Chapter Four
“S tay put for a second. I’ll give you a hand,” Josh said as he pulled into the empty driveway at Faith and Caleb’s place. A sun-bleached porch wrapped around the front of the property. It was a cozy, modern farmhouse filled with rustic country style. A wooden porch swing hung at one end of the house and two wooden rockers at the other. Vertical white siding covered the exterior of the house, stretching up to twin peaks with square windows. Amy thought it was the perfect little house in many ways. Right now it was perfect because her bed was just inside.
When Josh cut the ignition and the truck stopped rumbling, Amy felt like her insides were still shaking. Josh hopped out, hurrying around the front of the truck to collect her. He reached her door before Amy had even had a chance to open it.
“You don’t have to escort me,” she said as he swung the door open for her. “I’m perfectly capable of walking myself inside.” She took a beat to make sure she was steady, then stepped out of the vehicle. It was a long way down and Josh caught her as she hit the ground. Amy resisted every urge to huff. She was not an invalid. And she’d only been a little dizzy. Now she had Josh tripping over himself to help her, and she felt silly. She also felt a little of something else as the heat of his hands pressed against her upper arms. Something that made her heart skitter in her chest. But she wasn’t going to think about that or the flush that was creeping up her neck as Josh looked down at her, smiling a crooked smile.
Then he put a respectful bit of distance between them. “I don’t mean to impose my help, but you do know that Faith will have my hide if I don’t get you safely in the house, right?”
“What was that?” Amy said as an uncomfortable prickle of sensation washed through her. It wasn’t quite dizziness, but it swept away her thoughts and made her stomach queasy. What the hell was going on? The feeling crept up on her, then receded, and she took an exaggerated breath, trying to get control of herself.
“Amy? You good? Not gonna hit the pavement on me, are you?”
The way he said her name sent a shiver through her—delight, maybe?—and Amy wanted to shake herself. Get a grip, girl! He’s just being friendly. “I’m fine,” she managed.
“You say that so often I’m starting to not believe you.” He held out his arm to her. “I know you’re insisting you don’t need my help, but just humor me. Until we get you inside?”
Amy reached for him, latching onto his arm like one of those big suckerfish she and her sisters used to fish out of the river when they were young. She supposed this was the better alternative to fainting cold on the driveway. She had no doubt that Josh would catch her if she did in fact pass out, but how mortifying would that be? Then he’d have to drag her limp body inside while he called Faith and that was something she’d rather avoid.
“How’re you doing?” Josh asked as they wandered up the driveway.
“Good.”
“You don’t sound very convincing.”
Because with every step she felt like she was balancing on two spindles instead of legs.
“If it would make things easier I could just carry you inside.”
Amy snapped her head up. “Don’t you dare, Josh Aventura.”
“Yikes! What’d I do to deserve the full name?”
“It’s to let you know that I mean business.”
“Noted.” He pursed his lips and nodded. “Not a girl to be swept off her feet.”
Amy snorted at that. After Tru, the last thing she wanted was someone swooping in and trying to dazzle her. Though she knew very well Josh had meant those words literally not figuratively. Amy doubted he had any plans to try and dazzle her. They still hardly knew each other.
“How about we agree to this then?” Josh said. “I will not offer to carry you unless there is an obvious threat to life or limb.”
Amy leaned into the hold she still had on his arm. “I suppose that’s reasonable. I don’t think I’d be in any shape to refuse you in those particular circumstances.”
“Glad you see it my way,” Josh said. He looked over and she studied the way his hair parted, falling in soft waves on either side of his forehead. It was more than long enough to run her fingers through, and her mind wandered. She thought about the way it would feel to tangle her hands in it before she reeled herself in. She was already fighting dizziness, no need to make it any worse. His brown eyes studied her in return. Amy watched the way they crinkled, the lines by his eyes holding something like mischief.
Back at the store, Faith had given her the impression that Josh was a quiet man. The kind who kept to himself. But looking at him now, she was starting to think that Josh was anything but quiet. He expressed himself in a multitude of little ways—the curl of his smile, his narrowing gaze, the way he cocked his head at her, the way his thumb stroked her forearm. Amy thought Josh was saying an awful lot. Most people were probably just too busy to notice.
