Read Online Takin' The Reins by Stacey Coverstone - Free Book Online
Authors: Stacey Coverstone
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year.”
When he drove to the edge of town, he stopped the truck and pointed at the large blue mountain looming in the distance. “That’s Sierra Blanca. It’s a sacred mountain to the Mescalero Apache tribe.”
Jordan gasped, remembering the lawyer mentioning the name of the mountain. “I was told that’s where Addison Stillwell’s psychic Indian woman lives.”
“That’s what people say. The tribe owns and operates a resort hotel and ski slopes up there. It’s a popular vacation destination, especially for Texans. Do you ski?”
She shook her head. “I grew up in Denver, but it wouldn’t bother me if I never saw snow again.”
He chuckled. “Then you’ll love it down here in the desert. We rarely get snow, and when we do, it melts quickly.” He put the truck in gear again.
“Cole, do you know where my aunt is buried?”
“Yes, I do. She’s in the Fairview Cemetery in town. I’ll take you there if you’d like.”
“Thanks. I’d like to pay my respects. It’s the least I can do for what she’s done for me.”
~ * ~
It was easy to spot the fresh grave.
“It’s a beautiful spot.” Jordan was pleased to see the stand of trees that edged the property and cast refreshing shade over Lydia’s headstone. They stood at the foot of it. A wreath of mixed summer flowers was propped against the marble headstone. Jordan read aloud the epitaph inscribed on the monument.
“She never met a horse she didn’t like. Lydia R. Albright, born May 1, nineteen twenty-five, died May 5, two thousand nine. That seems appropriate, given what I know about her.”
“Nineteen twenty-five. She’d just turned eighty-four.” Cole repeated what Jordan had already learned about the woman. “She was a spry thing until the very end.”
The two of them offered up a moment of silence as Jordan again pondered why Lydia had left the Lucky Seven to her. “Who do you suppose placed this wreath here?” she wondered, sliding her finger over the slick rock stone. “Did she have friends?”
“Maybe it was some ladies from the church,” Cole offered.
“It was kind…whoever it was. I think I’ll make sure she always has fresh flowers on her grave. It’s the least I can do for the woman who has given me a new start.”
Cole nodded in approval. He didn’t seem curious about her comment about a new start.
“Thanks for bringing me here, Cole. I’m ready to go now.”
As they left the cemetery, he patted his stomach. “I’m getting hungry. How about going to the café for some lunch? There aren’t too many spots here in town. Or we could drive to Alamogordo if you prefer.” He seemed anxious to please her.
“The café’s fine,” she said. Her stomach quietly growled. The dry cereal earlier that morning hadn’t gone far.
The café was packed when they arrived, but Cole spied one empty booth. He placed his hand at the small of Jordan’s back and guided her toward it as he greeted people along the way. They sat across from each other and opened their menus.
“Popular place,” she noted. The same waitress, Nicki, approached and placed two glasses of water in front of them.
Batting thick eyelashes at Cole, she said, “Hi, you two. I see you’ve become friends.”
Jordan noticed the thinly tweezed eyebrow arch as Nicki slid an inquiring glance between them. She ignored the comment. “It’s crowded today.”
“Sure is. Lonnie needs to hire more help. I’m getting run ragged. How was your first day in Tulie?” she asked.
“Fine, thanks.” Jordan wasn’t about to tell a stranger what had really taken place in the past twenty-four hours. Besides, Nicki didn’t seem all that interested anyway. Her gaze was fastened to Cole. But who would blame her? He was a pleasure to look at.
“Know what you want yet?”
“Could you give us a few minutes, Nicki?” Cole perused the menu, not paying much attention.
“Sure, honey. Be back in a jiffy.”
Jordan nudged his foot under the table and smiled.
When he drove to the edge of town, he stopped the truck and pointed at the large blue mountain looming in the distance. “That’s Sierra Blanca. It’s a sacred mountain to the Mescalero Apache tribe.”
Jordan gasped, remembering the lawyer mentioning the name of the mountain. “I was told that’s where Addison Stillwell’s psychic Indian woman lives.”
“That’s what people say. The tribe owns and operates a resort hotel and ski slopes up there. It’s a popular vacation destination, especially for Texans. Do you ski?”
She shook her head. “I grew up in Denver, but it wouldn’t bother me if I never saw snow again.”
He chuckled. “Then you’ll love it down here in the desert. We rarely get snow, and when we do, it melts quickly.” He put the truck in gear again.
“Cole, do you know where my aunt is buried?”
“Yes, I do. She’s in the Fairview Cemetery in town. I’ll take you there if you’d like.”
“Thanks. I’d like to pay my respects. It’s the least I can do for what she’s done for me.”
~ * ~
It was easy to spot the fresh grave.
“It’s a beautiful spot.” Jordan was pleased to see the stand of trees that edged the property and cast refreshing shade over Lydia’s headstone. They stood at the foot of it. A wreath of mixed summer flowers was propped against the marble headstone. Jordan read aloud the epitaph inscribed on the monument.
“She never met a horse she didn’t like. Lydia R. Albright, born May 1, nineteen twenty-five, died May 5, two thousand nine. That seems appropriate, given what I know about her.”
“Nineteen twenty-five. She’d just turned eighty-four.” Cole repeated what Jordan had already learned about the woman. “She was a spry thing until the very end.”
The two of them offered up a moment of silence as Jordan again pondered why Lydia had left the Lucky Seven to her. “Who do you suppose placed this wreath here?” she wondered, sliding her finger over the slick rock stone. “Did she have friends?”
“Maybe it was some ladies from the church,” Cole offered.
“It was kind…whoever it was. I think I’ll make sure she always has fresh flowers on her grave. It’s the least I can do for the woman who has given me a new start.”
Cole nodded in approval. He didn’t seem curious about her comment about a new start.
“Thanks for bringing me here, Cole. I’m ready to go now.”
As they left the cemetery, he patted his stomach. “I’m getting hungry. How about going to the café for some lunch? There aren’t too many spots here in town. Or we could drive to Alamogordo if you prefer.” He seemed anxious to please her.
“The café’s fine,” she said. Her stomach quietly growled. The dry cereal earlier that morning hadn’t gone far.
The café was packed when they arrived, but Cole spied one empty booth. He placed his hand at the small of Jordan’s back and guided her toward it as he greeted people along the way. They sat across from each other and opened their menus.
“Popular place,” she noted. The same waitress, Nicki, approached and placed two glasses of water in front of them.
Batting thick eyelashes at Cole, she said, “Hi, you two. I see you’ve become friends.”
Jordan noticed the thinly tweezed eyebrow arch as Nicki slid an inquiring glance between them. She ignored the comment. “It’s crowded today.”
“Sure is. Lonnie needs to hire more help. I’m getting run ragged. How was your first day in Tulie?” she asked.
“Fine, thanks.” Jordan wasn’t about to tell a stranger what had really taken place in the past twenty-four hours. Besides, Nicki didn’t seem all that interested anyway. Her gaze was fastened to Cole. But who would blame her? He was a pleasure to look at.
“Know what you want yet?”
“Could you give us a few minutes, Nicki?” Cole perused the menu, not paying much attention.
“Sure, honey. Be back in a jiffy.”
Jordan nudged his foot under the table and smiled.
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