“Yeah, it is, isn’t it? Healing Winds Therapy Ranch.”
“Well, it certainly helped heal me,” he pointed out.
“Me, too, and with any luck, it will be a healing experience for those who come to it.”
“It will be,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re doing an amazing thing here, and you’re going to help a lot of people. I love the name, especially the healing part.”
“Well,” she replied, smiling, “it’s quite windy on the prairies, so I thought that worked too.”
He chuckled. “It sure is, and yes, it does work. It’s a perfect name, and I can’t wait to see it over the gates.”
She wanted that too, but she could wait to see it. Right now, she only wanted to be with him again, feel him inside her, and then snuggle with him in bed. While agreeing the ranch name she’d conceived was perfect, so was this moment. Rory was back, where he belonged.
Tenderly, she kissed his lips. “I love you, Rory.”
“I love you, too, Saffron.”
She’d told him she was lost without him, he’d told her the same, and she believed him. She also believed they’d been more lost before they met, and that finding one another had brought them both out of their individual emotional prisons. They still didn’t have all the answers, still needed to work through some issues, and they had an uphill path before them. Maybe they were still a little lost, but they’d find their way. Together.
THE END
Coming Soon
After the Rain
Wanted Men of Bison Bluffs Three
Elizabella Hathaway stepped out of her rental car and instantly missed the cool air-conditioned interior. The day was stifling, even at just shy of nine in the morning, and she hated it. Reminding herself she was here to conduct much needed research, she tried to ignore the stench of cow dung as she looked around at the ranch where she’d spend the next two weeks. Everything looked modern, and lacked the rustic feel she was expecting. She sniffed in annoyance, wondering if the men running this place had used filters on the photos she’d seen on their website, to make it look more inviting than she thought the place looked now.
Two men exited a vehicle beside hers and greeted her warmly. She returned the greeting, not truly eager to interact with them but knowing she’d spend at least a few days with these men, depending on the duration of stay they’d booked.
“Excited to get the weekend started?” the younger of the two asked. He was around twenty-five if she had to guess, and doubted he was flirting with her but, then again, some young men were into cougars. Not that she was that much older, mind you, as thirty-two wasn’t old. Really, she was entering her prime as a woman, or so she’d read. The truth of the matter was that her current sexual dry-spell had lasted longer than any other she’d endured, and she began to wonder if men found her attractive any more.
“Sure,” she returned with a slight smile, “it should be fun.” Actually, she didn’t think it would be fun at all, but considered it a necessity in order to write her next book.
“Oh, it’s gonna be a blast,” he enthused. “Well, I guess we’ll see you in there in a bit for orientation.”
When she nodded in response, the two men each extracted a backpack from the trunk of their vehicle, and then walked to the entrance of the building. Figuring they were only there for the weekend with the lack of luggage they had, she moved to the trunk of her car. After pulling out the two rolling suitcases, she then slung her laptop case over one shoulder, then her purse, two more bags over the other, and, taking the rolling cases by their handles, made her way into the building.
Inside, her eyes took in the group of newcomers, all standing with bags either at their feet, or slung over their shoulders. Not spotting anyone with actual luggage, she guessed they were all short-stays, and looked to her side as she drew closer to them, taking in the decorations on the walls. She thought it a blatant attempt to look ‘ranch-like’ with photos of cowboys driving herds of cattle, coiled ropes, and worn cowboy hats adorning the space.
“Whoa!” came a deep voice from before her, and she stopped short, jerking her head back to see she’d almost run into someone. A broad, muscular chest was before her, the few undone buttons on the plaid shirt revealing a patch of dark hair. Slowly her eyes roamed up to an exquisitely handsome face with cerulean eyes, topped with a tan cowboy hat. Holy shit! her excited brain squealed. Now that’s a cowboy!
“I’m sorry,” she said, almost breathlessly.
The man shook his head. “No harm done, ma’am.” As his long fingers tapped the brim of his hat, her heartrate rose. He was all cowboy, right down to the polite mannerisms she expected all cowboys to have. Devastatingly handsome, she hoped he was one of the Carson brothers, the men who ran this getaway ranch, allowing her to spend some time with him over the next two weeks. He was exactly how she pictured the hero of her upcoming book, handsome, virile, confident, and damn sexy.
“Are you one of the Carsons?” she asked. Please say yes, please say yes.
“No,” he replied, causing her heart to drop, “I’m Ethan Collins, I run the ranch you probably passed on your way here. River Rock Homestead.”
Feeling as if she should be taking notes on him, his mannerisms, even the name of his ranch, she nodded, smiling. “I do remember passing it. It looked huge.”
“It’s sizeable,” he agreed with a curt nod. “Twenty-two hundred acres.”
“Oh, um, that sounds big,” she said uncertainly, unsure how big an acre was.
