by Elle James
Her parents had been for the intelligence and good sense of the other. After producing two children and raising them to inherit the kingdom, they’d finally found a deep, lasting love and time to spend together.
Along with exploring the world, Aurelia had dreamed of falling in love and marrying the man of her dreams. Now, she only hoped to marry and have the child that would save the kingdom from his rule.
But that kiss… Sweet Jesus.
That kiss filled her foolish heart with hope for a happily-ever-after, a chance at love and a life with a husband and family. She’d kissed boys as a school girl, and men when dating and had even made love, but never, had anything made her feel the barrage of sensations she’d experienced kissing Gavin.
The connection had left her weak in the knees and unable to catch her breath. And it must have made an impression on him because he was willing to give their insane proposal another day.
More than ever before, Aurelia felt this was her only chance. If she wanted to keep her family legacy intact, she had only a couple of weeks to convince Gavin their marriage was the right thing to do.
After the kiss, the thought of making babies had taken on an entirely different context. Having sex with Gavin Blackstock would not be a hardship. If he made love half as expertly as he kissed…
Aurelia fanned herself, the heat spreading throughout her body, pooling at her core. She had to get out there and make him see that they had a chance at a life together, or there wouldn’t be sex with Gavin, or a wedding or a child by her thirtieth birthday.
Aurelia slipped socks on her feet and pushed her feet into the pair of dingo boots the salesman had assured her were the right kind of boot to wear on a ranch. They were surprisingly comfortable. After tucking her shirt into her jeans and slipping a leather belt through the loops, Aurelia pulled her long, blond hair back into a ponytail and left her room.
As promised, Gavin waited for her on the landing. He held out his hand, not his arm, and clasped her hand inside his. Together, they walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Hannah stood in the middle of the large kitchen filled with the wonderful smells of food. “We could use the dining room, but the table in here is plenty big, and the hands are used to eating in here.”
“Formal dining rooms are for weddings and funerals,” Percy said. “I prefer eating in the kitchen where Cookie makes the magic happen.”
“Thanks, Percy.” A short man with thick arms, close-cropped brown hair and green eyes, pushed his sleeves up past his elbows. “You might not think it’s magic when you discover we’re having beef stew and cornbread for dinner.”
Percy grinned and rubbed his belly. “Pure magic, my friend. Pure magic. They taught you well in the Air Force.”
Cookie snorted. “Never set foot in a kitchen on active duty. Learned it all when I retired.”
Aurelia’s chest swelled with hope. If Cookie could learn to cook later in life, so could she.
The entire crew was gathered around a large wooden table. In the center of the table were platters of fluffy yellow cornbread, two large tureens of steaming stew and pitchers of iced tea.
Gavin held Aurelia’s chair as she took her seat. Then he sat beside her.
The others pulled out chairs and filled in around the massive table. Lori sat across from Aurelia. Taz and Hannah sat at the head and foot of the table, respectively. Cookie brought over a couple of large ladles for the stew and took a seat at the table.
In the palace, the cook never ate with the royal family. Nor did the staff or stable hands. Aurelia liked the feeling that everyone in the room was part of one big family.
Used to having staff serve the food, Aurelia sat back and watched as everyone reached for the food, passed it down and helped each other serve portions into their bowls and onto their plates. They attacked the hearty stew with gusto and bit into chunks of the cake-like cornbread. Having never encountered cornbread, Aurelia wasn’t quite sure how to eat it.
“Have you never eaten cornbread?” Gavin asked.
Aurelia shook her head, hoping cornbread was not normally served in Maine.
“Some folks consider cornbread a southern food. Cookie is from Louisiana. So, you’ll see some of the southern influence in his menus,” Hannah said. “I particularly love his gumbo and dirty rice.”
Gavin leaned close to Aurelia. “Some people like butter on their cornbread. Others like it with jelly. Me? I prefer honey.” He lifted a jar from the middle of the table and poured thick honey over his cornbread. Then he offered the jar to Aurelia and served a wedge of cornbread onto her plate.
