“Bear wants to meet you,” Justin said. “You’d like my brother, good guy. Hell, all four of my brothers are good guys. We had our differences growing up, but I like to think we all turned out well.”
“If they’re anything like you, I have to agree.” Miranda wanted to meet his family in some ways, while in others she felt somewhat intimidated. There were a lot of them and only one of her. “I’d like to meet him, too.”
“I know the rest of the family would feel the same way,” he said. “Mom already does. Kaycee mentioned you when Mom drove her home from school one day this week.”
“How’s Kaycee handling our dating?” Miranda wasn’t sure about an almost-teenage girl with a daddy who was seeing someone. “Has she said anything?”
“She was concerned at first,” he said. “She was afraid I wouldn’t have time for her. After I made it clear to her how important she is to me, she’s been fine with it.”
“Do you have daddy-daughter time with her?” Miranda asked.
“Yep.” Justin nodded. “It’s important to both of us.”
Miranda adjusted her seatbelt as she shifted in her seat. “What kinds of things do you and Kaycee do together?”
“A couple of weeks ago, we spent the day fishing at the same lake we’re going to today,” he said. “Other times we’ll do things like catch a movie, go out to dinner, play mini-golf in Phoenix, and watch football on my big-screen TV. That girl loves a good football game. Her favorite team is the Arizona Cardinals.”
“Football is my favorite sport,” Miranda said, “but I prefer the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams did well last year.”
“This fall the three of us will have to make a date of it and watch some football.” Justin flashed a quick smile. “Especially when our teams play against each other.”
He was already thinking months ahead, as if he knew they’d still be dating. Miranda liked the feeling it gave her, but it morphed into a kind of fear. What if things didn’t work out? What if they did, but Kaycee started to hate her. What if—
Stop it, Miranda told herself. Just take it slow and enjoy yourself.
As if agreeing to an overnight trip was taking it slow.
“I take it Kaycee enjoys fishing?”
“Yep.” Justin glanced at Miranda. “She’s a good little fisherman.”
His pride for Kaycee radiated from him. She was a lucky young woman to have a dad who clearly cared as much for her as Justin did.
“I know now that your brother, Bear, is a vet,” Miranda said. “What do your other brothers do?”
“They’re ranchers, same as me.” He glanced in his mirrors before he changed lanes. “I’m the middle son out of the boys of the family. My two sisters are the youngest out of the seven of us. They’re around ten years younger than me.”
“You all must have been a handful growing up.” Miranda smiled at the thought of a young, rough-and-tumble Justin. “Your poor mom.”
Justin laughed. “We were always into one thing or another. Mom’s made of tough stuff—had to be to put up with all of us.”
Miranda tipped her head to the side. “What do your sisters do?”
“Haylee just graduated from Arizona State with a bachelor’s in art and a teaching certificate and will start teaching art at King Creek Middle School this fall. She’s a pistol.” Justin smiled. “Jill is an accountant in town and is the most black-and-white of the seven of us.”
“Seven.” Miranda couldn’t imagine living in a family like Justin’s. “Sheesh, that’s a lot.”
Justin guided the truck into the right lane after passing a semi. “You mentioned it’s just you and your parents. Any other relatives around the country?”
Miranda shrugged. “No one my parents keep in touch with. I think we have some distant relatives in Maine, but I’m not positive. Mom and Dad are the kind of people who mostly keep to themselves and only have a very few friends. I’m afraid they’d be lost without each other.” Miranda sighed. “I’m hoping they’ll love King Creek when they come to visit and move here, too.”
“You must miss them,” Justin said quietly.
“Yeah, I do.” Miranda stared out the window at the blurred scenery before looking back to Justin. “I felt guilty about moving away from them, but it was something I needed to do. And now I love it here and can’t imagine moving back.”
No, she could never move back. She didn’t want to and even if she did, she couldn’t with Craig and his family there. They wouldn’t forgive her for leaving their son. Like her parents, they would never have believed that Craig had abused her.
She didn’t say anything for a long moment, then turned to him and smiled. “So, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”
He laughed. “I’ve got plenty of family to go around, so I’m happy to share.”
