by Jillian Hart
“That’s why I suggested they ride the horses to town to test them out.” Cady traded her glass for her fork and daintily pierced a bow-tie pasta with the tines. “I thought the time together would do them good.”
“Agreed. I think they need a push.” He set down the bottle, making sure it didn’t tip over in the uneven grass. He’d also liked Cady’s suggestion they stay close to the horses instead of heading into town so the employee in charge of the barn could take a dinner break. He liked everything about her, especially her sensitivity to others. “Sean’s been hurt, so he’s holding back.”
“Eloise, too.”
“I know how that is.” He took hold of his fork and loaded up. The meaty tomato sauce on the pasta was tasty and he ate so he didn’t have to elaborate.
“Everyone knows what that’s like.” Cady’s fork hovered in midair. “How long do you think it will be before he asks her out?”
“Probably not as long as it took me to ask you,” he joked. He was always lighthearted with his Cady. He thought of her as his these days, not that he’d told her so yet. They had been having dinner and going riding for the past three months and each outing had gone well. Every time he was with her, he cared about her more. After being a widower for seventeen years, it was comforting to have someone to spend time with. Reassuring to know someone cared for him in return.
“You did take a long time.” She laughed, nibbling on the pasta. She may have been a respected personal-injury attorney when she’d lived in New York, but he knew the reason she had been so successful was the quiet strength and steady kindness that shone from within her. It was easy to spot on an evening like this with the birds chirping and butterflies dancing from wildflower to wildflower. Her guards were down. Small-town life agreed with her.
“I didn’t think you liked me at first,” she confessed.
“Sure I did. What’s not to like? I was fairly sure a gorgeous woman like you wouldn’t look twice at an old rancher like me.”
“Old?” That amused her. “Watch it, mister. If you are old at fifty-three, then I am old at fifty-one. I would rather not think of myself as old.”
“I don’t see you that way. True beauty is ageless and you are truly beautiful.” He meant the words, but he also liked the way their impact moved across her face. Her honest eyes brightened and the radiance of her spirit somehow made her heart-shaped face more comely.
“You know how to charm a lady, Frank Granger.” She rose onto her knees with poise and brushed her lips against his clean-shaven cheek.
“That’s not the kind of kiss I was hoping for.”
“It’s not?”
“Maybe I should show you what I had in mind.”
“Maybe.” His kiss was perfection sugar-coated with reverence. The brush of his lips to hers made her feel cherished. His hand cupped her jaw, cradling her as the sweet kiss lengthened. Her heart skipped three beats from the sheer exquisiteness of his gentlemanly kiss.
No man ever had made her feel cherished the way Frank did. Romantic love had eluded her all her adult life, but no longer. It had found her in this little Wyoming town. Moving here to follow her dream of owning a country inn had been the best decision of her life.
“Aunt Cady! Aunt Cady!” Julianna’s voice echoed through the stable’s wide breezeway and across the meadow full of wildflowers. The little girl burst into sight, as dear as could be, skipping ahead of her sister and father, Adam.
Love filled her as it always did for her goddaughters. “Julianna. Why are you so excited?”
“Cuz Daddy said we can stay for another whole week.” She bounced to a stop at the edge of the blanket and dropped to her knees. “Both Jenny and me. We can stay if you say yes. Please, please, please?”
As if she had what it took to say no to those big Bambi eyes and little girl fingers steepled as if in prayer. She melted like an ice cube in Tucson.
“It’s just us.” Jenny, a serious twelve-year-old, tucked a lock of dark hair behind her ear. “Daddy has to go back to work.”
“It’s all he does,” Julianna added sincerely as she plopped down on the blanket and sidled close. “He’s a workacolic.”
“A workaholic,” Jenny corrected coolly. “When we’re home, he never spends time with us anyway, so we may as well stay here with you.”
Cady recognized the hope buried in Jenny’s aloofness, and it was just as strong as Julianna’s glittery excitement. She wrapped her arms around the littlest girl, who was within reach, holding her close. These girls and their father were family.
