His grandfather was nowhere in sight.
He ran to her side, reaching out and grabbing her by the arms and pulling her toward him in a bear-like hug. He held her to him, his arms enveloped around her body, his fingers reaching up and wandering through her copper mane. He knew he was holding her too tight, too close, but he couldn’t make himself let go. She belonged in his arms, he thought. The minute the thought popped into his head he knew he had to let go of her. There was no chance of Sierra belonging to him, not now and not ever. The past had proven without a shadow of a doubt that he couldn’t afford to put his faith in a woman like her. Once bitten, he reminded himself.
Abruptly, Caleb let go of Sierra and sank to his knees, exhaustion and relief overtaking him. For a moment he paused to catch his breath and to offer up a silent prayer of thanks. Sierra was safe. “I- I thought...you scared me to death!”
“What? What did you think, Caleb?” Sierra asked, her dark eyes probing and curious.
“I thought you were dead,” he said simply. “I thought my grandfather had shot you.”
***
Sierra looked into Caleb’s eyes and for a brief moment their gazes held. She could see the look of terror in his eyes as well as relief that she was safe. Was this the sign she was waiting for? Somehow, Caleb had found out that she was at Pete’s Mountain and he’d followed her. Tentatively, she smiled, her heart singing with joy. Obviously, he still cared. He had cared enough to come after her, seemingly to protect her from danger. It was so like Caleb to jump in and ride to the rescue. It was one of the many reasons she loved him so.
Finally, she answered, “No, Caleb, he didn’t shoot me. He saved my life.”
“He did what?” Caleb asked, his face incredulous at her announcement. “What happened up here?”
Sierra raked a hand through her hair and let out a ragged sigh. “There was a rattlesnake right next to me. I guess he was preparing to strike out and your grandfather shot it with his rifle. If he hadn’t shot the rattler, I’d be in serious trouble right about now.”
A look of amazement appeared on Caleb’s face. He scratched his jaw. “Just when you think you know it all, Poppy manages to surprise you. Where is he?”
Sierra shrugged. “Right after he fired at the rattler, he took off.” She pointed to the trail where Jock had disappeared. “He went right up that trail and around those bushes. It seems your grandfather likes to pull disappearing acts.”
Caleb sighed, “He’s probably headed back up to his cabin. That’s where he feels most comfortable, away from civilization.”
“Can we follow him?” she asked.
Caleb raised an eyebrow. “Haven’t you had enough adventure for one day, lady? And for the record, coming up here all by yourself was a really foolish thing to do. Anything could’ve happened to you. There are traps all over this mountain, along with wild coyotes and...and racoons,” he finished lamely.
“Is that why you’re here? To save me from a wild pack of racoons?” she asked with a grin.
“I’m not in the business of saving damsels in distress,” he answered in a gruff tone.
“That’s not how I remember it,” Sierra said softly, feeling nostalgic. “The first time we met you rescued me. Don’t you remember?”
“Of course, I do,” he said huskily, emotion evident in his voice. “How could I ever forget?”
Chapter Five
They’d met on the night of the Briarwood Carnival, a yearly event that drew nearly the entire town’s populace to the fair grounds out by the interstate. It was a night filled with the fun and magic of laughing children riding the Ferris wheel, couples holding hands as they walked in joyful silence and devilish pranksters setting off firecrackers to startle the crowd.
The smell of popcorn and cotton candy had drifted through the balmy air as small children begged their parents for a tasty treat. Screams of terror pierced the night air as frightened riders of the scrambler clung for dear life to the safety bar. A long line of people waited expectantly for their go-round on the roller coaster aptly named “The Monster” while the statuesque Ms. Briarwood drew a massive crowd at the kissing booth.
Caleb and Sierra had been two kids at a carnival, two kids from opposite sides of town. She’d been the rich girl from the Diamond Lil Ranch and he’d been the Matthews kid from the other side of town. But miraculously they’d come together when a lowlife had stolen her purse and Caleb had bravely stepped in to run after the thief, then returning the purse to Sierra with a sheepish grin, a low bow and saying, “Here’s your purse, beautiful.”
