6. Six
Six
Rhett
Once we had the cattle in the grazing field, as promised, I took off. Lachlan called after me, but I completely missed what he had said. He knew my intentions, he even promised I’d be back before noon. The cattle were where they were supposed to be. I did my job, now I had a girl to see.
It was hard focusing on leading the cows when all I thought about was Kyla, praying she was still at my house. I checked my phone a few times, hoping Abi had texted with some kind of update. Even a simple, “She has emerged!” would have sufficed, but nothing. For all I knew she woke up, saw me gone, and left. It was past noon now. If she had left she would have been long gone by now. But, she had a different feeling about her. Ever since the first moment I saw her. A part of me knew she wouldn’t leave .
The barn came into view, and the outdoor arena that sat behind had two horses running in it. I slowed Buckle to a trot and approached the arena. Stetson, my seven-year-old nephew, was on one, and Wyatt was on the other. Wyatt had a huge grin on his face, his backward ball cap hitting the nape of his neck. He loved to ride, just on his terms, but when it came to Stetson, Wyatt was always ready to jump on a horse. On the other side of the arena, leaning against the metal gate I saw Abi, watching her son with pride, and next to my sister . . .
A wave of relief hit me.
Kyla.
Kyla stood on the lowest bar of the gate, her arms outstretched as she held herself on the railing, her smile larger than Wyatt’s. She was wearing the same shorts as last night, but had put on a loose-fitting t-shirt, half-tucked into her shorts. One of Abi’s beige woven hats sat on her head, allowing her brown hair to fly around the nap of her neck. If I wasn’t a professional cowboy, I would have fallen off my horse just from the sight of her. I could feel the shivers run through my arms. They wanted to reach out for her even though I was still mounted on Buckle.
I tightened my grip on the reins.
Remember, to her it was only one night.
“Hey, Rhett,” Abi called, waving me over, “I take it the cattle are where they need to be?”
I gave my sister a quick nod, but my eyes were focused on Kyla.
“Hey, Cowboy.” She gave me a soft smile. “Thanks for the coffee. ”
I jumped off Buckle, landing right behind Kyla. Leaving one hand on the gate, Kyla turned her body to face me and our eyes locked. I tried to find the words to talk, but my brain had malfunctioned, and all I could think was you’re still here.
Returning her grin, I looked up at her, completely ignorant of the fact that Abi was watching us.
“Hey, Rhett,” Abi said again, this time louder, with an emphasis on the T’s in my name. “I take it the cattle are where they need to be?”
I looked over at my sister, her blonde hair now in a braid hanging over her shoulder. Her hat shadowed her face, but her piercing blue eyes were clearly visible. She and Wyatt shared the brightest blue eyes, and while Wyatt’s could be seen across the arena, Abi’s could be noticed even in the middle of the night.
“Yes, Abi,” I replied. “They sure are.”
Amusement rippled through her as she turned back to the arena. “Oh, Rhett, you are distracted.”
“That would have been fun to see!” Kyla beamed as she ignored Abi, jumping from the gate to face me. Being on her feet again she was back to being an entire head shorter than I. “I thought it would take you all day to . . . how did you put it Abi? ‘Move the herd’?”
“They’re still up there, but I need to pack and get ready to leave tomorrow. Plus . . .” I stopped, desperately wanting to kiss her again, but it may not have been the best idea in front of my sister. “I was getting hungry,” I lied.
“Hungry.” Abi swallowed her laughter as she opened the gate to the arena. “Too bad lunch is over. Kyla and I already ate. And you may have some competition with my son. Kyla is head-over-heels in love with him.”
“With a name like a Stetson, how can I not be?” Kyla’s eyes caught mine, alight with humor from her little guessing game last night. “He asked me out on a date.”
“Oh really?” Tilting my head, I cocked an eyebrow. “Did you accept?”
“Dinner tonight is his mom’s famous mac-n-cheese? How could I say no?”
My heart skipped a beat. “You’re staying for dinner?” My voice dropped as I stepped closer, making sure only she could hear my question.
Biting her bottom lip, she took another step towards me. “And the night, if you’d let me.”
I inhaled, taking in her scent. I knew now whenever I smelled vanilla, I would think of her. “You can stay as long as you’d like.” I caught her eye before turning my back, reaching for Buckle’s reins. “I believe I promised you a tour. Wanna take a ride?”
Her eyes widened as she looked at Buckle, and then back to me.
“Don’t scare her away, Rhett. I like this one.” Abi came up with Stetson, hand in hand. “I offered a ride around the ranch, and she politely declined.”
“No offense, Sis, but that was you offering. Who said I was going to make her ride on her own?” I winked at Kyla, reaching my hand out to her.