Adam planted his hands on his hips and raised one eyebrow, and she recognized his grave look. She had seen it many times before. He had a hard time juggling single fatherhood, his demanding job as a cardiologist and the emotional aftermath of his divorce. He hadn’t always been terribly somber. She gave Julianna another quick snuggle. “I would love to have you girls stay with me.”
“Yay!” Julianna bounced happily. “I get to stay with Dusty. She needs me.”
“I get riding lessons,” Jenny announced primly, clearly trying hard to contain all her secret happiness.
“I’m getting the short end of the stick.” Adam winked as he strode closer, no longer quite as somber. “Girls, let’s leave Frank and Cady to their dinner. Sorry, we didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“No problem,” Frank spoke up, easygoing as always. That was one thing she adored about him. He was a powerful and rugged man, and strong of character, too. Not much rattled him. He always went with the flow of things with good humor and steady confidence. “You’re welcome to stay.”
“Okay.” Julianna bounced onto her knees to inspect the food and helped herself to one of the colorfully decorated cookies the inn’s chef had packed in the picnic basket.
“I want one.” Jenny dropped down to choose a cookie for herself.
“The more the merrier,” Frank said, his deep baritone rumbling like a song. He winked, clearly not minding the intrusion. It was easy to see the father he’d been when his children were small, and the combination of might and gentleness made him more of a man in her eyes.
“This isn’t the date you were hoping for.” She lowered her voice, speaking over Julianna as the girl plunked down into Cady’s lap. Adam came to peer into the basket too, interested in a selection of sliced fruit. She lightly wrapped her arms around the girl, holding her close. “First the horses and now this.”
“Don’t you worry about that. Any time I’m with you is a gift.” So sincere. The power of his spirit made her world stop turning. He held out one big hand in silent invitation. “I’m glad to be here with you.”
She laid her much smaller hand in his. Perfection. Their fingers linked, her soul stilled and she felt with her heart what he was too bashful to say with words.
Chapter Nine
Eloise. Against his will she dominated his thoughts on the drive home. As Sean cleaned and unhitched the horse trailer, images of the day with her overwhelmed him. Memories of her racing away from him on Licorice’s back, the ring of her unguarded laughter, her look of shock when he’d tried to kiss her. He cringed and gave the garden hose a tug. He could still feel the imprint of her hand on his chest, blocking him from moving in to cover her lips with his.
He’d messed things up royally. He gave the nozzle a final blast, chasing the last of the soap bubbles from the tire rims. The trailer was clean inside and out and his work was done, but he didn’t want to head down to the house. He knew it would probably be empty. He hadn’t stopped by to see for sure on his way up the hill, but over breakfast this morning he’d overheard his cousins making plans to hit the street fair. Mrs. G. would have gone home. He didn’t want to be alone battling thoughts of Eloise.
He coiled up the hose, working fast, trying to forget their awkward conversation in the inn’s stable. When she’d walked away from him, it had felt final. He sighed, frustrated with himself. He hadn’t even seen that attempted kiss coming.
A plaintive moo caught his attention. H
e glanced up. A white-faced Hereford leaned over the fence begging for attention. A half dozen other cows ambled over too, probably hoping for treats. He dug some out of the bag in the back of his truck and crossed the lane to greet them.
“Howdy, Buttercup.” He rubbed her poll. She lowered her head to go after the treats. Being with animals made everything better. He chuckled as he held the goodies out of her reach. “You only get one, cutie. You have to share.”
Buttercup’s friends mooed in agreement and pushed against the fence too, eager for pats and treats of their own. Jasmine’s long pink tongue stretched out. Lily, not to be outdone, caught hold of his T-shirt with her teeth and tugged.
“Girls, girls.” He began handing out the treats since he was outnumbered. “There’s enough to go around.”
“You’re popular with the ladies.” Addy tromped into sight in the field, flanked by yearling cows who danced and hopped and skipped around her. “I can’t believe you’re not in town. Scotty can keep an eye on our expectant mare tonight so you don’t have to stay. You should be having fun.”
