Hud left the bunkhouse and went to the barn where he could have a few peaceful moments to himself before his guests turned in for the night. The house was quiet when he let himself in the back door. He went straight to his room, took a shower, then studied the large bruise on his shoulder that was already gaining a deep purple color. No wonder it hurt so much. He decided to put an ice pack on it, and maybe see if any of his grandmother’s lemon bundt cake remained.
In the kitchen, he flicked on the light, cut a wedge of cake, poured a glass of milk, then took an ice pack from the freezer. He’d just sat down at the table in the breakfast nook when Emery tiptoed into the room, her arms full of wrapped packages. Her long, golden hair streamed down her back and around her shoulders, and she wore the expensive silk pajamas that made him have any number of questionable thoughts despite the modest style.
“Filling in for Santa or the Easter bunny?” Hud asked in a quiet voice.
A startled yelp escaped her. She spun around, eyes wide in surprise.
He pushed back from the table and grinned as he took two gifts from her before she accidentally dropped them. “What are you doing?”
“I got everyone a little something for Easter. I wanted to leave them with the Easter baskets.” She glanced around, obviously searching for Easter baskets. “Does Nell not leave them here in the kitchen?”
“Living room,” he said, taking another present from those she juggled in her arms, then led the way down the hall.
Nine Easter baskets lined up on the floor in front of the fireplace, each bearing a name tag. Of course, Cricket’s was the biggest. Hud had tucked a few surprises inside it already. He’d waited until his grandmother set out the baskets and gone to bed before placing a basket for her with the others. He and Jossy both contributed to the contents of her basket every year.
With hardly any notice about Emery’s family arriving, his grandmother had somehow managed to make baskets for all four of them. He’d even picked up a few things for Henry and James’ baskets at the feed store.
It seemed he and his grandmother weren’t the only ones thinking about Easter gifts.
“This is so sweet of Nell,” Emery whispered as she added gifts to each basket, including his.
Hud was glad he’d purchased a little something for Emery and slipped it in her basket. If she thought it came from Grammy, that was fine, but he wondered if she’d figure out it was from him.
“You didn’t have to get us gifts.” He spoke quietly as they made their way back to the kitchen.
“I know, but I wanted to. It’s not much, but I … well, I appreciate everything you and Nell have done for me.”
Hud didn’t answer, but returned to his seat at the table. “There’s more cake if you want some.” He waggled his fork toward the cake plate on the counter.
“I better not. I have a feeling I’ll be eating more sweets than I should tomorrow, anyway.” Emery leaned against the counter, watching him as he reached for the ice pack he’d discarded earlier. She strode over to where he sat and gently traced the edge of the bruise. Everywhere her fingers touched him felt like someone poked a branding iron against his skin. Up until that moment, he’d forgotten he was dressed only in a pair of cotton pajama bottoms. Sudden awareness of Emery, of how little separated him from a desirable, gorgeous woman, swept over him.
When she bent closer to study the bruise, her hair brushed across his neck. A soft, floral fragrance ensnared his senses while the warmth of her breath fanning his skin made him teeter on the edge of combusting. He glanced heavenward, praying for divine intervention before he lost the tenuous hold he had on his self-control.
“I knew we should have taken you into the clinic. Is anything broken?” Emery asked, taking a step back and carefully placing the ice pack on his shoulder. At least it helped cool the fire created by her touch.
“Nah. It’s not even dislocated.” Hud made light of the injury, even if he knew he’d be stiff and sore for several days. “No big deal.”
“It looks like a big deal to me.” Although Emery backed away another step, her gaze melded to his.
The hypnotic, electric sizzle he’d done his best to ignore danced between them. Awed by the sheer strength of it, he wouldn’t have been surprised if whatever snapped between them illuminated the entire kitchen.
He wanted to take Emery in his arms, hold her close, and kiss her until he forgot about everything but loving a beautiful woman.
Instead, he took gulped from the glass of milk in front of him.
“See you in the morning,” Emery said, then quietly left the room.
Hud released his breath and rubbed the throbbing pain that suddenly began pounding in his temples. The longer Emery stayed at Summer Creek Ranch, the harder it was to overlook the feelings, undeniable, deep feelings, for her.
And that was something he flat-out refused to allow.
Chapter Fifteen
Up an hour earlier than usual, Hud quietly filled a cup with coffee, pulled on his boots, and went out to take care of the morning chores. When he finished, he climbed on the four-wheeler and drove across the road to the Lazy J, surprising Jossy as she fed her horses.
“What are you doing here at this time of the morning?” she asked, allowing him to take over the job while she checked the water tank.
“I thought I’d help you so you’d have more time to spend with us today.”
Jossy gave him a studying glance as she worked. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the way you can’t seem to keep your eyes off Emery, or how her family makes you nervous, would it?”
“No,” Hud barked, wondering when his sister got so perceptive. The laughter that spilled out of her only served to further irritate him.
“I do believe you protest a little too quickly and ardently for that denial to be true.”
His scowl darkened. “Do you want my help or not?”
“I do, and thank you for coming over, Huddy. Do you think Cricket will have her candy all eaten by the time we get over there?”
“I doubt it. That basket was overflowing, and you know Grammy’s rules about only eating two pieces before breakfast.”
An hour later, they walked inside the mudroom, teasing each other. The aromas of his grandmother’s breakfast casserole blended with the scent of cinnamon from the French toast she’d mentioned making.
His stomach rumbled as he walked into the kitchen to find it full of people.
“Happy Easter,” he said, smiling at his guests, then lifting Cricket in his arms. She still wore her pajamas, and her hair was a mess, but her eyes shone brightly, anticipating the gifts the Easter bunny left for her.
“Can we see our baskets now, Daddy?” Cricket squirmed until he set her down, eager to run into the living room.
“Maybe we should eat breakfast first.” Hud rubbed a hand over his jaw, pretending to consider the option, then looked over at Emery and winked. In a dress the color of ripe peaches with her hair styled into a loose knot at the back of her head, she looked lovely. Tendrils framed her face and accented her beautiful blue eyes. He had a hard time pulling his gaze away from hers when she smiled at him.
“Stop teasing this poor child,” Lisa said, placing her hands around Cricket’s shoulders and pulling her close. “She’s been dying to see what was in her basket for almost an hour.”
“Then let’s go take a look.” Hud held out a hand to Cricket. She grasped it and skipped beside him as he strode down the hall to the living room.
The gifts appeared to have multiplied overnight. More festively-wrapped packages rested beside each basket.
Cricket dove into her basket with an excited squeal. She popped a marshmallow chick in her mouth, then unwrapped her new Easter dress.
“Oh, Grammy! Look!” She held the pale pink dress against her chest and spun around on her toes. “I love it!”
“What an exquisite creation,” Lisa said, holding up the dress to study it when Cricket set it aside to see what other treasures her
basket held. “I wonder where the Easter bunny found it.”
Hud knew his grandmother bought it from a local woman who had a talent for sewing. The dress she had made for Cricket, accented with lace, little pink rosebuds, and pink ribbons, looked like something fit for a princess.
Nell leaned toward Lisa and whispered. “There’s a local woman who sews. That’s where Cricket’s Easter and Christmas dresses come from.”
“Does she make all kinds of clothes or just children’s apparel?” Lisa asked, appearing genuinely interested.
“Children’s clothes only, that I know of,” Nell said. “It’s something she does to make a little extra money.”
“She ought to open a store.” Lisa turned to watch Cricket open another gift.
By the time everyone opened their baskets and gifts, it looked more like Christmas than Easter with paper and bows strewn across the floor.
Emery had given everyone photographs in frames she’d found at the antique store in town. Hud smiled as he looked at the image of his parents she’d framed for him. It was one she’d found when she was cleaning the bunkhouse. His folks looked so young and carefree, and he knew just the spot he was going to place it in his bedroom with the other special photographs he kept on his dresser. She’d given Jossy a similar image. Nell received a photo of Stran when he was a young man.
His grandmother had tears in her eyes as she hugged Emery and thanked her for the gift.
Emery’s family gave Cricket a fairy house, similar to a doll house except it was shaped like a giant mushroom, and the furniture looked like something a woodland elf might have fashioned. Cricket buzzed around the room, hyped up on Easter candy and unexpected gifts.
They’d also given Nell, Jossy, and Hud gifts. Hud received an expensive pair of leather gloves that were as soft as warm butter. Jossy and Nell both received baskets full of high-end bath products and candles, along with gourmet chocolates.
Hud was glad he’d done a little Easter shopping for their guests, too. Before he’d repaired the bicycle for Emery, he’d driven into town one afternoon to give her a ride back to the ranch. On the way home, she’d mentioned an antique teacup she’d found at the local junk store, also known as Russell’s Antiques and Treasures. Emery had gone on and on about the cup and how it made her think about all the tables it had graced, all the stories it had heard, all the comfort it might have given over the years, or the tea parties it had attended.
He'd never thought about something like a cup holding so much history, but Emery had. The next time he’d gone to town, he’d made a beeline for Russell’s. He’d located the cup with a matching saucer and purchased them. The store owner hinted that he’d seen Emery admiring the set, but Hud had refused to say for whom he purchased the gift.
As Emery fingered the cup with a smile on her face, he was pleased he’d bought it for her. While he watched her, Jossy snatched the chocolate bunny from his basket and bit off both ears.
“Hey!” He frowned at his sister. “Aren’t you old enough to get past that bad habit?”
“Nope,” Jossy said with a giggle as she munched the ears.
Hud stole the rabbit from her basket and bit off the tail, making everyone in the room laugh at their antics.
Emery settled an arm around Cricket and mouthed something to her that Hud couldn’t hear, but it made his daughter laugh before she resumed plucking jelly beans from among the Easter grass in her basket.
“Come on. Let’s eat breakfast before everyone fills up on candy,” Nell said, rising to her feet and hurrying to the kitchen.
When everyone left the room, Hud began cleaning up the discarded wrappings and glanced over to see Emery helping pick up the mess. She smiled at him. “If you see the Easter bunny, please let him know how much I love that teacup. I can’t explain what it is about it that speaks to my heart, but I will always cherish it.”
“I’ll let him know.” Hud wondered what Emery would do if he cast all caution to the wind and pulled her into his arms. The presence of her family and his in the kitchen definitely dampened his enthusiasm to find out. Perhaps he never would.
Later that afternoon, after they’d attended church services, then indulged in a big meal of his grandmother’s glazed ham with all their traditional Easter dishes, Hud went outside to check on a calf he’d been doctoring. He was on his way back inside the house when voices from the side porch drew him to a halt.
He didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but he couldn’t help overhearing the loud conversation taking place between Emery’s parents.
“I want her to come home, James. My poor baby is stuck out here in the middle of nowhere, suffering.”
Hud didn’t agree with Lisa. Emery was doing actual work for the first time in her life. Even if she didn’t have every luxury at her fingertips, she wasn’t exactly suffering.
It seemed James agreed as he guffawed loudly. “Suffering? How in the world do you think Emery is suffering? She eats steak dinners made with some of the best beef I’ve ever had, prepared by an excellent cook. She has an entire floor in this comfortable home all to herself. And she’s learning valuable skills and lessons that will serve her well for the rest of her life. Emery is staying here until she finishes her community service, and that’s that. If you hadn’t spoiled her to the point of her being practically worthless, she wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.”
Hud could picture Lisa bristling at James’ comment. He couldn’t see her from where he stood around the corner, but the irritation in her tone when she spoke came through crystal clear. “Don’t you blame me for her choices. She’s an adult, and no one forced her to drink that mimosa or to try to ride Officer Tipton’s horse. Regardless, you and Henry should have done a better job of getting her out of trouble instead of leaving her here. The clothes Jenny purchased for her are awful. Emery might as well be dressed in rags. The poor girl hasn’t even been to a salon since you brought her here. Her nails are a mess, and her hair needs trimming, and … ”
“She’s doing perfectly fine, Lisa. From what I’ve seen, the company she’s been in is a great influence on her. Better than what I’ve got right now.”
