At breakfast the next morning, Alberta broached the subject of shopping.
“I need supplies. These guests eat like the famine is coming,” she said, heaping another three pancakes on Brad’s plate. Even Kat ate like she didn’t know when her next meal would arrive.
“It’s not my turn,” Ariel said quickly.
“The way I figure it, it’s Devon’s. He hasn’t had a turn yet,” Jed said, placing his fork on the plate and leaning back in the chair. “That was good eating, Alberta.”
Tally smiled and sipped her coffee. One of the things she tried to teach these young people was manners. When they first came, they never thought to thank Alberta for her cooking. Pleased with his progress, her gaze moved to Devon. He ate steadily, said little. He looked at Jed when he spoke.
“My turn for what?” Devon asked.
“Shopping,” Brad answered. “A man’s got to learn how to shop for himself, according to Tally here. So we take turns buying the groceries. Of course unless you plan on having a household of ten, I don’t quite see how shopping for the ranch prepares you for having your own place.”
He slanted a glance at Tally.
“It’s the theory,” Tally said, smiling.
This was an old argument with Brad. He truly hated to shop. Of course lately, he didn’t want to do anything not done from the back of a horse.
Devon’s gaze moved to her. Studying her, he finished the last of his pancakes and reached for the coffee.
“Shopping?”
Tally swallowed, and nodded, glad she hadn’t choked. When he looked at her like that, it was all she could do to sit still. Her heart sped up, her hands grew damp and she felt as tongue-tied as a young girl. Heat coursed through her, blood thrumming in her veins. Glancing around, she fervently hoped no one else noticed her physical reaction to the man.
Devon had to start some of the steps of the Fresh Start program. Just because the man was older than her other charges, didn’t mean he could skip the different stages of the program. At least she didn’t think it did. Once he proved he could handle things, she’d back off. But favoritism wasn’t in the game plan. The others had to take turns shopping, so Devon did, too.
“We can go into Jackson this morning. There’re some nice stores where you can get some more clothes if you need them. Then we’ll buy the groceries for the week.”
“I could use a few things. I’d like some more jeans, for one.”
He looked at Brad.
“And maybe some boots. Gus said I should get some for riding.”
“And maybe a suit?” Tally suggested. “For job interviews. Or do you have some in San Francisco you can send for?”
Devon glanced at her sharply, his eyes narrowed.
Jed hooted with laughter. “A suit? I’ve never seen a guy around here wearing a suit! What’s Devon going to interview for—mayor?”
Tally flushed and looked away. It was true, most businessmen around Jackson wore casual attire. But she couldn’t envision Devon settling for a permanent job around here. When his time was up, surely he’d return to San Francisco or some other big city.
“I’m not interviewing for anything,” Devon said. “I’ll get experience here like Jed and Brad.”
Everyone at the table fell silent, staring first at him and then Tally.
“We’ll discuss that later,” Tally said quietly.
He’d mentioned holding off on starting that first day. Was he deliberately resisting the program?
Kat leaned forward and smiled an invitation. “Stop by my store today, Devon. Come see where I work.”
“Like he wants to buy some women’s clothes. You can have a burger and fries where I work,” Ariel said, glaring at Kat. “I’ll give you extra toppings.”
“We won’t be there long enough for lunch, Ariel. And I doubt Devon needs any women’s apparel. But I might stop by, Kat,” Tally said.
“Whatever.”
She didn’t seem as enthusiastic with Tally’s proposed visit as Devon’s.
By mid morning Tally was ready to leave the ranch. She offered to let Devon drive the truck, but he declined.
“I need to get my driver’s license renewed. It expired.”
“We can take care of that whenever you’re ready. It would be a good thing to have soon so you can drive. The others use the other ranch truck as needed. Ariel and Kat share it when driving to work,” she said easily as they started their trip into Jackson. “You’ll need transportation to a job, too.”
“I have a deal I want to propose. I guess now is as good a time as any to do it,” Devon said slowly.
“A deal?” Tally became wary. “What kind of deal?”
“I worked in an office before. I was an accountant. But I’m not going to be able to go back to that line of work. I need to change careers.”
Alert, Tally knew he was watching her closely to judge her reactions. How did he think she would react? It was the first time he’d brought up his past. Was she supposed to say something? She waited. When the others had told her about themselves, they’d been able to explain why they had done what they’d done. Sometimes talking through it helped them see what other choices they might have made.
“Before I get a job, I’d need experience in that field. Right?”
She nodded.