“I’ve already had all the fun I can handle.” He held out the last of the treats to the cows, who devoured them cheerfully. He rubbed Buttercup’s nose and Jasmine’s poll. “Besides, the company is better here. Isn’t that right, ladies?”
Buttercup mooed at him, as if in perfect agreement.
Addison laughed at the yearlings tumbling and playing around her and swiped a lock of straight strawberry-blond hair out of her blue eyes. “I’ve done nothing but work all day. Not that I mind but I’m dying to shop. I’ve got money to burn, or I will once I get a hold of Dad.”
Addison reminded him again of his younger sister and he fought off a pang of homesickness. He missed his family. He was close to them. Maybe it was time for a call home. He put that on his mental to-do list. “The yearlings look good. They’ve been keeping you busy.”
“Always. I’ve got the babies in the barn fed, so I’m heading down to the house.” She patted a few eager heads. “Daisy, you be good while I’m gone. You too, Violet. Rose, don’t even think about trying to get out of this fence. Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
“I’ll think about it.” The evening was perfect, but the thought of spending it in an empty, echoing house made his stomach tighten. If he wanted to be a lone wolf, he would have to get used to it.
“C’mon. You really need to come.” Addy climbed through the fence and bobbed to a stop beside him. “It won’t be just us girls. We’re all meeting up in front of the cotton-candy booth. Justin, Tucker and Ford will be there. You can hang with the guys.”
“Good, because I don’t think I could take hanging out with the likes of you.” He gave her ponytail end a tug, just like he did when they were kids and was rewarded with her big, infectious grin.
“Fab! I’d better hurry. I promised I wouldn’t be late.” She took off at a dash down the lane. “Give me ten minutes, and I’ll meet you at the truck.”
“It’ll be fifteen,” he joked, as the cattle called out, saying goodbye in their cow-like way. His cell rang and drew their attention. Bovine ears pricked and eyes brightened in excitement as he fished it out of his pocket. Tongues reached, trying to grab the contraption from him and he chuckled. Cows were great.
He rubbed Lily’s nose, stepped just out of reach of Buttercup’s tongue. He expected to see his mom’s number, but when he squinted at the display he couldn’t believe his eyes. Meryl’s name stared up at him. It was really her. She was calling. His palms went damp.
Three months ago, he used to pray for this. When his phone rang, it had been her name he had most wanted to see. Times had changed and he couldn’t move his thumb to hit the button to answer the phone.
Something tugged at his hat brim. Teeth clamped on the neckline of his shirt. Yearling noses poked between the rails to sink their teeth into the legs of his jeans and tugged. The cows and their bright eyes were as affectionate as could be and a great comfort as he stared at the screen.
How could Meryl call after the way she’d left things? And why? It was like a sudden icy downpour had pummeled from the sky, drowning out the warmth and sunlight. He shivered in the eighty-degree temperature.
He hit Ignore and jammed the phone into his pocket safely out of sight but not out of mind.
“How did you like Craig?” Gran stepped onto the shaded old-fashioned porch with two glasses of icy lemonade in hand. The wooden screen door slapped shut behind her as she set the glasses on a pretty cloth-covered table. “Was he the one?”
“He was the last one.” Eloise gave her car door a shove and trudged up the walk. Her weak leg seemed to drag more as she climbed the steps, but maybe it was her spirit that was lagging. She’d endured an hour and a half of Craig’s flat monotone, his endless fascination with some video game he couldn’t stop talking about and the fact that he looked just past her right shoulder whenever he spoke to her. Predictably he’d been quietly distasteful when he’d spotted her limp. Getting through that dinner had not been easy.
“No more, Gran. Take pity on me.” She collapsed onto the closest cushion and leaned her cane against the side of the wicker chair. “Promise me you won’t put me through another minute of this.”
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” Gran eased onto the neighboring chair. “Why is this so hard for you, sweet pea?”
