Not Just Another Cowboy by Carol Finch

Author:Carol Finch
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harlequin Treasury
Published: 2011-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

For two days, Alexa worked feverishly on renovations. The kitchen appliances were to be delivered at the end of the week, and she was down on hands and knees laying tile, while Chester provided instruction and assistance in his limited physical capacity.

“Chance stopped in yesterday to help me hang the ceiling fan in the dining room,” Chester said conversationally. “Nice man, that cowboy. Noticed the two of you were at the restaurant together Saturday night.”

Alexa’s hand stalled over the tile. If Howard got wind of her date, he would come unglued. Suddenly, Alexa was filled with wary trepidation. She had been so wrapped up in her struggle of conflicting emotion that she forgot to consider the possibility of being seen and having to explain her date to Howard.

Although she kept telling herself she was entitled to her own life, could do as she pleased, she knew she was kidding herself. Her life hadn’t been her own since she married Dan and moved to the ranch with her younger sister in tow.

“Howard wouldn’t like it if he knew,” Alexa murmured.

“Probably not.” Chester handed her another ceramic tile. “He’s got a regrettable fixation on his son. No offense intended, girl, but Dan wasn’t the saint Howard makes him out to be.”

“No offense taken. I’ve tried to convince Howard to get on with his life, but he is determined that Zack believes his father is here in spirit.”

“That leaves you in a bit of a fix, I’d say.”

Alexa glanced up at the spry old man. “A bit. But I’ll have the B-and-B to occupy me soon. Everything will work out.”

“Maybe, but a pretty gal like you shouldn’t settle for less. Won’t be as much fun around here without Chance cracking corny jokes, referring to that stepladder as Grace and lending a helping hand when we need it.”

“Chester?”

“Yeah?”

“Hand me another tile.”

“And keep my nose out of your business?”

“You’ve got it.”

Chester chuckled. “Sorry. Living with my wife for forty years must have caught up with me. Mildred thinks nosing into somebody else’s business in a natural-born right.”

“How is Mildred doing these days?” Alexa asked, anxious to switch topics of conversation.

“She’s fine. Says they couldn’t get along without her at the hospital, so she refuses to retire. I keep waiting for her to give up her position as chief nurse so we can do some traveling. If she stays on the job much longer, I’ll be too old and feebleminded to remember where I’m going and my eyesight will be useless for sight-seeing.”

Alexa sniffed at that. “Old, my foot. You can still climb around on rafters with the best of them. I’ve seen you do it—”

“Hey, watch what you’re doing, girl,” Chester erupted. “That last tile you laid isn’t square. I don’t want to look down the seams of grout and see a flaw on this dining room floor. Pull up that tile and scrape off part of the mud beneath it.”

Things were back to normal, Alexa mused, sighing thankfully. Chester was in his usual form of supervising the construction project, without touching upon sensitive subjects.

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