18
I smile as I read the comments on the Runaway Ranch Instagram page, hearting them as I scroll through. Today’s most recent post is a photo of Meadow Mountain, lit up by a stunning sunrise. The simple caption reads Mornings on the ranch.
How do I get dropped off and stay there forever?
Can’t beat that view!
Visiting soon! Cannot wait.
This is what I’ve wanted for Runaway Ranch ever since I got here.
Love.
Sending myself a mental high five, I stretch out in my seat at the kitchen table. A cool breeze passes through the screen door. This town could convince me to stay here. The warm drench of sunshine. Crisp alpine scent. The rush of wild.
A ping on my phone signals a new comment.
I pull it up and read.
Many people won’t wake up this morning at all, but I’m glad you’re able to enjoy your mornings on your stolen land.
I shake my head at the nasty comment. Trolls. They come for anything good and happy.
My eyes drift to the user handle. Lassomamav76.
I recognize that name.
On a whim, I click on the Instagram handle, which leads me to a private account. The avatar image is a blonde woman sitting on a horse. Adorned in expensive looking western wear, she lifts a hand to the camera. I download the photo and save it to my desktop.
Next, in a new tab, I open up the TikTok website and find the video of Ford barking at the city woman.
Bingo.
The woman in the TikTok video is the same person behind the user handle trolling Runaway Ranch. Their avatars and names match.
Alarms go off inside of me, so I switch tabs and comb through previous Runaway Ranch posts. Lassomamav76 has commented on every one of them.
Runaway Ranch is a scam.
Real cowboys don’t work there.
How often do you screw over your guests?
Guess you’re not letting people know about the dead bodies on your ranch, huh?
My jaw drops. How does she know about that? It’s the last comment that sets a puzzle piece turning inside of me.
Squaring my shoulders, I sit back in my chair and contemplate what to do. Right as I’m about to dive into more research, my attention’s diverted by the hard stomp of boots.
Smiling, I shut my laptop and cross the kitchen floor to the tall, broad-shouldered man on my front porch.
“Door’s still not locked,” Charlie says. His gruff growl of a voice warms my stomach. But it’s what’s in his arms that has sunshine—bright, brilliant—splitting my chest open.
Sunflowers.
He brought me flowers. The mere thought makes me dizzy.
I push open my door, smothering a smile at the sight of this brawny rancher cradling two delicate pots of sunflowers that have his biceps bulging.
“Flowers?” I arch a brow.
Charlie shifts on his feet, his expression chagrined, almost boyish. “Apology flowers.”
“For what?”
He sets the pots on the porch and straightens up, the muscles in his tan forearms rippling. “For my idiot brother almost scaring you to death yesterday.”
I flash him a wan smile. If only he knew the truth of that statement.
Seeing the bones shocked my heart into haywire status. The stress of it all had me fumbling. I had to get out of there before I fell over. I couldn’t chance Charlie seeing that happen to me.
Removing his cowboy hat, Charlie runs a big hand through his unruly dark hair. “I promise Wyatt’s not really an idiot. He just acts like one.” His eyes crinkle when he smiles. It makes him look soft and strong at the same time.
I glance down at the bright yellow pots with sunflowers planted haphazardly in the soil. My father would have a fit at the messy planting job, but I love the way it looks. Love that this man took the time to do this for me.
I swallow, my heart melting into a gooey mess. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
“I should’ve come by yesterday and made sure you were okay.” Regret creases his face. “We just ...had some shit to take care of for the ranch.”
“Those rival brothers?” Worry for Charlie hits me like lightning. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” A muscle flexes in his jaw. “We’ll get it handled.”
I nod at the pots. “You look good with flowers, Cowboy.” Stepping onto the porch, I sink down beside his sweet gift.
Gently, I swipe a reverent finger over the delicate flower petals.
“Think you need them all over the ranch.” I gasp, a thought hitting me.
I look up at him. “Maybe you need a garden.”
Amusement flickers in his eyes. “A garden, huh?”
“Oh, I think very much a garden. Set back against your cabin. In the mornings, when you have coffee, they’ll be your best view.”
He grunts. “Think I got a pretty damn good view already.” His gaze falls to my lips and my face grows hot.
“Hydrangeas,” I blurt. “Larkspur. I think they’d grow in this weather.” I brighten. “I could show you how to garden.”
He chuckles. “I’ll add it to my to-do list.” Then he sinks beside me, watching as I dip my hand in the soil. “Did I do okay?” he asks, tilting the front brim of his cowboy hat as he sets it back on his head.
Though his voice is gruff, the question is earnest and has my heart palpitating.
“Better than,” I tell him, and his eyes turn soft and heated.
I glance back at the flowers. I miss my garden, but my heart, my soul is rooted in this Montana dirt.
I run a finger along one of the blooms, examining them close. A gorgeous bicolor mix of cream, dusty rose, and ruby red. I gasp as realization dawns. “These are Ruby Eclipse.” I smile at him. “You found my name in a flower.”
He studies me, clearing his throat. “Meant to be.”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “Must be.”
When I go to stand, Charlie reaches down and takes my hand, helping me up.
I bite my lip and look up at him with heavy-lidded eyes. “I should get back to work.”
“Take a break. You’re off the clock.”
I prop a hand on my hip. “Says who.”
“Your boss.”
“Is that what you are?”
“Gotta keep my employees happy.”
I am happy.
Too happy.
“It’s Saturday,” Charlie says, squeezing my hand. And that’s when I realize he’s still holding it. He hasn’t let go.
He glances at my computer on the table. “Shouldn’t be working, anyway,” he says, voice low and rough.
I eye his sweat-stained shirt and dusty Stetson. “What about you?”
“I was thinkin’ we could go out.”
I tilt my head. “And do what?”
“Spend the day with me?”
“And do what?” I ask again, breathless.
For me, this is it. Bliss. Spending the day with Charlie Montgomery. I’m too excited to worry about every moment after this that could be the end. I just want today.
I just want him.
Reaching out, Charlie sweeps my hair off my shoulder and sweeps his fingers across the curve of my throat, over my pulse. The primal action has my composure spiraling. “Thinkin’ we could knock two of those items off your to-do list.”
Now that Charlie knows about my to-do list, I’ve tacked it to my fridge. Every morning I see it. It’s like some proud badge of honor I can’t wait to cross off. Even if I’m not being honest with him, it feels nice to have someone in it with me.
I bite my lip, hopeful. “Ride a horse?”
That smile on his handsome face dips. “No. Not ride a horse, Ruby.”
“Then what do you have in mind?”
“We go out and do some dancing. Watch the sunrise.”
My heart somersaults in my chest. It sounds perfect.
It sounds disastrous.
“Thought we didn’t do that stuff.”
He grunts in disagreement. “We’re having fun. That’s all.”
“I don’t know, Charlie ...” His hands drift, sliding over my waist to palm the curve of my back. “What if I’m an awful dancer?” I whisper.
His lips lift in a breathtaking smile that has me forgetting we’re just for the summer. Has me forgetting this is a bad idea.
“You won’t be. Not with me around.” He tilts his head toward his pickup truck parked in the drive. “C’mon. Let’s go.”
Flashing a bright smile, I let him draw me into his chest.
It’s the best kind of feeling. That I’m wanted.
“Taking off in the middle of the workday?” I palm his bearded cheek. “You surprise me more and more each day, Cowboy.”
His steel-blue eyes blaze. “Ruby Bloom, I could say the same thing about you.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Let’s go live it up.”