Love Finds You in Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell Page A

inside the room. “Mr. and Mrs. Gurney. How are you today?”
    Clive Gurney looked up from his meal, and his heavily laden spoon paused midway. “Fair to middlin’, Miss Travers. Mabel, you remember Miss Travers?” He turned to his dour-faced wife and nudged her when she didn’t reply. “Mabel?”
    “Ah yes, Alexia Travers.” The woman’s lips curved into a grin, but her unsmiling eyes appraised Alex from head to foot. “Wearin’ blue ’stead of black, I see! Done grieving your pa already?” She glared at her husband and chortled. “’Least she’s not wearin’ men’s pants today!”
    The skin above Clive’s beard glowed red and his eyes blazed. “Mabel! You apologize to Miss Travers.”
    Alex held out her hand and shook her head. “Please. It’s all right. I’m sorry if I bothered you. Have a good evening.”
    Elizabeth slipped her hand into Alex’s and drew her across the room to a quiet corner away from the gaping crowd. “I’m sorry, hon. I don’t know what’s wrong with some of these women.”
    Alex slid into her chair and dropped her head into her hand. “Mrs. Gurney thought I was flirting with her husband.” She lifted troubled eyes to her friend. “I’ve always known they thought I was standoffish because I don’t attend the women’s socials and I wear pants when I ride. But I had no idea they thought I had designs on their men!”
    Elizabeth put her hand over her mouth and stifled what sounded like a choking sob. “Oh, my!” she gasped, trying to smother her laughter.
    “What can possibly be funny?”
    Elizabeth leaned back in her chair, lifted the napkin from the table, and covered her twitching mouth. “I had this rather sudden image of you and Clive Gurney running away together. Bushy, bearded, balding Clive Gurney, who’s at least twice your age and three times your weight. Tell me that’s not amusing!”
    Alex stared at Elizabeth, but then the absurdity of the picture struck her and she began to giggle. It was the first time since her father died that she’d been able to laugh, and in spite of the strange circumstances that induced the laughter, she had to admit that it felt good.
    A rumpled young waitress hurried to their table, wiping her hands on her apron. “What can I get for you gals? Ma made some tasty beef stew and biscuits, and she’s got a big pot of beans, along with pie and coffee.”
    Alex leaned her elbows on the table and looked up. “Hmm, that sounds good, Lacey. And maybe a cup of coffee and some pie later.”
    Elizabeth nodded and smiled. “I’ll have the same. Have you been busy today?”
    “Yeah. Seems like when one person decides to come eat, a whole passel troops in. Dinner kept me runnin’, but Ma’s glad for the extra business.” She sighed and turned to go. “I’m glad things’ve slowed now, but I’d best hustle ’fore anyone else drops by. I’ll get your meal right out.”
    Elizabeth watched the young girl hurry back toward the kitchen on the far side of the crowded room. “Lacey’s a nice girl. Too bad her mama’s too cheap to get more help. It seems like she lives her entire life here.”
    “Miss Travers!” Rob Bartlett rushed into the room, waving a slip of paper above his head. “There you are,” he wheezed as he trotted over to her table. “It came—your answer came. The horses—they’re comin’, Miss Travers. Looks like they’ll be here in just a few days!”
    Alex groaned then pasted on a smile and thanked the excited man. She waited until he headed back across the dining room before turning to Elizabeth. “Just what I need. More debt and horses I know nothing about. Why is God letting this happen? Wasn’t it enough that Papa died? Can’t He let me have a few weeks of peace?”
    Elizabeth reached across the gingham cloth and patted Alex’s hand. “Don’t blame God. You know He loves you, no matter what’s happened. You need to trust Him, Alexia.”
    “But it seems so unfair. It wouldn’t be so bad if Papa