Tomorrow's Promise (The Hawks Mountain Series) (6 page)

Chapter 5

WHEN SHE HEARD the sound of a car’s engine, Faith froze. Cole. A wave of apprehension gripped her, followed quickly by the acceleration of her heartbeat.

She hit the brew button on the coffeemaker and then hurried to the living room to look out the window. Relief washed over her when Granny Jo climbed from the car carrying a small box. Granny was keeping her promise to stop by today and babysit Lizzie while she went to town to look for a job again.

Faith had expected Cole to be the one in her driveway, since he’d told her he’d pick her up the day before. Although she was grateful, she wished she didn’t have to depend on him for transportation, but she saw no way around it. Unfortunately, she had no car and borrowing one was out of the question. Faith had never gotten her driver’s license.

She sighed. Fighting her growing attraction for the handsome sheriff was exhausting her and complicating her life when she didn’t need any more problems. She didn’t have the extra energy to expend on it right now. Taking care of Lizzie, finding a job, and keeping her financial head above water had her tied in knots.

Opening the front door, she smiled at Granny Jo. “Good morning. Come on in. A fresh pot of coffee is almost made and waiting in the kitchen.”

“Good morning, dear.” Granny held out the box. “Here’s some cookies for you and that sweet daughter of yours.” She gave Faith the box she’d carried from the car.

The aroma emanating from it made Faith’s mouth water. Homemade, chocolate chip cookies. A treat she hadn’t had in a very long time. Gramma Harrison had been a wonderful baker. Faith had often hurried to her home after school to indulge in one of her grandmother’s baked treats—one thing on a very short list of things Faith missed about her childhood. Those things she did miss were always connected to her loving grandmother.

“And I’d be mighty grateful for a cup of that coffee.” Granny Jo’s voice roused Faith from her thoughts.

They made their way to the kitchen, and Granny took a seat near where Lizzie was playing on the floor. Faith poured two cups and placed them on the table, then added spoons, sugar, and a creamer. She sat across from Granny, added sugar to her cup, and nervously stirred her coffee, waiting for what she knew would be the inevitable question—
why had she come home?

Her movements halted when Granny laid her hand on Faith’s. Then, as if the older woman had read her mind, Granny Jo said, “Honey, relax. If you’re worried that I’m going to start cross-examining you about your reasons for coming back to Carson, don’t. I’ve learned over the years that when a body’s ready to talk, they will. No need to push them.”

Faith smiled. Her whole body relaxed. She wasn’t ready to talk about Sloan having been into something illegal and what had gone wrong with her “dream” life in the big city. Maybe she just didn’t want to face her failure. Maybe she wanted to avoid the embarrassment of admitting she had questionable taste in men. Maybe it was because she wanted more than anything to erase any memories of her time in Atlanta, and talking about it just brought it all back to life. Whatever the reason, that Granny was not expecting Faith to talk about it made her whole body relax.

“I will say this, and you can take it for what you will.” Granny squeezed her hand. “Sometimes you have to stop looking for the happily ever after and be happy after all.” Granny sipped her coffee, and then set the cup carefully on the table. “Over the years, I’ve learned that today and yesterday might not be the best, but there’s always tomorrow.”

That might sound good and even look good on paper, but Faith had learned from Sloan’s half-baked promises not to plan too far into the future. She’d long ago lost any reliance on the promise of a tomorrow.

AS COLE DROVE toward Faith’s house, he again questioned his motivation for inserting himself into her life. It wasn’t as if he had a future in Carson.

Coming here and taking the job had just been a favor for his father. When he’d had a heart scare, the old man had finally realized he was too old to be playing cops and robbers—not that Carson’s crime rate was all that high—and had moved himself and his wife to Florida. But not before he’d guilted Cole into taking over as sheriff until his elected term ended. After that, Cole would be free to pursue a new life far from Carson.

So what was the answer to his quandary? Was he just trying to be the Good Samaritan? Or was there more to it? Was he looking for a family? Was he interested in Faith for a completely emotional reason?

A sudden vision of the woman in question raced through his mind, followed by a vision of Lizzie with red lollipop juice dribbling down her chin and onto the fur of her faithful teddy bear. That old longing for a family reared its ugly head. That had to be the answer. His desire for children, for a family, had blurred his reasoning. If that were true, he had to stop it right now before it got out of hand. It wouldn’t be fair to start something with her knowing he would be leaving soon.

“Get a grip, Ainsley. She’s made it perfectly clear that she doesn’t want your help. Take her into town today and home tonight, and then be done with her.”

