The gate creaked, drawing her gaze away from the plants and the consistent pick-drop rhythm she’d fallen into. That early would be Drake, or so she’d thought.
As if her line of thinking had conjured him, Zander strode toward her, unaffected by the clinging difficulties of the gate. He always seemed so comfortable, no matter where he was. His confidence confused her, like he owned the world. But he was only a ranch hand. They didn’t generally own anything and liked to roam because of that.
The more settled a hand was, the less likely he was to work on crews for any great length of time. If Zander was looking to settle down, he was also looking to leave because he couldn’t live there as a ranch hand and be with her. It would never work.
Her doom and gloom thoughts didn’t transfer to her face as she smiled softly at him. The morning was too early to speak loudly, so she didn’t saw a word as he approached her. The man looked like he could be in a magazine for women called “Cowboy Eye Candy”. Was there such a thing? Because she could see it being a hit.
As he got closer, Hannah turned, offering the bucket toward him for a taste.
He stopped two feet from her, just close enough to make her acutely aware of him but not so close she was uncomfortable with his presence. Somehow, he was thought consuming and a distraction from her normal mundane thoughts – but she’d never tell him that.
“Good morning, Hannah.” He ducked his head to meet her gaze and he smiled, reaching up to tuck hair behind her ear. His simple touch sent shivers down to her toes, but she blamed that on the still cool air.
“Good morning.” She glanced down at the bucket she held aloft. “Did you want to try some?”
“Thank you, we’re about to eat breakfast before we leave for the day. I left my things in the bunk house and I need to go grab them. I just couldn’t stop thinking about you.” His finger lingered by her cheek and he leaned in slowly, pressing his lips to the corner of her mouth, not fast and not slow, just as if he had created his own time zone and was going to lock her in it.
He pulled back. “We’re getting closer to our first official kiss.” He winked. “Have a good day.” He turned and left the way he came. He didn’t look back.
Thank goodness, he didn’t. He would have witnessed Hannah staring dumbly after him with her free hand covering her mouth which was open in shock.
The man was getting in her head and she was starting to get attached to him. How long would it take before she liked him so much that his leaving would really affect her?
Drake had the men out longer than one day. It was another three days before she saw any evidence of Zander again. Just knowing he wasn’t even on the land caused an ache in her chest. She wasn’t sure where they’d gone, but when she’d mentioned it to Stefanie she’d said something about picking up more stock for Drake’s bison business.
They raised bison on Bella Acres like a lot of ranches raised cattle. Bison were designed for the rugged landscapes and were easier to keep healthy and a whole lot more active than cow. Not to mention their retail rate was significantly higher, especially with the east coast connections Drake had from his previous life as a financial advisor. Pretty much anything Drake touched turned to gold which was exactly the opposite for Nate. He lost everything he cared about.
Hannah worried the talent for losing was a family trait – one that had skipped over Stefanie.
Grabbing her egg basket, Hannah made her way to the chicken coop, humming and swinging the woven basket at her side.
She had to make up her mind soon about when she was going to go for a tour, but she was honestly holding off for a couple reasons. One reason had the shoulder width of a man who understood hard work and the green eyes of an Irish clan lord.
“Hannah, girl, don’t be stupid.” She muttered to herself as she worked on the lock on the coop door. The stupid thing liked to stick on dew-moistened mornings, sometimes worse than others. “You cannot let a man stop you from chasing your dreams. He hasn’t even been around more than two weeks.” She grunted as the door finally gave and swung open. She couldn’t fall for Zander. Not so soon. He could be a crazy person successfully hiding who he was while working to ensnare her.
Hannah moved into the coop, stepping carefully as she made her way inside. She had to close the door before they tried to get out on their own and she didn’t want to step on any of the hens still sleeping.
