When Olivia snorted, both Becca and Steve glared at her. She feigned a cough to cover it.
“Liv can run the shop while I’m gone. It is half hers, you know. I’ll be back before you know it. Maybe it’s time we took a break anyway.”
“A break? Well, seeing as you’re going out to some godforsaken place, I guess a break is going to happen whether I like it or not.” Steve stood, and after shooting a look of disdain toward Olivia, stormed out.
Becca rose and walked back to the counter. “That went well, don’t you think?”
Olivia burst out laughing and Becca joined her. “Oh, and the lawyer said that I absolutely have to be in Montana within the week.”
Both women stopped laughing. “Great,” Olivia let out a long breath. “I’ll miss you.” Then she got a mischievous look in her eye. “Who knows, you might meet a handsome cowboy who’ll make the trip worthwhile.”
Becca frowned. “Don’t even say those words out loud. I have no intention of staying in Montana one moment longer than I have to.”
* * * *
Becca peered through the windshield in yet another attempt to see beyond the hood of the rented SUV. Except for the occasional flare of brake lights, the vehicles she knew were in front of her were almost invisible in the snow. It continued to pile onto the hood of the SUV, grating on her nerves as she inched forward little by little. With a sigh of frustration, she turned up the radio to give herself a distraction. She needed something, anything to drown out her fear of driving in this weather. Being raised in western Maryland, she was used to snow…but this, this was just ridiculous.
She recognized the voice of Blake Shelton on the radio right away, and sang along but ended it with a yawn. Exhaustion clawed at her, and the depressing storm around her only served to enhance her sleepiness. Becca had hoped to make it to the ranch tonight but between her heavy eyelids and the snow surrounding her, which was now turning into little pellets of sleet, she feared staying on the single lane road too much longer. Just as she was considering finding a motel, the GPS reported that she had a left turn ahead and had reached her destination. Sitting up straighter, Becca peered through the snow to make the turn. She pulled into a driveway, following it up to a large white farmhouse.
The headlights spilled over a front porch that stretched along the entire front of the house. It was huge. Alone, the big house sat in the middle of powdery white snow. The windows, surrounded with black shutters, stared eerily at her as if watching her arrival. Several chimneys jutted up from the roof. As she peered through the windshield, she could see tire tracks leading to the side of the house. She followed them around to a side porch where a light beckoned from inside.
Pushing the car door open, Becca got out and gasped as icy pellets hit her in the face. She noticed the walk, although shoveled recently, was quickly collecting more fresh snow. She shivered against the frigid cold.
“I thought Maryland was cold in the winter but this is freaking incredible,” she muttered as she carried her suitcases up the steps.
The attorney had told her the house would be unlocked. Becca shook her head. Who in their right mind would leave a place like this unlocked? Of course, it sat back in the damn boonies. No one in his right mind would come out here looking to rob a place. Before going inside, she gazed up at the security light by the barn. The snow now floated through the glow in large fat flakes.
Becca shivered again, and stepped inside. The heat welcomed her. Someone had been there to ensure it was warm. Closing the door behind her, she looked around. It was a beautiful kitchen. More modern than what she expected. A mudroom sat off the back and a small housekeeper’s quarters was located next to it. She took off her coat and hung it over the top of a ladder back chair nestled against a long, worn table. Becca checked out the small housekeeper’s room but since there was only a shower, she decided to look upstairs.
Becca walked through a hallway and entered a large foyer. Glancing to her right, she saw stairs leading to the second floor. Hearing the snap of flames on wood, she peered into what must be the living room aglow with shimmering light. Tilting her head, she wondered who had made a fire for her. She jumped when she suddenly heard the back door open.
Opening her purse, she pulled out the can of mace she carried, and slowly walked back to the kitchen. Becca came to a dead stop when she saw the man who’d entered her kitchen. He’d halted his forward motion when he saw her with the defense spray in her hands. He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my house?” Becca gasped, holding her chest.
