He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her.
“Andrew?”
Over the raging wind, he looked at her again.
Her blue eyes pleaded with him. “Go!”
Noah nudged his arm. “Let’s get them to the stable.”
The stable? Carrying a hundred-pound weight? That would take forever. But with no bridle or rope to lead them, he held the foal tight and made his way to the stable as quickly as possible, willing God to propel his every step.
Once the horses were settled into a stall, he left Noah to take care of them and rushed back out into the blinding snow.
He ran as fast as he could. His lungs were burning, his face numb despite the sweat that beaded his brow, but it didn’t matter. Carly was all he cared about.
Anger burned in his gut. Dad had no business keeping those animals in that decrepit barn. Even after Noah had suggested they move them for the duration of the storm, the old man insisted they remain near the house. Now Carly might have to pay for his foolishness with her life.
Approaching the barn, he skidded to a halt. Through almost whiteout conditions, he saw his father pulling Carly from the rubble.
Somehow she managed to stand, but she was limping.
Andrew rushed to help.
“I’m fine,” she said. “My ankle was caught, that’s all. Just get me inside.”
Megan met them at the door, her blue eyes wider than he’d ever seen. “Mommy? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, baby.” She hugged her daughter.
“What about the foals?” Megan fretted. “Are they okay?”
“Yes, they are.” Andrew dusted the snow from his hair. “They’re in the stable with Noah.”
“That’s a good girl you’ve got there, Carly.” His father patted Megan on the back. “Stayed put, just like I asked her to.”
Andrew felt his nostrils flare. “The foals should have been kept in the stable to begin with. It’s safer, more secure...”
His father’s gaze momentarily narrowed before he began to cough.
“Andrew, I need you to stoke the fire for me, please.” Carly’s expression told him she was none too happy with him for calling his father out. He didn’t care, though. It needed to be said. He’d seen enough pain and suffering here at the ranch to know that there was no room for poor choices.
He dutifully tended the fire while Carly helped the old man to his chair.
“I think it would be wise to do another breathing treatment.” She reached for the nebulizer.
“Oh, if I have to,” the old man wheezed.
“Yes, you have to. But what do you say I reward you with some hot cocoa when you’re done?”
Hands clasped in his lap, the old man gave a weak smile. “I’d say things are looking up. Care to join me, Megan?”
“For cocoa? Oh, yeah.”
With his father settled, Carly headed into the kitchen.
Andrew followed, noting there was still a slight hitch in her step. Her ankle had to be killing her. She shouldn’t even be on her feet. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
She pulled the milk from the fridge. “I’m fine. I just needed a little help getting out from under all that weight.” At the stove, she poured the milk into a pan. Added some sugar, cocoa and cinnamon.
He came up behind her, laying a hand against the small of her back. “You know, if it hadn’t been for you, those foals would have been crushed.”
She continued to whisk the mixture as though trying to ignore him. “I’m just glad they listened to me.”
He tucked her damp curls behind her ear. “You’re their mama. They know your voice.”
She peered up at him now, her tremulous smile warming him from the inside out.
What would he have done if something had happened to her? Because if there was one thing tonight had shown him for sure, it was that his feelings for Carly had moved far beyond friendship.
Chapter Twelve
Carly opened her eyes several hours later and stared into the predawn darkness of Andrew’s brother’s bedroom. Beside her, Megan’s even breathing confirmed that she was still sound asleep. No wonder, with all the excitement they’d had last night. Or rather, earlier this morning.
Unfortunately, excitement was becoming all too familiar to Carly. The last two weeks of her life had hovered somewhere between a nightmare and a dream. First the fire, then planning the perfect kitchen, caring for Clint and spending time with Andrew. Time that had involved a plethora of emotions, everything from fear to bliss. Andrew made her feel things she hadn’t felt in forever. Things she’d vowed never to feel again.
So, as she eased out from under the covers now, careful not to disturb her daughter, she couldn’t help wondering what might be in store for her today.
The freezing-cold air sent a shiver down her spine as she tugged her bulky cable-knit sweater over the base layer she’d slept in. The electricity must have finally fallen prey to the storm. Fortunately, when she’d picked up Megan from school yesterday, they’d had time to stop by Livie’s to grab some toiletries and extra clothing.
Stepping into her jeans, she was pleased to discover that the ankle caught in the collapse no longer bothered her. Curious, she put all of her weight onto it.
No pain at all.
When the barn came crashing down on her, she’d feared the worst. Instead, God had protected her and the foals.
She eased into the chair beside the door, sending up a prayer of thanks as she shoved her feet into a pair of fuzzy socks. She also lifted up her concerns for Clint, praying that being out in the wind and freezing temps last night hadn’t set back his recovery. The man needed to be healthy again so he could return to doing the things he loved so much. Such as tending this ranch.
With that in mind, it appeared her mission for today was clear. To see to it that the Stephens men and Megan were taken care of. This blessed assignment had filled that void left by the B and B, giving her purpose once again. One far better than bookkeeping.
