The dark-haired woman laughed. “Definitely, if your mom says it’s okay.”
“If you have time to let him visit the puppies, that would be great, Matty,” Jane told her.
“Let’s go!” Harley tugged at his nanny’s hand, turning her toward the doorway. “Bye, Mama,” he said over his shoulder.
“Bye, Harley. Be good,” Jane called after the two.
Matty managed a quick wave goodbye before Harley urged her over the threshold and the door closed behind them.
Within moments, the adults departed, too, leaving Jane to get on with preparations for the dinner menu.
By two-thirty, Amanda was on her way back to Indian Springs. As she drove, she mulled over the interesting family dynamic she’d observed during lunch at the Lodge.
Eli treated Mariah, Cynthia and Jane with the easy, comfortable acceptance a man might show his sisters. Yet he’d grown up with only males in the house.
Amanda knew he’d been just nine years old when his mother died. Which would mean he’d spent most of his formative years in an all-male household. She wondered if his casual attitude toward his future sisters-in-law meant he truly was glad his family was expanding. Or could it be that he didn’t plan to be around long enough for it to impact his life?
Chapter Seven
Since Eli had to help Zach build the outdoor platform for the Lodge’s Saturday barbecue, Amanda didn’t go to the Triple C for two days. Instead, she spent Wednesday and Thursday interviewing a small group of Indian Springs residents about their friendship with Melanie Coulter and writing several pages about their comments. It was becoming increasingly clear to Amanda that Melanie Coulter was as well loved for her friendship and good heart as she was for her contributions to the art world.
None of the people she interviewed were forthcoming about Melanie’s husband, Joseph, however. In fact, they were all so reserved and vague in their responses that she was beginning to get the impression she was being stonewalled. Their evasions raised a red flag. Rather than being diverted, which she was fairly sure they intended, she wondered what they were trying to hide.
When she arrived at the Triple C on Friday morning, a strange pickup truck with a large horse trailer was parked near the barn. Mariah and Cynthia waved at her from their perches atop the corral fence.
Curious, Amanda left her car and walked across the ranch yard to join them.
“What’s going on?” she asked, sensing a buzz of excitement. Cade, Zach and Eli stood next to the truck and horse trailer, talking to the driver. Eli glanced up when she joined the two women, his expression intent and focused as it swept over her before he returned his attention to his brothers. As always, Amanda shivered under the stroke of his gaze, as if he’d reached out and smoothed his hand over her sensitive, bare skin. How she wished she could tell if he was happy she’d arrived. He seemed to run so hot and cold with her.
“We’re welcoming a new family member. Come join us,” Cynthia invited, patting the section of peeled pole beside her.
Amanda climbed the worn poles and perched on the top one, next to Cynthia. “Who is it?” she asked, puzzled.
“Not who, exactly,” Mariah said, leaning forward to smile at her. “Eli’s friend in Spain gave him an Andalusian mare. We’ve been impatiently waiting to meet her and she’s finally arrived.”
“Oh, I see,” Amanda said politely. She didn’t really understand why the Coulters, who had several beautiful horses already, would be so excited about a new horse. Yet clearly, they’d all taken time out of their busy day to meet her. But then, she acknowledged with a mental shrug, I’m not a horse person.
The four men moved to the back of the trailer, and Cade helped the driver unlatch and swing wide the rear gate. Eli stepped into the big six-horse transport, disappearing as he moved farther into the interior. Moments later he reappeared, leading a horse. The mare’s glossy deep brown coat gleamed in the sunshine, her long black mane and tail thicker, coarser-looking than her sleek coat. Eli turned with her, letting her dance in a circle with him at the center, the lead taut between them.
Amanda caught her breath.
The mare’s expressive eyes were liquid brown and intelligent as she took in her surroundings through the long strands of her forelock. Her tail nearly brushed the fetlocks of her back legs as she circled Eli, testing the air with flared nostrils.
The Coulters and Amanda were silent, spellbound by the beautiful horse. In the corral behind Amanda, however, Cade’s black stallion had no such inhibitions. He bugled a welcome, making Amanda jump and clutch the pole beneath her to keep from falling.