She rolled her lips, keeping down the smirk I knew was hiding there. The hint of hesitation was making my stomach twist in knots. I had the mental image of her behind me, her arms wrapped around my waist as I led Buckle around the ranch. She would lean her chin on my shoulder, her soft laugh in my ear. Once the tour was over, we’d go back to my place, and I’d attempt to keep her to myself for just a little longer.
But as she looked at my hand, the image began to fade away.
“You gotta tell me what’s going through your head darlin’.”
“Darlin’?” she parroted. “That’s worse than ‘sweetheart’.”
“I’ll find you a name,” I said confidently, the smile on my face fading as I watched her shift on her feet. I could practically hear her brain buzzing. “What’s going through your head?”
She sighed and looked down at her feet. “Nerves? I’ve never ever been on a horse before,” she whispered.
Reaching out to try to calm her, I lightly touched her shoulder, trailing my fingers down to grasp her hand. I squeezed my fingers around hers, lifting her hand to my lips.
“Buckle’s a smooth ride, and you can hold on to me as tightly as you want,” I whispered back, kissing her knuckles.
Kyla bit her bottom lip and her gaze went to Buckle’s nose. My horse took the opportunity to nudge me, giving a light snort as Kyla watched. Letting out a sharp breath and a small laugh, she looked at Buckle’s back, then down the length of her legs. Her entire body was tense.
Letting go of her hand, I stood a single step back from her. Her eyebrows twitched as I lifted my chin. “Let’s start over. I’m Rhett Hartwell.” I held out my hand for her to take. “And I’d love to show you my home.”
She looked at my hand, taking another deep breath before taking it gently in hers, giving it a slight squeeze .
“Kyla Richards,” she said sweetly. I raised an eyebrow, her mental peptalk must have worked. “Let’s go for a ride, Cowboy.”
We rode out to the lake, Kyla’s arms wrapped around my waist the entire time. After a few moments she relaxed her body, moving with Buckle instead of trying to remain a solid board, but her arms never left my waist. She listened as I bored her with the day to day life of the ranch. I was even boring myself so I could only imagine what was going through her mind.
Once we reached the lake, I dismounted and reached my arms out to guide Kyla off Buckle with ease. Placing her hands on my shoulders, she moved her leg and slid off Buckle, our bodies centimeters from each other. I held on to her waist, my fingers pressing into her hips.
Her chest rose as she inhaled. “The lake?”
Her hands left my body as she side-stepped away from Buckle, allowing me to grab the reins to lead Buckle to the tie post. I watched as Kyla stood on the edge of the lake, the reflection of the sun on the water made her a mere silhouette. The thought that we didn’t stop for a picnic churned in the back of my mind. I still hadn’t eaten, and this would have been the perfect time to sit and enjoy Kyla as long as I had her.
Ruffling through Buckle’s saddle bag, I pulled my empty thermos and a granola bar from the bottom of the pouch. At least I had that, although I had nothing to offer Kyla .
“Abi said this was ‘Lotties Lake’?” Kyla spun her waist to look at me, her hands firm on her hips.
“The river. Lottie’s River. My mom claimed it when she married my dad,” I answered, taking a few steps towards her. “The river runs into the gardens and that’s my mom’s sanctuary. It’s only fitting the river is hers.”
“And the lake?”
“Just . . . the lake.” I shrugged, reaching her side. Reaching for the granola bar package, I gave her a quick glance. “Did you eat?”
Kyla quickly looked down at the granola bar and then back at me and a small chuckle left her lips. “I did, but, you didn’t. And you said you were hungry.”
Tearing open the granola bar, I silently thanked her. “Sit with me?”
Together, we sat on the edge of the lake, Kyla removed her socks and shoes to dip her toes in the water. The calm and silence filled the air as I ate, and Kyla sat. Tilting her head back she closed her eyes to take in the sun. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed, and I was taken back to last night. The memory of her rising and falling against me as her breaths matched my own, her fingers digging into my shoulders as she took control, pushing me to my back to ride me. I felt the heat rise in me, praying she’d give me another chance before she left my life . . .
“Rhett?” I heard her say, pulling me back to reality as I slowly finished chewing.
I raised my eyebrows in response, hoping I wasn’t daydreaming for too long .
A smile teased her lips. “You were gone there for a minute, weren’t you?”
Shaking my head, I looked over the water. “Just enjoying the view. I’m sorry, did you ask me something?”
“How long have you owned the ranch?” she repeated.
“My grandfather bought it when he returned from the war.”
“The war? World War II?”
I gave her a quick nod. “He and my grandmother were high school sweethearts. They got married right before he left. They were both young, but when he got back, they bought this land to build on and create something they both wanted. It grew over the years, and when they passed, my dad and uncle took over.”
“A family affair,” she said wistfully.
