Leah nodded as she looked at the passing surroundings. The town was nice. The houses were clean and kept up. They were neat ranch-style houses with no more than two bedrooms each. Kids played—chasing each other between houses.
“I like the houses here,” Leah admitted.
“They’re not so bad. Wait ’til you see the country houses.”
They drove out of town on a blacktop road that stretched for miles in front of them. Road signs offering directions to nearby state parks stood independently along the way.
“Is it that much different from where you live?”
Leah laughed. “Yes, it is. It’s completely different.”
His eyebrow raised and he asked, “How so?”
“I live in Rockford Bay and we have over 100,000 people there.”
The look on his face was comical. He was surprised. “100,000 people? I can’t imagine that.”
“I’m not kidding. Look up the demographics on your phone.”
“I believe you, but dang, how do you live there?”
“There’re houses and big buildings. There’re lots of apartments; I live in one.”
“Really?”
“I’m not kidding. I’m dead serious,” she said. “Have you been to Rockford Bay?”
“I’ve been there a couple of times,” he said. “Well, the outskirts of it.”
They hit a gravel road that sent rocks pinging off the tires. Dust flew in through the windows and air vents. She took her focus away from him and watched as they passed wide-open grassy fields filled with horses and cattle. She had never seen a country-side so astounding. Wind whipped her hair around her face and neck while she tried to contain it all in one hand. For the first time in a long time she could honestly say she was enjoying herself.
“You’ll have to take me on a tour of that big ol’ city of yours, someday,” he said, breaking her attention from the view.
“I can tell you it’s nothing like this,” she said, pointing towards the open fields. “The city’s full of traffic, busy people, and crowded streets everywhere. And if you’ve only been to the outskirts of it, you haven’t seen anything.”
“How do you live in those conditions?”
“What do you mean those conditions? What about these conditions?”
A low grunt and chuckle escaped from Liam as he steered the truck down another road. “Calm down, tiger. I’m just asking. I’m not used to crowds and crowded streets,” he said, smiling at her. “Or the noise.”
“How can you say you’re not used to all those things when you own a bar?”
Liam shrugged his shoulders. “That’s different, I guess.”
Leah slowly nodded, looking out the window. “Where are we going, anyway?”
It seemed like they had been driving for a while now, and yet, had not arrived at an actual destination. Pulling her phone out, she looked at the time. Yep, more than fifteen minutes had passed since they had left Levy’s.
“I’m taking you to a couple of my favorite places,” Liam said confidently, glancing in her direction. She kept her focus straight forward. “How do you like our date so far?”
Date? Did he really just say date? This took things to a whole other level, and she wasn’t ready for that yet.
“Sorry,” he said. His smooth, deep voice drew her attention back to him.
“For what?” She tried to play cool. She was sure she failed at that moment. She could feel beads of sweat on her forehead. She dried her sweaty hands on her pants.
He watched her as she fidgeted in her seat. “I said the ‘d’ word. I thought that’s what this was. I apologize.”
What was she supposed to say now? She was not good at these kinds of things. After Jake broke her heart, she couldn’t find a reason to date other men—only because he had ruined her. She had given up on love—completely given up on men.
The truck turned into the opening of a driveway. She looked on in amazement. About a mile up the driveway sat a large country style home, with horses galloping in the fenced in pasture. Cream-colored fence posts ran along the driveway, with neatly trimmed bushes and flowers, mostly tulips, but some random flowers she had no clue what they were.
“Welcome to my grandparents’ house,” he said, parking the truck close to the huge garage in back.
She was mesmerized by this place. This house was described in books and movies—she had never seen a house so magnificent.
“This place is absolutely beautiful.”
He killed the engine and opened his door, hurried to her side, and helped her down. “I thought you’d like it.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep.”
She turned around and took in the whole scenery. It was such a beautiful place—one out of a story of make believe.
He reached for her hand and pulled her toward the front steps of the wrap around porch. “Come on,” he said. “There’s more to see.”
A warm, inviting sense embraced her as she walked into the house. Pictures lines the walls without an inch spared. Cherished family memories covered the fireplace mantel.
On their way to the kitchen, she spotted an old wood-framed picture of an older couple. Taking a step closer to get a better look, she recognized the older man’s face. The picture had been taken long before his wife’s illness had made an appearance. She was remarkably beautiful, with fair skin without a single blemish to be seen. Her hair, an even mix of blonde and gray, fell elegantly against her shoulders.
“My grandma,” Liam said, his voice soft, as he stood next to her.
“She’s beautiful,” Leah said, admiring the picture. The love that radiated between the couple was obvious. It was the type of love she envied and wished for every day.
“She was one of a kind. She was always doing her best to be there for everyone, so much that she forgot to take care of herself,” Liam said, clearing his throat. “Are you ready to see what else is around here?”
After one last glance at the picture, she followed him to the back door. “What’s her name?”
With a smile, he said, “Madeline. Gramps always called her Maddy.”
