by Connie Mann
And wouldn’t Blackwell love to scoop it up for almost nothing during foreclosure? “That won’t happen, because we haven’t done anything wrong. In fact, we’ve done everything right.”
“That may be, but Ms. Jackson seems a determined sort, doesn’t she, with what appears to be an uncanny knack for shining a light on things folks would rather keep dark.”
“I appreciate the concern, but Sutton Ranch is not for sale,” Cole repeated. He strode to the door and held it open, waited for the other man to walk through. “Have a nice day.”
“Don’t be too quick to dismiss my offer, Sutton. It may be the best one you’re going to get.”
Cole shut the door behind Blackwell and turned to his mother. “What gives, Ma? Why was he sitting here like this wasn’t his first visit?”
His mother still wouldn’t meet his eyes. “We’ve run into each other in town a time or two. He’s not the monster people make him out to be.”
“He’s buying up all the ranches in the area, and he threatened me with his shotgun years ago.” Though given the circumstances, he didn’t hold the shotgun incident against the man. He tried to lighten the mood. “And he looks like a smarmy used-car salesman.”
That last got a chuckle out of his mother, as he’d hoped it would. He leaned over, kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you later. Quit fraternizing with the enemy.”
She waved him away, though she still looked troubled. Cole decided he’d push for answers later. Right now he had a ranch to save.
Chapter 10
Eve drove down the dirt road to Cole’s ranch, a plate of homemade cookies riding shotgun. She’d apologized last night, but she felt something more was needed after the way she’d behaved. At least that’s what she told herself on the way over.
As she drove down the long ranch driveway, she searched for signs of Cole, but didn’t see him. She opened her door, stepped out, and there he stood, looking like a magazine ad for well-worn jeans. Or boots. Or . . . something.
Today he wore a straw cowboy hat and white T-shirt, and she caught sight of his rope tattoo where it wrapped around his bicep. Oh my. She would have fanned herself, but she didn’t want to look like any more of an idiot than she already did. She clicked her mouth shut, afraid her tongue was hanging out.
“Eve. What brings you out here again? Doing more research?”
The sarcasm stung, but she figured she deserved that. She extended the plate of chocolate chip cookies. “I came by to apologize in person.” His rigid stance softened a bit, so she added, “And to thank you for the help with my car.”
“My pleasure. But you didn’t have to make cookies.” He took one, ate it in one bite. “But thanks. These are really good.”
Eve felt the compliment all the way to her toes. But then she shook her head, determined to stay focused. She took a deep breath, met his eyes so she could gauge his reaction. “So last night about ten thirty, Blaze and I were coming back from Stuff Mart and saw Richard Blackwell and Hector having a heated discussion in town.”
Cole didn’t say anything, just turned and scanned the area. “Did you hear what they were saying?”
“No. But they seemed surprised to see anyone. Workers were striping the main road, so we’d been routed a back way.”
“I appreciate the information. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”
“I’m really not trying to cause you trouble, Cole. I’m trying to find the truth.”
He studied her long enough that she wanted to squirm. Then his gaze slowly ran down her torso to her sandaled feet and back up. He shook his head. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Before she could respond, he disappeared back inside the house. Eve looked around at the tidy yard around the ranch, the aging but well-kept buildings, and the feeling of hostility that hovered in the air. A quick turn toward the barn and she spotted Buzz watching her from the open door. He spit tobacco juice, sent her another glare, and disappeared inside the building.
Seconds later, Cole returned and shoved a pair of cowboy boots in her direction. “These are my sister’s, but they should fit you well enough. If you’re going to be snooping around out here, you need the proper footwear.”
Eve looked from the well-worn boots to her flimsy sandals and back up to Cole’s unreadable expression. “Um, thank you. I, ah, appreciate it.”
He reached into one of the boots and pulled out a pair of socks. “You’ll want these, or you’ll have blisters.”
“Thank you.” The silence lengthened, and she wasn’t sure if she should put them on, or leave, or . . .
He nodded. “Put ’em on. I’ve got a few things to show you.”
Right. Eve leaned against the car and quickly pulled on the socks and boots, which fit almost perfectly. She felt a tad ridiculous in her linen shorts and silk top, but she didn’t have time to worry about any of that. Cole started off toward the barn at a fast clip, so she tossed her sandals into the car and hurried to catch up.
Inside the barn, Cole stopped in front of one of the stalls and showed her a very pregnant cow. “She should be ready any day now.”
Eve watched as he spoke softly to the cow, who gazed at him with adoring brown eyes. He rubbed her between the eyes, and you could feel the cow relaxing under his gentle touch. Eve couldn’t look away from those strong hands, couldn’t avoid the pull of that deep baritone.
She had taken a step forward before she realized what she was doing and stopped herself. The man had a pull all his own. What would it be like to have that smooth voice whispering in her ear, feel those strong arms stroking her skin? She shook off the thought and with it the realization it had been a very long time since anyone but family had touched her.
“Right?”
