by Vivian Arend
Sasha was nodding slowly. “Daddy says that, lots, because some of my friends are vegetarian.” She looked around before lowering her voice conspiratorially. “I like hamburgers.”
“Me too,” Kelli whispered back. “With bacon.”
Emma’s little-girl snicker carried over the sound of her dropping grain in the feed trough. “You put bacon on nearly everything.”
Kelli was about to deny it when she gave it a little more careful thought. “Pretty much.”
That got both of them laughing. Kelli joined them in the pen to help clean the sleeping straw.
The girls worked hard, or as hard as easily distracted kids could, pausing only when a cheerful voice broke in. “I can’t find my cookie testers.”
“We’re in here, Auntie Lisa,” Sasha called, poking her head out of the shelter. “Wanna help?”
“I’ll wait until you’re done,” Lisa said. A moment later, the three of them joined the dark-haired woman at the gate, her pleasant smile encompassing Kelli without a blink. “You have time for a snack?”
“Kelli says there’s always time for snacks,” Sasha announced cheerfully as she climbed over the gate instead of opening it. She and her sister took off for the backdoor of the house at a full-out run, leaving Lisa chuckling.
“The Kelli-isms she spits out sometimes kill me,” Lisa offered. “That kid’s got a full-blown case of hero worship.”
Which made no sense whatsoever to Kelli, but ever since it had been pointed out to her, she’d been doing her best to make sure she watched her p’s and q’s around the girls. “I like them. I guess she knows that.”
Lisa tilted her dark head toward the house, tucking her bare hands into her pockets against the moderate cold of the January day. “Join us. Tamara’s feeling well enough she’s sitting in the living room. She’d love to see you.”
Kelli checked her watch, but she didn’t have anything dire that needed to be done. “I’m on late chores. Setting up a base of cookies to get me through until supper sounds like a great idea.”
“I always find a mess of cookies in my stomach makes just about any task go easier.”
They turned and walked side by side, silence falling between them.
Lisa had been around Silver Stone since the middle of December, but she and Kelli were still feeling their way around a relationship.
Tamara had settled in at Silver Stone ranch in a very finite and determined way. Now wife to Caleb, and a better mom to Emma and Sasha than their birth mother had ever been, Kelli had silently given her stamp of approval to the not-so-recent newcomer.
But in her book, everyone had to show their own colours before they got to be one of the Silver Stone family. Lisa might be Tamara’s sister, and she might be here to give a hand, but Kelli had been reserving judgment until everything proved to be on the up and up.
The funniest part about it was Lisa seemed to know exactly what was going on, and furthermore didn’t have any problems with being on probation. Nope, she just took it in stride and kept smiling.
That alone was endearing her to Kelli far quicker than if Lisa had tried to ingratiate herself.
“I’m glad you’re here to help Tamara since she’s still not feeling a hundred percent with this pregnancy, but don’t they need you back in Rocky Mountain House?” Kelli asked before realizing that came out wrong. She quickly added, “Not because I want you gone. I’m just curious.”
“I’m not offended,” Lisa said as they strode through the snow to the ranch house. “Truth is, a year ago I wouldn’t have been able to take off like this. The Coleman holdings amalgamated a lot over the past twelve months. Means instead of just my dad, my older sister and me, plus hired hands running Whiskey Creek land, we’ve now got the resources of the entire Coleman clan.”
“Nice. I wondered how it was working. Sounds a great idea.”
“It was a brilliant idea,” Lisa said, a grin spreading across her entire face as she pulled open the back door. “Just took an awful lot of convincing to make it happen.”
Kelli didn’t have a chance to ask what that meant before they stepped into the warm, chocolate-scented air of the only place she’d ever really considered home.
Her gaze went across the room, smile at the ready to greet Tamara, who was curled up in her favourite spot on the couch.
Kelli slipped off her boots and made her way forward. “There’s the boss of the house. How’s the baby building going today?”