8
The view from the back porch took her breath away. It had been years since she had last seen a view of the country. The open land was peaceful—almost too relaxing. It reminded her of her childhood at her grandparents’ house. The mid-afternoon sun shined down, splaying heat against her face. Drops from an earlier rain glistened on the tips of the grass in the sunlight.
“Beautiful isn’t it?” Liam asked, shutting the door behind them. He walked to her side and placed his hands on his hips as he looked out at the large open space.
She nodded, with a smile—rendered speechless as memories of her childhood rushed back—as she peered out toward the horses as they galloped gracefully around the pasture. Her grandmother used to holler and drag her away from them just to get her to eat supper. She smiled at the kind memories of her grandparents. She missed them terribly.
She followed Liam off the porch and into the barn, where two horse stalls sat side by side, with names engraved on each door. She ran her hand over the names Ryder and Whiskey.
“Interesting names, huh?” He smiled, tossing a saddle over his arm; he opened the gate that led out to the pasture. He looked back at her and asked, “Have you been on a horse before?”
She smiled, with a nod. “My grandparents owned a farm,” she said, picking up pace with him. “I spent most of my childhood there.”
She didn’t miss his slight grin, before he said, “I can see you as a country girl.”
She couldn’t deny his observation. She had always wanted to live on a farm in the middle of nowhere. Her grandparents had made it look so simple that it was the only thing she could dream about. Her grandfather had once told her that she could have whatever she focused her dreams on—anything was possible.
She watched his eyes as they made their way toward her feet. She followed his eyes as they landed on her boots. They were ol
d boots and a little worn out, but they were her favorite. She couldn’t part with them. Squinting, she looked up at him. Her eyes locked on his. “The boots are a dead giveaway, right?”
He shrugged and said, “They might’ve given you away.”
She laughed as she kicked dirt with her right foot. “I’ve had them forever. I guess a part of me doesn’t want to part with them. I want to hang onto them as long as I can.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and said, “It’s my connection to the memories of the life I’ve always dreamed of.”
He placed his fingers in his mouth and whistled. Impressed at the sight of the two horses galloping towards him upon his whistle, she kept her eyes on them. She couldn’t remember a time any of her grandfather’s horses came to him when called—even the well-trained Jack, the pure black horse that had been the oldest of them all.
“That’s impressive,” she said, standing still while he placed the saddle on the brown horse.
“They’re well trained,” he said, threading the straps. “Took a while to get them where they are now, but being slow and patient paid off.”
He strapped the saddle tight and patted the horse’s neck. “I’m gonna grab the other saddle, for the other horse. You want to come with, or stay here? I’m sure Whiskey would love the company if you wanted to stay.”
She looked at the calm horse standing five feet from her. “Sure, I’ll sit here and wait for you.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back,” he said. “Be ready for the next part of our d…”
Shaking his head, he waved his hand. “Whatever you’re calling this adventure today,” he hollered, over his shoulder.
She watched him hustle to the barn. The large horse took a step closer to her and nudged her with his nose. She gently patted his snout. He nudged her again. “Ok, I’ll pet you. You don’t need to be so pushy.”
Chuckling, she ran her fingers through his mane and scratched the side of his neck. She focused her attention on the other horse that stepped cautiously toward her. “You’re okay, I won’t hurt you,” she called out, holding her hand out to greet the horse.
Nudged once again by Whiskey, she realized she had stopped her hand along his neck as she watched Liam walk toward them. So, at his demand, she continued to run her fingers through his mane until Liam approached them.
“Of course, he suckered you into petting him,” Liam said, patting the horse. “He’s pushy when it comes to attention.”
“You don’t say?” She laughed, running her hand behind Whiskey’s ears. “He’s charming, though, so I had no choice but to give him some attention. I had a nice talk with him about being pushy, though.”
Liam tossed the saddle on the other horse and strapped it tight. “I’m sure he enjoyed that talk.”
She shrugged and said, “He didn’t have a choice.”
Liam laughed, tossing the reins over Ryders head. He stood to the right of Whiskey, holding the bridle. “What do you say we go for a ride?”
“Let’s go,” she said, walking over to him and Ryder.
Shaking his head, he pointed at Whiskey. “You’ll be riding him. This fella is still in training. He gets spooked easily and I don’t want you to get thrown.”
Leah didn’t argue. The thought of being thrown off a horse had frightened her since she was a little girl. She steadied a foot inside the stirrup and attempted to lift herself up. She struggled for a moment before giving up.
“Here, let me help you up. Whiskey’s a ways up there, but once you’re up, you’re good,” he said, offering her a quick lift.
She tossed her other leg over and said, “It’s been a while since I’ve been on a horse.”
He smiled that charming smile, once again, and squinted his eyes against the sunlight as he looked up at her. “Do you need me to give you a quick lesson?”
“Ha ha, you’re funny, Mr. Liam.”
“I’m being serious. Do you need me to climb up there with you?”
She could feel the butterflies as they fluttered around in her stomach. Her face heated and she hoped he couldn’t see her blush. “You’d enjoy that too much. Get on your own horse and let’s go.”
