Chance For Love (Colorado Blues)

by Harrison, Ann B

  “What happened to her?”

  Chance glanced at her, taking in everything he said. “She was on the way home from a doctor’s appointment. Rory thinks she was distracted because she’d just found out she was having a baby. Never saw the truck or the stop sign and sailed right through it.”

  “That’s terrible. The poor things.” Her eyes misted over and Chance could have kicked himself. Her parents died in a car accident too. It must bring it all back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “No, it’s okay. It happened. Nothing’s going to change that same as nothing is going to change it for Rory. Doesn’t he want to move on and get on with life?”

  “Not really. He’s very bitter about it all. The brothers have all tried to get him to move closer so we can help him out but he won’t fall in with the plan. Reckons he’s better off being miserable by himself.”

  “I can understand that. Maybe he’ll come around soon. How many more in the family?”

  “Well, there’s Evan. He’s in Dallas right now. Guy is hoping to come home and open his own medical practice once he has a bit more experience. Not sure I would be too happy having him poking around with me, but that’s cause he’s my brother. Not saying his skills aren’t any good. Passed his exams with flying colors so I guess someone trusts him.”

  Callie laughed, poking him in the arm. “That is so mean. How could you talk like that about your brother?”

  “Cause he’s my brother, that’s exactly why. You didn’t know him as a kid like I did. Playing doctors with him was never any fun, let me tell you.”

  “Hmmm, I don’t believe you for one minute. Where does your dad live?”

  A cold chill crept up his spine and he glance away out the driver’s side window. “He lives in town still. In the old house we grew up in. You won’t be seeing anything of him.”

  They drove on for the next few miles in silence. When a gas station came into view, Chance pulled over. “You might want a bathroom stop or a drink. I may as well fuel up and it will get us home.” He jumped out of his seat and, leaning on the truck for support, reached for the fuel hose.

  He heard the other door open and then the tap of feet on the pavement. Chance watched as Callie walked over to the service station door and went inside. Her worn jeans hugged her shapely butt like a second skin. As much as he liked them, he knew she would need warmer clothes before they got to the ranch. Alice Springs in Australia was a lot hotter that Colorado ever got. With the snow on the mountains all year round, it was colder than Callie would be used to.

  ***

  Callie pushed open the door to the rest room and hurried to an empty stall. It stood to reason Chance would be sensitive about his father, but at the end of the day he was still his father. If her mother had been the only one killed in the accident she could easily imagine her dad turning to the bottle. He’d loved her so much, he would have been devastated without her. A love like that would be hard to get over. She’d just have to remember to tread carefully there when the subject came up. Maybe one day she would get to meet her father-in-law and decide for herself if he was a nice person or not. She did her business and washed her hands before venturing out to the shop. Chance was at the counter paying for the gas and gestured to her. “Want anything to eat? A coffee to go?”

  “Coffee would be great, thanks.” She waited beside him until he’d paid and took the take out cup he offered her, grabbing his as well so he could use his cane. Together they walked back to the truck and she passed his cup over once they were back on the road again.

  “Didn’t mean to bite your head off over the old man. Bit of a sore point.”

  “Fair enough. So, is that it then? Tyson, Rory and Evan?”

  “No. Some days it would have been nice if the folks stopped there but after a break, my mother surprised everyone with another child. The baby of the family is Luke.”

  “Sounds like you guys clash.” She sipped her coffee and watched the road ahead.

  “Don’t pull punches, do you? Is it an Australian thing?” Chance glanced at her and she smiled.

  “Could be, or it might just be me. Never did see the point in spouting off bull shit just to make someone happy. I tell it like it is, cowboy.”

  He roared with laughter. “Makes me wonder if I’ve bitten off more than I was expecting somehow.”

  “Too late now, I’ve spent the first check.”

  “Did it make much difference?”

  “Yeah, it did. The bank gave me the breathing space now to sort out the rest of the debts. Not that I can do much more for a while, but at least it’s a start.”

  “I can sort out those bills, Callie. I have more money than I know what to do with.”

  “No! Thanks but no. You’ve already done enough and with the wage you want to pay me on top of it, that’s more than enough.”

  “Your call. Just remember it’s there and as my wife you have ready access to anything you want.”

  “Thanks.” She sipped her coffee and looked out the window soaking up the view as they drove home.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The small town of Estes Park came into view and Chance eased off the gas. He always relaxed when he made it this close to his ranch. The tension slid from his shoulders and he could breathe easier when he knew he was only minutes from home. He drove through the main street and pulled up in front of the Este Park Emporium. Callie needed more clothes and this was the easiest place to get everything she would need.

  “Come on. Let’s go shop.” Chance opened his door and slid out, taking his cane with him. He waited for Callie to get out of the truck. She seemed reluctant to go inside.

  “You need more than what you brought with you. We’re still not completely clear of winter yet, and even then it doesn’t get anywhere near as hot as what you’re used to in the desert. We could still get a good dumping in the next few weeks. There’s nothing like a winter storm surprising us in spring like they do on occasion. Those clothes aren’t going to keep you warm enough.” He placed a hand on the small of her back and pushed her toward the door.