Tamara adjusted position slightly so Emma could crawl beside her and curl in, leaning against her hip. “On a scale of one to ten, where ten is me ready to take on anything, I’m thankful to report that today is about a six.”
“That means she doesn’t need to throw up.” Blonde curls bounced as Emma shared this tidbit with great seriousness.
Tamara rolled her eyes, but she draped an arm around her daughter’s shoulders and squeezed her close. “Remember our discussion about how even though you don’t mind talking now, there are some things that are better left unsaid?”
“But, Mama, it’s Kelli. She knows about throw up.”
Kelli happened to be watching Lisa at that moment, and the two of them fought to keep from bursting into laughter.
Lisa grabbed a plate full of cookies and held it out. “On a completely different topic, chocolate chip or walnut?”
“Both,” Kelli said at the exact same moment as Sasha announced, “Kelli says cookies need both chocolate and nuts.”
Tamara stared at the ceiling, fighting her own amusement. “Put the kettle on, Lisa, and Kelli can come and tell me what’s happening in the barns, because going out there is a three out of ten these days.”
It was good to get caught up. As Kelli shared the latest gossip, Emma snuck off to join her sister. They sat at the table with glasses of milk to go with the fresh, warm treats. Lisa wandered the room, tidying and working on something in the kitchen between moments of joining the grown-up conversation.
Another sensation drifted through Kelli as they visited. As much as she loved Silver Stone and her work in the barns and with the horses—
This part, this family-like connection with another woman, was special. It was something she’d never had until Tamara had shown up. She’d had the guys, and Ashton, but someone almost sisterlike? Never.
“Girls-night-out gathering is Tuesday,” Kelli reminded Tamara.
Her friendship with Rose and Tansy had grown over the years, and they had another woman in the community, Brooke, who often joined them. But recently their pack of four had welcomed others in, like Tamara, Ivy, and Hanna.
Kelli glanced over at Lisa and considered.
Lisa had already been in attendance at a number of unofficial events, but maybe it was time to formalize her presence a little more.
Tamara caught Kelli’s eye, nodding slowly as if she’d already figured out what Kelli was considering. “I can’t commit now, but if I’m feeling up to it, I want to go.”
“We’re not doing anything too wild,” Kelli said. “It’s Rose’s turn to pick an activity, so chances are it’ll be something artsy-fartsy that doesn’t involve too much gyrating.”
“I’ll take care of the girls, so you don’t have to worry about them,” Lisa offered, pouring water into the teapot.
“Nope, I think you have to come out, even if Tamara doesn’t make it,” Kelli insisted. She raised a hand like a stop sign when Lisa blinked at her in surprise. “You haven’t done anything fun that didn’t involve certain adorable little people under the age of twelve since you got here. That’s not how we do things at Silver Stone. All work and no play—that sets a bad precedent. If you keep it up I’m pretty sure they’ll expect the rest of us to fall in line, and no way. Just, no way.”
“Work hard, play hard, drink ’til you drop,” Sasha piped up, not even aware of what she’d said before she sank her teeth into a cookie and continued reading her book.
Lisa slapped a hand over her mouth. Tamara’s eyes widened.
Kelli dropped her head
into her hand and took a deep breath before looking up. Part of her wanted to apologize, but… “I don’t think that’s my fault.”
Laughter danced in Tamara’s eyes. “Sasha, honey. That quote is not to be repeated in front of anyone, understood?”
Her daughter glanced up, thinking hard as if mentally repeating what she’d just said. She made a face, then shrugged. “Okay, Mommy.”
She went back to reading, and Kelli considered how lucky she was to be a part of something so special. This house of warmth and happiness. God, she wanted this, and so much more.
Tamara gestured her over, and Kelli sank to her knees in front of the couch, shocked but pleased when the woman leaned in and gave her an enormous hug.
It was easy to hug her back, but after Kelli slid away, sitting on the coffee table as she eyed Tamara with suspicion. “Pregnancy hormones acting up again?”
