The Rancher and the City Girl

by Kathy Douglass

  She sniffed. “I hate this.”

  “I know. But it’s not as if you don’t have money. You do. If it will make you feel better, you can pay me back.”

  “I will. Every cent plus interest.”

  “Damn straight.” He smiled, making it easier for her pride to take him up on his offer.

  “Is everything okay?” Hannah asked as she returned to them, looking back and forth between Camille and Jericho.

  “Perfect. I love these clothes.”

  “Thanks. I designed a lot of them myself. What are you looking for?”

  Camille exhaled. “Everything.”

  * * *

  Jericho watched Camille and Hannah browse the racks, talking quietly as they sorted through the items. Camille held a blouse up to her chest, then looked at Hannah. The saleswoman shook her head and Camille put the shirt back. A pair of shorts apparently made the cut, and Camille draped them over her arm. One blouse was deemed appropriate and two others were rejected. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to the process. But then, he was a man.

  He couldn’t believe he was actually shopping with Camille and not hating the experience. Three days ago he couldn’t imagine willingly spending the day with her. When he’d seen her standing on his front porch, his one goal had been getting her out of his life. When he realized he had to let her stay, he’d been filled with resentment and anger at the imposition.

  He’d been telling the truth when he said she wasn’t as bad as he’d imagined. Years of anger had morphed her into the worst of the worst in his mind. Now he was realizing she was simply a woman trying to make it through the day the best way she could. And wasn’t he doing the same? He was surprised to discover that under that rigid exterior was a woman who was not all that unpleasant. She wasn’t someone he would ever like or want for a friend, but he didn’t exactly hate her anymore.

  He spotted a couple of chairs beside the window and took a seat. If Camille was like every other woman in the world, this could take quite a while. Settling in for the duration, he sorted through the fashion magazines on the coffee table and snagged the latest edition of the Sweet Briar Herald. But instead of opening the paper and catching up on the local news, he stared out the window. The sun was bright, but not enough to hurt his eyes. He leaned back and decided to indulge in a little people watching. On the rare occasions he came to town, he grabbed what he needed and beat it back to the ranch, avoiding as many people as he could.

  The streets filled up with tourists who were sightseeing and purchasing souvenirs. Sweet Briar had become a popular vacation destination over the past years. Jericho had mixed feelings about the influx of people, but he knew the town had needed to adapt or risk fading away.

  The bell above the door tinkled as a woman and two teenage girls hurried in followed by a smiling middle-aged man walking at a much more leisurely pace. The females immediately charged to the clothing racks as if on a mission. The man shook his head and smiled ruefully as he settled into the seat across from Jericho. “You got suckered in, too?”

  Jericho smiled. “I wouldn’t call it that.”

  “Neither would I, if my wife was close enough to hear me.”

  “Wise man,” Jericho said, laughing.

  Hannah greeted the newcomers then grabbed an orange-and-red print dress that she took to Camille. Camille’s eyes lit up as she reached for the garment. She held it in front of her and looked into a tall mirror, smiling from ear to ear. She glanced at the price tag, and the excitement slid from her. With one more look of longing, she handed the dress back to Hannah then took the items she’d selected and disappeared into the dressing room.

  He wanted Camille to have that dress. That thought surprised him. Why did he care? She’d rejected it, he hadn’t. No doubt she had countless dresses in her closet at home. But he’d seen the pleasure in her eyes as she’d looked at her reflection. The yearning. Her life was a wreck right now. She deserved something that would make her smile. Before Hannah could return the dress to the rack, he was across the room, credit card in hand.

  “I’ll take it. Don’t tell Camille. I want it to be a surprise.” After Hannah rang it up and placed it in a bag, he went out and hid it behind the seat in his truck, smiling when he thought of how happy Camille would be with his gift.

  When Jericho returned, the older gentleman gave him a thumbs-up. “Clearly you already know the secret to a happy life.”