“I have some experience in construction from my college days. But nothing recent. I can get experience here. Fix up whatever you want, build the pond, paint the house, renovate a room, you name it. And I’ve been working with Gus for a couple of days now. He’s a fount of information about ranching. Another possibility. There are ranches all over the west, this would be good training if I wanted to do that.”
“Is construction the field you want to work in?” she asked slowly. “Or ranching? Which?”
“I would have said construction, since I worked in that area years ago. But I like what I’ve learned so far about ranching. It may be a whole new field for me. Brad and I can hire out together.”
She laughed softly and shook her head.
“I don’t know. This seems like a huge change for you. Aren’t you going to miss San Francisco?”
“No,” he said, looking away.
“I guess that’s a step in the right direction, then. Deciding what you want to do,” she said slowly.
Something didn’t feel right, but she wasn’t sure why. Did a man with an advanced degree in accounting or business or whatever suddenly change careers and work on a ranch?
“Then jeans and work shirts are all I need,” he said, satisfaction evident in his tone.
Tally caught Devon’s expression. It made her uneasy. Was he up to something? But what? He wasn’t avoiding work. It was his decision as to what he wanted to do. If he was serious about doing the repairs and about learning about the ranch, she’d make sure he got all the experience he could handle.
“I’ll explain it to Mr. Peters,” she said at last, hoping the coordinator of the project would be satisfied. He’d been understanding when Jed and Brad evidenced interest in the ranch. Why wouldn’t he feel the same with Devon?
As they drove into town, Tally mulled over their brief conversation. It was the longest one Devon had participated in since arriving. He kept to himself even at mealtimes.
Glancing at him, she took a deep breath and tried to focus on her driving. His shirt was open at the throat, displaying the brown column of his neck, his pulse beating steadily at the base. The sleeves were rolled back to the elbows, exposing the tanned skin of his forearms. The muscles of his upper arms and shoulders filled the shirt. Even staring at the highway she could see him from the corner of her eye. And what a sight he was.
Maybe Jimmie May had been right. She’d been alone too long. She needed someone to share things with. Not marriage—she didn’t want to end up dependent on some man. But if she found a companion, she could keep her independence and still have more in life than merely work and the ranch.
But not Devon. Not a man who would leave in three months. No matter how enticing the thought, she wouldn’t entertain fantasies about the man. She was paying far too much attention to him as it was. She had to stop.
He remained silent for most of the trip, but Tally knew he watched her as she drove. He seemed to spend a lot of time watching her. Or was she imagining things?
Devon studied the old town as they turned on to the main street. He’d do better to watch the buildings and take his eyes off Tally. She intrigued him. His former fiancée had loved fancy clothes, jewelry and stylish cars. Tally wore faded jeans and dusty boots. Her clothes were always clean and fit adequately, but she did nothing to display her trim figure or enhance her looks. She made no effort with makeup beyond a touch of mascara. And scraping her hair back from her face added nothing to her looks.
Yet she seemed complete, content. There was none of the restlessness Sheila had always displayed. Was it an act? He felt a certain satisfaction when he saw the color rise in her cheeks, the rapid rise and fall of her breasts in reaction to his bold look. At least something got to her.
“Stop staring at me,” Tally said self-consciously.
Heat washed through her whole body as if every nerve ending was attuned to him, seared by him. Yearned for him.
“I like looking at you,” he murmured audaciously, not turning away.
“It makes me nervous.”
She threw him a quick look, frowning at the gleam in his eye.
Both windows in the truck were wide-open; the air whipped around in the cab. A strand of hair came loose from Tally’s ponytail and Devon reached over to tuck it behind her ear, his fingers lightly caressing her cheek, trailing fire and ice in their wake.
Tally tightened her hands on the wheel, her heart pounding recklessly. Her breathing stopped. His touch was so light, so gentle and so disturbing. She hoped she could park the truck without crashing into something.
She pulled up behind the National Hotel, and parked in the covered lot beneath the police station. Jackson had been a gold rush town and the old buildings gave it a special charm missing from newer towns.
“As you can see, Jackson isn’t very large. You can walk to the other end in only a few minutes. There’re a couple of clothing stores that will have what you want along the way. We’ll meet back here in two hours. Is that all right?”
If he wanted her to go with him, he’d have to ask. But she bet he wouldn’t. She knew he had received some of his money from Matt Helmsley, so there were no problems that way.
“Okay. Two hours.”
Devon climbed from the cab and followed her across the short bridge spanning a creek to the main street. He started up the sidewalk, watching the people, checking out the cars and trucks that lined the road. There was parking on both sides and plenty of people were in town, yet it wasn’t close to being crowded like San Francisco. Several nodded as they passed, offering a soft greeting. He nodded in return.