The mare lifted her muzzle and nickered, answering Jiggs, and Eli laughed out loud.
“I think Jiggs likes her, Cade,” he called.
“I don’t blame him,” Cade said dryly. “She’s a beauty.”
“She is that,” Zach agreed. “You didn’t lie when you said she was pretty, Eli.”
“She and Jiggs will have beautiful babies,” Mariah said. She leaned toward Amanda. “What do you think of the Triple C’s new potential mama?”
“She’s amazing,” Amanda said with conviction. Fascinated, she couldn’t take her eyes off the mare. Everything about the Spanish horse was stunningly beautiful, from the sweep of her luxurious black mane and tail to the quick movements of her small hooves and the shift of supple muscles beneath her glossy hide as she moved. She’d never seen a creature like that in New York.
“I think I’m in love,” Cynthia said fervently.
Zach looked over his shoulder and grinned. “If you were saying that about anyone other than Shakira, I’d be jealous,” he told her. “But since I’m feeling the same way about her, I completely understand.”
Amanda silently agreed with them both.
“I’m going to take her into the barn and get her settled,” Eli told them. “Thanks for delivering her, Jack.”
“No problem.” The transport driver waved as he headed for his truck cab.
Amanda barely noticed when the truck drove away with the empty trailer. All her attention was focused on Eli and the mare. He slowly reeled in the lead, easing the mare closer until she stood within touching distance. Ears pricked forward, she watched him with alert eyes as he held out his hand. She lowered her muzzle, sniffing, before she let out a huff and lipped his palm.
Eli crooned, talking to the mare in low tones. Amanda couldn’t make out the words, but the horse visibly relaxed and eased closer. Then he stroked his hand down the arch of her neck, beneath the thick mane, and she bumped his shoulder with her muzzle.
“She’s not nervous, Eli,” Cade commented. “Did you handle her in Spain?”
Eli nodded, his voice quiet. “Lucan and I went riding most mornings and always spent an hour or two at the barns afterward, so she knows me. She’s one of Lucan’s favorites.”
“That’s why she doesn’t seem the least bit frightened,” Mariah said softly. “She and Eli are old friends.”
“I’m assuming that will make it easier for her to settle in here,” Amanda said.
“It should,” Mariah confirmed.
“Will she… Hey!” Something bumped Amanda from behind and she lurched forward before regaining her balance. She looked over her shoulder. The black Andalusian stallion stood directly behind her in the corral, his gaze fixed on her, ears pricked expectantly. She could swear his eyes gleamed with mischief.
“Jiggs, behave yourself,” Mariah scolded. “He’s just playing, Amanda. He does that to us all the time.”
“Oh, I see.” Amanda smiled weakly. Her perch on the corral meant she was higher than him, but the horse still seemed huge. And when he gently nudged her again, then lipped at the back of her cotton blouse, revealing strong teeth, she jumped back.
“Knock it off, Jiggs,” Eli commanded, his voice calm.
Hard hands closed around her waist and swung her down from the corral. She clutched his shoulders, startled, as he lowered her to the ground.
“Thanks,” she s
aid shakily, slightly disoriented from the speed with which he’d lifted her and set her down on her feet. The toes of her tennis shoes bumped his boots, and the heated scent of warm male, soap and aftershave hit her in a wave. Belatedly, she realized she was still clutching his shoulders, almost leaning against him, while she stared up into his green eyes. She immediately forced her fingers to let him go and took a step back, his hands sliding from her waist as she moved.
Self-conscious, she glanced around, relieved to find Mariah and Cynthia watching Cade and Zach as they petted Shakira. Amanda was still shaking, but she suspected that had less to do with the horse than with Eli’s nearness. He studied her intensely, unnerving her.
“Jiggs really is just playing,” he told her. “He wouldn’t hurt you.”
“Good to know.” She managed a smile, trying to regain her composure. In the corral, the big black horse bobbed his head up and down, and she could swear he was agreeing with Eli.