The rooster, Goofy, was a Polish breed and his comb was located differently than the rest of the other chickens. Feathers sprouted from the top of his head with the look and feel of hair which often blocked his view. He would stare at the laces on her shoes the entire time she collected eggs, trying to decide if he wanted to eat the laces or attack them.
Usually by the time she left, he still hadn’t decided. One of these mornings, he would decide and Hannah couldn’t wait to see what he came up with.
She stuck her hand into each nesting bucket, pulling out egg after egg. She would sell them to the neighbor down the street at four dollars a dozen. The buckets laid on their sides in a shelving system she’d seen on Pinterest and had Drake put in for her. Normal five-gallon buckets made cleaning a lot easier than wood.
The last bucket on the left held the last egg.
She pulled it out, furrowing her brow at the odd feel and shape to it. A note had been taped to the round curve of the egg, changing the shape to be boxier. Hannah studied the egg, even more hope glowing inside her. She untapped the small white card with a smile lingering on her lips.
“I’m thinking of you. Z”
He’d gone to the trouble to leave her a note. His romantic gestures were turning her head and she was more scared she was going to miss out on any chance with him then she was at missing out on anything else.
She wasn’t so naïve to think men like him came along more than once in a lifetime. How did she tell him she was thinking of him, too? Was it something she was comfortable admitting? Her draw to him? Her attraction to him? Most importantly, her desire to be around him, to talk to him, to share the little things with him?
Hannah had to make up her mind about what she was going to do. She didn’t want to string him along and she didn’t want to run him off.
She stepped out of the coop, relocking the door and then stopping, startled when she turned around. Her thoughts must be magical as he continued popping up when her thoughts focused on him. “Zander.” She clutched the basket to her chest, still gripping his note in her hand.
“Hannah.” He studied her, spying the card in her fingers and smiling knowingly. He offered a questioning glance. “I just wanted to know if you’d be free for dinner tomorrow night? A proper dinner. I’ll even pick you up.”
Hannah tucked her chin. “Really?” Why was she nervous? Probably because she knew the answer to how she felt about him, how her heart was leaning, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to acknowledge it just yet.
“Of course. We’ll take my truck. Is six-thirty okay for you?” He stepped closer, his eyes taking up the majority of Hannah’s view. The subtle aroma of his masculine scent comforted her, convinced her it was okay to follow his lead.
She nodded slowly, more than aware how ridiculous it was that the man continued to strike her dumb with his presence and his sweet affections. Finding her own match didn’t seem so bad.
He seemed to disappear while she was still trying to figure out just what was going on.
Shaking her head, Hannah turned to the house. She started humming no tune in particular, just something she couldn’t get out of her head.
Swinging the basket gently from side to side, she walked into the kitchen. She’d have to clean the eggs and let them set before packing them up to be sold.
The water trickled into the sink and Hannah stared out the window, humming and thinking about Zander.
Stefanie’s laughter broke through Hannah’s thoughts. She turned, facing her sister whose expression bordered on mocking. “What has you so happy? Lately you’ve been mopey. It’s odd s
eeing you smile.”
Hannah took a deep breath. “Well, if you must know. I have a date.” Let the teasing begin.
Gasping, Stefanie pressed a hand to her chest. “Are you serious? Oh, Hannah, that is terrific.” She arched an eyebrow. “Is it Zander?”
Hannah should’ve been less blurty about telling Stefanie and eased into it. She nodded, scrunching her nose. “Is that bad? Are you okay with me dating one of the ranch hands?” She hadn’t even thought about checking with Drake or Stefanie.
Stefanie shook her head, moving to the fridge and pulling out milk. “Not at all. He’s a hard worker and a genuine gentleman. A man like him is a rare find.” She poured herself a glass and then watched Hannah. “You know, this is a good thing. You can be excited. Even if nothing comes of it, it’s still a great thing to do – dating can be fun. And you don’t do enough of it or any of it.”
