Chapter Three
Ari stepped inside the house, feeling as uncertain as she’d ever felt in her life. The inside of the house was a simple enough place, as simple as the outside. A faint smell of cooking reached her nose from an area to the right, no doubt from the morning’s early breakfast. Ari felt glad she’d eaten Logan’s breakfast lest she embarrassed herself here and now.
“Have a seat,” Val instructed, waving a hand towards a chair and heaving Ari’s bag along the wall.
Ari sat at the dinner table off the living room where Val indicated. She couldn’t deny she felt a certain sense of peace, of stability in this woman’s presence, but she still felt largely uncertain about her fate. What would happen now? Dare she hope for help on this woman-run ranch or was she going to be treated like a thief and reported to the police.
He’s going to find me!
Ari tried to breathe as she watched Val place a couple of mugs on the table. Defensively, her fingers curled against the edge of the table.
“So tell me, Ari, what do you plan on doing?”
“Doing?” she asked somewhat stupidly. It wasn’t the question she’d expected.
“Apparently, you were headed somewhere,” the woman tilted her head towards the duffel bag. “Got family somewhere? Acquaintances you are going to live with?”
“I…” Ari licked her lips when she realized she couldn’t lie to this stern woman. She shook her head tiredly. “Not in this area, no.”
“Did you get lost?”
Ari shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Honestly, it was dark and I was just running…” Realizing what she said, Ari clamped her mouth shut, but it was too late.
Val Westbrooke was as an intimidating woman. “You were running?” she asked, both brows almost into her hairline.
Ari said nothing. She stared into the now empty mugs and started when she heard Val say, “Speak up.”
There was such command in those two words that her lips obeyed instantly, “It was dark out so I just tried to get as far as I could, based on what little I could see. I didn’t mean to walk into your property.”
Val crossed her arms. “Are you on the run from the law?”
“No, Ma’am.”
“Would you tell the truth if you were?”
Ari winced but gave a weak nod. “I’m really not out to cause any trouble, I swear. I just—I couldn’t take it anymore…” She looked down at her lap and grew quiet.
A few minutes passed. Still, the older woman hadn’t said a word.
Slowly, Ari lifted her head.
Val sat staring pensively at the door which from which they’d recently entered. “Logan Cartwright!” Val said suddenly and sharply.
The door opened instantly. The rogue had never left. He’d apparently been listening on their conversation.
Ari stifled a chuckle. She’d felt he didn’t want to leave her alone with the woman, not because he didn’t trust her, but because, she guessed, he felt responsible for her. Truth be told, she hadn’t wanted him to leave neither. She was amused that instead of leaving, he had camped out at the door and his boss had caught him.
“Miss Val?” he said, even though his eyes were on Ari.
Ari’s gaze fell back to the table.
“I’d like you to put Atlanta back in the stables, please,” she heard Val tell him quietly.
“I already have one of the boys doing that,” Logan responded.
Ari could hear the grumble in his voice, causing her to look up at him.
“Good, then ask Amber how many I’m feeding supper tonight.” Val gave him a decidedly pointed look.
Ari realized he couldn’t ignore it. He left so reluctantly that Ari felt like laughing despite her situation.
Val waited a few seconds and then took the seat opposite Ari and folded her hands on the table.
This action reminded Ari once more that she wasn’t off the hot seat just yet.
Val let a moment pass before speaking. “It ain’t hard to see what you’ve been through, little one. And your business is your business, but I’ve got to look out for me and mine, you understand?” Her tone was certain, leaving no room for doubt that this woman meant what she said and said what she meant.
Ari nodded.
“Now if it’s true what he said and you really need help, then you’ve got to be clear with me. No lying. I can’t help you if you’re not straight with me, and I don’t waste my time with do-nothing liars.”
Ari nodded again.
Val took a breath and let it out slowly. “Husband or parent?”
Ari closed her eyes as the shame and pain washed over her anew. “Husband.”
“How long?”
“Two years.”
“It’s been bad the whole time?”
“No, not at first.”
“Does he know you’re gone?”
Ari took a shaky breath. “I’m sure he’s noticed by now.”
“He’ll be looking for you.”
Another nod.
“Go on, take a drink.” Val nudged the mug closer and poured warm coffee from a jug.
Ari took a good swig, trying to let the warmth calm her nerves.
Val thought for a moment then asked, “What’s his name?”
“Dan. Daniel Jackson.”
Val frowned a bit. “How far were you willing to go?”
