by Lucie Ulrich
Coat on, Micah stepped back into the kitchen. “I’ve got to check on the horses and make sure the feed is mixed for the morning. Do you still have any unpacking to do? I can help you when I get back.”
She considered asking to tag along with him but feared a second rejection. No point in pushing too hard. There was plenty of time to learn about ranch life.
“Thanks, but I’m all unpacked.” She glanced around the quiet room. “Since everyone else is busy, I should probably do the same and get some homework done.”
“Oh, okay. Guess I’ll see you sometime tomorrow then.” He bent down and brushed her cheek with a kiss. “Thanks for being such a good friend.”
Her chest tightened. Was that disappointment in his voice? Or was that what she wanted to hear? Had she just blown a chance to spend time with the man? She wasn’t about to run after him and ask, but she’d definitely be more aware should another opportunity arise. Unlike her first visit, she was striking out big time.
Sky returned to her room and settled into her chair, ankles crossed on the ottoman. When the laptop booted up, she dove into answering questions on the Revolutionary War.
Of the two online classes she was taking, history far outweighed English composition. Lessons from the past drew her in while composition had her zoning out. Hopefully next semester’s course on American Literature would capture her attention.
A soft knock interrupted her work. Sky looked at the clock on her nightstand and was surprised to discover it was already eight-thirty. Her heart beat just a little faster. Maybe Micah had decided to stop by after all. She shut her computer. “Come in.”
Annie poked her head into the room. “Can I interest you in a cup of herbal tea? I always like a cup before going to bed.”
Sky smiled to hide her disappointment. “Sounds nice.” She stood, stretched the sore muscles in her back, and followed Annie into the kitchen. There were few lights on, no television or radio playing. “Everybody goes to bed so early around here.”
Annie set the kettle on the stove and placed two tea bags in a plain white teapot. Sky sighed, thinking of her beautiful teapot encased in bubble wrap and tucked away in a box in the attic. This was the first day since Carl had given her the set that she hadn’t used it.
“That’s ranch life for you,” Annie said. “Planting in the spring, harvesting in the fall, and tending to cattle and horses every season. Breakfast is served at five, so lights are usually out by nine or sooner.”
Even for an early riser like Sky, five o’clock breakfast seemed a bit extreme. “What time do you get up?”
“Four.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.” Annie set two mugs on the table and asked Sky to get the honey from the pantry. “I cook for two to four hardworking men, and they need more than toast and coffee to keep them going.”
Four men? Why would Annie cook for anyone other than her two nephews? She found the honey and brought it back to the table. “Who are the other two guys?”
“Other three guys, you mean. Noah handles the books, not the livestock. No need for him to be up before sunrise. He fixes his own breakfast or eats whatever leftovers he might find. The others are ranch hands.”
“Do they live here?”
Annie shook her head. “There’s a bunkhouse across from the stables, but it doesn’t get a lot of use. The three are day workers. They come early for breakfast a couple times a week. Something Sam started years ago. It’s all about food and ranch talk.”
Sky didn’t miss the pride in her voice. “Micah told me your breakfasts are to die for.”
“Go on with you.” Annie waved a hand in the air as if it were no big deal, but the smile and slight blush told the real story.
“So, do you eat with the men?”
The kettle whistled, and Annie poured hot water over the bags. “There’s no time to eat with those rascals around. By the time I set a plate down, they’re looking for more. My breakfast time is closer to six-thirty. If you’re up by then, I wouldn’t mind the company.”
Despite her gruff exterior, Sky felt Annie’s need for female companionship. “I’d like that very much.”
After tea and the best oatmeal cookies she’d ever tasted, Sky retired for the evening. She lay in bed, staring at the dark ceiling. Sleep wouldn’t come, so she turned her bedside light on and picked up her frayed copy of Jane Eyre. After an hour, her eyes began to tire and she once again reached for the light. Between the sadness of the book and the events of the day, tears welled in her eyes. This was her wedding night, and the man she’d married slept in the room across the hall. She rolled onto her side, hugged her pillow, and tried to put the thought out of her mind.