Eve blinked and saw Cole watching her, one side of his mouth crooked up in a grin that sent a thrilling little zing straight through her. No man had made her nerve endings quiver like that in, well—OK, she had to admit it—years. What a sad commentary on her life. But she’d been busy, sheesh.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on in that pretty head of yours? You look like you’re debating something.”
Truth be told, she’d spent a precious few seconds debating throwing herself into his arms just to see if that rock-hard chest felt as good as it had when he’d carried her to her car. A flush crept over her cheeks at the thought, and she cleared her throat. “Ah, I was just thinking that your cows are lucky to have you.”
He raised a brow and flashed her a quick grin, and Wow was all Eve could think. Was there anything better looking than a smiling cowboy?
But just as fast his smile vanished, and Eve wondered where she’d stumbled verbally this time. He turned and strode down the barn’s long center aisle as she hurried to keep up. When he stopped at a small office, she followed him in to the battered desk that sat against one wall. It was surrounded by a file cabinet, three saddles, and all kinds of ranchy-looking stuff she couldn’t begin to identify.
He plucked a straw cowboy hat from a peg on the wall and plopped it on her head. It slid down and covered her eyes. “Nope. Too big.” He took the first away and replaced it with a smaller one. “Try this one.” It fit perfectly. When she turned to look at him, he grinned. Time seemed to freeze, and for one suspended instant a look flashed through his eyes Eve couldn’t identify. It vanished so fast she was sure she’d imagined it. She must have, because for a second it looked as though he wanted to kiss her.
Which was ridiculous, right?
He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go. I want to show you something.”
Eve hurried to match his pace, not wanting to risk him releasing her hand. What kind of hermit had she become that this simple gesture had her heart galloping in her chest? She really had to get out more.
He led them back down the center of the barn and out the door on the other side. Eve blinked while her eyes adjusted, surprised to see rows of strawberry plants stretched out in either direction.
“Are you good to walk a ways?” he
asked.
Cole kept a firm grip on Eve’s hand, unwilling, suddenly, to let her go. The woman tied him up in knots. Confident and running full steam ahead for her causes, she stuttered and stammered whenever he smiled at her. He found he liked smiling at her, a lot.
Which, when he thought about it, was crazy, since the woman could cause all kinds of problems. Maybe that was part of why he wanted to show her around, make her understand that they were on the same side, in a way. He was a rancher, sure, and he was expanding the farming side, but he was determined to do it in an environmentally friendly way.
“We’ve always grown enough for a small farm stand, but this year we expanded it and found a few local restaurants to buy our produce.”
“How do you fertilize it all?” Eve asked, as he’d known she would.
“We have what we call a fertigation system, which means it’s a way to irrigate and fertilize at the same time, but that way we have all kinds of control over the amount of fertilizer. We use just enough to keep the plants healthy, but not enough to harm the aquifer.”
“What about pesticides?”
“We check the plants every day and are trying to avoid using any at all.”
“That’s risky, isn’t it?”
“It can be. But we’re hoping the risk will pay off with better crops.”
Suddenly Eve stiffened, and her dusky skin paled. She stopped dead in her tracks and wouldn’t move, even when he tugged lightly on her hand.
“Eve? What’s wrong?”
Her eyes were fixed on a point in the strawberry field, and he followed her gaze but didn’t see any cause for alarm.
“Bees,” she whispered.
“Are you afraid of them?” He couldn’t imagine Eve afraid of much, except maybe her feelings.
“Allergic. Deathly.” The words were a mere whisper, and she had started inching backward.
“Do you carry an EpiPen?”
“Always, but it’s in my car.”
He moved closer and whispered, “I’ve got you. We’ll just ease back until we’re safely out of range, OK?”
Her nod was barely perceptible, but he kept her moving slowly in the right direction. Her eyes never left the bees, not until they were too far away to see them anymore. Then she let out a sigh and collapsed against him. He could feel her trembling, so he wrapped an arm around her to steady her, taking in her clean scent and the way her cloud of hair tickled his chin. “It’s OK,” he murmured, trying to erase the panic that lingered in her eyes.
After several minutes, she eased away and her color returned. “Sorry about that. Bees, ah, make me a little nervous.”
“I’m guessing there’s a story behind the EpiPen.”
“There is. College. Maybe I’ll tell you one day.”
“Why don’t you grab it and we’ll keep going?” When she hesitated, he added, “Or not.”
“No, that’s fine. I’d love to see more. I just, ah—”
They heard voices and saw Buzz, Hector, and Uncle Duane walking toward them with Leon Daughtry, obviously debating something. All four stopped short when they saw him with Eve. Cole was surprised to see a nasty bruise on Buzz’s jaw.
“What’s she doing here?” Uncle Duane demanded.
Cole shifted so he stood slightly in front of Eve. “I might ask you the same question.”
“I’m family. This here is part of my heritage. She’s nothing but a reckless do-gooder, meddling in things that don’t concern her, stirring up trouble.”
Cole waited until he wound down, then ignored everything he’d said. “What brings you out here, Uncle Duane?”
“I came to see you.”
“You found me. What can I do for you?” Cole would bet his best cow he knew, but he wouldn’t make it easy.
“Your mama said you still ain’t selling. I made a decent offer, boy.”
