by May Williams
“Like the grizzly!” Ian exclaimed, his palms suddenly slick with sweat. He grabbed her arm when she opened the door. “You sure it’s safe?”
“Ian, I have to open the gate.”
“I’ll get it.” He undid his seatbelt and looked around for any sign of animals before getting out of the truck. After he opened the gate and she drove through, he saw the grin on her face.
Yeah, real funny, that his highly understandable terror of bears and mountain lions was hilarious to her. Great way to make an impression, Ian.
“We’ll start with the domestic part of the farm before moving on to the exotics.” Colette said when he returned to the cab.
“Works for me.” He responded, relieved at the brief reprieve.
They drove to a farmhouse painted a shocking color of green with barns scattered around it. The barns ranged from lemon yellow to bright pink to saffron orange. Ian tried not to gawk at his surroundings or at the long-haired farmer who came to greet them. His bib overalls fit tight to his expanding belly with no shirt underneath to hide the generous rolls of flesh. Ian couldn’t say how old he was, but he must have been in his fifties or sixties judging by the strands of gray hair hanging down and the wrinkles on his face.
“Collie.” The man hugged Colette to his sweaty chest, nearly crushing her. Ian moved forward, his face going rigid with an unexpected jealousy. “I thought it was your Dad’s week.”
“We switched.” Colette gave the man a dazzling smile, the kind that he wanted from her. Colette seemed comfortable with sweaty man’s hands on her, but he wanted to toss her back in the truck and leave this freak show of a farm. “Dusty, I’d like you to meet Ian.” Colette rested her hand on Ian’s bare arm and he felt somewhat reassured. “He’s taking some pictures for my website. Do you mind if he takes photos here?”
“No, no, good to have you, son.” Dusty crushed Ian’s hand in his. “I hope you use color film. We like color around here.”
“Everything I take is in color,” Ian assured him, guessing that Dusty was unaware of the advances in digital photography in the past twenty years.
“Collie, I’m worried about Bettie. She’s got a sore on her side.” Dusty picked up Colette’s bag from the back of the truck and started toward a fenced area between two barns.
Ian retrieved his camera, took a few shots of the colorful house and barns and followed the pair to the goat pen. The goats looked harmless so he unhooked the gate to walk in. He snapped the gate closed behind him and panicked as one by one goats fell over on their sides, apparently dead.
“What’d I do?” Ian sought Colette’s face. “They’re dead!”
In response, Dusty burst into hearty laughter. “They’re fainting goats.” He choked out between laughs. “I’ve been meanin’ to put some padding on that gate.”
“What?” Ian addressed Colette. He was happy to see her face was patient and calm.
“Fainting goats, well, faint at sudden, sharp noises. They’ll be okay in a minute,” Colette explained and touched the goats closest to her to help revive them.
“Are you serious?”
She nodded. “Stroke their sides. It helps bring them around more quickly.”
Ian kneeled down dubiously next to a black and white goat that looked very much extinguished. “Does it hurt them?”
“No permanent damage.” Goats were already climbing back to their feet all around them. Colette turned to Dusty. “I’ll give you some ointment for Bettie’s side. I don’t think it’s anything serious. Who else do we need to see today?”
“Ginger. She’s one of the camels.” Dusty explained to Ian while Ian slowly petted the goat. “We think she’s about to deliver, but none of us know much about camels. Hell,” he slapped Ian on the back, surprising both Ian and the goat, “we thought we had two males when they first showed up. Come on down to the other barn.”
Ian waited for Colette to repack her bag, and together they watched his tiny goat run off. As he walked several feet behind Dusty to the far barn, he said in an alarmed whisper, “Pregnant camel?”
“I warned you,” she said, unalarmed by the thought.
“What’s that smell?” Ian sniffed the air. He was used to the odor of farm animals after the morning, but this was different.
“Exotic animals smell different because of their diets.” A putrid smell like rotting meat and vegetation emanated from the open door as they reached the barn. “You don’t have to go in with me.”