The man took his time taking off his coat, then his cowboy hat. He shook the snow off his hat and set it on the kitchen table.
Becca bit back a groan. This man was simply gorgeous. He had broad shoulders, slim hips, a straight narrow nose, and high cheekbones. His thick, straight black hair hung to the collar of his flannel shirt. Her eyes skimmed down his tall frame, and she could feel her cheeks burning. He certainly knew how to fill out a pair of jeans. They were tight across his muscular thighs and cupped his sex in a snug fashion. Stubble covered a square jaw. His mouth had a bowed upper lip and a full bottom lip that she suddenly had the absurd desire to suck into her mouth. This man was definitely trouble with a capital T, a bad boy and sexy as sin.
Becca suppressed a shiver. Did all the men in Montana look like this? Her mouth felt as dry as the Mojave Desert.
“Jake Stone, ma’am,” he told her in a deep voice.
When it registered what he’d said, she felt her temperature rising.
“Jacob Stone?”
His mouth twitched. “My mother was the only one to call me that, but yes, I’m Jacob Stone.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I forgot to leave you a note telling you that if you needed anything, to call me,” he grinned, displaying perfect white teeth. “So, do you need anything? Can I do anything for you, Red?”
Could he do anything for her? Sure … whatever he wanted. Stop it!
“You’re the man who thinks he’s going to buy my land? My ranch. The ranch that my grandmother left me.”
She watched his jaw clench as he walked toward her. A muscle twitched in his cheek.
“So, you’re Hattie’s granddaughter, huh? The same granddaughter who never visited her. Not once. The granddaughter who all of a sudden shows up because Hattie left her something. The granddaughter who couldn’t even show up for her grandmother’s funeral.” Not once did he raise his voice. He didn’t need to. The anger poured off him in waves. With each word, he had stepped closer until she could actually feel the heat coming off him.
Instinctively, she stepped back as she gazed up into dark brown eyes surrounded by thick, lush lashes. He had to be six four, at the very least. Standing at five eight, Becca was used to looking men in the eyes, but not this one. She could see fine lines at the corners of his eyes. He was tan from working outdoors and she had a feeling his body was well muscled from that as well. She thought him to be in his mid-thirties maybe, but it was hard to tell. Then his words sank in.
“I didn’t know about the funeral. Hell, I didn’t even know about her.” She shook her head. “My father never mentioned his mother to me. I was shocked when her attorney contacted me.”
Becca blinked back the tears as she felt the blush rise in her cheeks.
* * * *
Jake swore and turned away from her.
“How could you not know?” he asked as he swung back around to her.
“Like I said, my father never mentioned her. I don’t know what went on between them but I never knew she existed, and I wasn’t notified in time to attend the funeral.”
Jake snorted. “Well, Ms. Daniels, that’s a shame. This town loved Hattie. This a small community and we take care of our own. You’re not going to get a warm welcome, to say the least.”
She shrugged as if it didn’t matter. He wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled. She had to live here for six months f
rom what Gray had told him, and six months in a town where no one liked you would make for a hard time. What did he care? The sooner the six months were over the better. She would leave and he would buy the land. Not that he needed it, but he knew Hattie would want him to have it if her granddaughter didn’t.
“I don’t need your ranch, Red. Hattie only left it to you so no stranger would buy it. However, that’s kind of a moot point isn’t it? I mean, since you are a stranger.”
Her eyes narrowed at him. “Of course you need my land, Stone. All ranchers need more land.” She poked him in the chest. “And you know what? You’re not going to get it. I’ll stay for the six months and after that, I’ll do anything I can to keep it, and keep you away from it.” She glared up at him and poked his chest harder, as if to make her point. “And. Do. Not. Call. Me. Red. Now, get out,” she nearly screamed the last words at him.
Jake stared at her for a full minute before he moved to put his coat on. He took a pen and scrap of paper from his pocket. After writing down his phone numbers, he laid it on the table. He slammed his cowboy hat on his head and turned to leave.
