Chapter Seven
Saturday morning, Blair locked up the townhouse, climbed into her car and punched Hud’s address into the GPS. She was anxious to see his place. If she was being honest with herself, she was anxious to see him.
She hoped things went better this time.
After talking it through with Celine she’d realized she’d gotten angry over nothing.
What man wouldn’t make a move after a good date?
She’d have been more disappointed if he’d just said goodnight and walked away.
That thought had taken a few days to settle in, but once it did it was hard to argue with.
The GPS chimed and told her to turn left. She followed the asphalt driveway up a long gentle rise and stopped when the house came into view. A log home, beautiful and solid, framed by mountains in the distance. She sat there a moment just looking at it.
She pulled up beside the front steps and got out, raising a hand against the sun as she took in the place. A wide porch stretched across the front, furnished with rocking chairs and a swing. The door opened and Hud stepped out.
The white T-shirt fit him in a way that should have been illegal, faded jeans with a hole at one knee, and well-worn boots. He leaned against the porch railing and smiled down at her, and she was glad she’d worn her good jeans.
“You found it,” he said.
“GPS did the work.” She shielded her eyes and looked up at him. “This place is incredible, Hud.”
“Thanks.” He pushed off the railing and came down the steps. “I’ll give you the tour after we ride.”
“I’d like that.”
He stopped a few feet from her and looked her over in a way that was appreciative without being rude about it. “You look great.”
“So do you,” she said, and then wished she’d played it a little cooler. But the way he grinned told her he didn’t mind.
“Horses are saddled and ready. Lunch is packed.” He nodded toward the barn. “You sure you’re up for this?”
She gave him a look. “I’ve been riding since I was six.”
He raised both hands. “Just checking.”
She laughed and fell into step beside him, and something about walking across that sun-warmed ground with the mountains sitting quiet in the distance made her feel like the week behind her had never happened at all.
Hud reached for her hand, and she gave it to him, letting him lead her toward the barn.
He paused at the entrance to let their eyes adjust to the shade, then drew her down the aisle to where two horses stood cross-tied and ready.
A big Paint with pale blue eyes and a buckskin, both tacked up and waiting.
“Which one do I get?”
“The buckskin.”
“He’s gorgeous.” She stepped toward him and ran her hand along his nose.
“Don’t let him fool you. He’s a complete baby. Name’s Toffee, five years old, and I’m pretty sure a stick of dynamite wouldn’t make him flinch.”
Blair smiled and turned to the Paint, stroking her nose. The mare stood well above the buckskin, tall and striking. “And who’s this?”
“Painted Lady. Lady for short.”
“How tall is she?”
“Seventeen hands. Comes by it honestly, it’s in her bloodlines. Toffee’s sixteen, quarter horse.”
“I’d love to ride her.”
Hud shook his head. “She won’t let anyone else on her. Never has.”
“That’s not fair.”
He chuckled. “Sorry. That’s just the way she is.” He handed Blair Toffee’s reins. “I need to grab our lunch from the tack room, then we can head out.”
While he was gone Blair stroked the buckskin’s neck and looked around the barn. It was clean and well-kept, the kind that came from people who actually worked it rather than just owned it.
Hud came back with two brown paper bags and tucked them into his saddlebags. She looked at him.
“How many acres is this place?”
“Hundred total. Split four ways.”
“Four ways?”
“My father and two brothers. We each run twenty-five.”
“Are your brothers livestock agents too?”
“They are.” He gathered Lady’s reins. “I’m the oldest. Then Deke, then Case.”
“And your father?”
“Retired from FWP a few years back. Works his ranch now.” He smiled at that, like there was a story behind it. “Come on, let’s ride.”
Blair mounted the horse and watched as Hud checked her stirrups and adjusted them before looking up at her.
“Good?”
“Perfect.”
He walked to Lady, took hold of the pommel and swung up without touching the stirrups. Smooth and easy, like he’d done it ten thousand times.
“Show off,” Blair said.
He laughed. “Been doing it since I was eight.”
“I bet you can dismount while the horse is still moving too.”
He shrugged. “I have.”
She shook her head. “Of course you have.”
“Ready?”
She nudged Toffee with her heels and followed Hud out of the barn into the full morning sun.
She let him lead, happy enough just to be along for it.
She tilted her face up to the warmth for a moment, then brought her gaze back down and found it settling on Hud’s broad back, the easy way he sat the saddle, the quiet confidence in how he rode.
