What she really wanted to learn more about was him and why he let the townsfolk believe he was some sort of monster, when in fact she’d found him utterly captivating, even if he could be quite stubborn. Instead of caving in to her mounting curiosity and plying him with a bunch of nosy questions, she said, “I’d love to hear some.”
He led her a short distance to a wall of rock. The opening to the mine was boarded up with weathered wood planks. A big Keep Out sign was nailed in the center. “Legend says many years ago, a young couple desperately in love wanted to marry, but the bride’s family didn’t approve of the match—”
“This is great.” Alexis smiled and pressed a hand to her chest. “Everyone loves a tragic love story. It’ll tug at the hearts of female visitors.”
Cord frowned. “I’m not telling you this for you to plan out some promotional campaign—”
“Oh. I know.” She didn’t want to start another heated discussion with him. “Please tell me more of the story.”
He cast her a doubtful look. Did he have any clue that he looked more cute and ornery than intimidating? In fact, she found him more attractive than she should.
Not about to let her thoughts dwell on his mesmerizing eyes or the bit of scruff trailing down his chiseled jaw that led to his inviting lips, she said, “I’ll be quiet. I promise.”
He cleared his throat. “The young man moved here, planning to strike it big in the mines. He needed to prove his worthiness in order to marry his true love. Months went by, and at last he’d saved up enough money to send for her. The day before she arrived, a cave-in at the mine buried an entire crew of men, leaving behind heartbroken widows and fatherless children.”
Something told Alexis this part of the story was true, that this town had lost miners—husbands—and fathers. Her heart ached for the townspeople. She knew all too well about loss.
Cord crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels. “When the young woman stepped off the stagecoach, she was devastated by the news. Having turned against her family’s wishes, she couldn’t return home. Alone in a new town with not much more than her wedding dress and a broken heart, she refused to give up hope that her true love would find his way back to her.”
A faraway glint in Cord’s eyes had her wondering if he, too, had had an unfortunate romance. And did it have anything to do with the town’s animosity? The uncomfortable thought caught her off guard. She told herself Cord’s personal life was none of her business. She needed to keep her thoughts on the business at hand, and right now that included a history lesson about Haggerty.
Alexis enjoyed listening to the soothing tones of Cord’s voice. “Is there more?”
He nodded. “The young woman returned here every day, waiting for her betrothed to find his way back to her. It’s believed that on a full moon, you can see her pacing in front of the mine entrance.”
“Is the story true?”
“I’m not sure. But once I found a set of footprints outside the mine.”
“Are you serious?”
His lips spread into a smile, and his dimples eased the worry lines etching his face. Her heart lurched into her throat. If she thought the brooding look on him was sexy, the smiling version of him was downright captivating. The gleam in his eyes and the shrug of his shoulders let her know he’d added the part about the footsteps to tease her.
With effort she drew her gaze from his handsome face to the mine entrance. “Have you ever thought of writing down the history of this place? Sounds like you’d have enough to fill a book.”
He kicked at a rock. “Uh…no. No one would be interested.”
“I am, and I’m sure there’d be others. It’d be a way for you to honor you ancestors.”
His smile faded as his lips pressed together into an uncompromising line. What in the world had he taken offense to this time? She sure didn’t understand him, no matter how hard she tried. “I’m not a writer.”
“But if you wrote down what you know, someone else could reword it—”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Mess with things you don’t understand.”
“But you’re the only one who knows all of the details about this ghost town, and the people—”
“You’re not getting what I’m saying. I can’t…” He turned and started to walk away.
She rushed to catch up to him. “Can’t what?”
“Leave it be.”
She placed a hand on his shoulder. She could feel the corded strength beneath her fingertips. “Tell me. I want to understand.”