“Far away,” Ari wanted to say but only said, “As far as I could,” and then added, “Until I found someone who would rent me a room. Give me some work, I don’t know. I wasn’t really thinking when I made a break for it.” She could hear the weakness in her own voice and she hated it. Hadn’t she promised herself she wouldn’t be this way anymore? Just because this older woman was in her own home and she wasn’t didn’t mean she had to be so timid about everything. Ari took in a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. “I,” she started again, firmly this time around, “am a good person. I’m a hard worker. I can do most chores. And I know I’m…” She pointed to the bruise on her face, “I’m better than—” Her voice cracked and she hid behind the back of her hand as tears quickly welled up in her eyes. “I’m better than this.”
The last of her bravado fell and she let herself cry. This time, it wasn’t the fearful cry of wishing the blows would stop or the yelling would abate. The tears she shed in front of this woman she had never met before were those she had only allowed herself to shed very quietly in the dark of her room for fear of more beating. The grief and shame that had been buried in the pit of her soul and never allowed to escape finally spilled out of her. Then when she felt a warm hand rest gently on hers, she buried her head in her arms and wept harder.
The tears took their sweet time coming and she couldn’t stop them. When she finally began to settle down, her sleeve was a mess.
Val got a washrag and wet it under the water pump before handing it to her. “Clean up your face,” she said gently.
Ari did and pressed the damp material against her burning eyes. “I think I was rude to him.” It was the first thing she thought to say in this embarrassing situation she found herself in.
Val inquired without words.
“That man, Logan,” Ari said with a sniffle. “I didn’t trust him and I snapped at him when he tried to ask about me.”
“You didn’t tell him any of this?”
Ari shook her head. “I didn’t even tell him my name. And he was kind enough to give me his food.” She closed her eyes shamefully, remembering. “I hadn’t eaten since dinner last night and after he hit me again… he went to bed and I got ill. My stomach’s been empty since.” She sighed deeply, regretfully. “Logan offered me his food and his coffee. And all I did was snap at him.”
Val nodded, eyes going soft with some fondness. “He’s a good man, Logan is. Has a wicked sense of humor as you must have noticed, but he does good hard work, and he cares a lot about people.” Respect rippled in the woman’s voice as she spoke about the man, Logan Cartwright, and something more.
Ari couldn’t detect what the other feeling was but she couldn’t quite dispute the woman’s words. She thought attributing her to a fish and a rabbit could count as a very wicked sense of humor. The rippling of his muscles beneath his shirt, which she couldn’t help but notice attested to the fact that he really was a hard worker and well, he had brought her here, hadn’t he? He must care a lot about people too. “I really ought to thank him.”
“Yes you do that,” Val said, getting to her feet. “If I’d allowed him, he would be by the door ready to receive your gratitude,” she added ruefully. “And you had best figure out what your next move is. Running around aimlessly looking like this would be senseless, not to mention dangerous.”
“Do you—do you know of anywhere I could find work?”
Val turned back to her. “Can you cook?”
“Yes.”
“And clean house, I imagine?”
She nodded.
“You ever worked on a farm before?”
“My father owned a farm. Of course, he did most of the heavy lifting but my sister and I helped with the cattle, goats and chickens growing up.” She looked over toward the window closest to the stables. “I’ve had some experience with horses, too.”
Val was quiet for several moments, deep in thought. Finally, she gave a short nod and said, “We’ve got room for you if you’re willing to work.”
Ari looked back at her, not daring to hope.
“I mostly do the housekeeping around here as I got six others to do the work outside. But I’d say we give it a couple of weeks to see if it works well for you, for everyone. You can earn your room for now and if everyone’s happy, then I’ll see about paying you.”
Now, for the first time in a long time, Ari beamed with true gladness. She clasped her hands together, and gazed up at the older woman worshipfully. “Thank you! Oh, thank you so much! I’ll work as hard as I ever did before and then some!”
Val waved her hand carelessly, “Alright, alright. Don’t get ahead of yourself and start making promises you can’t keep. I’ll see for myself how you do. We’ll get you situated for tonight and you can start first thing tomorrow.”
“You won’t regret this,” Ari said, unable to hold the words in.
Val looked out the window. “Once Logan comes back, I’ll have him help get your room set up.”
“Does he live here, too?”
“That’s right. But he sleeps with Everett in the bunk house. Have you met Everett, yet?”
“Everett?”
“Slicked back hair with short sides, forest green eyes, muscular…”
“Ah, I saw him as we were riding up. I wasn’t very polite to him either, I’m afraid.”
“Sounds like you have left a trail of disgruntled men, then,” Val said with a smile and then stopped smiling.
