of seats.” He swung his door open and stepped out. Aftyn hopped down, the late-evening air still hot against her skin.
He took her hand and led her across the lot to two massive wooden doors, their planks worn smooth by years of use. Cole cracked one open and nodded for her to go first.