Chapter 2 #2
The eggs were done. She pushed the skillet off the burner and pulled the biscuits out of the oven, flicking them into a basket.
She put the eggs, bacon, and sausage on a large oval platter to serve family style.
She handed him the platter and pointed toward the lake.
She picked up a thermos of coffee and the bottle of bourbon and led him to a small table in the shade with a floral table cloth, a small bouquet of flowers, plates, and silverware.
They sat down and she dished up two bowls of sausage and eggs for the dogs, setting them on the ground for when they returned from their mischief.
“Thanks for breakfast. You like to cook.”
“Love to cook. It’s a hobby. Love to eat, too.”
He took a bite of eggs and nodded his approval.
“Tell me more about the leather craft.” She showed her bracelet, resting beautifully on her wrist.
“On a ranch, you grow up hunting, so you have leather around. Dad taught us how to tan and care for animal skin and the various uses for each. We grew up tanning leather and making stuff. It’s just a hobby.”
“So what are the different kinds of leather?”
Bear and Shadow ambled out of the woods, close together. Shadow led Bear to the two breakfast bowls. The dogs inhaled the eggs and sausage in about three bites and headed down to the lake where they cuddled on the grass by the water.
“Most leather comes from cows, sheep, lamb, and goats. But, of course, there are all kinds of exotic animal leather. There are various qualities of leather like full grain, top grain, genuine, split grain, and bonded. Those are just terms to describe the tanning processes. Like, top grain and genuine leather have the hair follicles buffed out for a smooth silky feel. It just depends on what effect you want.”
“How about my bracelet?”
“Deer leather. I tanned it at my place and keep some with me, mostly for making repairs. I have special shears for cutting those tiny strips used for ties.”
“It’s really beautiful. Thank you.”
“Thank you for breakfast. It’s delicious.”
Breakfast was over. They’d finished their second cups of coffee. Molly didn’t want the morning to end there.
“Okay, Mr. Cowboy-Off-The-Grid, are you ready for the inquisition?”
“Yikes. Might be time for me to be moving on.”
But he put out his cup for a refill, to which she added another shot of bourbon. The bourbon gave the coffee a nice boost, and she hoped it would loosen his inhibitions so he’d talk about himself.
“You grew up on a ranch in Montana.”
He put up his hand. “Okay, here’s the deal. Today you get ten minutes. Fire away. Use your time wisely. I’ll be as honest as I can.”
She nodded her understanding.
“Yes, I grew up on a ranch in Montana outside Kalispell.”
“With Brett, Kitty, and Cheyenne.” She chuckled. “Not sure why I find that so funny.”
“Me neither.” But he was smiling.
“So, then what?”
“Mom required us all to go to college.”
Bingo, that was one of the pieces that Molly was looking for and the one that confirmed her suspicions. Her mountain man had a college education. Very unusual.
“Where’d you go and what’d you study?”
“We all went to Montana State in Bozeman. I majored in English.”
“English, really?” That surprised her.
“Yeah, Dad ran the ranch, but Mom taught high school English. We grew up reading and writing papers. Mom was a fierce editor. Very important that her ranch kids got a proper education.”
“Why Montana State?”
“In Montana, you’re either a Grizzly or a Bobcat. Mom grew up Bobcat. She went to Montana State and pushed us all to go there. Academically, admission standards are supposedly higher. I just went there because, if you were a McKinnon, you were a Bobcat.”
“Did your dad go to college?”
“No, he grew up on the ranch and inherited it from his folks.”
“So a second generation ranch?”
“Third.”
“Would you have gone to college if your mother had not insisted?”
“No way.”
“Who’s going to run the ranch when your mom and dad retire?”
“Dad won’t be retiring. But when he can’t manage it any longer, most likely Kitty.”
“Will you go home to help?”
“I’ll go home to see family, but I’ll let Kitty run the ranch. She and her husband Brad love the place. They’re made for it, and I want her to have it.”
“But you’ll be a part owner.”
“Not important to me. I’ll give Kitty my share.”
“What’s Brett doing?”
“He has a metal working business.”
“And Cheyenne?”
“Raising babies. Four of them. Her husband Chet runs a hardware store in Kalispell.”
“If you hadn’t gone to college, what would you have done?”
“I don’t know. Work on a ranch. Start a leather goods business. Run back country excursions. Be a hunting guide. Open a hunting and fishing store. Something related to the outdoors.”
“Have you ever been married?”
“Oh, boy, this really is the inquisition.”
“I have great confidence in your ability to decline to answer a question.”
“Shoot, your ten minutes just ran out.”
She reached over and slugged him in the shoulder. Ooh, that felt good, but now her knuckles hurt. He was solid muscle.
“No, I’ve never been married, but I was in a long relationship, and you’re now over your limit.”
“If we get together again, do I get another ten minutes?”
“Maybe. But I feel like I’m entitled to my ten minutes.”
“You don’t wear a watch. How do you know my time is up?”
“I was watching the sun.”
She chuckled. “Okay, ten minutes, but I’m watching the sun, too.”
“You grew up on a small ranch in Omak?”
“About five miles out of town.”
“Graduated from Omak High School?”
“Yes.”
“Hobbies?”
“Horses. Nothing but horses.”
“Did you ride competitively?”
