Listen to Your Heart

Listen to Your Heart

By

Bridgitte Lesley

Version 1

Published by

Bridgitte Lesley on Smashwords

Listen to Your Heart

Copyright © 2012 Bridgitte Lesley

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are a production of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

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Listen to Your Heart

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CHAPTER 1

I don’t like her at all! Craig shook his head. Jenny we haven’t even met her yet. How can you say you don’t like her? Well I don’t. How can a total stranger come in to this town and buy a business just like that? She snapped her fingers. Graham chuckled. Why are you so upset about this Jenny? Because I think it is wrong. Sure, I appreciate the fact that Charles and Ellen want to sell. But surely someone in our town. One of us. Should buy the place. Not a total stranger who doesn’t know anything about this town. Who doesn’t know any of us. The people who live here. Who have lived here forever.

Duke smiled to himself and lowered his newspaper. Jenny. Charles and Ellen are getting on. They want to retire. They should have retired years ago. And if they sell to someone from out of town then so be it. They sold for the price that they wanted. Jenny shook her head. And then everything is going to change. You watch. We won’t be able to get fresh bread rolls on a Sunday morning. I don’t like it. I really don’t like it. Jenny. I would wait and see if I was you. Maybe she is even better than Charles and Ellen. The lady that is buying the place. Dad somehow I don’t think so. Whenever I pop by Ellen makes me a special milkshake. And she gives it to me. She doesn’t even charge. Duke smiled to himself. So that is what this is about. Your free milkshake. No. Craig and Graham chuckled and both nodded.

Duke got up. So. Everyone knows her name do they? Graham nodded. Miss Spencer. Forgot the name. But her surname is Spencer. Duke smiled and nodded. I wonder. They all looked at Duke. Don’t you remember the Spencer family? Jenny shook her head. From here? I don’t remember anyone by that name. Graham nodded. Oh yeah. I remember. They still own that ranch you know. Duke nodded. Funny that they haven’t sold it off. Duke smiled and nodded. That will probably be inherited some time. Graham nodded. I wouldn’t mind inheriting something like that. That place must be worth an absolute fortune. And that is why they are not selling. Are you sure it is Spencer? Graham nodded.

Duke sat quietly behind his newspaper. He remembered the family well. There were three children. Douglas, Wayne and their younger sister Cassandra. Cassandra had left home when she was young. She hadn’t been back to town and he had never heard what had happened to her. He hadn’t seen her for many years. She was sixteen when he last saw her. The family had stayed on for a few years and had packed up and moved on. There was only five years difference in their age. He had just turned twenty one when she had left home. He did the little calculation and smiled. Cassandra would be thirty five. He wondered what she looked like. She was a beautiful young girl. He had often looked at her and dreamt about her. Every man in town had admired her. But she had left at an early age. He wondered whether she had actually studied when she had finished school. He had never heard.

Graham looked at Duke. Can’t recall the name. But it is definitely a woman. Duke nodded and smiled. And when is the sale taking place? Well Charles said he was waiting for the transfer. Duke nodded. So they are obviously waiting for the paperwork to go through. I guess that is how it works. The buyer takes out a bond and then the bank pays the seller. Graham nodded. I guess. That is quite a steep price. Duke nodded. That could be quite a profitable business. Graham nodded. I don’t think they were running at a profit. Duke nodded. They did okay I guess.

What about your paper? What if you can’t get your paper? Duke sighed and lowered his paper. Jenny. I am sure if she doesn’t get the paper that I can ask her to arrange that I do get a paper. Jenny nodded. Still don’t like a stranger waltzing in. We all support that shop you know. Duke smiled and nodded. I think we should wait and see.

Sandra packed every little item in to the last box. She sealed the box and wrote the number and added it to her list. She sat down and smiled. Everything was ready to be moved. She stood up and walked to the door. She looked out as the truck arrived. The movers walked through and started loading all her furniture and all the boxes. There was a lot to be done. Sandra walked up and down. She checked every cupboard for the hundredth time. She hadn’t forgotten anything.

Holly walked through and smiled. She pulled Sandra in to her arms. Are you really sure about this Sandra? I am Mum. I really am. I need a break from things. Maybe a year or two and I will get back in to my field. Holly smiled and nodded. When are you leaving? Once all of this is in the container I am going to lock up and go and hand the keys to the agent. Holly smiled and nodded. How long is their lease? Twelve months for now. Holly nodded. Your beautiful home. And someone else is going to be living in it. Oh Mum. It is an investment. And I will be making quite a bit. I know. But we are going to miss you. I am going to miss you Mum. Holly smiled. Why don’t you come over for supper and stay the night? Because I would be in tears in the morning. Holly chuckled and nodded. Anything I can do? Not a thing. Once everything is loaded I am going too. Holly smiled and hugged Sandra. I love you sweetheart. We will give you a chance to get settled. Thanks Mum. I will text you when I get there. Holly smiled and nodded. She kissed Sandra and walked out before she started to cry.

Everything was in the container. Sandra waved as they started to drive off. It would be a long drive for the truck. Her goods would be going to a depot overnight and the truck would leave early in the morning. They would sleep over at a truck stop and continue the drive the next morning. It was a long haul. Sandra would be travelling the entire day to get to her destination. But she had a powerful four by four and it was a lot faster than the speed of the truck.

Sandra walked around the house. She walked up the stairs and looked through the window for the last time. She walked outside and checked the padlocks on her two garages. She walked back inside and picked up her bag. It was time to leave and hand the keys over. Sandra hopped in to her van and drove to the agent. She handed the keys in and smiled. It was time to leave and get on with her life.

Duke walked in to the pub and pulled up a bar stool. Jarod smiled as he walked over to Duke. A pint please Jarod. Jarod smiled and nodded. So have you heard the news? That Charles and Ellen sold? Yeah. I am glad. Jarod smiled and nodded. And the new owner takes over in a day or two. She should be arriving any day now. And where is this new owner going to be living then? Above the store. She bought the whole building. Not just the shop. Heavens! Jarod chuckled and nodded. I am quite glad about that. Remember they were going to convert that space in to flats? But they never got around to that. Jarod nodded. But the good thing is William got the contract to clean that place up. The whole floor is being painted at the moment. Windows washed. The works. And I believe he had to put in some units and do some plumbing. The new owner wants it all cleaned and painted by the time she gets here. And are they going to manage it all? William says so. She paid fifty percent upfront so that he could get the paint and the labor in. Sounds like a good deal. Jarod nodded. Sure is. So I believe her name is Spencer. Yes. Sandra Spencer. Well then that is not the person I was thinking of. Cassandra. Remember her? Jarod smiled and nodded. I think everyone admired her. Duke chuckled and nodded.

They haven’t met her yet. Everything has been done through the attorneys. Pretty strange isn’t it? Yes if you are buying a business. If you think about it she is buying something that she has never seen. Jarod nodded. Strange. Well it is the only shop around. I hope there aren’t too many changes. Jarod nodded. Debbie walked up and hopped on to the bar stool. Evening Duke. Duke drank the last of his beer and put the glass down. Evening Debbie. He got off of the bar stool. Night Jarod. See you around. Duke smiled and nodded and walked out. Debbie watched as he walked. One day my friend. Jarod looked at her. I somehow don’t think so Debbie. Well I rather like Duke. Oh but remember the little family waiting at home. I would have that family ship shape in seconds. Huh! She nodded. He needs a woman in his life. Maybe. But I think he has managed well so far without one. Debbie snorted. Right.

