The Truce (Butler Ranch Book 2)

by Heather Slade

  “You sound like a Texan, Mateo. I haven’t forgotten about you. How could I?”

  “What about me?” asked Sal. It sounded as though Mateo put the call on speaker.

  “You, either. Where are you guys?”

  “Headed to Sonoma for the Wine Country Rodeo.”

  “I’m not far from you. I’m in Carmel.

  It was hard to keep track of where her brothers were this time of the year. July was known in rodeo circles as Cowboy Christmas because there were so many rodeos taking place. If a cowboy got on a roll, he could rack up most of the earnings he’d need to get him to regional finals, and ultimately to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

  “Why don’t you come up?”

  “I’ll see. Might be hard to find a room.”

  “You can always stay in the trailer with us.”

  “Uh, yeah. That won’t be happening.”

  There were a couple of wineries she knew had guest houses. Maybe she’d play her industry card to stay in one for a night or two.

  “I’ll let you know when I figure it out. Hey, as long as I have you on the phone, have you heard from Gabe or Eli lately?”

  “Not a word. Why?”

  “Just wondering. When do you get in?”

  “First round isn’t until the beginning of next week. Thought we’d get there early and taste some wine. Come up whenever you want, it’ll be good to see you.”

  Alex said goodbye, hung up, and closed her eyes. After the long drive, she needed a nap.

  The sun was almost setting when she woke up hungry. She changed out of her now-wrinkled shorts and shirt, put on a sundress and a pair of sandals, and went downstairs in search of Vivienne and a glass of wine.

  Wine, cheese, fruit, and a baguette were waiting in the lobby. Alex poured a glass of the unmarked rosé, made herself a plate, and went to sit in the courtyard. There was a library on the other side of the lobby, so after finding a secluded spot to leave her wine and food, she went in search of a book.

  When she returned a few minutes later, she saw she wasn’t alone any longer. She couldn’t see his face, but the shoulders of the man seated with his back to her were enough to draw her attention.

  Just as she sat, he turned around, and raised his glass. “You must be Alex,” he said.

  “I am. Who are you?”

  “I’m Ridge. Vivienne told me to look for you earlier.” The man rose and walked to where she sat.

  “I’m Noah Ridge. My friends call me Ridge, though.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I might be up near your family’s winery next week.”

  He smiled at her recognition. “On what occasion?”

  “My two youngest brothers, Sal and Mateo, are competing at the rodeo in Sonoma.”

  “What event?”

  “Team-roping. Are you a fan of rodeo?”

  “More than a fan, I’m a retired competitor.”

  Interesting. Alex studied him. What would be his event? He didn’t look like a bull rider, he was too tall. Bronc rider maybe?

  “Bareback riding.”

  “I was going to guess that. Or saddle.”

  “I’m pleased you’ll be there. I’d offer to get you tickets, but I’m sure your brothers will take care of those. Where are you staying?”

  “I’m not sure yet.”

  Ridge reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “You’re welcome to one of the cottages at the winery. Let me know what day you plan to arrive, and I’ll make sure it’s ready for you.”

  “That’s so kind, but—”

  “If you’re about to turn down my offer, I can assure you, you’ll be hard pressed to find a place to stay at all, let alone one as nice as this.” When Ridge smiled, Alex smiled back.

  They’d been chatting for quite a while when Vivienne came into the courtyard and asked if they were interested in having dinner in Aubergine.

  “I don’t have dinner plans this evening, do you, Alex?”

  “I don’t, but Aubergine sounds lovely.”

  Maddox had a copy of the property map in his pocket, and asked Naughton if he’d be up for looking at potential building sites.

  When he grinned but didn’t answer, Maddox knew he’d finally stumbled on Kade’s surprise.

  Naughton led Maddox over a ridge, and stopped Huck when he reached the other side. When Maddox stopped next to him, Naughton pointed.

  “This is the only place I’ve found so far where you can see it.”

