by Lynn Landes
“The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Richards.”
Delta is speechless for a moment as the sound of voice his wraps around her sending chills over her body. Standing next to his father, the resemblance is remarkable. Except for the height, Daniel has his father by a few inches. The man is huge, muscular, and masculine with a face that should be on a cowboy commercial. All craggy lines, planes and firm, strong lips.
“Mr. Matthews.” A squeal of delight and Delta spins to watch Sasha rolling with Abby on the grass. “Pardon me, gentlemen. Sasha is getting carried away.” Delta whistles and snaps out a command in German. To the astonishment of the men watching, Sasha licks Abby one last time and runs to Delta and sits at her feet. “Good girl, Sasha. Stay.”
Abby runs up, “Daddy, did you see! Delta let me play with Sasha.”
“I saw you, angel. She looks to be well trained. I’m sure you’re tired after your flight, Delta. Dad tells me you have consented to stay at Sarah James cabin. That’s very kind of you.”
“Not at all. I was hoping for something a little more private.” Delta snaps the leash on Sasha and avoids looking directly at the man. He is too pretty to be real, and where there’s a daughter, there must be a wife somewhere. A gust of cold wind has Delta pulling at her jacket.
“The poor girl is gonna freeze, Daniel, stop jawing and get going. The weather is going to be warmer tomorrow, that snow will miss us. You two get going, and I will see you for dinner soon, Delta. All your meals are included with your stay. You will find our restaurant to be one of the best in the world.”
Abby grins at her grandfather and jumps up and down. “Can I come? Delta can I ride with you and Sasha?” Her chocolate eyes stare up at Delta, and her heart melts.
“Of course, sugar.”
“Abigail, I'm sure you can ride with me…” Daniel starts to object with a glance at Delta, but he's surprised to find her winking at him.
“It's no problem, Daniel. Your daughter is a delight; hopefully, she can wear Sasha out for me.”
“If you’re sure,” he watches the three new friends climb into her rental.
“Buckle up, buttercup,” Delta says and Abby giggles while snapping her belt on. Carefully she pulls out behind Daniel and follows him a few miles down the road.
Abby chats about her school and tells her that she is in fifth grade and loves horses. “Miss Delta, you are going to be staying in my great, great grandmother's house. It's really old, but the best part is that its right next to our house.”
Delta takes in the news with a sinking feeling in her stomach until Abby points to the house. It is a small white ranch-style house tucked into the land, with a covered front porch, large windows, and a copper-tin roof. “Oh, bless my soul, it’s gorgeous,” Delta sighs parking beside Daniel.
Abby giggled, “You talk funny, Ms. Delta.”
“I do?” She reaches over and quickly tickles Abby, “Well your laugh sounds like the tinkling of fairy bells to me.” Sasha barks excitedly, and Daniel watches as the two climbs from the SUV. Sasha leaps free and runs around the grounds sniffing all the new scents.
“Welcome to Sarah James cabin, Delta. Abby go on and get started on your homework, and you can visit later, okay.”
“Yes, sir. It was nice meeting you, sugar,” Abby teases and spins to run to her house which is only fifty yards away. Delta’s laughter is contagious.
“You're one lucky man, Daniel Matthews. That is one very special little girl,” Delta says and orders Sasha to heel.
“Yes, I am.” Daniel is struck by the urge to taste her smiling lips. “Let me show you around the cabin.” Never in his life has he been attracted to a woman this quickly. He turns and stomps up the front porch to the door and unlocks it. “Sarah James was my grandmother, this cabin was built as a replica of the original, which burnt down in the fires of 1990. After her husband died, leaving her with two children to raise, she ran the ranch until her oldest son could take it over. He turned it into a working ranch, including one of the finest Quarter horse breeding ranches in the States.”
Delta is struck with awe the moment she steps inside. “This is amazing,” Delta gasps as she looks around. From the wood beams along the ceiling to the stone fireplace, every inch is decorated with exquisite detail and care. Solid pine wood floors, with large area rugs, add to the warmth. “This is not old, it’s a luxury cabin.”