As if reading her thoughts, Ethan’s lips turned up at the corners, and she made a mental note of the gesture, finding it sexy even as he wasn’t quite smiling, and certain he wasn’t flirting with her. Unfortunately.
“An acre is a little more than four thousand square metres,” he offered.
“Oh my, then yeah, that is big.”
“Yes, ma’am. Not quite as big as this ranch though. Then again, this one has a different function.”
“Quite,” she agreed. Then she cocked her head at him. “I’m Elizabella Hathaway.”
She stuck her hand out, hoping he’d shake it, wanting some contact with him, and desiring to prolong their conversation, despite not having anything else to say about the size of ranches. Holding in a delighted squeal when he shook her hand, even if he released it quickly, she watched the polite nod of his head.
“It’s been a pleasure to meet you, ma’am, but I have to be on my way now. Enjoy your stay here.”
“Thank you, and you too.” When he frowned slightly, she shook her head. “I mean, enjoy your ranch.” When a furrowed brow was added to his frown, she again shook her head. “Enjoy working your ranch, or whatever the expression is.”
Certain her cheeks were bright red, she felt like an idiot, but, thankfully, he didn’t call her one, or laugh at her ridiculous rambling in his presence. Instead, he touched the brim of his hat as he dipped his head politely.
“Will do. Again, enjoy your stay.”
With that, he rounded her to head for the door, and she turned to watch him, unable to prevent herself from doing so. The view of him from behind was almost as enticing as the front. Damn, did cowboys know how to wear jeans! Hugging his rounded buttocks, the jeans appeared molded to his body, and she wondered yet again about the propensity most men had for wearing loose pants. Ethan Collin’s rear end made a delectable argument for wearing fitted jeans.
At the sound of a male voice calling for attention, she turned back to see three men standing before the group of newcomers. Taking in a proper look of the men, she wondered if they were the Carsons, or hired help, as she didn’t see a familial resemblance between them, despite them all being brunets.
Holding his hands out, the eldest looking of the men, although all three were young, smiled at the gathered crowd. “Welcome to Heartland, your fantasy ranch experience for the next little while. I’m Shane Carson, proprietor of this establishment, along with my brothers, Zeke,” he motioned to the man standing beside him.
“Some of you are here for the weekend, some for an entire week, and one for two weeks. I’m sure you all will have a fun-filled stay as we offer numerous activities here. First, if y’all wouldn’t mind, let’s get you registered and you can stash your belongings in your assigned bunkhouses before we all meet up here again for orientation.”
Bunkhouse? Had she just heard bunkhouse? Looking around the impressive great room of the giant log home-style building, she was certain it contained rooms for the guests. It was huge. Surely ‘bunkhouse’ was a joke. The price charged for the ‘fantasy ranching experience’ was significant, and certainly warranted a comfortable room for the fee. Three lines formed before the long counter running one wall of the room, one before each brother, and she shuffled to the end of the one in front of Kit, and then patiently waited her turn. When it arrived, he smiled warmly at her as she approached the counter.
“Welcome, ma’am, may I please have your name?”
“Elizabella Hathaway.”
His eyes widened slightly. “Oh, you’re the writer! Wow, I’m glad you got in my line so I met you first.” He thrust his hand out, maintaining his wide smile. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Hathaway. I’m Kit Carson.”
Stifling another giggle, she shook his hand, taking note of how warm it was. Calloused too, no doubt from working the ranch, and a small chill ran through her, wondering how those hands would feel on her body. He tilted his head slightly, and she knew he’d seen her trying not to laugh.
“It’s my name, isn’t it?” he questioned.
“I’m sorry, but yeah, I can’t help it. The website only said Carson brothers, and when I heard your brother introduce you, well, yeah, it, um—”
“Amused you?”
“A little,” she admitted. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he returned with another smile, and a wave of his hand. “It amuses a lot of folks. I’d like to think my dad didn’t know that would happen to me, but then again, he’s quite the jokester so I can’t be sure.”
“And your mother? She obviously went along with it.”
“Yeah, well, story has it he badgered her through her previous pregnancies and she finally gave in with me. She said she made him promise that she alone would name the next baby, who she was certain would be a girl finally, but then they decided they didn’t want any more children, and my dad got a vasectomy.” He winced. “Oh, um, geez, I’ll bet that was a little more information than you’d expected.”
“Just a little,” she replied with a soft laugh.
He joined in, and then shrugged. “Well, let’s get you registered. You’re here for two weeks, and we’ll have lots of time to exchange stories about birth control.” With a wink, he then tapped at the laptop in front of him. “You’re in the Angelicas bunkhouse.” At her screwed-up brow, he elaborated, obviously thinking she didn’t understand the term. “Angelicas were young, unmarried—”
“Women in the old west,” she finished, nodding. “Yeah, I know. No, I’m sorry, did you say bunkhouse?”
“Yes.”
“As in you call them bunkhouses, but really they’re nice, comfy rooms, or cabins?”
