Her Hopes and Dreams (Ardent Springs Book 4) Read online

  “You are freaking me out, woman. What the hell?”

  Peeking out the window again, Carrie said, “I met my neighbor today.”

  “The one making all the noise?” Lorelei asked. “Based on this reaction, I’m going to guess he’s an ax murderer.”

  “No,” Carrie replied, and then reconsidered her answer. “Well, I don’t think so.”

  “Is he eighty and locks people in his basement? Or eighteen and running a meth lab in his bedroom? Because if it isn’t either of those things, the only answer is that you’ve lost your ever-loving mind.”

  Setting the car seat on the couch, Carrie dropped down beside it to unbuckle her daughter. “He’s a friend of Patch’s.”

  Lorelei slowly lowered into the chair at the end of the coffee table. “Wow. What are the odds?”

  “My thoughts exactly. It turns out this was all his grandparents’ property, and he plans to live here permanently.”

  “Who is it? Do I know him?”

  Carrie breathed in her daughter’s scent while kissing her cheek. “I don’t know. He’s Patch’s age, so he was a couple years ahead of you in school. I doubt you two ran in the same circles. Does the name Noah Winchester sound familiar?”

  Squinting in thought, Lorelei said, “Granny used to play bridge with a Millie Winchester. She had a grandson in the Navy.”

  “Then that’s him. We met a couple times back when I first started seeing Patch.”

  Doing the math, Lorelei said, “When you were still married to Spencer.”

  Lorelei had been Spencer’s high school love, and the woman Carrie had spent most of her marriage being jealous of, regardless of the fact that her perceived rival had been living in Los Angeles at the time. By some twist of fate, Spencer’s now fiancée had stumbled upon Patch smacking Carrie around on a downtown street more than a year ago and stepped in to save the battered woman. That same weekend, Patch died in a bar fight and Carrie’s life had been turned upside down.

  “Yes,” she said, not proud of her actions. “Back then, Noah took issue with the fact that I was married and running around with his friend. Today, he asked if Molly is Patch’s child, and he insinuated that maybe I’d been cheating on Patch when he died.”

  Lorelei leaned back in the chair. “Sounds like a nice guy. But what was the big deal about having to hurry into the house?”

  Hugging the baby to her chest, Carrie confessed the problem. “He’s insisting on meeting Molly. Says that Patch was his friend and he wants to see how his little girl turned out. As if she’s a batch of cookies.”

  “And you don’t want him to meet her?”

  She didn’t know how explain her reluctance. “Even after a year, Patch is like this specter that hovers in the shadows, waiting to pounce. I know he’s gone, but the fear was so real for so long.” Forcing her heart rate to slow, Carrie closed her eyes.

  Lorelei shifted from the chair to the couch and placed her hand on Carrie’s knee. “Honey, Patch Farmer is never going to hurt you ever again. No matter how many of his friends come out of the woodwork. But if this Noah person bothers you, then you have every right to tell him he isn’t welcome around your daughter. You don’t owe him anything.”

  “I’m afraid if he saw you pull up with Molly, that he’ll come over wanting to meet her.”

  “Then I’ll get out of here, and you make sure the doors are locked. If he comes knocking, ignore him. If he won’t go away, call Dale. You know he’ll come take care of this guy.”

  Dale Lambdon, a local police officer, had recently taken a romantic interest in Carrie, and though she’d had dinner with him several times, the spark simply wasn’t there. Probably because he’d been the responding officer more than once when Carrie’s neighbors had heard the commotion of another fight and called 911. Dale had seen the bruises. The split lips. And he’d heard the usual excuses—that she’d run into a door or fell down the steps.

  In other words, he knew her weakness. And though he’d never brought it up in conversation, when she was with him, she still felt like the victim. The coward.

  Carrie nodded. “I’ll call him if anything happens. Maybe Noah won’t come over at all. He made it clear that he’d prefer to be out here by himself. That doesn’t sound like a guy who wants to be social.”

