Chapter Thirteen
S am came walking up to the back of the lodge later that afternoon, not feeling one bit guilty about his time out with Natalie.
Or about sex down by the river. Whether a natural reaction from him finally breaking his dry spell or some invisible magnetism between them, Sam couldn’t seem to get enough of the woman.
Just now, he’d been tempted to drive her back to his place for a pre-dinner quickie instead of straight to the lodge.
Unfortunately, the fish needed cleaning and it was starting to get late.
But, more importantly, he didn’t want Natalie to get the idea that he only wanted one thing from her.
No, he couldn’t imagine a time when he would turn down naked time with Natalie, but he craved more than just physical intimacy with her.
He craved her smile, her touch, her laughter, her companionship.
And, yeah, that scared him a little. But, dammit, they both seemed like they were overdue for some fun, and if he could meet her needs the way she met his, well, who was he to tip the apple cart?
Sam followed her up the back steps—so he could watch his pretty lady’s cute little ass as she walked ahead of him—and spied a piece of grass sticking out the back of her ponytail.
He hurried to pluck it from her hair before she pulled the backdoor wide.
They were two steps inside when Gran tore into the room like a late summer storm.
“It’s high time you two got back.”
He recoiled, the fish basket sloshing in his hands. “I told you we were going on a ride today, Gran.”
She shook her head. “That’s not what I’m talking about. We’ve been trying to call you for more than an hour, I was starting to worry something had happened.”
“I didn’t hear my phone.” He stepped from the mudroom and reached to pull the phone from his back pocket. It wasn’t there. Had he left it in the truck? Hell, had it even made it back to the truck after their fishing trip? “Damn, I sure hope I didn’t lose it when we were paddling back to shore.”
Or had it possibly fallen out of his pocket during certain other extracurricular activities?
“Hang on,” Natalie said. “I’ll run out to the truck and see if it’s there.”
She was gone before he had a chance to decline her offer. Sam turned to his grandmother who, now that he looked more closely, looked mad enough to spit nails. “What happened?”
“Stubby is what happened. Again. Your father’s prized bull went on another rampage and tore out a section of fencing on the west side of the feed lots.
He took off with a dozen or so cows on his heels.
That damn steer is more trouble than he’s worth, and the man that needs to understand that isn’t in the country.
Plus, you were gone, Norah and Madison are still gone, and your grandfather isn’t able to help much. ”
Sam cursed. “Sorry, Gran, I really didn’t hear my phone. Hell, it might be at the bottom of the Marietta River.”
“Well, the boys are out there working to mend the fence as best they can for tonight to keep the other cows contained, but someone’s gotta get goin’ to retrieve those escapees.”
“If we can’t find my phone, I’ll take a two-way radio with me and start looking for Stubby and the others.” Sam gave her a quick hug. “Sorry to make you worry. Can you throw these fish on ice for me? We’ll have to cook them up tomorrow.”
She nodded. “And I’ll call Norah with an update—she and the girls were heading back early to help.”
Sam hated that Stubby was spoiling both he and his daughter’s fun, but that damned bull wasn’t the brightest. If this kept up, he might end up in the freezer next to today’s fishing catch.
Hell, if Sam didn’t find him before nightfall, old Stubby might end up as someone—or some thing —else’s dinner.
Frowning, Sam hurried back out the door and found Natalie walking toward him, his phone held high.
“Found it! Was on the back seat.” She grinned, devious and delicious. “And we weren’t even back there.”
Laughing, he pulled her in for a kiss, bystanders be damned. “You’re my hero. Also, I’m afraid our fish fry has been postponed.”
Natalie stepped back and looked around, her cheeks pink. “Duty calls?” she asked.
“Yep. We’ve got a bull that’s been madder than a wet hen since the day we brought him home. Strong, too. He tore through half a mile of barbed wire last week that I’d just gotten fixed. Now he’s broken out of another area, and we’ve got another dozen or so cows on the loose.”
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to think things through.
Sam hated to cut their day together short, but the clock was ticking for his missing cows.
If night fell and they were away from the greater herd on the Yellowstone side of the ranch, there were far worse animals out there looking for a fresh meal.
“Go,” she said. “I’ll help Sunnie get our fish on ice.”
No pouting, no frown of disappointment, just a supportive woman giving her man room to do what needed to be done. It’d been a hot minute since he experienced that. He gave her hand a squeeze.
“Thanks for understanding. And for being brave today.”
“Thanks for being a great teacher.” She winked. “Just don’t expect me to be that brave every day.”
He laughed. “Fair enough.”
With a wink of his own, he jogged toward his truck.
Damn, he really did hate to go. But they had tomorrow and a fish fry to look forward to.
And maybe even a ride with Madison on the property to try to spot some black-footed ferrets.
They’d probably need to take the ATVs instead of old Marshmallow and Estelle, though; he didn’t want to push Natalie too hard, too fast.
Because the more she was around, the more he was starting to want to push her.
Push her to choose to stay.
“Oh, and Sam?”
He turned back, the view of his girl—yes, dammit, his girl—making him smile. “Yeah?”
“Be safe out there.”
Knowing that she cared made his smile widen that much more. “I’ll do my best.”
*
Natalie could tell Sunnie was preoccupied with helping coordinate cattle rescue efforts, so she helped put the fish away then said goodbye and headed out to her rental car.
She sat there for a moment, catching her breath from a whirlwind of a day.
Had Sam really gotten her on a horse? Heck, that was almost as shocking as him convincing her to make memories on the Marietta River shoreline.
