Where the Heart Leads (9 page)

Iris bit her lip at the word
handsome.
Beauty truly was in the eye of the beholder. “So, you like Lawrence?”

“Who wouldn’t?” Dottie’s dark eyes lit up. “I mean, he’s so thoughtful and courteous. That’s hard to find in a man these days. And I’ve always liked a man with a handlebar mustache.”

“We’ve all known Lawrence for quite a while.” Maebry smiled, looking genuinely happy for Dottie. “He’s a good, honest and hardworking man and I think he would treat a lady right.”

“I do too.” Iris was sure about that. Could there be a happy ending in the future for Dottie too? That was something to hope for. “Lawrence comes in now and then for a loaf of bread. Maybe you’ll get a chance to treat him to a cup of coffee and talk with him for a bit.”

“Really? I mean, I wouldn’t if it were busy or something.” Dottie brightened, giving her lopsided, adorable smile. “Okay, I’ll do it. I mean, not because he likes me or anything, but maybe we could at least be friends.”

“Dottie, I think he likes you.” Iris studied the younger woman who was so sweet, she felt like a little sister. Someone you would always want to know. “I don’t want to hear you call yourself homely ever again. Got it? You are adorable, and Lawrence would be lucky to have someone like you.”

“I know you’re just saying that, but thanks.” Dottie’s lower lip trembled. “Thanks a lot.”

The bell on the door chimed merrily as Magnolia tromped in. Sunshine spilled in the door with her as she bounded to a stop, slammed the door and unbuttoned her spring coat. “Ooh, I’m so mad. Just spitting, hitting mad.”

“Not again.” Iris rolled her eyes. “What is it this time? Not more wedding stuff?”

“No, Travis’s mother has stopped talking to me and says she isn’t coming to the wedding, which is actually a relief. That’s not why I’m, ooh, I’m just furious. Just ready to grab my snake stick and just—oh, I don’t know what I’d do with it, but something! You know the building that’s being renovated just down the block and across the street?”

“Yes, we’ve all been wondering what business is coming to town.” Iris went straight to the window to take a peek. A wagon was parked out front, if she squinted she could just make out a newly hung sign, but the angle was wrong and she was too far away. “I can’t read it.”

“Dobson’s Bakery!” Magnolia fisted her hands. “That woman, that Fanny Dobson, is opening up a store right here in town to compete with us. Can you believe it?”

“Oh, I hate her.” Dottie circled the counter and marched up to the window. “She’s coming after your business. What are we going to do?”

“I’ll never order a cake from there.” Maebry’s chin went up. “I don’t know this Fanny Dobson, but she doesn’t sound like a very nice businesswoman.”

“She’s not,” Dottie assured everyone. “I know it for a fact. What do you think, Iris? You’re very quiet.”

“I’m just shocked.” Iris bit her bottom lip, thinking. “This town can’t support two bakeries. There just isn’t enough business for both of us.”

The front door swung open and Rhoda marched in, hugging a bag of sugar. “Everyone is talking about it over at the mercantile. You’re going to stay open, aren’t you, Iris? Are we going to fight this?”

All eyes turned to her. She read the need in Dottie’s and the desperation in Rhoda’s. Magnolia arched her brows in a silent question, likely thinking the same thing she was. This bakery had always been her dream, back in their Chicago days when she’d been working hard hours for little pay. Her sisters had taken on her vision as their own and they’d built this business together. But now that she’d found Milo, she had a different future than they’d all imagined back then.

What were they going to do with the bakery?

“We didn’t come this far just to close up shop.” She knew it was the right decision the instant she spoke the words. They just felt right. “Fanny Dobson can do what she wants. It’s a free country. But we are going to stay right here and bake the best cakes and cookies in the territory. We aren’t going anywhere.”

Dottie blew out a relieved sigh. Rhoda mouthed a silent thank you. They weren’t the only two employees who needed their jobs. Iris remembered what that was like. She would never forget. A familiar Stetson caught her attention, and joy moved through her, silent and deep.
Milo.
He spotted her and lifted a gloved hand in recognition. She waved back, watching as he ambled out of sight.

