Harlequin Heartwarming March 21 Box Set

by Claire McEwen

  When Quinn turned to Seth, she was almost glowing with pleasure. He knew right then he’d just been existing over the past few years, running through unremarkable dates, with work at the center of his world. Since he’d started the plans for the camp last year, he’d redirected his focus, and then Quinn had burst into his life. He felt it expanding, moving away from business and meaningless things.

  “I’m sorry about taking off,” she said, not looking sorry at all. “I couldn’t help myself. But you’re the guide. So, where are we going?”

  Seth pulled himself out of his unexpected moment of self-awareness. He pointed ahead. “We’ll go west, past the fencing, then swing north and finally curve back down this way.” He wasn’t sure what was going on with him, but things were definitely shifting. What drew him to Quinn wasn’t just her looks or her stunning smile. It was more than that. She seemed to fit into his new world. She was friends with Julia and Sarge. He knew Libby and Jake liked her. Seth loved her insight into the camp matters. It seemed to be falling into place somehow, despite the breach about her lie. That was fading and starting to seem like an overreaction on his part. “Just stay with me. No taking off on your own, okay?”

  When she nodded, he started off, and she paced her horse with his. “How long have you been riding Miner?”

  “He’s one of the first horses Dwight brought in with the starter group about eight months ago. I’ve been riding him since then.”

  “There’s no more cattle on the land?”

  “No, that comes after we have enough good horses for the campers. Most of the open grazing land was cleared for cattle when Sarge ran them here.” Seth explained to Quinn how Sarge had selectively cleared grazing land, using the wood he cut for the construction of the buildings and fencing. He strategically left scattered stands of trees for shade and to block winds that gusted down from the higher ground. “His master plan was developed without wasting any of the cut trees.”

  They rode on at a good pace, Quinn falling into silence as she seemed to be taking in her surroundings. As they approached a sprawling stand of old growth, Seth stopped Miner and Quinn pulled Angel up by him. “What now?” she asked.

  “We’ll take a shortcut through the trees just up there.” He nodded toward the north and started in that direction. He glanced at Quinn as she followed toward an opening in the thick mix of pines and leafless deciduous growth. “It’s only wide enough to ride single file.”

  “This is an adventure,” she said with a smile.

  He wouldn’t argue with that. He’d gone this way so many times in the past, but it felt as if he was doing it for the first time. Having Quinn there changed a lot of things. He started off, and she was beside him until he took the lead into the trees, then she slipped back to follow. The silence was almost eerie, broken only by the sound of dried branches and pine needles being snapped under the horses’ hooves on the rising ground. The cold seemed deeper.

  When they broke out into a narrow clearing on higher ground, Quinn came up beside Seth again. He glanced at her, and her face was touched with high color from the cold. “We’ll head north for half a mile, then leave the horses and take a short hike, if you’re up for it.”

  “Yes, sure, of course,” she said.

  He kept going toward a cluster of leafless trees. “Here we are,” he said and dismounted.

  Quinn adeptly got down off Angel, and as she secured the mare to a strong branch next to Miner, she asked, “Where are we hiking to?”

  “You’ll see when we get there. Are you staying warm?”

  “Not warm, but comfortable,” she said.

  “Good enough.” He started off, leading the way due north over hard uneven ground through a scattering of brush and trees. He found the path that had been packed down over the years by kids and adults climbing to the same spot he was aiming for. The day was going better than he’d expected, and he knew the woman with him was responsible for most of that.

  When the path narrowed, Quinn slipped back to get behind Seth. He glanced over his shoulder to check on her, and she was keeping up with him just fine, until their eyes locked. She stumbled right then and pitched forward. He twisted around and grabbed for her arm just in time to keep her on her feet.

  She managed to stay up, her breath misting into the air, then she shifted as he let go of her.

  “I thought you were stopping, so I—” Then she cut off her own words and a smile touched her lips. “I’m good to go.”

  “That’s good to know,” he said, his own smile coming easily. “We’re almost there.”

  Quinn moved to go around him, and he stopped her.

  She turned. “You said we’re almost there.”

  “We are. Close your eyes?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Close your eyes, and don’t open them until I tell you to.” When she still hesitated, he added. “I want you to get the full impact of what I’m going to show you. Now, give me your hand and close your eyes.”

  She studied him, then finally took his offered hand and shut her eyes. “I don’t see this ending well,” she murmured. “Pun intended.”

  Her hand was freezing. “You’re not supposed to see, period. Trust me. No peeking, okay?”

  “No peeking,” she said as her hand tightened slightly in his.

  “We’ll take it slowly.” Seth started off with her, telling her when there was a rise or an uneven part in the ground, then he helped her clear the final step. “Don’t open your eyes yet,” he said as he let go of her to go around behind her and rest his hands on her shoulders.

  Carefully he positioned her to face south and a bit east. “I know California has a lot of great scenery, but I want you to see the best view in all of Wyoming, if not the country.” He moved back and went to her side again so he could watch her reaction. “Okay. Open your eyes.”

  Quinn blinked, then Seth saw what he’d been hoping for. Her lips formed a soft O as her blue eyes widened. “Wow.”