  Maddox looked in the direction Naught pointed, and saw what looked like a building obscured by a grove of trees. “What is it?”

  “Let’s find out.”

  16

  It took them twenty minutes to ride the trail down from the ridge and then up the opposite hill.

  “You okay?” Naughton asked.

  “I’m stunned, that’s for damn sure.”

  The building he saw through the trees was actually three buildings. With the use of limestone, travertine, and terracotta tiles on the roofs, all three looked as though they’d been transported straight out of Tuscany.

  A beautiful, travertine, cobblestone driveway narrowed into a pathway that wound into a courtyard edged with wrought iron. Planters were scattered around the space, made of the same color terracotta tile used on the roofs, and there was a fountain Maddox hoped he’d be able to make operational.

  The planters were full of lavender, nasturtiums, rosemary, thyme, and sage. While each was overrun, it wouldn’t take much work to tame them back to what Maddox envisioned was their original beauty.

  Climbing roses and vines that looked more like hops than grapes grew up the sides of the pale-mustard textured stucco, adding vibrant oranges, and contrasting white to the deep green of the leaves. The citrus-floral scent from the flowers took Maddox straight back to the summer months of the year he spent in Europe.

  They tethered the horses out of the heat under a canopy of olive and cypress trees, and Naughton found a spigot with running water.

  “Weirder and weirder,” he mumbled. “Ready to go inside?”

  Maddox nodded. “Although I think I could be perfectly happy spending the rest of my life right in this spot.”

  “It might get better.”

  Heavy wooden doors ordained with the same wrought iron used in the courtyard led into each of the buildings. Going inside, they found sixteen-foot ceilings supported by massive, rustic, dark wooden beams, in what looked as though it had housed the main winery.

  There was ample room in the open space for grape processing, along with barrel and cold storage, fermentation rooms, and even a distillery. There was also an office, lab, and scale room.

  They went back outside, and walked over to the adjacent building that appeared to be unfinished.

  “Tasting room?” Naught asked.

  “No idea, but that would be my guess.”

  It was a gorgeous start, with the same high ceilings and wooden beams found in the main winery, textured walls, and plenty of space to put in a tasting bar, tables, chairs, wine storage, and a retail sales area.

  Maddox followed Naughton back outside and to the final structure.

  The third set of doors led inside to a foyer, where a dramatic and open staircase with a wrought iron railing went to a second floor.

  The right side of the foyer opened to a large sitting room with a dramatic view of the vineyards. To the left was an open kitchen and what appeared to be a grand dining room. The room was lined with windows, all of which looked out over the Pacific Ocean.

  Old lemon pots and sizable antique jars that held plants long-dead, sat on floors that varied from room to room, made either from wood planks or travertine cobblestone.

  Maddox found a small bathroom, but no bedrooms on the main level. At one time the house may have belonged to Lena’s parents, but without any bedrooms on the main level, it would’ve been completely impractical for them to live in once her mother’s illness progressed.

  “How did you keep this a secret?�
� Maddox asked.

  “I’ve never been in it.”

  They turned the corner and came upon another open staircase, leading down to a basement.

  “Now we know how the barrels were moved into the caves.”

  The basement of the main house appeared to be connected to the two other buildings through a series of tunnels. A conveyor system large enough to move barrels of wine led to what had to be another entrance to the caves.

  There were large doors, similar to the alley doors on the barn at Butler Ranch, that opened to another cobblestone pad and beyond, to a single-lane dirt road.

  “Where does that go?” Maddox asked.

  “No idea, but we’ll know soon.”

  Maddox looked where Naught pointed, and saw Lena’s Mercedes CLS400 barreling toward them.

  “I have enjoyed our conversation this evening very much, Alex.”

  “I have too, Ridge. Thank you.” She laughed. “Doesn’t it get confusing? Ridge from Ridge?”

  He laughed too. “Only my friends call me Ridge. Everyone else calls me Noah. How long will you be here at L’Auberge?”