“Just in case you do need anything … Red,” Jake said before he went out the door, closing it softly behind him, when everything within him wanted to slam it.
Jake got into his truck and looked at the backdoor. He gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. Becca Daniels had trouble written all over her. Trouble he didn’t need. He closed his eyes. Her long dark auburn hair surrounding a heart shaped face with eyes as green as summer grass, a pert nose with freckles across it on alabaster skin made for one sexy little package. He felt his groin tighten as he opened his eyes and started his truck.
It was going to be a helluva long six months.
Chapter Two
The next morning Becca woke up rubbing her eyes. They felt as gritty as sand. She’d tossed and turned all night, trying to get a dark-eyed cowboy out of her dreams. Jacob Stone might have gotten on her nerves, but that didn’t mean she could get him off her mind. No man had ever affected her this way. Her whole body tingled from head to toe just imagining how his strong arms would feel wrapped around her.
Damn that man!
Forcing Stone from her thoughts, she proceeded with her day. She had a lot to accomplish today. After taking a shower, Becca put on sweatpants and a T-shirt before heading downstairs to make coffee. When she looked outside, she noticed the snow hadn’t accumulated much overnight. Wanting to get outside and look around, she decided to make a trip to the barn to see the horses later. All of her life she’d always loved and secretly wanted a horse. However, the excursion to the barn would have to wait. Exploring the house was first on her list.
A corner hutch in the dining room filled with glassware caught her eye. Becca opened the door carefully and lifted out a small glass cowboy made of crystal. Lifting it to the light, she smiled as a prism danced across the wall. It fit sweetly in the palm of her hand. The little cowboy had on a red vest, black boots and wide brimmed hat. The face was clear with blue eyes. Becca set it back inside the hutch and closed the door.
Did all this belong to her now? Was there anyone else who would want any of these items? Would any of the people in the town who had loved Hattie want some of her things to remember her by?
There was no way of knowing unless she asked Jake Stone and that would be a cold day in hell. Just the thought of him made her blood boil. Why did he have to be so gorgeous? She could’ve dealt much better with a short fat bald man.
Growling under her breath, Becca walked across the large foyer to the living room. The furniture looked welcoming. A window seat made it look very inviting. She could picture herself sitting there, reading a good book. Two worn recliners sat facing the fireplace. A TV sat in the corner beside it. She had no idea how to go about making a fire. Maybe she could ask one of the ranch hands. They would help her…she hoped.
The foyer was huge. The beautiful glass front door with sidelights allowed a stream of sunlight to filter in. Dust motes danced through the beams. Becca looked up the stairs as she walked toward them. Last night she hadn’t had a chance to look through all the rooms, she’d just taken the one closest to the bathroom, which she discovered connected to another bedroom.
Upstairs, she peered into a large room and instantly knew it had been Hattie’s bedroom. Pushing the door open, she walked in and stood in the middle of the room. She then walked to the dresser and picked up an old hairbrush. Tears gathered in her eyes as she clutched it to her chest.
“I wish I’d known you, Grandma. I don’t understand why I didn’t. What happened between you and Daddy?”
Shaking her head, she put the brush back on the dresser, walked to the closet, and opened the door. Only two dresses hung there, one black, one blue. Neither looking as if Hattie had worn them very often. The only shoes on the floor were a pair of low-heeled black pumps whereas there were several pairs of cowboy boots, and a pair of sneakers. Becca had never seen an emptier closet, and it broke her heart. If the ranch had been so profitable, why were the closet’s inhabitants so meager? Maybe her grandmother hadn’t cared about material things. Becca smiled. She was sure she would’ve loved Hattie Daniels.
After exploring the rest of the rooms, Becca changed into jeans and a sweatshirt. It was time to visit the barn and meet the ranch hands. She chewed her bottom lip. How was this going to go? Would they accept her or ignore her? Taking a deep breath, she knew there was only one way to find out. She pulled her jacket on and went outside.