  * * *

  QUINN TRIED TO take in the world spread out in front of her from where they stood on a rocky outcropping high in the foothills. The land flowed out for what seemed like forever in every direction, over grazing land, to fenced pastures, then to the ranch buildings and the main house. Over it all was a sense of peace, so tangible to Quinn that it almost took her breath away.

  She focused on the main house and its relationship to the hay barn and stables to the northwest. With everything in miniature, the trucks and a tractor sitting behind the stables where the lean-to was being built looked like children’s toys. “It’s unbelievable,” she breathed.

  “Some of the best times I remember having were right here, coming up to watch the sunrise alone, or being here with Ben and Jake. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I came back this time.”

  “I’m not sure I ever would have left if I’d lived here,” she said honestly.

  “Well, we all left. First, Jake enlisted in the army, then Ben headed to college. I was the last one. After all Sarge did for us, none of us were around for him when he really needed help.”

  She heard the regret in his voice, something she knew all too well, and she turned to him. He was squinting into the distance. “You were all building your lives. I’m sure that Sarge understood that.”

  “He always understood.” Seth pushed his hands deep into his jacket pockets and exhaled roughly, his breath puffing up into the air. “I can’t change things in the past, no matter how much I wish on the moon I could. Here and now is all that I have any control over.”

  She shared something she’d learned when she’d been alone those nights after Michael had passed. “We all have regrets, a ton of should-haves, would-haves, could-haves.” She felt that guilt about Michael; it was why she was so driven to keep her promise to him, no matter what it took. Sometimes a small lie could help the greater good. She knew she was tr
ying to rationalize what she’d done since meeting Seth, but she couldn’t go back. Not now. “All we can do is keep going. Maybe, somewhere along the way, we get a chance to do something for the person the way you are for Sarge and Maggie with the camp.” That’s what she’d been doing for Michael, making herself keep going. That’s all she could do now.

  Seth turned toward her, his eyes meeting hers, and there was something there that she didn’t understand. Maybe the same thing that had made her lose her footing on the way up to the ridge when he’d looked back at her. He moved closer, and unexpectedly he took her right hand with his left. “Let’s move back a bit,” he said.

  She looked down and saw the toes of her boots were less than three inches from the edge of the ridge, and beyond that the earth dropped dramatically straight down the steep side of rough rock and brush for maybe fifty feet. “Oh,” she said, instinctively moving back a half pace as she tightened her hold on Seth. “Wow, I never even looked down.”

  “It’s safe enough,” he assured with an easy smile. “You weren’t in any danger. I just wanted you to be aware of your surroundings.”

  “I am very aware thanks to you.” She looked back at the sprawling view. “This is beautiful,” she whispered.

  “Yes, beautiful,” he echoed, and when she glanced at him, he was looking at her.

  “I’m glad you brought me here.” It was a good memory to take with her when she left.

  She felt a tendril of her hair that had come free of the ponytail flutter against her cheek. But before she could brush it away, Seth let go of her hand to gently tuck her hair back and behind her ear. His hazel eyes lingered on her face, then he blinked and said, “I’m glad you came with me.” He drew his hand back and motioned toward the trail. “I guess we should head down.”

  As they walked back to the horses, Quinn stayed behind Seth. She’d never forget these moments on the ridge, good memories. She hadn’t had too many of those in the past seventeen months. But that was all they would be. She took a deep breath, part of her wishing they could’ve stayed longer, then she thought about Seth holding her hand on the brink of the ridge. Maybe it was a good thing they were going back now. She couldn’t even begin to think about his touch on her cheek. She pushed that away. She was here for Michael, just for Michael, and nothing else mattered to her.

  When they were back in the saddle riding eastward along the trees, Quinn broke the silence that had hung between them since they’d left the lookout. “Aren’t we heading back?”

  “Yes, I’m just taking a different route,” Seth said as their horses kept pace on the hard ground. “It’s more direct.”

  When they were past the trees, he motioned to his right. “We’ll go that way, and it should bring us out close to a path that goes south and back toward the stables.”

  They rode on, nearing another group of bare trees and skirted them to the west. Quinn spotted two long buildings in the distance that she’d seen from the lookout. Trucks were parked by both, and the sound of hammering and sawing hung in the air.

  “The mess hall and the bunkhouse,” Seth told her before she could ask. “If we had kept going east, we would’ve passed them, then the old cabin on the road that leads to the original entry gates to the ranch near the blind curve.”

  He motioned to another thick grouping of trees halfway below the two buildings and off to the southwest. “Those trees block the view of the stables and hay barn from here. The trail’s pretty overgrown, but we can ride it.”

  They went the way he indicated, cutting through the brush, and when Seth finally stopped, they were nearing the open back doors of the stable. Quinn sighed, wishing the ride could be longer.

  “Are you getting tired?” Seth asked.

  “Oh, no. I was just thinking that this is all so uncluttered, so silent and peaceful.” She looked up at clouds that were darkening the sky as they crept closer. “It feels like the first time in forever that I’ve really been able to hear myself think.”