****
Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains and sliced across Sky’s face. She blinked in an attempt to focus. A quick look at the clock and she jumped out of bed. It was well after nine. Throwing on some jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, she hurried downstairs.
The smell of cinnamon and apples greeted her before she reached the kitchen. Annie stood at the stove, stirring a large pot.
“I’m so sorry, Annie. I can’t believe I slept this late.”
“I sorta thought you might, not being a ranch girl and all.” Annie set the spoon on a plate and pointed to a chair. “Have a seat.” She retrieved a plate stacked high with pancakes from the oven and set in on the table. “But just so you know, I don’t make it a habit of serving breakfast much after six-thirty. From here on out, if you choose to sleep late, which I have no trouble with, you’ll be responsible for your own cooking and cleaning.” She returned to her stirring.
Sky cringed. There might have been a hint of a smile on Annie’s face, but it was hard to tell. After their nice chat last night, she’d hoped to make a better impression. Not having used an alarm clock in years, it didn’t occur to her she’d sleep past six. “I’ll be up tomorrow. Count on it.” She forked two pancakes and transferred them to the plate already sitting in front of her. After dousing them liberally with warm maple syrup, Sky hurried through her breakfast then washed and dried her dishes. “Is there anything I can do to help you this morning?”
Annie tapped the wooden spoon against the side of the pot. “Well, let’s see. I’ve already got the laundry started. Applesauce canning is well under way, and the chicken is seasoned and ready for the oven. No, I guess not.”
And Sky thought she worked hard. “Please, Annie, let me do something.”
Annie rubbed her chin, either in deep thought, or the pretense of deep thought. “Come to think of it, I haven’t dusted the living room in a while. I suppose—”
“Great, I’ll get right on it.”
“You’ll find dust rags and furniture polish under the sink.”
It only took Sky a few seconds to locate the necessary items. With a bounce in her step, she hurried to the living room. Normally, dusting furniture wasn’t something Sky looked forward to, but in this case she was grateful for something to do. She could hear Annie chuckling in the distance.
Other than passing through to get to the staircase, this was the first time Sky had spent any time in this room. It was a nice size, with two large tan couches, and a well-used leather chair and ottoman. The simple mission-style coffee table, end tables, and TV stand were heavy and beautifully-made.
Sky dusted under lamps and magazines, making sure she didn’t leave a single dust mote anywhere in sight. Once done with those, she headed for the large bookcase at the base of the staircase. She began at the top and worked her way down. It struck her odd as she reached the bottom shelf that the old set of Encyclopedia Britannica was out of order. Some were even upside down. It only took a few minutes to set everything in its proper place. “Perfect,” she declared.
The remainder of the morning and afternoon came and went rather quickly.
Annie allowed her to help fill the mason jars, but nothing more. Sky skipped lunch and spent the rest of the day working on an English paper due before the Than
ksgiving break, as well as completing last night’s history assignment. When finished, she closed her laptop and gave it an affectionate pat. “Thanks, Carl.”
She hurried down the stairs and through the kitchen. The aroma of roasting chicken filled her nostrils. “Mmm, smells wonderful. Anything I can do to help?”
“Not a thing,” Annie replied.
“Okay, then. I’m going to take a walk around.”
Sky slipped on her boots and shrugged into her jacket. She wrapped a scarf around her neck and headed out the back door. There was little snow on the ground, so walking took no effort. The cold air bit at her ears, making her smile. She loved the cold weather.
With hands shoved deep into her pockets, she strolled toward the stable. A red pickup followed by a silver one drove past her shortly before she reached the first building. The driver in each vehicle honked and waved as they passed her. She waved back, assuming they were the hands Annie had told her about.