  The bell tinkled overhead as they walked in the shop.

  “Chance. Nice to see you. What can I do for you today?” A rosy-cheeked elder lady with her hair done in a bun on the top of her head ambled toward them, her hands clasped around a portly belly.

  “Hi, Sue Ellen. This is Callie, she’s come to help run the ranch for me. Needs a whole wardrobe. Can I leave her in your capable hands to fit her out for me?”

  “Chance…” Callie turned to him, her eyes pleading.

  “Well now, I think I can manage that. Guessing you want the whole shooting match then; boots, shoes and the like. Getting right cold these last couple of days.” She glanced up and down at Callie and raised an eyebrow in Chance’s direction.

  “Yes. Everything and make sure she has a decent jacket too. Can’t have her out in the terrible weather freezing her butt off when she has to feed out. Give her a hat too. I’ll be back in an hour or so. You ladies have fun now.” He winked at Callie and left her standing with Sue Ellen knowing he was going to get a talking too when he came back.

  “Well now,” he heard Sue Ellen saying as he shut the door and headed up the road to take care of other business.

  ***

  “There, that should do you. Can’t think of anything I’ve missed.” Sue Ellen glanced at the bags piled up on the counter and rubbed her hands together. “So, you came all the way from Australia to work for Chance?”

  “Yes.” Callie wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. The woman had asked question after question, never seeming satisfied with Callie’s answers.

  “Reckon it’s his business, but don’t rightly seem like the thing to do when there’s plenty of men looking for work in this town. What on earth was he thinking hiring someone as frail looking as you? Reckon a strong head wind will knock you flying.”

  “I’m stronger than I look but if you have any issues with me being here
, perhaps you should ask him that. I’m only an employee after all.” She was getting tired of the questions and just wished he would come back and save her.

  “A very well looked after employee from what I can see. Right, let me ring this lot up and see what you owe me.” Sue Ellen started the long task of going through every item and loading it into the old fashioned cash register.

  When the doorbell tinkled, Callie turned breathing a sigh of relief. Chance walked in, a smile on his face. “So, we’re ready to go then?”

  “Just give me a minute to tally this up and it’s all yours.”

  Chance leaned on the counter and gazed at Callie. She frowned at him and turned away. Once they were out of this shop he was going to get an earful. She brought her own clothes, and this was just plain embarrassing.

  “Here you go.” Sue Ellen handed him a slip of paper and Chance signed it before handing it back with his credit card.

  “Thanks, Sue Ellen, appreciate it. Grab some bags and let’s get going.”

  Callie scrambled to grab the purchases and hustled them out to the truck. She piled them all onto the back seat and climbed up in the front, jamming her seat belt on.

  When Chance drove away from the store, she turned to him. “That was totally unnecessary. I can buy my own clothes thank you very much.” Callie crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window still seething at the never ending list of questions the shop keeper had thrown at her.

  “You are my wife and in my employ. If I want to buy you clothes, I will. Those threadbare jeans might be fine for the heat of the Australian outback, but up here in Colorado, they wouldn’t keep a gnat warm.”

  “But I can—”

  “Stop arguing. Something else you’re good at from the sound of things.” He mimicked her voice, getting the twang of her voice almost right. “Only telling it like it is cowboy.”

  Callie glared at him, the smile itching the corners of her lips. “Don’t make fun of me.”

  “Well stop acting like a brat and take the clothing in the manner it was intended. I don’t want you freezing that cute butt of yours off when you’re working outside. I need you to take care of yourself as well as me, and I don’t think you have any idea of how damned cold it gets here.” Chance thumped the steering wheel with his hand and glanced back at her. “Last thing I need is my foreman lost in a snow drift.”

  Callie scratched behind her ear and looked at him. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

  “Now that’s better. How about you scoot your butt over here and keep me company. We should be home in about ten minutes give or take.”

  She looked at the distance between them and then unhooked her seat belt, sliding over beside him. Callie pulled on the middle seat belt and settled down to enjoy the final part of their journey.

  Chance dropped a hand to her knee and kept it there as they drove through the outskirts of town. The countryside turned denser as the pine forests became thicker. A large boulder marked the driveway and Callie sat forward when they turned in. The driveway cut through acres of forest before the land became clearer and sunlight filtered through onto the road.

  “It’s so pretty in here.” Any minute now Bambi would come walking out of the forest.

  “It is special. Can you blame me for not wanting to go back on the circuit?”

  Callie shook her head. A shadow hovered in her peripheral vision and she screamed, gripping Chance’s hand.

  “Steady on. Its only Brutus. Been here longer than I have.” A large moose walked out onto the road and stopped in front of them.

  Chance put his foot on the brakes and slowed down to a stop.

  “He’s huge. Oh my goodness, that is something.”

  “He sure is, but don’t go thinking he’s all cute and fluffy like your kangaroos. He can be as nasty as a bear when he’s looking out for his girls. And never ever go near a female with a calf. Nastier than you could imagine.”

