The American Soldier Collection 11: Mending Hearts (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Read online

  Something had to give. There had to be something that would make Gabe want to fight to live a better quality of life. Something.

  * * * *

  Alana looked at the small house she was renting. Well, it was more like a little cottage with everything on one floor. A large bedroom, no closet space, a big kitchen, and medium-sized living room space, but it also had a pretty back porch and a yard that led up to a woods. It was in a small town about thirty minutes from Salvation. She chuckled to herself. It seemed she didn’t feel as confident as she’d thought she would feel being far from home. Instead, she’d chosen a place not too far from Deanna, Teddy, and Jim. They were thrilled, and Deanna even brought Julia over to the house with her. The three-year-old was adorable, and it made Alana think of Gabe. But then again, there wasn’t much that didn’t make Alana think of Gabe. Even though she’d left Scrantonville and headed away from the memories and the sadness, they had followed her here.

  She looked around the room and knew she needed furniture. She needed something to focus on for today. It was Saturday, and Monday would come soon enough as well as working her two jobs. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, she worked from nine until two at the large clothing and household store in Tranquility, and on Friday and Saturday night, she worked as a waitress in Casper’s. Thanks to Jim and Teddy. Their friends owned the place, and it was always very busy. Then on Sunday, her day off, she would clean the house and work on the handmade jewelry she created. She was trying to make enough items to sell at the large street fair in two weeks. She wasn’t sure if she would sell anything, but Deanna offered her half the table she was setting up to sell her soaps and lotions from a known company.

  Alana heard the horn honk and knew that Deanna was there to pick her up. She had called this morning and told Alana about an estate sale in a very old neighborhood in Salvation. Deanna told her she would be able to get some antique furniture at some good prices to place in her home and perhaps even some things for free. She grabbed her purse and her keys then locked the door before she headed down the cobblestone walkway. She really liked this small cottage. Despite the size, it had character and made her think of small towns and everything they had to offer. Tranquility was quiet and just beginning to get established.

  “Good morning, sunshine. Are you ready to get all nostalgic?” Deanna asked, and Alana got into the front seat of the car.

  “Nostalgic, huh? Well, I guess so. I’ve never been to an estate sale before.”

  “Oh, well then, this should be exciting for you. It’s kind of weird going through a dead person’s belongings, but the family is trying to raise money for the local sports teams. They’re donating all the money.”

  “That’s so nice. God, I hope I don’t get the heebie-jeebies. I kind of have this sixth sense when it comes to spirits and things.”

  Deanna rolled her eyes.

  “Oh brother. Please don’t start talking to this dead woman aloud. Just keep the conversation to yourself.”

  Alana chuckled as they drove out of Tranquility.

  “Who was the woman anyway?”

  “Alana, isn’t it better if you don’t know anything about her?”

  “No. I would like to know. We are going to be rummaging through her things, as you described.”

  Deanna laughed.

  “Okay, well, from what I heard, she was very wealthy, and she was a collector of fine art. She also had a lot of costume jewelry from what the list of items available online said. She was a major part of the community many years back, and she was sort of a hoarder.”

  “A hoarder? Oh no, that’s not good. Hoarders usually collect junk.”

  “Not this woman. Her junk was expensive, and supposedly, she was into mystical things.” Deanna gave Alana a wink. Alana chuckled as they continued on their way to this estate in Salvation.

  Thirty minutes later, they arrived, and there were only a few people coming and going.

  “I don’t know. It’s a very old house but looks disheveled.”

  “Alana, she was very old and lived alone. It’s not really disheveled anyway. It’s kind of charming.”

  Alana shrugged and headed inside. The moment she entered the house, she felt a bit strange. There was a large winding staircase carpeted in a rich, burgundy color up the middle of each dark-wood-stained step. The wood on the railing was exquisite, and then Alana caught sight of all the things right there in the main entryway. There were racks of clothing that contained gorgeous evening gowns from a time well passed. If Alana had to guess, she would think they were from the twenties or thirties. There were gorgeous mirrors, a secretary’s desk that had to be a hundred years old, and so much more.

