Chapter Eight
“S he really likes you,” Josh said, failing to hide his smile as Amy rubbed Bitsy down with the stiff-bristled brush. They’d gone for a ride earlier this morning as the sun was coming up. Josh had been surprised at how eager Amy was to get out of bed early enough to watch the sunrise. When he’d picked her up this morning, greeted by a beaming smile, his heart had landed right in his stomach, kicking up butterflies. There seemed to be more and more of them swooping around his gut every time he saw her. “You didn’t even have to ply her with sugar cubes to brush her.”
“Of course she likes me. We’ve been over this.” Amy ran her hand along Bitsy’s silky coat. “What’s not to like? I’m an excellent rider. And a fantastic conversationalist.”
“Rider, yes. Conversationalist…” Josh started to tease.
“Watch yourself, Josh Aventura.”
Amy looked at him over her shoulder, a few strands of her dark hair coming loose from her ponytail. Josh wanted to reach over and brush them aside. Her eyes were bright, the corner of her mouth turning up playfully. Gosh, she was pretty when she smiled. She was pretty all the time, but something about her lit up around the horses. It was like she didn’t have a care in the world.
It was no wonder Bitsy liked her. Bit was a stubborn, picky horse, and usually the last one Josh would let someone ride, but Amy had taken to her almost instantly, and Bitsy hadn’t so much as huffed in displeasure.
Josh wanted to believe that Bitsy was a good judge of character, and as he looked at the chocolate-brown mare, her dark eyes clear and glassy, he wanted to believe that she was telling him that Amy was one of the good ones . One he should hang on to. One he could trust not to stomp on his heart.
How was it possible that the world could make so much more sense with one person around?
He’d grown more than fond of these rides with Amy. He liked wandering the outskirts of the ranch, their horses weaving back and forth as they talked about nothing and everything. He liked looking over and seeing her there, comfortable on horseback, comfortable with him. Grinning as the sun stretched across the property, shading her eyes to see the cattle way off in the distance. He liked talking to her, more than anyone else in his life, and he never worried about the stretches of silence. Already he felt assured in the quiet spent with her.
He wanted more of that. Conversation and quiet and early morning rides that left his boots dew-stained and his cheeks warm.
“Thank you for having me out again,” Amy said, patting Bitsy on the forelock. She’d hung around after the ride and followed him around the ranch while he and his ranch hands completed the morning chores. She’d visited with the tiny calf again who she’d nicknamed Romeo, and had even offered to help muck out the horse stalls. Hours had passed and she still showed no sign of leaving, and frankly Josh wasn’t complaining.
“Of course,” he said. By now she had to know how much he enjoyed her company. They’d been together almost every day for the past couple of weeks. There was a part of him that wished she’d never leave. “You’re welcome here anytime.”
She glanced over at him where he leaned against the stall door. “You mean that?”
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it.”
A touch of pink washed across her face. Gosh, he liked that too. He liked making her blush. Liked knowing that he wasn’t the only one affected.
“I don’t miss the rodeo and the training as much as I thought I would,” Amy said thoughtfully, putting the brush down. She gave Bitsy one more pat then turned to him. “But the horses…” She shrugged. “That’s different.”
“I think Bitsy would appreciate having you out more often,” he said. “To visit. To ride.”
“Is she the only one?”
Josh’s heart thumped in response. “I’m sure the cattle would appreciate seeing more than my ugly mug on occasion, too.”
Amy laughed. “It’s far from an ugly mug and I think we both know that.”
“Trying to give me a compliment?”
“Probably trying and failing, cowboy,” she said. She looked up as Mac stuck his head over his gate, looking for pats. “You might regret inviting me to pop by anytime.”
“Oh, yeah? Why?”
Amy flashed her teeth at him. “I’m gonna teach this lot about barrel racing.”
Josh snickered, the buzz transforming in his chest, and he realized his phone was ringing. “Bella might be too old for that,” he said, pulling out his phone. “She’s delicate now.”
“Well, maybe she’ll just supervise.”
“Hold that thought,” he said, answering the call. He stepped away. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Didn’t wake you, did I?”
On the other end of the line was Shane, longtime friend and grandson of Josh’s neighbors, the Coreys—Black ranchers that had lived in Tenacity for generations. Josh and Shane had grown up running around their respective family ranches together, getting in and out of trouble, jumping off hay bales, driving heavy-duty ranch equipment, and generally causing mischief. Shane’s grandparents had been good friends with his own parents, and Josh was more than glad that Shane had come back to town after a stint away.
