"Not so much in the evening, but have you been there lately in the morning? When the morning sun hits it, it's like a relaxing morning cup of coffee before the promise of a good day."
Dalton smiled as he watched Lilly describe this special spot in her mind. When she saw him watching her, she blushed and stopped talking. "I didn't mean to embarrass you, Lilly, honest. I was just enjoying your description. That was a true artist speaking. And the artist in you obviously sees more in that spot than I do. I'm real anxious to see this painting. How long will it take you to do this work of art?"
"I don't know," she said honestly. "Sometimes it flows through me so fast, I can't seem to stop and it's done in just a few days. Other times, I do a little bit each day, doing other work in between. There's no rhyme or reason for how I do my painting, really. Sometimes it's like I can't put my brush down until a painting is done, while other times I have this need to take it slow and steady. Weird, huh?"
"I'd say it's however inspiration hits the artist," Dalton said, "and I doubt you can fight inspiration."
She looked at him with a big smile on her face. "I never thought of it that way, but thank you."
"For what?"
"I've tried to hurry a painting before, but it never works. I like that thought. You can't fight inspiration. I'm going to remember that."
"It's going to be hot tomorrow, so when you go out to work, take lots of water or something to drink with you. This heat isn't something you want to play around with. Make sure you keep drinking."
"Okay, I will," she promised.
Clay saw the smiling going on between Dalton and Lilly and felt a need to change the subject. "When do you want your first riding lesson, Lilly?"
"Whenever you have time."
"How about as soon as we're done eating?"
"Oh, today?"
"If you want to. We still have a couple hours before it gets dark. We can get you up on a horse and see what you think. Have you ever been on a horse?"
"Just here a couple times, years ago. Dalton, do you remember the time I stayed overnight here with Daphne and my cousin came to visit the next day and I wanted to go see her, but Mom's car wouldn't start?"
Dalton chuckled as he finished the story. "You wanted to go home to see your cousin, but Mom and Dad weren't home at the time and I had my car torn apart working on something, so Daphne and I took you home on our horses." He smiled, thinking back on the event. "You seemed scared to death to get on that horse," he recalled.
She blushed a bit before admitting, "It wasn't so much that I was scared of the horse, but you said I was going to ride with you because Daphne wasn't old enough yet to take someone else with her. You were Daphne's big brother and we all knew not to mess with you. You were the coolest guy at school and I was afraid I'd do something stupid and embarrass myself."
He cocked his head to look at her. "Are you saying you weren't afraid of the horse; you were afraid of me?"
"Not really afraid," she said quietly. "It was more like you were so unreachable to us. You were older, definitely cooler; not someone you want to look like a fool in front of."
He studied her a few moments before saying anything. "I didn't realize anyone thought that. But I want you to know, Lilly, I'm none of those things. While you're staying here, I want you to feel free to come to me with anything that's on your mind. If you have any questions, you want any advice, you're not sure if you should do something or how; anything at all, I want you to come to me. I certainly don't mean to be unreachable or intimidating."
"Okay. Thank you."
Their eyes met and for a moment Lilly got lost in Dalton's gorgeous eyes that were full of genuine caring. The moment was broken, however, when Clay spoke up. "If you're finished eating, we can go get you on a horse again."
She turned to Clay and smiled. "Sure. Thank you."
The two got up to leave, but Dalton stopped them. "Clay, I'm sure you're quite capable of teaching someone how to ride, but remember my rule. If someone's going to ride my horses on my ranch, they're going to take care of the horse before and after the ride, as well. Teaching someone new around horses how to curry the animal is a good way to see if she's comfortable around them and wants to learn to ride."
Clay frowned, but nodded. "Thanks for the suggestion."
Dalton watched as Clay reached over and took Lilly's hand and the two of them headed for the barn. He wasn't happy to see them leave hand in hand, but again he reminded himself that he had no claim on her. Besides, she didn't seem to object to his taking her hand. Clay was more than just Dalton's foreman; he was a good friend, too, so if Lilly wanted to be with Clay, and hold hands, Dalton would try to be happy for his friend. Clay was a good man. Lilly would be safe with him.
He went into his office to get some work done he'd been putting off, and attempted to put Clay and Lilly out of his mind.
Out in the barn, Clay saddled Queenie, an older pony, while Lilly watched. She didn't offer to go into the stall with the horse, and Clay didn't push. He felt sure when she was on the pony, which he chose because it was not too big, she'd like it. He brought Queenie out of her stall and told Lilly, "Let me help you up on her."
"I don't know, Clay. I've never ridden a horse alone. The only times I've been on one are when Dalton took me home that day, and I was on his horse with him, and another time when he led the horse I was on. All I had to do was hold onto the thing there on the saddle."
"The saddle horn?" Clay had a bit of a smile on his face.
"I guess that's what it's called, yes."
"That's what I was going to suggest, too," he told her. "I'll help you on and I'll lead her around a little while so you can get used to the feel of being on her. Queenie's an older pony and very tame. Nothing spooks her, especially if I'm leading her. Are you up for it?"
"I can give it a try," she said.
