Last Chance Harbor (24 page)

“It’s okay. We had plenty of hands on deck. We got off to a great start. I felt like one of those shows on DIY where everyone pitches in to renovate my house. I can’t believe how generous the town’s been.”

“This is a good little place to live.”

“What about you? Is the dig over?”

River glanced back at the area they’d recently expanded. They’d originally started among the dunes directly under the lighthouse but over the last few months, after having trouble extracting the canoe, they’d slowly moved southward and closer to the pier. Keeping the tide out was still a problem. By utilizing sandbags, they were able to keep the work zone as dry as possible. 

“I was prepared to shut down the site but last week my crew spotted several more artifacts at a depth of eight feet—namely, hunting tools and a harpoon. As the rep for the tribe, Brent gave us another three months of dig time. Getting an extension wasn’t easy even if I am married to the guy in charge.”

“That means more goodies for the museum.”

“You bet it does. I’m stoked. And Brent’s been getting really lucky this week.”

Julianne howled with laughter. “That must be why he worked like two men. I guess it’s okay to admit now that I was afraid you might be standoffish since everyone in town seems to think Brent and I were an item. We weren’t, by the way. You seemed so…friendly at the party I thought I should say something.”

“My turn for honesty then. Brent and I had words about you moving here, a misunderstanding. He told me months ago that nothing happened between you two. And even if it had, it was well before we got together. Your being here doesn’t bother me at all. So relax.”

“That’s a load off my mind. Brent and I are just friends. But no matter how many times I deny it, someone always comes up to me assuming we had a torrid affair at one time.”

“I hear ya. It’s the mentality of the small town. Don’t worry about it or me.”

“How does the tribe feel about you taking charge of the proposed cultural center?”

“Because I’m Pueblo and not a Chumash descendant? Good question. It was a struggle at first. But Brent carries a lot of weight with the elders. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I’m the most qualified person around for the job. I’m absolutely committed to making sure the antiquities are handled properly. The Codys know that now and have been very supportive.” All the while they talked River kept watch on her son who sat on the sand playing with his trucks. “I’m so glad the town’s reopening the school. As you can see, we have a vested interest. I’m glad it’s you they selected for the job.”

“That means a lot to me. I hope all the parents feel that way. A lot of people think I’m making a big jump from first-grade teacher to principal.”

“Sometimes we have to leap to get anywhere.”

She told River about her idea to consult with Marcus and Ethan, to employ the men’s abilities in a mystic way that might give up what happened to the missing couple. “You want to talk about taking a leap, that’s a major hop, skip and a jump.”

River grabbed her arm. “But it’s not! That’s a terrific idea! I’ve seen ceremonies like that performed all over the world.”

“Surprisingly, your hubby didn’t think so.”

“Of course not, let me guess. That would be veering off the normal track cops usually take. But this is a cold case. Why not shake things up a little?”

“Or a lot. If you ask me, and no one did, a cold case needs all the help it can get from any source.”

“Exactly. So when is this taking place?”

“I don’t know yet. Next weekend maybe. I hadn’t really planned it out that far ahead mainly because Brent is not onboard with it yet.”

“If you need help, let me know. By the way, how’s it going with the hunky construction worker?”

Lines formed on Julianne’s forehead. “Ryder? We’re in the early stages of…something.”

“Relationships are thorny, aren’t they?”

“I don’t have many to compare to but I’d have to agree. Are all single guys in their thirties stuck in a holding pattern? When it comes to trusting women, Ryder’s wedged in the past. He prefers to remember the ugly someone who hurt him.”

“If they’ve been burned, it’s difficult to get them past it. Brent certainly fell into that category. It’s like the legend of the two snow-white, wolf lovers who mated for life, Myko and Zeeka.”

“I guess I don’t know that story.”

“Ah. Allow me… Like any alpha male, Myko strutted back and forth in front of Zeeka with his head held high, trying to get her attention. But Zeeka was no pushover. She made him work for the privilege of being with her. After several hours of watching him showing off, Zeeka finally let him get close to her. Even though their attraction was smoldering, Zeeka still made him work for it. But soon, both wolves became cold and hungry and went off to find food together. The hunt took them through thorny bushes and rough terrain until they finally found fresh food, an elk. Being the alpha male, along with trying to show off a bit, he tried to take down the animal alone, by himself. Big mistake.”

River took a breath and went on, “All the while Zeeka sat back, ever patient, and waited to see what would happen next. It became clear Myko couldn’t handle the beast by himself, he needed help. No matter how much he tried he couldn’t do it alone. It would take both of them to attack and bring it down so they could eat.

“Zeeka went to Myko, explained that if he would put his pride aside and let her work as his equal, they could do it together. So together the two wolves stalked and circled. And that night, they ate a feast of elk.”