Duke walked down the stairs and nodded at the young woman walking up the stairs. She smiled and shyly looked away. She walked up the stairs and Duke turned to take a good look at her. She had the most amazing figure he had ever seen. Her jeans literally molded her body like a glove. She wore a pair of multi colored sneakers and a bright T-shirt. Her hair was a short cut. Almost a school boy cut but it had been styled properly and every hair fell in to place. Duke stood and watched her. She put her hand against the door and he saw her beautifully manicured nails. She opened the door and looked over her shoulder. She looked straight into Duke’s eyes. Duke stared. It was Cassandra. He knew it was her. He stood dead still. He heard the door close. He closed his eyes. There was something about her that really had him in knots. The way their eyes had met. He slowly walked down the stairs and climbed in to his van. He drove straight home in a daze. His hands shook so badly he had to really hold on to the steering wheel. He couldn’t believe that it was her. After all these years. She looked so different. But yet the same. Even better than when she was a young girl.

Sandra walked up to the bar counter and took a seat on the bar stool. Jarod walked over and smiled. Evening Ma’am. How may I help? It was suddenly deathly quiet as they all looked at Sandra. Make that a single brandy and a Coke Zero please. No ice. Thanks. Jarod smiled and got her drink ready. She took cash out of her pocket and put it on the counter. She took her drink and added half the tin of Coke.

Peter walked over and took a seat. Sandra took her cell phone and put it on the counter. Peter looked at her cell phone as it beeped. She didn’t budge. She didn’t pick it up and she didn’t look. She sipped at her drink and looked straight ahead at the display of bottles. Jarod smiled as she lifted her cell phone and checked her messages. She put her phone down again. Jarod walked over. Do you have Caramel and Vodka? Carvo. The new drink? I do. I’ll have one of those please. Jarod smiled and poured the little glass. He put it down in front of her. She took the glass and knocked it back. She put the cash on the counter and stood up. She took her tin in her hand and started walking out.

Debbie looked at her and roared with laughter. Sandra looked at her and looked away. Little girls like you are not allowed in here. Thank you for the compliment Gran. They all roared with laughter. Debbie suddenly stood up and walked over to Sandra. Sandra looked at her and put her tin down on the table. Debbie suddenly raised her hand to slap Sandra through the face. Sandra grabbed her by the wrist. She twisted her around and had her standing in front of her with her arm held up against her back. She whispered. Don’t mess with me sweetheart. She pulled Debbie’s arm up a little and Debbie gasped. Are we clear? Debbie nodded. Answer. We are clear. Everyone stared. Sandra let her go and merrily picked up her tin. Evening folks. She walked out of the pub.

Debbie walked over to Jarod. Did you see that! Why didn’t you do anything? You provoked her Debbie. And besides. That woman is so fast I suspect she is a martial arts fundi. You were lucky you didn’t end up sprawled on your back. Well you should have said something. To whom? To that woman! I thought she was too young to come in here. Debbie shook her head and walked back to her seat. Everyone kept quiet as she sat down.

Who the hell is she anyway? They all shook their heads. Jarod smiled to himself. He knew they were all wishing that the woman had actually broken Debbie’s arm or did a little more damage. Debbie was always stirring with the folk in town. If there was malicious gossip it was bound to be started by Debbie.

Sandra walked over to her van. She finished her Coke and threw the empty can into the huge bin. She hopped in to her van and sat for a little while. She shook her head. Not one person had recognized her. Apart from Duke Rogers. She smiled to herself. He should have been married and settled by now with his own little family. She did the rough calculation in her head and worked out that he would be forty. Five years older than herself. She shook her head. She knew everything about him and his situation. But if he was courting he was off limits. Well any man, at whatever age, was off limits. She had no interest in getting herself married and settling down. But then Duke Rogers was different. She started her van and drove out of town. She stopped at the B & B and checked in. Her booking had been confirmed a while back. She had booked for a two week stay with breakfast and supper included. It was a distance from town but she would drive in and out every morning and evening so that she could get settled. Once her home was sorted out and the shop fully functional she would move in and