“I did what?”
He shook his head. “Don’t try the innocent act. I know for a fact you’ve been going around telling the whole town that I’m standing between them and economic prosperity.”
She saw a flicker of pain in his dark eyes, but in a blink, it was gone. Had she imagined it? No. Impossible. But then again, could it have something to do with the warnings she’d received about him? Did he have any idea what some of them were saying behind his back? She sure hoped not. He might be a bit blustery at times, but she’d seen the other side of him—the kind, gentle side. She longed to see more of that.
She tilted her chin upward. “I may have spoken to some people about my proposal, but by no means did I speak with the whole town.”
His weight shifted from one foot to the other. “You obviously don’t know much about small towns. You only have to tell one person or be overheard and the gossip mill is fired up.”
Tired of being on the defensive, she decided to turn the conversation around. “And why should that bother you? Afraid of a little public pressure?”
His brows drew together as storm clouds gathered in his eyes. “If you want to do business with me, speak to me. Don’t drag outsiders into it. Understand?”
And yet another man dictating terms to her. It jangled her nerves. “I’ll do whatever I need to do to conclude my business here. The sooner you agree to sell Haggerty, the sooner I’ll head back to New York and get out of your way.”
“It might just be worth selling.” Though he’d been muttering under his breath, she’d caught every syllable.
The thought that he wanted her gone that badly pricked a spot in her chest. She may be a businesswoman on the outside, but on the inside, where no one could see, she wanted to be liked just like any other woman. She’d been kicked aside and forgotten enough in her life. First by her mother and then her fiancé. The backs of her eyes stung. She blinked repeatedly.
Refusing to let him know his words had hurt her, she kept her voice even and calm. “Are you offering to give me the grand tour? Or shall I continue on my own?”
He eyed her up as though deciding if she were serious. “You certainly can’t be trusted to be left alone.”
“I’ll take that as your offer to show me around.”
He sighed. “I’ll lead in my vehicle. You can follow in yours.”
Alexis didn’t care how she got to the ghost town as long as she had a chance to do some exploring and make certain it suited HSG’s purposes. She also had to snap some pictures to send to her father. The unexpected bonus of having Cord as her guide would only add to the experience—if his mood lightened.
Maybe she had come on a little strong. Maybe she needed to back off a little. Showing him a little more sweetness might help. In fact, maybe this little sightseeing trip would be a chance to move past their business relationship to a more personal level.
“Ready to go?” She took a step toward her vehicle.
“I don’t know what you think you’re going to find there. This ghost town is most likely not what you’re imagining. There aren’t any saloons with ghosts hanging around the bar, ordering another round of tequila. No skeletons dancing atop the player piano.”
She laughed. “So this isn’t going to be a spin-off of some sitcom?”
The corners of his mouth lifted a little. “No, and don’t expect some bearded prospector in overalls to pop out of the woodwork and lock you up.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“We better get moving.”
They climbed into their respective vehicles. Her foot hovered over the brake, tapping it now and then as the SUV dipped down the side of the arroyo. Stones ricocheted off the undercarriage as the vehicle crept forward. The uneven ground jostled her back and forth in her seat. The rift wasn’t too wide, and soon they rolled up the other side.
Less than ten minutes later, a rocky outcrop jutting out from the earth came into view. Cord’s brake lights flashed on. She pulled up beside his truck and got out.
“We’re here.” He waved his hand around. “This is Haggerty.”
“It certainly is a long way off the beaten path.” She gazed at the remnants of Haggerty, awed by its rustic charm. It was like stepping out of a time machine. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine the clomping sound of horse hooves and piano music from the saloon.
“More than a century ago, settlers moved here for the promise of a new start. While they waited for the railroad to be built, scarce amounts of supplies were brought in by wagon. When they relocated the proposed rail line, people
followed the train to Whistle Stop. Eventually, my great-great-grandfather was left with nothing but dry scrub weed and an empty town.”
“Sounds sad.” Thinking of the neglected town square, she hoped Whistle Stop wasn’t heading for the same fate.
“There’s folklore linked to the town. Would you like to hear some of it?”