Chapter Two #3
He found her sitting on the bottom step of the apartment stairs the next morning, a coffee cup in her hand, looking out over the pastures like she had nowhere else to be.
She looked up when she heard him cross the yard. “Morning.”
“Morning.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “I checked my schedule. Saturday works for Kalispell if that’s good for you.”
That light came into her face again; the same one she’d had in the apartment when she’d seen the pastures for the first time. Gone just as quick. “Saturday is perfect. Thank you.”
“We’ll need to leave early. It’s a long drive pulling a trailer.”
“How early?”
“Six. Should get us there by nine.”
She nodded. “I’ll have coffee ready.”
He held her gaze for a second longer, then looked away. “I’ll see you Saturday.”
He walked toward the barn before she could say anything else.
Ethan was up before five, which wasn’t unusual. He made coffee, checked on the horses, and was back inside by five thirty. He grabbed his keys, headed out to hook up the trailer, and had it hitched and the lights checked by quarter to six. He started the truck and waited.
At straight up six he heard her door open and her footsteps on the stairs. She came around the barn with two travel mugs in her hand, her hair down for once, and it looked so soft that he had to stop himself from reaching out to touch it.
She held a mug out as she reached him. “Told you.”
He took it. “You did.” He nodded toward the passenger side. “Ready?”
“More than you know.” She climbed in and he closed the door behind her then walked around to the driver’s side.
He pulled out of the yard as the sun was just beginning to show itself over the mountains, painting the sky pink and gold. He glanced over at her. She was watching it through the windshield, both hands wrapped around her mug, a small smile on her face.
He looked back at the road. It was going to be a long drive.
They drove in silence for a while and he found it wasn’t uncomfortable exactly, just weighted. He wasn’t a man who talked for the sake of filling quiet, but usually he knew what to say when he needed to. Around her his mind went blank and that irritated him.
He turned onto the highway and the mountains opened up on either side of them, big and unhurried against the morning sky.
“It’s beautiful,” she said quietly, more to herself than to him.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She smiled at that and looked back out the window.
He kept his eyes on the road, drank his coffee, and tried not to notice the way the morning light caught her hair.
He turned the radio on low. Country music filled the cab, and she turned her head toward the window, and he caught her mouthing the words to the song without realizing it.
Yep, a very long drive.
Once she directed him through the turns, he pulled up to a large center barn and stopped.
“My horse is in here.” Naomi pushed open the door and hopped out.
Ethan sat there a second, then did the same.
Inside the barn a man was already walking toward them, arms open.
“Naomi, good to see you.” He pulled her into a hug. Ethan clenched his jaw and looked at the ceiling.
“Ronnie, it’s so good to see you.” She stepped back. “I’m here to get Jewel. This is my boss, Ethan Harrison. Ethan, Ronnie Long. He manages the ranch.”
The two men shook hands. Ronnie narrowed his eyes.
“Ethan Harrison. The barrel racer?”
“Yes, sir. I train them now.”
“Damn, son. You were the best I ever saw.”
“I appreciate that.”
Naomi turned to look at him. “You barrel raced?”
“From the time I was twelve until I turned eighteen.”
“Why did you quit?”
“Went to college.” He shrugged. “It was time.”
“You never mentioned it.”
“You didn’t ask.” He hesitated. “I won a few times.”
Ronnie laughed. “He’s being modest. Nobody could touch him.”
“Thank you.” Ethan nodded once.
“Let me get Jewel for you.” Ronnie headed back down the aisle. “She’s been moping since you left.”
Naomi laughed softly. “I have too.”
Ethan walked back out into the sunlight and swung the trailer doors open. A minute later Ronnie appeared leading a beautiful Paint mare into the light.
He stepped back and gave them room.
Naomi walked toward the mare slowly, one hand outstretched, and Jewel’s ears came forward the moment she caught her scent. She nickered low in her throat, pressed her nose into Naomi’s chest, and Naomi wrapped both arms around her neck, burying her face in the mane.
Ethan walked to the fence and rested his arms on the top rail, his back to them, giving her the moment. Behind him he could hear her talking to the mare in a low voice, the words not meant for anyone else.
He stared out at the empty pasture and hoped whoever had bought this place took care of it because it was a gorgeous ranch.
When he finally turned around she was leading Jewel toward the trailer, her chin up, eyes bright. She glanced over at him and smiled. He nodded, then moved to help her load the mare without a word.
He latched the trailer doors, climbed into the truck, and waited for her to say her goodbyes to Ronnie.
He had a long drive home to get his head straight. He doubted it would be enough.