Mornin’ beautiful,
Mornin’ beautiful,
Help yourself to coffee and then come to the main house for breakfast.
I’m around and will meet you as soon as I can.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, I see it’s not even seven. Working at the bar until two a.m. my sleep schedule was less than desirable. I’m surprised I was awake so early. As if responding to his letter, my stomach grumbled.
Sighing, I shuffled over to the coffee and poured myself a cup before grabbing the creamer from the fridge.
After a hearty gulp, I walked over to the window and surveyed the landscape.
The snow had stopped, and much of it had melted into slushy puddles over the little front porch.
I would need heavy-duty rain boots to walk around here.
I wondered how Walker and Kai managed in their chairs in weather like this.
After finishing my coffee, I made my way back to Kai’s bathroom and got dressed.
It felt a little gross to be in less than clean clothes, but I’d make do.
I carefully folded the t-shirt Kai had lent me and placed it at the end of his bed before grabbing my phone and heading out.
It felt kind of embarrassing to be leaving Kai’s home without him and in yesterday’s clothes, like a dirty secret, but I shook those thoughts off.
It wasn’t like that with Kai, and he’d never be ashamed of me.
I drove over to the main house as I needed to get going after breakfast and didn’t want to risk falling in these slippery conditions.
There were a few trucks and even a couple of horses tied up along the side fence when I reached the main ranch house.
I didn’t see Anchor, so I guessed Kai wasn’t here.
I parked next to a shiny red Chevy and exited.
As I stood, a wave of dizziness washed over me, and I clutched my car door for balance.
Black spots danced behind my eyes as I took a deep breath.
The sensation passed quickly; I must be hungry.
I made my way to the front door and pushed it open.
Chatter greeted me as I called out a hello.
The kitchen was full of people I didn’t recognize, and I froze.
“Mornin’.” A familiar young blond man with bright blue eyes said as he dipped his head in greeting. “Your Radar’s girl, right? We met at The Dusted Bull. I’m Zane.”
He came over to me and held out a hand to shake. I took it in stunned silence. “Come on in. We don’t bite.” He gestured over his shoulder. “This is Tuck, Silas, Finn, Rhett and Shep. These guys are fellow cowboys or day laborers, so you probably haven’t met yet.”
They each nodded at me in greeting with easy smiles. They were all different ages, ethnicities and appearances, yet they all had the cowboy “look” about them in jeans, chaps and long-sleeved flannels of different colors. Rhett was even chewing on a toothpick.
“Nice to meet you all,” I said once I shook myself out of my stupor. “Do you know where Kai—um, I mean Radar—is?”
“He’s in the second stable over the hill walkin’ the horses,” Rhett answered with a surprisingly soft spoken Scottish accent.
Pressing my lips together, I forced myself to hold in my awkward laugh.
Rhett was easily the tallest and stockiest of this group, towering over everyone with shoulder-length sun kissed brown hair and a thick beard.
His softer pitched voice didn’t match the gruff and time worn-looking man in front of me.
He looked more like a rough biker than a soft-spoken Scottish cowboy.
“Thanks. Rhett, was it?” I nodded in thanks.
“Yes, ma’am.” He, too, dipped his head in reverence to me. “I’d be happy to take you over there.”
There was something about this larger-than-life man that screamed teddy bear. I’d learned to trust my gut over the years, and Rhett seemed like a gentle giant.
“Lead the way.” I said as I returned to the door and grabbed my coat and knit cap.
Rhett donned a sleeveless leather vest and black cowboy hat as he passed me and led the way outside.
He hurried over to untie a chestnut-brown stallion and walked him over to me.
I held out my hand and let him sniff me, his breath hot against my skin.
“What’s his name?” I asked as I rubbed his flank.
“Saint,” Rhett grunted. “You be okay walkin’ over? I don’t much think Radar would like us sharin’ a saddle.”
“Walking’s fine.” Even though Rhett seemed like a gentle giant, I had no desire to be physically close to any male ever, well, other than Kai.
We walked in silence. I kept glancing at Rhett out of the corner of my eye, but was unsure of what to say. My conversation skills were still rusty as awkwardness washed over me. The silence was a little uncomfortable until we saw Kai walking our way with the mare I’d ridden yesterday, Peanut.
“Wildflower, what are you doing out here?” Kai asked as he came over and pulled me to his side for a hug. “Hey, Rhett. Thanks for escorting her,” he said, still gazing at me. “Do you mind returning Peanut to her stall for me?”
“No problem, sir.” Rhett answered so formally, I did a double take. Had he called Kai, sir? This whole interaction was weird.
Rhett took Peanut’s reins from Kai and led both horses away.
“Morning, sweetheart.” Kai cupped my cheek and kissed me so sweetly on the lips I could get a toothache. “How’d you sleep?”
“Good. Thanks for the coffee.” I kissed him, needing him against me.
“Have you eaten?” I shook my head.
“No, I ah, was a little overwhelmed by all the cowboys in the kitchen. So, Rhett offered to help me find you,” I said as he linked our fingers together and led us back towards the main house.
“Well, let’s get you fed.”
“What time did you get up?” I asked, curious about his new lifestyle. We had ranches in Wyoming where we used to live, and Kai had worked at one over the summer. I wondered whether it was always something he enjoyed.
“I’m up at five most days. There’s a lot to be done on the ranch.