  Before Jericho could reply, Camille was standing in front of him. He looked up and his jaw dropped. She looked like every man’s dream in a fitted blue-green top and a pair of matching shorts that hit her mid-thigh, showcasing her toned legs. She’d exchanged her pumps for green flat sandals. On any other woman the clothes would have looked ordinary, but Camille looked like she could be gracing the covers of the fashion magazines scattered on the table. Her hazel eyes danced in her beautiful face. Even without a speck of makeup, she was drop-dead gorgeous. More than that, she was more relaxed than she’d been since she arrived.

  His heart, which he’d believed had died a year ago, jumped like a dead battery being recharged. A hint of desire stirred in his gut, and he pushed it aside. Rising, he nodded goodbye to the older man, who was grinning broadly.

  “I’m ready,” Camille said.

  They went to the counter and quickly paid for the clothes.

  “Come back again,” Hannah invited, handing over two shopping bags.

  Camille and Jericho reached for the bags at the same time, and their hands brushed. A bolt of electricity shot through him, rekindling the desire he’d tamped down only seconds ago. Her eyes met his and sexual attraction arced between them, practically singeing the air. She inhaled, causing her breasts to rise.

  “I’ve got it,” Jericho said.

  “Thanks.” Camille stared at her hand as if she’d never seen it before. She appeared as dazed as he felt.

  Jericho peered into the bags. One held new clothes and the other was filled with the clothes he’d lent her. “Is this all?”

  “Yes.”

  “Camille—”

  “I bought four tops, three pairs of shorts and a skirt that I can mix and match.” She raised her foot. “I also bought these shoes. That’s enough. I don’t want to be greedy.”

  He’d always believed that Camille was materialistic and selfish, but now he wasn’t so sure. He’d been around her a few days and everything he discovered about her was contrary to what he thought he knew. Just who was the real Camille Parker?

  They didn’t speak as they loaded the bags into his truck. Seeing how little she’d purchased for herself, he was even happier that he’d bought that dress. She started to climb into the truck. They should probably return to the ranch. But just then, her stomach growled. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You’re hungry. There’s a diner not too far from here where we can grab a late breakfast.”

  Her brow wrinkled as she glanced around. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

  “Perfectly. Trust me.”

  Her hazel eyes met his. “I do.”

  Try as he might, he couldn’t tamp down his pleasure at her words.

  * * *

  The smell of sausages frying and bread toasting greeted Jericho as he and Camille stepped inside Mabel’s Diner. His stomach rumbled long and loud, letting him know he, too, could use some food.

  A waitress greeted them with a coffeepot in one hand and a smile on her face. The aroma of strong coffee was always a welcome one. “Party of two?”

  “Yes.”

  The woman tilted her head toward the noisy dining room. “Grab any table. Someone will be right over.”

  “Thanks.”

  As they walked through the maze of chrome tables and red vinyl chairs, Jericho spotted familiar faces here and there. He nodded a greeting but didn’t stop to talk. He bypassed a couple of empty tables and led Camille
to a booth in the back where a busboy was loading dirty dishes into a gray plastic bin. The teenager dragged a damp cloth across the table and then swiped at the seats, removing any bits of food that the previous diners might have dropped. He set place mats on the table, efficiently added clean cups and saucers, nodded, and left.

  Camille’s eyes darted around the restaurant, taking in the families with small children and groups of laughing women. She blew out a breath, apparently satisfied that she was still safe.

  She took the seat with her back to the wall. “I don’t want anyone to sneak up on me.”

  “Okay.” He sat down across from her. He grabbed the laminated menus from between the salt and pepper shakers, handed her one, then began studying his.

  She placed her menu on the table without looking at it. “What’s good?”

  Jericho frowned as he tried to recall. “The omelets were good. So were the breakfast potatoes and sausage. And I remember the steak and eggs always hit the spot.”

