She recognized Sonny and Maggie and was wondering who the second couple might be when it dawned on her. The foreman and his wife. The two people who would be living here if they bought the house. That made it all the more important for Nora that they liked what they saw. She waited for them to knock before going to the door, then took a deep breath and opened it wide.
“Welcome! Come inside where it’s warm,” she said.
“It’s really kind of you to do this for us,” Sonny said. “Chris and Ellen, this is Nora Borden. I am told this house has been in her family for years. Nora, this is my foreman, Chris Jackson, and his wife Ellen. Maggie and I didn’t feel like it was fair to make the decision for them, so we asked them to accompany us. Hope you don’t mind.”
Nora smiled directly at Chris and Ellen. “Of course I don’t mind. I could take you on a tour, but if it was me, I’d want to do the first look on my own, so all of you feel free to look the place over. Open closets. Bang cabinets. Flush toilets for water pressure. If you want to start with the living room, I’ll step into the kitchen out of your way, and when you’re finished in here, I’ll move myself back here and leave the rest of the house to you. Okay? Also, know that I’m willing to leave all of the furnishings, even the grandfather clock, if you wish. When I was little, I always thought of it as the guard up the hall from my room, rather than a timepiece. Hearing it strike the hour was like an all’s-well signal. Oh, for the innocence of the imagination of a child, right?”
Chapter 15
Sonny felt every aspect of her sadness, and saw the depths of Nora’s secrets. She was a warrior in her own right. The man she chose was her equal. He liked the spirit in this house. It was good.
As they moved through the house, he could hear the excitement in Ellen’s voice and witnessed the continuing disbelief on Chris’s face. He knew exactly what this felt like. The same way he’d felt when he found out Ellis Cooper had willed him an entire ranch. This was Sonny’s way of giving back, and Maggie was right in the middle of their delight, exclaiming over the dark-wood trims and the beauty of the original floors.
“So, what do you think?” Sonny asked as they were viewing the last bedroom at the end of the hall.
“We love it,” Chris said. “It’s so grand compared to where we are. Not sure we can afford the rent.”
Sonny laughed. “Cowboy, you haven’t been paying attention. If I own it outright, then I set the rent, and whatever you’ve been paying Pearl will be fine with us.”
Chris blinked in disbelief. “I know you’re my boss and all, but I have an overwhelming urge to hug you until you’re squeaking for air.”
Sonny grinned. “No need for all that, so it’s a done deal. We’ll get the ball rolling with the realtor. Do you want the furnishings left?”
“Lord, yes,” Ellen said. “We have nothing, and these are beautiful. It will feel like home in no time.”
Sonny nodded. “Duly noted. Let’s go tell Nora.”
Nora was standing at the kitchen window, remembering where her swing set used to be, and eyeing the dug cellar out back, when she heard them coming up the hall, and went to meet them.
“What’s the verdict?” she asked.
“It’s a yes from all of us, with the furnishings,” Sonny said.
Nora was beaming. “The comps in this area are great for a buyer. The asking price, with furniture included, is $160,000. Is that okay with you?”
“More than okay,” Sonny said, and held out his hand.
Nora shook it gladly.
“Wonderful, Sonny. The phone number for the realty company is on the sign in the front yard. Ask for Patty when you give them a call. I’ll notify her tonight that a full offer has been made, so she won’t schedule any appointments to view.” Then she smiled at Chris and Kelly. “I’ll likely be long gone before all the paperwork goes through, but I wish you a long and happy life together here.”
“Thank you so much for offering the furnishings along with the house. They will be treasured,” Ellen said.
Nora walked them to the door, waved as they drove away, then closed the door and cried. It felt a little like pulling the plug on life support, but she was also glad that it was over. Then she glanced at the time, wiped her eyes and blew her nose, and made a call to the realty office.
A man answered. “Thomas Realty. How may I direct your call?”
“Nora Borden calling for Patty Thomas.”
“One moment while I transfer your call,” he said.
A few seconds later, Patty picked up. “This is Patty.”
“Patty, this is Nora Borden. Good news. I just got a full offer for the house with furnishings included. The buyer is Sonny Bluejacket. He’ll be in touch.”
“Is he that rodeo guy? Mom and Dad said he was living out on Ellis Cooper’s old place.”
“He owns it. It is a very large, very well-established training facility for rodeo horses.”