” He swung our clasped hands back and forth as he smiled at me, and I felt like a giddy teenager.
It was like I was holding my first boyfriend’s hand and enjoying our playful innocence.
“We used to have to start at three when the guest ranch was running, but with all the renovations and delays, we’ve had a little more time and we’re not so rushed off our feet. ”
“It is beautiful here.” We walked along the nicely paved path back to the ranch house. The path led around the back of the house and up the deck ramp. As we entered the kitchen, Zane, Tuck, and Silas were finishing up.
“You found him, I see,” Silas added with a wink in my direction.
Kai scowled and pulled me back to his side, wrapping his arm around my waist. It was as if he was laying claim to me, and I, surprisingly, didn’t hate it.
Silas held his hands out in surrender. “I’m glad she found you, mate.
” He had a youthful face, even with his neat beard, I had to wonder how old he was.
“See you both around.” He clapped Tuck on his back and motioned for Zane to join them, leaving us all alone in the large kitchen.
Kai squinted at Silas’s retreating form.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, touching his shoulder and getting him to face me.
“Nothing,” he grumbled, running a hand over his scruffy jaw.
I guessed he hadn’t had time to shave this morning, and I found I kind of liked the rougher and rugged look Kai was sporting.
It was a far cry from the posh and polished days of our youth.
“What would you like for breakfast? We usually have almost every breakfast option under the sun but as we’re probably the last ones to eat the pickings are slim. ”
Observing the large bench-top still covered with food, I had to wonder how much there was to start, if this was the end.
Platters of Danishes, croissants, bagels and breads, cereal tubs of various varieties, jugs of milks and juices all sat at one end, and metal hot trays were covered and lined up at the other end.
I hadn’t seen so much food in one place in my life; it was overwhelming. Kai’s large hand gently rubbed my lower back. “How about a classic bagel and cream cheese to start?”
“You remembered…” My mouth dropped open in shock at him remembering something so simple as my favorite breakfast from when we were kids. He knew me so well.
“Of course, I remember. I remember everything about you,” he whispered in my ear as he brought his arms around my waist and placed his chin on my shoulder.
In his arms like this, with him at my back, I felt like I could take on the entire world.
He’d protect me and let me soar if I wanted to.
Kai was comfort and home, safety and freedom; he was a part of me in ways I couldn’t fully comprehend, as I placed my hands over his on my stomach and thanked the universe for leading me back to him.
“A bagel sounds perfect.” I breathed the words as I took in his cedarwood and pine scent, mixed with hay and ranch.
“Coming right up.” He released me, and I wavered ever so slightly at the loss. I moved to take a seat on one of the bar stools at the counter. “How many people come by for breakfast?”
“Most of the ranch will come by for breakfast before starting for the day or on their way in. Ev and Maze always make too much food, as you can see. I think it’s a habit from when the guest ranch was open.
Back then, there was more than double the number of staff needing to be fed.
” He made quick work of cutting and toasting bagels before grabbing plates and cutlery.
It was nice to watch him move so freely around the kitchen.
He set everything out on a tray as he covered my bagel in a generous serving of cream cheese and a drizzle of honey. My heart thumped in my chest at how many of the little details he remembered. “How about we take this outside? What would you like to drink, coffee, juice or something else?”
“Juice, please, orange if you have it, and outside sounds nice.” My smile grew as he led the way outside.
The view from the back deck was breathtaking.
Rolling hills of paddocks with livestock, meadows and forest dotted the landscape with the stunning snow-capped mountains of Jasper’s Peak in the distance.
“Wow,” I sighed while appreciating the scenery.
“It’s something else, isn’t it?” Kai took his seat beside me and placed my bagel and juice in front of me.
“It is.” Awe filled my voice as I absorbed the raw beauty. Unmelted snow was still sprinkled over the fields, with a slight dusting in the trees. Every now and then the sun would catch a melting water droplet and twinkle. It was serene and magical all at once, and I never wanted to leave.
We ate in companionable silence, enjoying the view and each other’s company. Quiet moments like this had been rare growing up, and the ones I had, only ever included Kai. It seemed fitting to be enjoying them again with him at my side.
“I promised to pick up Hazel from school today, so I will have to head back, but I was thinking, we should go on a date.” With Kai, there was no fear or pressure, and I reveled in the self-assurance and daring I experienced in his presence.
That it often surprised him too, well, that was a bonus.
He gaped at me, his mouth hanging open, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.
“You’d better close that before you catch flies.
” I tapped his chin for good measure. I loved the effect I had on him.
It made me feel powerful and in control.
“A date.” His voice was gruff as his Adam’s apple bobbed as he tried to swallow. “You want that?”
“Of course,” I said, taking his hand in mine.
“You told me you were all in. Well, so am I.” Linking our fingers, I rested my head on his shoulder and went back to looking at the view.
In this moment, breathing in what was becoming my new reality, I was filled with hope for the first time in forever.
I could see a future, and it was no longer filled with pain and fear.
The prospect of a new beginning with Kai was deeply satisfying, and I promised myself to treasure every single opportunity.
I was living my new life for me, and I would not let my past dictate my actions anymore.
“A date sounds like a great idea.” He pressed a tender kiss to the top of my head, and my eyelids fluttered shut, etching this moment into my memory and heart forever.