Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

decided to make my way back home to Pennsylvania. It's taking a while."
    "Where are you headed to next?" Riley spread butter over a piece of cornbread.
    "I was thinking about Albuquerque. There should be plenty of jobs there. I've saved up enough for a deposit on an apartment." The chili settled like a glowing ember in my gut. I added more sour cream and reached for a piece of cornbread.
    "What were you doing in LA?" He set his spoon down and rested his chin on his hand.
    "I ran a small hotel with my partner. He did the cooking and I managed the front of house until it all went bad."
    "Sorry to hear that. Business partnerships are always tough."
    I set my spoon down, took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. I hoped he was a tolerant type. "It wasn't just a business partnership."
    "Ah." He reached for his beer and took a huge gulp. "Sorry. That must've made it even worse."
    "Yeah." I waited for the condemnation, the declaration that the room was suddenly unavailable.
    "So you're at a loose end altogether."
    I retrieved my beer. "That's why I'm headed back to Pittsburgh."
    "Sounds like you're not too thrilled by the idea."
    "I can't think of anywhere else to go. Its home."
    "Huh." Riley returned to his chili, a distant look in his eyes.
    Relieved that I wasn't being shown the door, I tackled the rest of my dinner. The slow-moving storm offered a backdrop of pouring rain, lightning and the occasional grumble of thunder. When I could eat no more, I pushed the bowl away and leaned back in my chair.
    Riley surveyed my empty bowl. "I guess that met with your approval."
    "It was great. Thanks."
    "Good." He took the empty bowls, rinsed them out and placed them in the dishwasher. "There's some fruit if you want dessert."
    "I don't think I could eat another thing."
    "Coffee?" Riley spooned some coffee into a jug, added water and set on top of the stove.
    "I could probably manage a cup."
    He turned on the ring and took two mugs from a cupboard. I carried the remaining dishes and set them on the counter.
    "You don't have to do that. Go and find a seat in the living room. I'll bring the coffee through."
    I made my way down the hall to the front room. It was more like I expected of an old ranch house—wood-paneled walls, paintings of horses, a pair of spurs resting on a broad mantelpiece. I sank into a deep, well-worn chair and watched the rain. For the first time since leaving LA, I felt something close to comfort.
    ****
    In spite of the gut-stirring coffee, I slept like an exhausted child, lulled to sleep by the retreating storm and the soft whisper of rain through the open window. When I woke, the rain had moved on leaving a cool, grey morning. Mist clung to treetops and water dripped slowly from the eaves. It almost seemed a shame to have to hit the road again.
    I showered, packed my things and headed to the kitchen for some more of that coffee, walking through a silent house. The pot was on the stove, as promised, along with a note, tucked under a mug.
    There's plenty of coffee. I've left you some pancakes in the oven. You'll find the maple syrup in the fridge. Don't go rushing off. I've been doing some thinking. I have a proposition for you.
    The coffee was hot, strong and bitter. It went down well with the short stack of pancakes. I took my time and stared at the note again, wondering what the hell he had in mind
    "There you are." Riley breezed in through the back door. "How are the pancakes?"
    "Fine, thanks."
    "I see you found the note." He helped himself to a coffee and sat down across the table from me.
    I set my fork down. "So what's this proposition?"
    Riley took a sip of coffee. "The horse business is a tad slow at the moment. I've been wracking my brain thinking of how to bring in some extra income. I thought about opening this place up as a bed and breakfast again but I don't have the time to run it. I asked Jaime's wife if she'd be interested but she's just got herself a job at the new hairdressers in town. I was thinking of running an ad in the paper and then you turn up."
    I added another spoonful of sugar to my coffee and stared at him. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind.
    I wouldn't have to go back to Pittsburgh with my tail between my legs;
    This is a nice place with huge potential;
    It's the middle of nowhere;
    It's the middle of nowhere with a good-looking cowboy who's probably as straight as the day is long;
    I kinda like the rootless life;
    No, I don't.
    I don't want to tie myself down to