to go around the back to see if it was all a façade.
Colorful wildflowers everywhere offset the vivid green of the grass and the surrounding gigantic trees. The buildings were a mix of old and new, but somehow they all blended to form a welcoming, peaceful, postcard-worthy sight.
Yeah. He could totally see himself finally living in a town like Anderson Butte.
Families and couples, clearly on vacation, slowly meandered up and down the street perusing the shops. The town had everything a body could want. Besides a few little touristy specialty stores, there was the diner, a place to get your hair cut, a little drugstore, the post office, a T-shirt shop, a water sports shop, a mini-market, and a toy store with matching colorful wooden soldiers as tall as he was, standing guard out front.
He’d never been inside a toy store. He’d never had toys of his own growing up at the ranch. Had he been free to, he wouldhave liked to shop at places like this for Haley’s birthdays and the Christmases he’d missed. Hopefully he’d be able to make up for those lost years by spending enough time with her to let her see how much he cared. But right now, he was nothing more than a stranger to his own daughter.
Maybe he should get something for Haley to soften the blow when they finally met. But what? He pulled out his phone and was just about to Google the most popular toys for two-year-olds, but stopped. The shopkeepers probably knew Haley.
He threw his empty water bottle into a green recycling can, pulled the door open, and entered the cluttered little shop. It overflowed with stuffed animals, games, dolls, trucks, and things Josh couldn’t identify. A tiny woman, maybe in her late twenties, stood behind the counter and lifted her chin slightly in greeting while she helped a familiar-looking blond man with a couple of kids standing next to him. Josh headed toward the counter as the man tucked his wallet into his back pocket and then spun around.
Another movie star? What were the chances?
The guy smiled at him and hustled his boys out the door.
Josh shook his head, then moved to the counter. “Brad Pitt, huh? And I could have sworn I saw Ashton Kutcher yesterday.”
The lady, petite, brunette, and so fragile-looking she reminded Josh of a fairy, blinked her eyes. “You must be mistaken, sir. Why would people like that visit here?” She even had a squeaky little Tinker Bell voice.
He threw his thumb over his shoulder. “That man who was just here with his two kids . . .”
When the shopkeeper blanked her expression in a poor attempt to lie, Josh forged ahead. “I wondered if you knew Megan’s daughter, Haley? And if you could suggest something she might like?”
She shook her head. “Meg’s an Anderson. Her father owns the whole town and if we want to keep our jobs, we can’t help you. You might as well leave.”
“I just want to buy Haley a gift.” Josh raised his hand to run it through his hair, and the little woman flinched as if he meant to hit her.
What had Zeke and the mayor told these people? That he stole little kids and beat women just for fun?
The timid woman chewed on her lower lip as if debating. “Haley likes to draw and color. That’s something a father should know about his daughter. Now please leave.”
He read her name tag. “I appreciate the information, Sarah. I’m just looking for a chance to be Haley’s father. Have a nice day.” He swallowed back his rising temper as he headed for the door.
That did it. Time for a much-needed showdown with the local law.
He headed toward the biggest of all the buildings around the town square. As he crossed the grassy park in the middle, he spotted Casey. She was just starting up a set of big stone steps while glancing at her watch.
Increasing his pace, he moved behind her. “Worried I won’t be gone when Megan gets back?”
Casey jumped as if startled, then slowly turned around. “Why are you still here?”
He surged ahead and held the door
Colorful wildflowers everywhere offset the vivid green of the grass and the surrounding gigantic trees. The buildings were a mix of old and new, but somehow they all blended to form a welcoming, peaceful, postcard-worthy sight.
Yeah. He could totally see himself finally living in a town like Anderson Butte.
Families and couples, clearly on vacation, slowly meandered up and down the street perusing the shops. The town had everything a body could want. Besides a few little touristy specialty stores, there was the diner, a place to get your hair cut, a little drugstore, the post office, a T-shirt shop, a water sports shop, a mini-market, and a toy store with matching colorful wooden soldiers as tall as he was, standing guard out front.
He’d never been inside a toy store. He’d never had toys of his own growing up at the ranch. Had he been free to, he wouldhave liked to shop at places like this for Haley’s birthdays and the Christmases he’d missed. Hopefully he’d be able to make up for those lost years by spending enough time with her to let her see how much he cared. But right now, he was nothing more than a stranger to his own daughter.
Maybe he should get something for Haley to soften the blow when they finally met. But what? He pulled out his phone and was just about to Google the most popular toys for two-year-olds, but stopped. The shopkeepers probably knew Haley.
He threw his empty water bottle into a green recycling can, pulled the door open, and entered the cluttered little shop. It overflowed with stuffed animals, games, dolls, trucks, and things Josh couldn’t identify. A tiny woman, maybe in her late twenties, stood behind the counter and lifted her chin slightly in greeting while she helped a familiar-looking blond man with a couple of kids standing next to him. Josh headed toward the counter as the man tucked his wallet into his back pocket and then spun around.
Another movie star? What were the chances?
The guy smiled at him and hustled his boys out the door.
Josh shook his head, then moved to the counter. “Brad Pitt, huh? And I could have sworn I saw Ashton Kutcher yesterday.”
The lady, petite, brunette, and so fragile-looking she reminded Josh of a fairy, blinked her eyes. “You must be mistaken, sir. Why would people like that visit here?” She even had a squeaky little Tinker Bell voice.
He threw his thumb over his shoulder. “That man who was just here with his two kids . . .”
When the shopkeeper blanked her expression in a poor attempt to lie, Josh forged ahead. “I wondered if you knew Megan’s daughter, Haley? And if you could suggest something she might like?”
She shook her head. “Meg’s an Anderson. Her father owns the whole town and if we want to keep our jobs, we can’t help you. You might as well leave.”
“I just want to buy Haley a gift.” Josh raised his hand to run it through his hair, and the little woman flinched as if he meant to hit her.
What had Zeke and the mayor told these people? That he stole little kids and beat women just for fun?
The timid woman chewed on her lower lip as if debating. “Haley likes to draw and color. That’s something a father should know about his daughter. Now please leave.”
He read her name tag. “I appreciate the information, Sarah. I’m just looking for a chance to be Haley’s father. Have a nice day.” He swallowed back his rising temper as he headed for the door.
That did it. Time for a much-needed showdown with the local law.
He headed toward the biggest of all the buildings around the town square. As he crossed the grassy park in the middle, he spotted Casey. She was just starting up a set of big stone steps while glancing at her watch.
Increasing his pace, he moved behind her. “Worried I won’t be gone when Megan gets back?”
Casey jumped as if startled, then slowly turned around. “Why are you still here?”
He surged ahead and held the door
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