by Vivian Arend
Lisa adjusted position to rest her head on his still rocking chest. “Love you. So much.”
“Good,” he got out with the limited energy he had remaining. Debating if they really needed to move all the way to the bed.
She laughed softly. “Yeah, I suppose it is.”
21
Dinner at Silver Stone felt different. Not just because Lisa hadn’t cooked the meal by herself and not because there was more family around than before.
Beside her, Josiah’s fingers meshed with hers as he chatted comfortably with Caleb and that was what made the difference.
Without pausing his discussion, Josiah leaned over and picked up another fresh biscuit and popped it onto her plate before she could interrupt him to ask for one.
Lisa squeezed his fingers, then stole her hand free to butter and demolish the flaky treat. The fact the man had learned how to read her mind was equal parts creepy and delightful.
Karen and Julia were both at the table and their father hadn’t yet left town. George Coleman seemed to be taking advantage of every opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren and his girls.
No longer did Caleb look worried, either, because Tamara glowed with health. She’d chased Lisa out of the kitchen the last time she tried to help, and only caved when all three of her sisters—astonishing to think that…three sisters—had demanded they wanted to spend time together.
Julia was learning there was no use being hesitant when it came to dealing with siblings.
In a different direction, Sasha and Emma beamed as they boasted about how wonderful their baby brother was. At nearly two months old, Tyler was changing rapidly, but while Lisa thought he was adorable, he didn’t have much personality yet.
Not according to his sisters, though.
“Tyler is really smart. He wants me to read to him tonight again. Uncle Walker says Tyler is going to be a great rodeo star someday and Uncle Luke says he’s going to be a great horseman. Uncle Dustin says Tyler will be a great singer—Kelli says that’s because he can cry really loud.” Sasha got that all out without taking a breath.
“Although he does get stinky,” Emma admitted softly, leaning closer to Josiah as she spoke. “Can I play with Ollie after supper, Uncle Josiah?”
Lisa froze, wondering what he was going to do with that oops of a title. She didn’t blame Emma for making a mistake when all the other men around them were uncle.
Only Josiah just leaned closer like a co-conspirator, speaking so softly Lisa couldn’t hear, but whatever he said sent her niece giggling.
Across the table Tamara beamed as she glanced between Lisa and Josiah.
It had to be done. Lisa stuck out her tongue.
When Julia spotted her and snickered, Karen sighed as only an older sister could, then the four of them burst out laughing.
George shook his head, but he offered Caleb a wink.
After supper while they were clearing the table, Karen took a deep breath, then oh-so-casually dropped a bomb. “I started work on my application for equine therapist training today.”
“Get out.” Josiah was the first to react with his usual enthusiasm. “I didn’t know you were interested in that.”
“I love working with horses and the program is worthwhile. It seems as if I should get some official training, so…” She glanced at their father. “Dad and I were talking and he thought it was a good idea.”
Lisa opened her mouth to ask what the hell was going on when she caught herself barely in time.
Slamming her mouth shut didn’t go unnoticed, though. Josiah placed his hand on her waist and squeezed, promising attention later.
George spoke up. “Karen’s worked hard for Whiskey Creek, and if she wants to try something new, she deserves the chance.”
“There’s no guarantee I’ll get in this year,” Karen shared. “Deadline to apply is the end of this week and they’re announcing the final positions within the next two weeks. So the good part is I don’t have long to brood.”
“You’ll make it,” Julia said eagerly before glancing around with a hesitant smile. “I mean, you seem to know what you want and I hear you’re great with horses, so… Good luck?”
Karen laid a hand on Julia’s shoulder. “Thanks. I appreciate that, more than you know.”
Everyone hurried to offer their good wishes, including Lisa, but something inside still burned.
Josiah didn’t say anything until later, but once the conversation broke up a little and they were speaking more in small groups, he tugged her back against him. He arranged his lips close by her ear to whisper, “What’s wrong?”
She turned, pretending to be indulging in a public display of affection, but she caught herself one step away from growling the words. “Everything I did to orchestrate the Coleman ranch amalgamation? I did it so Karen could be happy there. And now she’s going to leave?”
“Ahhh.” Josiah stroked a finger over Lisa’s cheek. His love shone so clearly it soothed the ache inside her. “The good thing is your work went into making a better future for your entire family. The better thing is your sister is doing something to make herself happy. Right?”
Yes. A hundred, thousand times yes as Lisa realized that was exactly what was happening.
She kissed him quickly, shoving aside the rapidly fading bit of annoyance. “You’re so smart.”
“Your brilliance is wearing off on me. Want to make a bet that in fifty years I’ve almost caught up?”
Her eyes opened wide for a moment. She’d caught it. His reference to forever, and she wasn’t running scared. “Ha, as if I’d make another bet with you. You’d figure out some way to make it double or nothing and I’d have to live to three hundred to get paid.”
“Good by me,” Josiah teased, kissing her quickly.
A delicate cough rang in front of them.