  “Either way, lock the doors and keep the phone close by, okay?” Lorelei gave Carrie a quick hug before dropping a kiss on Molly’s forehead. “She ate an hour ago, and I changed her right before we left. She didn’t nap for long, so I don’t think you’ll have a problem getting her down. There’s a bottle already made in the diaper bag.”

  Following her friend to the door, Carrie said, “You’re going to make a great mother someday.”

  “Do you think so?” she asked, doubt shadowing her dark blue eyes.

  “I know so. Now get out of here before he sees your car.”

  “I’m going.” Lorelei blew Molly one last kiss as she slid out the door.

  After securing both locks and then checking the lock on the back door, Carrie peeked out to the garage again. The light was still on. With luck, he’d leave them alone. If they were going to live next to each other, he was likely to see Molly eventually. She would deal with that when the time came. Until then, Carrie would do everything possible to avoid him.

  Chapter 2

  Noah hadn’t been surprised that his neighbor failed to pay him another visit the night before. Her reluctance to honor his request had been obvious, though he didn’t see what the harm would be. All he wanted to do was say hi to the little bugger and possibly catch a glimpse of his old friend in the man’s daughter. The funeral had come and gone long before Noah had heard the news. Years of watching his brothers-in-arms die way too young should have hardened him to the realities of death, but they hadn’t. At least his fellow soldiers knew what they’d signed up for. No one wanted to die, but they’d willingly walked into the fray.

  Poor Patch had been outnumbered and likely overserved. Maybe if Noah had been home, he’d have been there to back his friend up.

  He parked his bike in the last spot next to the fence that surrounded the supply yard. If the size of the equipment was any indication, Lowry Construction didn’t lack for work or capital. Propping his helmet on a mirror, he made his way to the entrance of the long metal building.

  Stepping inside, he called out a hello, getting only silence in return. Blueprints covered the table to his right. The desk close to the back wall looked to be in use, though whoever occupied it was nowhere to be seen.

  “Hello?” he called out again before checking the time on his cell. The text from his uncle had said to report at nine o’clock, and Noah was only five minutes early.

  Assuming someone would show up soon, he slid the phone back into his pocket and perused the plans. The project appeared to be some kind of camp or dormitory, and if he was reading the lines right, most of the work would be cosmetic with a small addition on each end. Maybe Lowry wasn’t working on the scale Noah had assumed. As he shifted the papers, a woman squealed behind him. Noah spun and braced for a fight.

  To his surprise, his neighbor stared back, pale and wide-eyed.

  “How did you find me?” she asked.

  The question seemed a little vain. Showing interest in meeting her daughter didn’t mean Noah would drive all over town looking for Carrie Farmer.

  “I’m not here for you. I’m here for a job.” Sounding harsher than intended, he added, “Do you work here?”

  Ignoring his question, she shuffled to the desk at the back of the space, holding her tongue until the metal piece of furniture sat between them. “I didn’t know Mike was hiring. Are you sure you’re in the right place?”

  “Lowry Construction?” he said, knowing full well that’s what the sign on the building had read.

  “That’s us.” Carrie hugged a delicate yellow sweater over her chest. “Like I said, I didn’t know we had a new hire. There’s coffee over on the cart. I’ll call to see where Mike is.”


  “I don’t need any coffee, thanks.” Mrs. Farmer looked less than happy to see him. In fact, she looked downright agitated. “So are you the office girl?”

  Jaw tight, her gloss-covered lips flattened into a thin line. “I’m the office manager of Lowry Construction. I run the schedules, track the jobs, and handle finances, including payroll. I also do human resources, which is why I’m surprised you’re here. Are you sure this isn’t just an interview?”

  Unfazed by her tone, Noah smiled. “I’m sure.”

  “Right.” Remaining on her feet, the glorified secretary appeared reluctant to take her eyes off of him. As if he might snap at any second and ransack the place. “Have a seat and I’ll call Mike.”

  Noah did as suggested, pulling a chair away from the table. Remaining on her feet, Carrie dialed a number on the desk phone before reaching for a cell and typing in a text, all while keeping a close watch on her guest. A second later, a ring tone echoed from the office entrance.