“I have to settle Shakira into her stall before we head down to the studio,” Eli said, drawing her attention away from Jiggs. “You can come with me or wait out here, your choice.”
“I’ll come with you,” she told him.
“All right.” Heat flickered deep in his eyes before he nodded and stepped away, walking to where his brothers discussed the new mare.
Amanda drew a deep breath. Mariah and Cynthia climbed down from their perch on the corral fence and joined her. Much to Amanda’s relief, they didn’t appear to have noticed that moment of sexual tension that had flared, hot and alive, between her and Eli.
“I have to get back to the Lodge, Zach,” Cynthia called. “I have an appointment with the plumber in twenty minutes.”
“I’ll drive down with you,” Zach told her. “I want to talk to him about adding another bathroom off the lobby area.” He clapped Eli on the shoulder. “You’ve got a beautiful horse here, Eli. Congratulations. Can’t wait to see her foals.”
“Thanks.” Eli’s grin flashed white against his tanned face.
“I’d better head out, too,” Cade said. “I have to see the accountant about taxes.” He handed Shakira’s lead to Eli. “We have to talk about how soon we can breed her to Jiggs.”
“We’ll do that,” Eli agreed with a swift smile.
Mariah joined Cade, calling goodbye as they followed Zach and Cynthia toward the trucks parked outside the house across the ranch yard.
“This won’t take too long, Amanda.” Eli started toward the open barn door, leading Shakira, and Amanda followed.
The interior of the big barn was blessedly shady, much cooler than outside, and redolent with the scents of hay, leather and horses. Eli led the pretty mare down the wide center aisle and into a roomy box stall where loose straw bedding covered the floor, several inches deep.
The gate to the box stall was made with narrow planks, spaced wide enough apart for Amanda to have an excellent view inside.
Eli unsnapped the lead from the mare’s halter and turned her loose. She bumped his shoulder with her muzzle and shifted away to explore the stall, reaching the gate to whuff at Amanda. The puff of warm, horse-scented air brushed her face and she lurched back, away from the gate. The mare looked at her with interest and, after waiting a moment, moved on to inspect the rest of the stall.
“She’s looking for treats,” Eli explained as he unlatched the gate and stepped out beside Amanda. “And she’s hoping you’ve got some.”
“What kind of treats?” Amanda trailed after him as he walked to the tack room just inside the main door. The rough walls of the room were hung with coiled lariats, leather reins and other gear she couldn’t quite identify. Saddles with their blankets tossed over the seats rested atop sawhorses standing on the concrete floor. Several heavy rubber containers were lined up against one wall. Eli twisted the top off one of them and scooped out grain.
“Why do you keep grain in trash cans?” she asked, curious.
He poured the pale gold grain into a bucket and looked up at her. “Because too many critters, like mice or raccoons, can get into a feed sack. They can’t chew through this heavy rubber.” He rapped his knuckles on the container nearest him, then dropped the scoop back inside and replaced the lid.
“Oh. Of course.”
He glanced sideways at her, a half smile curving his mouth. “I’m guessing you’ve never spent a lot of time on a ranch or around horses, have you?”
She shook her head, her answer wry. “No—and make that never. I grew up in New York City.”
“You didn’t have friends or relatives who lived in the country?” he asked, his eyes curious.
“No, I’m afraid not.” She studied him as he took an apple from another covered rubber container and lifted a curry brush from a shelf. “Does she like apples?”
“I’ve never fed her one but most horses do.”
She stepped back into the wide aisle, and he followed, closing the door behind them. Together, they walked back down the aisle between the stalls.
“Come on in,” Eli told her when they reached Shakira’s stall and he opened the gate. “She won’t mind.”
“Are you sure?” Amanda eyed him dubiously.
“Positive.” He stepped inside first and held the gate open.
Unwilling to admit getting this close to the large animal in an enclosed area made her very nervous, Amanda followed him in.
“Just don’t come up on her hindquarters without warning,” Eli told her, gently shouldering the mare aside to walk to the feeder and upend the grain bucket.