  “You keep saying ‘were.’ Did they change owners or something? Are they under new management?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  She stared at him as if trying to get a close-up and personal look at his soul. After a moment her eyes filled with compassion and sorrow. She’d figured out he hadn’t been to the diner since he’d lost Jeanette. For a minute he thought she might touch his hand. Instead she lifted her menu and opened it, hiding her expression from him. Good. He didn’t want her pity. He didn’t want anyone’s pity. He just wanted to be left alone. Or at least he thought he did. Being around Camille was making him change his thinking.

  Coming here was a bad idea. He was about to stand when a waitress stepped up to their table. “Coffee?”

  “I’d love some,” Camille said, giving him a look that was pretty much a dare. If she could face her fear of being in public, would he eat in a room filled with people gossiping about him? Or would he turn tail and run? “I’m ready to order. How about you, Jericho?”

  He nodded, up for the challenge. And he was hungry. “Ladies first.”

  “I’ll have the steak and eggs, biscuits and gravy, breakfast potatoes, and a bowl of grits.”

  “That sounds pretty good. Make that two.”

  The waitress wrote down their orders and left.

  Camille sipped her black coffee. “That’s good.” Her gaze shifted from him to just over his shoulder. He turned to see what had drawn her attention.

  “Jericho, it is you. Several people told me they’d spotted you today. I wanted to see for myself. How are you?”

  He rose and shook his friend’s hand. Trent Knight was the chief of police and a good man. He’d been widowed himself, and had always respected Jericho’s need for solitude. “Good. How about you?”

  “No complaints.”

  “And Carmen?” Trent had remarried a couple of years ago.

  Trent smiled. “She was right behind me. But you know her, she probably ran into a friend.” He glanced around, then his face lit up. “Here she is.”

  Jericho turned and his heart nearly stopped. “You’re pregnant.”

  “Seven months.” Carmen rubbed her hand over her large stomach in the way pregnant women did. The way Jeanette had done.

  “With twin boys,” Trent added proudly.

  How could they be so happy? Didn’t they know what could go wrong? Jeanette had looked as healthy as Carmen did now. Then Jeanette and their baby were dead.

  He felt a soft hand in his and looked at Camille, who smiled at him and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. Somehow she’d known he’d needed her support.

  Jericho swallowed the pain that threatened to consume him. He wouldn’t let the agonizing memories mar his friends’ obvious joy. “Congratulations. To both of you.”

  “Thanks.” Carmen looked at Camille. Jericho could practically see the wheels in her mind turning.

  “Camille, this is Carmen and Trent Knight. Trent, Carmen, this is Camille. She’s visiting me for a while.”

  “It’s nice to meet both of you,” Camille said. “And congratulations on your babies.”

  “Thanks. How long are you going to be in town?” Carmen asked.

  A look of unease crossed Camille’s face before she forced a smile. “It’s open-ended.”

  Ever the observant lawman, Trent zeroed in on her response. He raised an eyebrow at Jericho, then smiled at Camille, apparently willing to let her vague answer pass. “I hope you enjoy your stay.”

  “If you have time, we’d love to have the two of you over for dinner one night,” Carmen added, her eyes focused on Jericho’s and Camille’s clasped hands. He slid his hand free and shoved it into the pocket of his jeans.

  Just because he’d brought Camille to town didn’t mean he was ready to jump back into the social scene. More important, it didn’t mean they were a couple as Carmen seemed to think. “We’ll have to see.”

  “Good enough,” Trent said. “We’ll leave you to your meal.”

  Jericho dropped into his seat and exhaled.

  “I’m sorry,” Camille said softly.

  His head snapped up. Camille’s eyes looked damp, and she was blinking like mad. “For what?”

  “For everything. For showing up out of nowhere and barging into your life. For not having clothes and putting you in a situation where you had to come to town. For not thinking before taking your hand and giving your friends the wrong impression. I probably have a few more things to apologize for, but I can’t remember them off the top of my head. But I’m sorry for them, too.”

