The Old Fashioned Way (A Homespun Romance) Page 3

  "You have a dog?" He hadn't seen signs of one around.

  Abby nodded. "Muffy's a loafer. He's probably in the woods behind the house giving the rabbits a reason to exercise. He'll be back soon. He's not a pedigree dog, but he's clean and well behaved."

  The last bit ended on a defensive note.

  Daniel sighed. Now she was assuming that his dog was like the image she had of him. Cold, polished, uppity.

  They both turned as Sarah Trenton hailed them from the house.

  "I'm staying for dinner," Daniel said casually.

  "Why?" Abby Silver wore her keep-out look again.

  "Because I have some time to spare, and I thought I'd look at the books and see if I can offer some constructive suggestions. That way I won't feel I've robbed you of the money you paid for the seminar."

  Abby's face flamed. "You don't have to do that," she said stiffly. "We'll manage."

  It was a long time since Daniel had come up against so much stiff-necked pride. Usually he had a hard time protecting himself from people who wanted his help.

  "I know I don't have to do that," said Daniel Hawthorn. "I want to do it."

  "I can't pay you," Abby said bluntly.

  "I didn't ask for any money," Daniel pointed out coldly. She stared at him her eyes narrowed, as if trying to analyze his motives. Why was he agreeing to stay and help? Hostile women weren't his style at all.

  Abby's head said this was the best thing that could have happened to her. Her heart...Abby let out a tiny sigh...her heart was misbehaving, the way it had since she had first set eyes on Daniel Hawthorn.

  Nothing was more important than protecting herself from this avalanche of emotions. Nothing, except helping Gran.

  Daniel heard the tiny sigh. It told him he had won this round.

  Daniel looked around the table. Before they'd sat down to dinner, he'd met the other two partners. Hamish McArthur was a retired chef, whose hobby was wood carving. His wife, Agnes, loved sewing. Both conducted classes, as well as turning out merchandise for the store. They lived in the house with Sarah and her granddaughter.

  Daniel wondered if the uncomfortable feeling inside was a throwback to the times when he'd been with his grandparents. Meals had always been eaten in silence.

  Sarah smiled at him and said, "Do you live in Los Angeles, Mr. Hawthorn?"

  "Please call me Daniel," he said. "Yes. I've lived in the Los Angeles area since my college days."

  "Abby tells us you're a very important businessman. How long have you two known each other?"

  Daniel stared at the dark head, bent over her plate. "A while," he said cautiously.

  Sarah sighed. "It's so nice when old friends visit, isn't it, Abby?"

  Her head came up. Green eyes looked at him and then away, "Yes."

  "If you'd like to use the telephone to call your family, or the motel you have reservations at for tonight, please go ahead," Sarah suggested.

  "I don't have any family, and I didn't make any reservations," she heard Daniel said evenly.

  Sarah smiled as if she'd guessed that already. "Where do you live in Los Angeles?"

  "I have a suite in the Castilian."

  "That must be very lonely." Sarah exchanged an eloquent look with Agnes. "No wonder you look so thin."

  The conversation was becoming too personal. It was time to change the subject. "Abby told me you were having problems with the store. I stopped by to see if there was anything I could do to help." Opposite him he saw Abby open her mouth. Daniel said quickly, "As the Busy Bee has four owners, I want to ask all of you if it would be all right for me to take a look at the store accounts. I've already talked it over with Abby and got her opinion."

  He looked at her and saw the anger shooting out of her eyes.

  "How kind of you." Sarah beamed at him. "We couldn't possibly bother you while you're on your vacation."

  "I have no definite plans."

  "Maybe it would work out," Sarah said slowly after exchanging a quick look with her friends. "You look in need of a good rest. You could stay here and we could take care of you while you help us."

  "I planned on staying in a motel in town." He didn't need taking care of.

  "Helping has to be a two way street," Sarah said firmly. "If you won't let us take care of you, we can't let you help us."

  So now he knew where Abby Silver got her stubbornness from.

  "We really shouldn't bother Mr. Hawthorn," Abby interjected. "He needs his vacation."