Emma, waiting patiently impatiently and squirming on the spot like a typical eight-year-old. She glanced briefly at Josiah before turning her pleading gaze on Lisa. “Auntie Lisa, can I play with Ollie? I promise I’ll take good care of her.”
“Of course you can, sweetie, but you’ll have to keep her in the laundry room, okay?” Lisa said. Temptation flared and she leaned in close to whisper her question. “What did Josiah tell you earlier?”
Emma covered her mouth, then slipped her fingers open to giggle her answer. Softly, but loud enough Josiah easily overheard. “He said Ollie loves you almost as much as he does, so I need to be extra sweet to her.”
Something melted inside Lisa’s chest. Her throat was tight as she rubbed Emma on the head, then sent her off to the back of the house to cuddle with Ollie.
Then she lifted her eyes to Josiah. “You are…”
She swallowed hard, unable to finish.
Josiah’s grin widened. “I know.”
A laugh burst free. “Trouble.”
“That too,” he said. Then he picked her up and dropped her into his lap where he proceeded to kiss her silly, in spite of the teasing comments that instantly rang out from the rest of the family.
Love made the difference. Love, and Josiah.
End of May, Heart Falls, a remote dead-end road…
Josiah opened the text he’d received from Lisa, laughing for a moment at how smoothly she’d transitioned into their new world. They weren’t travelling yet, but they were having fun. For the time being, this suited them and they were fully embracing that it worked. Lisa had moved in with him at the same time that Finn and Zach had moved out and suddenly he had a home where friends and family stopped by and filled the place with noise and laughter.
But today was just him and Lisa.
He opened the message from her and grinned.
Lisa: All I need is an estimated time to count down. Read and enjoy!
* * *
Setting: a lonely stretch of Alberta Highway. Specifically, the dead-end road past the Mitchell’s corner. If you don’t know where this is, please call because I don’t want to be out here by myself! :)
* * *
Female lead: she’s an up-and-coming country singer headed to a gig when her truck breaks down.
* * *
Male lead: he’s a local reclusive billionaire eccentric who finds her walking down the road. It’s instant attraction and neither of them can keep their hands off each other.
He approved one hundred percent with all of it. Her scene, her characters…the mischief they were about to enjoy.
Josiah: I hear this director is very demanding
* * *
Lisa: She is. You’d better be on your best behaviour
* * *
Josiah: Yes, ma’am. Leaving now. Should be able to make it on stage in ten minutes.
* * *
Lisa: Break a leg.
“You are one amazing woman,” he announced out loud, tucking away his phone. Josiah scrambled under the seat for the one prop he had with him. Considering the odds, he’d hidden it away for just such a moment and after slipping it on, he gunned the engine, then peeled out of the parking lot and headed down the highway.
It was a gorgeous day. While it was possible they’d still get snow, it looked as if they had one of those years when spring arrived early and planned on staying.
The grass at the side of the road had barely begun to green up, but it was warm—springtime warm, with the sun painting the sky with pastel hues that screamed happiness.
Josiah turned down the dead-end off Mitchell’s road. Lisa’s truck was parked to the side, out of sight from curious drivers. As the road dipped to the north, then curved to the west, he slowed to enjoy the scenario Lisa had created.
She was strolling down the middle of the road—strutting, really—and a thrill raced through him.
The closer he got, the more his amusement rose. Lisa looked every inch a country rock star. A guitar hung over her shoulder and she wore a cowboy hat and boots with a barely-there skirt—damn, he liked that she remembered things.
But the laugh that burst free was because she’d brought Ollie and the instant the dog heard Josiah’s truck, she’d stopped moving right there on the road. The dog glanced at him, then toward Lisa, then back to him as if utterly torn which direction to go.
Josiah pulled over to the side of the road behind Lisa’s truck.
Lisa twisted, waiting for him with a wide grin in place as he marched forward.
She eyed him up and down, gaze lingering on his chest and the formal tie he’d quickly knotted into place before leaving the cab.
If anything, the happiness in her expression increased. “Hey, stranger. Have you come to save me?”
“If you need it. Maybe you’ve come to save me.” He stopped a foot away from her and looked down in admiration. “Been a long time since anybody serenaded me.”
“And you think I’m willing to do some…serenading?”
He grinned. “Yes, please.”
She laughed, sliding toward him and tucking the guitar behind her back so he could pick her up, kissing heatedly before returning to his truck.
Lisa whispered as she tapped on his shoulder. “Sorry to break character, but I have to put the guitar away because if something happens to it, Walker Stone will have my head.”
Too funny.
He lowered her so she could head to her truck. She pulled out a guitar case, tucking everything away carefully and laying the case across the front seat of her truck. Meanwhile, Josiah grabbed Ollie and put her in the back of his truck bed so she’d not be underfoot or wandering unsupervised.
They finished their tasks at the same time, Lisa turning to him, wiping her hands clean.
Josiah paused. “Are we ready for the next act?” he whispered.
“I think so,” she whispered back. “Nice outfit, by the way.”
She gestured at his tie.