  “I’m not sure, maybe a couple more days. I was headed to Post Ranch Inn today, but was too tired to keep driving, so I stopped to see Vivienne and her family.”

  “What a coincidence. I’m here for two more days, and then heading to Post Ranch myself.”

  Ridge told her earlier he handled wine sales for his family’s winery, which must’ve been the reason he was at L’Auberge and also headed to Big Sur.

  “Maybe we can have dinner again.”

  “I’d like that.” As much as Alex wanted to get away from wine industry talk, Ridge didn’t dwell on it, and neither did she.

  “What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked.

  “No idea.”

  “I have meetings in the morning, but I planned to visit Mission Carmel, and then Point Lobos in the afternoon. I’d love it if you’d join me.”

  “Sounds nice.”

  Ridge walked her to the elevator. “I’m on this floor, so I’ll say goodnight.”

  “Thank you again for dinner.”

  “It was my pleasure, Alex Avila. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”

  Alex swooned when the elevator door closed behind her. Noah Ridge was exactly the type of man to help her forget all about Maddox Butler.

  “You found it.” Lena climbed out of the car, and walked over to where they stood. “What do you think?”

  Maddox turned in a circle looking out at the different vistas.

  “Did you live here?”

  “No, and neither did my parents. No one has since my grandfather died.”

  “This belonged to your grandfather?”

  “It did, and back in the day, it was really something. I have such wonderful memories of this place. It’s been years since I’ve come up here.”

  Lena’s eyes were misty, but behind her tears, Maddox saw happiness, something he hadn’t seen before today.

  “How old were you the last time you were in any of these buildings?”

  “I was thirteen when my grandfather died, so shortly before that. He was very ill at the end, and my parents kept me away from him.”

  “That must’ve been rough.”

  “It was, but it had to have been far worse for my mother. It wasn’t long before he died that she learned she had Parkinson’s too. Watching his final days must’ve been like looking into her future. I think that’s why she never wanted to live in this house.”

  “It belonged to your mother’s parents?” Naught asked.

  “Yes. It’s odd that everyone always calls it the Hess estate. Even my father never knew how it got started.”

  “What was your mother’s maiden name?” asked Maddox.

  “Demetrius. When I was growing up, this estate was called Demetria.”

  There it was. He knew it as soon as he heard it. Demetria. That would be the name of his and Naught’s new winery. He looked over at Naughton, who clearly had the same idea.

  “Lena, how would you feel—”

  “I’d love it.”

  “How did you know what I was going to ask?”

  “It’s perfect, Maddox. What else would you name it?”

  Lena invited them to dinner the next night, and promised to show them photos of how the estate looked back when it was an active winery.

  “I bet she has great stories,” Naught said on their ride back along the dirt road.

  Maddox nodded. He remembered thinking just a couple days ago that this land might be cursed. Instead, he saw it more clearly now—it was blessed. A gift from his brother. A gift from Heaven.

  Shortly after Alex woke up the next morning, she heard a rap at the door.

  “Just a minute, please.” She pulled on the downy, white robe that hung in the closet, and opened the door.

  “Bon matin!” sang Vivienne, who was holding a tray laden with fresh-brewed coffee in a French Press, what Alex knew were fresh croissants, and fruit.

  “Alas the rose is not from me, Alex. It is from your not-so-secret admirer.”

  “Really?” Alex grinned.

  “Oui. Monsieur Ridge brought it to me this morning in this beautiful bud vase, and asked that it be delivered with your breakfast.”

  “Wow. It’s so…so…”

  “Romantic, n’est pas? Do you know the meaning of a coral rose, Alex?”

  Alex shook her head, still staring at the rose.

  “Le désir du cœur.”

  Alex raised her eyebrows, and felt the heat in her cheeks.

  “The heart’s desire. What did you talk about at dinner last night, mon ami?” Vivienne winked.

