Mick grew pensive. “In all seriousness, I thank you. Are you sure you won’t let me pay you? At least for gas?” Mick reached for his wallet.
Willow placed her hand on his arm, sending those sparks through his veins. “No. You’ve given me more than you know. I got to see the beauty of this place through your eyes. Our time together has meant a lot to me. That’s gift enough.”
Looking into Willow’s face, an overwhelming affection flooded Mick. He wished to embrace this girl, who reminded him of the very wind that played through her hair. Her gaze almost invited it.
Then, she abruptly broke the spell by pulling open the door to the cab of the truck and bidding Pilot to jump in. The dog did so with ease. Willow slid into the seat and was soon behind the wheel. “Well, Mick. It was a pleasure to meet you,” Willow said.
Mick tried to read Willow. Was there hesitancy in her eyes? Or was he simply seeing some emotion for which he hoped, so it could be shared between the two of them?
With reluctance, Mick stepped out of the way. He might never know.
Willow shut the door before starting the engine. With a final wave, she pulled out of the parking lot. Mick shivered as he watched her go, taking with her a piece of the sun’s warmth.
Chapter 5
Willow noticed Bert watching from his lot as she and Pilot pulled out of Bev’s motel. Smiling and offering a wave, she ignored the hard look he was trying to give her while wiping his hands on a greasy rag.
Several minutes later, Willow stood in line at Miller’s Seed and Feed with Topper’s worming medicine and a ticket for chicken feed, but her thoughts were on Mick. Just last night, she’d put herself in his place and tried to see Sunrise Creek and the larger valley through his eyes. With the gathering darkness, seeping cold, and pummeling rain, it looked foreboding and frightening. How she would hate to be stranded in this place without a friend or any knowledge of the landscape. It would be the same for her if she found herself stuck in New York City. A cool shudder descended down her spine.
Still, she admired Mick’s ability to put his difficult introduction to Montana behind him and in the full morning light recognize the stunning beauty of his surroundings. Even though she loved this valley, seeing it through Mick’s eyes made her appreciate it even more.
“So, how’s one of my girls?” Katherine asked from the other side of the counter.
Willow placed Topper’s worming medicine on the counter and grinned at Katherine. “I’m fine,” she said. “Isn’t it an absolutely gorgeous morning?”
Katherine agreed. “And you seem especially light-hearted. I’m glad to see that.”
Willow blushed, trying to distance herself from the thought of Mick as she changed the subject. “How’s Ruby and the girls?”
“Well, they’re fine. Ruby and Lexie are at the Jumpin’ Bean this morning.”
“Is it so busy that it takes two of them?”
“Not this time of year, but Lexie just likes to hang out and visit with the clients.”
Inwardly, Willow sighed. How she wished for siblings. Even a brother would do.
As the two women were talking, Ruby walked in. Katherine beamed at her middle daughter while Willow smiled in genuine delight at the sight of her best friend. “Hey, Ruby! I was just talking to your mom about the Jumpin’ Bean.”
“Yeah, I left Lexie there. Sometimes, I think my little sister likes my job better than I do, but I don’t mind. It gives me some time off.”
Katherine put her arms around both Willow and Ruby. “Well, lucky for us. Now we get to see you,” she said as she squeezed both women.
Willow melted into the comfort of Katherine’s warm, motherly squeeze. She loved Ruby’s family. Her parents loved her like their own and treated her like she was a twin to their daughter, Ruby. Willow soaked up their efforts to love her. It helped soothe some of the loss around her mother’s death.
Katherine continued, “I remember when you girls were in high school, and you’d come spend the night at our house, Willow. The two of you used to drive me crazy with all that giggling. Now, I’d do anything to hear that sound.” She sighed.
Willow put her arm around Katherine’s shoulders. The older woman didn’t feel as sturdy as she once had. A new concern blossomed within Willow, and she looked at Katherine with worry.
