by Hope Moore
“It sounds like you had a great family life at that point. I’m sorry about your parents. Did they die young?”
“Yeah. Dad was about thirty-two, Morgan’s age. And Mom was barely thirty. Dad had a private plane license and had gotten a new plane. Granddaddy had a pilot who usually flew them on longer trips but he got sick the night they were supposed to go to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo. Dad decided to fly them and a storm blew in and the plane went down. Everybody on board was lost, including Uncle Jude and his wife, Tina. That left my four second cousins without parents too. Great Uncle Talbert raised them down the road on his ranch. You’ll meet them soon.”
Allie’s heart clutched. “I’m so sorry. What a huge loss for your whole family.”
He turned slightly to look at her; his head was tilted and there was sympathy in his gaze. “You understand completely. I mean, you lost your dad. It’s hard. Grief knots you up inside. But eventually you have to move forward.”
She took a shuddering breath, emotions suddenly hitting her in a wave. “Yes. Nobody really understands except those who have lived it.”
He nodded and glanced down at the pastures, lost in thought momentarily. She didn’t even know whether he realized that his fingers had gathered up a strand of her hair and were toying with it. It felt as though he wasn’t even aware that he was doing it. She, however, was very aware of it.
How long had it been since she’d felt this level of awareness? This level of companionship? She had Ginny but that was different on so many levels.
“It seems very lonesome for you now.” She glanced at him.
He didn’t turn his head back to her but he let his gaze slide to hers for a brief touch before he nodded and looked back at the pastures. “Yeah, it is, I miss Granddaddy something fierce but I have my work. And my brothers. And my cousins too. Everyone is busy but we know we’re there for each other. Like you and your friend Ginny are there for each other. Being lonesome…it’s not something I think about too much. Well, sometimes, but there are a whole lot of things far worse than being lonesome.”
What does that mean? She wanted to ask him but it was very intrusive. She bit her lip and enjoyed the feel of his fingers toying with her hair. Thought about that kiss. And despite everything in her telling her to stop thinking about it, she did. She thought about his arms going around her right now and pulling her close and kissing her right there on that swing on his grandmother’s veranda. And then her mind went crazy with the fantasy that they were really in love and really were married in the true sense of the word. And she really was a part of this…and she was going to spend the rest of her life here with him, sharing this incredible life with babies and that she would live happily ever after with the man of her dreams.
She stiffened. What was she thinking?
“Something wrong?”
She looked at him and she knew that she probably looked guilty. If he could read her thoughts, what would he say? She swallowed hard. “N-no.”
He stared at her and she didn’t think it was her imagination that it suddenly got hotter sitting there. Like the breeze that had been blowing dried up and somebody turned on an industrial-sized blow-dryer.
“Do you know you have the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen? And they’re really big. It’s almost like I can see my reflection in them. Or a pool of cool water.” He smiled and tugged ever so slightly on the strand of hair.
Oh dear, what was she supposed to say to that? Her heart galloped. “Yeah, I’ve always been told my eyes were huge. When I was a kid, they were almost the biggest thing about me. I’ve always been small.”
“You’re small but are you normally this thin? I’m a little worried about you.”
He was worried about her? The statement did funny things to her entire system. When was the last time anyone had told her they were worried about her?
“Thank you for worrying but I’m okay. And I’ve been eating. I’ve lost about ten pounds since my daddy died. I needed to lose five, but not that way. I just don’t have that big an appetite. And then, you know, I worry about my mom and then working at the truck stop when it was a busy night, I did a lot of walking. But you’ve swept me away from all of that to this life of leisure.” She teased him to ease the sudden emotions swirling inside her. This man stirred things inside her she was scared to get too close to.
He laughed huskily. “You deserve it and hopefully will take advantage of it while you can. Speaking of eating, let’s put some food in you and see if we can help you gain that ten pounds back.”
She hadn’t missed the “while you can” phrase. A reminder that she was not staying here. She wasn’t sure he caught that he’d said it but she had. And she would do well to remember that this was not her home. She was simply passing through for a brief moment in time.
Chapter Eight
Wade drove over to the vineyard first thing the next morning to tell Todd he’d married. He’d called Morgan, who was at the resort headquarters in Houston, and his oldest brother had not been happy. Not about what Granddaddy had done and not that Wade had had to jump through hoops to get it done. As Wade walked past the house—or villa, as they called the huge home that housed Todd’s living quarters and the tasting room and event venue—and headed toward the fields of grapes where Todd had told him he would be when he’d texted him earlier, he replayed Morgan’s words.
“He’s pulling our chains and I still haven’t forgiven him for it. I know he’s going to force my hand with the hotels just like he’s doing with you. And probably going to do the same with Todd. I still haven’t decided what I’m going to do when my time comes.”
“Look, Morgan, you know good and well that you’ll do what you need to do. I don’t care one way or the other. I saved the ranch and that’s what matters to me. Allie will get what she needs and at the end of this, we will walk away. Done deal. You can do that too. But, don’t judge me. I can hear it in your voice.”
“I’m not judging you. I’m just wary. If you’re lucky, everything will work out like you hope. But what if it doesn’t? What if she figures out a way to get her hooks into you?”