  That brought a sideways glance from Seth and his tone was touched with teasing. “So, you’re hearing voices?”

  She liked that tone of joking in his voice and the humor that touched his hazel eyes. “No, I just meant life gets so noisy, and when there’s a peaceful pause, it just…” She shook her head. Her peaceful pause had been on the ridge until Seth had taken her hand and brushed at her hair. She’d felt something then that she couldn’t define, but it confused her. She was here for Michael. But seeing Seth look at her like that… She shook her head. “Never mind, I’m being silly.”

  “Not at all. That’s why I go to the lookout. I can think up there most of the time.” He dismounted and led his horse through the open back doors of the stable.

  As Quinn followed, she realized that today was the first time she’d really enjoyed something since Michael had passed. Just that thought made her pause, and she rationalized it was the riding. Being out in the open with the freedom that brought was wonderful. But she didn’t deny that Seth had also been a source of some of that enjoyment.

  He was a good-looking man, a kind man, a generous man, and a forgiving man whom she liked being around…maybe more than she should. But that was it. There wasn’t any more. She didn’t want to go where her thoughts seemed to be tumbling together. She had to focus, take the second chance Seth had given her and fulfill her promise to Michael.

  * * *

  THEY WERE BACK at the house by midafternoon, and Seth went to his office. Quinn went to talk to Julia. Sarge was on the bed with Cal, who was flexing the man’s legs. The physical therapist, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, had a shaved head and a muscular build. “So, how did the ride go?” Julia asked.

  “It was wonderful. We went up to a viewing ridge and I saw the overhead view of this land. It’s incredible.”

  Sarge looked over at her. “It’s going to snow.”

  That had come out of the blue. “You think so?” Quinn asked.

  “I guarantee you, Quinn. Snow.”

  Julia nodded. “He’s usually right. I don’t know how he does it.”

  “Well, I’d love that. I never saw snow when Michael and I visited his parents in New York. We went in the summer. We never got there in the winter.”

  “When it snows here, it really snows,” Julia said.

  Cal turned to Sarge. “How about resting for a bit and we’ll do more after lunch?”

  “Okay, if you’re too tired,” the older man teased.

  Cal laughed at that. “Yeah, I’m old and my arms ache.”

  Sarge let Cal settle him as Julia spoke to Quinn. “Where’s Seth?”

  “In his office, I think.”

  “Okay. I’ll see him later.” The woman looked tired, and Quinn understood that completely.

  “Do you want me to tell him something?”

  “If you talk to him, just tell him to come in here when he gets a chance.”

  “Sure, I’ll do that,” she said, then left while Sarge had a late snack.

  Quinn found Seth in his office at his computer. He looked up when she came into the room and smiled. “That was a good ride.”

  “I loved it. I was used to riding trails near Griffith Park in Los Angeles. I’ve never been riding on land like this.”

  “It’s unique,” he said.

  “Oh, Julia wants to see you when you get a chance.” As he got up, she went closer. “Before you go, I want to say something and if I’m out of line, just tell me, please.”

  “What is it?”

  “She’s exhausted. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her take time off. If it’s all right with you, I can stay with Sarge for a couple of hours while Julia goes out for an early dinner or something?”

  He swiveled his chair to face her more squarely. He shrugged. “I guess so, as long as Sarge is okay with it.”

  “I’ll take care of him. I like visiting with him,
and I’m sure it would be okay for a few hours.”

  He seemed to think for a moment, then he said, “I’m here and you’re here, and between us, we could cover for her.”

  “Absolutely. She needs time away, and I think if you ask, Cal would be more than happy to take her for a ride, maybe get dinner while they’re out or something.” Quinn had seen the way Cal had smiled at Julia earlier. She was pretty sure there was something there.

  He nodded. “Okay, let’s go and see Julia.”

  They headed back to Sarge’s room where Seth looked inside, said, “Cal,” and motioned the man to come out into the hallway.

  Cal stepped out. “I need a favor,” Seth said in a low voice.

  The man didn’t hesitate. “Anything.”

  “Would you take Julia out for dinner? She’s working all the time, and she needs a break.”

  Unexpectedly, Cal frowned. “I’ve asked her before, and she brushed me off.”

  Seth looked in the room again and motioned to Julia to join them. She looked a bit uncertain, seeing the three of them waiting there for her. “What’s going on?”

  Seth said, “Get what you need. Cal’s taking you out for a while.”

  She stared at him. “What?”

  Cal stepped in. “I want to take you for an early dinner.”

  She looked from Seth to Quinn, then back to Cal. “I don’t… I…”

  “Just tell us what Sarge needs, then the two of you get out of here,” Seth said with a grin.

  Julia looked at Cal and Quinn saw the blush. “I would like to do that,” she finally said to him.

  Cal grinned.

  Five minutes later, Cal and Julia drove away in his jacked-up white truck, and Seth closed the front door. He turned Quinn. “Thank you for that.”

  “I’m glad Cal was so agreeable.”

  Seth smiled knowingly at her. “He’s very agreeable when it comes to Julia, it seems.”