Following his example, she poured honey onto the corner of the bread. Using her fork, she dug into the corner and lifted it up into her mouth. The combination of the cakelike bread and the honey melted in her mouth.
“Like that?” Gavin asked.
She nodded, poured more honey and took another bite.
“I like to dip my cornbread into my stew.” Lori picked up the entire slice of cornbread and dipped the end into her stew.
Thinking it couldn’t get better than honey, Aurelia gave it a try anyway. Instead of sticky sweet, the cornbread came out with the hot, savory stew covering it. When she placed it in her mouth, it became an explosion of flavor on her tongue. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was.
Collin sat at the other end of the table, eating like he was indulging in his last meal. He was probably happy to be back in the states, eating more familiar foods.
“How’s the stew and cornbread?” Cookie asked.
Aurelia smiled at the older man. “Wonderful,” she said.
“Save some room for strawberry rhubarb pie,” Cookie said. “I made three.”
“Cookie, Aurelia has never cooked,” Hannah said. “I bet she’d like to learn. Could you give her a few pointers?”
“Sure. Any time,” Cookie said.
“Aurelia, how long will you be with us?” Hannah asked.
With a quick glance at Gavin, Aurelia shrugged. She wanted to stay as long as it took, but she wouldn’t pressure Gavin, even though her time was dwindling down. “I don’t know. Hopefully, long enough to help out around here.”
“Won’t your family miss you?” Hannah asked and then popped a spoonful of stew into her mouth.
Aurelia’s chest squeezed tightly. Though it had been over two years, she still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact they were gone. She shook her head, her gaze going to the stew in the bowl in front of her. “I don’t have any immediate family left.”
Hannah frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. When my mother died of cancer, I thought I was alone in the world. It’s the worst feeling ever.”
“Hey, you had me,” Gavin said. “Friends are like family.”
“Yes, I did, and yes, they are,” Hannah said. “And then I learned who my father was.”
“And now she has me.” Taz winked at Hannah across the table.
Hannah smiled. “I still miss my mother, but it does help having people you love around you.” She tilted her head to the side. “Do you mind if I ask what happened to your family?”
When Aurelia hesitated, Hannah held up her hand. “Don’t answer, if it’s too painful.”
Aurelia drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “My parents and my older brother were killed when their car ran off the road two years ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Hannah said. “I don’t know which is worse, losing someone so fast, or watching a loved one suffer until they finally pass. At least, I got to say my goodbyes before my mother died.”
“Could we talk about something more cheerful?” Young lifted his tea glass. “I’d like to propose a toast to new friends who like horses.” He lifted his glass toward Collin and then Aurelia. “To Collin and Miss George. Welcome to Brighter Days.”
Everyone around the table raised a glass to the two new residents. “To Collin and Miss George,” they said in unison.
Heat filled Aurelia’s cheeks. “Thank you, but you mu
st call me Aurelia. Miss George is too formal.”
“Done,” Young said and set his glass on the table. “Cookie, I think Aurelia might like some of that pie now.”
“We’ll get them.” Franklin and Vasquez said as one, and then leaped to their feet and rushed to the counter where the pies sat cooling. They brought two of the pies back to the table. Then Franklin returned to the counter for the third pie, and Vasquez went for dessert plates and a knife.
Talk turned to the newest rescues at the ranch.
“I’m worried about Sassy,” Percy said. “She kicks at her stall. I’m afraid she’ll hurt herself.”
“And when we let her out in the paddock, it’s hard to get her back in the stall,” Franklin said.
“She needs to get used to the stall. It gets too cold in the winter for her to be outside,” Hannah said.
“I suspect she was left out all winter with her last owner.” Percy shook his head. “The cattle survive in subzero temperatures and wild horses do as well. I’m more concerned about damage to her legs.”
