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

hadn’t taken out the mortgage on the ranch. But to have the gold disappear and these horses coming and my hired hands questioning whether I’m capable of running the ranch…” She drew a long, deep breath and shook her head. “I don’t understand where God’s supposed to be in all of this.”
    “Right beside you, where He’s always been. Does the Bible promise that life will always be fair after we give our lives to Him?” Elizabeth smiled and tipped her head to the side. “You know it doesn’t. But He promises to give you the strength and grace to get through the tough times, if you’ll trust Him.”
    Alex sighed. “I know. You’re always right, Elizabeth. I’m sorry to burden you with my complaints.”
    Elizabeth’s warm brown eyes softened. “You can complain to me anytime you want to, as long as that independent streak of yours doesn’t take over and make you decide to do something foolish.”
    Alex bit her lip and tried to look serious. “Who, me? Independent? Why, honey, I’m just as sweet-natured and compliant as they come.”
    Elizabeth covered her mouth and giggled. “Yes, and I’m going into seclusion at a monastery soon.” She dropped her voice. “But truly, Alex—God really will take care of things if you’ll just quit fretting.” She propped her arms on the table and leaned forward. “Now tell me all about this handsome stranger who stopped at the church the other day. The whole town’s been talking about it.”
    Alex shrugged. “Good looking or not, I don’t think he intends to stick around. He seemed like more of a drifter to me.”
    Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and a sly smile crept around her lips. “Ha! So you did notice his looks.”
    Alex felt the heat rise up her neck and stain her cheeks. “Well, I’m not blind.”
    The two girls laughed and turned at the sound of footsteps stopping nearby. Lacey stood next to their table, coffeepot in hand and a dreamy look on her face. “I’m not blind, either. He stopped in for coffee yesterday evening, and he sure does clean up right fine.” She let out a heartfelt sigh and refilled their cups then floated away to the next table.
    Alex looked at Elizabeth and put her hand over her mouth. “Lacey’s got it bad. She might be the answer to that man’s prayer. She’d make a great mama to his little boy and get out from under her mother’s thumb all at the same time.”
    Elizabeth shook her head and leaned back in her chair. “From what I’ve seen, I don’t think so. He looks like a man who knows what he wants, and I doubt it’s a dreamy girl hoping to escape her mama.”
    Alex placed her napkin on the table and pushed back her chair. “I guess it’s a good thing God didn’t put us in charge of the world and matchmaking, huh?” She fingered the gold locket hanging on a slender chain around her throat.
    “A very good thing.” Elizabeth leaned across the table and touched the locket. “Your mother gave you that, didn’t she?”
    “Yes, and my grandmother gave it to her. When Mama knew she might not live through the birth of my little brother, she slipped it off and put it around my neck. I’ve not removed it since.”
    “One of these days you’ll need to put a special photograph in there.” Elizabeth rose and stepped around to slip a hand through Alex’s arm. “Come on. Let’s take a walk. You’ve never seen the gent in question ‘all cleaned up,’ as Lacey says. Maybe we’ll bump into him.”
    Alex felt grateful that Elizabeth’s head was turned. The reminder of her encounter with the handsome stranger on the sidewalk not long ago sent another flood of color to her cheeks. “I’ll walk with you for a few minutes, but not because I’m interested in seeing the drifter again—whether he’s ‘cleaned up’ or not.”
    Elizabeth didn’t reply, but a smug little smile clung to her lips as she tugged her friend out of the room.

Chapter Nine

    Alex sat on Banner and leaned her hands against the pommel of