Chapter 7
INSIDE THE RANCH house kitchen, Ruby lay quietly under the chair as Naomi sipped hot chocolate with Sophie and Taylor and indulged in a little girl talk.
“We watched from the window,” Taylor said. “That Trent is an awesome rider. I wish I’d been out there with my good camera. As it is,” she held up her phone, “I got some fairly decent shots with this.” She scrolled through the ones she’d taken and Naomi and Sophie peered at the screen.
Mason came into the kitchen then.
“Hey, Taylor, can you show me again that trick to folding fitted sheets?” He jerked his chin toward the laundry room and Taylor left her phone to follow him.
Once they were out of the room Sophie smirked and told Naomi, “They think they’re fooling me, but they manage to sneak away together at all times of the day.”
Naomi stared at the last picture still on the phone’s screen. “Seem like a nice couple.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret.” Sophie tapped her palm against her heart. “I like to play matchmaker and I’m pretty successful at it.” She eyed Naomi with a look that sent Naomi’s gaze to the floor to stare at Ruby. “Now don’t be shy. I’ve seen how you look at Trent.”
“Oh, Mrs. Olsen, I’m … I’m not … you know … I’m here to help your farm.”
“And he looks at you the same way. He’s perked up a hundred percent since you came.”
“Perked up?”
Sophie grinned and leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly on the table.
“Oh, honey, Trent was like a tumbleweed when we first brought him here—rolling wherever the wind pushed him. He had been riding herd, kind of a traveling cowboy, picking up jobs at small outfits. Until they petered out and he was living in his car. So down and depressed. But now? He’s got a little fire in him. A spark.”
Naomi laughed nervously and took another sip of her hot chocolate, feeling her cheeks heat. “Well, I’m sure that has more to do with the work he’s doing here and less to do with me.”
Sophie leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and narrowing her eyes till the wrinkles deepened.
“Is that so? Because all he talks about now is soil health and crop rotation. Trent’s asking questions, taking notes, volunteering for every little thing.
That’s not just work, sweetheart. That’s you. ”
Naomi swallowed hard and set her mug down. “I think you’re reading too much into it,” she said softly, though her mind flicked to the way Trent had smiled at her earlier, the warmth in his dark eyes unmistakable.
Sophie chuckled. “Maybe. Or maybe I’ve been around long enough to recognize when two people are circling each other like shy colts in a corral.”
Before Naomi could respond, the kitchen door swung open, and Holger strode in, his face flushed from the cold. He stomped his boots on the mat and pulled off his gloves.
“Gus’s guys are here,” he said, his voice booming in the cozy kitchen. “They got the herd out of the corral and took them along the road. They’re going to fix the fence. Gus wanted to pay us for any damage, but I said no. They didn’t trample the crops like that time two years ago.”
Sophie clapped her hands together. “Good. Glad it’s all working out.”
Naomi let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, thinking about that handsome cowboy.
Holger turned to her and studied her face. He nodded, then glanced at Sophie. “You been meddling?”
Sophie gasped dramatically. “Meddling? Me? I’m just enjoying my hot chocolate.”
Holger rolled his eyes but smiled, his focus returning to Naomi. “Well, finish your drink and then come on out. We’ll walk the east twenty. You can bring the dog.”
As he left the kitchen, Naomi felt Ruby nuzzle her leg under the table. She reached down to scratch the dog behind the ears, grateful for the distraction.
Sophie, however, wasn’t done. “You know,” she said in a teasing tone, “Holger sees it, too. That’s why he thought I was meddling. Trent is interested in you. You both like farms. That can be a pretty solid foundation for something more. It worked for us.”
Naomi laughed nervously, her fingers tangling in Ruby’s fur. “Let’s just focus on the ranch for now, okay? The rest … if there’s even a ‘rest’ … can wait.”
Sophie raised her mug in a mock toast. “Fair enough, Naomi. But if you ever want me to nudge him in your direction, you know where to find me.”
The sound of male voices near the barn was just audible. Naomi found herself standing, suddenly eager to see Trent.
“Thanks for the hot chocolate.”
Sophie smirked behind her mug and mumbled, “You’re welcome.”
Naomi stepped outside, Ruby padding along at her heels, the cold air biting her cheeks. She spotted Trent instantly, his easy confidence unmistakable. She told herself it was just the winter that was giving her that chill that was running through her core.
Or maybe Sophie was onto something.
Naomi busied herself with stroking Ruby’s ears, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
She had a job to do. She walked toward the barn.
Trent’s coat was dusted with snow and his cheeks were red from the cold.
He smiled when he saw her, his eyes softening as they met hers.
Sophie’s voice echoed in Naomi’s mind: He’s perked up a hundred percent since you came.
“Hey,” he said simply.
“Hey,” Naomi replied, her heart skipping a beat despite herself.
Holger came out of the barn with a shovel. “All right, let’s go take a look at that soil.” He glanced at Trent and then at Naomi. He coughed and shook his head. “Naomi, today you’ll stay for lunch and dinner, won’t you?”
Naomi hesitated, but before she could answer, Trent spoke up.
“Hope you do,” he said, his voice quieter now, meant just for her. “Colton’s got a date, so he’ll be gone and there’ll be plenty of room.”
Her breath caught, but she managed a nod. “Okay. Just this once.”
As Trent smiled, Naomi glanced down at Ruby, who seemed to give her an approving look. What am I getting myself into, girl? she thought. Ruby read her mind and wagged her tail in response.