  “Hello, ladies. Is there something specific you were looking for today? I would be happy to help you,” one older woman said as she greeted them hello. She looked so kind that Alana couldn’t help but smile.

  “I think we’re just looking,” she told her. The woman nodded but seemed a little sad.

  “This is my first time walking through an estate sale. I’m not really sure what to do.”

  Her eyes lit up, and Deanna smiled at Alana.

  “My name is Agnes.”

  “I’m Alana, and this is Deanna. This home is so beautiful and huge.”

  “I know it may seem overwhelming, but my Great-aunt Margaret was an amazing woman. She collected so many different things. Take your time and look around. If you see anything you like, just let me know, and we can talk cost.”

  “Oh, wonderful. Thank you,” Alana said.

  “I’m going to look over here at some of the kitchen things,” Deanna told her.

  “Okay, I’m just going to browse around,” Alana said and then walked by the evening gowns and made her way through the front parlor and the back bedrooms.

  It was odd, but Alana felt kind of funny walking through Margaret’s home. The woman had only recently passed away, and it seemed strange to allow so many people to just walk through and see things, even buy them. But as she noticed people walking by and picking up items as though they were at a yard sale, she began to really look around. She climbed the back stairs that led to the second-floor bedrooms.

  The second floor was even more stunning, and there were more closets with racks of clothing and people looking through them. There were brass and wood headboards, gorgeous pieces of furniture like large dressers and antique mirrors, an old-fashioned sewing machine, and even some ornaments and decorations. Then she noticed the displays of antique wooden boxes opened wide on a long, large dresser. There were beaded necklaces, mostly broken, and some in fairly good shape. Many of the patterns and colors caught her eyes, and she knew they would make the perfect additional pieces to jewelry she designed. She could reuse them and add them to certain pieces she had.

  “Did you find something that you liked?” Deanna asked as she approached, carrying a pretty vase and some curtains.

  “Yes, these beads. They would make some beautiful additions to my collection and materials I use to make my own jewelry. Look at this one. And this one.” Alana showed them to Deanna.

  “Those are very pretty and unique. It has a sticker of twenty dollars on it.”

  “Each?” Alana asked.

  “No, silly, for the whole box. Look, this one says it too.”

  “Oh my, this is great. Do you think it’s okay to take them all?”

  “Of course. I bet Great-aunt Margaret would be happy to see you turn them into something amazing.”

  Alana chuckled and then turned to the right. That’s when the piece of furniture under the large stacks of blankets caught her eye.

  “Oh my, look at this, Deanna.” Alana made her way closer and began to move the stacks of blankets to the side. She uncovered a desk that had multiple drawers in a golden wood color with etching and an antique finish. But this was authentic, not manufactured to look old and antiqued.

  “God, that is a stunning piece. That could make a good work station for you.”

  “Yes, I was thi
nking the same thing. I love how unique it is and in such great condition.” Alana opened the drawers to check them. Inside were strings and other materials, including small tools similar to what Alana used to make jewelry.

  “Ah, so you found something. My aunt loved that desk. She used to make her own beaded necklaces and things. Some of her tools are still in there I think.”

  “That’s what I like to do, too. I make my own jewelry.”

  “Oh, how wonderful. Do you sell them in the boutique in town?” Agnes asked Alana.

  “Oh no, I haven’t sold any yet. I was planning on trying to sell some at the fair coming up. Deanna is going to have a table with handmade soaps, lotions and other items.”

  Agnes ran the palm of her hand over the wood.

  “This is a very special piece. I think it’s meant to be yours, Alana.”

  “Really?”

  “Definitely. You know, my great-aunt was a bit of a mystical woman who believed in the spirits and karma and all that stuff. She used to say that fate had a way of making things work out the way things were meant to be. Even if it took a long time, it eventually caught up. She had a lot of great sayings and beliefs in destiny.”