Hud heard something that sounded like a smack and envisioned Lisa swatting James. He heard James laugh before the man spoke, his voice sounding somber. “I promise this is all for Emery’s good.”
Lisa sighed. “At least get her something to drive, James. She can’t keep riding that old bicycle everywhere.”
“I’m already taking care of that, my love.”
Quietly, Hud retraced his steps to the back door and went inside the house. Pleased that James could see the positive changes that had transpired in Emery, Hud just hoped her mother would leave her alone long enough for her to finish the journey she’d started into discovering who she really was and what she wanted to be when she grew up.
Chapter Sixteen
The sounds of pots clanging and banging carried upstairs and drew Emery from sleep. A glance at the clock assured her it was far too early to be up, but she rose and made her way downstairs, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
The counters were covered with food in various stages of preparation when she walked into the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” she asked on a yawn.
“It’s branding day,” Nell said, as though that explained everything. “Grab an apron. I could use your help.”
Two hours later, Emery was still in her pajamas, hair jammed into a messy bun on top of her head, as she chopped peppers for a seven-layer salad.
Cricket skipped into the kitchen at almost the same moment Hud walked inside. Apparently, he’d been up for hours seeing to the chores and getting everything ready for the branding.
Emery had no idea what a branding entailed, but she rapidly deduced it involved a lot of work, especially for the person providing the meals.
Hud gave her a quick, questioning glance before he lifted Cricket to a barstool and poured a bowl of cold cereal for her breakfast. He slapped leftover sl
ices of roast beef between pieces of buttered toast, refilled his coffee mug, and headed back outside.
When Nell said she was going to need more groceries, Emery quickly volunteered to run into town to pick them up. She raced upstairs, and showered and dressed in record time. She returned to the kitchen to find a list from Nell along with a request from Hud for her to stop by the feed store and pick up an order of supplies he’d phoned in while she was getting ready.
“Should I take Cricket along?” Emery edged toward the door, wishing for a few moments of peace, but aware the little girl was underfoot in the kitchen.
“That would be such a help,” Nell said, glancing at the child who still had on her pajamas with her wild curls in a tangled mess.
Emery grabbed Cricket’s hand in hers. “Let’s see how fast we can get you ready, Cricket.”
The little girl laughed as they ran down the hall to her bedroom, stopping to give Luna attention as the kitten rolled with a ball of string across the floor near the bathroom. It didn’t take long for Cricket to get dressed. While she brushed her teeth, Emery attempted to comb the snarls from her hair. She finally gave up on subduing the curls and fashioned two braids.
“Ready to go?” she asked the child.
“Yep!” Cricket raced through the house and out the back door, over to where Emery’s pickup awaited.
A few days after her family left Summer Creek following their Easter visit, Emery had looked out the window to see someone park an old turquoise and white pickup in front of the house. Jace Easton, manager of Whitey’s, the local gas station with a convenience store and garage, had hopped out and hurried up the walk. When she opened the door, he’d handed Emery the keys.
“Your dad bought this when he was here back in March. He asked me to fix it up and give it a paint job, then deliver it. I finished it this morning,” Jace had said, offering her a friendly smile. “It runs like new. Hope you enjoy driving it.”
Thrilled to be the new owner of the vintage pickup, Emery had waved to Jace and his sister, Tassie, who’d come to pick him up, as they headed down the driveway. She’d waited all of five seconds before she ran out and climbed into the pickup, breathing in the smell of the new leather from the seats. Jace had done a fine job restoring the vehicle and Emery loved every square inch of it.
Catching the Cowboy: A Small-Town Clean Romance (Summer Creek Book 1) Page 15