The Rodeo Rider. Roxann Delaney
He took one look at her and grinned. “Morning, Jules.”
“Hello, Tanner.”
“Hello to you, too, Betty,” he said, approaching the counter. “How’s Jed?”
“Ornery as ever,” the postmistress replied, laughing. “You know how he is.”
Jules smiled at the friendly banter and had to admit that Tanner O’Brien was a fine example of a good-looking man. Too bad she wasn’t in the market for one. Putting him out of her mind was proving to be much harder than she’d thought it would be, but she kept trying by keeping busy helping Beth. That was proving much easier. She was enjoying her vacation and meeting the nice people of Desperation. For a small town, they accepted strangers without question. Or maybe that was Beth’s doing. Whichever, she was glad she’d let Beth talk her into coming for a visit.
When she opened the door to leave, the bell overhead announced her departure, and Tanner called to her, “Hang on, Jules, if you have a minute. As soon as Betty puts some postage on this package of Bridey’s, I’ll walk with you.”
Wondering why he wanted her company, but knowing it would be rude to ask or refuse his offer, Jules stepped back into the building and waited for him to finish his business. As she tried not to eavesdrop on his conversation with the postmistress, her gaze took in the wall of small, bronze-fronted lockboxes across the room. The combination fittings of the mailboxes were testimony not only to their age, but their endurance.
“Another care package for the troops?” Betty was asking Tanner.
“You know Aunt Bridey,” he replied. “A week doesn’t go by that she doesn’t send something somewhere.”
“Most of us should take a page from her book and do some good deeds ourselves. Tell Bridey thanks for her good heart and for keeping the post office in business.”
“Will do.” Turning, he strode to where Jules waited and reached around her to turn the knob on the door. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“It’s not a problem.” Stepping down onto the sidewalk, Jules tried to forget about the man with her. Instead, she looked up at the bright blue July sky overhead, glad she’d left her car at Beth’s little house and opted to walk the few blocks to the small, downtown business area. It was the perfect day for a walk—something she didn’t do much of in the city.
In fact, as Tanner moved to walk beside her, she realized she didn’t do much of anything in the city. Oh, there was an occasional trip to the symphony, but that was only when a colleague gave her tickets. And once or twice a year, she took in a community theater production. But those were inside activities. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been to the zoo or taken the time to simply enjoy being outdoors. Beth had been right. She kept herself cooped up in her Wichita law office too much.
“Beautiful day,” Tanner said, echoing her thoughts.
“It certainly is. I was just thinking how glad I am that I decided to walk.”
“So what do you think of our little town?”
Most of the downtown business area was spread out ahead of them and stretched almost two blocks. Buildings, mostly one-story, some two-story, lined both sides of the street. Quaint and unique were the words that came to mind, as each connected building had a design and character of its own.
“It’s a very nice town. Pretty and charming. But I’m wondering…” She hesitated.
“About what?”
When she turned to smile at him, her knees weakened at the smile he flashed her in return. Shaking off the reaction, she focused on what she was saying, not on the man. “I’m wondering where the name came from. ‘Desperation’ is a little odd.”
“Odder than Monkey’s Eyebrow, Arizona?”
“Not quite,” she said, laughing.
“How about Hygiene, Colorado?”
Still laughing, she shook her head.
“Yeehaw Junction? Krypton? Mudlick?”
“Okay, you’ve got me. Those are odd. But why Desperation?”
Before he could answer, they were forced to stop when a man and woman stepped out onto the sidewalk from the Chick-a-Lick Café.
“Excuse me,” the man said, realizing they had stepped into someone’s path, and then recognition lit his eyes. “Hey, Tanner.”
“Hello, Cal,” Tanner greeted the man, before turning to the woman and touching the brim of his hat. “Wilma. Have you two met Jules Vandeveer, Dr. Beth’s friend?”
The woman directed a friendly smile at Jules. “I haven’t had the pleasure. I heard Beth had a friend visiting. You’ll be at her wedding?”
“Yes,” Jules replied. “In her wedding, making sure all the arrangements are made, setting it up…” She laughed, thinking of all the things on her list. “The date is quickly approaching and there’s so much to do yet.”
“That’s the way it is with weddings,” Wilma said with a knowing nod. “It’s good to know Beth has a friend who can help.”
“We’ll see you Friday?” Cal asked Tanner.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he replied.
Cal took his wife’s arm. “Wilma’s playing bridge this afternoon, so we’d better get going. Don’t want her to miss it or be late. Nice to meet you, miss.”
When the couple crossed the street, Tanner turned to Jules. “You asked about Desperation.”
She nodded, waiting to hear what he had to say.
“Well, the story goes that people began moving into the area during the land rush in the late 1800s, but the town was really settled after oil was found in these parts a few years later. Those were wild times, before Oklahoma became a state. People swarmed here in droves, desperate to find their own little patch of black gold. As it turned out, the pool of oil in this area was only a small one and didn’t last very long. Eventually people either left the area, disillusioned, or they stayed and homesteaded.”
She thought about it and nodded. “‘Desperation’ makes a lot of sense, then.”
They walked in silence for a few minutes, until Jules noticed the large building across the street near the end of the first block. She stopped to point at it. “What’s that building?”
Tanner stopped, too, and looked to where she indicated. “The old Opera House. It’s closed right now, but a committee is working on restoring it.”
Admiring the Victorian structure, she turned to look at him. “That’s wonderful. What will they use it for?”
He shrugged, his gaze still on the building. “They haven’t decided. Maybe several things. A soda shop or ice-cream parlor was suggested, space for a youth center and conference rooms, maybe some small offices.” He turned to look at her. “They’re taking private donations, if you’re interested.”
“I just might be.” Her parents had taught her that those who have should help the have-nots, whether it was one person, a group or even a town. Because of them, she had always given to worthy causes and had a soft spot for restorations of old buildings and homes.
He watched her for a moment, as if he thought she was joking, but he didn’t say anything else until they’d walked on.
“I wanted to talk to you,” he began, “because I have a little proposition for you.”
She looked up at him, not sure how to react. “Oh, really? And what kind of proposition would that be?”
When he laughed, she knew she hadn’t covered her surprise very well. “It’s about Shawn,” he explained, his laughter gone. “But now that I’ve mentioned