Chapter Five
The last of the family to leave for the night, Adam’s taillights bounced down the gravel drive. Ryan stood in place until the old Suburban turned under the archway and disappeared completely from view.
“Takes some getting used to.” Quinn appeared beside him, hands shoved in his pockets.
Ryan turned toward the open front door and his brother. “What?”
“This.” Quinn gestured at the empty yard. “The house is so… quiet since everyone’s married and moved out.”
And it was going to get even quieter once Quinn married Eloise and moved to Sadieville.
He headed for the kitchen, Quinn trailing behind, he could hear the low murmur of Aunt Eileen and Uncle Sean debating whether or not the Portuguese Princess legend was actually true, punctuated by the rhythmic clink of silverware being put away.
“I should get my bags out of your truck.” Nicole stepped away from the sink where she’d been drying dishes.
“Already done.” Ryan opened the fridge door and grabbed the pitcher of sweet tea. “Want a glass?”
Nicole blinked. “Uh, no thank you, but where’s my bag?”
“In your room.” Aunt Eileen closed the silverware drawer and turned on the burner under the kettle. “Would you like a cup? Sean and I like to end a busy day with a quiet cup and a few minutes of peace. The cows wake up early in ranch country.”
“No thank you.” Nicole’s gaze darted toward the front of the house. “Where exactly is my room?”
“Upstairs.”
“I’m staying here?” Her eyes opened so large and wide, Ryan was almost surprised they didn’t pop out of her head.
“Of course. Can’t put you in the bunkhouse with those cowboys. We have plenty of space. You’ll take Grace’s old room.”
“But…”
A simple open palm gesture from his aunt had Nicole swallowing whatever she had been about to say.
“There’s no argument. You’ll be more comfortable here at the house.
Besides, it will be nice to have more folks around.
I miss the days when the place overflowed with family long before and after supper. ”
“If y’all will excuse me.” Quinn stretched his arms over his head and did his best to hide a yawn. “It’s been a long day. I’m heading to bed early.”
Everyone nodded but Aunt Eileen was the only one smiling like the Cheshire cat. “Who wants to bet he’s going upstairs to call Eloise?”
“But she just left?” Ryan set his glass on the table and returned the pitcher to the fridge.
“Men,” his aunt muttered. “Just you wait till you fall in love. Then you’ll understand why he’s calling his fiancée only minutes after she walked out the door.”
Much to his chagrin, Nicole stood quietly to the side, biting down on her lower lip in an effort not to laugh.
The kettle whistled and Aunt Eileen pulled two mugs out of the cupboard. “Why don’t you two go out on the porch? Show Nicole what country stars look like.”
When Ryan pushed at the screen door, the hinges squeaked. He really should just grab a can of WD40 from the barn and fix that. Holding it open for her, she walked past him and moved to the porch railing.
“Wow.”
His gaze followed hers, looking up at the night sky and the splattering of stars.
“I thought we had a good amount of stars back home, but this…”
He vaguely remembered someone else pointing that out to him when they first arrived, but he’d never been one for stargazing, until now. “Makes a pretty neat tableau.”
“You can definitely say that again.” Her gaze remained fixed on the sky a few moments longer before she turned to face him. “Your family’s wonderful.”
Ryan leaned against the opposite post. “They have their flaws.”
“But they care.”
“Yeah.” He studied her profile in the glow from the kitchen windows.
Impossibly, she managed to look even more beautiful now than earlier in the day.
Reminding himself this is Mike’s kid sister who he promised to protect from the men on the crew, including himself, he shook his head and dragged his mind back to the conversation. “They do.”
Smiling, she moved to one of the green rockers. “That Irish DNA banter was hilarious.”
“Wait till you hear the great brisket versus pulled pork debate of last summer. Nearly came to blows.”
Her laugh was soft. “I can’t see it.”
“Okay, maybe not blows exactly.” He chuckled softly. “How about you? Any big family dinners in Oklahoma?”
She shook her head. “Both our parents were only children. They retired to Florida last year. One of those senior communities. Now it’s just Mike and me.”
“That must be tough. I mean, I bet you miss them.”
“We do, but they love it there. But,” Nicole smiled, “Mom’s over the moon that Mike decided to have his surgery in Florida. I’m not sure who’s going to enjoy all that pampering more, her or my brother.”
“Aunt Eileen can be like that.”
Nicole’s brow lifted. “Like what?”
“If one of us is near death, she’ll bring soup, fluff pillows, sing us songs, the whole nine yards.” Ryan grinned. “But anything less than death’s doorstep and she’ll most likely tell you to walk it off.”
That had her chuckling softly. He liked the sound.
“My mom would call that tough love.”
He shrugged. “We’ve always called it Irish love. Though now we might have to call it Portuguese love.”
Nicole laughed a little harder. A horse whinnied in the distance and she leaned forward in her seat. “You have horses?”
He nodded. “Do you like horses?”
“Don’t know. Never spent a lot of time around them.” Her phone chirped in her pocket. She pulled it out, and a small smile touching her lips as she mouthed Ned.
Ryan noted the way she tucked a stray lock of chestnut hair behind her ear.
An odd urge to do the same came over him.
Again, he reminded himself of his promise to Mike.
From where he stood, he could only hear her side of the conversation, but it didn’t take a mind reader to figure out that Ned was updating her on her truck.
She stared at her phone a moment before slipping it back in her pocket.
“Good news?”
“Yes and no.”
“Okay.” Hands in his pocket, Ryan waited for a little clarification.
“He has the part.”
“That sounds like the good news.”
She nodded. “But it won’t be ready till mid morning. He’s going to bring it here to the ranch.”
“Sounds like Ned. The guy has been going above and beyond for as long as I can remember.”
Her smile was shaky. “Except, I’m going to need a ride to work.”