Her impossible dreams were coming true. It was time to help someone else with theirs. Dottie’s dream of independence from her parents. Rhoda’s dream of supporting her children, Oscar and Clint Redmond’s dreams of being self-sufficient again. Leaving gift boxes of day old bread and cookies on the doorsteps of the needy families in town. That’s what this bakery was going to be all about from this moment on. Fannie Dobson didn’t stand a chance.

Aumaleigh pulled Buttons to a stop in the middle of the road, staring at the sign swinging above the boardwalk.
Dobson’s Bakery.
She had to blink twice to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. This wasn’t a good development. Not good at all.

“Howdy there, Aumaleigh.” Clint Redmond drew the bakery’s horse and delivery wagon to a stop on the opposite side of the street. “Guess you’re thinkin’ the same thing I am. Maybe you don’t know all the businesses Dobson’s has closed down over in Deer Springs.”

“I’ve heard rumors about it. I can’t say I’m pleased to see them here.” Aumaleigh squinted against the spring sunshine. Clint looked much improved these days, now that he was working for the girls. He had an easy smile and a relaxed manner. It was nice to see, since his family had a long struggle with hardship. “On the other hand, I don’t doubt my nieces will rise to the challenge.”

“Good to hear. I like my job.” Clint’s deep voice cracked and he gave his reins a shake. “Good day to you, Aumaleigh.”

“Take care, Clint.” Aumaleigh did the same, guiding Buttons down the street. Town was quiet, almost empty feeling. This time of year so many farmers were busy with planting their fields or tending their herds of new cow/calf pairs. Women all over the country were out working in their gardens on a day like this. Which is what she was going to do once she finished this very important meeting.

Buttons stopped obediently in front of the hitching post, and Aumaleigh hopped down. The past few days had been uneventful, and she hadn’t come across Gabriel once. But that didn’t stop her from glancing up and down the boardwalk before climbing onto it and tapping up the steps to the mercantile.

“Aumaleigh!” Gemma Gunderson looked up from the front counter. She was such a dear with her dark locks and ready smile. “Welcome. How are you today?”

“Just coming in to order supplies for the ranch.” She closed the door behind her and pulled a list out of her reticule. “You know it’s never ending. Keeping enough on hand to feed the horde of cowboys isn’t easy.”

“I’m here to help.” Gemma closed the account book she was working on and came around the end of the counter. “Give me what you need and I’ll get right on it. I can have it delivered before suppertime.”

“Perfect.” She handed over the long list. “What do you think about your new neighbors?”

“Oh, I’m fuming mad. I can see their sign from here.” Gemma glanced at the list before setting it on the counter. “She’s already been in here to try and get her products back in here. Father wasn’t in, so I asked her to leave. I don’t like the way she does business.”

“From what I’ve heard, neither do I. I’ve got to get back to the ranch and see if I can’t get some garden work done. Have a good afternoon, Gemma and thanks.” She took a step backwards and bumped into someone.

“Oops! Sorry.” Leigh Daniels, Gabriel’s daughter, grabbed the skein of glossy white crochet thread she’d dropped. “I did kind of sneak up on you. Can we talk?”

“I—” Aumaleigh searched desperately through her head, trying to find the exact right excuse—any excuse—to escape. Her brain failed her. Not a single excuse came.

“Great! Gemma, could you please put this on my pa’s account? Thanks.” Leigh breathlessly bobbed toward the door and yanked it open. “I had wanted to ask you a few things at the wedding, but you didn’t get out of the kitchen very much.”

“There was a lot to do behind the scenes, to keep everything running smoothly.”

“Sure. That’s why I’m so glad we have this time now.” Leigh leaned against the railing. “I didn’t know I was named after someone until I met you. You must have been pretty important to my pa.”

“At one time.” Her throat felt tight. “Maybe not important enough.”

“You were in love with him, weren’t you? I can tell by your face.” Leigh played with her bonnet ribbons. “I think he loved you with all his heart.”

“I hope so, since he once proposed to me.” Her voice sounded squeaky, not at all like her own. She stared off down the street where a sturdy, mannish woman came out onto the boardwalk to angrily shout at the workman who was straightening up the Dobson’s Bakery sign.

