Tomorrow's Promise (The Hawks Mountain Series) (4 page)

Jimmy nodded drunkenly and then staggered toward Keeler’s Market, mumbling something about uppity women and pushy lawmen, and a man needing a drink just to tolerate them.

Not until they were in the car with Lizzie tucked safely in her car seat did Faith allow herself to think about what had just happened. She wasn’t use to being protected, and Cole’s actions left her with a warm glow she didn’t even want to try to acknowledge, but the possibilities sent her into a shocked silence that lasted for most of the ride to her new home.

All her life, people had taken her for granted, taken advantage of her, told her what to do, how to do it, and when she was doing it wrong. And, according to Sloan and her mother, that was all the time. Never, not once, had anyone protected and cared for her and Lizzie as Cole had in the short time since they’d met in Doc Amos’ office. Yes, he’d been controlling, but it was a different kind of control, one tempered with caring.

With that realization, came a flash of stark reality. If she allowed Cole past her defenses, she could get very used to it, and she’d sworn never to become reliant on anyone ever again.

Or to fall in love.

Chapter 3

WHEN THEY PULLED into the driveway of the little cottage Doc had allowed Faith and Lizzie to move into, the tightness around Faith’s nerves eased. With its beds of rainbow-colored flowers, bright red shutters, and the little front porch complete with a rocking chair to lull Lizzie to sleep, the small, white structure seemed to open its arms to her.

Faith cuddled Lizzie close and entered the building to explore their new home. If the outside made her feel wanted, the interior and its homey country décor personified the word
welcome
. A large braided rug covered the center of the rich oak floor in the small, quaint living room, and cheery yellow tiebacks hung at the windows. An arrangement of silk daisies graced the coffee table.

She continued to explore her new home. The kitchen was small but friendly. Bright rays of sunshine coming through the three windows above the sink washed the kitchen with golden sunlight. Through one of the windows she could see another house peeking through the trees. For a moment, she wondered who her neighbor was. After searching her memory of the town and its layout, she realized that the house belonged to Lydia and George Collins, the mayor of Carson and his wife.

The idea of having someone close by pleased her. However, if she remembered correctly, Lydia would be more help in an emergency than her husband. Faith turned from the windows to look around the kitchen. She spotted the large pantry and chuckled. The few things she’d bought at Keeler’s Market would barely fill the shelves.

Footsteps behind her drew her attention to the doorway. Cole entered with his arms full of grocery bags. “I’ll check the attic for that crib.” Cole deposited the groceries on the counter.

“Thanks.” She looked down at her drowsy-eyed daughter cuddled into her shoulder. “I think Lizzie’s ready for bed.”

Once Cole had dragged the crib down from the attic and set it up in the smaller of the two bedrooms, Faith put Lizzie and her teddy bear down for a nap. Lizzie snuggled close to her constant companion and closed her eyes. Faith breathed a sigh of contentment. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

As she reentered the living room, she was surprised to find Cole still there. For some reason, she’d expected him to be gone. He rose from the sofa and grinned at her. “I turned on the electric and the water, but I thought I’d stick around to make sure there’s nothing else I can do for you before I leave.”

His smile warmed her down to the soles of her sneakers . . . and she hated that it did. The sooner she got him out of here, the better she’d feel. “I think that’s it. Thanks for your help.”

He picked up his hat from the sofa. “I left my phone number on the kitchen table. If you find there is something you need, just give me a call.”

Why didn’t he just go?

She couldn’t look at him. His eyes held too much kindness, too much understanding, too much . . . Faith glanced into the tiny kitchen. “Thanks, but you’re forgetting that I don’t have a phone.”

“Cell phone?”

She shook her head.

“You and the little one out here with no phone? Not good.”

“Well, until I get a job, I’ll have to hope I don’t need one.”

Cole thought for a moment, and then took a couple of hesitant steps toward the door. “Well, I guess I’d better get back to the office.”

She remained silent, mentally giving him a push that would hurry him from the cottage and, hopefully, from her thoughts.

He took another step, and then turned back to her. “Listen. I’ve been thinking. I need a housekeeper to clean up around my house for me, do some laundry, and maybe fix my supper.” He shook his head. “I’m a lousy cook. I know you need a job. I can’t pay you a lot, but it would be enough to feed you and Lizzie until you find something else. How about it?”