They reached the porch steps, and Amy thought Josh might leave her there, but he inclined his head toward the door. “We’re going all the way,” he said. “I don’t intend to cross Faith.”
“Probably for the best. You already had her in a fit over those sheep shears.”
“Exactly. You wouldn’t want me to face her wrath again so soon?”
“I see now why you offered to drive me. Trying to stay on her good side.”
Josh looked over at her, his lips twisted. “I wasn’t really after sheep shears,” he admitted as they walked up the steps to the door.
“I figured,” Amy said. She fumbled with her house key, finally getting it in the lock. “Seemed like a jump to go from cattle rancher to sheep rancher.”
“Well, it’s for the best probably. And I suppose I got what I wanted in the end anyway.”
“But you left empty-handed.”
“Not quite.”
Amy’s head snapped up, gazing into those brown eyes, and her breath caught. He couldn’t mean… She stumbled against the doorframe. Great. Now she was dizzy all over again. There was no mistaking the fluttering in her chest this time. Nerves and adrenaline and excitement and… Who are you to make me feel like this, Josh Aventura?
He leaned toward her, huffing a laugh. “Thought you were perfectly fine.”
Amy reached between them, turning the doorknob and shoving it open. “Might have spoken too soon.”
“Where do you—” Josh started to say.
Amy pointed to the plush couch in the living room. It was soft fabric and swallowed her as Josh deposited her onto the cushions. She sank back with a heavy sigh.
“I think you’re a little worse than you’re letting on,” Josh said.
“I’m really not,” Amy tried to assure him. “It’s just coming in waves. I’ll be fine in a minute, after some rest.” She touched the back of her hand to her forehead. Despite the weird cluster of symptoms, she really didn’t feel sick. But she was clearly going to have to make sure she ate a proper breakfast in the mornings. She was getting older. Maybe her body was changing and telling her to take better care of herself. Maybe she was going to have to start eating Faith’s turkey bacon. She wrinkled her nose.
Josh turned and headed for the door.
“Thank you!” Amy called after him, scrambling to sit up. “For the ride and for…well, everything.” She wished she had the energy to work up more of a thank-you. She should at least offer him something to drink for his troubles, but she didn’t have it in her. And that was a shame because she really liked talking to Josh. Amy ran a hand through her hair. Damn Faith and her need to interfere. She hadn’t even gotten around to asking Josh out for coffee yet, and after today she wasn’t sure she ever would.
He’d obviously had more than enough of her. Probably couldn’t wait to get back in his truck and flee to his ranch.
She heard the door close, but to her surprise, Josh was still standing there. Oh . He toed out of his boots, then turned to face her. “Where’s the kitchen?” he asked, lifting his hand to gesture down the hall. “Through here?”
Oh! Amy propped herself up a little more. She could do this. If Josh wanted to stay a minute, she could rally. “Would you like something to drink? Can I get you—”
Josh was by her side in an instant, settling her back into the cushions. He wedged one of Faith’s fancy, frilly pillows behind her back. “Don’t get up,” he said. “Just make yourself comfortable.”
Amy smirked up at him. He was so close she could count the dark stubble on his cheeks and chin. “I think you stole my line.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “You might be surprised to hear it, but I actually know my way around a kitchen pretty well. And before I go, you at least need some water. Maybe you’re just dehydrated.”
“Josh, I can get it. Really. Please don’t trouble yourself.”
“Sit,” he said in that gruff way of his. It sounded like an order. “I won’t take any arguing.”
Amy frowned after him as he made his way to the kitchen. She felt odd, having Josh wait on her in Faith’s house, but she didn’t want to offend him after he’d gone out of his way to help her. Plus, a silly little part of her liked that she got to indulge in his company for a little while longer. She sank back, listening to cupboard doors open and close. She could hear him puttering around, shifting glasses, and then the squeak of the sink tap. When he returned to the living room, he had a tall glass of water in his hand.
“Drink,” he said as he handed it to her.