He pulled the squad car into Faith’s driveway and parked beside an old, blue Ford he recognized as Granny Jo Hawks’s cherished vehicle. Word was that the car had been Earl’s, and she refused to get rid of it no matter how rundown it became.

Cole climbed from the squad car and walked to the front porch. For a moment, he stood there, renewing his vow to keep his emotions in check. But when the door opened and he gazed into Faith’s beautiful face, all his good intentions flew out the window. Plain and simple, the woman took his breath away.

“Morning, Faith,” he finally managed.

“Hi, Cole.” She looked as hesitant as he felt. “Come on in. I have to get my purse.” She stepped to the side to allow him to pass, and the smell of her flowery perfume wafted up to him, further scrambling his brain.

“Morning, Cole,” Granny called from the kitchen. She was building a tower out of Lizzie’s blocks and then laughed when the child knocked it down.

“Granny.” Trying not to look at Faith as she collected her purse and kissed Lizzie goodbye, he touched the brim of his hat. But he caught himself following her movements as closely as a cat stalking a mouse. When she turned toward him, he blinked, as though waking from a dream, and quickly averted his gaze. “Well, we should be going.”

Faith tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiled nervously, and nodded. “Okay. Bye, Lizzie.” She waved at the baby, who was intent on knocking down the block tower again. “I shouldn’t be long, Granny.”

“Take as long as you need, dear. Miss Lizzie and I have a lot of playing to get in today. Good luck.” Then she winked at Cole.

Why was she wishing him good luck?

COLE AND FAITH had ridden for about a mile in total silence. Finally, he broke the ice. “So, where will you be going today to look for work?”

“Granny said that her granddaughter, Becky, might need help at the social service office. She wasn’t sure about it, but I figure it couldn’t hurt to ask.” Faith swallowed hard, trying to remove the instant feeling of contentment that overcame her every time she heard his velvety, deep voice.

Keeping his gaze on the road, he nodded. “That’s a possibility. But what if that doesn’t work out for you?”

Was he going around the barn to get back to his offer of a job? “I’ll have to keep looking. I can’t just give up. I have Lizzie to think about.”

She went silent, waiting for him to renew the offer, but it didn’t come. Had he given up? While the idea pleased her because she wouldn’t have to find an excuse to turn him down again, at the same time, she felt a distinct stab of disappointment that he’d caved so easily.

What was wrong with her? Either she wanted this man in her life or she didn’t. This wasn’t rocket science. So why was she playing mental games with herself?

Trust.

The word jumped into her mind like a boulder rolling off a cliff and hitting the ground below with a loud
thud
. She didn’t trust Cole. But to be fair, it wasn’t just him she distrusted. It was all men. Her father had stood to the side and allowed her mother to browbeat Faith with religion, and Sloan had made promises he never kept. Why should she trust any man ever again?

The car stopping drew her out of her thoughts.

“Here you are,” Cole said. He smiled, but she felt like the gesture was more forced than spontaneous. Despite that, it still had the power to make her breath catch in her throat. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.” Faith climbed from the car and closed the door. She watched as he drove away from the curb and went down the street toward the sheriff’s office.

FAITH WALKED confidently into the building housing the social services offices. She and Becky Hawks, Hart now, had been friends in high school, so Faith felt fairly at ease asking her for a job. However, she’d make it very clear it had nothing to do with their friendship.

When she entered the office, Becky was talking to another woman at a desk in the front of the room. “Becky?”

Becky straightened and turned toward her. She stared at Faith for a moment, and then her expression changed from confusion to recognition. “Faith? Faith Chambers? I can’t believe it’s you. Granny said you were back in town.”

“Hi, Becks.”

She rushed forward and enveloped Faith in a bear hug. Becky released her, and then guided her to an inner office. “It’s been so long since I last saw you. How are you? What have you been doing? Where are you living?” Then she stopped talking, shook her head, and laughed. Then, encumbered by an obviously advanced pregnancy, she seated herself behind the desk. “Sorry. I probably should let you answer one question at a time. It’s just that I’m so happy to see you.”

Faith sat in a black vinyl chair facing Becky.

“So how are you?”

“Fine.” Faith was aware that her voice was shaky and without much conviction, but she hoped that her elevated chin might say otherwise. The last thing she wanted was to appear like a pathetic waif.

Becky frowned. “Why don’t I believe that?” She leaned her forearms on the desk and looked Faith in the eye. “Remember, we used to tell each other everything? So come on, girl, spill it.”