“I would rather not talk about it. I’m here to weed.” She had stopped quickly at home to change into an old T-shirt and shorts. She sipped the ice-cold lemonade and let the tangy sweetness sluice over her tongue. “I’m going to take this with me, though. Delicious.”
“Don’t you go anywhere, young lady. I already did the weeding.” Gran’s chin lifted with a touch of defiance. “I’m not too old yet to weed my tomatoes. Now, answer my question.”
“I’d rather go back and have dinner all over again with Craig.”
“Was it really that bad?”
“Gran, you are torturing me. The CIA could use this as a method for extracting information. It was agonizing.” She may as well tell the truth. “Please stop fixing me up.”
“What’s so bad about meeting a nice young man?” Gran’s face scrunched up, bewildered. “I know Craig had nice manners. I asked his grandmother to make sure.”
“Yes, but you could have asked if he had a personality.”
“Oh, my.” Gran put her hand to her mouth and chuckled. “I had no idea he was lacking. I’ll do better next time.”
“Next time I’m going to bring you with me so you can see what I’m up against. There are no good men left.” That was her argument and she was sticking to it.
“He is out there, mark my words.” Her grandmother appeared certain, unfailing in her belief. “I’ve been praying.”
“Fine, but can we change the subject?”
“The right man will love you the way you are, for all that you are.” Gran took a dainty sip of lemonade.
I don’t notice your limp. When I look, I see you. Sean’s words rolled into her mind and so did the memory of the kiss they’d almost shared. She swallowed hard and set down her glass before she spilled it. She’d been terrified of his rejection. That was the reason she’d stopped him before his lips claimed hers.
What would his kiss have been like? She blocked her mind from envisioning that little scenario. Imagining the tender brush of his lips to hers would only make it harder to forget. She wanted to slap her forehead because she’d visualized exactly what she’d been trying to avoid—Sean’s kiss.
“How did your date go with that nice Granger boy?” Gran asked as casually as if she’d asked about nothing more personal than the weather.
Eloise inhaled, sucking lemonade into the wrong pipe. She coughed and sputtered, gasping for air. Her face turned red. Her eyes watered. She could see the tip of her nose shining like a beet.
“It was not a date,” she wheezed. A few chugs of lemonade got everything going the right way, but it didn’t begin to soothe the tu
rmoil roiling up within her. “Sean and I were taking two of the inn’s new horses for a ride.”
“I didn’t see any horses.”
“Trust me, it was work-related, not personal.” Although it might have been. She gulped another swallow of lemonade, hoping Gran hadn’t happened to witness their almost-kiss.
Maybe she had. Nothing went unnoticed in a small town. Gran looked merry over the rim of her glass. “You’re a heartbreaker, Eloise. Just like me in my day. Oh, I had them lining up for me, too.”
“I’m not sure I should be hearing this.” She blushed harder.
“Your grandfather wasn’t just the best of the bunch, he was simply the best. I knew it the moment I saw him. He was new to town, the owner of this ranch right here. I remember it as if it were yesterday. He moseyed into the diner and my heart stopped beating. Time stood still and I felt wonderful down to the soul. As if I had taken my first breath and my life was about to start anew.”
“I know the story, Gran.” Everyone in the family had heard it a hundred times, but it was sweet enough to savor again. “He looked at you, lifted his hat and told you he’d just met the lady he was going to marry.”
“He did and I was charmed.” Gran looked happy and sad in the same moment. Although Gramps was gone, her love for him had not dimmed. “I caught that Granger boy looking at you and I saw the same look in his eyes.”
“Wishful thinking.” Her heart felt ready to crack apart, which made no sense at all. Sean was not falling for her.
She grabbed her cane, gathering her dignity. Sean had admitted he hadn’t even meant to kiss her, and that was no surprise. She was painfully aware of the tap of her cane and her limping gait as she rose to fetch the pitcher from the kitchen. The breeze from the open windows scented the room with the fragrance of blooming flowers and warm summer air and made her rebellious mind boomerang right back to Sean, wondering what he was doing.
She hated to admit it, but she wasn’t as unaffected by him as she wanted to be.