The way she looked so lost he had an unexpected urge to pull her into his arms and promise her the moon.
Not a good thing. Sucking in a deep breath, he suddenly prayed Mike’s recovery would set speed records.
“No big deal. Quinn and I both have to go to the same place as you. As a matter of fact, it would make sense if we carpooled anyway. No need to waste gas.” A few hours ago that thought would not have occurred to him.
After all, he and his brothers had never carpooled.
Then again, his brothers didn’t look like Nicole Davis.
His job of protecting the little sister was starting to look more difficult than he’d bargained for.
Nicole shifted in the rocker, letting the gentle back-and-forth settle in her bones. Somewhere out in the dark, a horse whinnied again, the sound carrying clear on the night air. “Do you ride?”
“When I can.” Ryan shrugged. “Less than I’d like. We grew up on horses. Some of my best memories as a kid are visiting my cousins in the summer and spending all morning working the cattle and all afternoon riding horses and playing in the creek.”
“Sounds glorious.” And nothing like her days growing up in a big city. “I’ve never really ridden. Unless a pony at a birthday party when I was five counts.”
“It does. Ponies can be little shits… excuse my language.”
She bit back a chuckle. “I’ve heard worse. Plenty worse.”
“Would you like to ride?”
Did she? Another horse, or maybe the same one, made a sound as if encouraging her to give it a try. To her surprise, the idea held more than a little appeal. “I think I’d like that. As long as the horse doesn’t want to win any races.”
Ryan blew out a sharp laugh before settling into a sweet smile. “We’ll start you on the equine version of a rocking chair. Promise.”
The screen door creaked open and Aunt Eileen popped her head out.
“I’m heading to bed before I fall over where I stand.
” Her gaze shifted to Nicole. “There are fresh towels folded at the foot of your bed. If you need anything—extra blanket, different pillow—Ryan will show you where we keep them. If you’re a middle of the night snacker, anything you find in the fridge is at your disposal. ”
“Thank you. That’s very kind.”
“Just ordinary Texas hospitality. Ryan will show you to your room when you’re ready.” His aunt’s gaze narrowed as she scanned the porch.
“Something wrong?” Ryan asked.
“No.” His aunt shook her head, still looking around. “I thought Gray would be out here with you. Wonder where he’s off to?”
Ryan shrugged. “Probably chasing armadillos.”
Rolling her eyes, Aunt Eileen blew out a deep sigh. “Best working dog we’ve ever had does not chase armadillos and you know it.”
“No ma’am.” Ryan lowered his voice and bit back a smile.
“Still.” Aunt Eileen seemed to focus harder on Nicole before her gaze darted over to Ryan and back. “I wonder…”
Tipping his head slightly to one side, Ryan studied his aunt. “Wonder what?”
Plastering on a bright smile, Aunt Eileen shook her head “Nothing. Just silly musings of an old woman who desperately needs a good night’s sleep. Don’t stay up too late. Sunrise comes around early for all of us.”
“Goodnight,” Ryan and Nicole chorused as Aunt Eileen closed the door behind her and disappeared from view.
“I wonder what that was all about?” Nicole hated it when people backed out of a sentence with never mind.
“With Aunt Eileen, who knows. Could be something or nothing.”
“Right.” She pushed herself up from the rocker. “Either way, she’s right. Tomorrow does come early and I do not want to be late two days in a row.”
The living room was dim now, only a single lamp left on in the corner. Their footsteps echoed on the hardwood as they crossed to the stairs. Ryan gestured for her to go first, and she climbed, hyperaware of him behind her.
He led her to a door halfway down the hallway and pushed it open. “This is your home for the next few weeks. Grace’s room.”
Nicole stepped inside. The room was beautiful, far more than a guest room had any right to be.
A large window was set into the far wall, framed by heavy drapes that had been pulled back to reveal the moonlight-soaked ranch.
Walking over, her hand resting on the thick fabric.
From here, she could see the entire spread—the silver glint of the pond, the dark lines of the fences, and the vast, unobstructed sky that seemed to go on forever.
It was a world away from living in the city.
“Mike said the ranch was big. He didn’t say it was this… peaceful.”
“It has its moments.” Leaning against the doorframe, he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’d better hit the sack myself. I’m just next door. If you need anything, tap on the wall.”
She doubted she would need anything. The towels were neatly folded at the foot of the bed as Aunt Eileen had said.
A quilt was draped over a comfy chair in the opposite corner of the room.
Ryan’s aunt had even set a pitcher of water and a glass by her bedside.
“Better than a five star hotel,” she muttered softly.
“Oh.” Ryan pushed away from the door frame. “The linen closet is the second door on the left toward the end of the hall. In case you need more pillows or blankets.”
“I’m sure I have everything. Thank you.”
He seemed to hesitate a moment before finally nodding his head and taking a step back into the hall.
“Sleep well. Breakfast is insanely early, but Aunt Eileen keeps it warm for those of us who don’t have to deal with cattle before dawn.
We leave for the construction site between seven and seven thirty. ”
“Got it. I’ll be ready.”
With another nod, he turned on his heel and disappeared from view.
She stood still listening until she heard his door latch shut.
Right next door. Something told her this was going to be a long night.
Changing into her pajamas, she stopped to get a closer look at the quilt.
As she’d suspected, hand made. Tiny precise stitches probably made with loving care. Like everything else in this house.
Climbing into bed, she pulled the blanket up to her chin.
In the distance she could hear the faint sounds of the ranch at night—cattle lowing, something rustling in the grass, the distant creak of the barn.
Tomorrow would be an early morning—very early.
Six-thirty. Carpooling with Ryan. She groaned softly and rolled over, punching the pillow into a better shape.
Never mind a long night—this was going to be a very long month.