“I’m too curious not to, now.” Ian followed her into the shady interior of the orange barn. Large cages lined the walls separated by high fences. In the first stall, two wolves hid in the back, inside a fabricated mound. Before Ian could look around for other animals, a loud screech split the air, causing him to freeze.
“Mountain lion.” Colette touched his arm to reassure him. “He’s caged, but he likes to serenade everyone. The camels are over here.” She led him to an area where a two-humped camel munched from a bale of suspended hay. An open door in the back of the pen led outside, where Ian could see another camel.
“She’s outside, Collie. Watch yourself. She hasn’t been too nice lately,” Dusty warned her.
“You distract Fred and I’ll see if I can get close to Ginger.” Colette opened the cage and walked in a wide circle around Fred to get to the outside area.
“Fred and Ginger?” Ian asked.
“My wife loves old movies.” Dusty moved into the cage and stood next to the camel.
“Got it.” Ian tried not to imagine the names of the other animals as he watched Colette cautiously approach Ginger. A loud hiss from the female camel split the air, causing Fred’s head to come up sharply. Colette kept talking in a low voice while inching closer to Ginger. Fred shifted nervously from foot to foot and bared his teeth at Dusty.
By now, Colette rubbed a hand on Ginger’s broad nose and was rewarded with a long lick of camel slobber on her hand. When Colette was about to move around behind her to exam, the mountain lion screeched again and the baboon added his hysterical laughter. In seconds, pandemonium broke out in the barn. The thunderous noises of various animals reached to the rafters.
In their fear, both camels assumed defensive positions and let lose a volley of spit. Ginger’s spit splashed across Colette’s shirt while Fred doused both Dusty and Ian on his way through the door to protect Ginger. Although Ian’s shirt dripped with the vile substance, his quick reflexes saved his camera. He’d lifted it over his head at the last second, but his heart pounded like he’d just run miles.
He looked to Colette, who waited for Fred and Ginger to huddle in the corner of the penned area before retreating out of the cage with Ian and Dusty. Once outside the barn, they shook their shirts to loosen some of the camel spit. Dusty offered them a roll of paper towels to wipe down their clothing before he headed to the house to change.
“I’ve heard of camel spit, but this is…” Ian swiped at his shirt, glad he’d gotten his camera out of range in time.
“Spit’s a misnomer. It’s really vomit and saliva mixed together.” Colette wiped a long string of the thick liquid from her shirt. “Least it didn’t get in my hair this week.”
“This has happened before?”
“Yeah, that’s why we always come here last on farm visit days.” Colette walked to an outside tank with a faucet. “We can wash up some here. Wish I’d brought a spare shirt.” She flipped on the water. “Take yours off,” she commanded Ian, but he hesitated. “I’ve already seen the scars. You worried about impressing Dusty?”
“You’re right.” Ian shucked off his shirt and tossed it in a trash can before sticking his hands in the water.
“Nice,” Colette commented when she leaned against the tank and dried her hands. Her eyes lingered on his chest.
He chuckled, despite it all. “You can touch if you like.”
“Maybe later.” She responded with a flick of her eyes that took him in from shoulder to belly button, making his blood rush south. “Later,” she
repeated before tossing the paper towel in the trash. “Ready to go home?”
When they arrived back at Cherry Ridge Farm, Romeo and Prospero gave them a cursory sniff and retreated to the barns.
“I guess they’re offended by camel slobber,” Ian said. “I’m going to look in my car for a clean shirt. I’ll meet you inside.”
A minute later, Ian stepped into the mudroom of Colette’s house. He figured she’d be there scrubbing up from the day, but he didn’t expect to find her with her shirt off. The thin straps of a pale yellow bra cut across her back above an expanse of naked skin until her low-riding jeans started. She leaned over the sink, rinsing the length of her arms in the hot, soapy water. Long tendrils of hair loose from her tail brushed against her skin. She’d taken off her heavy work boots. Her toenails were painted a bright shade of coral.
