Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 1 of 2

by Marta Perry

  “I did, but…”

  “Hey there, Skeeter.” Eden’s father marched over to Harper with a big grin. Ryder must have missed their truck pull up. He instantly searched for Eden. Didn’t see her. Had she stayed home? He hoped not.

  “I’m Harper. Not Skeeter.” She wore her most serious face.

  Bill tweaked a lock of hair poking out from under her helmet. “Harper, you say? I thought you were Skeeter. Next you’ll be telling me that girl in your daddy’s arms isn’t Catfish.”

  Harper broke into a loud giggle. “No, silly, that’s Ivy.”

  “Ivy?” Bill scratched his chin. “I don’t think so. Looks like Catfish to me.”

  “Grandpa!” Noah raced to Bill, and Bill caught him up in his arms.

  “Spurs!” Bill kissed Noah’s cheek. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

  Ivy wriggled for Ryder to set her down, and he obliged. She ran to Harper and they looked up at Bill. “That’s not Spurs. That’s Noah.”

  Noah hugged Bill’s neck, and the man let out a throaty laugh. Joanna came up next to Bill and held out her arms to the twins.

  “Look at you two. You’ve gotten so tall and pretty.” Joanna pointed to Ivy. “Let me guess. You’re Ivy, right?” Ivy nodded. Joanna turned to Harper. “And Harper. I’d know you any day.”

  The girls exchanged pleased glances. Ryder had to give it to Eden’s mom—she could tell the girls apart better than most people, and she’d been around them on only a handful of occasions.

  “And how is my Noah?” Joanna asked. Bill set Noah down.

  “I’m great! Daddy’s teaching Harper and Ivy how to ride horses, and I’m helping.” He lifted his chin proudly. “They’re my cousins.”

  “I know, isn’t it wonderful?”

  “Did you bring the camper? Does it still have a special bed for me? Did you buy popsicles?” Noah asked. “I want to go in it.”

  “My, my.” Joanna laughed. “You have a lot of questions. The RV is at the campground. Grandpa drove his truck.”

  Noah’s face fell, then he asked, “Where’s Auntie Eden?”

  “She’s putting the potato salad in the fridge. She’ll be right out.”

  Joanna hugged Ryder. “We’re thankful you’re taking such good care of the place.” She patted his cheek, and the maternal gesture filled a longing he’d pushed away years ago.

  Most of the time, he didn’t think about the fact he was an orphan. His grandparents had raised him after his parents died in a car accident when he was a week old. But having Joanna here treating him almost like he was part of the family touched him. Mason was his only family, and since Lily was estranged from her parents, the twins had no grandparents in their lives.

  For the first time, Ryder grasped how much his girls were missing. And it made him sad.

  “Good to see you, son.” Bill pulled Mason into a half embrace, clapping him on the back. “Need some help?”

  Mason grinned. “Yeah, we’re getting these two up to speed riding horses. They’re Wyoming girls now.”

  “We’d better giddyup and get ’em riding, then.” Bill winked at Ivy.

  “My kitty needs me.” Ivy’s pitiful eyes made Ryder almost cave and tell her she could skip the lessons today. He didn’t want to push her too hard. He knew riding the horse intimidated her.

  “A kitty, you say?” Bill stood before her. “I’m scared of cats.”

  “Scared?” Her expression broke into astonishment. “Of a kitty? Mine is real nice, Grandpa Bill. She’s white and fluffy and purrs and loves to sit on your chest when you’re trying to sleep. You’d like her.”

  Bill shook his head. “She sounds nice, Catfish, but kittens have claws. She’ll scratch me.”

  “She’s scratched me.” Ivy twisted her lips. “But it didn’t hurt too bad.”

  “You’re braver than me,” Bill said. “Now, see, riding a horse doesn’t scare me. I’ve ridden them since I was knee-high. But petting a kitten?” He had a grim look on his face.

  “Grandpa Bill, you don’t need to be scared.” Ivy took his hand in hers. “I’ll hold Cutie and you can pet her.”

