Page 68 of Charlie Takes a Chance

Or how her dad cried happy tears when she asked for her own toolbox for her eighth birthday. Charlie didn’t want her grandma to spill all the secrets, but I thoroughly enjoyed getting to hear more about Charlie’s growing up.

This morning, I have that feeling where I’m ridiculously happy and know that, at any moment, someone is going to pull the rug out from under me. But for now, I’m choosing oblivious happiness.

For now.

I close the front door quietly and make my way down the stairs.

The sound of gravel crunching catches my attention. It sounds like someone pulling in to the main driveway. I walk down the path toward the lodge, and when I come around the corner, I’m greeted by the sight of Alexander Whitlock trying to find his spare key.

“Don’t you know you’re the one who’s supposed to know where it is?” I call out to him.

He jumps like a guilty child. “Can I help it that I’m good at hiding things? So good that I can’t find it myself?”

I walk toward him and shake his hand. “Good to see you again.”

“Thanks, Max. It’s great to be out here again.” His handshake is strong for someone in their eighties, especially considering he gave us all a good scare this year. I hadn’t seen him, but I heard he had gotten so sick they’d called in hospice.

He made a miraculous recovery and seems to be back to his fit self.

“We weren’t expecting you until later today.”

“Nash and Magnolia will be along later, but I just couldn’t wait. I woke up early this morning and figured I might as well come on out. It’s been too long, and I can’t wait to enjoy the crisp, clean air. Bend’s getting a little crowded for me.” He shudders as if he lives in a city of two million rather than the hundred thousand that reside in Bend. “Maybe it’s time to move out here for good,” Alexander seems to be saying this last bit to himself.

“Well, do you want to come look at your lodge or your cows first?”

Alexander adjusts his jacket. “Well, all of it is fifty percent yours, you know. I’m still waiting for you to realize Nash and I are the dead weight of the operation.”

I don’t bother commenting on our co-ownership of the ranch. He falls into step with me as I walk toward the barn. The only sound is our boots crunching the layer of snow on the ground.

“How has Charlie been?” Alexander asks as he pulls his collar up. “Have you two been getting along okay? Nash said you weren’t happy about sharing your house with her.”

I give him a sidelong look. “You realize you all led me to believe Charlie was a man.”

Alexander shrugs. “Is it our fault you’re prone to jumping to conclusions?”

Shrewd old man.

“No, I wasn’t happy. And then there were major problems with the lodge. Things like electricity and plumbing. So it wasn’t like she could stay there.”

“Really? So you just kindly offered to let her stay with you?”

I grimace. “Not exactly,” I say as I recall that day. It’s actually a little funny. That was probably the day I really started to fall for her. That sass. That spunk. The willingness to fight and be ridiculously immature. And her smug look when she knew she got to stay.

“I don’t know her well. She comes around some with Magnolia. But I like the kid. She’s intelligent and can hold her own.”

Those, I know, are Alexander’s two highest marks of evaluating someone’s character: intelligence, confidence, and what he doesn’t say is honesty—someone who isn’t duplicitous.Someone who can say it like it is and not be bothered by Alexander’s own blunt manner.

“If you think I don’t realize why you hired her, then I wouldn’t be very intelligent, would I?”

“Were we that obvious?” Alexander chuckles guiltily. He’s turning sentimental and has been telling me I need someonespecial in my life. I’m not surprised he was involved in the matchmaking. I’d expected it from Nash and Magnolia. They’re in the honeymoon phase of their relationship and want everyone around them to experience the same joy they are. “Well, I’m sorry it didn’t work. I guess it was worth a try.”

I grasp the barn door and slide it open, letting Alexander walk in first. “I didn’t say it didn’t work.”

Alexander stops abruptly just inside the barn. “You mean?—”

“Don’t get your hopes up too much. She could open her eyes to reality any minute, but for now, she’s agreed to date me.” I step inside and close the door.

The bummer calf starts mooing frantically as I slide the mixed bottle from the inside of my jacket. I love the big pockets on these cargo coats. You can fit anything you need in them.

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