3

Well, you win some. You lose some. Jess smiled to herself as she locked the dead bolt in her room at the Last Chance Motel and shut the blinds. She didn’t know if it was her or if Andy Ryan liked taking care of everyone, but he sure had his knight-in-shining-armor helmet on, even if it did resemble a battered cowboy hat. It wasn’t that Jess went around with a chip on her shoulder; she knew how to ask for help when she needed it. But when people wanted to rush in and take care of things for her, her back went up, and her independence became a battle to be won. Again.

In the win column: her refusal to be his date at that Red Chile and Bluegrass thing, her insistence that he eat his own dinner while she waited for hers to arrive, and her rejection of his insistent offer of a ride back to the motel when the evening was over. In the lose column, if you could call it that, was the fact that she wound up sitting with him all evening anyway and his announcement that it was a free country and he could walk beside her all the way back to the motel if he wanted to, even if it did mean walking all the way back to get his truck.

Funny, it was all the things in her “lose” column that made her smile. Sitting with Andy and his friends had been fun, and there had been no hint that he thought of her as his date. In fact, they had wound up switching seats around so she could talk to Lainie while Andy caught up with Ray. When it was time to leave, she refused offers of a ride from both the Bradens and Andy, claiming the walk was both short and necessary after her huge meal. It was Andy, of course, who fell in beside her as she headed back to the motel. The walk and the conversation had been so easy that it didn’t even occur to her to wonder what he had in mind until he stopped back a few feet from her door and stood, hands in pockets, while she fitted her key in the lock before lifting his hand in a wave and ambling back across the parking lot.

Jess winced as her mother’s voice and her litany of warnings sounded in her head. She was pretty sure there was something in there about watching out for strange men. But truthfully? Even though eighteen short hours ago she didn’t even know he existed, Andy didn’t seem like a stranger at all. Neither did his friends the Bradens. And even though within the week she expected to be so immersed in her work that she wouldn’t have time for anything, it was good to have friends.

The phone on the bedside table startled her with its old-fashioned jangle as she headed to the bathroom to run a bath.

“Dr. MacLeod, it’s Rita. I didn’t wake you, did I? I saw your light as I came in.” How did she manage to sound as brisk and energetic at 11:00 at night as she did first thing in the morning? Especially after the day Jess knew she had put in.

“No, I’m still up. And please, it’s Jess.”

“Just wanted to make sure you got back okay. I noticed you didn’t drive over this evening.”

“I made it just fine, thanks. It was a nice night for a walk. Where I’m from it can get cold and damp after dark. The warm air felt good.” Jess saw no need to mention she hadn’t made the walk alone, but then, she had the feeling that Rita probably already knew that. She had to have passed Andy as she drove back.

“Get plenty to eat? Meet some folks?”

“Yes and yes.” Jess was about to elaborate, but Rita had apparently found out what she needed to know.

“Well, good. If you need anything, the number’s right there on the phone. Good night, now.”

Jess looked at the receiver, connection gone dead, for a moment before replacing it in its cradle. Egalitarian to her soul, she had always maintained that people were the same everywhere, but maybe that was restricted to basic wants and needs. Because the people she’d met in Last Chance were different from the people back home; there was no other way to put it.

Jess stepped out the door of her motel room and lifted her face to the predawn breeze. Only a little more than a week had passed since her arrival and her feet-first leap into Last Chance society at the Red Chile and Bluegrass fiesta, but Last Chance was beginning to feel like home. Something about these early mornings in the desert reached deep inside Jess and filled her with well-being. Maybe it was the coolness of the air or the vivid colors of mountains, sage, and sky, all of which would soon be sucked up by the sun just cresting the peaks to the east of town. She leaned against the post just outside her door with one hand and pulled her leg up behind her with the other, holding it a few seconds before repeating the action with the other leg. After a few more stretches, she headed across the parking lot for the side of the road at an easy pace. This was going to be a big day, and she couldn’t wait to get started.

