Adam stood, fist clenched, his skin not quite fitting his body. Levi’s words were just words, but why did it all of a sudden seem like he’d been running away from something that was as harmless as a baby chick?
He looked at Levi and shook his head. No, Levi was just making things sound better than they should. Just like Sky Lake appearing better than it was. Illusions.
He walked to the door and left, leaving his brother’s questions unanswered. Hell of a homecoming for the two of them.
Chapter Twelve
Emily gripped the steering wheel tighter. This time the sight of Sky Lake’s stone pillars left her empty. Where excitement had ruled yesterday, dread and regret held court today, and she reminded herself this was business. She was here to see Peyton, per her request. She ignored the side of her that checked every single cowboy for the telltale curls peeking out and an ass she was pretty sure she could pick out of a lineup. Of course, he was here somewhere. This was where he worked and maybe even lived, but Emily wasn’t here to see him. Right?
A different type of fear spread through her, leaving regret in its wake. Fear that she wouldn’t see him again. Last night she’d thought it best. He’d seen how one errant comment could rule her life. But the farther she drove away, the more she’d regretted. Her night had been restless, happy memories of their brief time together replaying, only to be followed by gut-wrenching memories of her past. With her face buried in her pillow, she’d chanted it was for the best. Only it seemed, even as she checked out another cowboy, her head couldn’t quite agree with the statement.
Taking a deep breath, Emily reminded herself again that she was there to see Peyton. If she happened to see a certain someone, she would smile and wave. Done. As simple as that. What she wouldn’t do was give him the satisfaction of knowing he was right. That the shell, or bubble as he called it, didn’t fit anymore.
After her restless night, she was more determined than ever to revert to her aloof demeanor, only today at the shop she couldn’t do it. She found herself drawn into all sorts of conversations. About the summer festival and the wild horse roundup in September and any number of things she was asked for opinions on. With every response, every laugh, every twinkle in a customer’s eyes, her shell cracked a bit more until it finally shattered into a million pieces on the floor.
Emily pulled up to the lodge, where the porch was again full of people. She scanned the occupants but didn’t recognize anyone and swallowed away the bit of disappointment that Adam hadn’t been waiting. Peyton had left a message saying she would meet her inside by the fireplace. She grabbed the sketches off her seat and jumped out.
Emily stepped into the main house and inhaled sharply. She hadn’t had a chance to see it yesterday evening. The lodge and some apple tarts had been her and Adam’s intended destination before running into Peyton and Mel. It reminded her of those old lodges that were synonymous with Yellowstone but on a smaller scale. It was old, it was lived in, and it was perfect.
The center rose three stories, with galleries circling on the levels above. Two massive fireplaces anchored either side with what appeared to be a hand-carved desk straight ahead. Chairs and tables were scattered about in small groupings that implied intimacy, but Emily could picture them easily rearranged to accommodate a large, boisterous group.
Peyton hadn’t specified which fireplace, and as Emily searched both sides for her, she noticed her painting hanging above the one on her left. The painting that had brought Adam Conley to her doorstep and into her life.
“Looks like it’s been there for a hundred years, doesn’t it?”
Emily startled, unsure how someone had managed to sneak up on her, a habit apparently of late. She turned to find Shelby Marks beaming.
“It does seem to have found the perfect home.”
A gleam entered Shelby’s expression, though her smile didn’t change. “Its home. Hmm, I like that. Always thought people and animals had to find their home, but I suppose works of art in all forms are extensions of people, and it would make sense they, too, would need a final place, tailor made for them.” She slid an arm around Emily’s shoulder and pulled her close for a tight hug, releasing her as quickly as she grabbed her. “I’m mighty thankful your talent is being put to good use here in Fly Creek.”
Emily’s thoughts swirled, each one blinking in prominence for a minute before swirling away so another could take its place. Did she have a home? Was it here in Fly Creek? Was she really putting her talent to use, or was she clinging to the only thing she had left in a life that so much had been taken from?
She liked Shelby Marks. Liked her no nonsense way of facing and dealing with life. Twice she’d encountered the force that was Shelby while they worked on the piece now hanging over the fireplace. It had been right around the time of the arrival of Adam Conley in town. The two obviously not linked, but she’d learned in the west, in sky country, you measured things by occurrences, not necessarily a calendar. During those brief meetings, although doing her damnedest to keep it superficial, Shelby had a way of teasing out information with a question seemingly directed to herself. Emily had seen the light, of course, after Shelby had left and placed her order.
“I still wish you would consider classes here at the ranch. Although, I hear you’re going to start those paint parties that are cropping up in Cheyenne.”
Emily’s mouth dropped open. She and Peyton clearly needed to talk about something other than the sketches for the Girl Scouts. Shelby took her silence as confirmation and continued.
“Peyton told me all about it and how we might be able to partner up on it with some of the guests. Especially the ones who find that the fanciful notion of being on a horse for a week and the harsh reality of saddle sore don’t really meet up.”
Emily wasn’t sure what the correct response was and clearly Shelby Marks expected one. Agree and set herself up for potential weekly encounters with strange people who she would be teaching. Disagree and potentially hurt what could become a beneficial business relationship. After all, Sky Lake Ranch was huge, and Shelby had paid handsomely for the painting. Emily might be doing okay, but she wasn’t flush. Winter would be here before she knew it, and things trickled down to an annoying drip like a broken faucet.
Shelby laughed. “Hmm, seems like another case of Ms. Peyton Brooks putting the cart before the horse. That girl’s going to get herself in trouble one day. She’s going to meet that immovable force.”
Emily moistened her lips, guilt creeping through her like an out of control ivy bush. She didn’t want to get Peyton in trouble with her employer. “Not so much before the horse as maybe the horse doesn’t quite have the tack organized yet?”
Shelby barked out a laugh. “Peyton excels at organizing everyone to do exactly as she thinks they should. And most of the time she’s right.” Shelby leaned closer as her voice lowered. “But between you and me, I think she does it so she doesn’t have to think about organizing herself.”
“Shelby Marks, are you spreading vicious lies about me again?”
Both women turned as Peyton marched up to them, a smile lighting her face.
“Truth ain’t lies, dear, even if you don’t always want to accept it. Now if you two will excuse me, I have some cowboys to get back in line.”
Shelby left and Emily smiled. “I bet she’s a blast to work for.”
Peyton snorted. “I’m not sure anyone at Sky Lake would call Shelby Marks a blast. She’s a meddlesome mother hen who disguises herself with scrumptious food and a twinkle in her eye. Don’t be fooled.”
Emily smiled. She heard the love filtering through Peyton’s matter-of-fact words.
“And I would give my right arm for that woman. Between her and Polly, Mel and I are here today with a good life and future.”
Emily met Peyton’s gaze, sure the question was in her eyes even though she had no nerve or right to ask it.
Peyton led her to two chairs flanking a small rug in front of the unlit fireplace.
&nb
sp; “See, when you’re nineteen and knocked up in a town like Fly Creek, one of two things happen. You get shunned and disowned, which is the route my parents and most of my friends took, or you get loved and supported, which is how Polly and Shelby dealt with the situation. Of course, me being the stubborn person I am, it took repeated attempts by both women before I understood they weren’t pulling the wool over my eyes or filling me with cow dung. Even then I only accepted when I absolutely felt myself at a breaking point, but they waited patiently. I owe them everything.”
Silence reigned for several minutes. Emily knew all about breaking points, only she eschewed all the help and fled. Would it have been different if she’d stayed back east?
“I’m thankful every day I let them lend a hand, especially Shelby.” She glanced away. “Mel is a better person for having her grandmother in her life.”