Once inside, Sky walked the length of the stable, admiring the horses in their stalls. Most were eating, but one fine-looking specimen appeared to be unhappy, snorting and stamping. She approached cautiously and stood several yards away from the animal. “Hello, beautiful. What’s got you so riled?”
“Impending motherhood from what I understand.” Noah’s voice sounded in the distance. Sky found him leaning against the stable entrance, watching her. “And if you want to keep your fingers, I wouldn’t get much closer.”
She eased back. “Thanks for the warning.”
He strolled toward her. “You know how it is. We outsiders have to watch out for each other.”
There was a mixed message in his words and Sky wasn’t sure he realized it. Yes, she felt like an outsider, and yes, she was definitely going to have to watch out for him. She surveyed the horses again. “Do you ride?”
“Used to, but I haven’t been on a horse in years. I might just have to take it up again, though. Seems I’ll have plenty of time on my hands.” He stepped over to one of the other horses and rubbed the animal between the eyes. “How about you?”
“No. I think they’re beautiful, but they’re also big and scary.”
“So what are you doing in the stable?”
“Taking baby steps.”
“In that case, I’d talk to a different horse. There’s one a little further down that seems pretty gentle.” He held his hand out to her. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
First she found him in her bedroom, now he wanted to hold her hand. Sky figured it’d be best to keep her hands to herself. “Thanks, but I think I’ll wait for Micah to point out which horses are gentle enough.”
“Suit yourself. But just so you know, I wasn’t flirting.”
She cocked her head to the side. “You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?”
“Not for a minute.” He took her arm and led her toward the door. “You know what they say about old habits. And trust me, I’ve got loads of bad ones that need breaking.”
Sky wouldn’t vocalize it, but she found it hard not to like the guy. He was open and honest in a hurt-little-boy sort of way. She looked over at him. “Might I suggest you work on the flirting thing first?”
“I’ll do my best.”
****
Micah kicked his boots off at the back door. “What’s for dinner? It smells great.”
“Nothing I haven’t served at least once a week since you were a kid. Figured you’d be able to recognize a roasted chicken when you smelled one.”
He stopped long enough to give his aunt a kiss and grab a slice of the fresh bread she was slicing. “I’m going to take a shower.” He took the stairs two at a time and wasted no time turning on the warm water and stripping out of his smelly clothes.
After drying off he changed into fresh jeans and a T-shirt then stopped by Sky’s room. He knocked, but there was no answer. Assuming she was in the kitchen by now, he hurried down the stairs. His gut clenched. He rushed toward the kitchen and pushed hard on the swinging kitchen door. “Who moved the encyclopedias?”
Sky looked up from setting the table, her eyes wide. “I straightened them out when I dusted today. Is something wrong?”
He took two steps in her direction. “Yeah, something’s definitely wrong.”
Annie placed her hand on Micah’s arm. “It’s not her fault. I forgot to tell her.”
“Tell me what? What did I do wrong?” Concern tightened Sky’s features.
Micah took in a deep breath. “Just leave what doesn’t belong to you alone from now on.” He turned around and headed back toward the living room.
Sky followed him. The sound of her boots slapped against the hardwood floor. “What doesn’t belong to me? And just what would that be, Micah, everything in the house I didn’t bring with me?”
He squatted down and pulled the books out one by one. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Then how did you mean it? I don’t know what just happened, but I deserve an explanation.”
Micah sat on the bottom step and squeezed his eyes tight. Memories of his mother flashed before him. Her ever-present smile, the jokes only the two of them shared, the secret code contained in the encyclopedias. Annie and Noah knew about it, but he’d never told anyone else, not even Morgan.
When he opened his eyes, Sky was sitting on the floor in front of the bookcase, blocking any further progress on his part. He gave her credit for confronting him, and by the stern look on her face, she wasn’t about to move until he fessed up. He clutched one of the precious books to his chest. “When I turned seven, my mother and dad gave me my first horse. Not some little pony, but a full-grown Quarter Horse named Stormy. Man, I loved that horse.” He smiled. “But in order to find my present, I had to figure out the clue Mom left me.”
