Husband Wanted

By T. D. Jones

Rylee Phillips learned the hard way that you need to live each day to the fullest. That’s why she came back home to turn the inheritance of her aunt’s old homestead into a bed & breakfast. The townsfolk think she’s crazy to take on the task, and maybe she is, but at least she’s smart enough to know she needs help...and the clever ad she places in the local paper is sure to get attention. A devastating loss has left Wyatt Grayson lost. Selling his business, he takes off cross country to see if he can outrun the nightmares and find…something. When an amusing ad for skills he hasn't put to use in a long time catches his eye, he jumps at the unexpected opportunity. He plans to work for a few weeks, keeping his hands busy and biding his time; what he doesn’t expect is his new boss showing him how to live again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Aug 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781509202768

Book preview

McKinney

Chapter One

Follow your bliss and doors will open where there were no doors before.

~Joseph Campbell

Rylee Phillips knew she should’ve listened to her instincts and stayed home. She jerked on the steel bars again. You let me out of here right this minute! I didn’t do anything wrong.

I’m not letting you out ’til you calm down. Her brother, Gary, glared at her as he hung his keys on the hook.

Bud’s the one that should be behind these bars. That local guy had always been a pain in her side for as long as she could remember.

He stepped in front of the cell and made eye contact with her. You about broke the man’s arm. When I walked into Hank’s, you were getting ready to climb on his back. Why were you in that bar in the first place?

She tugged at her shirt collar and gave a quick glance down at her cowboy boots. I needed some ice. That old fridge at the house takes forever to freeze. If the summer night hadn’t been so hot, she would’ve had her tea without ice, but she’d needed that chill to cut the warm Texas air. Besides, Bud deserved what he got. He called Aunt Thelma a fruitcake and then suggested I didn’t fall far from the family tree.

Well, seeing you’re the one behind bars, I might have to agree with him. You’re lucky he’s not pressing charges for abuse. I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately. It seems you’re constantly picking fights with people, including me.

Rylee couldn’t disagree. It seemed she was at that boiling point more often than not. There was a lot to do and she really had no clue where to begin. It was possible she was in over her head, but she wasn’t telling her brother that. All she wanted was to start her life over, and not fail at it again.

Bud knows he was in the wrong, and that’s why he acted all innocent when you walked in. That man starts the trouble and then acts like someone else caused it. She wrapped her hands around the bars and tugged at them several times. If our daddy was alive, he’d be beating your butt right now, having me in this stinky old place.

Her brother pointed at the metal star pinned to his shirt. Rylee, you see this badge? This means I’m obligated to uphold the law in Timber Creek. If that means putting my hot-tempered, pint-size sister in jail to keep the peace in this town, then so be it.

Fine. Rylee gave up the fight and flopped down on the old cot placed at the back wall. She wasn’t one to give up easily, but she had learned over the years to pick her battles, and this one seemed best to wait out. Wake me up when I get to leave this hole.

She leaned her back against the cement wall and let her legs dangle off the metal frame. Her hometown was so small, the jailhouse only had three cells side by side. It just so happened she was the only one occupying any of them at the moment.

Gary leaned over and picked up a folded newspaper off of a lone chair that sat against the wall facing the cells. Well, before you take your beauty nap, I want to talk about this. He opened the thin paper.

Rylee stayed in the same position on the cot. I wondered when you’d bring that up. She knew a lecture was about to happen. If her brother was good at one thing, it was giving lectures when someone did something wrong and he wanted to make his point. He’d inherited that trait from their dad, a champion at the craft.

What do you mean by taking out an ad like this? You had to know this was going to get talked about around town.

It just so happened she had been the topic of conversation before with the local gossips, so being at the forefront again didn’t concern her. I need the help. I can’t renovate Thelma’s old place without it. That comment was an understatement. She had always loved decorating but never got the chance to really show her talent except in a small apartment. Now here she was with a huge house and had no thoughts on where to begin.

That woman was crazy for leaving you that place in her will. What’re you going to do with a six-bedroom farmhouse?