Ari gave a small laugh, trying to diffuse the situation. “I do that, don’t I?” she said with a laugh that to her, sounded forced.
“There’s no excuse for a man to hit a lady,” Val said firmly and with that, she dismissed the matter.
Ari felt grateful for this woman’s altruism. She vowed to work hard to earn her keep.
Val looked out the window again, “There’s one of my girls.” She opened the window and leaned her head out. “Khloe! Where’s Faye?”
Ari heard a young woman’s voice answer but couldn’t make out the words.
“Tell her to come inside a minute. You see Logan out there?”
Another reply.
“I’m sure he’ll be back soon anyway, never mind.” Val brought her head back in. “You’ll have time to say hello to everyone soon.”
In no time, there were footfalls on the front porch and the screen opened as a girl appeared with the most luscious hair Ari had seen in a long time. The pile of ash brown hair was piled on top of her head with a scarf. The girl couldn’t be more than twenty, five years younger than Ari herself. She wasn’t much taller than Val and there was some resemblance.
“This is my youngest daughter here, Faye,” Val said in introduction.
Ari got up and extended her hand. “Hi, I’m Ari.”
The girl shook her hand, but the smile lighting up her face quickly vanished. “Oh, honey. What happened to your face?”
“Oh…” Ari automatically tried to brush her hair forward to cover the bruise but instantly remembered how filthy she was. She did her best not to come across as too shy. “Happened last night. I’m all right.”
“It looks awful,” the girl said, her eyebrows creased with concern.
“Faye!” Val barked. “Manners.”
“Sorry.” She gave her head a quick shake and smiled again. “It’s nice to meet you, Ari.”
The screen door opened at that moment and an older girl with Espresso brown hair stepped in. She was as tall as her mother was short, and very curvy.
Ari imagined she must turn quite a few heads. She looked to be Ari’s age or at most, a year or two older.
Faye turned to her. “This is my sister, Khloe.”
“Hello, I’m Ari.” She extended her hand again.
“Hi,” Khloe said, looking as curious and concerned as the first girl had.
Val spoke up, this time avoiding any more awkward comments, “Ari here’s going through a bit of a hard time. She found her way onto the property and she’s looking for some work to help get her on her feet. Now, I’ve offered her Amber’s old room and she can earn her keep by helping me around the house. I expect you girls to be hospitable and don’t go prying.”
Faye looked annoyed while Khloe just rolled her eyes. “Ma, we’re not little kids.”
“Then go and find some clean sheets for the bed upstairs,” Val instructed without batting an eyelash. “I’ve still got some work to do, so Ari, if you can’t find me and you have questions, you can ask one of the girls, alright?”
“Sure,” Ari said with a smile.
Khloe was scratching thoughtfully at her cheek. “Amber’s room is empty though, isn’t it?”
“The bed’s still there,” Val said. “There might be a couple of things still stored in the closet, but we can move those up to the attic. Once Logan gets back here, I’ll have him bring a few things down.”
“He’s outside,” Khloe announced. “He was just standing by the stables and I asked him what’s up. He said he’s waiting for you to let him back in.”
Val quirked her mouth in that way that told Ari she was fond of her ranch hand and went to the door, waving her arm in a ‘come on’ motion.
Logan came in, saw the ladies and removed his hat politely.
“Would you take that up to the bedroom on the right for her?” Val asked him.
“She’s staying?” Logan asked, not moving an inch.
Val nodded while looking past him outside. “For now. We’ll see how it works out.”
Logan’s eyes lit up and he was in front of Val in two quick steps. Before anyone knew what he was up to, he planted a big kiss on the woman’s cheeks and turned to Ari, “See? Didn’t I tell you our Val was a real sweetheart deep down beneath all the gruff?”
Val shooed him off by slapping his hands away. “Off with you.” Val waved him away. “Go on.”
Logan looked at Ari, who gave him a courteous smile. “Right this way, Miss,” Logan said right before he grabbed her bag and led the way up the stairway.
Faye followed them.
Upstairs, multiple doors led to three bedrooms and a washroom. An entryway in the ceiling went all the way up to where Ari guessed was the attic. Logan went to the first door on their right and stepped into a quaint little room with a single mattress on a bed frame. A large sheet was draped over the bed.
Faye presently brought in some new sheets, passing them to Logan, “Hold this,” before taking the big one away. “Good to know Ma didn’t have us dusting this room all the time for nothing.”
Ari tried to help but Faye would have none of it. She had no choice but to stand aside as Faye tossed the larger sheet to the floor and got the fresh ones on the bed. “Logan, you can take her upstairs to see what she’d like to bring down.”
