Hello again, friends! The promised second chapter is finally here! I hope you enjoy it!
Shasta grunted as he tossed the last plank of lumber onto the pile outside the barn. Slapping his sawdust-covered gloves against his jeans, he searched the road stretching out from Alex's farmhouse for what seemed like the millionth time. Still no sign of her.
Sighing in defeat, Shasta circled to the front of the now-empty wagon where Portland grazed contentedly. "C'mon, buddy. Looks like Al isn't coming home before dinner tonight."
After navigating the wagon back into the barn, Shasta unhitched Portland and gave him a quick rubdown before releasing the horse into the paddock. As he walked the short distance home, Shasta's thoughts turned once again to his conversation with Sutton.
Shasta had evaded Sutton's question as truthfully as he could, stating that he knew Alex but hadn't seen her in a while (technically not a lie). He then asked how the man knew her. Sutton's answer had been unsatisfactorily vague and stubbornly final. Knowing that he wasn't going to get a straight answer, Shasta had dismissed himself, using the excuse of unloading his cargo before sundown. Shasta knew he hadn't fooled Sutton, but until he knew what business the man had with Alex, he'd keep his cards close to his chest. Maybe he was being overly cautious, but Alex didn't seem to believe she had many people outside Newhope Island looking out for her.
That was one of the first things he'd learned about Alex: though determined to build something she could share with others, she truly believed she alone would fight for herself. And yet, as he'd grown to understand more and more, Shasta knew she was lonely. That was the enigma of Alex: fiercely independent, yet simultaneously so vulnerable. Shasta was one of the privileged few Alex had deemed trustworthy enough to ask for help, and Shasta would be hanged, drawn and quartered before he let anyone hurt her.
Only thing was, he hadn't lied to Sutton when he said he hadn't seen Alex in a while. The evening before, Natalie and Lanna had marched up to Alex's farmhouse just as she and Shasta were coming in from the field and refused to leave until Alex came with them to Julia's house. The following day was to be one of complete relaxation with their girlfriends before meeting the men for a grand supper at Chen's to mark the special occasion—
"Alex's birthday."
The early autumn sun burned low on the horizon as Shasta arrived at his small foreman's cottage a quarter-mile from the ranch proper. Trudging around the house to the well, Shasta stripped to the waist and began scrubbing the sweat-and-dirt mixture from his tired body.
"This dinner is to be a formal affair," Natalie had informed him primly the evening before as he had struggled not to laugh at Alex's kidnapped expression, "so you'd better clean up a bit more than usual if you expect to attend."
'Formal' he wasn't all that into—a clean shirt and his Sunday trousers were about as 'formal' as he got—but for Alex, he reckoned he'd do most anything.
The last vestiges of sunlight extinguished themselves as Shasta strode down the twilit path toward town, enjoying the sound of autumn leaves rattling in the evening breeze and crunching under his boots. In a short time, the busy activity of Newhope's residents would slow as sea ice became more abundant and fewer ships risked the voyage across the channel. The island's residents, warm in their homes and stocked up on winter wares, would secretly revel in the reprieve, even as they complained of boredom and lack of business—as was customary for all good islanders. Shasta loved the dichotomy of it all, the cantankerous uniqueness of this place he'd stumbled into calling home.
Chen's inn blazed with lantern light and laughter as Shasta pulled open the heavy wooden door. The innkeeper managed to make the place look inviting if not elegant, with several cozy wooden tables and a cheerful fireplace that burned year-round. Shasta traded friendly nods with several familiar faces as his eyes scanned the room. The ladies had yet to arrive, but he soon spotted Denny, Elliott, and Pierre guffawing around Chen's largest table, a fourth figure grinning at them as if he'd just told the joke of the century. Shasta's mouth settled into a grim line as he made his way toward his friends.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Tuomi!" Sutton clumsily slapped the table, rattling the empty dishware set before him. "What a surprise to see you again so soon! Were you craving a portion of that delectable roast beef for yourself?"
Sutton's voice slurred just enough to let Shasta know that Chen's roast beef wasn't all he'd been sampling.
"You've met Shasta?" Elliott's eyes flashed with surprise behind his wire-rimmed glasses.
"But of course! Why, Mr. Tuomi was the very man who led me to this fine establishment." Sutton tipped his hat clumsily to Shasta, then gestured with mock solemnity toward his empty platter. "For that, my friend, I owe you my life."
The table erupted in laughter. Shasta gritted his teeth and shot a glance at the door. Alex would be here any minute—there was no way he could warn her before Sutton saw her.
"Shasta, did you know Max here knows our Alex?" Denny asked nonchalantly as the mirth died down. Shasta shot a warning glare at his best friend, but Denny was already nudging Sutton with his elbow and saying, "Shasta's been the foreman of Alex's ranch for going on three years now. The two of them have really transformed the place."