Emerging from the bedroom, she softly closed the door behind her so as not to wake Megan and padded silently down the hall.
The faintest hint of light appeared through the picture window in the family room while flames danced behind the glass doors of the wood-burning stove, as though someone had recently stoked the fire. And the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee filled the air.
“Good morning.” The sound of Andrew’s voice sent her heart aflutter.
Rubbing her arms, she turned to see his silhouette approaching from the kitchen. “Morning.”
“Noah went out to fire up the generator.” Andrew stopped in front of her now, coffee mug in hand, the soft glow from the fire illuminating his amazing eyes. “So we should have some lights soon.”
“Lights are good.” But she was more interested in heat. She moved closer to the stove. At least it was warmer out here than in the bedroom.
Then she noticed Clint’s empty recliner. She prayed that he was warm enough in his room and that he was sleeping well.
Turning, Andrew went back to the kitchen. “How’s the foot?” He opened one cupboard, then another, though it was difficult to make out what he was doing.
“Believe it or not, it doesn’t hurt at all.”
“Really?” He continued whatever it was he was doing. “That’s good.” A minute later he returned to her side with a second mug. “One English breakfast tea.”
“Thank you.” She took hold of the cup with both hands, savoring the warmth from both the tea and the gesture. She liked the way Andrew anticipated her needs. And that he’d wanted her and Megan to ride out the storm here at the ranch.
“You have no idea how terrified I was when that barn came down on you.” His expression took on a more simmering mood. His eyes narrowed, his nost
rils flared. “This stupid ranch is nothing but a source of trouble.” His gaze bore into her. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you again.”
Carly froze.
Lost? To lose, one must have possession in the first place. Did he have her? Or her heart, anyway?
Uncomfortable with the intensity of his stare, she took a sip, peering out the picture window at a sea of white. “Looks like things are improving out there.” The ferocious winds of last night had died down, though they still had the capability to send snow drifting across the open range, hindered only by the mountains that stood in the distance.
“Thankfully.” His agitation seemingly waning, he retreated to the overstuffed sofa and motioned for her to join him. “Did you sleep okay?”
After an indecisive moment, she eased onto the comfy cushions. “Like a rock. How about you?”
“Ditto.” He reached his arm around her then, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, caressing her no doubt reckless curls with his fingers. The gesture, as opposed to the cold this time, sent a wave of chill bumps skittering down her arm. “Because I knew you and Megan were safe.”
Her heart raced with anticipation. A thousand what-ifs played across her mind. Were these the actions of an old flame turned friend? Or did Andrew truly feel something more for her?
Movement caught her eye before she could assess things further. Megan shuffled toward them in her fleece pajamas, her strawberry blond hair in full bed-head mode.
“Good morning, sunshine.” Andrew inched over, allowing her to sit between them.
Her daughter gave a sleepy smile as she snuggled between them.
“Sleep well?” Carly laid her head against her daughter’s.
These were the moments she cherished. The quiet times with just her and Megan.
Except it wasn’t just them. Andrew was there, too. And in that moment, it was as if they were a family. Her, Megan and Andrew.
Her heart rate accelerated again. Did she dare to dream? Dare to consider a future that consisted of something besides just her and her daughter?
With Andrew it would be so easy.
But she wasn’t cut out for marriage. Or rather, marriage wasn’t cut out for her.
No, there would be no fairy-tale endings for her. She gave up on dreams when Dennis lost interest in her as his wife. He no longer wanted her. When he died, they were simply two people existing in the same house. Definitely not the kind of marriage she’d envisioned.
She wasn’t about to travel down that road again. A road littered with broken promises and shattered dreams. Besides, Andrew was going back to Denver in a few weeks, anyway. So the sooner she got back to town, back to Livie’s house, back into the B and B, and back to her old life, the better off she’d be.
The lights in the kitchen came on then. The timing couldn’t have been better.
She pushed to her feet. “Breakfast will be ready soon.” And, Lord willing, she and Megan would be on their way back to town shortly thereafter.
* * *
Thanks to a gas stove, they’d just finished a breakfast of pancakes and bacon when Jude called from town to let them know that the power was out all over Ouray proper. Information that suited Andrew just fine. Because the more reasons he had to keep Carly and Megan at the ranch, the better. And since his grandmother’s house had neither a working fireplace nor a generator, there wasn’t any room for Carly to argue.
While she gave his father a breathing treatment, Andrew took Megan to the stables to feed the foals. Now that the wind had died down, things weren’t too bad outside.
“Whose snowmobile?” Megan pointed to the machine Noah had parked outside the stable. Evidently his brother had been too lazy to walk this morning.
“That would be Noah’s.”
“Oh.” She frowned, adjusting her shimmery purple stocking cap.
“What’s wrong?”
“I was just thinking how fun it would be for you, me and Mommy to go for a ride.”
“I see.” He couldn’t say he blamed her. Being cooped up inside was never fun. Especially when you were a kid. And there were no other kids around.
He reached for the door to the stable. “You know, we have two more back at the house.”
