Riding the River (The Westerners, Book One)
Page 29
The next day was the last of Sarah’s trip to the guest ranch. She and Matt had gotten some sleep, not much, but enough for her to help Dale with breakfast that morning. When she yawned, he smiled slyly at her like a big Cheshire cat – and she wanted to slug him.
“I don’t want you working today, Sarah,” said Dale. “It’s your last official day as a guest. Go have fun… I’ll be that taskmaster tomorrow.” He mixed the pancake batter and started putting it on the hot griddle.
“Okay, thanks.” She got the biscuits out of the oven and took them out of the pan.
“So…”
“So?”
“What are you going to do today? I’m sure it involves Matt.” He still had a big, dopey smile on his face.
“Yes, Dale,” she laughed at him. “As a matter of fact…”
“Yeah?”
“Matt wants me to meet his grandfather today. And to see the ranch he wants to buy.”
“So he told you about that?”
“Yes, last night.”
“During a break in the action?”
“Dale!” Sarah turned a few shades of red as he bent over laughing.
When he calmed down, he continued.
“Please don’t be mad at me, Sarah. I’m just so happy for you both. Honestly…” She rolled her eyes at him.
“Okay. You almost sounded sincere that time.”
“Has he asked you yet?”
“Asked me what?”
“…To marry him, of course.”
She blinked in surprise at him. “No.”
“Do you want him to?”
“We’re still getting to know each other.”
“And…”
“And you’re really being nosy today.”
He threw up his hands in front of him. “Okay, don’t get mad at me. Here, take the first batch of pancakes out to the breakfast table.
They finished cooking breakfast and had everything out when the guests started filing in. Tess eventually came in with Richie and Sarah sat down to eat breakfast with them.
“Didn’t see you much at the dance last night, Sarah,” teased Tess. “Go somewhere?”
“Yeah,” laughed Richie. “Matt disappeared too.”
She ate part of her pancake, chewed for a minute and swallowed. “Well, fancy that. We disappeared at the same time. What are the odds?”
Just then Matt walked into the dining room, looking better than any man had a right to. Sarah noticed his pale blue shirt and dark blue jeans that set off his gorgeous black hair. Of course, Matt noticed everything about her too. Her blonde hair pulled back into a pretty ponytail, Western shirt and jeans. His eyes took her in hungrily and it was all he could do to sit down casually by her. He would have preferred to kiss her crazy, like last night.
Tess and Richie smirked at how Sarah and Matt acted toward one another now. Something had definitely happened between them last night. Their behavior, once self-conscious, was now intimate and personal. He touched her possessively and they sat close together. She jokingly fed him a bite of pancake off her plate. Richie was expecting him to drool over her any second, while Tess could smell sex in the air…
“So what’s the plan for the last day, ladies?” asked Richie.
“What do you think, Sarah?” inquired Tess.
“…Well, um…” Sarah looked at Matt who nodded.
“We’ve got plans…”
“Can you say what they are?” asked Richie.
“I’m taking Sarah over to meet John after breakfast.”
Richie’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline. “Really?”
Tess was confused. “Who’s John?”
“His grandfather,” said Richie.
Tess’s eyebrows raised a notch as well. “Is that kinda like going home to meet the folks?”
Sarah blushed while Matt grinned.
“… Something like that.”
“Are you showing her that ranch you want to buy?” He finished his breakfast and pushed his plate away.
“… Thought I would. It’s not far from John’s.”
“It’s a pretty spread, Sarah. The ranch house needs some work but it’ll be great,” added Richie. He looked over at Tess.
“All right, sweetie. It’s just you and me today. Got any suggestions?”
Tess laughed. “Yes, but most of them are not for polite company.”
They all laughed at that.
“How about a ride then?”
“… Let’s do it.” They got up to leave the dining room. Tess glanced back at Sarah. “See you for dinner tonight?”
Sarah nodded her head smiling. “Definitely. Our last night together… We’ll do something.”
After they’d left, Matt helped Sarah finish her pancakes.
“Why am I so hungry today?” He pretended to think that over. “Oh, yeah… I was up most of the night making love to a beautiful woman.”
“Shh,” said Sarah glancing around. “Do you want that information written up in the ranch bulletin?” He laughed and leaned in to whisper.
“… I love you, Sarah Hughes.” He kissed her ear.
She looked at him with clear, blue eyes. “I love you too, Matt Garth.”
He tilted up her chin to kiss her briefly. “Let’s go, honey.”
She nodded and they got up together to leave. Dale and Mr. Walker watched them walk out of the dining room holding hands.
“So… that’s what’s been going on.”
“And right under our noses,” smiled Dale.
“Well, he’s the nicest guy.”
“And she’s the nicest girl. They’re made for each other.”
They shrugged their shoulders. Dale went back into the kitchen, while Mr. Walker headed outside to coordinate an activity. Cowboy golf was being organized again and they’d need help.
* * *
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE