The Old Fashioned Way (A Homespun Romance) (3 page)

One of the other owners?  How many partners were there in all?  He'd been under the impression he would be dealing with Abby Silver.

Daniel shook hands with Sarah Trenton, heard her say, "Welcome to The Busy Bee, Mr. Hawthorn."

Diminutive, white hair in a bun, green eyes smiling a welcome.  There was nothing about Sarah Trenton to remind him of his own grandmother, but she did.  Daniel stiffened.  The uneasiness he'd always experienced around his grandparents, surfaced. 

"Are you visiting relatives in Carbon Canyon?" he heard Sarah Trenton ask.

"Just driving through," Daniel said firmly.  "I'm on vacation."

What was the matter with Abby Silver now?  She had her I-know-you-won't-be-able-to-help-us-look in place. 

Daniel tried to squash the guilt he felt. 

"Where are you going to spend your vacation?"  Obviously Sarah Trenton didn't feel her questions were out of line.

"Yosemite."  That had come to him at the spur of the moment.

Sarah Trenton frowned.  "Surely you don't plan on getting there tonight?  It's going to be dark in a couple of hours and those mountain roads are treacherous, with the fog.  Why don't you have dinner and spend the night with us?  It will be no bother at all for a friend of Abby's."

Beside him, Daniel heard a sharp gasp of surprise.  Before he could turn down Sarah's invitation, he heard Abby Silver say, "Mr. Hawthorn has a very busy schedule.  He can't stay."  The words were followed by a light touch on his arm.  "Let me show you out." 

Daniel stared at her.  Her eyes held a warning he couldn't understand.  I want you to leave.  Now. 

He didn't want to stay, but neither did he want someone else making the decision for him.  Irritation crackled through him as he nodded to Sarah Trenton and hurried after her granddaughter. 

CHAPTER TWO

"Wait, just a minute."

The hand he placed on her shoulder when they were back in the shop, stopped Abby Silver.  She spun around to face him, her color bright. 

"Why are you rushing me out of here as if the place is on fire?"

"Because I saw the way you looked when I told you Gran was a partner in the store."

"And what way was that?"  Did Abby Silver think she could read his mind?

"Horrified." 

She could read his mind.  Horrified described exactly how he felt.  Dealing with someone like Abby was different from dealing with her grandmother.  He knew that from experience.

"I thought you owned the shop."

Abby held the door open.  "I own a quarter of it."

"I still don't understand why you're rushing me out like this."

She looked at him and then away, but not quickly enough.  Daniel saw the anger in her eyes. 

"For someone to help The Busy Bee they have to understand and accept Gran and our friends.  You said at your seminar that business and emotion are like oil and water.  Here at The Busy Bee, they're not.  Take away emotion and there would be no need to keep the store open."

She had touched a nerve, hinting he was a stranger to emotion. 

"And you think I won't understand that?"  Daniel asked.

Her eyes looked at him from head to toe, "Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"Your talk that day.  You never mentioned the human factor in relationship to business."

Daniel stared at her.  He hadn't considered the human factor before.  For success one had to separate the two.

After a moment she said slowly.  "You're a big successful businessman, Mr. Hawthorn.  We're not in your league.  Our small store isn't run on any hard and fast rules laid down by a man who has no idea how we operate.  At The Busy Bee we make our own rules as we go along bending them to meet the needs of our customers, who in a community as small as this happen to be our friends and neighbors.  We couldn’t take a clinical approach with them any more than we could follow your textbook guidelines for success.  It would only upset you to have anything to do with us."

Except for pushing him out, she was doing her best to get him to leave. 

"You think I'm beyond understanding someone like your grandmother?" 

Abby Silver took for granted what he had just begun to suspect.  That he was out of touch with the complexity of human relationships.  What she didn't know was he intended to do something about it.

"I think you've reached a stage in your life where you don't have time to care about people.  Not people like us anyway.  What's a small store in Carbon Canyon going to do for your image?  You're better off helping a firm that will bring you publicity, increase sales of your books, get you more requests to speak."

Daniel hadn't been so smash-something angry in a while.  That she had drawn such a perfect picture of him didn't help.  He turned on his heel and headed back to the community room. 

"Where are you going?" 

Daniel ignored Abby's cry. 

