Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
C reeping through the dark house in her sock feet, her heart thumping, Sara expected to be caught any minute. She carried her phone, a jeans jacket and her boots, so pretending to be after a drink of water wasn’t an option.
If someone switched on a light and asked where she was going, she’d claim that there was a meteor shower she was eager to see and maybe photograph. Then she’d have to pray she could text Rance in time to have him hold up until she gave him the all-clear.
Her tennis shoes would have been easier to carry than boots, but Lani had insisted on the boots for getting in and out of the truck in the dark. Sara hadn’t argued, because her sister was right.
A ranch in Montana was nothing like the area where they’d grown up. She’d only seen one reptile in her neighborhood, a cute little garter snake in the back yard. And no bears, obviously.
Snakes and bears hadn’t been an issue in February, but Desiree had been clear that everyone kept their eyes open this time of year. She’d advised using the flashlight on their phone if they were walking around after dark.
Lani had reminded her about using the flashlight once she was out on the porch. As a little kid, she used to yell you’re not the boss of me when Lani issued reminders, or worse yet, tried to stop her from doing something. Now she cherished Lani’s protectiveness.
If their roles had been reversed, Sara would have worried about Lani driving Rance’s truck alone in the dark. These days they took care of each other, especially when one of them was flooded with hormones and might not be thinking clearly.
She was awash in them right now, shaky with anticipation laced with disbelief. Could this wild scheme actually work?
The front door wasn’t locked. Doors seldom were on this ranch. The custom came in handy tonight, since she had no way to lock it behind her. It opened silently on its well-oiled hinges.
Stepping into the cool air, she pulled the door closed. A breeze rustled the leaves of the trees that surrounded the house, making her jump.
White fairy lights in the trees danced and sparkled, giving her a decent view of the area. No sign of bears. Crickets chirped in the bushes and a crescent moon dangled above the dark bulk of the Sapphire Mountains.
She put on her boots and her jacket. In preparation for this rendezvous, she’d taken time for a quick shower and a change of clothes.
In the distance, a faint purr slowly grew to a soft rumble. Headlights flashed briefly as Rance’s black truck slowly rounded the curve. He shut those off, leaving only the parking lights on.
Then he cut the engine and Midnight Thunder rolled down the slight incline toward the house, stopping a few yards from the front porch.
Her chest tight and her movements jerky, she managed to tap the flashlight on her phone and scanned the ground ahead as she hurried down the steps.
He met her halfway, the light from his phone also directed at the ground. “I have an idea.”
If he hadn’t been right in front of her, she wouldn’t have heard his low murmur. “What?”
“You should drive.”
Her breath caught. “Why?”
“Because it’s fun. You’ll like it. And with me there, you won’t be scared. Wanna do it?”
She glanced up at him and grinned. “Yeah.”
“I’ll walk you to the driver’s side and get you situated.”
“Okay.” She fell into step beside him as they approached the open driver’s door. “Why isn’t the dome light on?”
“I turned it off before I drove over. An extra precaution.”
“You’re wasting your talents working as a bartender. You should be a CIA operative.”
“Nah. Doesn’t fit into my life plan.”
“You have one?”
“Absolutely. Climb on up and I’ll adjust the seat.”
She swung up behind the leather-covered wheel and settled into the cushy seat. “Ready.”
“Tell me when.” The seat moved with a soft whine.
“That’s good.”
“I’ll be right there.” He gently pushed the door closed.
While he came around to the passenger side, she snapped on her seatbelt and surveyed the dashboard. It was more high-tech than her car at home, but she could probably figure it out. And wow, the view out the windshield was awesome.
Rance hopped in and quietly pulled the passenger side door closed. “So how do you like Thunder so far?”
“I love him. Sitting up so high is fantastic. If I had this in Trenton, I’d rule the Black Dragon.”
“That’s the New Jersey Turnpike, right?”
“Right.”
“You drive it?”
“Sure.”
“Does Lani?”
“Of course.”
“That’s crazy. You’re way safer driving Thunder on ranch roads than risking your life on that turnpike.”
“Probably. Except like now, when the snakes and bears are roaming around….”
“Yeah, I get it. The chance of you having to deal with either is minimal, but it’s better if I’m with you.”
“Sorry about the gas. I’ll chip in for the extra.”
“No, ma’am.”
“But—”
“Time to get going. We don’t want to be caught sitting out here chit-chatting. And Kieran’s likely worn a groove in my porch floorboards by now. Any questions?”
“Not yet.” She started the engine and put the truck in reverse. “How touchy is the gas pedal?”
“Touchy. Easy does it.”
She stepped lightly on the pedal and gradually added more pressure until the big truck began to move. Using the backup camera, she turned it around until they faced the ranch road. “Thunder’s huge, but he handles like a dream.”
“Having fun?”
“I am.” She shifted into drive and used the parking lights until she rounded the bend in the road. Then she paused and switched on the headlights.
Something small and furry ran across the road. Then a second one followed but stopped halfway to turn and look at the truck, its glowing eyes framed by a black mask.
“Raccoons! How adorable!”
“And that’s why we creep along the ranch roads, especially at night in the summer.”
“I’ve been so fixated on the scary critters I didn’t stop to think you’d have cute ones out here, too.”
“I love ’em all.” He peered through the windshield. “I think it was just those two. You can keep going but stay alert.”
“Don’t worry, I will.” As she gave the truck gas she focused on the road ahead. “Do you really love them all?”
“I do.”
“How about big hairy spiders?”
“They’re cool. We need spiders in this world. Hey, in a little bit, you’ll hit the main ranch road. Take a left.”
“Got it.” She doubted Rance loved every living thing. Everybody had some critter they disliked. At the intersection, she braked, checked for animals, and made the turn. “Mosquitoes. You can’t love them.”
“They’re food for bats and I love bats.”
“Cockroaches.”
“Again, food for other creatures and they also really shine in the forest, where they clean up dead leaves and debris and leave valuable nitrogen behind.”
“I’ve never met anyone who advocated for cockroaches.”
He chuckled. “Well, now you have. I’m a circle-of-life guy and I get to see it in action out here. I need to be close to this land, the plants and the critters or I’ll shrivel up and die.”
He was serious about that, too. She’d never seen this side of Rance. “Then can I give you some advice?”
“Like what?”
“Don’t set your sights on Lani.”
“Too late.”
“It’ll never work. Aside from the fact she hates roaches, she craves the intellectual energy of the East Coast as much as you crave the natural beauty of Montana.”
“Are you saying I have about as much chance of ending up with Lani as you have ending up with Kieran?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“Then I’m better off than I thought.”
“You’re making no sense.”
“And you’re almost to my cabin. Slow down.”
She gulped. Their discussion had temporarily sidetracked her libido, but it snapped to attention as lights shining through the trees pinpointed the location of Rance’s cabin.
A wave of longing washed through her, leaving her moist and achy.
Kieran was there. Waiting .