Katherine smiled. “Oh, don’t mind me,” she said. “I just miss those days when we were all young.” She locked arms with Willow and Ruby. “C’mon, let’s go into the warehouse and get some feed for those chickens of yours, Willow.”
The three of them walked through the double doors into the warehouse. Mark, the young worker, came to collect the ticket for the chicken scratch before silently disappearing among the shelves of farming needs.
“Listen,” Ruby said as she leaned toward her mother and Willow. “I’m actually here for a reason, and Willow, I’m glad you’re here so you can hear the news, too. I was going to call you later. Pete Ulrich stopped by the Jumpin’ Bean, and he told me someone stole a couple of his cows last night.”
Willow’s eyes grew large in shocked disbelief. Cattle rustling was always a present danger, but no one in Sunrise Creek had been hit until now.
Ruby nodded. “He’s called the police, and he’s spent the morning out searching. But they don’t have any idea who did it.” She looked at her mom. “I wanted you to know so you could warn your customers.”
Katherine nodded solemnly. “I bet I know who’s behind the thefts. It’s those McPherson boys. They’ve been trouble since high school. I think they’re into drugs.”
Ruby shrugged. “If it’s the McPherson boys, they could be into anything.” She looked at Willow. “Remember when we were in high school? Josh kept telling everybody he was going to be a millionaire by the time he was twenty-five.” She shook her head. “Anyway, Willow, make sure your dad knows, and keep an eye on your cows.”
Willow tucked this new piece of information away. She would need to have a conversation with her dad and Shorty when she arrived home.
“I’ll tell my customers,” Katherine said. She remained serious for a moment, but then her eyes grew merry. “I’ve got a bit of news of my own. Bert was in here earlier. He told me of the stray you brought in a last night.” She elbowed Willow. “He told me about those earrings, too.” She laughed. “In fact, he couldn’t shut up about them. I told him to quit razzing that young man. Life is different everywhere you go, and I’m sure if he accidentally landed in New York City, he’d be the odd one out with his greasy jeans and flannel shirts with holes in the sleeves.”
Ruby grinned as she leaned into the conversation. “That stranger’s adorable, don’t you think, Willow?”
Willow felt the color rush into her face as she considered her earlier time spent with Mick. He was attractive with his deep brown eyes and the hint of a beard lining his square jaw. Her mouth went dry as she smiled and nodded noncommittally, hoping to steer the discussion away from herself and toward what Ruby knew about him. She didn’t want to share her thoughts around Mick right now. “Have you seen him?”
“Yeah. With the Jumpin’ Bean sharing a parking lot with Bert’s place, he was hard to miss. From my vantage point, I could see that he’s gorgeous with all that dark curly hair. But I felt kind of sorry for him. Even from a distance, he looked as if he’d landed on an alien planet. I hope he comes by for a cup of coffee one of these days. I’ll give him a dose of Montanan hospitality.”
Willow pursed her lips as a pinprick of jealousy needled her.
Katherine sent her daughter a furtive glance. “I hope you’re talking about a cup of coffee.”
“And maybe a date,” Ruby said. “A date would be nice.”
The needling pushed deeper, and Willow tried to swallow, even though her mouth felt as if were suddenly stuffed with cotton. She needed to stop thinking she had some special connection to Mick because she saw him first. Of course Ruby would be interested. Taking a deep breath, Willow chastised herself.
“W
hat’s he like?” Ruby asked Willow.
“Uhh, well … he seems like a nice enough guy,” Willow offered.
“Oh, c’mon, you can do better than that,” Ruby teased.
Willow shrugged, hoping the earlier blush had drained from her face. The words rushed from her. “He’s a cook who’s driving from New York to Seattle for a job interview.” Stating the facts helped remove any hint of feeling.
Ruby gave her a disbelieving look. “That doesn’t seem like the smartest move.”
Willow shrugged again, hoping Ruby wouldn’t ask any more questions.
“So, how’s our Curtis?” Katherine asked. “Is there a wedding in our future?”
