Aimee Thurlo - Homespun Christmas

He nodded. “She and I would get together for lunch when we could and catch up. It was good to see a familiar face from time to time.”

“And now, here we are,” Myka said.

“Looks like I’ll be fixing up Dad’s house and putting it on the market.” He stared straight out at the for sale signs and didn’t so much as blink. “If you hear of anyone who might be interested, let me know.”

“It’s really a buyer’s market right now,” she warned, even though she knew she didn’t have to.

“I’ll do what I can to spruce up the place and see how it goes.”

Life’s hard knocks appeared to have toughened him and that only added to the raw masculinity that was so much a part of Joshua.

She tore her gaze from his and walked back to her porch. She climbed the three steps.

“That’s one of my nicest memories of home—you spinning yarn out on the porch,” he said, walking to the porch rail.

“This is when I’m happiest. But my days here are numbered unless something more lucrative comes along. I’m a good bookkeeper—one of the last people IVA let go. Despite that, I haven’t been able to find anything in the area, not even over in Painted Canyon, and they’ve got that big mining operation just north of the city.”

“If I was still in business, I would have offered you a job,” he said.

“Running your own company was your dream even before college. It must have been tough walking away.”

Joshua looked out across the valley. “It was, and starting over is going to be even tougher. After you’ve had your own company and called the shots, it’s harder to work for someone else.”

She stood beside him with the porch rail between them. “We each got what we wanted, but we just couldn’t hold on to it.”

“Myka, I’m sorry life’s been so rough on you,” he said, brushing his knuckles across her cheek.

His unexpected touch startled her. As she saw herself reflected in his gaze, she stepped back. She didn’t want pity.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” she blurted. “Sometimes just talking to someone can make things easier.”

“Thanks,” he said. “It was good seeing you here today, Myka, but I better get busy.”

“Before you leave, I need to tell you about Bear,” she said, and explained about his father’s missing pet.

He shook his head. “This is the first time I’ve heard about Dad having a pet. I hope he’s okay, but I can’t keep a dog. I don’t know how long I’ll be staying, or even where I’ll be living six months from now.”

“Then if it’s okay with you, I’d like to keep him. Will you let me know if he comes back or if you see him? You can’t miss a dog that big. He’s really a sweetheart, so don’t let his appearance or his bark put you off.”

“It was Dad’s house. If he comes back and thinks I’m an intruder...”

“He won’t bite,” she said quickly. Then she added, “He might sit on you, though. He did that to Daniel Medeiros once. Just knocked him to the ground and kept him there until Adam came home. He’s not dangerous, but I should warn you, he does drool a lot.”

Joshua stared at her.

She laughed. “Don’t worry about it. A dog his size doesn’t sneak up on anyone. When he’s running, he sounds more like a pony than a dog, and you can hear him breathing ten feet away. If you see him, just call me—your dad kept my number beside the phone in the living room. Oh, and Bear can be bribed. Carry some dog treats with you. Your dad has a jar of them in the kitchen.”

“So now I’m a dog trainer?”

“Guess so,” she said. “Welcome home, Joshua.”

He laughed.

“If you need any help sorting, carrying or moving stuff, let me know,” she said, pointing to the van. “I figure you’ll want to haul a lot of your father’s things away.”

“The van’s full of stuff from my apartment in San Francisco. As far as Dad’s things, Dan’s coming over later and we’ll handle it.”

They walked back to the van together, and after he got inside and started the engine, he glanced at her through the open window. “Remember that blue sweater you made for me right before I left for college?”

She smiled. “Yeah. It was my first attempt at making something wearable.”

“I’ve still got it, and it’s as warm as ever.” Without waiting for her to answer, he drove forward, then backed into the next driveway down.

She watched him as he propped open the front door of the house, then began to carry in boxes from the van. Although she could tell by the way he lifted them they were heavy, he walked with unwavering purpose.

Life might have knocked Joshua down, but something told her he’d soon be on his feet, stronger than ever.

* * *

AN HOUR LATER, Myka walked to the three-sided loafing shed in the backyard where she kept the grain. All ten sheep came to the fence, used to the routine.

After scooping grain into the feeders, she noticed a white butterfly perched on the edge of the welded pipe fence. It adapted to the breeze and, against all odds, remained where it was.

She wasn’t sure how long she’d stood there, watching, when a woman’s voice called her name. Myka turned her head and saw Liza Jenner standing at the corral gate. She waved and walked over to greet her friend.

In her early fifties, Liza was one of the town’s most experienced weavers. “Do you have any more of that spice-colored yarn left, Myka? The Spinning Wheels are meeting at my place tonight and we’re out of it for our Blankets for Warriors service project.”

“Come on. I’ve got some skeins in a box inside,” Myka said, unlocking the gate and letting Liza into the yard. “Has your daughter heard anything yet from that company in Las Cruces?”

“Yeah... She didn’t get the job. Unofficially, she was told they don’t like to hire anyone who’s been out of work that long. Have you ever heard of anything so crazy?”

Myka shook her head. “When Robyn worked in IVA’s public relations department, everyone loved her. That’s why she got such glowing recommendations. I can’t believe the trouble she’s having landing a job.”

“She took this last rejection really hard, but our get-together tonight will cheer her up,” Liza said. “You coming?”

“I’ll be there.” She looked back at the butterfly. If such a fragile creature could adapt to summer heat and strong winds, why couldn’t they be just as adaptable? “You know what this town’s problem is? We’re stuck in a holding pattern, clinging to our memories of what used to be—but that’s not good enough anymore.”

“You have something in mind?” Liza said as they walked toward the house.

“Yes. Tonight, instead of just talking about the projects we’re working on, let’s do something different. Ask everyone to bring a friend or their spouse and we’ll brainstorm on how to breathe life back into Independence. We dream up new colors, patterns and designs all the time. Why don’t we put some of that creativity to work and see what we can come up with for our town?”

“I’ll get busy making calls.”

She’d ask Joshua to come, too. It would be good for him to get away from all the memories the house still held.

Liza left five minutes later, and Myka finished taking care of the sheep.

Her mind was racing. Spur-of-the-moment ideas didn’t always pan out, but they had to try something. Endless waiting for the economy to turn around just wasn’t working. For the town’s sake, they had to find a new direction, and more important, a reason to hope.

CHAPTER TWO

JOSHUA STOOD ON his back porch, ignoring the dust that was blowing in the afternoon breeze and watching Myka, her hair swirling and falling in soft waves around her shoulders, tend her sheep. The girl he’d known since third grade had grown up and was more beautiful than ever.