“The neighbors who turned in Sassy’s owner for abuse said they think she came from a farm back east. They think she was trained in dressage or jumping.” Gavin cut a slice of pie out and laid it on a dessert plate and then passed it to Aurelia. “The man who bought her only wanted her to use as a cutting horse. Apparently, she didn’t respond well to his training techniques.”
“Using a bull whip isn’t a training technique,” Aurelia muttered, appalled anyone would do that to a horse.
“Agreed.” Hannah took a bite of the pie and smiled. “Cookie, you outdid yourself. This is so good.”
Aurelia bit into the slice of pie Gavin had served her and smiled. “This is very good. Bravo to the chef.”
Everyone around the table laughed.
Aurelia blinked. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“Not at all,” Hannah chuckled. “It’s just that Cookie doesn’t consider himself a chef. Isn’t that right?”
Cookie nodded. “I think of the kitchen like a stationary chuck wagon. Simple victuals that are filling and healthy. I don’t do those fancy meals.”
“But what you do is delicious,” Aurelia said. “Thank you.”
Dinner wrapped up with the guys raucous laughter and everyone helping carry dishes and platters to the sink and counter.
“I’ll wash,” Gavin offered.
“Why don’t you show Aurelia how beautiful the Montana sunsets can be?” Hannah took the plate from Gavin’s hand.
“Please,” Aurelia said. “I’d like to help.” She’d never washed a dish in her life, but it couldn’t be that hard.
Lori took the plate from Aurelia’s hand. “First night, you get a pass on dishes. Go. The sunsets are amazing.”
Aurelia gave Gavin a weak smile. “I guess we’ve been voted out of the kitchen.”
He held out his hand, as it seemed to be his habit.
As easily as breathing, Aurelia slipped her palm against his. His fingers curled around hers, warm and strong. She liked how safe and protected it made her feel.
“We’ll take care of the animals,” Franklin offered.
“Hey, speak for yourself,” Vasquez punched Franklin in his good arm.
“Fine. I’ll take care of the animals,” the blond-haired, green-eyed young man said. “They like me better, anyway.”
“The hell they do,” Vasquez said. He raced Franklin to the back door, both hitting the frame as they tried to squeeze through at the same time.
“Those two will never grow up,” Young said. He levered himself out of his wheelchair and, using his arms, propelled himself to the door. “I’ll just go supervise to keep them from starting World War III.”
“Hannah and I will clean up the kitchen,” Taz said.
“I’ll wash,” Hannah said. “Cookie, grab a beer and put your feet up. Your duty is done in here.”
Gavin led Aurelia out the back door and eased himself down onto the top of the steps, stretching a stiff leg out in front of him. He patted the board beside him.
Aurelia dropped down and onto the step. The sun had slipped low in the sky, cresting the top of a snow-covered peak. “Do the mountains have snow on them year-round?”
“Sometimes,” Gavin said “We haven’t had that hot a summer, and we had a late snow. We’ve had snow in July in the upper elevations.”
The bright orange blob dipped halfway below the highest peak, spreading purple, mauve and blue hues through the clouds hugging the mountaintops.
“Hannah was right,” Aurelia said, her voice hushed in the face of nature’s majesty. “The sunset is remarkable.”
Without the warming rays spilling over them, the heat dispersed and cool night air settled over the ranch.
Aurelia shivered.
“It gets quite cool out here at night. We should get you inside.” Gavin started to rise.
“I’m okay. I want to take in the full effect of the sunset, the scents of the evergreens and the sound of the horses whinnying. I don’t think I’ve been to a place so peaceful.” She couldn’t help another shiver.
Gavin slipped an arm around her. “Really, we should go in.”
Aurelia snuggled closer to the man, absorbing the heat of his body. “I’m fine, now. Your body is like a heater.”
“Takes a lot cooler weather to make me cold. And, believe me, it gets a lot colder here in the winter time.”