Hannah considered Stefanie’s words. Was it okay to get excited? Stefanie seemed to think so. Zander had already proven he was honest. He’d been trustworthy so far and had even said some forthright things that most men wouldn’t say after twenty years of marriage.
He wasn’t going to leave her high and dry.
Could she accept liking him? Could she accept that liking him and caring for him more than she originally wanted to meant she’d have to deal with a filter over her dreams of school and leaving soon? Or was there a way to have both?
Stefanie winked at Hannah and left the kitchen. As soon as Hannah finished up her chore with the eggs she moved to the laptop. She had gotten into the habit of checking her email every morning.
In her inbox was an email from the culinary school in North Dakota. She clenched her jaw when she opened the email and gaped at the words.
She was accepted. All she had to do now was go for the tour and make the final decision on whether or not to go there.
Things just got a whole lot messier.
Chapter 16
Zander
Zander didn’t sleep well that night. Laying in the bed assigned to him beneath the window that faced south, he watched the moon crest in the clear sky and then begin its descent. The large silvery orb held his gaze, as he watched it move on its journey. He didn’t want to go to sleep and wake up to find that everything had changed.
He had a date with Hannah and he didn’t want to ruin it. He was going to court her like he would if he were back home and she knew him as himself. He’d lose the deferential treatment and be the man he was instead of the worker she thought him to be.
Not that he was ashamed of working or being a ranch hand. On the contrary. He was taking orders and doing the grunt work without complaint. But things weren’t moving along as fast as he needed them to. When he’d calculated out the six weeks he would need, he’d failed to take into account the fact that he wouldn’t be around for hours on end due to the actual work.
Indeed, the last few days the crew had been working on fences between Bella Acres and a neighboring ranch. Grabbing a moment here or there to even think about Hannah had been next to impossible. Claiming a date with her had been a purely desperate move. He was watching the days pass like leaves flitting on the wind and he couldn’t catch the time he was losing.
He was exhausted and he should be sleeping, but there was so much possibility before him. His feelings for Hannah were overwhelmingly optimistic. There was something about her he needed in his life. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but the shy smile she gave him and the way her eyes seemed to light up when she saw him sent his heart into a frenzy. How could he be so lucky to be attracted to her more than he’d ever hoped? She would fit in with him. He just knew it.
He just needed more time to prove it to her.
Snoring men had become almost as white noise in the bunkhouse, but it didn’t lull Zander to sleep. He longed for the quiet of his own house and the sanctuary of his room. He would suffer as long as he needed to just to stay by Hannah.
Zander tucked an arm behind his head and rolled to his side, watching as the moon continued arcing across the sky. The sun wouldn’t be up for another hour or so and the predawn darkness set off the twinkle of the stars and the fullness of the moon. Was Hannah sleeping well? He couldn’t stop thinking of her and the way she smelled.
A vibrating in his jean pants caught his attention. He’d folded his pants on the end of the bed for him to put back on the next day. He didn’t have access to all of his clothes or even a laundry room every day like he did back home.
Glancing around at the other sleeping men who were just dark, large forms spread throughout the room, Zander sat up and yanked his jeans toward him. His phone slid from the back pocket, the vibration louder as the cell was freed from its constraints.
Glancing at the screen as he picked it up, Zander’s eyes widened. Tommy. What could make his foreman call him before the sun was up?
Easing quickly from the bed, Zander answered the call, but didn’t speak. He held the phone to his ear and padded quietly from the large bunkhouse, down the stairs, and onto the deck. A brisk breeze picked up around him and he hoped Hannah or anyone else wouldn’t find him in his boxer shorts.
Once he got a safe distance from the bunk room, he lifted the phone to his ear. “Tommy? What’s going on?” Even though he was far enough away, he didn’t raise his voice too loud. Some words didn’t need to carry. He searched around him for signs of wakefulness and the lights on in the main house worried him. Who was up and where would they be right then? On their way outside?
