Alarm shot through Jeremy. What if Crystal was sick? Passed out cold while these bozos stood around and laughed? He ignored the other men and ran toward the porch.
When he turned the corner, he skidded to a stop. She was lying in the big wooden rocker, a down-filled blanket wrapped around her like a cocoon. Definitely asleep. He tiptoed toward her. Her blond hair framed her face; long, sweeping eyelashes touched her cheeks.
On the third step, the wood squeaked loudly. He froze.
Her bright blue eyes popped open and focused on him immediately.
“Good morning,” he said softly.
She frowned and looked past him at the yard. “Morning?”
He watched her face as reality dawned. She almost fell as she scrambled to sit upright, still swathed in the blanket.
He rushed toward her. “Hey ... it’s okay.”
She leaned forward and peered out at the barn where the guys were still huddled. “Hmph,” she offered, a half laugh, half grunt. “I feel like an idiot.”
“You shouldn’t. Sometimes when sleep finally comes, it hits like a hammer.”
She nodded, her smile embarrassed. “Thanks. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be ready to work in about ten minutes.”
“Want me to go ahead and get the assignments off of Aaron’s desk in the barn and hand them out?”
She clutched the blanket around her neck and rested her chin on her fists. “Would you? That would be so great.”
“Sure. Aaron said it’s been a while since the north-side fences have been checked. Okay if we do that today?”
“Sounds perfect. I’ll be down there in a few minutes.”
On his way back to the barn, Jeremy chuckled to himself.
Sleeping Beauty.
Slim had pegged that right.
***
Crystal ran through the living room, grabbed some clean clothes, and ran up the stairs. “Haven’t you ever heard of an alarm clock?” she grumbled to herself.
Why had she assumed that as soon as the sun rose over the horizon, she’d wake up? Actually, she’d felt certain she wouldn’t sleep at all. But one thing she’d never imagined was being found on the porch swing like a bum on a park bench. Her face reddened at the memory as she tore off her Razorback sweat suit. After a quick shower, she wriggled into her jeans and shirt and looked in the mirror. Definitely a ponytail day.
Less than twenty minutes after she woke up on the porch, she walked into the barn office. Not bad for a girl who used to take major grief in the mornings for hogging the bathroom.
Jeremy looked up from the desk. “You just missed Slim and the guys.”
She grimaced. “Probably just as well. I guess they saw me snoring on the porch?”
“’Fraid so.” He winked. “Slim was trying to bribe one of them to wake you when I got here.” He shoved the chair back and stood.
“Oh no. I’ll never live this down.”
“Well, I just wouldn’t break into song with birds flying around or go near any spinning wheels,” he called over his shoulder as he walked out the door into the main tool storage area.
She groaned again and followed him. “Sleeping Beauty?”
“The one and only.”
He tossed her a pair of heavy leather gloves, which she stuck in her back jeans pocket.
While Jeremy heaved a roll of wire into the back of the little four-by-four farm-utility vehicle, she flipped open the toolbox and gave the contents a cursory inspection. Several pairs of fencing pliers and plenty of wire clips. Perfect. She lifted the toolbox in beside the wire and turned to face him. “You’re awfully familiar with fairytales.”
He glanced up from where he was now checking the gas and oil in the small chainsaw. “I’ve read that one and watched the movie often enough to recite it by heart.”
“Beka’s favorite?” As soon as the words left her lips, she realized he might rather not talk about his daughter.
But he smiled. “She loves it.”
“She’ll be back with you soon to watch it again.”
“From your mouth to God’s ears.”
She blushed. Maybe once upon a time. But no more.
He loaded the chainsaw in the back of the tiny vehicle and motioned to her to get in. He opened the driver’s door, slid in under the wheel, and then froze. He glanced at her. “I didn’t think to ask. Did you want to drive?”
She shook her head and fastened her lap belt. “You’re not typical, you know that?”
“I’m not?” He started the motor and backed out into the main barn area. “Why?”
She shrugged. “Even before New York, the local boys”—she raised her eyebrows—“not counting my brothers of course—treated me like I was a ‘little lady.’ Aaron spent half his time getting Luke out of fights he’d get into defending my tomboyishness.”