“You know I’m up with the sun.”
“Didn’t know if things had changed in your old age.”
Josh snorted.
“You got a minute to help out an old friend?”
“What’s going on?”
“Part of the fence came down last night and some of the herd got out. Could use your help wrangling up cattle and getting the fence repaired. And before you hang up on me, Gram says she’ll make it worth your while.”
“I would have done it out of the goodness of my heart,” Josh said. “But I will allow Angela to bribe me.”
“Good. You got time now?”
“Yeah, just wrapping something up,” he said, glancing Amy’s way where she was giving Mac’s muzzle a rub.
“Would something happen to be that girl you were telling me about?” Shane asked.
Josh could hear the grin in his voice. He didn’t say anything, but Shane knew him too well.
“She’s there right now, isn’t she?”
“And here I was just thinking I might let you meet her.”
“Bring her,” Shane said. “Gram’ll be ecstatic.”
“You’re right,” Josh said, then paused thinking it through. “On second thought, Angela might be a lot.”
“Can’t back out on us now.”
“I don’t want to give you the chance to scare her away.”
“Gram!” Shane bellowed on the other end of the phone, and Josh could hear him plodding across the porch. “Josh is bringing his new woman!” There was a murmured reply and Shane yelled again. “The woman he’s been seeing. Yeah, the one I told you about!”
“Great,” Josh muttered.
Shane snorted. “If you don’t bring her now, you’re gonna get an earful.”
“Yeah, thanks for that.” He sighed.
“Didn’t you miss me, Joshy?”
“To be honest, right now I’m not really sure why I was so excited for you to come home. I’ll be over soon.”
“With Amy.”
“To be determined.” He hung up on Shane and tucked his phone into his pocket.
“Everything okay?” Amy asked, glancing up at him as he approached.
“Just the neighbors. They need a hand—some of their cattle got out.”
“Oh,” Amy said. “Does that happen a lot?”
“More often than you’d think. They sort of like to play follow the leader with bad ideas.”
Amy chuckled.
“Do you mind if we make a little detour on the way back?” Josh asked. “If not, I’m happy to drop you off first.”
“No, of course not,” Amy said. “I’d like to meet your neighbors.”
“Great,” Josh said, glad she was up to going, and not just because it would prevent him from getting the third degree from Angela. He was mostly just glad to get to spend some more time with her. “It shouldn’t take too long. Hopefully .”
They packed up the truck—Josh brought his tools and some extra lumber just in case, though he suspected Otis would have everything they needed—and drove over to the Coreys’. Otis Corey, Shane’s grandfather, was the salt of the earth. He’d had gray hair and wrinkles for as long as Josh could remember, and he wore it as well as he did his plaid shirts and denim overalls and cowboy boots. He was the type to put you to work while giving you advice. Josh had always had immense respect for how hard he worked and the morals he’d passed on to his own children and grandchildren. His wife, Angela, Shane’s grandmother, was the tenderhearted, tough, no-nonsense counterpart. She had a warmth that instantly endeared her to you, but she wasn’t afraid to set you straight, as she’d done on numerous occasions for Josh and Shane, especially when they were getting up to no good.
“So,” Amy said as Josh drove down a gravel road, dust spiraling in their wake. “Give me the crash course. What should I know?”
“Okay, well,” Josh started. “Shane Corey. We practically grew up together. He’s been living near Helena and just returned to Tenacity after a bad breakup. His grandparents own the ranch. Otis, steady, wise, will look at you like he’s staring straight through to your soul.”
Amy chuckled. “Got it.”
“And his wife, Angela, she’s the co-owner of Little Cowpokes Daycare Center in town. She also makes the best mac and cheese in Montana—ask anyone. And if you think you’ve had better…” He eyed her seriously. “No you didn’t.”
Amy grinned back at him. “Eyes on the road, cowboy.”
“I could drive these roads blindfolded.”
“Please don’t,” she said. “There’s an awful lot of cattle roaming around.”
Josh turned back to the road and realized she was right. The Coreys’ cattle had gathered at the edge of the road, some of them roaming back and forth. Josh slowed so there wouldn’t be any accidents, and hung his head out the window, whistling and calling out to get the cattle to move out of the way. He looked at the break in the fence.