  "I thought you two were friends," said Sarah. "Why do you still call him Mr. Hawthorn?"

  Daniel enjoyed the way Abby blushed.

  "A slip of the tongue," he said smoothly.

  "Spend the night with us," Sarah coaxed.

  "Maybe I could stay here tonight," Daniel conceded.

  "No, you can't."

  Everyone looked at Abby in surprise.

  "You invited me to come down and give you on-the-spot recommendations, remember?" Daniel couldn't keep the dryness out of his voice.

  "I don't want to ruin your vacation." There was more than concern in her eyes. Abby's nervousness amounted to fear.

  "You won't," Daniel told her.

  She looked very angry. For the first time since he'd sat down for the meal, Daniel felt a little happy.

  "How long a vacation are you on?"

  Abby wasn't fooled by the innocent question. Gran could be both deep and wily.

  "Eight weeks."

  "Ah," beamed Sarah, "so spending a little time with us, isn't going to hurt."

  A few days? Before Daniel Hawthorn knew it, Gran would be arranging the whole eight weeks.

  "Mr.H...I mean Daniel will be leaving tomorrow as soon as he's looked at the books. Excuse me" Abby began to clear the table.

  Abby knew he had to leave as soon as possible. For her sake. It was upsetting being around him. Upsetting to feel like this.

  Daniel had no intention of staying a minute longer than was absolutely necessary. Making his suggestions, would rid his mind of the burden it had carried around since Abby had challenged him. Once that was done, he had every intention of having the vacation he had promised himself.

  "Tomorrow's Sunday," Sarah pointed out. "Surely he's not going to work on Sunday?"

  "That's for Mr. Hawthorn to decide," Abby said as evenly as possible.

  Trust Gran to come up with something like that. It didn't matter that the store was open on Sunday. It was simply a ploy to keep Daniel Hawthorn here as long as possible.

  Sarah nodded with assumed meekness. "Will you show Daniel the guest house and the office?"

  "I can't," Abby said quickly. "I have to take Muffy to the vet."

  The dog that was out in the woods somewhere? She should have come up with a better excuse.

  "I'll be glad to show you around," Sarah said.

  Abby wasn't sure how much damage Gran would do in this mood. It was safer not to leave her alone with Daniel. "I just remembered Muffy's appointment is for tomorrow not tonight,” she said quickly. "When you've finished your coffee, I'll take you to the guest house."

  Abby decided to keep the tour brief and businesslike. She showed Daniel Hawthorn the office off the store and the community room, then took him around the back and opened the door to the guest house.

  "The store was built four years ago when Gran and Gramps came up with the idea of starting it. They added the guest house and the attached car port for their friends who visit."

  Daniel sensed Abby didn't like being his guide. It was all there in her tone and the stiff way she held herself. Stepping past her, he entered the guest house and looked around. There was a living room, a bathroom with an adjoining bedroom and a tiny kitchenette. Off the bedroom was a small patio. Beside it was the dog run.

  Returning to the living room he said, "It's very nice."

  He liked the brown and cream color scheme, the vase of red roses on the coffee table. Like the store, the simple elegance of the place appealed to him.

  "Thank
you. There are towels in the chest of drawers, and toilet articles in the bathroom. If you need anything else, call the house. There's a telephone in the bedroom, with numbers beside it."

  "Do you know where the second door in the bedroom leads?"

  "That goes into the community room," Abby said, "but it's locked. You'll have complete privacy."

  She'd sensed he was a loner. Though she lived here with the trio, Daniel felt, in a way Abby was a loner too.

  "Breakfast is at seven," Abby added stiffly.

  "I don't expect to have every meal fixed for me," Daniel protested.

  She looked at him and the anger in her eyes surprised him. "Gran expects you to have all your meals with us. She'll be hurt if you don't. While you're here, you'll have to accept her hospitality."

  Daniel sighed silently. He didn't seem to have a choice. Protecting her grandmother seemed Abby Silver's first priority.

  "I'll see you in the morning."

  "I have some errands to run tomorrow, but one of the others will be here."