He laughed and hit the gas. “I can see Luke doing that.” He glanced across at her. “So I don’t treat you like you’re a ‘little lady’?”
She laid her head back against the seat. The breeze felt so crisp on her face. “I thought you were going to. When you made that”—she deepened her voice in an imitation of his—“‘not many ranches in New York City’ remark.” She cut her gaze toward him, curious to see his reaction.
“Hey, can’t a guy be surprised? I make it a habit not to judge a book by its cover. But in your case, it’s pretty much impossible not to.” He pulled up to the closed gate leading from the barn lot into the pasture.
“Thanks for trying.” She jumped out and opened the red metal gate. As soon as he drove through, she pulled it shut and climbed back into the utility vehicle.
He pushed his hat back on his head a little and looked at her. “You up for a detour?”
She motioned toward the wide open spaces around them. “Being here for the next six weeks is a major detour, believe me. But what did you have in mind?”
A frown flitted across his face so fast she thought she might have imagined it. “Nothing big. I just thought we might swing by the cavern area and see if we can see Anastasia and baby.”
“I’d love to. Do you think we’ll be able to find her?”
“We’ll give it our best shot.”
Twenty minutes and six Anastasia look-alikes later, Crystal was starting to think that the cow had been a figment of their imaginations. Every time they got close enough to a cow to really identify her, the markings were different. Three of the faux Anastasias even had tiny brown and white calves. “You can tell it’s calving season around here,” she grumbled as they drove over another hill.
The utility vehicle stopped suddenly. “That’s her, isn’t it?” Jeremy said, pointing to the cow and calf nearest them.
“Yes. Definitely.”
“The calf looks great.”
“Happy,” Crystal agreed.
“Happy?” Jeremy frowned at her. “How can you tell when a calf is happy?”
“Oh, never mind. But the little guy needs a name.”
“Naming a calf out here is asking for heartache.”
“You’re the one who named his mama.”
He sighed. “Only because you made fun of me for calling her Bess.”
“Prince.”
“What?”
She lifted her chin. “We’ll call him Prince.”
“You’re naming a calf Prince? Like the singer?”
“No, silly. Like the happily-ever-after kind.”
“Don’t look now, but your tomboy image is getting a little frilly around the edges.”
She laughed. “I am what I am. I really don’t worry about that anymore.”
“I’m glad.” He sounded really pleased with her answer.
And she was ridiculously pleased that he was pleased.
By quitting time, she was so tired she didn’t care who was pleased about what. Amazing what a day of hard physical labor could do to a body. She’d kept in shape in New York. Or so she thought. Until now.
When Jeremy suggested calling it a day, it was all she could do to keep fro
m clapping. “Sounds like a plan,” she said, with what she hoped was a jaunty smile but was probably more of a grimace.
“You okay?” he asked as they approached the barn lot.
“Fine. You?”
He nodded, but when they pulled up to the gate, he jumped out and opened it, quickly climbed back in and drove through, then got out again.
“I could—”
He was gone to close it behind them then back in a flash.
“I could have gotten the gate.”
“Different activities work different muscles. You’re probably going to be pretty sore tomorrow from hauling those limbs off of the fence.”
“Tomorrow?”
He chuckled as he maneuvered the little utility vehicle into the barn. “You look like you could fall out any minute. Do you want me to pick you up some supper? I usually run into town and grab a bite.”
She shook her head. “I just need to get a shower. Mama left a big pot of stew in the refrigerator. But thanks anyway.”
“Okay, then. You go on to the house and I’ll put everything away.”
Grateful, she started out the door then turned back. “Um, Jeremy...”
He looked around at her and cocked his head.
“That is one huge pot of stew. I called a while ago and tried to get Luke and Elyse to eat supper with me, but he’s working late and she’s got a dog club meeting. So I was wondering...” Do you want to stay for supper and keep me from having to spend the evening in that empty house alone? “Are you hungry?”
A grin split his tan face. “So I’m a last resort to avoid eating by yourself? I’m flattered.”
Heat rushed up her neck, but she forced a smile. “Not really the last resort.” She nodded outside where they’d driven past Slim and the other guys packing up for the day. “If you’re not hungry, I’m sure somebody out there would like to eat supper with Sleeping Beauty.”