Adrenalin coursed through Abby as she watched Daniel Hawthorn disappear.  What was it about the man that made her forget everything and say what was on her mind? 

She couldn't go after him and make a scene in the community room.  One look at her, and Gran and some of the others would know how upset she was.  Whatever Daniel Hawthorn had to say to them would have to be said on his own.  Mixed with the flicker of apprehension was a tremor of inexplicable excitement.  She'd better get back to work.  Abby went back to arranging the soft toys she'd taken out of the box. 

Everyone looked up as he pushed open the door of the community room.  For a moment Daniel wanted to turn and run.  Maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all.  He was no good with people in this age group.  If communication became a problem, that would impede progress. 

As silence spread across the room, Daniel looked at Sarah Trenton and said, "I'd like to take you up on that invitation to stay for dinner."

He decided to wait till after dinner to offer to look at the books.  Maybe food would change Abby Silver's disposition.

Sarah looked at him intently and then said, "We'll eat in half an hour.  Why don't you let Abby show you around till then?"

Daniel looked behind him, but she wasn't there.

"I wonder where Abby is," he heard Sarah Trenton say.

"I'll find her," Daniel turned away quickly.

Don't bite off more than you can chew, Hawthorn.  You need time for yourself, remember? 

That he did.  But Daniel knew he couldn't concentrate on himself till he took care of this matter.

"You're a good dog aren't you?"

Daniel had never heard Abby Silver use that tone of voice before.  Gentle, soft, tender.  She stood by the door of the store, her gaze on the sole occupant of his car. 

Stepping to her side at the edge of the verandah he said, "That's Danube Princess.  Would you like to meet her?"

Abby hadn't gotten over her surprise at seeing the dog.  "I didn't think you'd have a dog."

"You mean I'm not the dog type?" he asked dryly.

That was exactly what she had thought.  People kept dogs for companionship.  To dispel loneliness.  Daniel Hawthorn looked as if he never needed anything or anybody.  Embarrassment had bright color flooding Abby's face. 

As Daniel stepped forward, the German Shepherd stood up on the car seat and gave a whimper of delight.  There was no doubt about the affection the dog had for its owner. 

"Good girl," Daniel said patting the dog.  "Good girl."

The warmth in his voice was real.  Abby frowned.  He seemed so different from the successful businessman she had seen the first day.  Which was the real Daniel Hawthorn?

"Come and meet her."

"Princess," Daniel commanded, as Abby reached his side.  "Shake hands with Abby."  Looking at Abby he said, "Put your hand out, please."

The dog put a paw into Abby's outstretched palm and Daniel's hands covered both theirs.  "Good girl, Princess.  Remember, Abby's my friend."

Abby felt her face burn.  Daniel's touch was warm, but impersonal.  There was no reason for her heart to tick like a time bomb. 

"She knows you now, but don't risk trying to approach her when I'm not around."

If Daniel Hawthorn looked at her he would see how flustered she was.  Abby bent her head.  Her gaze fastened on his hands, narrowing at the sight of the scars there.  Surgery scars.

As if he'd realized she was staring at them, Daniel Hawthorn let her hand go, stood up, and slipped both his hands into the pockets of his pants. 

To Daniel's surprise, Abby brought her hand up and let Princess sniff it, before beginning to tickle her neck.  "You're a sweetheart, aren't you?"

Princess sat with her eyes half closed, her tongue hanging out.  It was her happy look. 

Daniel stared at the picture.  Princess never let anyone fondle her, not even Ed, the assistant he'd had for the last three years.

"She likes you."

Abby's face was hidden behind the curtain of hair.  "Maybe
it’s because she can smell my dog on me."

"You have a dog?"  He hadn't seen signs of one around.

Abby nodded.  "Muffy's a loafer.  He's probably in the woods behind the house giving the rabbits a reason to exercise.  He'll be back soon.  He's not a pedigree dog, but he's clean and well behaved."

The last bit ended on a defensive note.

Daniel sighed.  Now she was assuming that his dog was like the image she had of him.  Cold, polished, uppity. 

They both turned as Sarah Trenton hailed them from the house.

"I'm staying for dinner," Daniel said casually.

"Why?"  Abby Silver wore her keep-out look again. 

"Because I have some time to spare, and I thought I'd look at the books and see if I can offer some constructive suggestions.  That way I won't feel I've robbed you of the money you paid for the seminar."

