Remembering Romance: Quinn Valley Ranch, #3

By Kay P. Dawson

Can a contract signed over a decade ago between children have the power to affect their future?

Robyn Quinn has finally bought the house she's always dreamed of owning, a house that holds her fondest childhood memories. But it needs a lot of work to bring it back to its former glory, and no one seems willing to help her. Until the best friend she hasn't seen in years shows up to take the job.

Ben Tilney moved from Quinn Valley years ago and quickly lost touch with the girl he'd been friends with since preschool. When he sees her ad for renovating his grandma's old house, he decides to make one last trip to town to see if he can help. But as soon as he arrives, he knows he's in over his head.

 

When they dig up a time capsule with a contract they signed as teenagers, it opens their hearts up to what they might have been missing all these years without even knowing. He's determined to make her follow through on her end of the deal, but it seems like his past might have a way of destroying the future he could have with her.

Are the memories of what they've shared together enough to show them what their hearts have always known?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kay P. Dawson
• Release date: Mar 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224433209

Book preview

Chapter One

R obyn, you can’t be serious about buying this house. There’s a hole in the floor over there, and I’m almost certain I just saw a rat peeking up at us.

Robyn just rolled her eyes at her sister Vicki’s comments and kept walking into the kitchen. She wasn’t going to let anyone talk her out of this house. It might not be in the best shape, but she already had all the plans in her head to make it into her dream home.

Vicki, you know I’ve loved this house all my life. Every time I came here as a kid with Ben, then after he moved, when I’d come to visit with his grandma, I just somehow knew it was going to be mine. I can’t believe my luck that it’s finally for sale. It seemed that no matter which house I looked at, in the back of my mind I was comparing it to this one and knew nothing else would do.

Growing up, Robyn had spent a lot of time here with her best friend Ben. Even after he’d moved away in junior high, she would still often stop here to visit with his grandmother. She’d fallen in love with this cozy little house all those years ago.

Her sister reached her hand up and swiped at a spider web, quickly scrunching her face up in disgust. Well, I’m not really sure I’d call it lucky, but if it makes you happy, then I’m happy for you. Vicki followed her into the kitchen and gasped as she looked around. "Are you kidding me? These cabinets are orange!"

Robyn just smiled and walked over to run her hand over the broken laminate countertop. You have to look past the color and the crumbling floorboards to see the beautiful bones underneath it all. This house just needs someone in it who loves it again, like Mrs. Tilney did.

The older woman had passed away a few years ago, and her grown children had held onto the house to use as a rental property. None of them lived in Quinn Valley anymore, and it must have finally proven too difficult to manage without being nearby, so they’d decided to put it on the market.

Robyn believed it had been meant to be. All those years growing up, whenever she’d come over to the house, she’d told Ben’s grandma that someday she wanted to buy her house.

Mrs. Tilney had always laughed and said she hoped Robyn did buy it so she would know it would always be filled with someone who loved it. She’d even joked about holding onto it until Robyn could fulfill her promise. Robyn smiled to herself as she pictured the kind woman crouched down in her flowerbed out front telling her that if she did live in this house someday, to always remember to water her flowers.

I remember the day I came home from school and Mom told me Mrs. Tilney had passed away. I felt like I’d lost a friend, and now that I think back, I realize I did. She’d been such a big part of my life, even though it was just in fleeting moments I never really appreciated.

Her eyes found the old cement birdbath in the backyard as she leaned against the sink and stared out the window. She remembered the times as a kid when she’d come here with Ben after school and play in the yard, never thinking to let her parents know where she was. They lived just up on the next block and had always known if she wasn’t home, this was where she’d be. Nowadays, parents would likely be in a panic if their child was late coming home from school. But back then, especially in this neighborhood in the small town of Quinn Valley, no one seemed to worry.

She thought about that day in her senior year when she’d heard the news about Mrs. Tilney. Even though Ben had moved away a few years before, she’d still stopped in to visit with his grandma often. So Robyn had been heartbroken.