“Yes, it is. You have roughly two thousand square feet, a fully stocked gourmet kitchen, three bedrooms, two baths, a hot tub out back, but the true jewel of this property is the view.” He steps to the wall and pushes a button. Two large sliding glass doors slide open revealing a massive outdoor space. It overlooks the valley behind the house giving an unobstructed view of rolling green hills and snow-capped mountains.
Delta sighs and steps forward. Her soul is touched, here she will find peace. Tears fill her eyes, and she steps outside, past Daniel to stare at the mountains. “Sarah James was one lucky girl,” she whispers. Sasha trots over leaning against Delta and whines. Her hand falls to her head, “Easy girl,” she murmurs.
“Are you okay, Delta?”
Straightening her spine, she doesn't look back at him.
“I will be, Daniel. Thank you.”
Daniel nods, not sure what to say. He wants to see her smile again, but he can feel the pain vibrating around her. None of my business, he reminds himself, and he continues the tour.
“Upstairs is the master suite, you will find all the linens you need and make sure you try out the best feature of the house. The copper bathtub. A full laundry facility is in the basement.” Daniel continues the tour quickly and turns to hand Delta the keys.
“If you should need anything, please don’t hesitate. You can call the main lodge, we have an emergency number by the phone. We had your bags delivered, and I had them put in the master upstairs. My home is just across the way if you need anything. If you go boating out on the lake, be sure to take the air horn on the counter with you.” His dark eyes watch her closely as she regains her composure and looks at him.
“Thank you, it’s perfect. I think a long soak is just what I need.”
Daniel stares at her and has to bite his tongue. Thinking of her soaking in that tub with all of those bubbles has his blood boiling. He clears his throat and rushes out the front door.
Delta watches him go with relief. As beautiful as he is, she needs time to process, and that much man is distracting. Walking around the house, she sighs. On the main floor, she checks out two smaller bedrooms, both with queen beds. “Perfect if the boys come to visit.”
Upstairs she finds the master bedroom, and she sighs in ecstasy. A black rod iron bed with a sunshine yellow quilt. Two end tables and a master bath to die for. A two-person copper tub, which she promises to use later that night and a massive stone shower area.
Stepping out of the bedroom, she laughs at the sight of Sasha curled up on the bed. “Well, make yourself at home, then.” Sasha opens one eye before falling to sleep.
Her phone rings and she grins. “Phillip, this place is magnificent!”
“I know. Tell me everything, did you run across any hot cowboys yet.” Phillip laughs when she tells him of her adventure and the mix-up. “Well, promise me you will enjoy your time, Delta. It’s time to start living again.”
“I know, Phillip. I love you,” she murmurs stepping outside to enjoy the view. “I’ll send you pictures soon.”
“I love you too, I sent you a box, it should be there, check the kitchen.” He hangs up as she laughs and hurries downstairs to the kitchen. On the counter is a medium sized box and when she opens it, she bursts out laughing. A wine basket, with cheese, spread, crackers, fruit, and a good bottle of wine. “A perfect end to a perfect day.”
Delta pulls the wine bottle out and grabs a glass before heading upstairs to the master bathroom. She presses the button, closing the sliding doors and goes upstairs to enjoy a long hot soak.
The steam fills the room, she listens to her
music as she soaks and sips on her wine. “Here’s to a new chapter, Jacob. I hope I make you proud.” Closing her eyes, she leans back and relaxes thinking about a sexy cowboy with dark eyes and big hands.
Chapter 3
Delta grumbles when Sasha nudges her. “Not now, Sasha.” A wet slobbery lick to her face has her laughing and rolling over to hide her face. Sasha loves this game. She licks at each side of Delta’s face until she finally sits up. “Okay, you beast, now you’ve asked for it.”
Grabbing a fat fluffy pillow, she launches it at Sasha, who runs from the room before the missile strikes her. Delta grabs the purple silk robe that barely reaches her knees and wraps it around her. She moves her fingers through her waves and hurries down the steps to take Sasha outside. Sasha is sitting at the front door, waiting near her leash.