Willow held her breath for a moment. She was getting tired of the constant probing around her relationship with Curtis. Especially when she didn’t know the answers. “No. Still working on that.” Her tone was harsh, and she flushed with guilt.
“He needs to come home.” Ruby leaned across her mother. “He’s been gone long enough. The two of you have had a lengthy courtship.” She paused. “Or whatever you want to call it. It’s time to make it official with a ring and a wedding.”
Willow looked down, the hazy yearning from her conversation with Curtis last night dissipating into ambivalence.
Katherine gave Willow a sympathetic look. “Well, you know what they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
“Or not,” Ruby stated.
Katherine placed her arm around Willow. “If you ever need to work through any of these things, you know I’m always here for you.”
Willow warmed at the offer. She longed to talk over her push-pull feelings around Curtis. Sometimes she yearned for him and ached for his presence, while other times she barely noticed he was gone. And some small part of her was angry over his lack of commitment. Maybe she would take Katherine up on that invitation on another day.
Mark reappeared from the shelving with a bag of chicken feed slung over his shoulder. Without asking, he went straight to Clementine and threw the bag into the bed of the truck. “Anything else?”
“Nope. That’ll do. Thanks, Mark.”
Mark gave her a lopsided grin before running off at a jog into the maze of the warehouse.
“Well, listen, I’ve got to run,” Katherine said. “They don’t pay me for public relations. But promise me you’ll come by and visit. Ruby doesn’t have to be home if the two of you can’t work out a decent schedule. We’d just love to hear about your wedding plans and see how things are going out at the ranch.”
Ruby pouted. “I do too have to be home,” she said. “Don’t leave me out of the conversation, or I’ll know it.”
Willow laughed. “You’ve always known all my secrets.” The statement didn’t ring entirely true, but Willow couldn’t place why.
Ruby joined Willow in her laughter. “It’s my job. I’m your best friend, so just make sure it stays that way.”
“Promise me you’ll stop by?” Katherine asked.
“Girl Scout’s promise,” Willow said.
“All right. Now, make sure you tell your dad we said hello, okay?” Katherine left Willow and Ruby in the warehouse.
“Why don’t you come by next week?” Ruby asked. “The weather should still be warm enough to sit out on the deck and enjoy the lake.”
The idea of a long conversation with her best friend on a lakeside sunny afternoon warmed Willow’s spirit. “That sounds perfect. I’ll check my calendar and give you a call.”
Willow opened the truck door, and both women were greeted by Pilot. Ruby crooned to the dog as she rubbed his face with her hands. “How’s my best doggy buddy?”
Willow laughed. “You say that to all the dogs that come through the Jumpin’ Bean.”
“Shhhh,” Ruby said. “Pilot doesn’t have to know that. Besides, he’s the doggy love of my life.”
“Yeah, you say that to all the dogs, too.” Willow hopped into the truck.
“Bring him with you next week, and I’ll prove it to him with a cup of cream.”
Willow laughed again as she ruffled Pilot’s fur. “We’ll both be there,” she said before shutting the door.
* * *
Once Willow arrived home, she sat in her truck, the sun pouring through the passenger’s window offered warmth that seeped into her skin as she dialed Curtis’s number. She fully expected to get his message machine because he didn’t usually answer during morning classes. Instead, his voice came through the line with happy enthusiasm. “Willow! I’m so glad you called. How are things?”
“I’m glad I caught you. We all miss you up here.”
Curtis laughed. “And what about you? Do you miss me?”
Willow blushed, even though Pilot was her only witness to the conversation, and there wasn’t any reason to be embarrassed. “Yeah. I do. I was just talking to Katherine and Ruby, and they were asking after you.” Willow neglected to tell Curtis of their expectation of an upcoming wedding. The thought chafed at her.
“Well, I miss you, too, babe.”
A buzz of irritation set Willow’s teeth on edge.
Curtis continued, “Oh! Remember when we spoke last night? I was telling you that I was working on understanding ranching alliances.”