She didn’t try too hard to look away.
Something he’d said earlier nudged at her as they rode.
“What is FWP?”
“Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. I worked there for a while before switching to MDOL. Got pulled into a big case that changed my direction. Deke and Case eventually followed my lead.”
Hud reined Lady to a stop and turned in the saddle. “Do you fish?”
Blair made a face. “No. Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“Worms.”
He laughed. “You’re a nurse.”
“I am aware of that.”
“I’d think a little thing like a worm wouldn’t bother you much.”
“You would think wrong. They’re slimy and horrible and the answer is no.”
“You could use lures.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Fair enough.” He turned back and nudged Lady forward. “Good thing I left the poles at home.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. If you don’t like to fish, we don’t fish.” He glanced back with an easy smile. “We’ve got plenty of country to ride through.”
Blair smiled and looked out at the open land ahead of them. She had a feeling today was going to be just fine.
****
Hud kept his eyes moving as they rode. It was a beautiful day, warm and clear, but this time of year the animals that had spent the winter sleeping were up and hungry. Bears especially. He saw no reason to mention that to Blair.
He glanced back and found her taking it all in, a smile on her face that did nothing to help his concentration. He turned back around. He wanted her; there was no question about that, but he’d have to be patient. Push too hard and she’d send him packing, and he liked her too much to risk it.
When they reached the pond he reined Lady to a stop and turned in the saddle.
“We can eat here, if that works.”
“Please,” Blair said. “I’m starving.”
“Yeah,” he said under his breath, his gaze drifting back to her for just a moment before he looked away. “Me too.”
He dismounted and untied the bedroll from behind the saddle, snapped the blanket out over the grass and set the lunch bags and two bottles of water down. Blair swung down from Toffee and settled onto the blanket. Hud sat beside her.
“Turkey and Swiss. One mayo, one mustard.” He held both up. “Pick your poison.”
“Mayo, unless you want it.”
“Either works.” He handed it over and unwrapped his own.
He took a bite and made a sound of appreciation.
“Are you that hungry?” Blair asked.
“Breakfast was a long time ago.” He took another bite. “I’m up around five every morning. Eat, then ride.”
“Every morning?”
“Unless there’s a storm moving in. Rain and snow don’t bother me, but I won’t take Lady out if there’s lightning in the forecast.”
“You really love it.”
“Always have. My brothers do too, but I’m out here more than either of them.” He paused. “Deke’s got a little girl just starting to want to ride. That’s been fun to watch.”
“Are your brothers married?”
“Deke is. Case is engaged.”
“You sound like a proud uncle.”
“I spoil that little girl every chance I get. Her name’s Ellie. Just turned three.” He smiled. “She’ll ramble on for five minutes straight, none of it making a lick of sense, then just dissolve into giggles.”
“They’re wonderful at that age. Into everything, questions about everything.”
“That’s Ellie exactly.”
Blair laughed. “I can see why you spoil her.” She looked at him. “Why haven’t you married?”
Hud was quiet for a moment. “Never met the right woman, I suppose.” He held her gaze when he said it.
Blair looked down at her sandwich. “Sometimes you think you have and you’re wrong.”
“Is that what happened with your marriage?”
“Partly. He didn’t bargain on how much time school would take. Neither of us handled it well.” She shrugged. “Last I heard he’d remarried and has a family. I’m glad for him. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
“Relationships take work. Both people have to want to put it in.”
“Agreed.”
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out. Gina. He hit ignore and tucked it away.
“You can take that.”
“I don’t need to.” He finished the last of his sandwich and looked out over the pond. “It’s quiet out here.”
“It’s beautiful.” Blair tilted her face up to the sky.
Hud removed his hat, stretched out on the blanket and laid it over his face. “Perfect napping weather.”
Blair laughed and lay back beside him. “The sky goes on forever out here.”
“They don’t call it Big Sky Country for nothing.”
“It’s a perfect name for it.” She sat up after a moment and looked out over the water.
Hud sat up beside her. “You alright?”
“Fine. I just can’t get over how quiet it is. How still everything is.”
“It’s not for everybody. The winters alone chase people off.
Montana’s a big state but it can feel empty in ways that surprise you.
I’ve seen people move out here chasing exactly this,” he nodded toward the water, the mountains, the open sky, “and barely last two years before they head back to wherever they came from. The solitude sounds good until you’re living inside it. ”
“But not you.”
“Never. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”