Sierra had blushed prettily at the compliment and avoided making eye contact with him as she murmured, “Thank you” in a voice filled with flowers, sunshine and warm apple pie. Just the sound of her voice caused his stomach to flutter as if a hundred butterflies were flying around inside him.
He'd moved closer, one swaggering step at a time, until he was only inches away from her, his skin nearly touching hers as he leaned toward her and whispered, “What’s your name, sugar?”
“It sure ain’t sugar,” she’d answered saucily, her doe-like eyes finally making contact with his in a sassy stare. He watched intently as her lips parted, two delectable pieces of ruby fruit that he’d wanted to kiss from his very first glimpse of her. “Who’s asking?” she’d said, her left hand on her hip while the other hand restlessly twirled her hair.
Maybe he had her all wrong, he’d thought for a brief moment. Maybe he needed another minute to assess the situation. One minute she seemed shy and innocent and the next she transformed herself into a spitfire. A chameleon, he thought with a grin.
Caleb couldn’t help but stare at the girl-woman who stood next to him, for she was enchanting him as no other girl had been able to in his entire life. And he’d had plenty of experience with members of the opposite sex, so much so that he’d gained a reputation. Although he’d messed around with a few girls, Caleb hadn't fallen for a single one. And lately, he’d gotten tired of dating random girls.
“The name is Caleb. Caleb Matthews,” he’d said bravely. He’d extended his hand to Sierra, realizing with a start that it was the first time he’d been compelled to treat a girl his age like a lady. Usually he introduced himself with a cocky smile and a nod of his head.
She grinned and immediately reached out her hand to shake Caleb’s hand. “My name is Sierra Jackson.”
Caleb had let out a soft whistle as she stated her name, his head spinning as he realized that the girl who was making his insides do flip-flops was the grandbaby of the richest cattle rancher in Texas. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t recognized her right away.
“So, I’m finally getting to meet the princess of the Diamond Lil,” he said, his voice laced with a hint of disapproval and loads of sarcasm.
Sierra visibly bristled at the word princess, her thin shoulders quivering with silent rage and indignation. Coolly, she’d responded, “And I’m finally getting to meet the Caleb Matthews I’ve been hearing so much about. It seems your reputation with the ladies has proceeded you.” Sierra raised her eyebrow daringly, almost as if she was challenging him to refute her words.
Suddenly Caleb had felt sick to his stomach. He knew what she was referring to with her veiled reference. In a small town like Briarwood, people had nothing better to do than spread unfounded gossip. Clearly word had gotten around town that he was a player, so much so that Sierra probably wouldn’t want to give him the time of day. In her eyes he was probably trash, pure and simple. Little did she know he’d left God into his life and he wasn’t the same young man who’d run around and broken hearts. He’d changed.
He wasn’t going to show his hurt, no sir. If he was going down in flames, he was going to go down swinging. “Now don’t go judging me by what people say,” he said with a snarl, his top lip curling upwards defensively. “I may not be as rich as Rockefeller like your family, but I don’t lie, cheat or steal neither.”
Without warning she poked her finger in his chest, her fe
atures contorted with anger as she yelled, “So don’t go judging me either. Just because my family has money doesn’t mean I’m anybody’s princess. And just because my grandmother has money doesn’t mean she lied or cheated or stole to get it. You got it?”
For a moment they'd stood at the carnival, surrounded by hundreds of people, bright lights, screaming children and enough cotton candy to last a lifetime. But neither of them was aware of their surroundings. They were too busy standing face to face, breath to breath, staring each other down as if their very lives depended on it.
An awareness flared between them in that moment, one that had the effect of a lightning bolt crashing down to Earth. Potent and Vibrant. Earth-shattering and vital. An electric current filled with yearning...and hope. The air around them crackled with intensity.
Caleb was the first one to lean into the kiss, his lips pressing against Sierra’s lips in an unexpected invitation she wasn’t able to resist. The kiss was gentle and full of tenderness. He felt as if this was the most important kiss of his life. Sierra was different than any other girl he’d ever kissed. He knew right then and there he never wanted to hurt her or lead her astray.