“Really?” She stepped inside, her entire face lighting up. “Could you take us for a ride? Oh, please, please, please.” She clapped her purple mittens together.
The sight made him chuckle. Come to think of it, he hadn’t been snowmobiling in forever. Odd, since it was something he’d always enjoyed.
Surrounded by the smell of hay and horses, he looked down at Megan. How could he turn down such a cute plea?
“It’s okay with me. But it’s almost lunchtime, so we’d better wait until after that. And only if your mama agrees.”
“Yay!” She threw her fists into the air like Rocky Balboa and danced around.
“But first we need to feed Elsa and Anna.”
While Megan gave the rapidly growing foals their bottles, he found Noah adding fresh hay to the stalls and put a bug in his ear about her request. He knew good and well that Carly wouldn’t leave his father unless someone was there to look after him.
By the time they arrived back at the house, Carly was at the stove, working on grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.
In her eagerness, Megan practically stumbled right out of her boots trying to get to her. “Mommy, Andrew said he would take us for a snowmobile ride. Please, please, can we go?”
Carly flipped another sandwich. “We’re about to have lunch.”
“No, after lunch.”
Turning ever so slightly, her mother narrowed her pretty blue eyes on him while addressing her daughter. “Sweetie, we’ll need to go home soon.”
He didn’t get it. Carly had seemed fine when she woke up this morning. But ever since breakfast, she’d been more...standoffish. And he didn’t have the slightest clue why.
“Not as long as the electricity is out.” He grabbed a carrot stick from the bowl on the counter and bit off the end. “You two will freeze.”
She pursed her lips, returning her attention to Megan. “Okay, you can go for a short ride after lunch.”
“What about you?” Megan cocked her head, her bottom lip slightly pooched out. “I want you to go, too.”
“I have to take care of Mr. Clint.”
“I can do that.” Noah’s timing couldn’t have been better. “You go on and have fun with Andrew and Megan.”
Now that all of her objections had been overcome...
Andrew lifted a brow. “What do you say, Carly? You used to enjoy snowmobiling when we were kids.”
She removed one sandwich and added more butter to the pan before answering. “I suppose a short ride wouldn’t hurt.”
He wasn’t sure what she considered short, but he planned to make the best of it.
When lunch was over and the kitchen was clean, Andrew and Megan went outside while Carly settled Dad in for a nap. Andrew needed to make sure the largest of the machines, one all three of them could ride on, was gassed up and ready to go.
“This is going to be so much fun.” Megan watched his every move.
He sure hoped so. The whole notion of a snowmobile ride didn’t seem all that appealing to Carly. Something he found rather strange considering she used to plow circles around him when they were younger. A fact she never let him forget.
After returning the gas can to the shed beside the house, he fired up the machine. Revving the engine, he looked at Megan. “Shall we take ’er for a test run?”
No having to ask her twice. She hurried off of the deck and hopped on behind him.
He handed her a helmet. “Safety first.”
She tugged it on, and he helped her fasten it before taking a spin a
round the house.
When they returned, Carly was waiting on the deck, helmet tucked under her arm as she pulled on her gloves. “Are you purposely trying to wake your father?”
He glanced back at Megan, who was wearing the same uh-oh expression he was. “Did we really wake him?”
“No. But with all that racket, you could have.” She slipped her helmet on, then climbed aboard, wedging her daughter between her and Andrew. “Drive someplace away from the house, please.”
He eased on the thumb throttle until they were a good ways from the house before picking up speed. Snow was flying as they bounded over the frozen pasture, headed toward the river. Behind him, Megan wasn’t the only one laughing. Obviously Carly had changed her tune. Or rather, the ride had changed it.
When they reached the river, he killed the engine. They all climbed off the machine and removed their helmets.
“That was so much fun.” Megan’s smile was rivaled only by her mother’s.
“Yeah, it was.” He smoothed a hand over his hair, his gaze drifting to Carly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve done that.”
“Me, too.” Leaving her helmet on the machine, Carly shoved her hands into the pockets of her puffy jacket. “I think the last time I did it was with you.” She surveyed the river and the mountains just beyond. “And I believe we ended up right about here.”
“Can I go exploring?” Megan squinted up at her mother.
“Yes. But stay away from the river.”
“Okay.” The kid took off down the bank, past the large cottonwood tree he and his brothers used to swing on.
He eyed Carly. “Shall we follow her?”
She smiled then. “Please.”
As they walked, his mind flooded with memories. Most of which included Carly. “I guess we used to come down here a lot back in high school.”
She watched her daughter scoop up a mound of snow, shape it into a ball and throw it at a tree. “We sure did. I’ve always loved it out here.”
“Really? Why?”
She sent him a frustrated look. “Andrew, you have got to stop being so negative about this place and focus on all the good things the ranch has to offer.” She swept an arm through the air. “Do you not see this? It’s so peaceful here. It’s easy to understand why your parents loved this ranch so much. They had their own little refuge from the world.”
Their Ranch Reunion Page 12