“I'm coming,” she grumbles. When she looks at the clock, she is stunned. “Three a.m. Sasha! Really?” Stomping to the front door, she flings it open and gasps when the cold air rushes in surrounding her. “You're way too old to be waking me up in the middle of the night,” she grumbles.
“Oh my Lord, it’s freezing out here! Hurry up,” she snaps at her dog as she bursts out into the night and starts sniffing intensely at the ground. Delta glances towards the house across the way and is surprised to see a light on in one of the downstairs rooms. Drawn to the steps she walks down them, staring in awe up at the night sky. Stars, thousands of them glitter like tiny diamonds. Spinning in a circle, she can't believe how striking it is.
“Mercy, that’s beautiful,” she gasps when the wind blows again. Pulling her robe tighter around her, she doesn’t hear him behind her.
“That's just what I was thinking.” A rich voice has her spinning, and Sasha rushes over to protect her.
“Sasha, easy,” Delta orders and the dog turns to follow another scent. “Daniel, I hope I didn't wake you.” Her teeth are starting to chatter, but Delta is fighting it.
“No, I was checking on a pregnant mare, she's due any day now. What are you doing out here in the middle of the night, woman?” He glares at her, struggling to ignore how amazing she looks in the moonlight with her wavy hair blowing around her shoulders.
“Sasha needed to go,” she answers with a glare at her dog. A shiver runs up her body again, and she stares up at him with her chin shuttering. He curses and jerks off his coat, wrapping it around her he pulls her to his chest. “What are you…? God, you're warm,” she laughs and decides not to overthink it. For some reason she trusts him, and he smells so good.
“Are you trying to catch your death, outside naked? It's twenty-five degrees out here!” He scowls down at her and tries not to think about how good she smells, or how her voluptuous body feels pressed up against his.
“Daniel, you're smothering me.” Her hands press against his chest, and when she looks up at him smiling, she sees the hunger in his eyes and is stunned to find that she feels it too. “I'm certainly not naked, and I had to take care of Sasha.”
“Maybe not, but damn, you would tempt a saint.”
Delta pushes at his chest, and he reluctantly lets her go, taking his offered jacket back.
Whirling on her heel, she stomps away from him and back up her porch calling for Sasha, only to gasp when another wind blows attempting to raise the rear of her chemise and gifting him with a glimpse of pink lace panties.
His sexy laughter follows her back inside as she slams the door. “Good night, Delta.”
Slamming the door, she glares at Sasha, “This is all your fault,” before stomping back upstairs. She decides not to think about how good he felt or the flash of desire. “Sweet lord, this might not be a good idea.” Somewhere in her heart, she feels excited at the thought of all that cowboy interested in her. Climbing back into the large bed she hugs the pillow next to her and tries to sleep.
The next two weeks Delta avoids the main ranch with all the wedding events going on, it's a little crowded for her taste. She stocks her kitchen from a local grocery store and schedules activities to keep her busy. Fly fishing was a new experience, growing up she used to camp and fish with her family in the summers, but never like this!
Archery included a hike and guided tour of the grounds, though she missed more than she hit. It made for great pictures. The ropes course was something she was planning on doing in a few weeks, once she works up the courage to try. She's hoping to do it with the boys if they come to visit during the next holiday.
“Today, I’m going to Butte, about thirty miles from the ranch,” she tells Bailey.
“You sound happy, Delta. I miss you, but I think you are where you need to be.”
“I am,” Delta agrees
. I didn't realize how much I missed… living. It seemed like we were fighting so long just to survive and then living day by day. It's so serene here. The pictures really don't do Montana justice.”
“Well keep them coming, the kids love seeing them. Love you.” Delta hangs up and grins thinking about the day ahead.
There's no better way to get true legends and details of the past than to talk to the people who live here. It was easy to get lost exploring the town with its quaint coffee shops, and ski outfitters. St. Phillips Cathedral with its stained glass windows are stunning, but her favorite is Claire’s Sweet Shop. The scent of bread, coffee, and sweets permeate the air around the shop, and she leaves with a bag of caramel swirl fudge, cinnamon rolls and even a dog treat for Sasha.