“Is that another order?”
“A strong suggestion.”
Amy took a sip. It was refreshing, but she wasn’t parched, so she doubted her dizzy spell had anything to do with being dehydrated. “Thank you,” she said anyway. “For this. For driving me home.”
He studied her again with those deep brown eyes, and Amy felt her cheeks flush. She didn’t know why, but under the strength of his gaze, she felt oddly cared for.
“You need something to eat,” he finally said. “How about some toast and sweet tea?”
“The water is plenty,” she said, but he was already making his way back to the kitchen.
“I assume you like toast?”
“Who doesn’t like toast?” she called.
“According to my grandmother,” Josh said, his voice carrying across the house, “a good piece of toast could settle your stomach and all your woes.”
“She sounds like a wise lady.”
“She was. She also used to keep sweets in her purse for whenever she visited the ranch. Some for me. Some for the horses.”
Amy came from a long line of strong, stubborn women—especially her mother and grandmother—so she could appreciate how fondly Josh spoke of his grandmother. She closed her eyes briefly, listening to the sounds of Josh moving about the kitchen. She imagined him at the counter, strong shoulders, perfectly parted hair, those forearms… The toaster popped and her eyes flew open. Heat pooled in her chest. Maybe it was better not to be imagining those sorts of things.
Josh returned a few minutes later with some buttered toast and sweet tea. He handed it to her, and Amy sat up. “Looks like the color is starting to come back to your cheeks,” he noted.
That only made Amy flush harder. The color was back for all the wrong reasons. “I think I’m feeling much better. You don’t have to stay.”
“Right,” Josh said, giving her a curt nod. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Amy felt the energy in the room shift as Josh turned toward the door.
“Wait,” Amy said suddenly. “I’m sorry, that felt abrupt. I didn’t mean to rush you out, especially after you were kind enough to make me something to eat. I hope you didn’t think that.” She was messing up this entire thing.
“I didn’t think that,” Josh said. “But I’m also not trying to overstay my welcome.”
“You’re not,” Amy said. “It’s not that I want you to leave. I just figured you probably had more important things to be getting on with. I’m sure the ranch needs your attention.”
He shrugged. “Well, even if I do, I’m still happy to sit a spell with you. If that’s something you’d like, of course.”
Yes! she wanted to shout. Stay for a spell. Stay with me . She didn’t want this to end just yet. “I would like that very much.” His face lit up at her words. “How about we sit on the porch though? I think I could use a bit of fresh air again.”
“Sounds good.” Josh helped her up and carried her sweet tea and toast out to the porch.
Amy settled into one of the wooden rockers. The day was sunny, the air cool but not chilly. She let the energy settle into her, let it wash away her earlier dizziness. She felt better out here with the endless blue sky stretching across town. It was the perfect kind of day, actually, made all the better by the fact Josh was here.
The fact that he wanted to be here was something Amy was still trying to wrap her head around.
“Can I get you anything else?” Josh asked.
“No, but will you at least get yourself a drink? I’m feeling like a terrible host.”
“Please don’t,” Josh said. “We’re here because you weren’t feeling well, not so you could wait on me.”
Amy smiled up at him. “Just get some sweet tea, please?”
“If it’ll stop you from stressing.”
“It will.”
He disappeared into the house again. While he was gone, Amy picked away at her toast, even the crusts, which she usually left behind, finding herself ravenous. When had buttered toast ever tasted so wonderful? Josh returned with a glass in hand.
“Happy now?” he asked, plopping down in the rocker next to hers. He kicked his legs out, the toes of his boots worn and dusty.
“Yes,” Amy said, grinning. Caleb and Faith often sat out here like this in the evenings, after the store was closed and dinner was cleaned up. More than once, Amy had thought about how lovely it must feel to sit in the quiet company of someone you cared about. “So, do you get any time to do this out on that ranch of yours? Or is it just work, work, work all the time?”
“You know, I usually put the cattle in charge and they take care of things for me.”
“Oh, of course. I’m sure they’re running the ranch right now.”
“Keeping it in top shape,” Josh agreed.
“No, but really?” Amy said.
