Love Takes Root: A contemporary romance novella

by Natasha Brown

Partially submerged in the sea of mud was a cinnamon-colored bull. All muscle and power, it tried lifting its legs from the sludge, but had nowhere to go and only sank onto its knees. Broad horns curled away from its rectangular head. Large, round eyes stared at them as they drove up to the edge of the reddish mire. Kara put the car in park and got out.

  The sound of car doors closing was followed by sticky footsteps. Both Hector and Miles stood near, staring at the immense beast stuck in the mud. The rancher spoke rapidly to Miles and began to run toward his home.

  Miles shouted at him, “Vuelve! Come back—let’s talk about what we should do!”

  “Where’s he going?” Kara asked, watching Hector’s silhouette grow smaller the farther he got.

  He raked his dark hair from his eyes and sighed. “He’s getting his horse and a rope.”

  “Wait a minute,” she muttered and walked around to the back of the car. She opened the hatchback and found what she was looking for. Rope in hand, she held it out to Miles. “Isn’t this long enough? Don’t you have a tow hitch?”

  Miles grinned. “Sure do. Are you volunteering me to put that over those horns?”

  Kara looked at the bull and the size of the thick weapons on either side of its head. “I’ll help.”

  They discussed their plan, and while Kara held the length of the rope, Miles grasped the end. Together, they walked into the shin-deep sludge. The closer they got to the animal, the deeper it became. Wide eyes on them, the bull watched them near. It didn’t struggle or try to get away, but seemed to know they were there to help.

  Kara began to make soothing noises, more likely for herself than for the animal. She came within a foot of the beast’s head and tried to keep its attention as Miles went around its side. He tentatively placed a hand on the cow’s back, and when it didn’t respond, he let the rope drape over its shoulders. Miles leaned down to grab the loose end and pulled it under the bull’s body, behind its front legs. A knot was tied to the other side of the rope, making a loop, and he said, “Hand me the rest.”

  Kara tossed it to him. He caught the lengths of cord and leaned down to pass it back to her from between the animal’s legs. She placed her hand on the bull’s forehead and gave it a scratch before leaning down. A sudden twitch of its head caught Kara off balance. With her eyes on the horns, she teetered, and fell into the red sludge. Her chest, arms and legs landed with a splat in the mud. Although surprised, she couldn’t help but laugh.

  Snickers joined hers as Miles’s hands grabbed her and, with some effort, lifted her upright. Clay-covered and stiff, she allowed herself to get spun around. His lips pulled into a broad grin as he tugged her close.

  “Watch out, I’ll get you dirty,” she murmured.

  “Too late. Are you okay?” he asked, ignoring her muddy hands touching his forearms and pulled away to look her over.

  Kara’s eyes trailed up to his face and caught there. Instead of answering, she nodded her head in small movements. Every second that passed, she began to notice what it was like having arms wrapped around her and the rise and fall of a strong chest. She’d never felt like she belonged anywhere like she did in his arms.

  “I’m sorry I blamed you for this not working out,” she whispered.

  Miles hooked his finger beneath her chin and answered, “I should have warned you—done more to help with Hector. That’s why I came to talk some sense into him this morning.”

  His warm breath touched her face, and all she wanted in that moment was to be close to him. To feel his lips against hers. She’d never wanted anything more.

  Kara lifted up on her toes and closed the distance between them. His mouth met hers eagerly. His hand fumbled to hold the back of her neck, and the other touched under her ribcage, dangerously close to her heart. The heart that was racing to keep up with her excitement. His mouth left hers, only to trail a line of kisses down her neck. Then his hand slid down to her waist, finding bare skin, and her mind went blank.

  When he touched his mouth to hers, they were driven back under the waves of passion once again. Kara couldn’t think, but her body reacted like dry wood consumed in fire—she burned for him.

  Chapter 9.

  It had been so long since he’d been this close to another human being. It took him by surprise how good it felt. He was caught up in the electricity it created.