Laughter burst free from both Tamara and Lisa before Tamara gave Kelli’s fingers a final squeeze and answered softly. “I appreciate you so much.”
Kelli shrugged. “I’m glad. I like my job a lot.”
The other woman shook her head. “No. I’m not talking about the you who works in the barns and tells me the gossip about what goes down. Although that’s entertaining, and I’m going to have fun teasing Caleb about the stuck door you mentioned. What I love even more is that you show up and spend time with my kids. They adore you. I can see you care about them, and I’m glad for it beyond being grateful for your help while I’m under the weather. I don’t blame you for that quote that popped out earlier at all, just to be clear.”
That warmth inside kept growing. “They’re great kids.”
“You’re more than just a ranch hand to them, and to me. We all feel that way.” Tamara took a deep breath. “You know Silver Stone is your home, no matter what, right? Like, I’m never letting you leave.”
“That sounds slightly creepy,” Kelli joked to cover up the knot forming in her throat.
“Right? Our own Hotel California.” Tamara winked.
It was Kelli’s turn to take a moment before she could speak. “I promise everything I do is because I love Silver Stone. I really want the best for her, and for all of you. You guys are my family.”
“That’s how I feel too. Honestly,” Tamara admitted, laughing quietly as she wiped at her eyes. “And we need to stop this because pregnant women are water spouts at the best of times.”
“Cookie?” Kelli suggested, rising to her feet.
“You enjoy. Someone needs help with her homework.” Tamara welcomed her second daughter into her arms, and together they opened a book for Sasha to read out loud, cuddled at her side.
A few farewells later Kelli was wandering over the snowy ground, the warm cookies Lisa had tucked into her hand a sharp contrast against the chilly air. Across the frozen water of Big Sky Lake, lights reflected against the early-winter darkness. Luke’s frame was visible moving slowly though the kitchen of his house. Dreamlike and perfect.
Almost perfect.
The feelings bursting from inside her were as loud as a shout. Family, and more, all of it so much what Kelli had always wanted. To be a part of something bigger than herself. For Tamara to welcome her in so warmly, even though she was just a worker—it had to be a sign.
This was what people meant when they talked about the stars coming into alignment. It had to be. As long as the gala went ahead, Kelli would be able to finally take the next step.
The trip with Luke would give her the perfect opportunity to let him know she had a mad, wild crush on him, and had for years. She’d have to move slowly, but this was an opportunity she would not let slip through her fingers.
As if the heavens themselves were agreeing with her, a shooting star dashed across the sky, a silver shimmer against the deepening black.
Kelli made a wish—or started to, but she suddenly wasn’t sure exactly what she was hoping for anymore.
Luke? To be with him? To be a part of the Stone family for real? That seemed too lofty a goal. Tangled needs and desires taunted her, and she tossed her confusion to the stars and made a wordless wish for happiness.
If the gala went ahead, that would be her sign it was time to act on her attraction to Luke. Short term or long term, she’d leave that up to fate to decide.
Waiting to hear back was going to kill him.
Luke wandered between the barns and his house for the next two days in a mindless haze, worried about what had gone wrong. It wasn’t until he realized he’d filled in the application on a Friday night and chances of anyone getting back to him until Monday morning were slim to none that he decided he wasn’t screwed. There was still hope.
Didn’t make him any less grumpy as he worked with his family.
Caleb’s warning looks were coming far too often by the time Sunday afternoon rolled around. “Somebody giving you trouble?”
“No,” Luke rumbled.
His brother swore softly, pausing in the middle of his task to fold his arms over his chest. “Want to talk?”
Since this wasn’t something he could discuss yet, “No.”
Caleb moved in closer. “Something happen with Penny?”
Instant reaction. “Hell, no.”
His brother shook his head. “In other words, there’s nothing wrong and you’re just being a jackass, or something’s wrong and you don’t want to talk about it.”
Luke thought about it for a second. “Pretty much.”
Caleb gave him a raised brow then laid down the law. “Get your head out of your ass or go find something to do that doesn’t mean the rest of us have to put up with you grumbling like you swallowed a beehive.”