Tally watched him go, wishing he’d asked her to accompany him. She sighed as he disappeared from view. There was more to this particular guest than she’d bargained for. Three months would pass slowly. Especially if she acted like a love-struck teenager every time she was around him.
Sighing softly, she walked up the sidewalk. She’d check out Kat and see her in action. The girl had obtained a job as a sales clerk for one of the dress shops on Main Street but Tally hadn’t yet stopped in while she was working.
“Hi, Tally,” Kat greeted her as soon as she stepped inside the shop.
An elderly woman browsed clothes on the sale rack. The owner stood in the back and waved when Tally came in.
“Can I help you find something?” Kat asked.
“You sound very professional,” Tally said smiling. She was proud of Kat. Was this how parents felt when their child succeeded? “I’m just looking today. How are things going?”
“I love working here. Yvonne said I have a natural talent for fashion. She’s offered to make the job permanent when my time’s up. Think I should take it?”
“Why not? You like it, you’re good at it.”
“I guess I thought I’d be going back to Oakland.”
“Only if you want to. You get to do whatever you want,” Tally said gently.
Kat fell silent.
“Show me what you think would look good on me,” Tally suggested.
“I’d love to dress you in pastels and trendy styles. Your figure is great. You can wear a lot of things I can’t. How about this top? Lavender is pretty with your skin.”
For the next half hour Kat offered different clothes, keeping a running commentary on why each one would be perfect for Tally. Tempted, Tally truly considered buying something. She couldn’t forget Jimmie May’s suggestion. But she felt so conspicuous buying new clothes right after Devon arrived. Not that she’d be buying them for him. But she worried that others might think that was the reason.
“Let me think about this,” she said at last. “I don’t want to rush into anything.”
“Don’t be stodgy, Tally. Live a little. You could be a knockout in that blue dress.”
Smiling, Tally let herself dream for a minute. She’d glide down the stairs at home, the dress fitting like a dream. Devon waiting at the bottom of the steps...
Good grief, she was trying to forget about the man, not weave new fantasies about him.
“Later, maybe. I’ll let you know.”
She crossed to the back and spoke for a few minutes with Yvonne, then headed for the drugstore. She had time to kill until she was due to meet Devon and other things to do besides think about him.
An hour later Tally started for the truck. She was surprised to find Devon lounging on the wide stairs leading to the old hotel, several bags beside him.
“Been waiting long?” she called as he gathered his things and joined her on the sidewalk. He seemed more relaxed than earlier.
“No, just a few minutes. I enjoy watching people.”
“Get every thing you need?” she asked.
“Sure did. It wasn’t so bad.”
He gave her a slow, lopsided smile and Tally’s heart turned over, her insides softening. She almost faltered, grabbed a quick breath and began walking briskly toward the truck, all the while praying desperately that he wouldn’t notice how his proximity affected her.
“Next stop is the supermarket. Everyone takes turns buying groceries. Sometimes I send Kat and Brad or Ariel and Jed. The results are interesting, to say the least. But as long as they get the things Alberta writes down, I don’t mind the other things they buy. You probably don’t need much practice in shopping for food.”
“Close by my condo there was a small store where I got bread and cheese and things,” he said as they walked under the roof of the parking garage. “Usually I ate out. I’m not much of a cook.”
“I can cook, but I hate it. That’s why Alberta is such a godsend. I had enough cooking when I was a teenager to last me forever.”
“Your truck fits in here,” he said as they pulled out of the parking lot and drove the short distance to the market.
“How?”
“The whole place is like a rowdy Western town, ranches and cowboys. Every guy I saw had a cowboy hat on or boots.”
“What did you expect? This is the West. And ranching’s one of the big businesses around here.”
“San Francisco is nothing like this.”
“I know. I lived there before I moved here.”
He looked at her. “And you like this place better?”
“Much. Come in and help me get the food.”
She stopped before the local supermarket and jumped down from the truck.
“What about the packages?” Devon asked. She’d left her window down.
“They’ll be fine. No one steals things here.”
She headed for the store, biting her lip. She had to be careful of how she talked to him. Yet she couldn’t guard every word she said.
Tally pushed a cart toward him, pulled one free for herself.
“Two?”
“Yes, and they’ll be packed.”
Drawing the list from her pocket, she started down the first aisle. Devon followed, scanning the rows of food, picking out items and tossing them into the cart when she called them out. When extras went in, she kept quiet. Until his cart began to fill up when they were less than halfway done.