  The loud swishing beat of his heart pounded in his ears as his lips kissed hers. Unfortunately, no amount of pleasure was able to stop doubt from creeping into his thoughts.

  Her warm body pressed against his. She was the most amazing woman he’d ever met, and she deserved better. He’d never been able to prioritize relationships, and he didn’t want to be the man to disappoint her—to break her heart. Kara deserved someone who could put her first and make her feel special, because she was. She didn’t need Miles in her life. He was sure of that.

  It took all his inner strength to pull away. When he did, Kara’s bleary eyes stared up at him in confusion. His voice shook. “I can’t.”

  “But, I thought—”

  Miles shook his head and stepped away. “It’s not right. We’re here to do a job.”

  He wanted to say that he couldn’t bring himself to have a one-night stand—that he liked her too much. Miles wanted to warn her that he was no good, that he’d wind up hurting her. That the disappointment she felt in this moment was only a fraction of what she’d experience when he’d eventually let her down by prioritizing something ahead of her. But he didn’t.

  The look on her face, the pain and embarrassment, made him sick. It was for her own good. He was making the right choice to protect her. If he hadn’t known better, Miles would have thought the burn searing through his chest could be soothed with a simple pill. He ignored the pain to lean down and grab the rope from the ground. “Let’s not make the bull suffer any longer.”

  Kara walked in silence beside him to the car. She watched him tie the rope to the front tow hitch on the SUV. She peeled off her muddy slicker, then climbed into the driver’s seat. Her eyes avoided him as he motioned directions to pull the cow from the sludge.

  The animal groaned and moaned as she moved the vehicle back slowly. The cow’s legs stumbled to hold itself upright. Foot by foot, it was pulled until it stood on all four hooves away from the slick of mud. It shook its head, sending bits of dirt in the air.

  “You did it!”

  Miles turned around to find Hector riding across the pasture on his mare. In his hand was a rope, now rendered unnecessary. The elder Honduran climbed from his horse, walked to the unhappy bull and proceeded to untie it from the SUV. When he was done, he handed Miles his unused rope and began to lead the bull farther onto the grasslands.

  Kara was leaning out the driver’s window, watching with a curious expression on her face. Miles called over to her, “Guess he’s not one for showing appreciation.”

  He wiped his muddy hands on his jeans before walking to the car. He jumped into the passenger seat and looked out the windshield. “Let’s head back to Enmanuel’s and see if he needs any help. Bet you wouldn’t mind cleaning off too.”

  She nodded and drove across the pasture toward Hector’s house and the road. It took careful maneuvering to cross the uneven, muddy ground, but they finally made it back. They passed the time in silence and before long, they arrived at the Santos home.

  “There are basins of rainwater near the horses, if you want to wash off. I’m going to look for Enmanuel.” Miles let himself from the car. Before walking away, he turned and said, “Kara, thanks for coming to warn me—I appreciate it.”

  Kara answered, “I hope you’d do the same for me.”

  “I would,” he said and walked away.

  She’d clearly been wrong.

  That wasn’t a surprise. She’d had the majority of her boyfriends in high school, before her dad died. During college, she’d been too absorbed in her studies. Plus, she hadn’t wanted to get close enough to get hurt, so it never went past first dates. She wasn’t
experienced with reading body language or signs. This just went to show that romance should be left to people who knew what they were doing.

  Kara watched Miles walk away from the car, feeling embarrassed. It was clear to her she’d been caught up in the moment. It had been too long since she’d been held close, so close she could feel a man’s heartbeat and breath. Maybe she’d just wanted comfort on the heels of her disappointing news. No matter the reasons that had led to the uncomfortable situation, she was glad to be alone. Kara let herself out of the car and placed the keys back above the visor. A smear of dirt was left on the seat.

  Her slow walk to the large wooden basins beside the horse enclosure took forever. A plastic container sat at the bottom of the pool of water. She reached in and pulled it out. Brimming with clear liquid, Kara drained it over her arms and legs, careful to use every drop. While she cleaned herself off, she decided getting back home to her plants and study seemed like the best thing now. If Jim hadn’t lost faith—or too much money—on this fruitless venture, then she would need to plan for her next trip—or if he had, she’d need to find a new job.