  “I’m here, Carrie,” said a lanky fifty-something as he stepped into the building. “Noah Winchester?” he asked, crossing the space to the table.

  Rising to his feet, Noah extended a hand. “Yes, sir.”

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Mike Lowry. Sorry I’m a little late.” The business owner glanced at his watch. “Actually, I’m right on time. Have you been here long?”

  With a shake of his head, he said, “No, sir. A couple minutes at most.”

  “Good.” Turning to Carrie, Mike said, “Noah is going to be the foreman on the shelter job. I figure you two can handle the new-hire packet, and then we can all three head over to the job site.”

  “He’s working on the shelter?” she asked, as Noah pondered why a secretary needed to accompany them to a job site.

  “That’s right.” Mike moved closer to the table and shifted the blueprints. “This is the Safe Haven Women’s Shelter—or it will be when we’re done with it. The original camp was built in the seventies and has been vacant for nearly a decade. I have a feeling the job won’t be as simple as it looks, and if we’re going to make the place operational by December first, I need a skilled leader at the helm.”

  Ten weeks seemed more than adequate to complete the work laid out before him. “I can handle it,” Noah said.

  “That’s what your uncle Davis said. By the way”—Mike turned to face him—“thanks for your service. How does it feel to be a civilian again?”

  Uncomfortable with the new topic, Noah shrugged. “I’ll adjust. How many will be on my crew?”

  “You’ll have four besides you, and Carrie will be involved in most of the decisions beyond the initial construction phase, since this is as much her project as anyone’s.”

  Now he was really confused. “With all due respect, why would we need a secretary on a job site?”

  The woman in question huffed behind him, but Noah ignored her.

  Mike narrowed his eyes. “Carrie is on the shelter board and has spearheaded the project from day one. But regardless of that fact, she’s also an important part of this team, and if you’re unable to work with a woman, this might not be the job for you.”

  There seemed to be more to Patch’s widow than Noah thought. Sparing the tiny brunette a quick glance, he said, “I have nothing against working with a woman, Mr. Lowry. I meant no offense.”

  “Good to hear.” Mike relaxed, but Noah could still feel Carrie boring holes through his back. He didn’t give two shits what the secretary thought of him so long as she stayed out of his way. His new boss shuffled the blueprints into a pile and began rolling them. “Carrie, get Noah started on the paperwork, and then we’ll head out.”

  “Can I talk to you for a second?” she said, ignoring her boss’s command. “Alone?”

  Sliding a rubber band around the plans, he said, “Right now?”

  Carrie nodded, lips once again flattened. “Right now.”

  “Excuse us, Noah,” he said, obliging the fidgety woman. “We’ll be right back.”

  Something told Noah that this private conversation could mean trouble for him, but there wasn’t much he could do about it.

  “I’ll be right here,” he said, once again settling into a chair. “Ready whenever you are.”

  With one last look of disdain, Carrie stepped into a back room with her boss right behind her. Noah didn’t know what he’d ever done to piss this chick off, but if she talked him out of this job, their silent-nights deal was off.

  “I don’t think this is a good idea,” Carrie said as soon as she and Mike entered the break room. “There has to be someone else who can run this job.”

  “Everyone else is busy,” Mike replied with confusion in his eyes. “What do you have against Noah Winchester?”

  She didn’t know how to answer, other than the fact that he made her uncomfortable, which wasn’t a reason for Mike not to hire him.

  “Why not put Brandon in charge of the shelter, and Noah can work on the parsonage?” Grace Methodist had finally gotten around to rebuilding their parsonage so the pastor and his family could move out of the trailer that was supposed to be a temporary home. “Noah could still have the job, but a different one.”

  “Brandon doesn’t have the experience to run a project on his own. According to Noah’s uncle, whom I’ve known since high school, he’s the perfect choice to take the lead on this. I can’t be in two places at once, and unless you want to push back the launch date on the shelter, this is our only option.” Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he added, “Besides, he’s a veteran who needs a job. I see no reason not to give him one.”