“Yeah, barrel racing.”
“You’re a barrel racer?”
“Rode competitively for a few years. I rode in high school and college, then followed the rodeo circuit.”
“Still race?”
“No, but I ride pretty much every day. Still my favorite thing.”
“Got a horse at the stables?”
“Yeah, I spend time every day with Jo.”
“Where’d you go to college?”
“Two years at the local community college, went on the rodeo circuit for three years, then finished my degree at Washington State in Pullman, then back to rodeo for a couple more years.”
“What’d you study?”
“Horses.”
“Some part of Agriculture?”
“Yeah, WSU is the state’s land grant agricultural college. My degree is in animal husbandry.”
“So breeding livestock.”
“You wouldn’t think so, knowing I let Shadow run wild in the woods when she’s deeply in heat. Might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Don’t know what I was thinking. Can’t believe I got lucky on that one.”
“Not lucky yet.”
“They’re going at it every hour. I’m pretty sure it’s going to take unless Bear is shooting blanks or Shadow has issues I don’t know about. And I doubt that very much. I’m pretty sure you and I are going to be grandparents in about sixty three days.”
“So, what’d you do after your second stint at rodeo?”
“I worked for a livestock breeding company for two years, mostly horses and cattle, then worked two years for a veterinarian. I took some classes and became an accredited Veterinarian Tech, so I can sew stitches, administer an anesthetic, and deliver litters. I really liked it. Kind of sorry I hadn’t gone to vet school for the full degree. ”
“Then what?”
“Dad was running the business here and needed help. Mom had passed several years earlier, and Dad was living here alone in the cabin. My brother had taken over the ranch and auction business. Dad’s health was failing, so I was summoned.
I’d never seriously thought about taking over this business, but once I got here, I realized how lucky I was.
I mean, really, to live in this cabin with a view of the lake and mountains, run livestock stables, and live at a trailhead into back country wilderness.
I loved coming here as a kid, but really felt at home when I came to help Dad. ”
“Has your Dad passed?”
“Yeah, three years ago. But before that, there was a negotiation with my brother about who was going to get what. He got the ranch and auction business, but this property was worth more, so he also got a share of this. That’s what I’m buying him out of.”
“So you’re pretty settled here.”
“Yes, and feeling pretty good about it. I love the setting. And, believe it or not, I actually like the business part. I like growing the businesses, making money, and managing expenses. I never thought I would, but you wouldn’t believe how much time I spend over the books.”
“Ever been married?”
“Oops, looks like your time is up.”
“No way.”
“Last question. Never been married. Had plenty of boyfriends and relationships. None lasted ten years, but a few lasted a year. Maybe one lasted two years. It’s possible I’m not an easy woman to live with.”
He chuckled.
“And the older I get, I think that becomes more so. I’m pretty independent. I’ve got my points of view, and they probably won’t be changing. So I see guys, but most don’t last very long.” She paused. “Okay, your time is up.”
“No way that was ten minutes.”
“Maybe we need to schedule some more time.”
“I’d like that. What are you thinking?”
“I assume you have chores for the day. We could barbeque something tonight. Let the dogs have a final round or two.”
“I’m feeling badly letting you host me for happy hour, then breakfast, now dinner.”
“No problem. Why don’t we set a date when you can have me over to your place?”
Molly gave him her biggest grin. She knew that was a nonstarter, but she was dying to see his off-the-grid hideaway in the mountains, and she wanted to let him know of her interest.
“I’ll tell you what. I’m not going to rule that possibility out. And that’s the closest anyone has gotten to making that trip.”
“So everyone else has gotten a flat no, and I’m already on the maybe list?”
“You’re not ruled out.”
“I wonder what it would take to improve my position.” Molly had already decided she was going to take this man to bed, so she might as well start sending those signals.
“Would you like to know my opinion of barrel racers?”
She chuckled, “Of course.”
“Trouble. Pure trouble. Nothing but trouble. Stubborn and ornery. Never met a barrel racer who wasn’t trouble.”
“I’m taking that as a compliment.”
“That’s how I intended it.” He chuckled. “Okay, what can I bring?”
“We’ll barbeque burgers. I’ll make a potato salad. Really don’t need anything.”
“I’ll think of something.”
They got up. He summoned Bear, and they walked around the cabin together.
Rather than head down the path, he stopped to face her.
She took the invitation and stepped forward.
She had another message she wanted to send, but she let him take the first step.
He opened his arms, and she stepped in, wrapping her arms around his back.
She squared up to him and let him initiate the first kiss, a beautiful, warm, soft kiss that lasted a short time.
She pulled back before sending her message, a long, deep, moist, firm kiss, at first with lips tight, later with lips softly opened and pressing.
Molly felt her head spinning. Oh, my, this was nice.
The kiss lasted longer than expected, and when it ended, Molly was flushed and hot.
“I know the facilities at that campground are not the best. Would like to shower here tonight before you head back up the trail tomorrow?”
“That’s an offer I can’t refuse. Are you sure that’s okay? A naked man in your house?”
This time she gave him the wicked grin. “In case a storm moves in, and you’re forced to layover here, you might bring your toothbrush.”
That got her the double eyebrow raise, the pearly whites, and the blue-eyed piercing gaze that launched complete chaos in her body.
Okay, then. Message sent and received.