Breathlessly, Sierra pulled away from the kiss, reaching out to smooth her hair back into some semblance of order as she turned away from him. “I-I should find my friend, Marissa. It’s getting late. She’s my ride home.”
Caleb reached out and gently clasped his hand around Sierra’s wrist before she could turn and leave, which was clearly what she wanted to do. He could tell she was embarrassed. By what he didn’t know. He hoped it wasn’t because she’d heard rumors about him and now they’d shared a kiss. He prayed that she wanted to see him again and that he wouldn’t make a fool out of himself by asking her out on a date.
Tenderly he caressed the underside of her wrist, his thoughts jumbled as he steeled himself against possible rejection. “Sierra, can I see you again? I’d really like to take you to the movies or something.”
“I-I don’t know, Caleb,” she’d whispered, her dark eyes filled with doubt and uncertainty.
“Why?” he’d asked impatiently, unwilling or unable to let things end before they’d even begun. Something inside of him was urging him on, guiding him on this mission of the heart that he couldn’t understand but could feel pulsing within him. He felt alive, more alive in her presence than he’d ever felt in his life. And he knew that if he never saw her again it would break his spirit. “Why won’t you see me again, Sierra?” he’d asked softly, his voice nothing more than a caress.
Sierra sighed and flipped her hair back over her shoulder, her face scrunched up in distaste as she said, “My friend Marissa says that you’re dating a girl named Peggy in San Antonio and that you’ve got a girlfriend named Debbie in Briarwood. The way I figure it, Caleb, you’ve got your hands filled.”
Caleb felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off of his heart. She wanted to see again, he thought happily. He could see it shining in her eyes. But she mistakenly thought he had a couple of girlfriends and she didn’t want to be part of a harem, he realized. As if he’d ever had a girlfriend in his life. Not in the truest sense of the word. Truthfully, he'd never wanted one. Until now.
Caleb flashed her a devil-may-care grin. “If that’s all that’s standing in our way then lets cut to the chase. I do not have any girlfriends, despite what your friend Melissa told you.”
“Marissa,” Sierra corrected. “Her name is Marissa.”
Caleb shrugged and said, “Whatever. The important thing is you’re the only girl I'm interested in. Doesn’t that count for something?”
Sierra had grinned back at him, then said, “It counts for a lot, Caleb. I'd love to go out with you sometime.”
Marissa had bounded up to them at that moment, complaining in a loud voice that Sierra was supposed to have met her twenty minutes ago at the dunking booth. Before Marissa pulled Sierra away, and after Caleb had endured Marissa’s disapproving glares, Sierra had put her number in Caleb’s cell phone so that they could make a date for the movies. He’d put his number in her cell phone as well.
Caleb had practically flown home on his motorcycle that night, his body feeling light and airy, almost as if he'd sprouted wings. His spirits were sky high, and he'd entered his familys’ small ranch-style home whistling and singing a love song. His heart was all tied up in knots.
Thank you, Lord, for blessings great and small.
From the first time he’d laid eyes on her, Caleb had sensed something special about Sierra. From that moment on they’d been inseparable, two teen-agers in the first stages of a love that was more powerful than either of them ever anticipated, a love that was doomed from the start.
***
Caleb shook off the memory, not enjoying the pain that seared through him every time he remembered the way it had ended and the heartache that followed. Living in the past served no purpose but to inflict further pain on himself, and he didn’t want to walk down that dark road again.
Sierra was talking to him, her voice insistent as she said, “I have to follow him to the cabin, Caleb. Since I’m already up here I might as well go the distance.” Her eyes implored him to show her the way to the cabin. There was no doubt in Caleb's mind that she wanted to see this thing through, or at least try her best to finish the job. He could tell she had no intention of backing down.
Caleb groaned and looked up at the dark clouds swirling in the sky. “There’s a storm brewing. I don’t like the looks of it. See how quickly the sky is turning to pitch? It could get ugly out here.”