Just like her grandmother, Becky saw right through Faith’s flimsy attempt at confidence. She sighed. “I need a job. Granny told me you might have something.” Faith took a deep breath. “I’m not trained for much, but I can do filing and cleaning up around here, and—”

“Wait.” Becky held up her hand. Her expression told Faith this was not going to be good news. Disappointment filled her. “I’m sorry, Faith, but I don’t have any openings. This is a very small satellite office and our funding isn’t geared to pay for any more employees than Mandy and me.”

Faith’s friend looked truly regretful, but her remorse didn’t help dissolve the growing lump of desperation in Faith’s stomach. This was her last hope. Well, not her
last
hope. There was the job Cole had offered her. The desperation grew to the size of a basketball.

Chapter 6

BY THE TIME Faith left Becky’s office, all she had to show for the day was a promise from her friend to let her know if she heard about anyone hiring and a bigger ball of desperation weighing down her stomach. Her employment prospects had just gone from dim to jet black.

She walked across the street to Terri’s Tea Room. Though she was counting pennies, she decided she needed a cup of coffee and some time alone to think about where she’d go from here.

The waitress appeared moments after Faith found a seat close to the front window. “What can I get you?”

“Coffee, please.” The young girl smiled and disappeared, only to return quickly with a steaming cup of coffee. Faith added sugar and stirred while she gazed out on Main Street.

Her hand closed automatically around the one possession she’d always found comfort in—the locket her grandmother had given Faith just before she died. She recalled Gramma’s words as if she could hear her speaking them into her ear. “Baby girl, hang on to this because it holds the answers to all your tomorrows.”

Faith looked down at the treasured piece of jewelry. The sun glinted off her ruby birthstone set in the middle of a gold rose on the face of the locket. “If only that were true, Gramma.” Even if she pawned it, which she refused to even consider, she’d get so little for it that it wouldn’t help her financially for long. She dropped the locket back inside the neckline of her blouse.

While she sipped the aromatic coffee, she scanned the street for somewhere she hadn’t gone on her job search. But as she her gaze moved from store to store, she realized her options had run dry. Well, not completely dry. There was one job open to her . . . keeping house for Cole.

The more she thought about it, the less intimidating it seemed. After all, she’d be there while he was at work, so her fears of what would happen if she was exposed to his charms for too long were unfounded. She could do it. What’s more, she had no choice. She must do it.

Faith finished her coffee, and then used the phone behind the tearoom’s desk to call the sheriff’s office to let Cole know she was ready to go home. When Graylin told her Cole had been called out of the office and it might be about a half an hour before he could pick her up, she went back to her table and ordered another coffee.

Though she still had some reservations about working for Cole, the idea that she had a job in her future relieved some of the knots in her stomach, and she was able to relax a bit. Though she suspected the job offer from Cole was more a benevolent gesture than because he needed a housekeeper, she’d give it her all. She’d always been a good worker and earned every penny of her wages. This job would be no different.

A half hour later, she left the tearoom and positioned herself on the bench outside. She glanced down Main Street and noticed a familiar silver car coming her way. As it got closer, it slowed. For the second time, her mother stared at her, shook her head, and then accelerated down the street. Faith cringed. It had been inevitable that in a small town like Carson she would run into one or both of her parents eventually. She had, however, hoped it would be later.

But she’d barely had time to think about it when a black and white squad car pulled up in front of her. The passenger door swung opened, and Cole flashed that devastating smile at her. “Any luck?” he asked as she climbed into the front seat.

“No. Becky only has enough funding for two employees. Since she already has Mandy Michaels working for her, she doesn’t have any other openings.” Faith went silent.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you.” His voice dripped with sincerity. “I hope I didn’t take too long. Granny Jo called me to borrow my baby car seat. Seems Becky’s little one got hurt at nursery school, and she needed Granny to go to their house to watch him. She took Lizzie with her.”

“Oh. I hope he’s okay.” Suddenly, Faith sat up straight and stared at him. “How will I get Lizzie home?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll go pick her up after I drop you off. If that’s okay with you. It’s just that you look beat.”

She was about to protest, but he was right. She was exhausted and wasn’t looking forward to the ride up the mountain. But, she’d only known this man for a few days. Could she let him pick up her daughter? She glanced sideways at his profile and realized her trepidation was ridiculous. He’d already proven how much he cared for Lizzie. She leaned back, knowing Lizzie would be taken care of by both Granny and Cole.