Read Love Finds You in Last Chance, California for Free Online

hankerin’ to find gold. That’s what brought him to this country. Sure, he turned to ranchin’, but that didn’t keep him from hopin’. He told me the night before he died that he’d found what looked to be a likely spot somewhere on his land. Told me he’d show me where after he got the assay results.”
    Alex gripped Joe’s hand. “Do you have any idea where he found it, Uncle Joe? He didn’t tell you the general area?”
    Joe shook his head and squeezed her hand. “Nope, ’fraid not. Guess somebody should check with Samuel at the assay office. Might be a false alarm.”
    “I’ll check.” Alex sighed and leaned back in her chair. “He raised me to help run this ranch, and I don’t understand why he kept this from me. I’m not a little girl anymore.”
    A loud thumping at the kitchen door interrupted the small group. Alex turned her head and Joe pushed to his feet, grasped his cane, and hobbled to the door. He swung it open and peered outside. “Tim. What can I do for you?”
    A rawboned cowboy stood holding his hat, spinning it round in his calloused hands. Alex slipped behind Joe in time to see Tim raise troubled eyes to the older man. “I need to give my notice.”
    Joe scowled. “What for?”
    Tim dropped his gaze to the floor. “Got me a better job offer.”
    “What d’ya mean? Don’t we pay fair wages?”
    “It’s not the wages, Joe.”
    “What’s the problem, then?” There was a pause. “Spit it out, son.”
    Tim hesitated and then glanced at Alex. “Since Ben died, things been gettin’ shaky around here.” He turned his attention back to Joe. “You’re stove up and can’t ride, and we got no boss.”
    Alex stepped forward and put her hand on Joe’s arm. “I’m taking Papa’s place.”
    “I know, ma’am, and that’s just it. I just don’t think I can work for a woman. No offense. Some of the other men feel the same. Foster offered me a job, and I told him I’d take it.”
    Alex sucked in her breath. “Carter Foster? He’s trying to hire our men behind our backs?”
    “No, ma’am. I ran into him at the saloon one night and we got to talkin’. I told him my concerns. He said you’d be a fair person to work for, but I told him I planned to move on. He’s runnin’ a few more head of horses and doin’ some mining, as well. He offered decent wages and said he’d put me in charge, if I do a good job.”
    Joe nodded. “So after workin’ here for nigh on to three years, you’re quittin’.”
    “I’m sorry, Joe.”
    Joe’s expression hardened. “Stop by in the mornin’ and draw your pay. And tell the other men if anyone wants to leave, they can do the same.”
    Alex stepped back from the door as Tim hurried away. She crossed her arms and glared at the closed door and then swung around toward Joe. “I know as much about running this ranch as Papa did.”
    Joe patted her shoulder. “I know, honey.” He glanced at Martha and she gave a sparse nod. “Gus quit today, too.”
    “Gus? But why? He’s been with us as long as Tim.”
    “I heard him talkin’ to Tim about you bein’ in charge when I walked up behind him. We had words and he up an’ quit. Gus and Tim are old pards.”
    Alex leaned against the doorjamb and groaned. “Great. Two hands gone in one day. That makes it tough, since Frank’s so new. What if some of the others leave? I’m surprised Davis hasn’t, seeing how he’s a buddy of Tim and Gus.”
    Joe leaned on his cane and shook his head. “Guess you’ll have to take the reins and prove you can do the job. You’ve been ridin’ and breakin’ horses since you were little. Some of the men might not want to work for a woman, but a few will give you a chance. I’ll help all I can, but this hip won’t let me do as much as I’d like.”
    Martha wrapped her arm around Alex’s shoulder and squeezed. “You can do it, Alexia, but you need to trust God. He’s the one in charge, not you.”
    Alex drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I