  Daniel stared at the door after he'd closed it. A hedgehog. That's what she reminded him of. Curled up around her problems. Unwilling to ask for help. Unable to deal with them herself.

  Proud, prickly, frightened.

  Remember you're here for the store, Hawthorn. Keep your mind on business.

  That was right. By tomorrow evening, he should be on his way.

  The next evening Daniel looked up from the ledger, when he heard a car door bang outside. Sarah hadn't said a word this morning about it being Sunday, when he'd asked to see them. Agnes McArthur had shown him the books this morning. Daniel had wondered if she would ever stop talking and let him look at them, but she had finally left.

  His initial dismay that the accounts were all handwritten instead of being kept on a computer, had vanished with his first look at the figures. The neat entries could have been done by a professional accountant.

  The outer door opened. Abby walked in and stopped short. "You're still here?"

  It wasn't the friendliest greeting in the world. Daniel merely nodded.

  She’d used something on her hair and drawn it into a pony tail, every wave in control…his fingers itched to remove the confining band that held it back and let the waves tumble about her face.

  Her gaze fell to the books on the table and she said, "You've been busy. Th...thank you for looking at them."

  Abby hoped the words would cover up her dismay at the sight of Daniel Hawthorn behind the desk. She had stayed away all day, hoping he would be gone when she returned. She'd told herself he'd take one look at the books and decide the situation was hopeless. He wasn't the kind of man to embroil himself in a no-win situation.

  All that would be left for her to do would be to put him out of her thoughts, and go back to worrying about the store.

  There was only one thing wrong with that scenario. Daniel Hawthorn showed no sign of leaving.

  As he looked at her, Abby couldn't resist asking, "Well, what do you think?"

  "It's bad, but it's not irreparable. I've seen businesses in worse shape."

  "If you'll tell me what we have to do to turn things around...." Abby began.

  Daniel stood up and put one hand into the pocket of his pants. "It isn't as simple as that. I need to make a more thorough assessment before I can give suggestions."

  Did he mean he was going to stay here for more than a day? Abby felt as if she had wandered into a patch of quicksand.

  Daniel glanced at her and Abby knew immediately it was exactly what he intended. She hadn't simply wandered into a patch of quicksand. She was ankle deep in it, and sinking rapidly.

  "I've told Sarah I'll stay on for a few days."

  Abby closed her eyes. "You can't."

  The whisper reached him.

  Abby heard the note of surprise in his voice, "I beg your pardon?"

  She rubbed her hands up and down her arms to warm herself. "You can't stay on."

  "You asked for my help in the first place," Daniel pointed out.

  He was right. She was behaving like an absolute fool, just because she couldn't stop reacting the way she did to him.

  "There's nothing in this for you." She was desperate enough to repeat her earlier warning.

  "I've told you before, I don't want anything from you."

  "Why do you want to do this?" Abby wet her lips.

  "You accused me of misleading you, remember? For my own sake, I have to prove that I can back up what I say in my seminars."

  She and her big mouth. Abby turned to look out of the window.

  Daniel stared at the worried face, the stiff shoulders. The decision to stay wasn't entirely based on the need to prove his integrity now. Abby Silver intrigued him as no one ever had before. He wanted to know her better.

  "Abby, there you are dear." Both of them turned as Sarah entered the office. "Daniel, that's quite enough work for one day. Relax, and join us at six for dinner, won't you? If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask Abby or one of us."

  Abby sighed. Gran was smiling as if she didn’t have a worry in the world; obviously very pleased about Daniel's decision to stay.

  Turning to the door, Sarah said, "Have you met Muffy, Daniel? He's a delightful dog."

  "Not yet," said Daniel.

  "Where is Muffy?" Sarah asked her granddaughter. "I haven't seen him around."

  "I locked him in the garden shed, so he wouldn't bother Mr. Hawthorn's dog."

  Noticing the startled look on Sarah's face, Daniel said, "Why don't you bring your dog over to the run? We could introduce him to Princess now."

  "All right," Abby's voice held its usual amount of reluctance.