He helped her up, and although Clay was very gentle and careful, keeping Queenie going nice and smoothly, and not too fast, Lilly wasn't very comfortable on the pony. She appreciated Clay taking the time to teach her, though, and thanked him sincerely after he helped her off. She watched as he brushed Queenie out a bit and fed her. He told her what he was doing and showed her how, but she let him do it, saying she'd try it next time.
Afterward, he took her hand again and led her out of the barn. "I know you said you like the spot going toward the woods to the east of the house, but did Daphne take you to the clearing in the woods to the west of the house? I always thought that clearing was awfully pretty."
"No, she didn't. Is it very far from here?"
"No. We can walk there if you'd like to go see it," Clay offered.
"I'd love to see it. Can you see the house from there?"
"No, because it's in the woods, but it's not too far. It's nice out this evening; it'd make for a nice walk, if you're up to it?"
"Absolutely. I'd love to see it. Let's go!"
Keeping hold of her hand, he led the way to the woods on the opposite side of the house she'd explored this morning, and on into the woods. They hadn't gone into the woods too far when they came across the clearing. "Clay, you were right; this clearing is very pretty." She looked around, and looked up at the sun. She walked around to the other side, so the setting sun was shining on the part she was looking at, and smiled. "Even better here," she said as she took out her phone and snapped a few pictures. Clay watched as she moved around, snapping several pictures.
"Thank you for bringing me here," she said as she put her phone back in her pocket.
He led her over to sit on a fallen tree. "You're welcome. I always liked this little clearing and I thought you might, too. What type of pictures do you paint?"
"Whatever interests me," she said honestly. "I'm especially interested in scenery, but sometimes I'll see something in a pretty place and I'll include it in the picture."
"Something pretty?"
"Maybe not pretty so much as attention getting. One time I saw a swing hanging from a big tree in a
meadow, and I included the swing in the picture. I thought it was neat that someone took the time and effort to put a swing in a tree that was so far away from the house. Someone obviously thought the place was just as pretty as I did and put the swing in so they could go enjoy the special spot."
"That is kind of a neat thought. What else do you like doing, besides painting?"
"I like to read and take walks, but that probably goes along with my painting as that's often how I find the places I want to paint; while I'm out on a walk somewhere."
The two of them were soon talking about growing up and exploring their surroundings, and before they knew it, it was getting dark. "Come on," Clay said, pulling her up. "We better get out of the woods before we lose all the light. A woods is not a good place to try to find your way out of once the sun goes down."
He held her hand as he led her out of the woods and back to the house. "Thank you for the walk, Lilly. I had a nice time," Clay said. He leaned down and gave her cheek a kiss.
"I did, too," Lilly answered. She watched Clay turn and head back to the foreman's cabin before going inside.
She walked in the door just as Dalton was walking out of his office and they met in the hall. "You haven't been out exploring alone, have you," he asked, checking his watch.
"No. Clay took me to the clearing in the woods over on the other side of the house," she answered.
He glanced outside. "It's awful dark. I don't ever want you out in the woods alone, and especially not when it's this dark."
She puffed her chest up and moved over closer to him, leaning up as close to his face as she could get. She was about to tell the big cowboy off when she remembered what Daphne had said about him being protective of anyone on his ranch. She paused and looked at him a few moments. He didn't look like a tyrant, though she wasn't sure exactly what a tyrant would actually look like. He looked like he cared, and that had her all confused. She backed down and quietly said, "Okay."
He simply smiled. "Good night, Lilly."
She mumbled, "Good night," and turned toward the stairs.
He stopped her with a soft hand to her arm and turned her toward him. He reached up and gently used his thumb to lift her chin so she was looking at him. "Wise choice, Lilly. I didn't mean to sound bossy. Good night." He let go of her chin and went to the kitchen, leaving her standing there looking at his retreating back yet again.
She shook her head and went up the steps to her room, trying to figure out how she felt. She took a shower, put her nightgown on and got into bed, still trying to sort out her feelings for both big cowboys that had become a part of her daily life. Clay seemed nice, but he wasn't Dalton. On the other hand, Dalton could be very infuriating, but yet he obviously cared about her safety, which made her feel all warm and fuzzy. It was also rather upsetting to her that she felt anything for either of them after her latest experience with a man she thought cared about her. She fell asleep telling herself she'd be much safer to not allow herself to feel any attraction to either of them.
***
The next morning, she was up and dressed early and had her paints and supplies in a backpack. She went downstairs and was to the door, ready to go out and get started, when Dalton's deep voice stopped her. "Good morning, Lilly. No breakfast again this morning?"
"No, I'm not hungry this morning. I'm too anxious to get started painting."
"Here, take this with you. Do you have your phone and plenty of water?"
She turned toward him to see he was offering her a small bag.
"What's this?"
"It's a breakfast of sorts; something you can take with you. It's a BLT on a biscuit, and some trail mix with assorted nuts and dried fruits. If you're going to be working hard, physically or mentally, your body will need fuel to keep it working at its best."
"But I'm not hungry and you—"
Dalton held up his hand, stopping her speech. "I really don't want to argue with you this morning. It's a small bag. Would you please just allow me to put it in your backpack? If you get hungry you'll have it. If you don't, you can bring it back and throw it away. Either way, I don't intend to say anything further about it."