Emily kept her gaze focused on the empty fireplace. If Shelby was Mel’s grandmother that meant the father was her son. The itch to ask all the questions tumbling through her mind was worse than having one in your boot and not being able to take it off. Then sanity, or rather, the unease of maybe reciprocating on such a personal level hit, and she kept her thoughts to herself.
“Anyway, enough heavy stuff. I’m assuming those are the sketches.”
Peyton extended her hand, and Emily placed the rough sheets of paper in it. She rocked back and forth as Peyton went through them, making small comments about something in particular of each one.
“To be honest, I love every single one. You should totally save them in case you decide to take my fabulous advice about the parties or even classes here. But for the sake of the girls, I think the aspen tree one will work best. I love the colors, and it seems simple enough for them.”
Emily accepted the sketches back. “I’ll confess it’s my favorite as well, although I wanted to make sure you had a variety of choices.” She paused and tasted the next words before committing herself to them. When they didn’t choke her, she said, “And I’m giving your paint party idea serious thought. Shelby mentioned it.” She looked pointedly at Peyton who had enough grace to blush slightly. “I agree it might be a nice added benefit to both my business and the ranch’s. I’ll let you know when I decide.”
“Excellent. Now come with me and we can grab some dinner.”
Emily found that she wanted to go. To chat with another woman and get to know her. Form the basis that good friendship needed. But she had to get back to the store. A new shipment arrived today, and it needed inventoried and set out. Not to mention she had a commissioned piece that needed finishing.
“I would really love to, but I have a full night of work ahead of me back at the store. Maybe another time.”
Peyton scanned her face. “Do you have any employees?”
Emily ducked her head as she shook it. For three years it seemed logical and normal that she worked alone, but now having someone else question her about it, it seemed insane, which is how she imagined half of Fly Creek described her.
“Well, if you decide to hire one, I know Polly was looking for something else to keep her busy. She doesn’t have Mel nearly as often now that she’s older, and while I’m grateful she’s stayed out of trouble this long, that woman attracts craziness like horses attract flies.”
“Polly?”
“Yes, Polly Brooks. I thought you knew her, or rather, I thought everyone knew her. She’s my grandmother.”
Emily held in the laugh tickling her throat. When she’d briefly pictured hiring someone thirty minutes ago, it was someone quiet and docile. She did know of Polly Brooks and that lady would have her yarn hanging from horseshoes in the ceiling and her canvasses rotating on lassoes.
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Good. Now come with me. We’ll just grab you a few things to take back to the gallery. There are apple tarts today and trust me, you want one.”
Emily let Peyton lead her farther back into the main lodge, laughing at the quips the young woman tossed over her shoulder. She was grateful Peyton hadn’t brought up last night. She may be unsure of her way forward with a certain curly haired man, but she felt the beginnings of a friendship with this young woman.
…
“Hey, Conley, what the hell you doing here?”
Adam took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow. He’d led two trails this morning after settling Levi with a few seasoned hands, and ever since been in fence-repairing hell. Despite a light breeze, he was sweating like a pig. He turned and saw Dan leading a palomino down the road.
“What’s it look like I’m doing. I’m fixing another damn board that demon stallion of yours kicked out. Get him laid so he stops pawing up the damn place.”
Dan grinned and rubbed the horse’s snout. “Maybe you should just take him for a ride. Seems you have a knack for the wild ones.” He shifted his hat. “You know that fine woman of yours is sitting up at the main lodge.”
Emily. Adam ran his hands along the fence. He knew she’d be there, but he’d purposely kept his distance. His talk, or rather argument, with Levi had left him feeling rudderless. He didn’t know how to move forward with her. Ever since the scene with Mel and the water, his plan and his feelings were all jumbled and taking him two different directions.
“If you’re talking about Emily White, she’s not mine.” Even as the words slid from his mouth they tasted bitter and full of lies.
Dan stopped, the horse chuffing and pawing the ground. “Is that right? I guess I can tell the rest of the guys that she’s fair game. It seems she’s ready to have fun, and if you’re releasing the claim, then wowee, it’s time for some good ole fashioned competition.”
