The man Lisa is interested in really does care for her and, much to her surprise, she for him. Meanwhile her horse is safe.
Lisa’s Lucky Day
Lisa pushed back her dark blonde hair, wrinkling her nose at the greasy odor of the café, pervading her clothes, but then she remembered what life had been like at the trailer park. She recalled the day Aunt Lucy had telephoned and the joy she’d felt at the suggestion she come out and live with her. The delights of a new life, getting away from Momma and Momma’s latest boyfriend, Hank!
Lisa’s feet made a soft slapping sound on the sandy path as she made her way from the café back to the house. She shouldn’t complain. Things were about as good as they could get. As she ambled along the path, brushing the tall grasses with her hands, she looked with satisfaction at the white house, sitting square and solid, windows glinting in the low California evening sun. She should pinch herself … living here! The lawn swept down to the river, big magnolia trees dipping their shadows into the still water. Her glance traveled around to the cluster of stables and she could just hear the rustle of Blessie’s hooves pawing the soft soil and her snuffling breath as she let Lisa know she was welcoming her home.
Lisa hurried in through the gate and turned to the left, skirting the house as she made her way to the stables. She smelled chicken casserole and heard Aunt Lucy clattering dishes in the kitchen. Grabbing a handful of carrots, Lisa was rewarded with a snort of pleasure from Blessie and a toss of her tawny mane. The mare dipped her head and prodded Lisa’s hand.
“OK missy, here’s your treat. Not so greedy,” Lisa laughed, burying her head in Blessie’s soft neck. “You love me baby, don’t you? All right, that’s enough carrots for now. I’ve gotta go. Dinner’s ready.”
Lisa let the screen door swing closed. “Hi Aunt Lucy. Dinner sure smells good.”
“Ah, Lisa, come on in honey and sit down. I’ve got news.”
Lisa broke open a soft crusty roll. Aunt Lucy always had a story to tell.
“Well honey, we got a new neighbor, a young man – he’s living at the old Jenson place across the way. Simms is the name … Jordan Simms. He come over here, right before you came home, introduces himself, polite-like, wanted to know how long I’ve lived in this house. Says he’s bought the Smith farm and old Walter’s house and stables as well as Jenson’s. Quite the go-getter. I invited him to dinner. Tomorrow night.”
Someone new! Lisa stuck her fork into the chicken stew with a vengeance. He’ll probably cut down all the trees and get rid of Jenson’s old horses. And Walter’s lovely old house? No, she thought, spearing a piece of carrot, no one new is welcome at Newlands Ford. This place belongs to Aunt Lucy, to Blessie, and to me, too.
“Lisa, may I present Jordan Simms,” Aunt Lucy, fussing with her lace shawl.
Lisa raised her head and looked into a pair of startlingly green eyes in a handsome tanned face. The eyes seemed to appraise her and find something amusing.
He took her hand. “Good evening, Miss Connaught. Delighted to meet you”
Lisa mumbled a reply and sat in one of Aunt Lucy’s old easy chairs. She could not, she would not, like this suave young man who had come to spoil her idyllic life here with Aunt Lucy. How could her aunt sit there, chatting with him, when all the time he was plotting to take the house with all it’s memories, all it’s pleasures away from them?
Where could she go? How would she survive, without Blessie, without Aunt Lucy, without the river. She hated him … Jordan Simms. Oh, she’d have to be polite, for Aunt Lucy’s sake … but beyond that… never!
Lisa closed the cash register for the last time that night. Business had been slow at the cafe and her feet ached.
“All right, Lisa, guess you can take off,” said her boss, Mike, “We won’t get many more in tonight and I can manage.”
“Thanks Mike,” said Lisa, pulling off her gingham apron. “See you tomorrow.”
As soon as she left the café, Lisa knew something was wrong. The birds’ agitated sounds made her walk faster down the sandy river path. The evening light seemed more intense, brighter, a dim red glow lighting the trees. Lisa spun around. The red haze only seemed to be in front of her, in the direction of Aunt Lucy’s house. Then she caught her first whiff of smoke. Now she could see it, rising, billows of dusky orange lit by occasional sparks. She could hear the crackle and snap of dry wood. Aunt Lucy! Blessie! Hold on … I’m coming!
Her breath came in ragged gasps as her feet pounded on the soft soil. Would she be in time! As she raced along, she became aware of someone running beside her. Jordan Simms! “Lisa, Lisa! I’ve called 911. Get to the house! I’ll take the stables!”
Lisa stumbled up the steps to the house and charged into the kitchen. “Lucy! Aunt Lucy!” She found her aunt slumped in her chair and rushed over to her. Smoke swirled around her aunt’s head and Lisa quickly traced the source to the old range. The fire had spread to the stables. Horrified, she heard Blessie’s frantic squeals of terror. The mare’s hooves beat a desperate drumming on the stable door.
What was Jordan doing? Would he be able to save Blessie? The flames began to lick up the stable walls. Hurry, he must hurry! As Lisa led a dazed Aunt Lucy out into the blessed cool evening air she caught sight of shadows, silhouetted against the billowing smoke. A man leading a frantic horse, bucking and pulling, away from the roaring flames. Blessie … her Blessie … safe at last.
Lisa cradled the mug in her hands and stole a glance around the room. Jenson’s place … just as it had always been. Jordan sat on the window seat, looking worried. Aunt Lucy dozed in Jenson’s old rocking chair, the faded crochet wrap tucked around her knees. Blessie, tied up at the hitching post outside, snorted and pawed the sand.
Jordan smiled. With a look of gentle concern on his handsome face, he said, “Are you all right?”
She smiled back. “Yes, thanks.” I’ve misjudged him, she thought.
“Would you like to go for a ride? Blessie would like it. I’ll take Pharaoh.”
Aunt Lucy opened her crinkled eyes and smiled.
“Yes, I’d like that,” Lisa said.
Welcome to Hell on Earth, boys.
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