An Engagement in Seattle - Debbie Macomber [135]
Lesley appreciated his confidence even if she didn’t share it.
“So,” Pete said, relaxing in his chair, hands encircling the mug, “what do you think of the cabin?”
Lesley wasn’t sure how to answer. It was certainly livable, but nothing like she’d expected. However, as she’d said to herself countless times, she’d adjust. “It’s homey,” she said, trying to be diplomatic about it.
“Chase bought it ’specially for you.”
Lesley lowered her eyes. That couldn’t possibly be true. He hadn’t known her long enough to have chosen this cabin for her.
“He’s only been living here a few months,” Pete went on. “He decided back in March that he wasn’t going through another winter without a wife, so he started getting ready for one. The first thing he did was buy this place and move off the station.”
“Do you live at the station?”
“Nope. I bought myself a cabin, too, year or so ago.
“Chase has lots of plans to remodel, but he wanted to wait until he found the right woman so they could plan the changes together.”
Lesley looked around, the ideas already beginning to form. If they knocked out the wall between the living room and kitchen, they could get rid of the cramped feeling.
“Chase did all right for himself,” Pete said, sounding proud of his friend. “I gotta tell you, I laughed when he told me he was going to Seattle and bringing himself back a wife.”
“Why didn’t he marry someone from around here?” Lesley asked. She already knew the answer but wanted to see what he’d say.
“First off, there aren’t any available women in Twin Creeks. He might’ve met a woman in Fairbanks—used to go out with a couple different ones—but he figured his chances were better in Seattle. And he was right!”
“I’m glad he did go to Seattle.”
“He seems pleased about it. This is the first time I’ve seen Chase smile in a year, ever since his father died. He took it hard, you know.”
Lesley pretended she did. Although she’d told him about her own parents, Chase hadn’t said much about his, just that they were both dead.
“So soon after his mother—that darn near killed him. He’s all alone now, no brothers or sisters, and he needed someone to belong to the way we all do. I don’t know that he’s ever said that, but it’s the reason he was so keen on marryin’.”
“What about you?” Lesley asked. “Why haven’t you married?”
“I did once, about ten years back, but it didn’t work out.” Pain flickered in his eyes. “Pamela didn’t last the winter. I hope for Chase’s sake you’re different. He’s already crazy about you, and if you left him, it’d probably break his heart.”
“I’m not leaving.” It would take a lot more than a harsh winter to change her mind about her commitment to Chase. She’d never taken duty lightly and she’d pledged before her friends and God to stand by Chase as his wife, his lover, his partner.
“Good.” Pete’s twinkling blue eyes were back.
“Chase sent you out to babysit me, didn’t he?”
Pete laughed. “Not exactly. He was a little afraid you were gonna get curious and do some exploring.”
“Not after the conversation we had about the bears.” Lesley shuddered dramatically.
“They aren’t gonna hurt you. You leave ’em alone and they’ll leave you alone. You might want to ask Chase to take you to the dump and that way you’ll get to see ’em firsthand.”
“They hang around the dump?”
“Sure do, sorting through the garbage lookin’ for goodies. We’ve tried plenty of ways to keep ’em away, but nothing seems to work and we finally gave up.”
“I see.” Lesley wasn’t impressed. “Has anyone thought to bury the garbage?” The solution seemed simple to her.
“Obviously you’ve never tried to dig tundra. It’s like cement an inch below the surface.”
“What’s wrong at the station?” Lesley asked, looking at her watch. It was well past noon.
“Can’t rightly say, but whatever it is will have to be fixed before Chase can come home. Trust me, he isn’t any happier about this than you. Chase isn’t normally a swearing man, but he was cursin’ a blue streak this morning. He’ll give you a call the minute he can.”
“I’d like to see the town,”