“I’d love to help you,” he managed to choke out before his mouth went completely dry. Her back stiffened for a second. She half turned toward him, giving him a view of the yellow swaths of lace covering her breasts.
“I’ll help you wash, then we’ll see.” She held up the bottle of soap, a flirtatious grin on her lips. “No shirt?”
“Couldn’t find one. What happened to yours?”
“Decided I didn’t need it anymore.” She tipped her head to the side, studying his face. “Do you mind?”
“Hell, no,” he said, happy to take anything she offered.
He moved forward to put his arms under the running water. She squirted the spicy smelling soap on his hands and she massaged it through his fingers, across his palm, and up his forearm. He wanted to groan at the touch.
Her touch was sensuous, and her breasts brushed against his arm as she leaned forward to scoop handfuls of warm water on his skin to rinse the soap. She trailed her wet fingers across his back as she switched sides to wash his other hand and arm, and desire flooded through him.
“You’re killing me.”
“I thought I was cleaning you.” When she reached for a towel, he hauled her against him, trapping her between his body and the sink. She sucked in a breath and her eyes went wide for a second, then slipped closed, “We’ve been here before,” she whispered against his lips.
“No Romeo to interrupt us today.” His kiss was insistent while his hands stroked down her back. “Do you have the thong on that matches this?” He plucked at her bra strap.
“Yeah.” She leaned away, her eyes popping open with surprise. “How did you…”
“It got mixed up with my clothes in the dryer on Grand Island. I’ve thought about that little scrap of yellow a lot in the past few weeks, probably too much.” He nuzzled her lips. “It’s been distracting.”
She planted a hand on his chest and pushed him back a step while a pink flush crept across her face. She searched his eyes, but her hands stroked over his shoulders. When she moved away toward the door into the kitchen, Ian waited. She paused in the doorway, her eyes scanning over him. “Are you coming?”
“Where?” It was a stupid question, but he needed to make sure he understood what she wanted.
“My bedroom,” she said with a half-smile on her face.
He wanted to yell, hot damn. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist and let her guide him to the stairs.
Colette curled into Ian’s side, glad she’d dropped the blinds in her room this morning. The bright afternoon light filtered through, casting a dim glow. She wasn’t sure if Ian was asleep or just quiet. Either way, he was more peaceful than she’d known him to be. The continuous buzz usually surrounding him was muted now, although not while they made love. Then he was full of energy, surprising her with the careful and continuous attention to her pleasure. His hands, lips, and tongue never stopped roving over her until she cried out several times for him.
She toyed with the hairs on his chest, waiting for him to speak or snore. After making love with him, she felt sated and happy. It had been a long two years since Tyler’s betrayal, but Ian was worth the wait. She couldn’t resist pulling herself up on his chest to kiss him.
“Hey, watch it,” he grumbled.
“What’s the matter?” She moved to retreat from him. “Not a damn thing.” He ran his hand down her side to her hip and yanked her closer to him.
“Why should I watch it?” She whispered into his neck and felt a shiver spread through him.
“Because if you don’t lie still,” he flipped her onto her back, covering her body with his, “I’m going to get ideas and we may never get out of this bed.”
Her hands kneaded the warm skin of his back. “I don’t need to be anywhere today, although I thought it would be nice to make dinner for you.”
“I do like to eat, especially after all this exercise.” He punctuated his words with kisses to her nose, cheeks, and brow.
Outside, Romeo barked and a car door slammed. They froze when the kitchen door banged. “Collie, you in here?” Lexy’s voice rang through the house. Colette clamped her hand over Ian’s mouth and shook her head.
“Funny, I didn’t see her outside and Ian’s car is in the driveway. I wonder where they are.” Lexy talked loudly to herself. “Well, I hope they get back in time to enjoy this food I’m leaving in the kitchen on my way home from the café and,” she raised her voice a little more, “they remember the family dinner at my house tomorrow at six. I guess I’ll leave now, Romeo.”