“Sure thing.”
The attic was clean, albeit a bit musty. It was dark in the room, but Ari could still make out all sort of furniture stacked here and there. She blinked to adjust her eyes and then sneezed at the invasion of her nostrils with dust.
“Oh, here.” Logan hurried to the window. “I’ll let in some air and light so you can breathe easy.”
As soon as the light was let in, Ari was entranced by all the things she could see. “Look at all of this,” she said in an awe-filled voice.
There were all kinds of art hanging on the wall and sitting on the floor, there were also ornamental plates, mahogany furniture, books and books along with many artifacts. She heard Logan chuckle to himself and she turned to find him watching her. She didn’t fault the confusion in his eyes. Up until now, he’d only seen paranoid aggression in her, as she hadn’t tried to be nice the whole time he was with her. Spending time with Val had definitely improved her disposition and she could tell that Logan was happy for her.
“The room’s filled to the brim, isn’t it?” Logan said, looking around too. “Just look around real good and if you see anything you like, I’ll take it right down the stairs for you.”
Ari nodded. She still couldn’t believe she’d found such luck with Val Westbrooke but she wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She walked up to a tall mirror and stopped in front of it. She looked herself over, dismayed at her appearance.
Logan stood behind her, watching her quietly. “Are you okay?” he asked. “You look like you’ve been crying.”
“I’m al; right,” she replied quietly. “I’ll look much better once I’ve had a chance to clean up.”
“I think you look fine right now,” Logan said. Her eyes met his in the mirror and he hurriedly added, “I mean, not that I like seeing you like this, but it isn’t hard to tell you look nice ordinarily.”
Ari did not reply to his comment. She should say thank you to him, for complimenting her, but she just let it go. “I still can’t believe this is really happening for me,” she said instead.
“I’m glad you agreed to come along with me.”
“Me too,” she said and then, she turned to him again, her fingers fidgeting together. “I never did thank you for that.”
“Aw, that’s alright.”
“No, it isn’t,” she said. “I was very rude to you before, and without you…I probably wouldn’t have even found food by now. I’d still be hungry, wandering around to who knows where. Or he might have caught up with me.”
The last option was her nightmare and she shuddered a little.
Logan’s mouth twitched with some emotion that Ari couldn’t name. “Well, it’s good that I found you then, isn’t it?”
“You’ve been a big help,” Ari said. “Thank you.”
He seemed lost in thought for a moment and then he said, “You’ll like it here. I’m sure you will.”
Ari nodded.
“So have you seen anything you like?” he asked suddenly. “What can I bring down for you?”
She chose an antique chair, the standing mirror, and a dresser and not even half of an hour later, he had them in positioned near the newly laid out bed.
Faye was nowhere to be found but it appeared she’d taken a duster to the room, as it looked all shiny and new.
“There’s still room,” Logan remarked. “You sure this is all you want?”
“Well, I don’t think I need an entire writing desk in here,” she said pleasantly.
“Well sure, but…” He looked around. “A table at least?”
Her gaze met his and something in his eyes made her quickly avert hers. “Yeah, alright. How about that round one in the corner of the attic?”
“No problem,” he said, heading back to the attic.
Ari followed him.
“You can stay here,” he said. “I’ve got this.”
When it was all done, Logan wiped the sweat off his forehead.
Ari looked him over. “Did you get anything to eat? I ate your breakfast after all.”
He winked at her. “I still had the potato.”
His playful comment made her feel a little better but not totally. She liked to repay people for their good deeds toward her. “Do you like muffins?”
“What man in his right mind wouldn’t like muffins?”
She smiled. “I think I owe you some muffins.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“Yeah I do,” she said in her best no-nonsense voice but toned it down with a little smile that she hoped reached her eyes. It was the first time she would come near joking with a man in a long time and she was enjoying herself. Head cocked to one side, she stared down at Logan, daring him to argue with her.
He threw a hand up in surrender. “Hey, if that’s what you want, I’m not gonna argue.”
The reciprocating playful look on his face was all the reward she needed for her meager attempt at a joke. They just stood there, staring into each other’s eyes and smiling until the sound of scuffling feet at the door informed them they had company. As one, they turned to see Faye in the doorway, holding a towel.
Her brow was raised in a manner that suggested she’d been standing there for a while. Faye’s smile was back as she presented the towel to Ari. “I bet you’d like a nice, warm bath.”
Ari smiled at the girl gratefully, now avoiding Logan’s eyes. She felt awkward, kind of, and for the life of her, she didn’t understand why that was so. It wasn’t like she and Logan had been doing anything bad, but she felt grateful to Faye for her timely intervention.