It wasn’t his goal in life to make things more difficult for his family, so Luke coiled up the rope in his hands and hung it outside the stall. He stepped past his brother, patting him on the shoulder as he went. “Doing as ordered. I promise I’ll tell you as soon as I can.”
As he kept marching toward the exit, his brother’s words offered a final assurance. “Tell me sooner if you need to.”
His family was the best, which is why it was even more important for this event to be successful. If they got to go.
Damn it.
Since he couldn’t talk about secrets with just anyone, it made sense that his feet carried him to Kelli’s bunkhouse. When there was no answer there, he walked the rest of the way around the corner to their foreman’s small cottage.
As he guessed, Ashton knew exactly where the woman was, and ten minutes later he’d tracked her down at the front entrance to Silver Stone.
Kelli paused as he approached, the dogs running alongside the ATV he’d grabbed instead of saddling his horse. She had a warm woolen band covering her ears, with her cowboy hat firmly jammed on top. Head to toe in sturdy Carhartts, she tucked her hands into her pockets to protect them while she waited for him to turn off the vehicle.
“Need something?” she asked.
Luke suddenly felt stupid, because there was no reason for him to interrupt her work. He went with honest. “I’m antsy waiting for news, and I can’t tell anyone why I’m jittering like a twelve-year-old boy on a double shot of espresso.”
She grinned, bright understanding flashing across her face. “You and me both. I had to bite my tongue a dozen times this morning. Alex was teasing me at breakfast that I must have a hangover because of the faces I was making. Did you know that a couple years back both Lightning Arabians and Sweet Sugar Pie ranch had invites to this kind of event?”
He gaped at her. “Are you serious? And how did you find that out?”
Kelli rolled her eyes. “There’s this thing called the World Wide Web…” She pulled a screwdriver out of her pocket. “You okay if I keep working while we talk? I have this real exacting boss who will give me shit if I don’t figure out how to fix this before I head to the chow line.”
“Let me help.” He stepped closer and eyed the gate. “I didn’t know you dealt with electrical fixes.”
“
I don’t do the tricky stuff, but Ashton said this one was my speed.” She pointed to one side of the rolling gate. “It’s less about fixing the electrical and more about making sure the pathway is clear. Tamara doesn’t need to be getting out of the van every time the gate needs closing.”
Luke moved forward and helped the way he would have with any of the hands, lifting and passing tools, working around each other in an easy rhythm. He rose high over her, though, and took control when the gate decided to come off its tracks.
The entire time they talked their heads off about the possibilities that could arise from attending the event. Plus, they talked about the inane, which was just as comfortable.
“I know no one asked my opinion, but I have to say Sweet Sugar Pie is a terrible name for a ranch,” Kelli criticized.
Luke shrugged. “Pet name for somebody?”
“Yeah. Her name for him, according to the news article.”
Luke grunted as he lifted the heavy metal back into place. “Bullshit.”
She made a rude noise. “What? Doesn’t it get you all hot and bothered to think about getting called Sugar Pie?”
“She’s the one with a honeypot—” He slammed his lips together.
What the hell was he thinking? This was Kelli. He and his brothers were pretty damn careful to never push the line with rude talk when she was around.
Kelli kept working intently with the wiring system, staring down at it, her lips twisted in a smirk. Only her cheeks were pink, brighter than the mild winter temperatures called for.
He’d embarrassed her. “Sorry, Kelli. That was uncalled for.”
“Not untrue, though,” she pointed out, sending him rocking back on his heels in surprise. She kept talking and her words hit him like a slap upside the head. “Besides, if a guy is doing things right, I can’t imagine any woman having enough mind left to toss out cutesy names. Orgasms should leave you mush-brained and boneless.”
He stared at her, his brain dribbling out his ears.
Kelli twisted the screwdriver and adjusted a few lines without saying anything more except about the job. “Put it in the track and shove it back and forth a few times to see if it needs lube.”