“Devon, we’re not here to buy one of everything. A few favorites are all right. One of everything on the shelves is not,” she said in exasperation when he tossed in two boxes of cereal.
“Tally, you wouldn’t want to deprive me of a breakfast cereal I haven’t been able to have in ages, would you? Or applesauce, or peaches?”
“What have you been eating all this time?” she asked as he piled more items in his cart.
“Bread and water.”
She laughed softly. “I don’t believe you. You can have one kind of cereal. Alberta makes a hot breakfast almost every day. Any more cereal will just get stale before you can eat it. You can have another kind next week. But we’re not getting four different kinds today.”
She reached in the cart and began pulling out the boxes.
“Ah, cookies,” he rumbled as they turned the corner of another aisle.
“That’s it, you read the list and push your cart. I’ll pick out the groceries.” Tally tugged his arm, thrusting the paper at him.
He gazed down at her, his eyes light with amusement, surprised to be enjoying himself with their nonsense.
“Be sure to get Oreo cookies, ginger snaps, graham crackers.”
“Enough, enough—you’ll O.D. on sugar. Even Jed doesn’t eat all that, and he’s a bottomless pit. Besides, Alberta—”
“Bakes cookies all the time,” he finished.
“How did you know that?” she asked, startled.
“Didn’t for sure, but it figures. We’ve had fresh cookies for the past couple of days. She’s a treasure. We get a huge breakfast every day and she made those pies for dinner yesterday.”
“Well, you’re right, but she doesn’t make Oreo cookies, so you can have those if you want.”
Shopping took a long time, but it was more fun than Tally ever remembered. Devon grew relaxed enough to tease her on every aisle. He wanted some of almost everything he saw, except beets. He made a big scene about beets, obviously playing up to her own insistence they were good and healthy.
Tally wasn’t sure what was serious and what was for effect as she constantly limited his selections. But he kept her laughing. And every once in a while he stared at her with a puzzled expression as if he’d never seen a laughing woman before.
When they reached the produce aisle, Tally paused. She loved vegetables, all kinds. Eagerly she looked at the selections.
“Let’s skip this row,” Devon suggested, noting her delight.
“Oh, no, you need veggies to counteract all the sugar you plan to eat,” Tally said primly. “Veggies are good for you.”
She stood beside him, looking up. Tempted beyond resistance, Devon reached out his hand and captured her chin, cupping it in his warm palm. He leaned over and spoke softly and firmly, his breath brushing against her cheeks.
“I’m not a young kid like Jed or Brad, remember? I don’t need a mother—mine is well and living in Maryland.”
Tally couldn’t believe another person’s touch would have such power. She felt weak, tingly, excited, giddy. Her stomach grew warm and her breasts began to fill with a heavy desire. Widening her eyes slightly, she almost lost track of what Devon said. She could feel the warmth from his hand along her chin, across her jaw. She tried a deep breath, almost strangled. His scent filled her senses, his touch short-circuited her brain waves.
What would it be like to have him touch her all over? If his fingers against her jaw could wreak such havoc, what would his lips all over her body do? His hands along her skin, his strong muscles beneath her fingertips?
“I don’t like vegetables,” he said.
“None?” she asked breathlessly.
She should step back, break contact, but couldn’t. He leaned over her even more and for one crazy moment Tally longed to lean forward to meet him halfway, to touch him, to feel his skin beneath her fingers. To feel the strength of him, the warmth. Feel his lips on hers.
“Peas.”
“Huh?” She blinked.
“I like peas.”
His breath puffed against her cheeks. His eyes were silvery, solemn as he gazed deep into her own.
“Oh.”
She was drowning in the silver pool of Devon’s gaze, unable to think, to move, to even breathe.
Gently Devon traced her jaw with his thumb as he withdrew his hand. Straightening, his lips tightened. She felt so soft, so desirable. He turned back to stare at the peas on display. Tally Newcome was too potent. She should have slapped his hands away. In the future, he vowed, he’d keep his hands to himself or risk losing what little self-control he managed so far.
“No other vegetables, only peas?”
“I’ll eat some others.”
He continued looking over the display, avoiding her eyes.
He’d crushed the lighthearted atmosphere. He knew it but didn’t know how to change it. Tally moved to the peas. She filled bag after bag until Devon caught on and smiled.
“Enough, as someone recently said. What happened to moderation?”
They both worked to recapture the enjoyment of earlier. He was glad she still seemed at ease with him. He couldn’t keep up the roller-coaster emotions he experienced around her. He wanted to get back to the ranch, close himself in his room. Or even take one of the horses out and escape Tally’s proximity.