  The thick red mud that had covered her left a faint tinge of crimson on her skin. The rinse wasn’t as effective as taking a shower, but it would do. She walked back toward the house, realizing just how hungry she was and wondered if Alita had evacuated to town.

  When she peered down the porch to the outdoor kitchen, she noticed someone riding a horse toward the house. She assumed it was one of the Santoses, but as he got closer, she saw she’d been wrong.

  Hector perched proudly on his horse when he approached. He stopped feet away from her and tipped his hat. His voice wasn’t as acerbic as she remembered it. “Buenos días. He venido a firmar su papel.”

  She strained to understand the words. Kara thought papel meant paper, but she wasn’t positive. Kara lifted her hands and said, “No comprende.”

  His face pinched, and it was clear he was annoyed. He contained his agitation enough to raise his hands and motion as if he were writing in the air. “Bambú.”

  Really? Kara stared at him in stunned surprise. He gave a curt nod as if confirming her unspoken question. Her heart raced in excitement. She held up her pointer finger and muttered, “Un momento.”

  Without wasting any time, she ran into the house and found the clipboard where she’d left it, in the safety of her luggage. A pen lay beside it, and she grabbed them both in a hurry. Breathless, she arrived outside worried he’d left or changed his mind, but he was where she’d left him.

  She handed the clipboard and pen to him, and he accepted them with his head held high. He filled the blank line beside his name with his careful handwriting. When he was done, he held it out to her and gave a brief nod. Before she could digest what had happened, he turned his horse around and walked off.

  Her mouth went dry and her eyes watered. She’d done it. It was really happening.

  “You find any food?” Miles asked somewhere behind her.

  She spun around, clasping the clipboard to her chest. Soft laughter poured from her lips. “I did it.”

  He crossed the distance of the porch in a few steps. His eyes combed over her face as he asked, “Are you…crying?”

  “Hector.” She nodded. “He just left—he signed!”

  Miles looked down the road, then back at her. When he spoke, his words came slowly, clearly well thought-out. “I’m not surprised—you made it happen. I knew you could. Now you’ll be able to live your dreams.”

  She blinked back at him in silence. The embarrassment over their kiss in the mud was all but forgotten while she enjoyed the moment. Kara would be going home with the signatures she needed to begin phase one for the project.

  It didn’t take Miles long to track down Enmanuel, who showed them the small landslide that affected the far end of his property. Luckily the damage was minimal, and no animals were injured. Everyone who lived along the slopes had escaped danger in town or in the pasturelands of the valley.

  The day was spent helping to clean up around the Santos home and helping neighbors. Once the clouds parted revealing the sun, the mosquitos came out too. Kara and Miles took advantage of the light, hanging their sleeping bags out to dry.

  While they ate dinner that night, Kara thought she saw Miles watching her, but knew she must be wrong. She sat back in her chair, relaxed and happy, eating her plate of dinner and laughing with the family. Enmanuel’s granddaughter taught her new words in Spanish, which she repeated carefully, trying to commit them to memory.

  Once darkness overtook the sky, everyone disappeared to their beds for the night. Kara and Miles spoke only a single goodnight to each other before parting. While Kara lay awake on her soggy bed that night, her world adjusted in a moment of clarity. Her mission was clear. This adventure had exposed so much to her. She was no longer afraid to head into the unknown. Not when there were so many kindhearted people who needed help but were simply afraid of change, like Hector. Most of the Hondurans she’d met had opened their homes and hearts to her after only just meeting her. With so little, they were thankful for what they had.

  She pulled the edge of her sleeping bag under her chin, just like she used to do when her dad tucked her in as a kid. Comforted, she knew deep in her soul her father would have been proud—because in that moment, she felt him with her. A tear curled down her cheek. Kara wiped it away with her shoulder and smiled.