Her eyes softened. “I’m guessing this is where the encyclopedia comes in.”
“Yeah. She came up with a simple way to use the letters on the spine of the books to spell out words. The first one was simple, B-R-N — barn. After that, she got more and more creative. With a limited number of letters, her words were usually abbreviated. If there was more than one letter on the spine, I’d have to figure out which one she intended. Sometimes the book might be upside down. I loved the challenge and got good enough to answer her back. But I especially loved that only Mom and I played the game.” He looked into her eyes. “What you straightened out today was her final message to me.”
Sky covered her mouth with her hands. “Oh, Micah.”
“Don’t stress. I can fix it. The message is pretty much branded into my brain. I’m sorry I overreacted, but I’ve looked at those books for so many years that it totally threw me when I didn’t see it.”
She bit her bottom lip. “What did it say?”
“Simply, ‘Love you. Back soon.’”
Tears filled Sky’s eyes. “Was this the day she…”
“No, a couple of days before.” He stood and reached out a hand to pull her up. “I know you were trying to help, but promise me you won’t move the books again, okay?”
“Of course.”
He remained by the staircase while Sky retreated into the kitchen. He’d never been angry with her before, and it didn’t sit well with him that he’d been unkind. If he didn’t get his act together, they wouldn’t survive two weeks, never mind two years.
CHAPTER NINE
After a restless night, it was time for Micah to get back to what he did best. Putting yesterday’s squabble with Sky aside, he focused on wrapping up his discussion of the day’s plans with his three ranch hands.
“More coffee, anyone?” Annie held the carafe in their direction.
Micah scooted his mug toward her. “Just half a cup, please.”
The aroma of hazelnut wafted from the carafe. While Sam was alive, coffee was only allowed to be served one way: strong and black. He’d scoff at Annie for adding vanilla, hazelnut, or cinnamon to hers from time to time. But Micah had to admit he liked the occasional change. A picture of his gr
andfather rolling in his grave gave him a bit of satisfaction.
“How ‘bout the rest of you?” Annie held up the pot. “Any takers?”
All three held their mugs out to her. She smiled and poured. “I have fresh biscuits coming up in just a few minutes.”
“Annie,” Zeke, the eldest of the bunch, grinned. “If it weren’t for the good woman I have at home, I’d marry you.”
“Oh, go on with you. I knew you before your wife did, and you never so much as asked me out for a soft drink.”
“Well, sure, but I hadn’t tasted your cookin’ yet.” He chuckled then turned to Micah. “Speakin’ of marriage, when are we going to get to meet the missus?”
Micah knew the time would come, but suddenly he was nervous that he wouldn’t be able to pull off the lie. “Soon, Sky’s not used to our early hours yet.”
As if to make a liar out of him, the kitchen door swung open and Sky stepped into the room. She wore dark jeans, boots, and a pullover sweater the same shade of blue as her name. She looked like she fit right in, and Micah wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
“Good morning,” she said.
Zeke spun in his chair. “Morning, ma’am.” He started to rise, as did the others.
She held a hand out. “Please don’t get up. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I figured you’d all be gone and it would be just Annie and me.”
Micah stood anyway. He eased the chair next to him out from under the table and beckoned her to sit. “Gentlemen, I’d like you to meet my wife, Sky Baxter.” The words rolled off his tongue easily enough, but the rolling in his stomach was another matter. Deception didn’t come easily to him, especially where friends were involved.
“You mean Sky Cooper, don’t you?” Zeke said. The other two snickered.
He cringed at the stupidity of his error. How was he supposed to convince people if he couldn’t even remember to call her by her married name? “Right. Guess I haven’t gotten used to it yet.” He motioned with his hand to the end of the table. “Sky, the observant old man to your left is Zeke Duncan. He’s worked on the ranch for more years than I’ve been alive.”