He stared at her long and hard as she chatted with the checkout clerk before turning and looking away. For a moment his guard had dropped. That was dangerous. He’d not forget the lesson Sheila had taught so well. Tally was a woman like all others. In three months he’d truly be on his own, and that was what he wanted. All he wanted.
On Saturday Tally enlisted Ariel’s help in cleaning the house until it shone. Kat worked Saturdays and so was excused from a lot of the housework, a point Ariel mentioned more than once. Tally tried to patiently explain to Ariel that she would one day have her own home and would want to know how to keep it clean. Experience was never wasted.
Alberta planned the barbecue for that evening when Devon’s city friends were expected. Making the event festive, she had one of the boys stake out horseshoe posts and set up two picnic tables. Gus oversaw the huge barbecue pit, piling on the coals and monitoring them until they glowed red.
Tally was curious about Devon’s friends. She’d met his attorney, but she didn’t think Matt Helmsley and Devon were close friends. They seemed more thrown together due to circumstances than common interest.
But from the little Devon had said last weekend about Steve, Tally knew they were true friends. Would this visit make Devon long for his old life? Or was he content to stay away from the pursuits he’d enjoyed before?
Ranch life was not for everyone, she knew. Did he miss the excitement of the city?
When Tally heard the car turn into the driveway in the late afternoon, she went to greet Devon’s guests. Devon also heard the car. He came out a moment later. His longer stride enabled him to pass Tally as he hurried to meet his friend.
“Steve.” The men shook hands, gripping with both.
Steve was taller than Devon and thinner. He was dressed casually in brown slacks and a cream-colored shirt, his hair a reddish-brown, his face open, friendly. Devon wore a pair of new jeans and a dark shirt. With the deeper tan he’d acquired over the past few days, he appeared more vital than his friend, Tally thought. Or was it just because he was Devon?
A tall, sleek blonde climbed out of the car on the far side, closed the door, and went to stand beside Steve. She wore white slacks and a bright-blue silk shirt.
“And this is Devon?” she said smiling at him.
“Devon, my wife Sally.”
Steve made the introduction proudly.
Devon greeted her gravely, then turned to nod to Tally as she drew closer. “Tally Newcome, my, er, hostess. Steve and Sally Davis.”
Tally smiled a greeting, suddenly feeling shabby in her jeans and yellow cotton top. She should have listened to Jimmie May and Kat and bought some new clothes. There was nothing wrong with hers, but they were designed for work, not entertaining.
And Sally’s short sassy haircut made Tally all the more aware of her own long hair neatly plaited in a French braid. Staid and dull.
Was that how Devon saw her? She tried to imagine the women he knew. She’d lived in the city for years, she knew how others dressed. It had never been important to her. Until now.
“We have things set up in the back. Devon can give you a tour and then join us there,” Tally said after introductions had been made.
Devon looked startled. Tally almost smiled. “Don’t you want to show them around?”
“Sure.” A glimmer of a smile rose in his eyes as he turned back to his friend. “You’ll never believe this, Steve.”
After Devon had finished showing Steve and Sally the barn and corral and talked about the program, he brought them to the back of the house. Alberta had pitchers of lemonade and iced tea on one of the picnic tables, cans of soda sitting in a huge tub of ice at the head of the table. The rest of the ranch crew was already lounging around, soda or glasses of lemonade in hand.
“What’s your pleasure?” Alberta asked when introductions were complete.
“Lemonade,” Sally said. “I haven’t had any since I was a little girl. And I remember loving it during the summer months.”
“You go sit in the shade. It’s cooling down, but still hot in the sun,” Alberta said after handing around drinks.
Jed and Brad were playing horseshoes with Rusty and Tomas. Gus sat on the back porch, watching the younger men, and keeping an eye on the grill. Alberta sent Ariel into the house on an errand.
Devon looked at Tally. “Coming?”
“Don’t you want to visit with your friends?” she asked softly.
“No.”
“Oh,” she said, puzzled. She would have thought they would have lots to discuss. “Okay, then, if I won’t be intruding.”
Feeling a bit shy, Tally walked with Devon and pulled lawn chairs into the shade. Tongue-tied, she felt out of place. What did she have in common with these people? She didn’t know them or their interests. Devon was their only common tie, and he sat silently, his lips tightly closed.
The silence stretched out until Tally almost began to talk about cattle just to introduce some conversation.
Steve made a wry face and raised his glass of tea. “Here’s to freedom, Devon, long may you keep it.”