Chapter 10 Taylor
“You do great with those kiddoes,” Ginger, the director of the shelter said.
Taylor waved at the kids who were heading upstairs to their rooms.
“They’re great kids. I’m really sad that they had to go through all the trauma that they have,” Taylor replied.
“I heard them talking. You call them your heroes.”
“I do. I tell them that they sometimes have bad days or bad experiences, but every time I come, they bring their very best selves to the table.”
“You are going to be an amazing Mom. You should think about a career in teaching,” Ginger said.
“I would if it was just the kids. But my best friend is a teacher and she tells me stories about having to deal with certain types of parents and administration. I’m afraid I just don’t have the patience for that.”
“I hear you,” Ginger laughed. She hugged Taylor and said, “Be safe going home.”
Taylor thought about Ginger’s praise on the way back to the cabin. She would love to have kids someday. She and Carl were talking about starting a family.
I wonder if Lane wants kids. Taylor banished the thought as soon as it popped into her brain. We just met and are getting to know each other.
Thoughts about Lane and their upcoming charade started whirling around in her brain. She ended up putting on a true crime show so she could focus on something besides him, their relationship, and the celebration. Taylor focused on Lt. Joe Kenda’s voice from The Homicide Hunter and was finally able to fall asleep.
She was glad that she bought a different dress for church when Lane picked her up the next morning. This dress was cream-colored with flowers on it. At the same time, she felt a little guilty for being vain on a Sunday.
Brother Ayhart preached about how everyone should be true to themselves, to their morals, and to their faith in God. Taylor’s thoughts exploded in a million different directions. Lying to everyone about being Lane’s fiancé was not being true to her morals or to God. On the other hand, didn’t He put this opportunity in front of her? Plus, it was just an acting job.
Taylor had a headache by the time the service ended. She was glad that she had a bottle of water in Lane’s truck to wash down the extra strength acetaminophen with.
I already said I would do it. I can’t back down now,she told herself firmly.
Lane took her to lunch at The Olive Garden, where she changed into jeans and a T-shirt. He changed out of his suit into jeans and a T-shirt. Taylor couldn’t stop staring at the gorgeous man walking her way with a sexy smile on his face. She noticed that other women’s heads turned to watch Lane walk by – even women who were with other men.
“You caused quite a scene walking back,” Taylor said. “I think every woman in this restaurant wants your phone number.”
Lane laughed. “Doubtful, but thanks for the compliment.”
They ate lunch and then Lane said, “How about a drive on Rampart Range Road?”
“Sounds fun,” Taylor said, happily.
They started their journey at the Garden of the Gods and slowly started their journey on the windy dirt road through Pike National Forest. There were a couple of times when it got hairy because two cars were trying to pass each other on a road that was wide enough for one and a half cars. Taylor loved every minute of it.
When the road ended in Woodland Park, Taylor said, “I never get tired of that drive. It is breathtakingly beautiful.”
“It is awesome. Colorado has so many beautiful roads and drives, though. We’ll have to do Gold Camp Road next time,” Lane said.
“Sounds like a plan,” she said, pleased that he was planning on a next time.
Her stomach rumbled.
“It sounds like it’s time for that formal date that I promised you,” Lane said.
“I thought that lunch and the drive was the formal date,” she protested.
“Nope. Dinner is a formal date. Lunch and the drive were the build-up events.”
After they ordered he asked, “What do you like to do besides play with wild horses and fix fences?”
“I love to read. Heather Graham writes paranormal mystery slash romance books. I especially love her Krewe of Hunters series. I like John Sandford and James Patterson. I read Piers Anthony, Rick Riordan, and J.K. Rowling when I’m in the mood for fantasy, and Michael and Kathleen Gear when I want to read historical fiction. Of course, I love Tennyson and Poe, too.”
“I guess I need to show you the library at the house,” Lane said. “I have some of those authors you mentioned. I do love Poe. But then, who doesn’t?”
“Have you seen the movie, The Raven, with John Cusack in it?”
“No,” he said.
“You have to watch it if you are a Poe fan. It is one of my two favorite movies,” Taylor said.
“What’s the other one?”
“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” Taylor said. “I love the references to the different books and literary characters.”
“I think you missed your calling. You should have been a teacher.”
“You’re the second person to tell me that in the last two days, although for different reasons. I’ll tell you the same thing I told my friend. I love the kids, but my mouth would make sure I got fired pretty quickly when it came to dealing with some of the parents and the administration.”
“You do have a bit of a temper,” he said.
“Do you think?” she asked.
They cuddled up on the couch when they got back to the cabin. His arm was around her and she snuggled against him as they watched Poe and the detective try to solve the mystery.
“Excellent movie,” he said. “It solves the mystery of Poe’s death perfectly.”
“I know, right,” Taylor said.