“I’ve read that the jet stream dips low through here, driving temperatures into the negatives.”
“True. And if the wind is blowing, it cuts through you, no matter how many layers you wear.” He tightened his hold on her as if protecting her from the effects of the wind.
“Do you have to go out in the cold?”
“As long as there are animals, we go out. We bring the cattle closer to the barn in the winter and feed them hay. Most of the horses can survive the cold, but we bring in the weak, the little ones and the old.”
“I thought Brighter Days Rehabilitation Ranch was for veterans. But it’s more than that, isn’t it?”
“Like Hannah said, we take in neglected, unwanted or abused horses and help them thrive.”
“It’s a noble undertaking. And from what I’ve seen, it seems to work well with the veterans. The guests here are well-adjusted and thriving.”
“And the animals are doing well due to their care and treatment by our veterans.”
“So, are you one of the guests?”
He rubbed the top of his bum leg. “I’m not a guest. I’m somewhat of a permanent fixture here. Hannah and I go way back. We grew up here in Eagle Rock. We’ve been friends since I can remember. When I came back from the war injured, she decided it was her calling in life to do what she could for me and other soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have suffered from having deployed. Some have come through here with physical challenges, others have had the emotional challenges of fitting back into the civilian world after the fast pace, danger and trauma of war. They’re welcome here, and Hannah works as a therapist to help them through their issues.”
“And you?”
“Mostly, I help Percy and teach the guys what it means to run a ranch and care for animals. I’m pretty good at fixing things that are broke, and I’m handy with a hammer and nails.”
“Is this where you plan to stay for the rest of your life?”
“I don’t know. I once thought I’d have a piece of land of my own. Maybe build a house and raise cattle and horses.”
“And you don’t want that now?”
He shrugged. “Things changed.”
“You think you can’t do all that now that you’ve lost a leg?”
He tensed against her. “At first, I thought that.”
“And now?”
“I know I can do whatever I set my mind to. Thanks to Hannah and Brighter Days.”
“Will Montana always be your home?” Aurelia closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of the trees and the man beside her. Would a man li
ke Gavin leave the beauty of this country to follow her back to Lastovia? Could she dare to dream?
He shrugged again. “It has always been my home.”
“Have you ever thought of living anywhere else?” she whispered.
Gavin leaned away from her to let him stare down into her eyes. “You haven’t been here twenty-four hours and you already want to leave?”
She smiled. “No. I want to stay. For a while.”
His lips twisted. “These people and this place haven’t made you want to run screaming?”
“Actually, I’m impressed and endeared by the residents of Brighter Days. They give me hope for the future.”
“Wait until you see how hard we work around here. You might change your mind.” He ran his gaze over her. “I get the feeling you haven’t worked on a ranch before.”
She nodded. “You’re right. But I’m ready and willing.”
“You don’t have to, you know.”
“That was part of the advertisement. I’m willing to work hard.” She didn’t add and bear children, the other part of the deal.
Based on the look in Gavin’s eyes, he was thinking of that promise as well.
“I’m committed to this union.” She stared directly into his eyes. “I’m not afraid.” She slipped her hand into his and squeezed.
Gavin looked down at where their hands joined. “I haven’t married for a reason.”
“And that reason is…?”
“When I was on active duty, I didn’t think it fair to put a woman through the worry of wondering if her husband, the father of her children, would come home in one piece or in a body bag.”
Aurelia’s chest tightened.
“And I didn’t want to burden a woman with a shell of a man, should I return home in pieces.” He looked up and captured her gaze. “When I returned home in pieces, like I’d feared, I thought my chances at a normal life were over.”
“What changed your mind?”
He looked around at the ranch shadowed in dusk. “This place. Hannah. Percy. Lori. Franklin, Vasquez and Young.” A chuckle rumbled out of his chest. “While I was trying to keep it together for them, they showed me hope and proved to me I’m still capable of living a full life.”