The cold air was like a slap in the face. The glare from the sun shining on the snow hurt her eyes and made it difficult to see, so she walked carefully down the steps and headed for the barn. The snow crunched under her boots. Several men stood at the corral beside the barn looking her way. After a slight hesitation, she walked toward them. She smiled, but no one smiled in return.
“Hello. I’m Becca Daniels. I’m Hattie’s granddaughter.” She put a hand out to the man closest to her. He put his hand out to meet hers. Breathing a sigh of relief, she asked him his name and for introductions.
“I’m Stan Watson, the foreman. This is Bill Black, Matt Stewart, and Ted Carter.” All the men tipped their hats to her. “All of us have been with Hattie a lot of years. I’ve been with her for almost forty. It’s a real shame about her.”
Becca nodded. What could she say? She never knew the woman but the thought that she’d missed knowing her grandmother made her eyes tear up. She smiled at the men and glanced around the property. The rolling hills lay under snow but she could make out a pond in the distance.
“It’s very nice to meet all of you,” she said before looking toward the big red barn. The beautiful snow-capped, jagged mountains in the distance caught her attention.
“Those mountains are breathtaking.”
“Yes, ma’am, they are.” Stan smiled at her. “They’re part of the Glacier National Park. If you get a chance to take in the park, do it. It was the country’s tenth National Park created by President Taft. Those mountains are a hiker’s dream.”
Becca grinned at him. “I would love to see the park, though I’m not much of a hiker. I’d rather ride horses.” Taking a deep breath, Becca moved toward the barn. “I’d love to see them.”
She was happy to see Stan fall into step beside her as she walked to the barn.
“You can take a trail ride in the park when the weather permits it.” He inclined his chin. “Follow me. We have twelve Paints right now, and four Quarter horses. Hattie just sold three of them before ...” his voice faded away. Becca lightly touched his arm. Stan smiled down at her. “Anyway…we have them up here, if you’d like to see.”
There were several other buildings besides the huge red barn. One was filled with bales of hay. Another was a smaller barn. Large corrals sat on each side of the bigger barn.
“Are the horses inside or is there another corral?” Becca asked as she nodded her head toward the barn.
Stan nodded. “Th
ey’re in right now. We’re expecting snow and we don’t want them out in it. Most days, if it’s warmer, we either have them in the corrals or out in the pastures.”
Becca looked to the mountains again and realized what she thought was fog on the tops was actually snow moving in. She pulled the collar up on her coat and followed Stan to a smaller door and into the barn. To keep the warmth in, the large double doors remained closed. As she entered the barn, the smell of horses, hay and leather assaulted her. Smiling, she took a deep breath. For someone who loved horses, the smell was pleasant.
As they walked down the aisle of the barn, the horses poked their heads over the stall gates. Becca stopped at each one to pet their velvety noses. She laughed when they blew into her hand.
“Can I ride one of them?” She looked at Stan. He nodded his head.
“They’re yours. You can do what you want with them.” Was that sarcasm in his voice?
“I’ll wait until it’s a little warmer,” she answered with a sigh. “I’ll be here for six months, so I have plenty of time.”
“Six months? What happens after that?” Stan seemed surprised by her statement.
Becca glanced around the barn, not sure how to explain it to him. “The will states that I have to stay here for six months before I can sell it.” At his look of astonishment, she continued quickly, “but I’m not going to sell it. I just won’t be staying here. I’ll have you run the place, just like you’ve been doing.”
“I’m not sure that will work. I mean, Hattie ran the place, I just took orders.” Stan shook his head.
“What else can I do? I have a coffee shop in Maryland.” Once said aloud it sounded lame, even to her ears.
“A coffee shop?” Stan walked away from her, his hands on his hips, still shaking his head.
Becca tried not to smile.
Jake (Men of Clifton Montana Book 1) Page 2