  Mike just had to throw in the vet part. And delaying the opening was not going to happen. “Are you sure there’s no one else to lead this project?”

  “Carrie, what’s the problem? Do you know something about Noah that I don’t?”

  Defeat tasted stale on her tongue. “No, I don’t know anything. I’ll deal with him.”

  How, she didn’t know. And the sudden pounding in her temples wasn’t helping the situation.

  “Are you sure? I didn’t like his crack about a secretary on the job site, but he seemed to come around quick enough.”

  Carrie nodded, rubbing the tension from the back of her neck. “It’s fine. I’d better get him started on the forms so we can get out of here.”

  Before she reached the doorway, Mike reassured her. “I wouldn’t put him in charge if I didn’t believe he was right for the job, Carrie. I know how important this shelter is to you. Together, the two of you can get those doors opened sooner rather than later.”

  The sooner the better for Carrie’s peace of mind. She knew what it was like to be in a desperate situation and have nowhere to go. No other woman, at least not in the Ardent Springs area, should have to know that feeling. With a nod of agreement, she walked back into the office area to find Noah sitting where they’d left him, as promised. Pulling a new-hire packet from her file cabinet, she grabbed a pen from her desk and crossed the room.

  “These are pretty self-explanatory,” she said, opening the folder on the table in front of him. “I’ll need either a passport or your license and social security card.”

  “Couldn’t talk him out of it, huh?” he asked. The beard did nothing to hide the smug grin.

  “Talk him out of what?”

  “You don’t want me on this job. Doesn’t take a genius to know what that little chat was about.”

  If she denied as much, she’d be the liar he already believed her to be. And Carrie would not give him that satisfaction.

  “Considering you accused me of cheating on my husband before he died, you’re right. I don’t want to work with you.”

  “It wouldn’t have been the first time you cheated,” he said.

  Carrie didn’t need a reminder of her past sins. “I’m not proud of everything I’ve done in my past, but making one mistake doesn’t make me a bad person.” Or so Lorelei constantly informed her. “I never lied to Patch. He knew from the moment we met that I was
married to someone else.”

  Undaunted, Noah said, “But he isn’t the one who broke a vow.”

  No. He just nearly broke her jaw.

  “That’s right,” Carrie said, nearly snapping the pen in her grip, “he was nothing but an unwitting man swayed by the evil wiles of a woman. I’d forgotten that men are never held accountable for their own behavior.” Dropping the pen onto the folder, she said, “Fill these out and bring them to me when you’re done.”

  Without awaiting a reply, she stalked back to her desk, shaking with pent-up rage. How dare he sit in judgment? Noah Winchester had no idea what she’d endured at his friend’s hand. The years of flying fists and unprovoked backhands. That had been the punishment for her infidelity. Karma had been swift and thorough where Carrie’s sins were concerned.

  Instead of screaming the truth of what Patch Farmer really was, she sat down at her desk and breathed through the anger. This was why she didn’t talk about those years. Why she buried them in some deep, dark corner of her brain.

  Hands shaking, she struggled to move the mouse where she wanted it. Taking a deep breath, Carrie focused on Molly’s picture. The face of her baby always calmed her down. The drumbeat in her temple slowed as her cell phone vibrated. Crap. While she and Noah had waited in silence for Mike, Carrie had fired off a ranting text to Lorelei about her father’s new hire. The message from Lorelei said that she’d straighten out the problem.

  Carrie sent back a quick reply.

  No need. Everything is fine. I’ll call you later.

  The message appeared to be too late as Mike’s phone chimed on the other side of the wall. A few minutes later, her boss called her back into the break room.

  “Are you going to tell me why the women in my life have it out for Noah Winchester?” he asked, brows raised. “What am I missing here?”

  Refusing to let the past invade her present, Carrie kept her response short. “Patch and Noah were friends, and Noah and I don’t get along well. Lorelei is just being protective because she knows that I don’t like him.”