Despite the lack of running trails in Last Chance—despite, in fact, the lack of anything but a few paved and dirt roads—running was easy. Traffic was light, almost nonexistent once she turned off the highway that ran through town, and she fell into an easy rhythm as she pounded past small, flat-roofed houses still silent except for the occasional sprinkler sparkling in the early sunlight as it watered a small patch of lawn. On days like this, she felt as if she could run forever.

“To your left.”

Jess heard the voice behind her about the same time she heard the approaching steps, and she moved to the right.

“Mornin’.” Andy appeared at her left elbow and matched his pace to her own. “You’re out early.”

Jess glanced at him before turning her attention back to the road in front of her with a little smile. “Yep. Every morning if I can possibly make it.”

“Really? I’m surprised I haven’t run into you before this.” From the looks of him, Andy had to have been running quite a while, but his voice came clear and easy. “You sure you didn’t hear from someone that I go for a run every morning and decided to try to run into me? ’Course, I’m used to stuff like that, being a big football star and all, but I just hadn’t expected it from you.”

“What?” Jess may have been getting a little winded, because her protest came as more of a squawk than she intended, and she slowed down to stare at him.

Andy didn’t slow his pace, and Jess had to quicken hers to catch up. “You sure think a lot of yourself, don’t you?”

“Me? Nah. I’m just a local boy who caught a few breaks. But you fans just won’t leave me alone.”

“Fans? Leave you alone?” No doubt about it, talking and running was leaving Jess puffing a bit. Or maybe it was talking, running, and indignation. “Give me a break.”

“Save your breath. We still have two miles to go.” Andy’s eyes were on the road ahead. His pace hadn’t changed since he caught up with her.

Three things kept Jess running along at his side. In the first place, even though she hadn’t known Andy very long, she had seen him say the most outrageous things with an absolutely bland expression, and she was beginning to believe this was one of those times. Second, in case he really did think she was stalking him, she wanted to set him straight in no uncertain terms at the end of this run. Finally, she had no idea where to go, and clearly Andy did. He led her through the awakening streets of Last Chance and down a dirt path that ran along the top of the irrigation ditch.

Everything had appeared so barren at first look, but as she ran, Jess became aware that there was life everywhere. White blossoms bloomed on trailing gray-green vines at her feet, and a lizard skittered across the path just ahead. She turned her head to find the source of the trilling birdsong, and Andy pointed at a bird perched on a fencepost singing his heart out.

“Red-winged blackbird. Sounds like he’s having a good time too.”

Jess just nodded. The sun was well up, and the day was beginning to warm up. Even Andy’s breath was coming in short puffs now, and Jess was glad when he led the way through an empty lot on a cul-de-sac and onto a paved road again. A battered pickup was backing out of a driveway, and they moved to the side of the road to let it pass.

“Whatever’s chasing you, I think you done outrun it.” The truck crawled by, and an older man with a grizzled mustache leaned out the window. “Nothin’ back there as far as I can see.”

“Thanks, Les. I appreciate you watching out for me.” Andy slowed to a slow jog and then to a walk, and Jess gratefully matched his pace.

“Looking to see some good football this year.” The truck began to pick up speed. “You take care now.”

“You too. Tell Evelyn hi for me.” Andy returned Les’s wave as he drove away and turned to Jess. “Les Watson. Makes the same joke every day.”

Jess didn’t answer. She was concentrating on getting her breathing back to normal. The run had been amazing. Walking was even better.

“But I guess when you’ve worked outside with your hands every day of your life, working up a sweat for fun just seems plain crazy.” He grinned and swung his arms in circles to stretch them out.

“If it gets this hot, I think I might agree with him. How much farther?”

“Not much.” They were walking down the middle of a quiet residential street now. “Turn left at the corner down there, and you’re almost to Main Street. The motel is in the next block beyond that.”

As she walked, and her breath returned to normal, and the air, warm as it was, began to cool her a little, Jess felt her spirits rising. This was why she ran—this sense of strength and well-being that followed all but the longest of her runs.

“Morning, Miss Elizabeth. Here, let me do that for you.” Andy opened the gate of a small brown house they were passing and took the sprinkler a white-haired lady was trying to drag across the lawn. “Where do you want it?”