“Most ranches are. My grandfather left it to my dad and uncle, and when my uncle passed, he left his portion to Lachlan.”
“Lachlan?” Kyla mused. “He’s your cousin. So . . . I got two facts wrong.”
Knitting my brow, I looked over at her, confused. “Two facts?”
“You don’t own the ranch. Your father does.” Her lips twitched as she held back a smile, but I could see it when her eyes hit mine—she was losing that battle.
Shoving the rest of my granola bar in my mouth, I narrowed my gaze at her. Swallowing, I let the smirk that was tugging at my lips loose. “I guess, technically, you did get two facts wrong. Maybe I’m not as easy to read as you thought.”
“Three out of five is sixty percent. That’s still pretty good.” Tilting her body she moved to flip her hair behind her shoulder. “Plus, I can only assume your dad will pass it to you. ”
“You would be correct there. Abi and I will split it.”
“Not Wyatt?”
“Did you meet my brother? He has no interest in running the ranch.”
“But you do?”
Taking a sharp inhale before answering, I looked at the lake. I loved every acre of this place and wanted to see it thrive. I knew with Lachlan and Abi it could become more than it was now. There was so much we could do with it, and I honestly couldn’t wait until that chance became mine— ours .
“I really do,” I answered honestly.
“And the rodeo?” she asked.
“I love being on this land just as much as I love tying down a calf. I love the sun hitting the water, I love the way the dirt flies around my feet as I jump off Buckle. I love the quiet and calm that comes from this place every day, and I love the cheers and excitement I get from the crowds in the arena. This is heaven on earth, and the arena is my home away from home.” Turning to look at her, I caught her eyes. Her eyebrows were pinched slightly, and her cheeks were a faint shade of red as she bore into me. But then she blinked, and it all went away.
“I love that you love this place,” she whispered.
“This place is all that matters.”
She shifted, bringing her knees to her chest, and wrapped her arms around her legs. “I don’t . . .” she started, her voice beginning to shake. “I don’t have a place like that.”
“Well.” I reached my arm out, gently taking her cheek in my palm to pull her toward me. My fingers threaded through her hair as I made eye contact, connecting with her the same way I did last night. “We have to find you one.”
The ride back didn’t last as long as the ride out, even though I made sure Buckle’s pace was slow. We made it back to the stables in time to see Lachlan putting Onyx in her stall for the night. He tipped his hat at Kyla, said a polite “Glad to see you again ma’am” before he left the stables. We jumped off of Buckle and, together, removed her saddle and brushed her. And by together, I mean Kyla pet Buckle’s nose and gave her apples while I did everything. But it was wonderful to have her company just the same.
I checked my watch as we headed into the main house for dinner. We had been together for almost twenty hours. I still had to pack and find a way to convince her to let me see her again.
During dinner Kyla sat between Stetson and myself, with her attention on my nephew, but a part of her body was always touching me. Whether it was her thigh against mine, her hand finding my wrist, or when she decided to try to find five facts about Wyatt—she used my shoulder as an elbow rest. She was comfortable with my family and they were taken with her the same way I was.
My father, Leo Hartwell, sat at the head of the table. His arms folded across his chest as he studied his family. His skin seemed permanently tanned thanks to the days spent out in the sun, and his graying hair and full beard stood out next to my mother. Charlotte— Lottie as everyone called her—sat to my dad’s right. She had dark hair, not a gray strand in sight, with gray eyes that would capture anyone’s attention. She was the complete opposite of my dad. Her personality was bright and welcoming as she spoke. To her, if you were at the table, you were family .
Wyatt and Lachlan sat on the opposite side of us, with Lachlan focusing on his food—only engaging in the conversation once my father asked about the land. Wyatt, however, was completely engrossed in Kyla, his jaw dropping as soon as she got all five of his facts right.
“How did she guess the kind of car I drive?” Wyatt asked as we were getting ready to leave. “I didn’t drive today, and there were too many cars to guess which was mine . . .”
“I’m a teacher, I like reading people. It’s a game I play with my kids at the beginning of the school year. It’s fun for them. They think I’m magic because of it.” Kyla smiled. “It’s definitely not magic, I’m just very observant . . . and you have a Toyota keychain.” She motioned towards his waist, where his keys sat hooked to his belt.
Wyatt shook his head. “Observant?”
“It’s easier with kids, but it’s fun to play with adults too.”
“Okay, okay . . .” I touched Kyla’s shoulders. “As much fun messing with Wyatt is, I need to pack. Keep me company, Kyla?”
“I’d love to.” Kyla turned to face Stetson before she followed me out the door. “Goodnight, Stetson. Maybe I’ll see you before I leave tomorrow.”
Stetson smiled and pretended to tip a hat, making Kyla melt.