Stunned, Faith could only stare at him. Her stomach did a somersault. Work for him? See him every day? Handle his things? She was already fighting an attraction to this handsome man, and putting herself in close proximity to him on a daily basis wouldn’t be smart.

Despite her misgivings about putting herself in that kind of situation, she couldn’t help but feel gratitude for his concern for her and Lizzie. But when she’d left Atlanta, she’d promised herself that she would take care of herself and her daughter. She’d made the mistake of relying on a man once and . . .

No! She had to stop rehashing the past. It was just that, the past, and she had to concentrate on her future and her daughter’s. That left no room for remorse. But there wasn’t room for a man either.

“Thanks, but I planned on going job hunting tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll find something.”
And exactly what do you think you’ll find in this little town? You have no qualifications for anything.

His face melted into an expression of disappointment. “Okay. But the job offer stands if you need it.”

“Thanks. I really appreciate all you and Doc have done for me . . . for us. But it’s time I started doing for myself.”

Cole frowned and opened the door. “I’ll see you around, Faith.”

“Goodbye, Sheriff.” Her stilted farewell rang with finality.

He paused for a moment, nodded, and then he was gone.

With his departure, it felt as if all the air had been sucked from the room.

THE NEXT MORNING, Faith hitched Lizzie a little higher on her hip. She’d only been walking toward town for a short time, and already her blouse and Lizzie’s pink sundress were soaked with perspiration. Even the fur on Lizzie’s bear was matted and wet. Sweat poured down Faith’s back and temples. The straps of the tote bag holding a drink for Lizzie and a few other necessities bit deeply into her shoulder.

Faith hadn’t remembered this walk into town being this long, but then again, she’d never made it while carrying a child. She’d considered allowing Lizzie to walk, but the way the cars passing them didn’t seem to slow down, she’d decided against it.

As she trudged along, and the sun’s rays seemed to get hotter with every step, she began to wonder how smart this idea had been. But what other alternative did she have? There was no one to take care of Lizzie so she could walk the distance alone. She had no means of transportation. No way to call someone to drive her. Even if she’d had a phone, who would she call? Certainly not her judgmental mother. And most definitely not the helpful sheriff.

The unseasonably warm late spring day and the burdens of life settled on her already bowed shoulders. Would she make it through this? Was she wise to have come back here where the job opportunities were so limited?

“Stop it!” she scolded. “You can do this. You’re strong.” Lizzie squirmed in her arms, reminding her of her responsibility to this small life. “You
have
to do this.”

The sound of another approaching car broke the woodsy silence. Faith took a deep breath and moved farther onto the side of the road. But rather than pass her, the car slowed and adjusted its speed to her pace. When she looked toward it, she was surprised to see the sheriff’s car. Cole was smiling at her through the open passenger’s side window.

“Need a lift?”

She wanted to say no, but one look at Lizzie’s flushed cheeks and sweat-soaked curls changed her mind. “That would be great. Thanks.”

Cole pulled the car to the shoulder of the road in front of her, stopped it, climbed out, and opened the trunk to reveal the child’s car seat he’d used for Lizzie the day before. After reinstalling the seat, he scooped Lizzie from Faith’s arms and buckled the little girl and her bear in while Faith collapsed in the passenger seat.

“Where are you going?” Cole asked as he slipped behind the wheel, closed the car door and cranked up the AC.

Why did he have to be so considerate? Why was she allowing him to unnerve her? Too hot and exhausted to think about anything but how good it felt to get off her feet, Faith leaned back. As the cool air bathed her face and shoulders, she sighed. “To town. I need to find a job.”

“You could have asked me to pick you up when I was at your house yesterday.” Cole pulled the car onto the road. “It wouldn’t have been a problem. I come this way every day.” He glanced in the rearview mirror. “Lizzie shouldn’t be out in this heat.”

Guilt washed over Faith. He was right, of course. But she wasn’t about to tell him that. “I didn’t want to bother anyone.” She avoided looking at him.

Cole frowned, wondering exactly what she meant. Didn’t want to bother anyone or didn’t want to be in his company? She’d made it quite clear yesterday that she didn’t want anything from him. But he had a gut feeling it was more than that.

They rode in silence for a while until he couldn’t stand it any longer. “So where did you plan to look for a job?”

Faith shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll start at the Terri’s Tea Room.”

The deafening silence engulfed them again.