“She’s a nice person and you know how judgmental I am of women and their motives.”
“We’ll see, brother. We’ll see. Good luck.”
“Come meet her.” Wade threw the invite out there. Why did Morgan need to meet Allie? She wasn’t going to be around after three months.
They’d ended the call knowing they had differing views. But since when was that new between brothers? Now to tell Todd.
He found him looking frustrated in a patch of grapes they were planting.
“You don’t look happy.”
“You wouldn’t be either, if you’d just lost your master winemaker you’d be frowning too.”
“No kidding?”
“Yeah, just took an offer in Italy he couldn’t pass up.”
Wade was stunned but knew his brother would land on his feet. “I’d say leaving you was a pretty wrong move on his part. You have an excuse to find a better one now.”
Todd shot him a yeah-right glare. “Postive thinkin’ is good, I’m just not there at the moment.”
Wade grinned. “You will be. Though I know it’s hard on you thinking about having to do more than walk through your fields, enjoying your grapes?”
Todd’s frown deepened. “Right, that’s all I do around here.”
Wade always enjoyed annoying his younger brother. “You didn’t plant those—your help did. And the master winemaker did everything else.”
“Right. You’re real funny.”
Wade chuckled. “You know I’m aggravating you on purpose.”
“I know, and I took your bait.”
“You always do.”
“Not true. I’m just feeling edgy. All this stuff with Granddaddy is still needling at me. You’re about to lose the ranch and then it’ll be my turn or Morgan’s. I hope granddaddy is happy.” He paused, then stared at him. Wade grinned at him. H
e frowned more, if that were possible. “Today is the last day of the deal. Why are you grinning, what are you going to do now?”
He was right. This would have been the day he’d have lost the ranch if it wasn’t for Allie marrying him. Gratefulness washed over him and his grin widened as relief so strong slammed into him and a short laugh of release escaped him.
“Why are you laughing?” Todd’s eyes narrowed.
“Because, I had forgotten today was the day and that’s what I came to tell you. I’m married. I saved the ranch.”
“What? When?” Todd looked at him in disbelief and shock.
“Three days ago. Found her at a truck stop. That sounds wrong. I went into the truck stop and was probably looking like a hound dog that had lost its mate. I was just sitting there, drinking coffee, lost in thought, and she was working herself into the ground waiting on the tables all by herself. But she still kept coming by, worrying over me, refilling my coffee and asking me if I wanted something to eat. Finally, she just ordered pancakes for me. And when she brought them over, the place had calmed down and she asked me if everything was all right. She was sincere. And I told her. Turns out she was also in need and desperate to help her mother. We came to a mutually beneficial agreement and got married.”
Todd looked incredulous. “You really went through with it?”
“I did. And I wanted to come tell you. In three months, the ranch will be ours again—without strings attached.”
“I can’t believe it.” He took a deep breath and stared out at the vines. “I don’t know what I’ll do if he puts the same stipulations on me and this place.”
“You’re a stubborn, hard-nosed, determined cowboy. You’ll take care of business.”
Todd cocked his head. “I like to think so, but marrying someone…I’m not so sure.”
Wade laughed, still feeling relief. “You’ll do it. If that’s what Granddaddy drops on you. It’s going to be interesting.”
Todd’s lip twitched. “What are you talking about? You still have three months to make it to the finish line. I figure that’s going to be interesting, and harder than you think to make work.”
“Nope, Allie’s nice. It’s like I told Morgan. She’s nice and will walk away. Nothing’s going to go wrong.”
“I hope not.”
Todd’s last words followed Wade back to his truck. Did he have something to worry about like both his brothers seemed to think?
They didn’t know Allie. There wasn’t going to be a problem. Not on her part and not on his part. Everything was good. Heck, everything was great. The ranch was his again.
Three days after arriving at the ranch, Allie stood beside Wade and stared at the four calves inside the pen.
“Now, I’m warning you,” Wade drawled slowly, squinting at her from beneath his straw hat. She looked from him to the calves looking at her from the other side of the fence. “They might look sweet and they’re not that big. However, looks can be deceiving because these little mischievous devils are very rambunctious. And you being small and not weighing a whole heck of a lot are going to make them think they have a new toy.”
She laughed, feeling uncertain. “You are joking, right?”
“Hardly. When they go to jerking on those bottles, you’ll see. I’m just hoping I don’t see you facedown in the muck, being drug around like a stuffed doll. If it happens, let go.”
She laughed incredulously. “You are kidding. They’re only three feet tall.”
“With the muscle of a hundred and fifty pound man.” He hitched both brows at her in a cocky mark-my-word expression.
He looked cute in that moment but she didn’t dare tell him that. “Whatever. But really, it can’t be that hard.” She’d do this just to show him she wasn’t the wimp he obviously thought she was.
“We’ll give it a try. But until you get some more meat on those bones, they might be hard to handle. They’re like goats—they’ll come up and butt, so be ready or next thing you know, you’ll be getting butted from the other side and you’ll be in that dirt smelling like all that nice stuff that they leave on the ground over there. Get my drift?”