  He didn’t have a clue how to respond. Sure, he hadn’t been glad to see her. Given their past, that was understandable. But truth be told, he hadn’t minded taking her shopping. And he was looking forward to eating the breakfast he’d just ordered. He might not have wanted to interact with his old friends yet, but if he had to, Trent and Carmen were the ones he would have chosen.

  And perhaps it wasn’t a bad thing that they’d run into Trent just now. Maybe they should have let the chief know about Camille’s problem. Jericho still believed she was perfectly safe in Sweet Briar, but he was a rancher, not a cop. Camille’s life was at stake, so maybe they should consult a professional.

  “You don’t need to apologize.”

  “Really?” The hope in her voice surprised him. She really seemed to be worried that she’d hurt him in some way. He was going to have to reconsider everything he thought he knew about her. She might not be the person he’d believed her to be for the past five years.

  “Really.” The waitress returned with their food. “Now let’s eat.”

  * * *

  After quickly stopping at a Western wear shop and buying two pairs of jeans, a pair of boots that Camille would no doubt toss into the back of her closet when she returned to New York, and a dove-gray felt cowboy hat Jericho insisted she needed to keep the sun out of her eyes, they headed for a grocery store to stock up on food. Camille’s eyebrows rose when they pulled into the parking lot of the surprisingly large store. “I didn’t expect to see a supermarket this big in a small town.”

  “Why not? People need food wherever they live. The store may not carry everything you’re used to in New York, but they stock a nice variety.”

  They grabbed a cart and began browsing the aisles. Camille took a few steps and began filling the cart. When she used to cook on Saturdays, she’d planned her menu carefully and made her list accordingly. She didn’t have a list today, but she didn’t need one. She’d been in Jericho’s home for a few days and knew he needed everything.

  Jericho was quiet as he walked beside her. He occasionally added something to the cart, but for the most part allowed her to choose the items and brands she preferred. After about twenty minutes, his silence began to unnerve her. She held up a jar of peanut butter. “Do you like this brand?”

  Jericho looked at h
er, his face ravaged with agony. She forgot about the peanut butter and put her hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”

  He turned away as if to hide his expression from her. His shoulders lifted and then fell. “The last time I was in here was with Jeanette. Two days before. She was so excited about the baby. He’d been moving around more. She looked so healthy.”

  “Do you want to leave? Maybe wait in the truck? I don’t mind shopping alone.” They’d been in town for a couple of hours, and she believed she would be safe in the store without him.

  “No. I need to do this. I can’t keep driving to Willow Creek for food. Being here with you is actually helping.” He placed a hand over hers, and she wished she could turn hers over so they were holding hands. When he looked at her, his eyes were free of the pain that had been there moments earlier, although the shadows were still there.

  Her heart leaped at his words, and her skin tingled under his touch. She’d expected the physical reaction because she’d experienced it before, but she was surprised to be warmed by his words.

  Jericho was good-looking. But she was becoming attracted to the man behind the gorgeous face and muscular body. She didn’t understand how it was possible to go from hating him to being attracted in under a week. It didn’t make sense.

  But then nothing in her life made sense right now.

  They finished shopping, filling the cart to overflowing, then checked out. As they drove back to the Double J, they talked quietly, the tension that had been present in their previous interactions blessedly absent.

  Chapter Six

  Camille crept down the stairs, Shadow beside her. The dog had taken to sleeping outside her door. When he wasn’t chasing squirrels and rabbits, he followed her around like, well, a shadow. The third step creaked and Camille held her breath, hoping she hadn’t awakened Jericho. He’d been so generous yesterday, she was determined to repay his kindness by preparing him a substantial breakfast before he started work. His work was physical and she wanted to make sure he had the fuel he needed.

  She let Shadow outside to run around for a while, then set to work. Cooking was something she loved, and she soon lost track of time.