Sierra placed her hands on her hips and glared at him defiantly. “I’m not afraid of a little rain, Caleb. This is far more important.”
“For the past few years we’ve been plagued by flash floods in this area.” He scratched his jaw. “I don’t remember you being this stubborn.”
“I’m not being stubborn. This is something I have to do,” she said in a defiant tone. “I need to understand why my grandmother...why she did certain things in the past. And until I do, I’ll never be able to love and honor her memory the way I should.”
Caleb was struggling to understand her situation. So far she’d only given him bits and pieces of information. He still hadn’t heard the whole truth, he guessed. Finally, he shook his head and raised his hands in surrender, saying, “I give up! Let’s go. Maybe we can make it up to the cabin before the storm breaks.”
Sierra bestowed on Caleb the most devastating of smiles and then murmured, “You have no idea what this means to me.” For a moment he just stood there, appreciating her beauty. He couldn’t ignore the rapid beating of his heart or the trickle of awareness that crept up his spine whenever he was in her presence. He couldn’t deny the way she made him feel or the way his insides twisted when she graced him with one of her smiles.
Tonight he would take her to his grandfather’s cabin and he would even encourage Jock to give her the answers she needed. But after tonight he would avoid her at all costs until she left town and headed back to her life in New York. He’d honor his promise to help her with the vandalism at the Diamond Lil, but he would make sure that she wasn’t around when he visited the ranch. Or he would avoid her at every turn. Even though she’d inherited the Diamond Lil, Caleb had no doubt that Sierra would get bored with life in Briarwood and the day to day running of the ranch. After all, she’d left home once before and never looked back. It was only a matter of time, he figured, until she packed her bags and headed home.
Only this time, he vowed, when she left Texas he’d make sure she didn’t take his heart along with her.
Chapter Six
Lightning flashed in the inky sky, followed by a loud, thunderous boom. Torrents of rain poured down from the Heavens as the winds whipped fiercely around them, tree branches and twigs flying through the air at lightning speed. Mother Nature was letting loose with one of her rare spring rainstorms, and it seemed as if the skies were opening up and venting their absolute fury.
Sierra
held onto Caleb’s waistband as he had instructed and tucked her head against his broad back, protecting herself from the driving rain and flying twigs. A few minutes earlier she had peeked out from behind the protection of Caleb’s back, prodded by curiosity over her surroundings. At that moment she came face to face with the raging storm, receiving a face full of rain and a blast of the fierce storm winds. Instinctively she ducked back behind Caleb and held on for dear life.
She didn’t know how Caleb was managing to guide them towards his grandfather’s cabin through the driving winds and rain. For a brief moment she wondered if they could have lost their way since it seemed to be taking forever to reach the cabin. She then dismissed the thought. If anyone could lead her through a raging rainstorm it was Caleb. Beautiful, strong, impossible Caleb. She trusted him with her life.
Above the roar of the storm Sierra heard him yell out, “The cabin is right around the next bend.” She felt like crying with relief at Caleb’s announcement. She’d been foolish and stubborn to insist that they make the trip up the mountain to Jock’s cabin. Although Caleb had warned her about the brewing storm, she’d stubbornly refused to listen to reason. And now they were both paying the price.
***
As if from out of nowhere, the cabin appeared. Jock’s home was a small, unassuming log-cabin, perched at the top of Smuggler’s Notch, an isolated area of the mountain uninhabited by people. Caleb knew his grandfather liked the vantage point of being at the top of Smuggler’s Notch. That way, he knew, it would enable him to see any intruders trespassing on his land. For a man such as Jock who was fiercely protective of himself and his privacy, the location was idyllic.
Caleb wrenched open the door of the cabin, not bothering with the niceties of knocking before entering his grandfather’s home. They were both cold and drenched through to the bone. Caleb pushed Sierra through the doorway, then followed on her heels accompanied by a blast of wind and rain. He slammed the door behind him and bolted it shut, heaving a massive sigh of relief.
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