“Mama is right. We’re not selling. The offer isn’t the point.”
“You just don’t want me to have this property, even though it’s what your pa wanted.” Duane moved closer, and Cole held his ground. “You owe him this. And me.”
“I don’t owe either one of you a thing except respect for your place in my life. Which is all that’s keeping me from throwing you off our land.”
As always, his uncle puffed up, sputtering his outrage. He turned to Buzz. “You gonna let him talk to me that way?”
Buzz flicked his eyes from one to the next. Then he pulled off his hat, ran a hand over his crew cut. “I think he’s making a mistake, Duane, about a lot of things, but”—he shrugged—“it’s his funeral.”
“Not yet, but it might be.” Duane spun on his heel and stomped back toward his truck. Cole watched him go, then turned his attention to Buzz, Hector, and Leon. “Did you need me for something?”
“Hector and I are headed out to check fences while Leon takes another look at that stubborn generator. After, Hector and I plan to make a supply run to town.”
Cole nodded to the big man, whose expression was hidden under the brim of his ball cap. “I appreciate it, Leon. If anyone can fix that ornery piece of equipment, it’s you.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“Did you need anything, boss?” Hector grinned, because he knew Cole hated when he called him that.
“I’m good, thanks. I’ll text you if I think of anything.”
Hector grinned again and tipped his hat to Eve. “Ma’am.” Then he and Buzz walked back the way they’d come. Cole watched them go, wondering what that was all about. They didn’t normally just show up to talk to him. They sent a text or left a note somewhere.
“They were fighting this morning,” Eve said.
Cole studied her face. “Who?”
“Duane and Buzz. They got into a shoving match at the marina, and Duane ended up in the water.”
“I take it that’s where Buzz got the bruised jaw?”
When Eve nodded, his unease grew, but he decided to think about that later. He held out a hand and waited, wondering if she’d refuse, but then she put her hand in his as they walked back to her car. Cole decided he liked the feel of her small hand in his. Maybe too much.
“Leon works for you?” Eve asked.
“He does work for most of the outfits around here. I don’t think there’s a machine ever made that Leon can’t fix, so he’s a busy man.”
Eve grabbed her EpiPen, and he led her up and down the rows of vegetables; broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, and peas all marched in nice, neat rows.
Halfway down she stopped, shaded her eyes. “This is really impressive. I had no idea you had all this back here.” Eve stood on her tiptoes and pointed to the edge of the field. “So, are those blueberries I’m seeing?”
Cole grinned at the excitement in her voice. “They are. Let’s go.”
She practically skipped over to the bushes, smiling like a kid on Christmas morning. Cole hurried to keep up with her, enjoying watching her. Once there, he plucked several of the berries and held them out to her.
“Wow, these are huge!” She swallowed, then practically jumped up and down. “Can I have a few more?”
“You can have all you want.”
“Better be careful. You haven’t seen how many berries I can eat.”
He indicated the rows of bushes. “I’m not worried.”
Eve flashed him another of those amazing grins of hers and then ducked her head and went back to oohing and aahing over the berries like she’d never seen such bounty in her life.
Cole wandered the rows next to her, soaking in her carefree excitement over such a simple pleasure. Had he ever enjoyed something with such abandon? He stepped closer, and she almost bumped into him when she stood. “Don’t they have blueberries near where you live?”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “Of course, but I live in the city, cowboy. So ours come in little boxes at the grocery store.” She looked at him. “What?”
“Your tongue is blue. From the berries.” Without planning to, his hand cupped
her cheek and he moved closer, wanting, suddenly, to taste the berries on her tongue.
The laughter in her eyes turned to surprise as they stared at each other. He moved closer, giving her time to change her mind. At the last second, she turned her face away, and his lips brushed her cheeks.
He eased back, disappointed, and watched her pluck another handful of berries.
When she turned back to him, he raised a brow and she shrugged.
They spent the next hour wandering up and down the rows, and Cole wondered when he’d ever enjoyed a woman’s company more.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry about your father’s passing, but I haven’t known quite how to work that into the conversation.”
So much for his sense of peace. He kept his expression neutral.
“Had he been ill?” As soon as she said the words, Eve held up a hand. “Sorry. None of my business.”
Cole didn’t like to talk about his father, ever, but somehow he knew she would understand complicated family relationships. Hers certainly were. “It’s fine. Yeah, he had heart problems. Had several stents put in over the years.”
“Were you guys close?”
Cole looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “Come on, Eve. I know you remember what happened in high school.”
She shrugged and grabbed another handful of berries. “I do. But I hoped you guys worked that all out years ago.”
“My father wasn’t a forgive-and-forget kind of guy.” He hated the bitterness that coated his tongue as he said the words. He thought he’d finally put the past and his father’s ugly words—and actions—behind him. Apparently, not far enough.
She looked at him then, big brown eyes full of sympathy. “I’m sorry to hear that, truly. Family is everything.”
He shrugged as though it didn’t matter. “Depends on the family, I guess.” Eager to return to their earlier camaraderie, he stepped in front of her and bent his knees. “Climb on; I’ll give you a ride.”