Free A Maverick's Heart by Roz Denny Fox

minute to wonder why, when women loved gems, they’d be dead set against the process it took to find and bring them to the earth’s surface. He quickly counted the number of buddies he’d lost to love and marriage. More than a few needled him about letting love pass him by. All seemed perfectly happy working other jobs.
    He wouldn’t mind finding someone special, but what else did he know? His college degree was in geology, but most of those jobs required travel, too.
    Finding the right aisle, he focused on the small display. He picked up a mask, put it down and dusted off one that came with a headlamp. If the same clerk checked him out, that item would be a dead giveaway as to his intention. Although caving would be another sport requiring this gear, he had no idea if any caves, charted or uncharted, existed here. The minute he decided to buy this stuff, he realized on some level he’d already hoped to have a look-see at Opportunity Mine.
    He added the mask with the lamp to his purchases. Next he’d go to the courthouse to apply for a permit. It was always possible he couldn’t get one. Maybe he ought to wait to buy the equipment. But it was too late; a clerk had started to ring him through. The older man at the register didn’t question why Seth wanted a separate check for the ball gear. He thought he’d better have it because he was sure Lila would insist on reimbursing him.
    At the courthouse a short time later, a clerk told him the Rainbow Mine was in receivership. The Opportunity Mine had become property of the state, which sometimes happened when mining went bad. If a mine no longer produced, no company wanted to pay property taxes on useless land.
    “Thanks for the information,” he told the helpful clerk. “I’ll fill out a permit request to explore the mine owned by the state. Any idea how long it may take to get through the system?”
    “I’ll fax it to the department in Helena. Summer has higher demand for permits. It’s still early, though. You could hear back in three weeks or so. You’ll get a letter that’ll include a permit or a rejection. If rejected, they’ll tell you why.”
    “Three weeks works. I haven’t decided how long to stay and visit my family, but I’ll be here that long for sure.” Because he’d arranged with Zeke prior to his visit to receive his mail at the ranch, he wrote their address on his permit request. Doing so made him feel a little guilty, as if he were hiding something from Lila. Again he reminded himself that dealing in finding and selling expensive gemstones was how he made his living.
    Semisatisfied with his day trip, he elected to look at the ball field where Lila said League games were played. He climbed from his vehicle to survey the park. It looked like every other small ball field. Open bleachers. Worn tracks to the bases. A bent mesh fence behind the catcher. Perimeter lights for night games. All suitable for nine-to twelve-year-old kids.
    Next he stopped for a late lunch at an Old West restaurant boasting a lot of cars in its parking lot.
    While eating a steak burger, Seth wished he could think of a gift for Lila. He was reasonably sure she didn’t currently have an important man in her life. But he didn’t know that for certain.
    He considered buying her flowers and recalled seeing a flower nursery on the outskirts of town. Although maybe cut flowers were too intimate. He could buy a potted plant. But would she see that as making more work for her to remember to water it?
    After lunch, he pulled into the nursery—just to look around.
    “May I help you?” a woman called. She stood at a table arranging cut flowers in crystal vases.
    “Is it okay if I browse? I’m not sure what I want yet.”
    “Wander to your heart’s content. I’m making arrangements for a wedding reception. I’ll be here if you have questions or find something.”
    Seth strolled aimlessly among pots. He paused at a table of violets and remembered in Boston his mother had a