The thought of being surrounded by good people like Justin made her smile even more.
She enjoyed being with him so much that she was afraid it might end with her having a broken heart.
Miranda pushed that aside and concentrated on now. Her experiences with Craig and the fallout with his family had made her feel off-balance, like she’d never regain her footing. But with Justin around, just maybe she could.
Those thoughts and feelings made it even harder to tell Justin that the document that made it clear her divorce was final still hadn’t shown up in the mail. Maybe the county hadn’t processed her change of address in time and the mail hadn’t been forwarded. She’d have to call.
She and Justin might end up having an intimate night, so it was time to tell him. If he changed his mind, at least they could have a pleasant day together. She didn’t think he would turn around and take her back home. He might put things off, though.
Miranda opened her mouth to tell him, but nothing would come out about Craig.
Instead, she found herself saying, “Were you actually born in King Creek?
“Yep.” He nodded. “Born and raised on the family ranch.”
Miranda raised her brows. “On the ranch?”
“Our mom had a midwife for all seven of us,” he said. “Mom wanted us to be born right there, surrounded by family and love, and not in a sterile hospital.”
“She’s a much braver woman than me.” Miranda shook her head at the thought. “I want a hospital with an epidural to avoid the pain.” She glanced at Justin. “I’m a total wimp when it comes to pain.”
Justin laughed. “So, you want children?”
“Oh, yes.” She thought about having little girls and boys in her life. “I don’t want seven kids, but I’d like three or four. I want my children to grow up with brothers and sisters. Definitely not an only child.”
“All of the above,” Justin said. “Not as big as my family, but good-sized.” He laughed. “Mom said I’d better get busy before I get too old.”
“How old are you?” Miranda asked.
“Thirty-five.” Justin appeared thoughtful. “Guess I am getting on up there.”
“I’m thirty-two,” Miranda said. “My parents haven’t pushed me. I think they’re afraid of having grandchildren around. They’re not the grandparent types.”
Justin glanced in his rearview mirror. “My mom and dad love being grandparents to Kaycee. My brother, Carter, and his wife, Kit, are in the process of adopting twins, so Kaycee is going to have young cousins soon. Mom is on pins and needles, wanting to know if they’re girsl or boys, or one of each, so she can start buying baby clothes. My grandma is already knitting a baby blanket for her second and third great-grandchildren.” Justin smiled. “She made a bigger blanket for Kaycee, the moment she came into our lives, when she was five. Kit has an adult son, and our family welcomed him in other ways as well.”
“That’s wonderful.” Miranda couldn’t help but wish her parents were interested in grandchildren. Maybe their lack of interest would change when she had children of her own.
* * *
The three-hour drive passed in no time at all. They talked and laughed
the entire way, from the highway to the freeway, to the road that took them to the Mogollon Rim and toward Black Canyon Lake.
Miranda felt lighter than she had in so long. A sensation of being free from a load she didn’t know she was carrying seemed to give her wings.
“The scenery is gorgeous.” She watched the ponderosa pines, white furs, aspen, and bigtooth maples pass by as they climbed higher on the Rim. When they reached the road to Black Canyon Lake, the going was slower, and she caught sight of more wildlife. She watched a squirrel scamper up an aspen and what Justin called a red-faced warbler on a maple branch. She spotted an elk through the trees and a cottontail disappearing into the brush.
She lowered the window and breathed in the fresh scent of the forest. Pine, rich earth, clean air.
“First thing we need to do is set up camp.” Justin drove along a bumpy road, past a sign that said Black Canyon Rim Campground, and a marker stating the campground was three miles from the lake. “I made reservations earlier this week, just in case you said yes.”
“What if I’d said no?” She gave him a teasing look.
He grinned at her. “It was worth the fee regardless.”
They passed other campers and day trippers already set up. Justin eventually found the location he’d reserved, which was currently clear of other campers, but he said that would change as the day passed. “It’s a busy place. I’d prefer to find our own spot away from anyone else,” he said. “But that’s not always available to do.”
He parked on the side of a camping spot with a firepit surrounded by large rocks and plenty of space to pitch a tent on the flat, sandy ground beneath ponderosa pines.