“I wonder what happened,” Amy said.
“Might have come down in the last storm we had.” It was the wetter part of the year still, with temperatures varying from cold enough to need gloves to warm enough to shed your coat. They’d lucked out with nice weather this past week though, and he’d spent a good portion of it outside with Amy. “Or the board was loose and an adventurous cow decided to make a break for it.”
Amy turned in her seat to watch the cattle disappear as they turned onto the Coreys’ property. “They sorta look like they’re waiting to be picked up for a night out.”
“It’d be great if they’d just realize that they could walk back the way they came.”
“Now why would they make it easy for you?”
“Because I’m a nice guy.” The tires crunched over more gravel. He pulled up beside an old weather-beaten truck that both he and Shane had driven up and down this road as teens. He wasn’t all that sure it actually functioned anymore or if it had merely rusted in place.
“Hey,” Shane called as they got out of the truck. He came clomping down the porch steps and clapped Josh on the shoulder, pulling him into a hug. His thick black hair was shorter than it had been last time Josh had seen him, which was probably Angela’s doing, and he’d apparently decided to try out a neatly trimmed beard. It suited him, Josh thought, as Shane broke away, making him look older. At least until Josh spotted that too-bright smile that usually meant mischief. Then it was like they were kids all over again. But this time Josh suspected Shane was looking at him that way because Amy came walking toward them and not because he had his mind on a prank.
“Shane, this is Amy,” Josh said, introducing them.
“Good to meet you,” Shane said, shaking Amy’s hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“This is becoming a regular thing now,” Amy said, probably referring to the fact Noah had told her the same thing.
“Don’t worry. I’ve only been told the best,” Shane assured her.
He flashed Amy a smile that usually made women swoon and Josh nudged him. He didn’t need any other competition.
“So, getting tired of our poky little town yet?” Shane asked.
“Not quite,” Amy said. “It’s got a few interesting things going for it.”
Shane threw his head back and laughed. “I hope you don’t mean this guy.”
“Josh said you moved back from near Helena?”
“Yeah. A breakup chased me out.”
“I can sympathize there.”
“A girl after my own heart. Or whatever pieces remain,” Shane joked.
They walked up the porch steps and Josh introduced Amy to Angela as she popped out the door, greeting him with a hug. She was short enough for Josh to rest his chin on the top of her head for a beat. He pulled away, noting new strands of grey by her temples and new wrinkles by her eyes, but her hug had felt as sturdy as ever. That was Angela Corey in a nutshell: sturdy, fierce, with the patience of a wrangler breaking in a wild bronco. Except when it came to his love life, of course.
“You hungry?” she asked, pushing a few curling strands of hair from her face. “Look hungry to me. Come inside.”
“Gram, we have to go get the cattle,” Shane interrupted.
Angela waved him off. “Where’re they gonna go? Not like they’re gonna hitch a ride into town.”
Shane rolled his eyes.
“I saw that,” Angela said even with her back turned.
“I’m gonna go grab the supplies for the fence,” Shane said, eyeing Josh. “Finish up here and come find me.”
Angela went into the kitchen to get plates as Josh guided Amy through to the dining room.
Amy motioned over her shoulder. “Should we offer to help or…”
“No,” Josh said. “Just let her do her thing.”
Before Josh had a chance to say anything else, Angela returned, putting a plate of mac and cheese down in front of each of them. It was the same dishware he used to eat off of as a boy with the little daisy patterns around the edges. It was nice to see that some things never changed. He glanced at Amy as she tucked in. It was also nice to see that some things did change.
“I’ve heard it’s the best in Montana,” Amy said as Angela sat down across from them.
“You heard right,” Angela said.
Josh took his first bite and waited with bated breath for Amy’s reaction. Her eyes widened and suddenly she was gushing about how good it was. Josh let out a breath of relief. Not that he expected Amy not to like it, but Angela was serious about her cooking and Josh loved Angela like his own grandmother, and he wanted her to like Amy.
Angela gestured to the china hutch in the corner which displayed an eclectic mix of trophies and ribbons. “I’ve been perfecting the recipe longer than you’ve been alive. To award-winning results, as you can see.”
“You should have opened up a restaurant instead of a daycare.”
“There’s still time,” Angela said. She winked. “Maybe when I retire.”
