AN: Many thanks to my readers for continuing to follow my story and thank you to "honu59" for pointing out my boo boo with the previous chapter - Ella and Mr. Mortimer are husband and wife and not fiances - apologies for the confusion.

Happy weekend!

Tanith

Chapter 3

"Candy! What're you doing here?" Griff blurted out hastily, feeling embarrassed by the intrusion and assuming the worst.

Candy held up his hands in surrender. "Whoah! I'm just...looking for a book."

Griff glowered at his friend, catching his lie. " Yeah, right! You can't read! You're checking up on me, aren't ya?"

"Of course not! Aren't I allowed to visit a friend at his new job?" Candy asked innocently, though in truth he was checking in but he wasn't the only one. The Cartwright household, even Hop Sing, was curious to know how their young friend was faring. When Ben decided now was a good time as any to check if an order he had placed with Mrs. Walters had arrived, Candy drew the short straw for being the very man to go on the mission and prepare for Griff's unpredictable reaction.

"Well, I'm busy!" Griff retorted, quickly looking around the store for something he could be working on but not having any such luck as he had completed all the tasks Mrs. Walters had set out on her list.

Candy scratched the top of he head thoughtfully. "Yeah, I can see that...that you're, er, busy."

Griff rolled his eyes, getting more annoyed. "Can you please just go?"

Candy couldn't keep his laughter contained any longer. After a spell, he cleared his throat and explained, "Come on, buddy, seriously, I was looking for a book, but not for me. Mr. Cartwright sent me over. Apparently he placed an order with Mrs. Walters some weeks back. He needs it to help him with some new monthly paperwork or something."

Griff let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, wait here. I'll check out the back." As an after thought, he pointed a finger at Candy and added, "And don't touch anything. I spent all morning sorting out the new releases into alphabetical order."

Candy watched Griff disappear into the back room, a mixture of amusement and pride crossed over his face. "Alpha-what?" He mouthed silently. "I don't even know what that means," he muttered, shaking his head. He never pictured the kid as a bookworm, well, maybe when he was a youngster but it was hard to imagine it after everything he had gone through growing up and now here he was, on his second day of his new job, protecting a library of literary works.

Griff returned a short moment later with a parcel in his hand. "What d'ya know? There was something for Mr. Cartwright after all," he scoffed.

"Griff, I can't believe you doubted me!" Candy said, his hands on his hips in mock annoyance.

Griff shrugged and gave his friend a crooked smile and held out the parcel. "Could you blame me?"

Candy accepted the package and replied, "No, I guess not."

The light banter was interrupted by the return of Mrs. Walters who was accompanied by her niece and Owen Mortimer.

"Candy! How wonderful to see you! Oh, Mr. Cartwright will be thrilled to have that package. Arrived this morning. I would have had Griff take it with him to deliver to Mr. Cartwright but it looks he needed it urgently," said Mrs. Walters jubilantly. "Ella, Mr. Mortimer, allow me to introduce Mr. Canaday, foreman of the Ponderosa ranch."

"How do you do, Mr. Canaday?" Ella politely greeted.

"Please, call me Candy," the foreman insisted, shaking Mortimer's hand.

"Owen," Mortimer returned. "Ponderosa? Why, we have a meeting with Mr. Ben Cartwright tomorrow." Giving his wife's shoulder a gentle squeeze, he continued, "Ella's dearly departed father – God rest his sole – has left a sizeable spread for her on the Ponderosa and we're here to tidy up his affairs."

"I'm sorry to hear about your father, Ella," Candy consoled. "Mr. Cartwright is a good man – the best man I know. He'll help you put things in order as smoothly as possible."

"Thank you, Mr. Canaday – Candy," Ella thanked.

"We've come all the way from New York and we're not familiar with the territory. Would you mind directing us, Candy?" Mortimer enquired.

"Not at all – ah dang it! I would have escorted you personally but I have an errand to run and will be leaving at first light. Er, I can get Lucas..." Candy offered then realized in embarrassment that he may not be able to fulfil his offer.

"Griff, why don't you meet Ella and Mr. Mortimer tomorrow at their hotel?" Mrs. Walters suggested.

"Ah, what about the store?" Griff hesitantly responded.

"Oh, I'm sure it will survive without you for a day! And so will I. Not that I don't appreciate your company but you have done a magnificent job, there's nothing left for me to do tomorrow!" Mrs. Walters proudly voiced. "Consider it as part of your duty then if that's what it takes to convince you," she chuckled.

"Great idea! Tell you what, Griff? Why don't you take the cart and pick them up?" Candy clapped his hand and looked at Griff, waiting for an answer.

"Yeah, sure, I can do that," Griff agreed nervously.

"It's very kind of you, Griff," Ella said genuinely.

Once again, Griff felt a burning glow enveloping him. "It's my pleasure, ma'am."

Amused, Candy caught the all too familiar look of someone who had just been love-struck on his friend's face and smiled to himself. So, you're not immune are you, buddy? He had always wondered if Griff would one day experience the kind of attraction to a woman that left a man speechless and weak at the knees. His young friend was always consumed by the darker feelings of mistrust and insecurity that Candy began to worry if there was any room left inside of Griff to feel anything else. Feelings that were robbed from him at a young age and left him with deeply rooted scars that may never completely heal. Remembering Mr. Mortimer's presence, not just in the store but in Ella's life, Candy allowed the smile to fade and hoped that Griff's fondness for the girl was just a short-lived harmless admiration that would also fade before it had a chance to develop into something more.

Something that can never be.