She laughed. The guy got to her. “Believe me, you are coming across loud and clear. I get what you’re saying. I will try to stay off the ground. Now show me how to do this.”
He’d brought four large bottles with him that looked as if they were about twelve to fifteen inches tall, with huge red nipples on the end of them. She watched with interest as he opened the gate and scooted inside, then distracted the rambunctious crew and motioned for her to follow him.
She slid through the small crack then hooked the chain over the nail head like she’d seen him undo a moment ago.
“Stay right by me.” He set two bottles on the top of a pole that was about twelve inches around, with the top sawed off. It made the perfect shelf—up high enough that the calves couldn’t reach the bottles. Then he handed her one of the bottles and he kept one in his hand.
She looked at the bottle. “All right, I’m going to do whatever you show me but goodness, will they drink all this?”
“In a heartbeat. After they slobber all over you. It’s not the greatest job in the world but newbie’s seem to like it, so this might be just the job for you.”
“I’m not so enthusiastic about the slobbering part.”
He laughed. “Comes with the territory.”
He held the bottle out and the calves about broke their necks clamoring over one another to see who got the red nipple first. They were surrounded by the mooing black calves, their big saggy ears dangling as they jostled. The long-limbed sweeties were adorable. One of them latched onto the nipple then kicked the other one in the ribs and Allie cringed.
“Ouch, that had to hurt.” She decided she’d better plan for some defensive moves herself or she’d have some sore ribs.
He laughed. “See what I’m talking about? Now hold yours out there and I’m telling you to hold on to the bottle tightly or you’re going to lose it. But you better set your feet apart for balance.”
She did as she was told, feeling as if she were about to join the NFL or something.
“Good. Now get ready because you don’t want to lose your balance when they latch on.”
She saw how aggressive the calf was yanking on his bottle and was prepared. “I just cannot even imagine it would be this way.” She posed the bottle out there in front of her very carefully, wary of what was about to happen. But excited too. Instantly, the calves jumped at the bottle. One of them latched on and yanked so hard Allie had to take two steps forward. But she held on. However, she started to laugh. She could not help it. The harder the calf pulled, the harder she laughed.
“Hey, get a handle on yourself,” Wade drawled. Then, when she couldn’t stop, he laughed too.
She was going to be dragged all over the place if she didn’t get control of her senses. But it was so funny. Suddenly, one of the calves that did not get to the bottle in time threw itself at her. The hard knock sent her stumbling sideways and straight into Wade’s side. He was like hitting a brick wall. His free arm slid around her in an instant and he held her plastered to his side, or she would have fallen at his feet. She’d managed to hang onto the bottle; the calf managed to hang onto the nipple and her free hand grabbed hold of Wade’s waistband, the leather belt giving her fingers something to latch onto. Which was good as her gaze locked with Wade’s.
“Whoa there,” he said softly, a startled smile on his face as their gazes held. “You okay?”
Her heart banged away inside her like a sledgehammer and her knees had turned to water but he was holding her up, so she was still standing. “Sure,” she croaked. “Thanks for catching me.”
“Any time.” His eyes warmed and she felt his heart thundering against hers.
Wade smiled. “I never had anyone start laughing like that before.”
“I couldn’t help it. I do that sometimes. If something gets me tickled, I can’t always stop.”
/> “Fine by me. It’s probably been the most enjoyable time I’ve ever had feeding these critters.”
“Glad to be entertaining.” She tried to straighten up. Either that or she’d combust right there in his arms.
He held her arm after she’d moved away from the protection of his body and the circle of his arm. She wanted to dive right back in there but refrained.
“Now, ready for the new trick?”
“I think so.”
“I’m going to hang on to this bottle with one hand, and see how I’m snugging it up against my hip? It’s to help me hold on. Now I’m going to reach up here.” He smiled and took a bottle from the post. “You’re going to have to do what I’m doing and balance that bottle against your hip like that and kinda lock that hand around it so you have a good grip on it.”
She did as he asked and then he handed her the other bottle.
Their fingers touched and she had no time to think about the energy that zipped up her arm at just the mere graze of his skin against hers.
“Good…you got it. Now balance that one against your hip and hang on because that other calf is going to come get it. I’m going to do it to the other one and won’t have an arm to rescue you with, while we feed two at a time.” He reached up and grabbed the other bottle and propped it against his hip and held on with his other hand. Immediately, the other two calves latched on to their bottle tips and started nursing.
She could do this. She did the same and held on. Instantly, she was being yanked from side to side but they kind of balanced each other out. This was definitely an aggressive endeavor.
“I feel like I’m playing contact sports or something.”
“Yeah, it can feel that way. But you’re doing great.”
She was doing great, she decided after a few minutes. She was proud she hadn’t dirt dived. Then the bottle of the first calf suddenly came up empty. And he did not like that at all. He latched his teeth onto that nipple, set his hooves in the dirt and yanked violently, setting her off-balance as he started backing up then suddenly let go and bolted toward her. She stumbled back just as the other calf yanked on the other bottle. The next thing she knew, she fell back into the dirt and something warm and damp—and smelly—spread out beneath her back.