Josh laughed. Otis and Angela were both in their seventies and the thought of them retiring anytime soon was almost as ridiculous as someone not liking Angela’s mac and cheese.
“So, you haven’t been in town long?” Angela said, and Josh winced. She had her serious face on, and Angela wasn’t one to beat around the bush with pretty conversation. If she wanted to know something about Amy, she’d ask her directly. Josh felt like he needed to run some sort of interference. How could he get Amy out of the house?
“No,” Amy said. “I came down in February to visit my sister, Faith.”
“And she’s marrying the Strom boy. They’re a nice couple.”
Amy nodded. “I think so.”
“And what do you do for work?”
“I’m on the rodeo circuit, actually.”
Angela raised a brow, impressed. “What did you say your last name was?”
“Hawkins.”
Angela’s eyes widened.
“Angela—” Josh cut in.
“It’s fine,” Amy said at the same time Angela said, “Don’t you have some cattle to wrangle?”
Josh knew when not to push his luck with this woman. He stood up, looking down at Amy. She gave him a little smile that he took to mean, I’ll be just fine . And he had no doubt she would. Amy wasn’t a damsel. From everything he’d seen, she was strong and independent and feisty and even that day at the store, when she’d felt sick, she’d been stubborn about letting him help her.
“Guess I’m gonna go wrangle.”
“I’ll help Angela with the dishes,” Amy said, “then I’ll come out and join you.”
Josh nodded. “See you in a few.”
He left the dining room, taking a detour to the bathroom to wash his hands. From there he could hear the rattle of dishes as Amy and Angela moved into the kitchen.
“So, a Hawkins Sister,” Angela said. “Not much rodeoing going on in tiny little Tenacity for you.”
Josh knew Angela was fishing for information.
“You’re right,” Amy said. “I miss the arena and my other sisters. But it’s been a nice break from Bronco.”
“Is it only a break?” Angela wondered.
Amy sighed. “Honestly, I’m not sure. I think so. Faith kind of invited me down because I was having a tough time after a breakup.”
Angela hummed in understanding. “We know all about breakups around here. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad my grandbaby’s back. But Shane’s been going through it.”
“I figure I’ll sit out a few rodeos and make my way back to Bronco eventually. My ex isn’t exactly on the circuit, but I don’t even want to chance running into him right now.”
“I think getting some space is the right thing to do for most folks if you can. It helps clear your head.”
“I guess that’s what I was after,” Amy said. “A clear head and all that.”
Josh turned off the water and leaned against the bathroom sink.
“You think you found it?”
“I’m starting to.” Amy said softly.
“Well, for the record, I think you two make a lovely couple,” Angela said.
Josh shouldn’t have been eavesdropping. His mother had taught him better. Heck, Angela would probably scold him if she knew. But he was frozen, his breath coming shallow and uneasy, like he’d just run across the pasture.
“Oh,” Amy said, laughing softly. “No, it’s not like that. We’re just… We’re friends, I suppose.”
Josh’s pulse skipped in his chest. Just friends? Weren’t they more than that? Didn’t she feel it? He certainly did. And from where he was standing, he wanted to be much more than just friends. These feelings he had for Amy… It might sound ridiculous, but they were so much stronger than they should have been after only a couple of weeks together, but sometimes when a thing was right, it settled into your bones and couldn’t be altered.
That’s what being with Amy felt like. She was a breath of fresh air that had spread through his lungs and revived him.
It was right, this thing between them. He knew it was; he just hadn’t wanted to push her for anything, afraid that she’d bolt like a spooked horse, trampling his heart along the way. But hearing her say that they were just friends… The words boiled in his gut like an acid soup, burning and bubbling. He looked at his face in the mirror, knowing that even after this short while, losing Amy would crush him.
“You don’t sound so sure of that yourself,” Angela said.
“Maybe there are some feelings there,” Amy admitted. “At least on my end.”
The emotion inside Josh shifted so fast he almost fell back. Had she just admitted to having feelings for him? A herd of cattle could bust through the door and he wouldn’t care. His entire being delighted in Amy’s little confession.
“Only some feelings?” Angela clarified.
“No. A lot of feelings actually. More than I probably should have. Though I don’t think he knows that.”
“I’ve known Josh for a long time, and judging by the way he looks at you, there’s nothing friendly about it,” Angela said pointedly.
Josh should be mortified, but all he could do was smile.