  “You’d do that for me?” He seemed to think it over. “Okay. But I’d feel better if I could spend some time out here with the horses first. They help me feel calm, you know what I mean? Why don’t you get on your horse and I’ll lead it for a while? It’ll help my nerves.”

  Ivy gave Nugget a skeptical glance. Then she pulled back her little shoulders. “If I get on the horse, do you promise to pet Cutie?”

  Lines deepened in his forehead as he nodded. “I promise.”

  Bill took Ivy’s hand, let her into the corral and explained to her how to mount the horse. Mason was already leading Harper around the corral. Ryder leaned against the fence and watched in awe as Ivy listened to the man and followed his instructions. Bill was a gem.

  “They look like naturals.”

  Ryder almost jumped. He hadn’t noticed Eden approach. With a quick scan, he noticed Joanna and Brittany deep in conversation walking toward the patio. Which left him and Eden alone.

  “Your dad just pulled off something I never thought I’d see.” He nodded to where Bill continued to talk to Ivy up on Nugget as they made their way around. Ivy giggled loudly. “She’s not afraid up there.”

  The back of Eden’s hair lifted in the slight breeze, and her profile was serene. “He’s great with kids. He taught me how to ride, and trust me, I was a reluctant rider.”

  “Did you learn here?” He shifted to face her.

  “Yes. Right here in this corral, to be exact. I don’t remember much. I know Dad had taken me riding with him since I was old enough to walk, but he must have decided it was time for me to ride solo when I was four or five. I was scared and stubborn.”

  “You?” He laughed. “I can’t picture you scared or stubborn.”

  “Oh, I can be both.” She smiled. “What about you? When did you learn to ride?”

  “I’m not sure.” Vague recollections of his gruff grandfather came to mind, riding in silence over the hills and plains of the sheep farm in Montana where he grew up. “I feel like I’ve always been riding.”

  “Like Noah,” Eden said, pointing to the boy.

  Mason had brought over Noah’s horse in a trailer, and the kid was a natural, the expression on his face pure joy.

  “What was the name of your first horse?” he asked.

  “Dixie.” She grinned. “Yours?”

  “Coal. Needless to say, he was pure black. A beautiful horse.” His granddad might have been a man of few words and high standards, but he’d made sure Ryder had the best horse he could afford.

  As the kids rode, he and Eden shared tales of growing up in the country. An hour passed by and the lessons were finished. Ryder reluctantly peeled himself away from Eden to help Mason and Bill unsaddle the horses.

  “Noah! Harper! Ivy!” Joanna called. “We’re making cupcakes. Why don’t you come help us?”

  “Yay!” The trio raced to the patio.

  “I’m going to help them.” Eden hitched her thumb to the house.

  He wanted her to stay. Had enjoyed her easy presence next to him. Liked sharing childhood memories. But Mason and Bill approached, and she was already walking away.

  “I’ve missed this place.” Bill looked around. His straw cowboy hat tipped to the sky.

  “We can ride around, check it out if you’d like.” It would give Ryder the chance to ask him more about the ranch.

  “Don’t have to ask me twice.” Bill grinned. He cocked his head toward Mason. “You up for it?”

  “On a day like this?” Mason spread his arms wide. “What are we waiting for?”

  In no time at all, the three of them were riding horseback out to where the cattle grazed. Bill pointed out landmarks, like the gully where he’d found a calf h
alf-eaten by coyotes years ago and the plain where the pronghorn liked to cross. Ryder enjoyed listening to him and Mason talk about the land.

  Soon they were checking cows. Bill grew quiet. Just barked out observations, like “Keep an eye on the seventy-seven tag. Phlegmy eyes.”

  Ryder approached a calf he’d been keeping tabs on. Was it his imagination or was it losing weight?

  “He’s got an abscess,” Bill said. “We’ll need to lance it.”

  “Where?” Ryder strained to see any lumps, but the calf hid behind his mother. “Is that why he’s losing weight?”

  “Under here.” Bill raised his chin and pointed to the side of his neck. “From my experience, yes. Probably hurts him to nurse. You rope the head. I’ll get the heels. When I’ve got him, you’ll have to keep the rope tight so I can lance it. We’ll get him some penicillin and he should be good to go.”