But then, with Sam, she always felt safe, like he had everything under control. And after living on her own for so long now, it was kinda nice letting someone else make decisions for a while.
Speaking of, it was probably time to check in with her aunt and uncle and make sure all was well back in Indiana. So Natalie headed back into town, got herself cleaned up and fed, and then dialed. Uncle Ralph picked up on the second ring.
“Well, hello there, Natalie. How’s life treating you in Montana?”
She shifted on the chaise lounge in her room and bit back a groan. Between riding and paddling, she was going to be a bundle of sore tomorrow. “Pretty well, actually. You should see it, Uncle Ralph. It’s gorgeous out here. Those nature shows on TV don’t do it justice.”
He chuckled. “Actually, we vacationed out there a number of years back. Stayed in Wyoming but went up through Yellowstone far enough to say we’d made it to Montana before turning back. It truly felt like God’s country.”
Sam intended to live and die here. She’d have a hard time leaving, too, if this was all she’d known.
Even loving her hometown as much as she did, Natalie sensed it wouldn’t be easy to leave Big Sky country behind.
Leaving, however, was inevitable. While it was fun to play cowgirl today, she still had a house to take care of and friends and family she was missing.
But how much will you be missing Sam?
She pushed that thought aside. There would be plenty of time to think about how to say goodbye before that time came. For now, she was intent on living in the moment and enjoying the time with him that she had.
“It sure does,” she replied. “How are things back home?”
“Not too bad. Your aunt and I drove into Fort Wayne last weekend, had some shopping to do at the Barr Street Farmer’s Market.
She’s found a plant lady who makes these little hanger things.
Sara, what’s that called again?” A muffled voice sounded in the background.
“Oh, yeah. Macramé. Anyway, she fell in love with the first one she bought and had to go back for more. If I don’t watch her, she’s going to have plants hanging in every room of our house. ”
Natalie laughed softly. Her aunt and uncle had the kind of marriage she’d always envied—they did everything together and always seemed to get along.
Sure, there were small squabbles from time to time, but deep down, she knew they’d be together forever.
So if Aunt Sara liked these macramé plant hangers, Uncle Ralph was probably the one suggesting they go shop for more. He liked to keep her happy.
“Well, I can’t wait to get home and see them,” she said. “Maybe I’ll want a few, too.”
“There you go. And then you can ride up to Fort Wayne with us and meet this gal yourself. Her sister sets up a table next to her sometimes—she sells homemade jewelry. Darned talented family if you ask me. Speaking of which, how’s your sister?”
Good question. Natalie would have felt bad about not knowing the answer, except phones worked both ways. “Haven’t heard from her in a few weeks. Maybe I’ll reach out after we’re done talking.”
“Or maybe not.” Uncle Ralph laughed. Yes, he knew her and Julianna’s relationship well.
“Oh, before I forget—when I took your mail inside yesterday, the battery backup to your sump pump was beeping. I refilled the water reservoir, but that didn’t fix it, which is usually a sign that it’s starting to go.
Seems like I remember when you bought the place that the owner said those things only last a few years.
There are newer types of batteries out there that last longer, though.
If you’d like, I can stop and pick you one up the next time I’m at the Home Depot. ”
Natalie sighed. “Scope one out and I’ll send you some money for it. Or, if you think it will last a little longer, I can go with you after this project.”
“Can do. We’ve got some rain in the forecast at the end of the week, so I’ll see if I can’t get one in before then.”
Thank goodness for her kindhearted uncle. “You’re the best, Uncle Ralph.”
“Oh! Aunt Sara asked if you heard on that promotion yet.”
“No, not yet.” Natalie’s gaze shifted to her bird’s-eye view of Marietta.
Would this town help her achieve her goal or be the project that held her back?
And could she even be upset about that, knowing Marietta had also brought her and Sam together?
Whether they kept in touch after she headed home or not, he’d always hold a special place in her heart. “But I’ll keep you posted.”
She hung up with her aunt and uncle, took a deep breath, and then called her sister.
Julianna let it roll to voice mail. Natalie left a short message, letting her know she was just calling to say hi, then set her phone aside.
There was no sense getting worked up about not talking to the sister she rarely talked to anyway.
A yawn rattled her, the long, physical day beginning to take its toll. She sent Sam a text, saying she hoped everything had gone okay with Stubby, then climbed into bed. And though her body was exhausted, her mind wandered, not yet ready for sleep.
Why hadn’t Julianna answered? Was she okay? Busy? Just didn’t want to talk?
Natalie couldn’t help but feel envious about how close Sam and his sister were. But who knew? Maybe once she got this promotion and was home more, she and Julianna could take turns making the trek to and from Indy to visit.
Or maybe I could sell my house and move out west, and then Julianna would have a real excuse not to visit more often.
Move out west? Where on earth had that thought come from?
A smile settled on her lips as Natalie nestled deeper into her pillow, allowing her thoughts to drift into what-if land with a certain cowboy.
Because of course, that wasn’t going to happen in real life.
They both had careers, responsibilities.
Houses. But what if they didn’t have all those obstacles? Would things progress between them?
She closed her eyes, memories of the day intermingling with her current line of thinking. Could she ever get used to living in a part of the country with bears and mountain lions and bull elk and black-footed ferrets? And cozy, quaint little towns?
And sexy, stubborn, caring cowboys who seemed capable of both rocking her world, both mentally and physically?
Hey, a girl could dream.