“Okay then,” Logan said. “See you ladies around.”
Faye rolled her eyes as Logan left the room very slowly.
*****
Once she cleaned herself up, Ari felt very much better, in fact, better than she had in ages. She moved her meager clothing from the duffel bag into the dresser and placed her I.D safely in the back of her underwear drawer. Her hairbrush and a couple of photographs were all she’d stuffed into the bag other than clothes, as well as a necklace that used to belong to her sister. She kept those on the dresser top and that was it for getting settled in.
When she went back downstairs, she saw that Khloe was whisking some eggs in a big bowl. Ari didn’t think it was time for lunch yet.
“Just in time,” she said over her shoulder. “I can get you a plate if you’re hungry. Otherwise, the men will eat them all.”
“Thanks, but no, I’m still full,” Ari said, patting her stomach lightly.
“Well, I guess for someone so light, you don’t eat much, do you?” Khloe eyed her stature appreciatively.
Ari laughed.
Khloe herself wasn’t near fat but she wasn’t thin either. Only Faye was slim, but nowhere as slender as Ari.
Ari figured the older sister must envy her younger sister quite a bit. “Actually, I eat like a horse.” Ari smiled. “Logan can testify to that. I ate all of his sandwich this morning.”
Khloe looked like she wanted to ask about her eating up Logan’s breakfast, but the girl changed her mind at the last minute and asked instead, “How come you’re so little, then?”
Ari shrugged as she took her place beside her at the stove.
“Genes,” Ari shrugged. “My mother was a little gypsy of a woman.”
“Was?” Khloe asked.
“She died when I was ten,” Ari explained softly. It was a long time ago but Ari still remembered her and missed her fiercely.
“I’m sorry,” Khloe replied in a soft voice too. “We lost dad about three years ago. We still miss him every day.”
“I’m sorry,” it was Ari’s turn to say. Somehow, she knew she’d just made a lifelong friend.
The two were silent for a long while, Ari watching Khloe fry the eggs in a big pan. The silence was a companionable one and neither of them made any effort to break it.
Only when Khloe began to serve the eggs in plates did Ari speak up. “Can I help with anything?” she asked.
“No thanks, I’ve got it,” Khloe said gratefully. “But you can take a look through the cupboards to get a feel for where we keep things. Mama’s going to want you acquainted with everything, I’m sure.”
Ari did and found that people in the house loved to keep things in their place. It showed organized minds with a daily routine they were used to. It was the kind of life Ari liked and kept herself. She knew she would enjoy staying at the Westbrooke Ranch.
*****
Outside the house under a huge shade of tree, Logan put his plate down and washed the eggs down with a cup of coffee. Distantly, he noticed Everett set down the ax by his side. The older man had gone back to chopping a log of wood as soon as he finished his own food. Logan had been slower to finish because he was deep in thought. He still was.
“Didn’t figure you to be a, recuse the lady-in-distress type.”
Logan snapped out of his reverie, staring at his friend warily.
Everett had cleared his throat and whenever he did, it meant he had something to say to Logan. Everett simply gave him a knowing look.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Logan said.
“My ass,” Everett replied, raising the ax again. “You haven’t quit staring at the house since she got here.”
Logan knew there was no use denying it. He had indeed been staring at the house for the past hour. “I’m just trying to make sure she’s doing alright.”
“By looking through the walls?” Everett teased.
Now Logan gave him a look.
Everett shook his head. “You’re too easy to read, Cartwright.”
“I’m concerned, that shouldn’t be a big deal,” he muttered.
Faye emerged from around the house and walked up to them to collect their plates.
The older man heaved out a laugh and shook his head again at Logan’s statement. “None of it is a big deal, nor is it a secret either.”
“None of what?” Logan asked.
Faye piped up without looking at him, “I’m not blind, Logan. I saw the looks you’ve been giving her all day.”
“What looks?” He was staring at Faye warily now.
“Mm hmm,” was Faye’s only response. She gathered Everett’s plate and cutlery then turned back toward the house. “If you continue staring at her like that, I give it two days before she tells you to take a hike. She’s got no time for men, you should know better.”
Everett laughed.
Logan didn’t think anything funny was being said at the moment.
Everett pointed the head of the ax after her. “Come on, give the lad some credit. Three days,” the older man said, still laughing.
Now, Faye laughed.
Logan frowned harder.
“You’re on,” she called over her shoulder.
Everett’s laughter trailed after her.
Logan just felt like banging Everett’s head against the nearest tree.