As he mounted Ryder, he hollered, “I see you and Whiskey have a lot in common.”
She twisted in the saddle, looking back at him. “Whatever you say.”
With having the last word, she nudged Whiskey to take off. She could hear Liam holler behind her, telling her to wait for him. Within a few seconds, he was gaining on her.
“You shouldn’t leave me behind,” Liam called out, when he was close by.
She smiled playfully, and asked, “Why’s that?”
He smirked and held the reins lightly in his left hand. She traced over his body with her eyes as he rode next to her. His broad shoulders were tense, holding tight to the reins as they galloped through the pasture, toward the gate, and into the woods.
“Because I know where we’re going,” he said, a huge smile pressed on his face.
He left her a bit behind as he led the way. As she rode, she took in the scenery. The breeze flowed through her untamed hair as she and Whiskey galloped along the open trail. She slowed Whiskey so she could take in the beauty of nature that surrounded them. Wildflowers bloomed wildly along the well-beaten path. The smell of evergreen trees and dirt overpowered her senses, until they cleared the woods and rode into a beautiful open area with a free-flowing creek, and even more beautiful, overpopulated wildflowers.
* * *
Liam halted his horse and hopped down from the saddle. He grabbed hold of Whiskey’s reins, steadying him as she climbed down, offering her his free hand. She was thankful she had chosen to wear her jeans and boots today. She took hold of his firm hand, allowing him to catch her as she made her way to the ground.
“Thanks,” she said, once both of her feet were on the ground.
She had to give him credit for this location. It was a good choice on his part, to bring her here. The area was vast and the most beautiful land she had ever seen. The grass was greener than any grass she had ever seen in the city. Of course, pollution was higher in the city, whereas the country had way less traffic and less people crowded into the area. She hated pollution, and dreaded the city life, now that she’d had a chance to compare it to the wide-open, carefree country, again.
“What are you thinking, over there?” Liam asked, skipping pebbles into the creek. He kept his attention on her as he tossed random rocks into the water.
“Just how beautiful it is here,” she said, bouncing a rock in her hand.
“This is my favorite place.”
She walked through the knee-high grass toward the small stream. The closer to the water she got, the wider the creek appeared. The water flowed freely around large rocks and small branches from tiny trees along the side. Butterflies fluttered in the air, bouncing from one flower to the next.
“Does this make you rethink the city life?”
She nodded. She was damned near speechless as to how she really felt. She couldn’t find the words to describe her thoughts to him. She smiled instead, and continued to take in the great view. Not only of the area around her, but Liam, too. He had dressed for the day in dark blue denim jeans and tan cowboy boots. He wore a checkered shirt with the sleeves cut off, showing his massive arm muscles. There was no doubt she wouldn’t get tired of seeing him. His cowboy hat shaded his flawless facial features. His eyes, filled with innocence, yet a strong desire, kept a steady hold on her.
“This place can change a city lover, for sure,” she said. She stopped next to him, watching the last rock he tossed skim across the top of the water, leaving ripples in its place.
“Have you skipped stones before?”
She had no choice but to look at him like he had asked a stupid question. She smirked, and said, “Of course I have, country boy.”
He tossed his head back and let out a quick laugh. He handed her a medium sized rock. “All right, city girl, show me what you’ve got.”
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She accepted the challenge by taking the rock out of his hand. She flung her arm to the side and gave the rock a firm, but subtle toss. The rock darted along the top of the water four times before it stopped and sank to the bottom of the creek.
She met his gaze, showing off with a wink. “How was that, country boy?”
Nodding, he ran a hand across his scruffy chin. He bent over and picked up a smaller rock, tossed it up in the air and caught it a few times, before he turned his attention back to her and said, “So, let’s make it more challenging.”
She raised a brow. She was up for any challenge, especially if it meant spending more time with him. No doubt she’d win and show him that she was a country girl at heart.
“I’m listening,” she said. She couldn’t wait to hear how he would make it more challenging. She had been skipping rocks since she was little, and today had brought not only her memories of it, but also her competitive side. She and her cousins had spent hours by the water at her grandparents’ farm.
He handed her a small rock, more like the size of a bead. She laughed before he had a chance to tell her what the challenge would consist of. “We’ll both start with the smallest rock and advance our way to the largest rock we can find. The rocks have to be similar in size and weigh about the same.”
She sarcastically rolled her eyes and shook her head. “What’s with men and the technicalities?”
“We wouldn’t want it to be unfair, would we?”
She waved a hand at him. “Yeah, yeah. Get on with it, already.”
She chuckled to herself as he continued with the regulations of this once simple, mindless task.
“Here’s the tricky part,” he said, holding up a finger to make sure she was paying attention. “The rock has to skip at least two times and make it halfway across the water.”
She was positive this might have been the most ridiculous thing she had ever done, but she was enjoying it.
She hated the thought of losing. She was good at winning, but absolutely hated to lose. She couldn’t back out now, no matter how intimidated she was at the thought of losing.
All She Ever Wanted (Cedar Valley Novel Book 1) Page 6