“Thank you, Andy. I appreciate it.” She lifted a cane she had been leaning on and gave it a shake. “Now that I have to take this thing everywhere I go, it’s a lot harder to do what I want to. I forget that sometimes.”

“Here you go.” Andy put the sprinkler where she indicated and extended his arm to include Jess in the conversation. “Miss Elizabeth, have you met our new doctor? This is Jess MacLeod.”

A warm and delighted smile filled the lined face. “I have not, although of course, I’ve heard all about you. Please come in. Lainie’s over at the diner working, and Ray’s already left for his studio, but I’ve got some coffee cake left, and it won’t take a jiffy to make another pot of coffee.”

“Ray and Lainie live here too, Jess.” Andy stooped to run a finger under the chin of a huge gray-and-white tabby that had been rubbing against his leg. He looked up at Elizabeth. “Ray was saying you had quite a fall last winter, Miss Elizabeth. Glad to see you on your feet.”

Elizabeth flapped her free hand. “Oh, pshaw. The way my family fusses, you’d think I already had one foot out the door. I’m fine, just a little inconvenienced, that’s all. You’re sure you won’t change your mind and come in for coffee?”

Jess had started shaking her head when Elizabeth first mentioned the coffee and was a little surprised to find that Elizabeth had noticed. “I’d love to some other time, but I really need a shower before I’m going to be very good company at all.”

“Then come to dinner. Lainie and Ray will be home, and I know they’d like to see you again. Lainie was telling me this morning how much she liked visiting with you last weekend and how much she’d love to get to know you better.”

Dinner? Jess didn’t know quite how to respond. Who invites a sweaty stranger to dinner? Who, in fact, invites anyone to dinner these days? But Miss Elizabeth, smiling at her with expectation, clearly meant what she said.

“I do thank you, Miss Elizabeth.” Jess could only imagine what Lainie might say coming home after being on her feet all day to find out a dinner party was in the offing. “But my movers will be here soon, and I’ll be busy with that all day. I’d love to stop by for that cup of coffee some day soon, though.”

“If you’re moving in today, that’s all the more reason to come for dinner. You probably won’t have a thing in the house to eat, and the Dip ’n’ Dine closes early, you know. Shall we say about 7:00? You come too, Andy.”

Something in Miss Elizabeth’s tone, warm as it was, said she wasn’t used to being told no. Jess looked to Andy for support, but he just gave the cat one last scratch behind the ears and stood up.

“Sounds great. I wouldn’t miss it.”

Jess felt a wave of frustration. Leave it to Andy not to get that someone was going to have to fix that dinner, and it probably wasn’t going to be the elderly lady leaning on the cane. But it appeared now that the dinner was going to take place whether Jess came or not. She tried to will her annoyance from both her expression and her voice.

“Well, then, thank you, Miss Elizabeth, and 7:00 it is. What can I bring?”

“Just your own sweet self. Oh, and just call me Elizabeth, honey. Most folks do. You too, Andy. You’re all grown up now. It’s okay.”

“All right then, Elizabeth.” Andy stopped and considered, as if he were tasting his words. “Nope. Doesn’t sound right. Sorry, Miss Elizabeth.”

“I’ll see you at 7:00 then. And thanks again.” Jess glanced at her watch. The movers weren’t due till about 10:00, but still, she had a lot she needed to get done before she met them.

“I can’t tell you how much I’ll be looking forward to it.” Elizabeth smiled and turned to go back inside. “Are you coming, Sam?”

As if he understood her, the cat stopped rolling on the sidewalk, jumped to his feet, and led the way. Jess watched Elizabeth ignore the ramp leading to her front door and carefully make her way up her front steps. Jess gave her one last wave and headed down the road, Andy beside her.

“What were you thinking, saying you’d love to come to dinner with almost no notice at all?” She gave Andy’s shoulder a little shove.

“What? You said you’d come too.”

“Only after you did. Did you give any thought to the fact either Lainie or Ray is going to have to come home and fix dinner for us?”

“Ray or Lainie? Why?”