“I love legends,” Julianne said with a smile. “If only life was more like the inspirational folktales handed down through the ages.”

“It can be. Brent and I are living proof, it can be. You just have to hang in there.”

Once the others
packed up and headed for home, Ryder found himself left alone with Julianne’s father—a towering man who leaned toward a quiet nature rather than joining in the earlier conversations. After busting up flooring and cabinets together, Ryder decided to break the awkward silence between them.

“So how long have you been at this?”

“Been a carpenter since I was fifteen,” John answered. “Worked alongside my father growing up, couldn’t get enough of his workshop. How about you?”

“I started working construction during the summer months in high school. It paid well enough but at the time I wanted to see someplace else other than Philly so I joined the army.”

“No desire to go to college?”

“None whatsoever. I always did okay in school but hated the structure. The idea of spending four more years going to class made me cringe. I like working with my hands.”

“School’s all I heard from Julianne. From the time she was five she’d pretend to be the teacher, in charge of everyone. She used to drive me crazy begging me to listen to her plans for all the other kids in the neighborhood. I used to have to remind her, you can’t always make people do what you want them to do. I know part of it was the fact she wanted her mother. But Ruthie was gone.”

“Hey, my parents didn’t stay together either. Sometimes matchups just do not work out, no matter how much those online dating services tout their success in commercials.”

“I laugh my ass off at those. My girl finally got past not having her mother around, I guess, as much as any child can that is. Ruthie never bargained for motherhood. She told me that right up front. Julianne doesn’t know this but, when she was a baby, her mother would refuse to get up with her at night whenever the baby cried. That was always my job. So I learned to put in fifteen hours on the job and get up with an infant at night. Later, it was so much more I had to learn on the job. Like how to braid hair. Or how to cook a decent meal without setting the kitchen on fire. Or helping her with homework. I think that’s one of the reasons she likes teaching so much. She’s a big influence on the kids.”

“She’ll make an even bigger impact as principal.”

“You think so? I don’t know. Maybe. But I’m afraid she’ll miss the interaction with the kids. I don’t want to discourage her though.”

“Miss the one-on-one concept? I hadn’t thought of that.” Ryder could see Julianne as the stern little dark-haired girl growing up, the precocious child who expected everyone to fall in line.

It made him realize the two of them were very different—she educated—him barely getting out of high school. She couldn’t get enough of a classroom, while he avoided one at all costs. Could two people so completely opposite really make a go of things? He was no longer so sure.

By the time
Julianne strolled in with the take-out, she spotted her father and Ryder with their tape measures in hand going over every inch of the house, making notations as they went.

“Food’s here. We already measured every room, twice,” she pointed out.

“Never hurts to make sure,” the men said in unison.

“Why does that not surprise me? Okay, after the backbreaking first day, let’s hear your take on the job.” When both men looked perplexed, she added, “Both of you must have an opinion.”

“Your goal is end of May? You’ll be cutting it close but I believe it’s doable,” Ryder said.

“Even if no other help shows up, I think we can get the worst of it out of the way and you can move in after the term’s done.”

“Okay, good, now let’s eat.”

They took the food outside and ate sitting on the porch steps. But Julianne sensed a change in Ryder. He seemed pensive, distant. As the trio watched the sun dip into the water, she wondered if he’d had a disagreement with her dad about something while she’d been gone. But when Ryder finally spoke it put her more at ease.

“That’s a pretty sight. Just think how many sunsets over the ocean you’ll be able to sit here and take in every evening after work.”

“I know. It’s one reason I wanted this close to the water. I mentioned to River about going to Marcus and Ethan to shake things up with this Layne and Brooke thing. She liked the idea.”

“But Brent didn’t,” Ryder reminded her.

“I know but shouldn’t we do something?”

“That’s Brent’s job, isn’t it?”

After he’d swallowed his last bite, John got up to leave. Turning to his daughter, he said, “If you’re riding with me, I need to get home, get some sleep in time to do this all over again tomorrow.”

“I’ll bring her home,” Ryder heard himself offer.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “Santa Cruz is so far out of the way.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Okay, Pop, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

After her dad left, she led Ryder back inside and grabbed the paint samples she’d picked up at Ferguson’s Hardware. She went around to each room beginning with the kitchen. “I need another eye in here before I settle on the right shade. Since the backsplash is a subtle blue-green, tell me if you think this white is too blah.”

“A bolder blend might work better in such a small space.”

“Okay, what about this? It’s called Misty Mimosa.”

“Still too bland, not enough pop. Try the Copacabana Marina.”

“Oh, much better. Good choice.” She jotted down the color code on her notepad, moved on to the living room. “Keeping with a beach house feel, I’m thinking a soft Hampton-style blue in here. It’s called Seashore Teal and it reminds me of sea foam without being too dark bluesy.”