  “Well, I think your aunt would love for Alana to have this desk and to use it for her own beads and jewelry making. Alana was going to buy the two wooden chests of necklaces,” Deanna told Agnes.

  “The broken ones?” Agnes asked.

  “They’re so pretty and unique. I thought I could use them in some of the designs I create for the jewelry I make. I’ve never seen such pretty patterns and colors.”

  “Well, that’s because a lot of them came from overseas. Some of these were beads of necklaces my aunt made herself.” Agnes picked up one broken strand and watched the beads slide off and into the wooden box.

  “I’m sure you can make something gorgeous from these.”

  “Well ,how much is the desk?” Alana asked.

  “We priced it at $300.00 But you can have the desk, all those chests of beads, even the ones on the floor, and that Victorian-style floor lamp for $300. My great-aunt used to place that next to the desk so she could see all the tiny beads and string she used.”

  “Wow, that would be wonderful. I’ll take them.”

  “We have to leave the desk and come back later tonight for it though. It won’t fit in my car,” Deanna told Agnes.

  “That’s okay. We have some men who volunteer to deliver purchases in the area.”

  “I live in Tranquility,” Alana told her.

  “Oh, well, a couple of the men here today live there. They can probably drop it off to you on their way home.”

  “Wonderful. Here’s the money for everything.”

  Alana pulled out her wallet and took out the $300 she had.

  “We can deliver the beads the lamp and everything. Why don’t you continue to look around, and I’ll make sold signs up for these.”

  “Agnes, do you need anything delivered now?”

  She heard the deep voice, and both Alana and Deanna turned around to see a very tall, muscular man standing in the doorway.

  “Actually, Alana here just purchased the desk, the lamp, and all these chests of beads. She lives your way in Tranquility. Maybe on your way home, you and the men could drop these off to her?”

  “Sure thing, miss. Just write down your address, and we’ll drop it off and carry it inside for you.”

  “That would be great,” Deanna replied, but Alana couldn’t seem to find her voice.

  The man was quite attractive and big. He had dark brown wavy hair, big blue eyes, and a tattoo on his bicep that showed slightly from beneath the T-shirt he wore. He held her gaze and gave her a kind smile as Deanna gave her arm a nudge.

  “You said you wanted to look around a little more. Come on. Let’s make sure that there’s nothing else this kind man needs to deliver later to your house,” Deanna teased.

  “The name’s Jeb, miss.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jeb. I’m Deanna, and this is Alana. It’s her house you’ll be delivering the furniture to.”

  “Great. Nice to meet you. Both,” he added, although he held only Alana’s gaze, not Deanna’s.

  Agnes chuckled.

  “Well, meet us downstairs when you’re done. I’m getting a sold sign for these things, Jeb,” Agnes told him, and Deanna and Alana began walking.

  “Nice guy. Big,” Deanna added as they continued to look around.

  * * * *

  Jeb couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of the pretty, petite brunette he’d just met. She had gorgeous green eyes, full lips, and a body that instantly made his body react. That was different. He never got all hard just from checking out some woman. She seemed young, and yet mature, maybe even sophisticated. Either way, as he walked downstairs to grab Gator, he was still thinking about the woman.

  “Hey, we got a delivery to make at the end of the day,” he told Gator, who was rolling up some rope they’d just used on another delivery right in Salvation.

  “No problem. Is it something big?” Gator asked.

  Jeb was looking up toward the stairs as Alana and her friend were walking down. Gator gave Jeb’s back a tap.

  “Is it me, or is that an angel descending the stairs?”

  Jeb half chuckled at Gator’s description. Through the stained glass, the sunlight shot rays of colored lights over the staircase and against the lower walls. As Alana walked down them, she sure did look like an angel. A pretty little delicate one. His heart hammered in his chest.