“My offer to work for me still stands,” he finally said, hoping she’d changed her mind. He wanted very much to help her, but evidently her pride made that very difficult. He couldn’t force her to take the job.

When she didn’t reply, he glanced in her direction, and, taking into account the way she was staring out the side window, he guessed no answer to his job offer reminder would be forthcoming from her.

Except for Lizzie’s incoherent baby babblings coming from the back seat, the rest of the ride proceeded in an uncomfortable silence. Cole wanted to talk Faith into accepting his offer of a job, but she obviously wasn’t into making conversation of any kind, especially if it included working for him. Still, he wanted to press the subject, but if he hadn’t learned anything else from his defunct former relationship, he’d learned that wanting something and pushing for acceptance didn’t necessarily mean you’d get it. Sometimes what you wanted just sent the other person running in the opposite direction. Like it had with Diane.

The large white sign sporting an ornate teapot and the words Terri’s Tea Room dragged him from his thoughts.

“Here we are,” he announced unnecessarily.

Cole pulled the squad car to the curb, jumped out, retrieved Lizzie and her faithful teddy bear from the backseat, and handed the child to Faith. “Let me know when you’re ready to go home, and I’ll pick you up. I’ll be at the office.” When she opened her mouth, he was certain she was about to protest, but he stopped her with a raised palm. “It’s not up for discussion.” He hated himself for using Lizzie, but he knew it was the only thing to stop Faith’s argument. “Lizzie can’t tolerate this heat, and by the time you’re ready to go home, she’ll be wiped out and cranky.”

“Thanks.” As though she wanted to say more, she paused for only a moment, but then turned toward the building and walked away.

IT WAS NEARLY two o’clock, and the tearoom held just a handful of patrons.

Faith spotted Terri Medford, the owner, sitting at a table near the window talking to an older woman that Faith instantly recognized as Granny Jo Hawks. Not wanting to interrupt their conversation, she hung back.

Granny Jo leaned past Terri and smiled at Faith. “Faith Chambers, is that you, dear?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Faith still hung back.

Terri turned to see who Granny was talking to and waved Faith over. “Come and join us. We’re just passing the time of day.” She stood. “I’ll get something for the little one to sit on.” She hurried off toward the kitchen and returned quickly with a pink plastic booster seat in one hand and a stack of cellophane-wrapped saltines in the other. “The kids always like a cracker.”

Faith remembered Terri. She looked much the same as she had when Faith used to come here after school with her friends for a soda before going home. The only differences in Terri’s appearance were the smatterings of gray scattered through her ebony hair and maybe a few more faint wrinkles. Otherwise, she was the same sweet-natured woman who’d greeted every customer with a warm welcome and a smile that made her green eyes twinkle.

Faith placed Lizzie in the booster seat and slid her up to the table. Terri unwrapped a cracker and handed it to Lizzie. She grabbed it and began gnawing on it immediately. Once Faith had her daughter settled, she slid into the only empty chair at the table.

Terri remained standing. “Can I get you something, dear? Coffee? Pop? Sweet tea?”

“Nothing for me, thanks. Actually, I didn’t come here to eat.”

“Oh?” Terri sat down and grinned at Faith.

Faith gathered her courage around her and took a deep breath. “I need a job.”

The smile on the woman’s face crumbled. Genuine regret took its place. She covered Faith’s hand with her own. “I’m so sorry darlin’, but business hasn’t been all that good lately. Everyone in Carson is off on vacations and such. There’s barely enough business to keep my one waitress busy. I’m not sure when I’ll be taking anyone on again.”

Disappointment flooded Faith. “Do you happen to know of anyone in town who’s looking for help?” She failed miserably at keeping the desperation out of her voice.

Granny Jo and Terri exchanged glances. “No, I’m afraid I don’t.” Terri stood again. “Have you and this little sweetie had lunch?” Faith shook her head. “Well, Granny and I were just about to eat, and we’d love it if you’d join us.”

Faith straightened, her thoughts going to the few dollars in her purse, money she couldn’t afford to squander on the luxury of lunch. To that end, she’d packed a couple of sandwiches for her and Lizzie in her tote bag along with some fruit to eat on the bench in the square. “I . . . uh . . . I don’t—”

Terri stopped her with a hand to her arm. “My treat. And I won’t take no for an answer.” Then she hurried away again.

Hating that she must have looked like she needed Terri’s charity, Faith kept her gaze centered on Lizzie as she devoured her third cracker.