  Ryder followed Bill’s instructions. Soon he was gripping the rope as Bill lanced the abscess quickly before giving the calf medicine. In no time flat, the calf was back on its feet, trotting over to his mama.

  “Wow. I’m impressed. If that was a sporting event, you two would win.” Mason pretended to applaud them.

  “Pshaw, that’s nothing.” Bill looked especially pleased with himself. “It’s nice to know I still got it, though.”

  “You’ve still got it, all right.” The three of them continued to check more cows until Mason’s cell phone rang. He answered it, and after a few yeses and sures, he hung up.

  “Time to head back. The kids want Grandpa to have cupcakes with them.”

  Bill let out a guffaw. “The only thing better than riding out across this land is having cupcakes with those kiddos. I made Ivy a promise to pet her kitten, too. Let’s go.”

  As they rode back to the stables, Ryder’s heart was full. The Lord’s blessings were overflowing. He’d enjoy them while they lasted.

  * * *

  What a terrific afternoon. Eden wiped the crumbs off Ryder’s countertop while her parents talked to Mason and Brittany in the hall. Ryder was in the sunroom with the kids and the kittens, and she pretended—just for a moment—this was her house again. As soon as the thought occurred, she pictured Ryder coming into the kitchen and wrapping his arms around her from behind. Resting his chin on her shoulder, and her laughing, turning her face just so…

  “Change of plans.” Mom breezed into the kitchen. “Your dad and I are taking the kids to Mason and Brittany’s for a while. We’ll be back around six to help cook the burgers. Love you!” And she trotted away before Eden could respond.

  Tossing the washcloth into the sink, Eden pursued her to the front porch while the others headed to their vehicles. “Wait, I’ll come with you.”

  Mom smiled. “You stay here with Ryder. Take a break.”

  “I don’t need a break.”

  “Yes, you do.” Mom walked ahead with a backward wave.

  “What just happened?” Ryder came up and stood next to Eden as doors slammed shut and engines roared to life.

  “I have no idea.”

  “One minute everyone’s having a good time, stuffing their faces full of cupcakes…” He frowned. “It’s like they wanted to get away from us.”

  “Do I smell?” She turned her head and sniffed. “I’m wearing body spray.”

  “You smell great.” He stepped closer to her. “And I don’t think it was something I said.”

  “No, they weren’t offended. They’re…happy.”

  He blew out a breath. “Well, I guess it’s their loss.”

  “Yeah.” Now what was she supposed to do? Her parents were gone. Her nephew had left. The twins weren’t around, either. There was no reason to stay. “I guess I should get out of your hair.”

  “No way. And leave me all alone? Then I’ll really feel like a leper.”

  “What are we going to do?” She wrung her hands.

  He considered for a moment before snapping his fingers. “What do you say we get out of here for a while?”

  “Where will we go?”

  “Anywhere. I’m new to the area. Show me something I haven’t seen before.”

  She thought about it. “You’ve been to all the stores in town. And the park. Nothing new there.”

  “True.”

  A vision of her special place outside town crowded her mind. No, she couldn’t take him there. It was special for a reason. Private. But the longer the silence stretched, the more she realized she wanted him to see it.

  “I know where we’ll go.” Nervousness tightened her chest, but she tried to tamp it down. “Do you want to drive?”

  “Sure. Do we need anything?”

  “A blanket and some snacks wouldn’t hurt.”

  “Coming right up.” He wiggled his eyebrows, and she shook her head, trying not to laugh.

  What would he think of it? It was just a flat top of a hill with a spectacular view. Maybe Ryder wouldn’t appreciate it.

  She hoped he would.

  She washed her hands and did a once-over of the kitchen to make sure everything had been put away.

  “All set.” Ryder held a small cooler in one hand, and a plaid blanket was tucked under his arm. He spun his keys on his index finger. “Where are we going, Captain?”

  “Captain?” She gestured for them to go outside. “I’m not taking you on a boat ride.”