His grin grew wider.
“They would,” she insisted. “Mama makes the best beef stew in the country and everybody knows it.”
“I’m sure they would eat with you even if your mother was the worst cook there ever was.” Jeremy took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll run home and take a shower and be right back. Truth is my house gets pretty empty at night, too.”
She’d known that was the case. Had counted on it, actually—this makeshift supper helping both of them. But in keeping with the light air she was going for, she put her hands to her heart. “Now it’s my turn to be flattered. Supper will be ready in about an hour.”
“Great. See you then.”
After he left, she took a quick shower because her aching muscles made it plain that if she gave into the bubble bath temptation, she’d never get out. After she dried off, she examined her meager wardrobe. What did a country girl turned city girl turned country girl wear to a non-date meal in the kitchen with a good-looking but totally friends only cowboy? The first thing she grabbed. In this case, jeans and a plain blue T-shirt. She pulled her damp hair up into a messy bun and put a little clear gloss on her chapped lips.
In the kitchen, she turned the burner on under the stew and snagged a loaf of wheat bread from the bread keeper. She slathered the slices with garlic butter and sprinkled shredded cheese on top. When the preheat light went off on the oven, she slid the pan of toast inside and set the timer.
She set plates and bowls and silverware on the table as she listened to the tick-tick-tick of Mama’s old-fashioned egg timer. Just like the timer in her mind counting down the days until her parents came back and she went back to the city.
As she set the table for two, she remembered Aaron’s warning her about flirting with Jeremy. Surely even her cautious brother would agree that tonight’s invitation hadn’t been flirting. And Jeremy obviously understood that, too. She’d seen the compassion in his eyes. He might not understand why she didn’t want to be alone, but he could sympathize. And beautiful friendships had started based on less than that.
CHAPTER 10
Jeremy stood on the porch and considered tossing the fragrant blooms into the shrubs next to the house. He’d had the truck windows down on the way over here, and when the scent of newly blossomed honeysuckle had drifted in he’d given in to the impulse to stop and break off a small limb to bring to Crystal. But now that he was on the porch, misgivings outweighed good intentions. Her enthusiasm for the ranch made him forget that she’d spent the last several years, no doubt, accustomed to hothouse bouquets in elegant vases.
Before he could decide, the door abruptly opened. “I thought I heard you lurking out here.” Her face lit up when she saw the honeysuckle. “For me?”
He nodded and shoved it into her hands. “Be careful. The stem may be sharp.”
She held the blooms to her nose and inhaled. “Thank you. Is there any better smell?”
Jeremy smiled. “My grandma used to say that honeysuckle was what she always imagined heaven would smell like.”
She nodded and stepped back. “Come on in while I get something to put it in.”
He walked into the living room, but her voice drifted back to him. “I thought we’d eat in the kitchen if that’s okay.”
He followed her slowly into the big kitchen and smiled at the huge, long wood table in the center. Hard to believe he’d never been in the McCord house before as many times as he’d been at the ranch. It was as warm and inviting as the family itself.
He glanced toward the booth in the corner, a small ceramic-top table set for two. Beside it, Crystal was squatted down with her head in a bottom cabinet.
“Found it,” came her muffled but triumphant voice. She emerged with a glass gallon jar, the kind his mom made tea in. “Perfect.”
“Nice vase,” he said with a wry grin.
“The best.” She ran the jar half full of water at the sink, set it on the counter, and plunked the honeysuckle branch into it.
“I’m glad.”
“Ready to eat?” She slipped a potholder on her hand and pulled a pan of cheese toast from the oven.
“Now that’s what I imagine heaven will smell like,” he said, breathing in deep.
She laughed. “It does smell good. I’ve forgotten how hungry working outdoors makes me.”
They sat across from each other at the small booth.
He glanced at her. “Is it okay if I ask the blessing?”
An expression he couldn’t define flitted across her face, but she nodded. “Sure.”
When he finished, they dug into their stew. Halfway through, he laughed. “My dad always says you can tell how hard people have been working by how little conversation there is at the dinner table.”
She looked up with a grin. “We worked hard, didn’t we?”
When they finished, he pushed his empty bowl away. “I see what you mean about your mama’s stew. That was delicious,” he said.
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