"Is that so?" A sharp light gleamed in Sutton's eyes as he examined Shasta, giving the impression that the well-dressed man wasn't quite as nattered as he seemed. "Mr. Tuomi didn't say earlier."
Shasta met his scrutinizing gaze unflinchingly. "Didn't seem relevant at the time."
Sutton's expression darkened. The other men grew quiet, seeming to sense the interaction was more than mere pleasantry.
The chiming sound of feminine laughter cut the tense moment short as the door swung open. Natalie waltzed inside first, the natural leader of the group, her uncharacteristically cosmetic-laden eyes perusing the restaurant before landing on the men's table. Lanna and Julia followed close behind, giggling about Lord-knew-what and just as dressed to the nines as Nat was. And last—but certainly not least in Shasta's estimation—was Alex.
Shasta would have stood and removed his cap had he not already been standing with no cap to take off. As it was, he could only stare slack-jawed like a buffoon as the loveliest vision he had ever seen glided toward him like a dream.
Alex's eyes fastened on him first, and the smile she gave him warmed him pure to his toes. The gown she wore was modest and green—he would dare to call it sage—and it swirled about her knees and encased her arms in lacy sleeves that made her look delicate enough to break. Her chestnut hair fell in copper-colored waves down one shoulder, and Natalie had put some kind of makeup on her eyes that made them literally sparkle like sapphire jewels. A pretty flush stained her cheeks as he continued to stare, but for the life of him, it was all Shasta could do to keep breathing, let alone think coherent thoughts or—heaven forbid—actually speak.
Though perhaps he should have spoken up, for instead of drowning in her eyes the rest of the night like he sorely wanted to, the moment was unceremoniously shattered by an annoyingly cultured voice declaring, "My, but haven't you grown up, Alexandra."
Alex flinched as if physically struck. While all other eyes were drawn to Sutton, Shasta watched Alex's tentative gaze shutter as her eyes snapped to the now-standing stranger.
"Max." Alex's voice was faint, but there was no mistaking the slight waver. "What are you doing here?"
The whole party was hushed now, looking with open curiosity at the scene playing out before them: Alex, so lovely and visibly shaken, and Sutton, whose expression was clear and warm and oh-so-sincere as he took a step toward her.
"I've come to bring you home, sweetheart."
Alex recoiled, her expression hardening, but not before Shasta glimpsed the slight trembling of her lips.
"This is my home, Maxwell." Alex's shock was wearing off, and Shasta was proud of the firm tone she employed.
Sutton waved his hand dismissively. "Yes, yes, I recognize that—these men have just been telling me what a fine ranch you've built for yourself. But Alexandra, dear, you are needed in Boulder Town."
'Sweetheart'? 'Dear'? If this man used one more pet name to refer to his boss, Shasta was going to punch him. His tone suggested Al couldn't tell her right from her left—didn't this imbecile understand that she had been singlehandedly running her own successful business for three years now?
"That's odd," Alex's voice was bitterly cold now, a frigid tone that Shasta had never heard her use before. "Boulder Town hasn't spoken to me in three years. I'm sure if it needed me, it would have said something before now."
"Alexandra, be reasonable—"
"I am being reasonable." Alex snapped back, a familiar fire warming her voice as she crossed her arms in front of her—a defiant gesture, but her trembling hands spoke more of self-protection. "Now, I don't know what ship you sailed in on, but you'd better sail right back out first thing tomorrow morning."
Sutton took another step. "Alexandra—"
Without thinking, Shasta's feet carried him forward until he was standing at Alex's side. "You heard her."
Sutton's face tensed as Natalie, Lanna, and Julia moved to form a supportive circle around their friend. Even the other men looked resolved.
"I don't know who you are or what this is about, but you will respect Alex's wishes." Natalie resolutely put voice to what Shasta couldn't say without clobbering the guy.
"You'd better make yourself scarce for now, sir," Lanna piped up, her soft voice belying the intensity of her words.
"Yeah," Julia admonished, "you're ruining Alex's birthday dinner!"
Sutton blinked in surprise. "Today is your birthday?"
Alex smiled wryly. "I wouldn't have expected you to remember."
Sutton stood for a long moment, considering, before giving a curt nod. In one fluid motion, he removed a few coins from his pocket, clinked them on the table for his meal, and vanished up the inn stairs.
Soooooo what'd you think? I appreciate any kind, constructive feedback! Next chapter will be from Alex's perspective, so hopefully you'll be able to get a better feel of her personality. Until then, I wish you continued blessings in the new year and a happy MLK Day!