“I can’t believe that. It’s hard to imagine Pa had a life before he met my ma.” Leigh shook her head, scattering her dark curls. “I’ve been trying to figure out why Pa would want me named after you. I mean, it’s not like it’s a common name and if he loved you enough to want to marry you—” The girl stopped, falling silent. “Was it painful, what happened between you? I won’t go on if it is.”

“It was a long time ago. Water under the bridge.” Aumaleigh wished she didn’t like Gabriel’s daughter so much. “I’m sorry you lost your mother.”

“Thanks. It was hard. It’s been five years and I still miss her every single day.” Leigh pulled at a thread in her bonnet ribbon, fraying it. For an instant she looked heartbroken, but shrugged it off. “Pa took such good care of Ma, especially after she got sick. Losing her was hard for him too. I think it’s nice that he’s found you again.”

Aumaleigh felt her jaw drop even farther. The back of her neck itched, and she shivered as footsteps came to a stop behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know it was him. Her entire being sensed him, soul deep.

“Leigh, that’s enough.” Humor layered his voice. “What are you doing now?”

“Nothing. Just talking with Miss Aumaleigh. You know me. I’m curious.”

“Yes, well, go be curious somewhere else.” Gabriel planted his hand on his hips. “Go on.”

“Oh, Pa.” Leigh rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll go look at yarn in the dry goods store, and I’m going to buy a lot of it. The expensive stuff too. Serves you right for wanting to get rid of me.”

“I’ll survive.” Humor made his eyes a warm, tender gray as he watched his daughter cross the street. “I don’t know where I went wrong. She was so sweet when she was little.”

“She’s adorable.” That was the plain truth. Aumaleigh took a deep breath. She was over the pain, over the past, but was she over the anger? No, as it was brewing. “What do I have to do to get rid of you?”

“Good question. Maybe beat me with a long stick. Throw a cow pie at me. Kick me in the shin?”

“If only that would work.” Aumaleigh noticed Gemma watching through the window. She glanced down the boardwalk and there was her niece, Annie, standing in front of the Bluebell Bakery openly staring. Any moment now Fred was going to step foot outside the post office and rumors would start to fly. “When is your daughter going back to Ohio?”

“Soon. I’m keeping her for a little longer. She’s determined to get my house set up before she goes.” He stared down the street, when all he wanted to do was to soak up the sight of her. To memorize all the little things about her he needed to learn anew. “Seth and Rose seem happy. They had me and Leigh over to supper last night.”

“Oh? I hadn’t heard a thing about it. Yet. I’ve got to go. I have a ranch to run.”

“I heard you inherited quite a spread. Ranching is in your blood.”

“Yours too.” She smoothed a wrinkle in her skirt self-consciously. “Did you ever build that ranch you hoped for?”

“I sure did.” The land he’d bought in the same small town in Ohio had never been the ranch he’d dreamed of having for her. The young man he’d been had been so sure that he needed money and standing to truly win her and keep her. He’d wised up, and in life his hard work had paid off. “I’ve retired now. I can enjoy the good life.”

“Here in Bluebell? Maybe you’d be happier somewhere with more things to do. Like New York.”

“That’s nice and far away. I’m sure you’d like that. Can I ask you a favor?”

“I don’t know.” She arched a slender brow, studying him warily. “We’ve reached a truce, but I don’t think that entitles you to favors.”

“I know Leigh was asking questions about our past. Don’t feel obligated to answer. You can tell her no.”

“That’s
your favor?”

“Yes. Let’s leave the past alone.” Time may have passed, but Aumaleigh had never been one who could easily hide everything. Her heart was still tender.

“All right.” Her gaze met his, and there was no smile there, no twinkle. He missed the way she used to look up at him full of humor and alive with love.

Would she ever look at him that way again?

He didn’t know. But he was determined.

“Here, let me help you up into your buggy.” He held out his hand, palm up, not wanting to give away how much this chance meant to him. “It’s the gentlemanly thing to do. Any man worth his salt would do the same.”