“No ma’am. As in we call them bunkhouses, because they’re bunkhouses. This is a working ranch.”
“It’s a fantasy ranch.”
“That provides a working ranch experience. Says so on the website. ‘A genuine ranch experience. Come drive cattle, shear sheep, and embrace days of old’,” he quoted.
“Yeah, I read that, but this is twenty-eighteen. Usually stays at establishments come with comfy rooms.”
“Bunkhouses here,” he responded airily. “There are no other single women booked in during the time you’re here, and truthfully we don’t get many, so you’ll have the entire place to yourself. That’s a bonus.”
“What other bonuses does it come with?”
Picturing a cramped building that somewhat resembled an outhouse, she waited for his answer, hoping it wouldn’t cause her to demand her money back and leave. She had a deadline for the novel, and needed to get this research done promptly, but no way in hell was she doing so in some shitty establishment. Tilting her head expectantly, she drummed her fingernails on the countertop. With a quick look to her busy fingers, he then met her eyes again, and she tried to ignore how lovely they were.
“Most creature comforts you’d expect,” he answered, “and while they are bunkhouses, all come with twin beds with real comfy mattresses. I’m sure you’ll like yours. As I said, you’ll have all the privacy you want.”
“What about Wi-Fi?”
“Oh. Well, reception might be a little shaky in the bunkhouse, but you can always come in here. The router’s here at the front desk.”
Wondering how she could possibly cope with spotty Wi-Fi, she nodded numbly. After signing the registration papers, and receiving a key to the bunkhouse, she struggled to pick up the bags while holding the key, and Kit rounded the counter.
“Here, I’ll help you with your luggage.”
“Thank you.”
His brow creased as his eyes took in the bags and cases. “That’s a lot for two weeks.” When she didn’t comment, he shrugged, and slung her bags over his shoulder, and then reached for her laptop case.
“I’ll take that one,” she snapped, rather more harshly than she’d meant to, but her laptop was an extension of herself at this point, and never out of her sight.
His brow arched as he grabbed the handles of her suitcases, and then led her from the building. Rounding the massive structure, she saw several wooden cabins, the bunkhouses she guessed, as Kit headed toward them, and, although the thought of a glorified outhouse left her mind, they hardly inspired a thought of luxury either. Approaching one clearly marked as ‘Angelicas’, he effortlessly carried her luggage up the few steps to the porch, and then waited for her to unlock the door. Now glad he’d offered to help, knowing she would have struggled with all that weight on the steps, and undoubtedly would have made several trips to get her belongings in the cabin, she held the door open as he entered before her to place her bags on the floor.
Stepping into the bunkhouse, she was mildly surprised at the interior. A sitting area met her eyes with two couches and three recliners grouped around a large coffee table, and a stand holding a sizeable TV. A large bookcase carried a selection of DVDs and paperbacks, and while not exactly high-end, the room felt comfortable. A glance to her side revealed a kitchen area with fridge, stove, and microwave. As Kit spoke again, her attention diverted back to him.
“Everything you need should be in the fridge. We didn’t receive any special requests from you but if you require anything, just let me or one of my brothers know, and we’ll get it for you right away. The bedrooms are through there,” he motioned to a large entranceway leading to
a hallway, “as is the bathroom, and there’s a small laundry room at the end of the hall, should you need it. Again, you’re the only guest in this bunkhouse, so take your pick of bedrooms, and you have the run of the place.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Enjoy your stay, and please, again, talk to me, my brothers, or any of the staff if you require anything else. You’ll meet the hands later, and any of us can assist you. So, get settled, and we’re all to meet back in the reception area at two for orientation, before heading out for our first collective ride.”
“Oh, we’re riding today?”
“Yes, ma’am. Some folks are heading out to drive cattle this afternoon as they’re only here for the weekend. As you’ll be here longer, you and a few others will be eased into the process. All the weekenders have some horseback riding experience though, so they’re eager to dive right in.”
Having never even sat on a horse, she nodded as apprehension of the act took hold of her. Reminding herself he’d said she and some others would be eased into the process, she relaxed somewhat, now intent on having a tea and checking her emails before gathering at the reception area again.
“Okay, that sounds good. Thanks again for your help, and I guess I’ll see you back at reception.”
“You’re welcome, and I’ll see you there,” he responded with a dip of his head and another touch of the brim of his hat. She watched until he left, noting he filled out his jeans as well as Ethan Collins had, and began to wonder if all the men in town were as handsome as Ethan and the Carson brothers. It was a ridiculous thought, but after only being in town a short period of time, and being treated to four delectable men already, she couldn’t help but wonder about the rest of the men. With thoughts of being surrounded by hot men for two weeks filling her mind, she entered the hallway to pick a room, and inspect the washroom.
August 2018
Also by Cynthia Knoble
Chefree
Night’s Companion
Quickies Collection
Find Me
Rescue Me
The Willow Creek Pack
Lost Together Page 24