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“Is this candy really that important to you?” The cowboy’s voice grew thin with exhaustion, making her regret her impulsiveness.
Not sure what to say, she shrugged. Her gaze strayed back to the familiar brown wrapper, but she couldn’t bring herself to push the subject. He must share her preference for the rich chocolate.
Something about this cowboy had her liking him already. Not that she “liked” him, but if she were looking for a sexy distraction, he wouldn’t be such a bad choice.
The man crossed his arms. “If I agree to give you the candy bar, will you move aside and let me out the door?”
“Deal.”
He yanked the chocolate from his pocket and held it out to her.
“Want to share?” She wasn’t greedy, after all.
He shook his head. “Just take it.”
“Thank you.” Alexis snatched the bar and stuffed the money in his hand before he could refuse.
The cowboy cleared his throat, reminding her to move aside and let him pass.
He opened the door and muttered, “Women.”
Heart pounding, Alexis grinned like a little kid. She ripped open the plastic wrapper from the bar. Her teeth sank into the thick chocolate layer before reaching the creamy caramel center lined with pecans. Her eyes drooped closed as the rich taste filled her mouth.
She’d pushed. She’d negotiated. And she hadn’t given up. She’d achieved her goal. Tomorrow she would successfully negotiate the sale of a large tract of land encasing something very special—Haggerty, a genuine Wild West ghost town.
Holding her lucky Choconut Bar, she felt confidence well up inside her.
She would succeed.
CHAPTER TWO
Cord Lawson stepped out of the Hitchin’ Post onto the sidewalk, anxious to head home to the Brazen H. His empty stomach rumbled. The warmth from the late-day sun only added to his discomfort. He’d missed his lunch, and now he’d forfeited his snack.
He didn’t even know Ms. Business Suit’s name, but she’d rubbed him like a burr, thorny and irritating. She might be a looker with her sleek, chin-length blond hair, pert nose, and lush lips, but she was definitely way out of this cowboy’s league.
He stuffed his fingers in his pockets, searching for the keys to the truck. Too bad he couldn’t rid himself of the vultures at the bank as easily as he got rid of her.
“Hey, Cord. Wait up,” a male voice called out.
A quick glance over his shoulder revealed Mr. Forbes, his real estate agent, hustling down the sidewalk. Cord paused and turned. He hoped the man had chased him down to tell him the property had been sold and his troubles were now behind him.
Cord gazed down at the stout man gasping for air. “Do you have good news for me?”
“Well…” The man ran a hand over the short strands of white hair on the top of his head. His gaze lowered, avoiding Cord’s expectant look. “I wish I did. I wanted to apologize for the mix-up and to assure you that everything has been cleared up.”
“What are you talking about?” The muscles in Cord’s neck bunched. The last thing he needed was another problem when he was poised to ask the bank for an extension on his loan. He couldn’t afford for it to all go wrong now.
“Oh. I thought Melanie had kept you on top of everything.” Mr. Forbes’s round face puckered with worry lines. “She’s probably just embarrassed by the whole matter since she’s usually so thorough with her work.”
Cord tapped his boot. He had a windmill to repair, as well as a fence line on the western boundary to inspect. If that wasn’t enough, before he called it a night, there was a pile of bills on the kitchen table with his name on them. He did not have time to chitchat.
“Mr. Forbes, just spit out the problem.”
“A while back, Melanie and I were discussing your account, and I filled her in on the unique aspects of your ranch. You know, about Haggerty. She was intrigued to find out it’s a ghost town.” Mr. Forbes searched his face as though looking for a sign of understanding. “When Melanie went to upload the information online about the couple hundred acres you’re selling off, she misunderstood and included details about Haggerty being for sale too.”
Cord fisted his hands. He knew what was coming next—someone wanted to buy Haggerty. In that moment, his mind strayed to the possibilities that could bring. If he were to forsake his heritage and sell the land, he wouldn’t lose everything to the bank. He’d be able to save the house and barn. Yet he remembered the solemn vow he’d made to his grandfather that when Haggerty became his responsibility he’d respect and protect the land where his family had lived and died.
Cord always maintained he was nothing if not true to his word. Even though his short-lived marriage hadn’t been the best, he’d have stuck it out and kept his vow till death do us part—but his ex-wife had had other plans. And when he hadn’t complied, she’d taken her anger and frustration out on him by painting an ugly picture of him for the townsfolk. She’d claimed with on-demand-tears in her eyes that he was mean and stingy. The worst part was that most of Whistle Stop believed Susan’s tall and malicious tales.