“Well, who else? Elizabeth can hardly walk. You don’t think she’s going to cook, do you?”

Andy grinned as he broke into a slow jog. “Here’s your first bit of really useful Last Chance advice: never make the mistake of underestimating Elizabeth Cooley.”

Jess basked in a sense of accomplishment as she brought her car to a stop outside Elizabeth Cooley’s gate just before 7:00. Not only was all her furniture in place and her bedroom nearly unpacked, but she had found her way back to Elizabeth’s without having to ask directions. Okay, considering the size of Last Chance, maybe that wasn’t all that much of an achievement, but she felt good about it nevertheless. And fresh from a shower and wearing clean clothes, she was feeling pretty darn good and actually looking forward to the evening.

Andy’s pickup pulled up behind her car as she got out, and she waited for him on the sidewalk.

“I’d have been happy to come pick you up.” He joined her on the walk and held the gate open for her. “I drove right by your house on the way over here.”

“How’d you know where I live?” She hadn’t seen him since he left her at the motel and jogged off somewhere. Maybe he was the stalker.

“Could be the moving truck with California plates parked outside your house most of the day. Did I mention I drive by on the way to and from my house? We’re practically neighbors.”

“Oh.” Jess was beginning to feel a little foolish and more than a little full of herself.

“Hey! Glad you made it.” Ray came out the front door and stood on the porch with his hands in his pockets. “Come on in. Gran has dinner just about ready.”

The small living room Jess stepped into was neat and full of wonderful aromas. Sam, looking like a gray-and-white loaf, observed their arrival with gravity from the back of the sofa. Lainie greeted them from a recliner where she was stretched out with her feet up.

“Hey, welcome! I’d get up, but someone would probably start yelling at me if I did.”

“You stay right where you are.” Elizabeth, a little pink-cheeked, emerged from the kitchen and crossed the room to greet them with a hug. She walked with a slight limp, but the cane was nowhere in sight. “So glad you came. And don’t you look pretty. I’d never dream you’d spent the day moving.”

“How about me? Do I look pretty too?” Andy bent to kiss Elizabeth’s cheek.

“You’re a mess. That’s what you are.” Elizabeth laughed. “But then you always were. The way you and Ray could get around me should make you ashamed.”

“Yeah, right. No one easier to fool than you, Gran.” Ray perched on the arm of the recliner, and Lainie smiled up at him.

“Well, I’m glad you’re back home, Andy. And I’m glad you’re here too, Jess. It’s about time Last Chance got its own doctor. Now, you just sit right here on the sofa and I’ll bring you some iced tea. Dinner will be ready in a minute.”

“Let me help.” Jess moved toward the kitchen.

“No, I’m all but done.” Elizabeth waved her to the sofa. “You just sit right there and rest a bit. Ray, honey, come get the tea for me, will you?”

Ray followed her into the kitchen as Jess and Andy sat down. Lainie grinned from the recliner.

“Ray and I came down to take care of Gran when she fell last winter, but you can see who’s taking care of who. When we told her she had another great-grandbaby on the way, she just told me I had worked my last day at the Dip ’n’ Dine. This was our compromise.” She held out her hands. “I can work for at least a while as long as I spend an hour or so here with my feet up when I get home every day. And this recliner is Gran’s personal throne, so when she turns it over to me, you know she means business.”

“But if your pregnancy is going well, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to work as long as you’re comfortable.”

“Tell that to Gran.” Lainie laughed. “Better yet, don’t. Believe me, an argument with Gran is not to be entered into lightly. But I may call you in for reinforcements next time Gran decides it’s time for me to quit.”

“Just let me know so I can get out of here in time.” Ray came back in carrying two glasses of tea, which he handed to Jess and Andy. “No one listens to me anyway.”

“Awww. Poor thing.” Lainie stroked her husband’s arm when he came to sit on the arm of her recliner again.

Jess took a sip of her tea and leaned back against the sofa cushions. She was glad she had been more or less forced to accept Elizabeth’s invitation. If the evening so far was a harbinger of her life here in Last Chance, she was going to be very happy.