  Doesn't want me around herself or her dog, thought Daniel, as he switched off the lights and followed Abby out of the office.

  He waited with Princess, wondering what the German Shepherd's reaction would be to another dog. At the Castilian, Princess had her own kennel and dog run. Daniel had always thought she was a loner, like himself.

  Placing her hand on her collar as he saw Abby approach, Daniel said, "Sit."

  Abby held her dog in her arms and knelt in front of Princess. The dogs cautiously sniffed each other.

  "Muffy's a friend," Daniel said, patting Princess and Abby's dog at the same time. The latter licked his hand.

  "I think I'll set Muffy down."

  Once on the ground, Muffy reached up and touched noses with Princess. Running to the edge of the fence he looked over his shoulder and gave a small woof of encouragement. Daniel let Princess go as he felt her tug at his hand.

  Watching the dogs run around, Abby said, "Well, that was easier than I thought."

  "Your dog is very friendly."

  Abby felt herself tense. Did Daniel mean as opposed to her? The way she felt around him, she couldn't afford to be friendly with him. One glance at his profile was enough to set her heart hammering in her chest.

  "It's almost dinner time. If you'll excuse me, I have to go in and wash up."

  Daniel went into the guest house to clean up as well. He wondered what he'd gotten himself into. The thought of eating all his meals with the family bothered him. He had to try and make it clear to Sarah that he enjoyed fending for himself.

  "Nonsense," Sarah said at dinner when he brought up the subject. "There's no need to feel awkward about eating here, when you're doing so much for us."

  "I don't want to impose," Daniel began, "I've looked at the books but it doesn't seem as if I'll be able to give you my recommendations right away. I might have to stay a few more days."

  Abby glared at him from across the table, while Sarah beamed and said, "You're welcome to stay for as long as you want to."

  "Carbon Canyon is an excellent spot for a vacation," added Agnes.

  "Hamish will enjoy having another mouth to feed." Sarah looked at the silent Hamish who said nothing.

  "Mr. Hawthorn probably likes his privacy, Gran," Abby pointed out. "He might be more comfortable eating on his
own."

  "I'll tell you what we'll do," Sarah said after a minute. "We'll find you the spare coffeepot and you can fix yourself coffee in the guest house."

  Daniel sighed silently.

  "If you decide to stay longer than Tuesday, you can come in and fix your own breakfast, like we all do. Lunch is generally soup and sandwiches. Dinner is the only meal we really all sit down together for. "

  Daniel looked at Sarah, amazed. The seriousness in her gaze told him she wanted him to accept her invitation to stay on.

  “I want to pay you for my board and lodging,” he said.

  Sarah shook her head. "Let us take care of you for the next couple of days, though. If you decide to stay longer, we can talk about the eating arrangements then." Her innocent smile warned Daniel she was up to something. "It will make us feel better about the time and expertise you're giving us, won't it Abby?"

  Abby's face was pale. She looked down at her plate but not before he'd seen the flash of nervousness in her eyes.

  "Yes, it will." The dead quality of her voice didn't surprise him.

  Sarah turned an expectant gaze on Daniel. Left with no choice, he nodded and said, "Thank you."

  Maybe, he thought later as he pulled off his shirt and headed for the bathroom, he'd find out why Abby was so nervous around him in the days ahead.

  What happened to that great search for self, Hawthorn?

  The thought stopped Daniel short. It had been a while since he'd thought of the purpose of his vacation.

  In fact he hadn't done anything according to plan, since he stepped into the store.

  Daniel told himself he could think just as nicely in Carbon Canyon as he could anyplace else.

  Maybe he should spend part of his vacation having his head examined. Impulses weren't like him. Abby Silver's challenge had brought him to Carbon Canyon and her reluctance to have him here had goaded him into staying. Bruised ego wasn't enough reason to embroil himself in a situation like this.

  No matter what the arguments, no matter that he was spending his vacation so strangely, Daniel knew he felt good about his decision. It had been quite a while since he'd experienced this deep sense of contentment. Under the shower, he did something he hadn't done in ages. He whistled.