“Why? What will she do?”
“If you startle her, she might kick you.”
Amanda immediately stepped back, bumping up against the stall’s side wall. Eli looked up and scanned her expression, and a grin lit his face.
“She’s never kicked anyone, that I know of,” he reassured her. “But generally speaking, you shouldn’t walk up behind a horse, a mule or even a cow without letting them know you’re there. If you startle them, they’re liable to lash out.”
“Good to know,” Amanda said. “I think I’ll just stay over here, away from her hooves.”
The mare’s head was bent as she ate grain, ignoring both Amanda and Eli.
Eli trailed his hand down the horse’s back and over her haunches as he walked around her to reach Amanda.
“Tell you what,” he told her. “I’ll let you feed the apple to her. You’ll instantly become her best friend.”
“I’m not sure I want to get that close to her teeth,” Amanda said with honesty, eyeing the mare. The sound of equine molars grinding grain was clearly audible.
“She won’t bite you,” Eli assured her. “Some horses like to nip a human every now and then, but not Shakira. She has perfect manners.” He took a folding knife from his pocket and opened the blade, his movements deft and economical as he cut the apple into slices.
The mare finished the grain, snorting as she checked the feeder for any stray bits, then looked over her shoulder before swinging around to join them. She nuzzled Eli’s bicep and bumped his hand.
“Hey, stop that,” he told her. “I just told Amanda you’re well-mannered. Don’t make a liar out of me.”
Shakira nickered, her ears pricked forward, her liquid brown eyes fastened with interest on the apple.
Eli laid a slice on the flat of his hand and held it under the mare’s muzzle. She immediately lipped it carefully from his palm, strong teeth crunching as she chewed.
“Here, now you try.” He held a piece out to Amanda.
“I don’t think so.” She shook her head, pressing her shoulder blades against the stall wall behind her. “She’s got very big teeth.”
Eli chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Yes, she does. But she won’t bite you. Just remember to hold your hand flat and let her take it from you.”
She was still not quite convinced. Nevertheless, Amanda stepped forward to hold out her hand and Eli laid a slice of apple on her palm.
“Now, hold it out
for her.”
Amanda stretched her arm out, uncomfortable with getting any closer to the mare, who suddenly seemed to loom much larger.
Shakira’s muzzle brushed her hand and Amanda jerked, surprised at the nibbling movements of the horse’s lips.
“No, don’t pull away.” Eli stepped behind her, his arms enfolding her to cup one large hand beneath hers, the other gently straightening her fingertips. “And don’t curl your fingers, unless you want her to nip one of them,” he added.
She turned her head to look back and up at him with disbelief, and he shrugged. She could swear he was trying not to laugh. She shook her head at him and faced the mare.
Even though she wanted to concentrate on Shakira, she couldn’t pull her focus away from Eli. She felt surrounded by him. His powerful body was a solid, warm wall at her back. The strength of his arms wrapped around her, and the flex and shift of powerful muscles against her shoulders and down her back, heightened her sexual awareness at the same time he made her feel protected and safe. His palm supported hers, his thumb exerting faint pressure across the ends of her fingertips to keep her fingers from curling. When Shakira lowered her muzzle to lip at the apple slice, Amanda didn’t jerk away from the unfamiliar tickle of the horse’s lips softly nipping at the sensitive skin of her palm while her teeth delicately closed over the apple.
“She’s so soft,” Amanda said quietly, astonished at the velvety texture of the mare’s muzzle against her hand. Emboldened by the mare’s careful claiming of the apple, Amanda stroked her hand down the curve of her nose.
Eli’s shoulder pressed Amanda’s as he reached out to smooth the mare’s forelock to one side, revealing a white star on her forehead. “Pretty, isn’t she?” His deep voice rumbled with pride.
The bass tones resonated, shivering through Amanda’s midriff and faintly vibrating until her fingertips tingled. She was so physically attuned to him that her skin felt electrified.
“Yes,” she replied, her voice soft. “She is.”
A Coulter’s Christmas Proposal Page 10