Reece took a sip of coffee, and looked down at Sophie. She was a miniature version of Carrie when she was that age. A slow ache settled in his chest. Although he might not be the best choice for a father, he wasn’t going to renege on a promise again.
Emily felt the man’s formidable presence all the way from the end of the counter. She tried to ignore it, but no such luck. She picked up their orders from the pass-through window and carried the food to the counter.
“Here we are, two blueberry pancake specials,” she said, surprised to find she was eager to see the little girl’s reaction. She set the first plate down in front of the man then turned to Sophie.
“Sam does a treat when special girls come in.” She set down the stack of pancakes topped with a whipped cream smiley face decorating the top.
“See, Sam drew you a picture.” She enjoyed the child’s surprised look. Emily glanced at the uncle. “I hope you don’t mind the whipped cream.”
He gave her a half smile. “Not at all. As you can see, Sophie here could stand a few extra calories.”
Emily had many questions about her new customers, but they were none of her business. The two were just passing through town. “Where are you headed?” she asked, assuring herself she was just making conversation.
The man poured maple syrup over his pancakes. “Right here.”
“You’re moving to Haven?”
“Temporarily.” He dug into his stack and took a bite. “I’m working outside of town for the next few months.”
Okay, now the man peaked her curiosity. Besides, living in a small town, it was hard to stay out of everyone’s business. Maybe he was going to work for one of the ranches in the area, though it would be unusual for anyone to be hiring extra hands during the summer. She wondered if his work would be nearby and if she would be running into him often. Well, it really didn’t matter where he would be working or how good-looking he was. She had other things on her plate right now.
Her career had to take first priority in her life.
“Well, good luck,” she said and walked away. Emily grabbed a rag and began polishing the other end of the empty counter.
The Good Time Café, with its good food and friendly atmosphere, was a popular hangout in town, and had been for years. But at ten o’clock on a weekday morning the place was deserted. The cowboy and the cute little girl were the only diners at the moment.
Actually after the busy shift, Emily was glad for he reprieve. In truth, she’d been distracted all morning. She couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch and see what was going on. Had her brother finished building the replica homestead? Had the film crew arrived? Every day for the past two weeks, something new and exciting had been going on. When Sam asked her to fill in at the café, she hesitated, but decided she needed to get away from the project. She also knew that her brothers, Nate and Shane, weren’t unhappy to see her go. They both wanted her out of their hair.
So she’d been a little excited about the project. It wasn’t every day that she got her screenplay, Hunter’s Haven, made into a movie. And it was being filmed right where the original story took place, at the Double H Ranch. Excitement surged through her as she made her way over to the jukebox. She reached into her pocket for some quarters. After inserting them into the machine, she selected some of her favorites from Sam’s oldies-but-goodies songs, and the silent room was soon filled with the voices of The Temptations singing “My Girl.”
Emily began to sway to the easy rhythm as she danced though the tables to the red vinyl booths that lined the windows. Outside, she noticed the dusty, crew cab truck with a trailer parked in the lot across Maple Street. She noticed the plates weren’t Arizona, but couldn’t make out the name of the state.
The music ended and was replaced by another song, a blues ballad by Percy Sledge, “When a Man Loves a Woman.” Emily moved to the music as she cleaned, then turned and caught the cowboy’s reflection in the mirror over the counter. He took a long sip of coffee as his attention settled on her.
Emily froze as her eyes locked with the stranger’s. The sultry singer’s voice seemed to create an intimacy between them, and neither seemed to want to the connection to end. But then Sam suddenly called her name.
Embarrassed, she jerked her gaze away and went to the kitchen window angry with herself for letting the cowboy get to her. The man was only going to be around temporarily. And she had to stay focused on her movie.
After answering Sam’s question, she returned to her tasks and found little Sophie watching her. Emily couldn’t help but be drawn to the child’s solemn expression. They exchanged looks as she continued her work, keeping time with the rhythm of the jukebox tunes. Finally the child gave a half smile, which disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
Emily walked behind the counter. “Well, how was your breakfast?”
“Great,” the cowboy told her as he pulled bills from his wallet. “We better get going.” Just then the girl tugged on her uncle’s sleeve causing him to lean down to her level.
The man glanced up at Emily. “Ah, where’s your rest room?”
“In back,” she said. “If you want, I’ll take her.”
The man looked doubtful. “Sophie, will you let Emily take you?”
The girl’s eyes widened, then she nodded.
“Okay, Sophie, come with me.” Emily held out her hand and together they walked down the hall. After the child finished, Emily made sure she washed her hands and face, and decided to do a little more grooming. She went to retrieve her purse from the cabinet in back.
“How about if I brush your hair?” When the child didn’t object, Emily put her in front of the mirror and gently drew the brush through the tangled ringlets. “You have such pretty curls.”
Once the child was freshened up, they returned hand in hand to the front of the cafe where the uncle was waiting. “Thank you,” he said as Sophie took his hand.
“No problem. We girls have to take care of each other,” Emily said, realizing she didn’t want them leave.
“I guess we should go now.” He reached for his hat. “Thanks for your help… Emily.”
“My pleasure,” she said, meaning it. “Maybe I’ll see you around town.” Whoa, where did that come from?
“I doubt it. I’m going to be pretty busy. You could help me with some directions, though.”
“Sure, where are you headed?”
“The Double H Ranch.”
Emily tried not to react. Was Nate hiring? “I doubt they’re hiring right now.”
“I’ll take my chances. Do you know the way?”
“Just head back out to the highway and go east about ten miles until you reach Hunter Ridge Road. Turn left and go another mile and you’ll run right into it.”
He nodded. With a tug on the child’s hand, they walked out the door. Sophie looked over her shoulder and waved shyly with her free hand.
Something tightened around Emily’s heart. Through the window her gaze followed them as the man helped his niece into the truck. Both the truck and trailer looked like they’d covered a lot of miles. Was that where they lived while traveling from job to job? Where was the child’s mother and father?
“Sam!” she called, pulling off her apron. “I need to get back to the ranch. Can you handle things on your own?”
The husky man in his late fifties stepped out from the kitchen. He scratched his head. “Emily, I really could use your help during the lunch shift.”
“Margaret can handle it,” she said.
“Sure but, Em, you know