Abby's face flamed.  "You don't have to do that," she said stiffly.  "We'll manage."

It was a long time since Daniel had come up against so much stiff-necked pride.  Usually he had a hard time protecting himself from people who wanted his help.

"I know I don't have to do that," said Daniel Hawthorn.  "I want to do it."

"I can't pay you," Abby said bluntly.

"I didn't ask for any money," Daniel pointed out coldly.  She stared at him her eyes narrowed, as if trying to analyze his motives.  Why was he agreeing to stay and help?  Hostile women weren't his style at all.

Abby's head said this was the best thing that could have happened to her.  Her heart...Abby let out a tiny sigh...her heart was misbehaving, the way it had since she had first set eyes on Daniel Hawthorn. 

Nothing was more important than protecting herself from this avalanche of emotions.  Nothing, except helping Gran.

Daniel heard the tiny sigh.  It told him he had won this round. 

Daniel looked around the table.  Before they'd sat down to dinner, he'd met the other two partners.  Hamish McArthur was a retired chef, whose hobby was wood carving.  His wife, Agnes, loved sewing.  Both conducted classes, as well as turning out merchandise for the store.  They lived in the house with Sarah and her granddaughter.

Daniel wondered if the uncomfortable feeling inside was a throwback to the times when he'd been with his grandparents.  Meals had always been eaten in silence. 

Sarah smiled at him and said, "Do you live in Los Angeles, Mr. Hawthorn?"

"Please call me Daniel," he said.  "Yes. I've lived in the Los Angeles area since my college days."

"Abby tells us you're a very important businessman.      How long have you two known each other?"

Daniel stared at the dark head, bent over her plate.  "A while," he said cautiously.

Sarah sighed.  "It's so nice when old friends visit, isn't it, Abby?"

Her head came up.  Green eyes looked at him and then away, "Yes."

"If you'd like to use the telephone to call your family, or the motel you have reservations at for tonight, please go ahead," Sarah suggested.

"I don't have any family, and I didn't make any reservations," she heard Daniel said evenly. 

Sarah smiled as if she'd guessed that already.  "Where do you live in Los Angeles?" 

"I have a suite in the Castilian."

"That must be very lonely."  Sarah exchanged an eloquent look with Agnes.  "No wonder you look so thin."

The conversation was becoming too personal.  It was time to change the subject.  "Abby told me you were having problems with the store.  I stopped by to see if there was anything I could do to help."  Opposite him he saw Abby open her mouth.  Daniel said quickly, "As the Busy Bee has four owners, I want to ask all of you if it would be all right for me to take a look at the store accounts.  I've already talked it over with Abby and got her opinion."

He looked at her and saw the anger shooting out of her eyes. 

"How kind of you."  Sarah beamed at him.  "We couldn't possibly bother you while you're on your vacation."

"I have no definite plans."

"Maybe it would work out," Sarah said slowly after exchanging a quick look with her friends.  "You look in need of a good rest.  You could stay here and we could take care of you while you help us."

"I planned on staying in a motel in town."  He didn't need taking care of. 

"Helping has to be a two way street," Sarah said firmly.  "If you won't let us take care of you, we can't let you help us."

So now he knew where Abby Silver got her stubbornness from.

"We really shouldn't bother Mr. Hawthorn," Abby interjected.  "He needs his vacation."

"I thought you two were friends," said Sarah.  "Why do you still call him Mr. Hawthorn?"

Daniel enjoyed the way Abby blushed. 

"A slip of the tongue," he said smoothly. 

"Spend the night with us," Sarah coaxed.

"Maybe I could stay here tonight," Daniel conceded.

"No, you can't."

Everyone looked at Abby in surprise.

"You invited me to come down and give you on-the-spot recommendations, remember?"  Daniel couldn't keep the dryness out of his voice.  

"I don't want to ruin your vacation."  There was more than concern in her eyes.  Abby's nervousness amounted to fear.

"You won't," Daniel told her.

She looked very angry.  For the first time since he'd sat down for the meal, Daniel felt a little happy.

"How long a vacation are you on?" 

Abby wasn't fooled by the innocent question.  Gran could be both deep and wily. 

"Eight weeks."

"Ah," beamed Sarah, "so spending a little time with us, isn't going to hurt."