“Sorry to call so early, sir. Lenze got in a fight with Nathan in town at The Bar. I’m not sure what it was about. Nathan is refusing to come back and the sheriff is threatening to lock him up. Lenze is pretty banged up and the other hands are upset.” Tommy sighed, dropping the tone of his voice. “Look, sir, I’m good at my job, I am, but the men know you’re not here. There’s more control over them when you are. They respect you. I know what you’re going to say. Yeah, they respect me, but not as much as they respect you. It would be better if you were here, sir. I’m not sure Silver Spoons would benefit from you being gone another two to four weeks.” A tremor in Tommy’s voice gave away how nervous he’d been to say something. Of course, he had to be thinking about it for a while.
The reality was Zander had other responsibilities and while his dreams involved his happiness, he had other people he was responsible for and a large ranch to run. It wasn’t fair what he was doing to Tommy or the men.
And he knew it. Why would Nathan cause problems now? He’d been so solid and stable. Zander had to choose to be there for his friend or be there for his friend’s sister. Either way, he was hurting someone, letting someone down.
Zander closed his eyes. He would have to sacrifice one dream for another.
Because wasn’t that what Silver Spoons was? His ultimate dream? He wanted a family to fill the home and make everything worth it. He wanted a family so bad, but he wouldn’t have anything to give them, if he let Silver Spoons be anything less than as important as it was.
An ache in his chest grew. Glancing at the house, he turned away from the glowing windows and one dark window in particular. He nodded, even though Tommy couldn’t see. “Alright, Tommy. I’m sorry to have done this to you. I’ll be there some time this afternoon. I’m leaving in the next hour. I’ll be back for good.” He didn’t let any of the disappointment or regret into his tone. There was no room for emotion in business, that was something he pushed and his men knew it.
“Thank you, sir. I’ll get the place ready for you and let Maria know you’ll be here for dinner.” The relief in Tommy’s voice was all the encouragement Zander needed that he was doing the right thing.
Why then did it feel so wrong?
Probably because everything in him wanted Hannah and what being a member of her family meant. The only problem was, by coming to claim Hannah and her family, he was forsaking his ranch family on Silver Spoons. One of the members of his ranch family was a member of Hannah’s family, too.
Large strides carried him up the stairs to the bunk house where he stealthily pulled on clothes from the day before and packed the rest of his things. Leaving the bed made and ready for the next ranch hand, Zander pulled his pack over his shoulder and tucked his hat on his head. In getting ready, he’d made a quick trip to the bathroom and brushed his teeth and washed his face.
The trip home would have to be fast. He couldn’t justify dallying on the highway or even waiting until Hannah was awake. Nathan had never pushed the boundaries of The Bar like Tommy had reported. He wasn’t usually aggressive and the new display worried Zander.
What had happened to make Nathan lose his cool?
The thud of Zander’s boots on the wooden floor were muffled as he shifted his weight more to the toe of his feet. He ignored the pull of the bunk house kitchen, just for one glance inside to cement memories of Hannah in his heart.
Reaching his truck, he tossed his pack in the front seat and started the engine. The loud thrum of the diesel motor bounced back at him from the wall of the barn. While his rig warmed up, he made the walk to the back of the house.
Ignore the garden, Zander. There’s nothing there for you. But he couldn’t help continually glancing toward Hannah’s room. Her window was open just a couple inches and he could whisper inside to wake her up.
And for what? To tell her he was leaving? To say goodbye? To tell her the truth about who and what he was and that the reason he was leaving was because Nathan was causing a ruckus back at Zander’s ranch? No. He’d rather let her rest. He’d leave a message with Drake and hopefully that would let her down gently. He didn’t deserve to say goodbye, no matter how much it hurt.
Lights glowing in the kitchen, pulled Zander closer to the back door. Drake was probably up getting ready for a busy day on the back pasture. Opening the screen door, Zander took a deep breath and knocked softly on the heavy oak door.
Lost Trails Page 8