Rylee jumped up and took her place in front of the bars again. She pushed some long curls out of her eyes. I’m going to make it into a bed and breakfast. It’s going to be great. She had hoped Gary would share her enthusiasm, but could tell by the frown on his face he didn’t.

What? Are you kidding me? You know nothing about running a business like that. Besides, that still doesn’t explain this. He pointed to the paper. Here, let me read it to you, in case you’ve forgotten your own creativity.

Rylee rolled her eyes. Sometimes you can be so dramatic.

Husband Wanted! Her brother cleared his throat and continued to read the ad aloud. I need a strong man. Must be experienced in using tools. Meals and room provided. Only serious inquiries. Interviews on Thursday, May 3rd, at 2 p.m. Moss Creek Road, Thelma Banks place, now owned by Rylee Phillips.

Rylee crossed her arms. I see nothing wrong with it. She actually thought it was pretty clever, and she was wise enough not to say that conclusion out loud.

Gary shook his head. "That in itself scares me. You always have to cross the line. You can’t put out a simple request asking for help. And for another thing, you can’t have a strange man living in your house. He adjusted his gun belt as he added, Rylee, there’s real dangers in the world today."

She put her hands up in front of her. Please, don’t talk to me again about how the crime rate has gone up in this cowpoke town. About the only crime that has happened recently is someone stole old woman Carter’s underpants off the clothesline and put them on that milk cow of hers. Then they sent the picture to the local newspaper, which plastered it all over the front page. A giggle escaped as she remembered opening the paper and seeing Clarabelle with large, pink underwear covering her rump. I don’t think that’ll be hitting any high crime report.

Gary folded the paper in half and slapped it against his leg. That’s the problem with you. You don’t take anything serious. You don’t even see the problems that could arise by letting a strange man live in the same house as you.

Give me a break, I’m not ten. I know about the birds and the bees. I can guarantee you, after what happened with Brian, I have no more interest in men…at least in that way.

She hadn’t always been so sour toward happiness. There was a time when she thought she’d be married to the love of her life and have a fabulous freelance photography career. A year ago, all that bliss changed, her so-called love ended, and her career was pretty much stagnant.

Is that really what this is all about? You’re not getting married, so you ran back home to hide away in some old family ruins?

No, this has nothing to do with Brian. I’m thrilled to be back in Timber Creek. I missed you and Maggie. I know you don’t understand, but inheriting Thelma’s place is the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I feel in my heart it’s going to lead to something great. I need this. A need for something she could control.

She couldn’t control the cancer, couldn’t control her love life, and even picked a career that didn’t offer a lot of stability. Freelance work blew in and out like tumbleweed rolling across the old prairie. The only thing in her life she finally could control was the farmhouse she’d inherited three months ago. It had been a long time since she hadn’t felt like a failure. Now was her chance to turn her life around and make something great out of it.

If that’s your dream, I’ll support you, but I honestly think you’re getting way over your head with this. I don’t think you need the stress. You should sell that property and be done with it. It’ll give you a good sum of money, and then you can go take pictures wherever you want. Her brother walked over and chunked down the paper on his desk before he turned back and shook his head. My biggest fear is you’ll get into trouble, and I won’t be there to protect you. We aren’t kids anymore, Rylee. I can’t always be there. She watched as he grabbed the keys off the wall hook behind his desk, walked over, and unlocked the door to the cell. When he stepped aside, she walked out and placed her hand on his arm. I’m twenty-nine, Gary. You have to get over the need to protect me. I’ll be fine.

He bent down and hugged her. I’m sorry about the jail thing. You were so fired up I needed to put you somewhere to calm down. As he let go, he said, I inherited Mom’s good looks, and you inherited her temper.

She playfully slapped him across the arm. You’re about as good-looking as a toad.

Gary ignored the comment. How’re you feeling these days?

Never better. It’s been eight years now. You can quit worrying.

Finally, she could say those words, and they were the truth. Eight years in remission was a great sign she was going to live. All in the power of positive thinking. Never once would she ever let herself think there was any chance of dying. She had too much living to do.