“I figure it’s what all the best-dressed reclusive billionaire eccentrics are wearing this year.”
Lisa wrapped her fist around the fabric and used it to tug him toward her. Lifting her voice back to full volume with a sexy lilt, she stepped back into character. “You’ll have to take me back to your place later so I can play for you. But I’m feeling a little shy and lonely.”
“I can cheer you up,” he promised. Josiah pressed her against his truck and, as always, passion flared.
At least it did until a wet tongue slid up the side of his face. Josiah pulled back in shock to discover Ollie frantically attempting to give Lisa a tongue bath as well. “Ollie. Down.”
Dejectedly, Ollie jumped off the raised truck bed where she’d been balancing precariously and made her way to the back of the flat bed, wagging her tail furiously until Josiah came to grab her.
“We can’t have you running all over the countryside while we’re busy,” he explained, opening the truck door and dropping the dog inside. He cracked open the window then snatched up a set of blankets. A moment later, he had closed the door firmly and tossed the pile of material into the back of the truck.
“Are we going to be busy?” Lisa asked innocently.
“It’s a good way to not be lonely,” he said.
Josiah loosened his tie before picking her up and easing them onto the tailgate.
Soon they had the blankets spread out and he was looking down at the prettiest cowgirl he’d ever seen. “I love you,” he said past a throat that had gone tight.
She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him over her, kissing him intently. Her hands roamed down his buttons until she could skim over skin. “I love you too, you eccentric billionaire recluse.”
Josiah laughed. “It’s a little fast to fall in love, isn’t it?” he teased.
That got an immediate response. Lisa shook her head. “When it’s right, it’s never too fast. When you’re looking at spending forever together, it’s important to get started right away.”
She was right.
He leaned down to kiss her again when a sudden scratching at the back glass of the truck cab was followed immediately by a long, drawn-out howl.
Ollie, heartbroken at being separated from her people.
Josiah kept going, kissing Lisa enthusiastically until she planted her palms against his chest and pressed him away.
She looked apologetic, “I’m sorry. I can’t do this when she’s doing that.”
Josiah gave a mock sigh before spinning them around until Lisa was sitting upright. “Softie,” he teased before sneaking away. He jumped down to go rescue the dog.
Lisa leaned her arms over the edge of the truck bed, smiling sweetly at him. “I love you,” she repeated.
He scooped Ollie up and tossed her in the back, separating out one blanket and firmly ordering the dog to sit and stay.
Then he grabbed Lisa and slid her into his lap, leaning against the outer edge of the cab and bringing Lisa close enough they could concentrate on the next thing. “I’ve never kissed a cowgirl rock star before. I don’t know if I’m any good at it.”
Lisa ran a hand along his cheek. “You never know until you try. And besides, we’ve got forever to practice.”
Epilogue
End of May, Rocky Mountain House. Whiskey Creek ranch.
Karen Coleman stared at the letter from the Department of Education. No matter how long she looked, the words didn’t vanish. “I got in.”
Her father looked up from the newspaper in his lap. “Got in where?”
She waved the envelope but kept reading. “Helton. Therapeutic training. Oh my God, I start in October.”
“Good for you.” George Coleman cleared his throat as he closed the paper to give her his full attention. “Glad you get to spread your wings and try something new.”
“I’m glad you’ve got a lot of people who can help you here on the ranch.” She was about to put the letter aside when a name caught her eye and she stopped to read the comment again more thoroughly. And then just once more, because she wasn’t sure what she was seeing.
Of all the things she could have imagined, this was not on the list of possibi
lities.
She looked up. “You sent in a recommendation?”
Her father’s lips twisted. “You had the papers lying all over the table. They said you were supposed to send in recommendations, right?”
“Yes, but that’s usually from teachers and employers, not family.”
George shrugged. “Not your fault you’ve worked for family all your life. You’re good at what you do, honey. Just sorry it took so long to get my head on straight and say it without making it into a backhanded compliment. This equine training is something you want, so I need to help you succeed. I wrote up a note and slipped it into the envelope before you sealed it.”
Her throat was closing up. They still had their moments when they butted heads, but ever since Julia had come on the scene, George Coleman was acting a lot more like a father than he ever had over the thirty-three years previous.
“I appreciate it. A lot,” Karen said sincerely. “But I want you to know, I wouldn’t be doing this if Whiskey Creek didn’t have the help she needs to run.”
He waved a hand. “I know that. If you ever want to come home, there’ll always be work here for you.” He made a face. “I’m going to catch so much shit from my brothers and nephews for letting the best horsewoman in Alberta slip away.”
She stepped to his side, meeting in the middle as he rose to embrace her in a hearty hug, patting her on the back as if she was one of the guys.
He stepped back and eyed her. “Here’s something else I think. Go spend some time with your sisters.”
“Now?”
Her father shrugged. “Why not? You’ve never taken any holidays, and when you start the program in October, you’re not going get any then. Not for a long while. Go to Heart Falls. Spend the summer. It’ll give you a chance to spend time with Julia while she’s around.”