Adam dropped his hammer and advanced on Dan, the horse tensing even as the cowboy tightened his grip on the lead rope. “Leave her alone. You have no idea what she’s dealing with or been through. She doesn’t need horny cowboys messing with her heart or her mind.”
A grin split across Dan’s face. “No claim, huh?” He slapped Adam’s arm and headed on down the road. Adam watched him until he led the horse into the far pasture on the right and then turned back to the fence. He knew why Emily was here, and if she wanted to see him, she would track him down. Easy enough, right? But should he risk it? He told her he wouldn’t let her run last night, and he’d planned on giving her a day, but that was before Levi’s thought-provoking argument. Now? He could go see her. Would she welcome the sight or still be uneasy from their parting last night?
Maybe you should get up to the damn lodge and find out.
Adam told himself it was all in the name of his promise. All in the name of fulfilling it so he could move on. Be done with demon mustangs and good-natured ribbing and restless nights where he couldn’t picture his future and when he did, the idea of what he saw froze the blood in his veins. He would stop by the lodge. If she was there? Great. If not? No loss. He would head back to his next job and tomorrow find another way to advance his cause.
His rationale made sense, and yet his stride increased with the worry that Dan would say something to the rest of the hands, and mostly well meaning but nonetheless horny cowboys would besiege Emily. Damn it, if they spooked her, he’d be right back to square one.
Head down, Adam leaped up onto the front porch and right into a body. A soft, lean body that his recognized instantly and screamed finally.
Emily.
His hands wrapped around her arms as his heart and brain engaged in a silent battle of push her away and pull her closer. His stubborn brain won, and he increased the distance between them. “I’m sorry. Should have paid closer attention.”
She blinked those gorgeous hazel eyes at him, a coy smile finding a home on her amazing lips. “I’m to blame myself. I was looking at the stonework trying to commit it to memory for a piece.”
He unpeeled his fingers one by one as he stepped back. “A piece? Personal or did Shelby commission another one?”
Her chest rose and fell as her gaze took its time rising from t
he tip of his boots up to his face. He felt every lash sweep, the heat following the caress as if a fuse on a stick of dynamite. They were an explosion all right. An explosion that would leave them both in pieces that they couldn’t put back together. He should keep reminding himself that he had the capacity to hurt her even more than she already was, and yet he wondered if she held the same ability on another level.
“No. She hasn’t. Just something for my personal collection.”
“Are you okay?” Shit, why did he ask that?
Emily smiled. “I’m not sure what okay is anymore thanks to you. But I’m better than last night if that’s what you’re asking.”
“It seems there’s still a raincheck floating around.” He leaned against the pillar and met her gaze. “That is, if you’re still game.”
She ducked her head, but he saw the blush across her freckled nose. “I am,” she spoke to the floor.
Before he could do anything, she leaned up to place another of those too brief but oh-so-intense kisses on his cheek, but his body roared not enough. His arm slid around her waist, pulling her closer, and his mouth cruised her jaw, finding its way to her soft lips. She opened on a sigh, and the sweet kiss spun out in tiny moments of pleasure. She tasted of apples and sugar, tart and sweet, swirling together to blind him to the moment. All that mattered was their lips. The promise, the battle, and his leaving all faded on the unspoken promise of their kiss.
He pulled away first, some sixth sense telling him it was time to say good-bye. She blinked and her eyes searched his, looking and finding something he refused to admit to at the moment. He needed to be alone. Away to think. Because that kiss exposed more in two minutes than years of searching.
His hands slid along her arms and joined with hers. “So dinner? Tomorrow, my treat?”
She nodded. “Any time after six would work.”
They took another second to look at one another. He didn’t want to know her thoughts or her feelings at the moment. Because he knew they would equally excite and devastate him.
Her Cowboy's Promise (Fly Creek) Page 10