He looked into her eyes. A sexy smile spread across his face. Lane gently pressed his lips to Taylor’s. The world around them disappeared as Lane explored her mouth.
He put his hand on the back of her neck as the kiss became more intense. The heat from their bodies collided with the cool air around them, creating a storm that thundered in Taylor’s soul.
Bolts of electricity coursed through Taylor’s body. Embers kindled to life as Lane made love to her through the kiss. She trembled as he held her close to him.
Taylor was disappointed when Lane ended the kiss.
He smiled at her and said, “I think that I should go now before we go down a road neither of us is ready for.”
She nodded, although she wasn’t entirely sure she really did want him to leave. Lane hesitated as though he was waiting for her to ask him to stay. It took all of her willpower not to.
After locking the door behind him, Taylor called Melissa and told her about the day. “I can’t remember when I last felt so relaxed and contented as I was when we were cuddling on the couch.”
“It’s been a while,” Melissa said. “It sounds to me like you are falling in love.”
“I think I’m working on it,” Taylor said. “I didn’t think it was possible after Carl died. I knew I would never find another man like Carl. Lane is completely different than him, but I know that I could love Lane just as much.”
“Carl would like that,” Melissa said. “He would want you to be happy.”
“I know,” Taylor replied. “You and everyone else have told me so a million times.”
“Does Lane know how you feel?”
“I haven’t talked to him about it,” Taylor said. “I think he is starting to feel something for me, too. He spends a lot of time with me. And those kisses… Wow.”
“I think that you guys need to sit down and talk about how you feel. Put your cards on the table, so to speak,” Melissa said.
“I know. You’re right. I’m just afraid that he might not feel the same and is just passing the time.”
“You just told me that you thought he did care about you,” Melissa said. “Go with your gut.”
“You’re right again.”
“I’m always right,” Melissa replied in a mockingly haughty voice.
Lane left right after breakfast the next morning for a rancher’s conference in Kansas. He’s gone Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. He texted her a couple of times, which she didn’t get until the evenings since she was working all day.
Tuesday morning, Robert approached her with a huge smile. “There is something in the barn you need to see.”
One of the ranch dogs had puppies. They were border collie and blue healer mixed.
“They are so adorable,” Taylor gushed. “I love them.”
She petted the mom, who looked both tired and very proud.
“You did such a good job, Mama,” Taylor cooed. “You have six beautiful babies.”
The dog, Athena, wagged her tail and swiped Taylor’s face with her tongue.
After dinner each night, Taylor worked with Diablo. She managed to get a saddle on him, and leaned against the saddle, getting Diablo used to the weight on his back. At first, he fought it, but he calmed down and accepted it. Taylor talked to him in low calming tones and fed him apple chunks.
If it wasn’t for the upcoming celebration, Taylor would have been completely happy with her life. Her stomach twisted itself up in knots every time she thought about the charade.
Taylor was in the field fixing another section of the fence when Lane returned Thursday afternoon.
“I swear you do this on purpose,” she told the bull as she used the wire stretcher. “You don’t even try to get out. You just knock down the fence.”
“Do you always talk to the animals like that?” a deep voice laughed behind her.
She squealed and whirled around, the hammer in her right hand.
“Don’t sneak up on me like that. You could get brained.”
Lane laughed at her. He gave her a quick hug and said, “Let me help with that.”
They finished up the fence just in time for supper. She went into the barn to love on Athena and to give her some pieces of steak she had saved from dinner. Then, she spent some time with Diablo. Lane walked her back to the cabin just after the sun disappeared behind the mountains.
“How was your conference?” she asked as he settled onto the couch.
He started telling her about the people who attended but stopped mid-sentence. Taylor laughed when she saw he was asleep. She pulled his boots off, put a pillow under his head, and covered him up with a blanket. He was gone the next morning when she woke up.
The next morning, after breakfast, he asks, “Are you ready?”
“No. I really don’t like this. But I won’t back out now,” she said.
“Do you have any questions?”
“No. Willow told me about everyone and kind of what to expect,” she said.
He nodded and said, “I’ll pick you up in an hour. Pack everything that you and Willow bought. You’ll need it.”
The drive to the airport took about an hour. Every muscle in Taylor’s body was stiff.
“Relax,” Willow said. “Lane, Colton, and I will be there with you. No one will bite you – hard. It will just be the four of us on the plane. Colton’s friend will meet him in New York and the other brothers left yesterday.”
Her eyes were huge when she boarded the private plane.
“I’ve never been in a hotel room as nice as this plane,” she said, looking around. “This is incredible.”
“Welcome to Dad’s baby,” Lane said, grinning. “This was his design. He said if he had to travel around the world for meetings, he was going to enjoy it. There are even a couple of cots in the back in case you need a nap.”
“Wow,” Taylor said.
Her heart thundered in her chest and she struggled to breathe. Not for the first time, she wondered what she had gotten herself into.