Robyn took a deep breath and turned back to face her sister, crossing her arms in front of her chest. This house could have been sold right then, but it wasn’t. So, I believe that Mrs. Tilney was making sure it wasn’t sold until I was ready to buy. This house is meant to be mine.

Vicki sighed and looked around the kitchen again. I guess it’s not that bad. But I’m holding off on any ideas of moving in here with you until it’s all finished. I’m trying to be optimistic but I’m not going to hold my breath that this house can ever be fixed. It’s too bad they had renters in here for so many years who just didn’t care about the house.

Robyn let her gaze take in the rest of the kitchen too. Cupboard doors were hanging off the hinges. The stove was covered in grease and grime from years of not being cleaned, and the fridge had a strong odor coming from it that made Robyn afraid to open the door.

Mrs. Tilney would never have let it get like this. So I’m determined to bring it back to the way it should be. Even better. She couldn’t stop the smile that was spreading across her face. And when it’s all finished, you’re welcome to move in here with me to help pay for all of it. She laughed when Vicki rolled her eyes.

I think you might need to take in about five more renters to afford what you’ll need to bring this house back to anything livable. But I guess if anyone has the vision to do it, it’s you. I know you’ve likely got more Pinterest boards about ideas for fixing up old houses than anyone else in the world. So, how exactly are you planning on doing all the work? I can’t see either Joel or Travis being skilled enough to do anything, even if they did have the time.

Robyn laughed as she imagined either one of their brothers helping. Neither of them were exactly the type of men she’d consider handy. They’d be more likely to burn the house down than do anything productive.

I’m going to do as much of it as I can, but I’ve put an ad in the paper for a contractor. I’ve been saving my money for a long time to put toward a house, and I was able to get this one for a good price. Now I just need to find the perfect person to help me see it through.

Vicki screamed and jumped over to her, grabbing Robyn around the shoulders and clutching tightly as she watched the large rodent run past them. Well, I hope you can find a miracle worker because I have serious doubts about there being anyone out there who can fix any of this mess.

Chapter Two

Ben stared up at the little house sitting nestled among the hedges, the flower gardens lining the fence out front now completely overgrown with weeds from years of neglect. His chest tightened as he remembered how many times he’d race up the sidewalk as a child to find his grandma crouched down and tending to her flowers. He recalled the smile that would cover her face whenever she’d look up and see him coming. His parents worked, so he always came here after getting off the bus from school.

Even though it was years ago, he remembered the feelings of seeing her there like it was yesterday. She’d been gone now for a few years, but in his mind, he was still a little kid and she was that warm, loving person he always thought would be around.

They’d moved from Quinn Valley when he was only thirteen, and it had been hard to be so far away. But he’d been so intent on fitting in and making new friends in his new school that he’d lost touch with what mattered. Instead of making the time to come and visit as he’d gotten older, he’d soon found his friends and sports taking priority in his life. The few times he did come for holidays or events, he knew he hadn’t appreciated the moments.

He hated the fact that he’d missed so much time with her, taking for granted she’d just always be here.

Suddenly, the front door opened, and his breath caught as he had to remind himself his grandma wouldn’t be stepping out onto the porch. But when he saw who it was, his heart skipped a beat and without thinking, his face lit up with a smile.

Robyn.

He’d thought about her so many times over the years, and she looked exactly how he remembered her. Well, she was a few years older now, but her hair was pulled back in a ponytail just like he always pictured her when he’d think about her. And even from here, he could see the smile he knew would be on her face as she leaned against the railing and looked around at the overgrown yard.

He couldn’t wait to see what she’d say when she saw him. Would she remember him? He didn’t think it was likely she’d have forgotten him since they’d been friends since preschool. But he worried that she might be angry with him for not staying in touch like he’d said he would before he moved. Rolling his eyes at himself, he realized he was thinking like the child he’d been the last time he’d seen her.