Walking Sasha down the road to Silver Creek for a picnic the next day seemed to be the logical thing to do before eating the fudge. This morning when she called Chase to thank him for the rental house, he told her the perfect spot for relaxing. Her purple monogrammed backpack has water and fudge with a notebook and pen along with her mini tablet just in case the mood to write strikes her. Wearing jeans, cowgirl boots, and a long cream lace blouse with puffy sleeves, she throws on her jean jacket and sets off.
Delta stops and stares at the pond, glinting silver in the morning sky. Just as the sun breaks through the clouds, it strikes the surface of the water causing it to shift. A ripple billows and it changes from silver to copper and Delta is transfixed. An idea forms and she walks towards the shaded trees at the corner of the pond, desperate to capture the words before they disappear. Sasha follows her and lays down beside her to rest. In the morning sky, a hawk is soaring amongst the clouds and Delta writes.
Her latest series is a thriller, with fantasy elements. When she first became an author, she chose to use a pen name, D. D. Knight, to protect her identity, but mostly her boys. Knight was her maiden name, and Jacob was her biggest fan. His pride was evident in his support and encouragement. They never dreamed that she would become a bestselling author. Phillip decided the anonymity was a great branding tool. People love a mystery and Phillip made a game out of it. Her website had no photos of her, and though many people have tried to guess, so far, she was blessed to keep her privacy.
Since Jacob's death, she hasn't been able to write. Recognizing the pull of a new story drawing her in, she begins to write.
A historic ranch built on special land with unexplained accidents happening to the family living there. She sketches out a rough outline, promising herself to research the property and the history of this family. A visit to the restaurant tonight with Chase could be exactly the thing she needs for research. Grinning, she pulls her thermos out and pours a black cup of coffee. Sipping on it, she drags out the computer and puts away the notebook. Book three of “The Covenant Series,” not named as of yet. She traces the words on the screen and sighs.
Instead of writing, she reads, the last few chapters on her computer and she is hooked. Drawn into the story, she edits and begins writing. “Don't overthink it Delta, just write,” she reminds herself. Soon she is typing furiously, fingers flying over the keypad as the sun rises higher in the sky. Three hours later she is so caught up in her world, she doesn't hear them until they are almost upon her.
Sasha leaps to her feet with a bark
. Her hackles go up on her back, and Delta responds. Instantly she saves her document and shuts the computer down before shoving it into her backpack. In the bright midday sun, it's difficult to see. She can only make out the shape of two figures on horseback as they ride towards her.
“Sasha, come,” she orders, standing up, the dog instantly obeys placing her body in front of Delta.
“Hi, Delta!” Abby calls out and jumps from her pony, followed by Daniel. He takes the reins of both horses and leads them to the shade to tie them off.
“Well, this is a surprise!” She hugs Abby and steps back to stare at Daniel.
“Grandpa told us you would be here, we brought a picnic.” Pleasure rushes through her.
“That’s sweet of you. I told him I would be fine, but I see he ratted me out.” She turns away from Daniel to Sasha. “You really didn’t have to do that. Sasha, cease.” Sasha runs between Abby and Daniel for some attention and is rewarded with a rub from his strong, rough hands. Delta frowns, she shouldn’t be thinking about his hands. Abby grabs a ball and runs towards the pond calling for Sasha.
“Did I hear you give her commands in German yesterday?” He asks, moving a step closer. Her scent surrounds him, teasing him, tempting him. It has been a long time since a woman has interested him the way Delta does.
“Yes, Sasha is trained to be a therapy dog. My boys got her for me as a puppy. I’ve had her for six years now.”
“Your boys?” He asks fascinated by the way her eyes change color when he steps closer.
“I have two sons, Allen is twenty-one and my youngest, Aiden just finished basic training for the Air Force Academy.” Her smile is full of pride as she talks about them.