  They sat waiting for Brutus to move on before Chance put his foot on the gas. The forest quickly faded behind them as cleared paddocks line either side of the road. The thick green grass took her breath away. “I could get lost in that grass.”

  “This bit here is Tyson’s spread. It goes all the way up to the bridge ahead. Once you get to the river, the rest all the way up to the mountains is my place.”

  Callie looked, her mouth dropping open in shock. Ahead of her was a long winding road that snaked up between green pastures to a steep mountain range topped with snow. Around the base of the mountain was another pine forest. “That is so beautiful, just like a postcard.”

  “Wait until you see the house.”

  They began the ascent up the hill to the plateau that was Chance’s ranch. As they got nearer, Callie could see the roof of a house, chimney’s on either side of a large turret topped off with a bell set in the roof. The ground eventually leveled out and the picture of the whole house was in front of them.

  “It’s a log house.” She stared at the picture book home with its view over the valley below. The building had a wide open porch in front that stepped down onto the grass front lawn. The porch was set out with wooden loungers and side tables to take in the view. Tubs of flowers broke the starkness of the timber giving it a homely feel.

  Wide French wooden doors led into the main rooms either side of the heavy front door. She pointed to the bell she’d seen earlier. “What’s that for?”

  “It’s more for decoration than anything. It’s an old mission bell I found on my travels. They used to have them at every mission along the west coast to warn of intruders.”

  “I like it. Chance, it’s just beautiful.”

  He pulled up beside the house at a wooden hitching rail and let go of her hand. “Come on, let me show you around.”

  Callie slid across the seat and climbed out, doing a full circle spin to try and take in her surroundings. The property was breathtakingly beautiful. She wouldn’t want to leave either if she owned it.

  Chance came around and took her hand. “Let’s go and have a quick look before it gets dark. I’ll give you a guided tour tomorrow.” He pulled her toward a large barn on the other side of the driveway. “Stables and covered yards are this way.”

  She could hear the snorting of horses before he opened the barn door. Along one side of the wall, Callie could make out stalls and smell the horses. Once Chance flicked on overhead lighting she could see where the noises were coming from. The two end stalls were occupied and the animals tossed their heads as they approached.

  “This here is Sultan and Tiny. Neither of them would hurt you, but be careful with Tiny. He has a temper, even with me.” The horse hung his head over the door and stamped his feet. Chance held out his hand for him to smell before scratching the forelock. “You can ride Sultan anytime. He’s as gentle as a lamb.” He checked the horses feed bins. “Looks like Tyson has been up and fed the animals anyway. That will save us a job tonight and probably a visit from my nosy brother.”

  Callie reached out a hand and stroked the horse’s ears, the heat racing up her cheeks as she thought of the possibilities of a night alone with Chance in his own bed. She turned and looked around the barn. There were stalls on the other side under a mezzanine floor. Bales of hay were piled high to the roof.

  Chance followed her gaze. “We keep a bit of feed in here and there’s another feed barn out the back. Stalls over there”—he pointed to the ones on the opposite wall—“just in case we need to bring in any stock in. Late calves or whatever in the bad weather.” A couple of chickens walked out of a stall and scratched at the floor. “I keep meaning to check in that stall. I bet there’s a nest in there full of eggs.”

  “I’ll do it.” Callie hurried over and opened the door, scattering the hens. In the far corner she found a nest of eggs. “There must be a couple of dozen here. Fancy eggs for dinner?”

  “If you’re cooking I’ll have whatever you want to make. Bound to be a basket to collect them somewhere. Let me show you around a bit m
ore and we can come back and get them before we go inside.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Together they walked out of the barn and turned toward the driveway that ambled away from the house. Paddocks were fenced with split posts and whitewashed wooden rails. Cattle grazed lazily and only one bull reared its head to look up as they approached. “This is Terror.”

  “Terror? You mean the bull that broke your hip?” Callie leaned on the fence and watched the grey and white Brahman amble toward them.

  “Yeah, that one. He’s a mean old bastard. Don’t let that cool casual look deceive you. He’ll turn on you in an instant and because of that, any paddock he’s in is out of bounds, understand?”

  She glanced up at him, a wary look in her eyes. “Who gets to manage him then, if I’m not allowed to do it?”

  “Tyson can do it until I’m up and able to. I don’t care what the issue is, I never want to see you in the same paddock as him. Ever.”

  “Yes, boss. Geeze, don’t get too wound up over it. He’s just a damned ornery bull. We have that breed in Australia so I’ve seen plenty of them in my time.”

  He grabbed her arm, swinging her around to face him. “Callie, I’m deadly serious here. I’ve seen him take a man, try and throw him over the railings, and stomp him to death. I don’t trust him and neither should you. The only reason he’s alive now is because I refused to let them shoot him. I want him for stud and that’s all he’s good for now. He’s too dangerous to be used as a rodeo bull.”

  “Fine. I’ll keep out of his way.”

  Chance ran a hand over his hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound off at you, but I’ve seen him in action. You haven’t. It would be easy to be fooled by his nature when he’s like this.”

  “No, that’s okay, I understand. Now what else did you want to show me before it gets too dark out?” She slipped her arm through his.