Free Rancher's Refuge (Whisper Falls) by Linda Goodnight

nearly derailed when little Jamie Bagley brought a turtle to her fourth-grade classroom. She’d faint smooth away at the sight of a cow or horse.”
    Austin’s thoughts slid to Annalisa stroking Cisco’s nose and the three dogs vying for her attention. She might be afraid of her boyfriend and maybe even of him, but she and animals got along fine.
    Not that he cared one way or the other about Annalisa and his animals. Fact of the matter, he didn’t know why he was thinking about his houseguest in the first place. The woman was taking up too much room inside his head.
    “You two take it easy,” he said and pushed away from the counter, eager to leave. Just as he reached the door, it swung open.
    And Annalisa walked in.

Chapter Five
    A nnalisa stopped in the doorway of the dimly lit train station. The building was late 1800s like many in Whisper Falls, and the walls were dotted with memorabilia from the past, mostly railroad artifacts. Overhead a pair of lazy ceiling fans stirred the smell of slightly musty wood and pine floor cleaner. On one wall, two ancient green train lanterns bracketed a railroad crossing sign.
    As her eyes adjusted to the light, she spotted a man and two children sipping sodas at the counter and Austin Blackwell watching her from a bar stool. Coming at her like a torpedo was the energetic Evelyn Parsons whom she’d met at the Tan and Tress Salon less than an hour ago.
    “Digger, look here,” Evelyn said, smiling with hands outstretched toward Annalisa. “Isn’t she the prettiest thing? Look at that hairdo. Why, if I had hair that blond, I’d go to Hollywood.”
    Annalisa couldn’t hold back a smile. The older woman, whose salt-and-pepper curls were cropped close to her head in a tight perm, exuded energy and goodwill. Annalisa extended one hand which Evelyn clasped warmly with both of hers.
    As she’d walked the two blocks from Cassie’s workplace to the train depot, Annalisa had vacillated between hope for a job and the urge to catch the first flight out. Yet, something about the pretty old town and the friendly people drew her like a basket of new puppies. If nothing else, she needed some downtime in a quiet environment to think about her future as well as her past. Starting over, alone and broke, was hard.
    Austin Blackwell pushed off the counter and sauntered in her direction. Expression serious, he said nothing. He had the most uncanny ability to make her feel safe and jumpy at the same time. She turned her focus on Evelyn.
    “Is this a good time to talk?” she asked, anxious now that she was here, although Cassie had encouraged her to come, insisting Miss Evelyn and Uncle Digger were for real.
    On the walk through town, she’d passed the pharmacy where Austin had purchased her prescription. She still marveled at the gruff kindness and even more at his refusal to discuss repayment. Austin Blackwell was a bewildering contradiction.
    “Anytime is a good time for a new friend. You come right on in here and get yourself acquainted. That handsome cuss manning the register is my man, Digger. Everyone calls him Uncle Digger. Suits him, don’t you think?” Before Annalisa could say a word, Evelyn hooked her arm and propelled her forward. “You know Austin already.” Austin, standing by the exit, bobbed his head, an amused quirk on his lips as the two women sailed past. “That fella with his head buried in the news is Mayor Fairchild. He’ll come up for air after a few more cups of coffee and a half dozen doughnuts. These folks at the bar are locals. Davis Turner, meet Annalisa Keller. She’s new in town.”
    Davis Turner turned his sandy brown, all-American good looks in her direction, his smile wide and infectious. “A pleasure, Annalisa. Welcome to Whisper Falls. These little urchins are my kids, Nathan and Paige.”
    “I’m nine,” Paige announced. “Nathan’s only eight. I’m older than him.”
    Their father’s hundred-watt smile brightened. “And she never lets him