A moment later, the door closed again and a car engine started. Colette burst into laughter. “I feel like a teenager trying to hide from my parents.”
“Yeah, but teenagers think they got away with it. We know we didn’t,” Ian said, laughing now that the visit was gone.
“Let’s go see what she brought us.” Colette tried to roll out from underneath him. “It’s sure to be tasty.”
“I was just about to snack on something else.” He pinned her to the bed, his legs holding hers in place, and nibbled on her shoulder.
“But will it be as good?” She held him back, splaying her hand on his chest.
“Delicious.” His lips returned to her body and started a slow trail down.
Chapter Eleven
“Where’s my favorite sister?” The deep voice of Colette’s brother boomed through the barn where her rescue animals were housed.
She headed toward the entrance where Adrien waited. “Don’t tell Lexy.” She gave her younger brother a hug. Adrien was the perfect combination of their parents: he had the dark hair and complexion of their mother with their father’s blue eyes. Somehow, he managed to be several inches over six feet. Colette loved going places with him and watching women of all ages turn around to look.
“You alone?” Adrien glanced behind her.
“Yeah. Why?”
“I heard a rumor you had a man. Is he hiding around here somewhere?”
Colette shook her head. “You’ll meet him later at Lexy’s.”
“He’s coming to the family dinner? This must be serious.”
“It is.” No point in hiding anything from Adrien. He’d see right through any lies.
“Should I bunk with Mom and Dad for the night?”
“No, we’ll stay up half the night talking like always.”
“Not too late. You have to be to work and I have to drive back to Ann Arbor early in the morning.” The dogs circled around them, excited about the newcomer.
“Let’s go to the house for a drink. It’s getting hot out.” She tucked her arm through his as they walked to the house. “How’s the research?”
“Good. My grant got renewed for another year so I’ll finish my doctorate next spring.”
“Another Dr. Peterson in Petoskey. I hope you’re still planning to come home?”
“Yep, already talking to Dr. Miller at the fish hatchery.” He opened the kitchen door for her. “Never know, maybe you’ll have a new name by next year. What’s Ian’s last name? Lexy didn’t say.”
“Kroft, but it’s not that serious yet and I’m not sure, oh, hell, I don’t know. I’m just enjoyi
ng it for now.” As much as she trusted her brother, she wasn’t willing to say how serious she was about Ian. She was already starting to imagine a life with him here on the farm.
“Okay.” His eyes watched hers. “I’m looking forward to meeting him. Lexy likes him. Mom’s pissed because she only met him for five minutes when he stopped at the clinic, and Dad is being silent as usual. What do you know about him? Where’s he from?”
“He’s been in the army for several years, but he’s out now.” She poured a glass of lemonade and handed it to Adrien. “Originally, he’s from Chicago. His dad still lives there. Stop worrying.”
“I’m not going to stop worrying until I meet him and maybe not then.”
“Find something else to worry about.” She offered him some cookies from the food Lexy brought yesterday.
“How about the certified letter I get every week from that real estate company?”
“Yeah, it’s starting to get annoying.”
“The offer’s ridiculously huge.” Adrien munched on a lemon cookie.
“You’re not considering selling are you?”
“Hell, no. I’ve already got my home site staked out.”
“Good. It is a lot of money though.”
“Yeah. I can’t figure out why someone is offering us more than the property’s worth. I researched the company. They build exclusive, gated communities in vacation locations like Door County, Wisconsin; The Hamptons; Palm Springs….Petoskey isn’t in the same class with those places. It’s the excessively big offer that bothers me. What do they know that we don’t?”
“Maybe there’s oil underneath us,” Colette joked.
“No, I checked.”
“You did?”
“Uh-huh. I’ve got access to all that data from the state. It’s something else, but I can’t figure it out. And they’re not showing any sign of backing down.”
“Lexy’s threatening to file against them for harassment.”
“Sounds like something she’d do.” He rolled his eyes. “It just doesn’t make any sense. It’s bugging the hell out of me.”