“I remember.” Willow’s guard went up. She knew where this was going. It would be like every other conversation they had about ranching, with Curtis insisting that what he was learning in school was the certain way to better profit and efficiency.
She didn’t question the soundness of what he was learning, but she hated how he approached his newfound knowledge with the implication that he was the end-all of ranching knowledge.
But it was more than that.
Curtis constantly overstepped. There was no financial or marital tie between them, and yet he still treated the Double W as if he had the right to determine the future of their land and their cows.
Willow chastened herself. It wasn’t until after her mother had passed away that Curtis began giving advice about how to run the Double W, and some part of her appreciated his emotional investment in their property. It tied them together and gave Willow hope for an upcoming wedding. Surely, Curtis wouldn’t spend this kind of time and effort in helping plan the future of the Double W if he didn’t think it was part of his destiny.
Curtis pushed through. “We’ve got to join. It’s the surest way to better profits. I can’t believe we haven’t considered this before. Jonah and I—” Curtis stopped. “You remember that I’ve talked about Jonah.”
Like she could forget the hours he spent dropping that name. “Yeah. He’s your roommate and best friend in Texas, right?”
“Right.” Curtis continued, “Anyway, the two of us have been doing this project around these ranching and farming alliances, and I don’t think we should wait to join. We can do it now. I’ll email you all the paperwork, and you and your dad can submit your application.”
Willow tried to keep her tone easy. “I’m glad you’re learning so much, but maybe it’d be better if you talked to Dad when you came home in the summer or for Christmas. This whole idea of joining an alliance may be a hard sell.”
“I know what I’m talking about, Willow. We need to do this.” Curtis’s frustration spilled into the phone.
Willow gritted her teeth. Every time they talked about the ranch, there was some new push from Curtis. Or there was an old push. Curtis spent all last summer trying to convince her and her father that they should fire Shorty. It still rankled.
Willow met Curtis’s frustration with a press of her own. “I don’t doubt that you know your business. But you can’t just send an email and expect us to get on board without some kind of discussion. Your own family wouldn’t do it.”
Silence hung on the line. “You’re right, Willow. I’m sorry. I just get so excited and I’m desperate to widen our profit margin from razor thin to something more substantial. It’d be nice to have some money tucked away so we might get through a couple of lean years a little easier.”
“Like a really good idea.” Curtis laughed. “You always bring me back down to earth,” he said. “I love you. What would I do without you?”
“I love you, too,” Willow said as she considered Curtis’s words. He’d never had to do without her. But did he really recognize her worth, or was she just part of the scenery that came along with their shared history and hometown? The question loomed large in her mind and her heart, but when she probed the depths of it, she found that there wasn’t any answer.
Chapter 6
With gloved hands, Willow scooped out the soiled bedding of each nesting box in the chicken coop and placed it in the wheelbarrow, while Pilot lay in the fresh pile of straw she would use when she was finished emptying out the coop. The old bedding in the wheelbarrow would end up in the manure pile, where it would sit for the winter under a tin roof on the side of the shop, open to the air. It would make good fertilizer for the garden next year.
Leaning on the pitchfork, Willow looked over the garden. Much of it was finished, but there were still a few late tomatoes on the vine, and Shorty was still harvesting potatoes and carrots from the second crop along with some fall yellow squash.
Wiping her brow with her sleeve, Willow looked beyond the plot of vegetables. Sunlight splashed over the mountains and cascaded onto the valley floor. There was a chill in the air. Autumn had definitely arrived, and snow wouldn’t be far behind.
Willow thought back to her walk with Mick. Several days had passed, but the memory of him among the quaking aspens and the scent of fir, pine, and the shimmering lake remained locked into some stubborn part of her heart. She didn’t want to give up that quiet moment that reminded her of the beauty of her home. More importantly, she held on to the kinship with Mick that rose inside of her when she remembered their time together. Mick just didn’t see the beauty of her home; he treasured it. His hushed reverence equaled hers.
Diamonds And Denim (Country Brides & Cowboy Boots) Page 4