  The next day Miles woke and gathered his things. By the time he’d finished, soft scuffing came from nearby. Kara stood with her backpack, suitcase and a rolled-up sleeping bag. Her T-shirt and jeans had dark spots of moisture.

  “It was either wet, dirty clothes, or wet and clean,” she said.

  “I’m going with my usual choice—damp and dirty.” He threw his backpack of clothing over his shoulder. “Just need a cup of coffee and some breakfast, then we can get going.”

  He reached out for her bag, and they walked outside together. He jogged off to the car to load up their things. When he got back, she had a plate of food and a mug of steaming coffee waiting. They both ate quickly, eager to get going.

  The Santoses gathered to say goodbye. Enmanuel shook his hand, and when Alita walked up to Miles, she pulled him in to whisper, “You need her, Miles. And she needs you too.”

  Food wrapped in a plastic bag was dropped in his hands with a wink. He shook her hand but remained silent. There wasn’t anything he could say.

  Beside him, Enmanuel’s leathery skin creased into a grin while he spoke to Kara. She smiled while she waited for Miles’s translation. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and mumbled, “He says he’s thankful you came to help. They want to give a hand planting the bamboo so it can be a success. They want you to be able to help other communities like theirs.”

  She laughed and gave a teary smile in response.

  Elías walked up to them and asked, “Will she come back to take pictures of us with the bamboo?”

  The thought of her leaving soured Miles’s mood. “I don’t think she’s planning on coming back—she’ll be busy helping other villages. Someone else from United Rainforest Fund will probably take that picture for her.”

  “Too bad,” Elías answered with a frown.

  “I know,” Miles whispered under his breath when he walked to the car. From the driver’s seat, he watched her say goodbye to the rest of the family. His aviator glasses covered his eyes by the time she joined him.

  “Everything alive back there?” he asked before putting it in gear.

  She gave the bamboo shoots a glance over her shoulder. “I checked on them yesterday—they’re still moist, but it’s a good thing we’re planting them today.”

  The SUV moved away from the side of the house, and Kara waved out the window as they drove off.

  “I hate leaving—and that I won’t ever see them again.”

  “Leaving’s always hard. But it’s up to you to come back,” he answered.

  Mud kicked up behind them as they crawled throu
gh town, past the church, the town hall and a row of older villagers sitting on their plastic chairs along the street. Miles raised his hand as they passed by and forced himself to return their smiles.

  The hours spent in the car went by slow. There was very little talking or conversation. They just bumped along in silence, staring at the scenery as it flashed past. Instead of stopping for lunch, they ate while they drove. Miles knew she was eager to plant her samples as soon as possible, and he didn’t want her waiting any longer than she had to. Plus, sitting in silence with her for much longer would get him comfortable having her near, and that was dangerous.

  It was mid-afternoon when they finally reached the village. Miles pulled off the one-lane road into a grassy patch beneath some overhanging trees. The car creaked to a stop and he tilted his head toward Kara. “Made good time. Are the plants still good?”

  She unbuckled, placed her hand on the back of his seat and turned around to look. A small section of her arm rested on his shoulder while she checked on the bamboo. “The tops need to be filled with water or mud soon so they don’t dry out. We should get them out of the car.”

  Miles opened up the driver’s-side door and got out. He stretched his arms over his head, then opened the back door. Moments later, Kara stood beside him, waiting to help. He climbed in to pick up one end of the folded blanket and its contents, the series of bamboo rhizomes. Kara grabbed the other end and they lifted it out of the vehicle, careful not to flip it over. They walked the plants to the opposite side of the road and set them on the ground. Down the hill, chickens squawked and clucked from an enclosed hutch beside Maria’s home.

  Kara started along the trail. After ten steps she turned around and called, “Will you translate for me?”

  He didn’t answer, but followed her down the slope. When they neared Maria’s house, a few villagers appeared and called out, “Good day, Miles!”

  With a wave he answered, “Hello, it’s nice to see you. We’re back with a present.”