“I mean, do I kick back on the porch and relax? On occasion. Usually only if I have people stop by for whatever reason. When it’s just me, I usually have a running list of things that need to get done around the property and I just fill my time. It’s the kind of job where you’re never really caught up, if that makes sense. There’s always some wayward cow getting stuck in the creek or some storm tearing down fences or supplies that need to be gathered.”
Amy nodded. “I guess you could say I’m the one doing you the favor. Forcing you to relax in the middle of the day.”
Josh sipped his sweet tea, hiding his smirk. “This was all for my benefit then?”
“It’s looking that way.”
“I see. Guess I should be thanking you.”
“It’s the least you could do,” Amy said. “After the big show I had to put on to get you here.”
Josh chuckled. “I am glad you seem to be feeling better.”
“The toast worked wonders.”
“Now that’s a best kept secret, so don’t go spreading it around.”
“Oh, I would never.” Amy pretended to lock her lips and toss the key away. She glanced back at him. “Tell me about Split Valley.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Tell me about the horses. You said you have a few?”
“Well,” Josh said, “There’s Bella and Bitsy. I’ve had Bella since I was a teen. She’s older and grumpy now, but still my best girl. Bitsy likes who she likes and bites everyone else. But we’re working on it.”
Amy laughed. “Sounds like quite the character.”
“Oh, she is. And then there’s Mac. Short for Macbeth, because he’s just full of drama. But he’s also very sweet and gentle, and as long as I sneak him a treat every now and then, I can usually get him to keep the melodrama to a minimum.”
Amy loved the way he talked about his horses. There was warmth and affection, and she very much wanted to meet this little herd. His voice was soothing as he carried on about their personalities, about Bitsy not being allowed near visitors, about the oddball things that horses do. Amy could have listened to him talk all day about everything and nothing. As it was, everything sounded so much more interesting. He could have been telling her about the clouds in the sky and she suspected she’d still be hanging on every word.
“So how long have you been riding?” Josh said. “You mentioned it the other day at the store that it’s one of your favorite things.”
“I started learning… Gosh, I must have been three or four,” Amy said. “But I’d been around horses my whole life.” She glossed over The Hawkins Sisters stuff again because she wanted Josh to know her without all the glitz and glam.
“Did you get yourself a tiny little pony?”
“That’s exactly what I had!” Amy laughed. “Me and all my sisters. We used to fight over who got in the saddle first.”
“I’m trying to imagine a tiny you, kicking up dust and wrinkling your nose when you didn’t get your way.”
“I try not to scrap with my sisters anymore,” Amy said. “I don’t think I ever outgrew the nose wrinkle though.”
“It’s okay.” The corner of his mouth quirked in that half smile. “It’s cute.”
Amy chased away her blush with a huge gulp of sweet tea. Josh either didn’t seem to notice, or politely chose to ignore her, carrying on the conversation. They kept talking and before Amy knew it, over an hour had passed and Josh showed no sign of leaving.
Amy basked in the perfection of the weather and his company. In the back of her mind, though, a small, annoying thought couldn’t help drawing her attention to Tru. He had seemed sweet too, once upon a time, and she’d foolishly trusted that sweetness.
When she’d met Tru last October at the Golden Buckle Rodeo held at the Bronco Convention Center, Amy had thought he was something special. He was the kind of person who gave you his full attention when you talked, making you feel like you were the only person in the room. And when he’d singled her out for conversation, Amy was not only flattered but shocked, falling for those false charms so fast she was surprised she didn’t land flat on her face.
Josh seemed different in so many ways. In all the ways that mattered, perhaps. But her heart skipped for him the way it had once raced for Tru, and that made her nervous. Still, she tried to imagine Tru dropping everything, putting his entire day on hold, just to take care of her the way Josh had today, and she couldn’t—so that had to mean something. Didn’t it?
Amy pushed the thoughts from her mind, determined to enjoy what was left of their afternoon together. Only when Josh left, did Amy realize how refreshed she felt. It was almost as if Josh had lifted some sort of darkness off her, and that was certainly more than she could ever say about Tru McCoy.