  “And here I was hoping…”

  As Ryder helped her into the passenger side of his truck, she tried not to notice his strong hand at her elbow. He jogged around to the driver’s side. Soon they were driving along back roads. Neither spoke much. They didn’t need to. It was a beautiful, peaceful day. If she could bottle it, she would.

  She gave him directions, and miles later, they’d parked on a grass lane and began hiking.

  “What are those white flowers?” Ryder asked as they climbed the hill.

  “Cushion phlox. Pretty, aren’t they?” She breathed in the fresh air and took in the wildflowers dotting the prairie grass. “You’ll see clusters of them all summer long. The taller bluish-purple flowers are lupine.”

  “I know lupine. If our sheep ate too much of them, they got sick.”

  “Really? Tell me about raising sheep.” Eden kept a moderate pace. They’d almost reached the top of the hill. “How in the world did you go from sheep ranching in Montana to financial planner in LA?”

  His eyes crinkled as he smiled. “It’s different from raising cattle, that’s for sure.”

  “Raising sheep or living in LA?”

  “Both.” The land leveled off, and Ryder stopped in his tracks. He looked over the valley and the acres before them. Mountains in the distance broke up the blue sky. “Wow. What is this?”

  “My special place.” The words were out before she could analyze if it was wise to reveal that part of herself. “If it wasn’t owned by the federal government, I would buy it. I love this land. Don’t worry, we’re not trespassing. The Bureau of Land Management allows public access.”

  “It is special.” He pointed to the left. “Look, pronghorn. They’re running.”

  The sight of them leaping and bounding over the ground always sent a thrill through Eden, and today was no exception. “Breathtaking.”

  “It is.” His voice grew husky, and she glanced at him. He was looking at her with a serious expression, and it sent heat to her cheeks.

  “Here, I’ll spread out the blanket.” She reached for it as he handed it to her. Their fingers touched, spiraling her nerves to high alert. Maybe she should have opted for camping chairs instead. She shook out the blanket and let it float over the grass. Ryder stretched the corners, and they both sat down.

  “Why is this your special spot?” he asked, leaning back on his elbows with his legs stretched out before him. He wore jeans, a T-shirt, cowboy boots and a straw hat.

&
nbsp; He was all lean muscles.

  “You first. I asked about raising sheep.” She wasn’t sure she could put into words what this spot meant to her.

  “By the time my parents died and my grandparents took me in as a baby, Granddad’s sheep ranch was already declining. I helped him out at a young age. I remember him taking me out to the sheep wagons in the summer to check on the herders and bring them supplies. I can still see those trailers in the middle of nowhere. Loneliest things I could imagine.”

  Eden could picture it. “Did you ever stay in one?”

  “Me? No.” He shook his head. “I stayed on the main ranch. In the winter, I’d help out in the lambing shed. I learned a lot about life there. My favorite job was hand-feeding the orphans.”

  An image appeared in her mind of Ryder as a boy holding a lamb on his lap and feeding it a bottle.

  “How did you end up in California?” She wanted to learn more about him. Get a complete picture of the man next to her.

  “After Grandma died, there was no reason for me to stay in Montana. I got a scholarship to Cal State, interned for a financial-planning firm catering to Hollywood stars, and they hired me right out of school.”

  The last part sounded like a fairy tale—glamorous, adventurous. Eden couldn’t imagine taking off to California at such a young age.

  “Was it hard for you?” she asked. “Losing your grandparents, setting out on your own. I mean, California is a long way from Montana.”

  He considered it for a few moments. “Yes, but I didn’t know any better. And I knew God would guide me. One thing I’m thankful for? My grandparents took me to church. I don’t know that I’d have my faith if it wasn’t for them.”

  “My parents laid the foundation for my faith, too,” Eden said. “After Mia died, we grew closer, got through it together. When life gets me down, Mom tells me to pray. When life looks up, Mom tells me to pray. She gets on my nerves sometimes, if I’m being honest.” She chuckled.

  “Your mom’s a wise woman.” He shifted to his side, facing her. “So, your turn… This spot?”

  This spot. The place she always ran to when life was too much.