"But you had it all ready for me. How did you know I wouldn't eat this morning?"
"I could see last night how excited you were to get started this morning. I just had a hunch you wouldn't want to take the time for breakfast. Now, do you have your phone and plenty of water?"
He had his answer, at least in part, as he watched her face blush. "I forgot my phone. I'll run up and get it quick." She turned to go back upstairs as he asked, "Is it fully charged?"
"It is," she said proudly. "I remembered what you said about keeping it charged, so I charged it last night. I just forgot to grab it this morning."
"Okay, good. While you get your phone I'll get you some water to take along."
She went upstairs, wondering what his angle was. Was he going to yell at her for not having her phone and water? She could feel herself becoming angry at that thought. What business was it of his if she didn't always eat breakfast when she was working? By the time she made it back downstairs, she was ready to tell him what she thought of him if he started in on her.
As she came out of the hall from the steps he smiled when he saw her put her phone in her pocket. "That's better. Thank you. I have several bottles of water in a cooler here for you. I'll carry it out for you and bring it back in tonight. When you come in for lunch, you can bring the blue ice and exchange it for some from the freezer and take a few more bottles of water out with you. It gets hot out there and I want to be sure you have plenty of water so you don't get dehydrated."
Lilly was fighting her conflicting feelings, when he went on. "Now, you probably won't have any problem, but we have seen a coyote out there on one or two occasions. Do you know what a coyote looks like and what to do if you see one?"
He had her attention now. "No, not really," she said.
"Judging by how big your eyes are I'll assume that's a no to both questions, so let me go over this real quick." He handed her a picture of a coyote he'd printed off the internet. "This is what they look like, and they're about the size of a medium sized dog. If you see one, I want you to take out your phone and call me right away, but stay calm. It'll probably circle around you, off a ways so you may not always see it. That's why I said if you see one, call me right away. I'll be there before it gets very close."
Her eyes were big as she listened to him carefully. "Does this happen often?"
"No, not often, but occasionally. They like open areas, like the open meadow you'll be in. They attack children more often than adults, but you're small enough and will be alone, so I just want you to be aware of it and keep an eye out. They like to attack from behind, so if you see one, call me, then keep turning casually to check behind you, but don't panic. If you see one and it acts friendly, don't encourage it. Ones that aren't very leery of people are usually rabid. If you call when you first see one, it won't take me long to get to you and I'll chase it off."
He saw the apprehensive look on her face and cringed. "Come on, let's go. I'll carry this chest down there for you." While they walked, he continued his talk. "You don't need to be too worried about coyotes, Lilly. There's a good chance you won't even see any while you're visiting. I just want you to be aware that there are a few around, and make sure you know what to do in case you do see one. If I thought there was an inherent danger, though, I wouldn't let you go out alone."
She looked over at him and he saw her relax a bit. "That's true," she said in not much more than a whisper.
"Of course it is," he assured her. It was time to change the subject and help her relax. "I'll follow you; just show me where you're planning on setting up."
She smiled, thinking about the spot she'd seen the day before. She topped the knoll they were going up and stopped.
Dalton looked over at her and saw the excitement in her eyes. They practically sparkled. He set the cooler down and looked around. As she d
escribed what she saw, he had a new appreciation for both the area they were looking at, and for the pretty little lady describing it. When she finished her description he shook his head. "I always thought it was pretty here, but I never saw it quite like that," he said. "You're obviously looking at this through the eyes of an artist. You don't know how anxious I am to see this painting. Where do you want this cooler?"
She was momentarily speechless, thinking about his words. Finally, seeing him standing there holding the cooler and looking at her, she came back to the present. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm going to set my easel up over here," she said, walking forward just a bit. "Anywhere in this area would be great. Thank you for bringing that. I could have just brought a couple bottles of water. This wasn't necessary, but I appreciate it."
"You're welcome. I'll see you around noon for lunch. You have a watch, don't you?"
"Yep," she assured him. "I'll see you then."
She stood staring at him as he left, until he apparently sensed her watching him and turned around and winked at her. "Have a good morning." He turned back around and whistled as he headed toward the barn.
"Thanks," she said, embarrassed that he'd caught her staring at him. She turned toward her backpack and quickly set to work.
Her work went well. This spot was exactly what she needed to get her creative juices flowing again. It was not only beautiful, but very peaceful. She could easily lose herself in her work, something she enjoyed, and she knew from experience that when she was able to do that, the end result was better than average. Her best work had been done while she was in a foggy dream-like state.
She wasn't able to let herself go and become fully immersed in her painting though, because she knew she had to keep watching the time so she was at the house for lunch. She hated that restriction; having to be there at a certain time for lunch, but the more she was around Dalton, the more she was coming to understand him, and she knew he was watching out for her. It was his ranch and she was his guest, so she knew she had to abide by his rules. It was just so restrictive for her!
She made it in for lunch, and Dalton broke from tradition. Instead of talking to Clay about the work they'd each accomplished this morning and their plans for the afternoon, he talked with her first. "How's the painting going?"
A Beautiful Ranch Page 4