  “Are you still browsing?” Jeb asked her.

  “I don’t think so. I didn’t come here with that much money or expecting to buy a lot,” Alana told him.

  “Well, that piece you picked upstairs is gorgeous.” He licked his lower lip as he looked her body over. She was pretty damn gorgeous too. Her friend, who appeared a little older, chuckled as she walked by.

  Gator cleared his throat. Alana looked away from Jeb and to Gator. She looked intimidated as she quickly lowered her eyes and took a step back. Gator was a pretty big man. Big muscles and wide shoulders, plus tall. He towered over most men.

  “This is my friend, Gator. Gator, meet Alana. We’ll be delivering some furniture and things to her on our way home later.”

  Gator reached his hand out for her to shake. She didn’t hesitate as she smiled softly at him.

  “Nice to meet you, miss.”

  Jeb watched the exchange. He saw the instant attraction and something happen when Alana and Gator’s hands touched. They both paused and then quickly pulled back. Gator’s eyes roamed over Alana’s body. She looked away shyly, then back again. Excitement began to bubble in his gut.

  She pulled back.

  “Oh, here’s my address. Do you know where it is?” she asked Jeb as she handed him the slip of paper. When their fingers touched, her lower lip dropped, and she quickly pulled back.

  “Sure, darling, this isn’t far from our place at all.” He handed the slip of paper to Gator as he kept his eyes glued to Alana’s green eyes. She was breathtaking. She had to have a boyfriend. Shit, that pissed him off. He was shocked as he wondered why he was so instantly attracted to the young woman and why the thought of her with a boyfriend angered him.

  “I know this place. It’s a pretty little cottage behind Ron Jackson’s place. God, they used to have this big garden in the back. It was something else,” Gator told her.

  Her eyes widened, and she seemed encouraged to continue talking.

  “What else do you know about the cottage?”

  “It belonged to Ron’s aunt. She was a really nice lady, and one of the first main residents of Tranquility. You know it’s a fairly new town? But growing in leaps and bounds,” Gator told her.

  “I noticed that there aren’t a lot of storefronts. Not like Salvation,” Alana replied.

  “I think the town wants to keep it very low-key. There’s not much for sale, and a lot of the land is owned privately. I don’t think there’s much available to buy
or build on. Though it seems when someone needs a place, something pops up,” Jeb added.

  Jeb watched her step out of the way as a few people walked past, trying to head to the stairs.

  “Yes, it’s funny you say that. When I came into Tranquility looking for a place to rent, there didn’t seem like anything was available. No signs, no vacancies. I asked around and stopped into the small café there, and after talking to one of the waitresses, I found out that the cottage was available to rent.”

  Jeb smiled. He knew how things operated in Tranquility. It was like some secret society of helpers. As people came into town looking for a new place to settle down, or perhaps passing through or looking for trouble, the town’s people would evaluate them, and if they saw them in need and that the person was good and kind, they worked out making something available for them to live in. It was interesting and definitely helped him and the rest of their team when they retired from the military. He had hoped the new town, and unknown faces, would make Gabe feel more secure. No such luck.

  “Alana, Agnes said there are some things outside too, like porch swings and outdoor furniture. Weren’t you looking for a rocking chair or something for the back porch while you’re reading?” Deanna interrupted.

  “Oh yes. I guess we can take a look.”

  “We’re headed out there. We can show you around,” Gator suggested, and Jeb felt that excitement in his gut again. It seemed Gator found Alana to be just as interesting and attractive as Jeb did.

  * * * *

  Alana felt something in the pit of her stomach as she walked outside along with Deanna, Jeb, and Gator. Both men were very big, attractive men, with muscles and tattoos on their arms, and both were very charming. It made her feel uneasy, almost sick to her stomach. That was how she often got when men flirted with her. It was almost like a guilty feeling, and felt as if she were cheating on Gabe. It was silly. Gabe was gone, and she needed to move on. But that was easier said than done.