I’m your brother, I’ll always worry. He stepped back. Go home and be careful. Old man Wash told me he saw a pack of large coyotes out running around the other night.

Rylee sprinted toward the front doors. No worries. I got my gun in the truck and ready if I need it, she hollered over her shoulder as she stepped out into the darkness.

Before she knew it, she ran smack into Timber Creek’s one and only psychic/masseuse, Junnie Small. Of course, the only thing small about Junnie…well, there wasn’t anything. Her body and her mind were larger than life.

The woman pushed Rylee off her large chest. Well, I’ll be. You need to slow down there, honey. Did you escape, and that’s why you’re in such a hurry? Do I need to hide you? I was over at Hank’s and heard your brother took you to the pokey.

Rylee listened as Junnie filled the town square with her laughter. No, I didn’t escape. I was released because I did nothing wrong. She knew her visit to the jail would soon be the topic at the diner as locals gathered for their early morning coffee. One thing about small towns, they loved to talk about each other, but did it in the kindest way possible.

I need to check your jujus. Give me your hands.

She didn’t have time for shenanigans, but since Junnie had been her mom’s closest friend, she showed her respect and surrendered her palms. Okay, but make it quick, please.

Junnie gently placed Rylee’s hands in hers. She closed her eyes and started humming and swaying back and forth. Not good at all, she mumbled.

Rylee leaned in and whispered, Are my jujus real bad? She watched as the bright red head of hair nodded in front of her.

I see a man…a large man. I see trouble.

I figure any man in my life is trouble. She started to laugh, but was quickly silenced.

Shh! The man will help you in many ways, but I sense trouble on your horizon.

There was enough troubles past and present, and she didn’t need to be told about anymore. Rylee quickly jerked her hands free. Sorry, I really need to get home.

Well, honey. I wasn’t done.

She patted Junnie on the arm and leaned in close. You know… There was something so wrong with what she was about to do, but she didn’t care because, at the moment, she was enjoying sibling rivalry. "My brother was saying he sure wished you would come by and bless his jailhouse, and free any negativity going on in there. I think he needs a full-fledged blessing."

Oh my, I better get on in there. You run along and get on home. A young girl all alone shouldn’t be out running around at night by herself.

Yes, ma’am. Rylee giggled as she watched Junnie make a mad dash for the front door of the jail.

****

Wyatt Grayson drank his coffee and put his attention on the ad again. He liked the humor of the first line. He wasn’t looking to be anyone’s husband, but he was looking for a job that involved working with his hands, and construction was his forte, so this might be exactly what he wanted, and needed. Maybe stopping in the town of Timber Creek for a bite to eat had been a wise choice after all.

The waitress made her way to his table with the coffee pot. Want some more, honey?

Sure, thanks. He held out his cup and glanced around the diner. This is a huge place. Is that a dance floor in the back?

Sure is. The town’s so small Hank’s Diner turns into Hank’s Bar when the sun goes down on the weekends. You should come out one weekend. This place gets exciting. We had the sheriff throw his own sister in jail last weekend.

Wyatt took a drink of his coffee. Really, his own sister? This sounds like a wild town. And I haven’t done much dancing in a long time. Two years to be exact. He pushed the memories aside before they clouded his head, and pointed to the paper. Do you happen to know Moss Creek Road?

It’s on the old farm road 114, about ten miles out. The only thing in that area is an old grumpy man’s place, and then Thelma Banks’ old place is a little bit farther down the road. You can’t miss it. Sits on a hill with land all around. Was a beautiful place at one time, but now it’s a worn-out old house.

So, it needs a lot of work? That excited Wyatt. He was ready to work with his hands again and do something else besides sit behind a desk and sign payroll checks and company documents all day.

He wondered what Sara would think of the new plans for his life. Of course, if she was here, he wouldn’t have ever thought about selling his company in the first place.

His brother flat out told him he was nuts for giving everything up, and his mom probably would’ve said the same thing if she wasn’t so busy