  “I have no idea,” Alex murmured, following Vivienne to the table by the window where she set the tray.

  “Bon appétit. I’ll see you later?”

  “Yes, and thank you so much, Vivienne.”

  “It appears the pleasure is all yours, my friend,” she said before closing the door behind her.

  Alex walked over to the bedside table, and picked up the romance novel she began reading last night. She’d only read a handful of pages when she fell asleep, but it would be the perfect accompaniment to her breakfast this morning.

  Her phone pinged. Missed you last night, said the text from Maddox. She hadn’t seen the one he sent the night before, asking her to call before she went to bed.

  Not knowing what to reply, Alex didn’t. If she was going to move on from her dead-end relationship with Maddox. He couldn’t text her every day, and if he did, she wouldn’t answer.

  Mid-morning, Alex went down to the courtyard, and sat in the sun reading her book. When had she last felt this relaxed? Alex got lost in her book until Ridge sat in the chaise next to her.

  “You’re turning pink, Alex.”

  “You’re back early.” Alex looked at her phone, astonished to see it was already one in the afternoon. “Wow. I guess you’re not back early.”

  “Good book?”

  “Hmm? Yes, it’s very good.” She fanned the pages. “I can’t remember the last time I read more than halfway through a book. This one I might actually finish.”

  “Would you prefer to skip our afternoon excursion, and finish your book?”

  “No, not at all.” She set the book on the table. “It’ll give me something to do tomorrow.”

  Ridge smiled.

  “What?”

  “I may have a couple ideas that will keep you busy.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Does the Monterey Bay Aquarium or Seventeen Mile Drive interest you?”

  “Maybe. Let’s see how our adventures go this afternoon. By the way, thank you for the rose this morning.”

  “You’re welcome. I noticed you had a glass of rosé yesterday afternoon. I thought the color suited you.”

  “Oh.” Alex was mortified thinking the rose meant something more. She’d have a word with Vivienne when she saw her too.

  “Shall we?” Ridge held out his hand.
>
  “Should I change?”

  “No, Alex. I like you very much just as you are.”

  She smiled. “I meant my clothes.” She was wearing a pair of shorts, a tank, and sandals.

  “Up to you, but you might want to grab a jacket, in case it gets chilly later.”

  “Be right back.”

  Alex thought about taking the stairs rather than waiting for the elevator, but who knew how much walking she and Ridge might do this afternoon. She had to keep reminding herself that her body was far from recovered from her surgery.

  When she came back down to the courtyard, she was wearing white capri jeans and a sleeveless, peach silk blouse. Instead of her usual three-inch heels, Alex put on a pair of patterned, ankle, cowboy boots with a low, square heel, comfortable enough to walk in for hours. She’d let her hair down, but didn’t bother putting on any makeup since her morning in the sun gave her plenty of color.

  Ridge looked her up and down. “Wow!”

  Alex smiled, and put her arm through his when he offered it.

  Vivienne met them on their way out of the courtyard, carrying a large picnic basket, and a blanket. “Anything else I can get you?” she asked Ridge.

  “Can’t think of a single other thing I’ll need,” Ridge answered Vivienne, but his eyes never left Alex’s.

  Vivienne’s brother held the door of the deep gray, F-type, convertible Jaguar open for her, but after she was seated, Ridge closed it behind her.

  “Nice car,” she said when he came around and sat in the driver’s seat.

  “Thanks. It makes the long sales’ trips a little more fun.”

  “I’ll say.” Alex ran her hands over the rich, deep tan leather that reminded her of her favorite saddle. She’d never been very interested in cars. She had a BMW four-series, but only bought it because she liked Peyton’s. Hers was light gray, Peyton’s was black, otherwise they were identical.

  “So, Alex…”

  “Yes, Ridge.”

  “How much do you know about roses, and what the different colors are said to mean?”

  “Quite a bit, actually. At least about coral-colored roses.”