She helped Justin set up the tent, enjoying the cool air on her face and the air whooshing through the pines, sounding almost like a flowing river.
They gathered wood and stacked it near the firepit. “We’re in the Heber Wild Horse territory,” Justin said as they finished gathering wood. “Sometimes you can see wild horses running near the lake.”
“Ooh.” Miranda smiled at the thought. “I’d love to see that.”
“We’ll keep our eyes out.”
Justin pulled sleeping bags and pillows from the back of the king cab and butterflies tickled her belly as she ducked inside the tent and helped him stow their things. They didn’t make a single bed but did put the two sleeping bags on a foam topper to put some space between them and the ground.
When they had arranged everything, he slid his fingers into her hair. “No pressure tonight, Miranda. That’s why I kept our sleeping bags separate. It’s all up to you.”
Tingles raced up and down her arms. “Thank you,” she said in a low voice that came out husky with need.
To cover up the desire already building inside her, she eased onto her haunches. “I’m ready for that fishing experience you promised me.”
“Then I won’t make the lady wait a moment longer.” He drew her toward him and gave her a long, slow kiss that made her feel liquid and warm. He broke the kiss. “We’ll take lunch with us. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.” She was definitely starving for him, but right now she’d settle for some food.
They drove the three miles to Black Canyon Lake and found a good spot on the shore to fish from, near a pile of driftwood and a couple of large rocks. He carried the cooler with their lunch and set it on the ground, next to the blanket Miranda laid out.
Justin returned to the truck and came back with fishing tackle and two ball caps. “Put this on,” he said. “You need protection from the sun.”
“Thanks.” Miranda accepted the cap and adjusted the size before she tugged it down, and he pulled on his own.
She looked out onto the lake that was surrounded by trees at the edge of a rocky shore. They were just below a rim of wildflowers and grass, and the sun shone from the beautifully blue sky. The breeze was cool and she was grateful for the shirt she wore over her T-shirt.
Justin gave her a smoked turkey and cheddar on sourdough sandwich, which tasted amazingly good out on the edge of the lake. He had baggies of homemade chocolate chip cookies that Kaycee had baked that were amazing. He also had one thermos filled with iced tea and another with lemonade.
When they were done with lunch, Justin picked up the parts of the fishing pole she’d be using and showed her everything. He put together the rod, attached the reel, and demonstrated how to make sure she didn’t over-tighten it. He threaded the fishing line through the guides, attached a bobber, sinkers, and tied a hook on the end of the line.
He dug a small yellow bottle out of the tackle box. “This is good for trout fishing.” He brought it out and showed her the bright orange balls they’d use as bait. “It’s scented to help attract trout.”
He showed her how to cast the line then reel it in. When it was her turn to try her hand at casting, she caught the line in the branches of a tree behind them.
“Oops,” she said, and he laughed.
He patiently cut the line, rethreaded it, added a new hook and sinkers, and let her bait the hook. After a few tries, she managed to get her hook in the water, far enough from shore to hopefully catch something. He set the reel then helped her find a place to sit down and wait.
The waiting for something to happen had Miranda on the edge of the rock she sat on. “How will I know if I catch something?”
He had his own fishing pole set up and he easily cast his hook. He set up his pole on the beach, then helped her. “The bobber I put on your line will help you—you’ll see it bob when a fish is either nibbling or on the line.” He went on, you’ll likely feel the fish nibble at it, but don’t tug on the line. Wait for the fish to pull.” He explained how to set the hook and reel in the fish.
She nodded, hoping she got it all, dying to catch her first fish.
The bobber on Justin’s line went underwater and he grabbed his pole. It bowed and he grinned. “Got you, little sucker.” He glanced at Miranda. “Watch what I do.” The line spun out of the reel before he started to bring it in. He showed her how to handle the rod as he brought in the fish.
When he had it all the way in, he pulled the fish up out of the water and it flipped in the air. The sunlight shimmered in a rainbow on its scales. He landed then grasped the fish and unhooked it before attaching the fish to a stringer and putting it back into the water. He did it all in less than a minute, from landing the fish, unhooking it, then putting it on the stringer in the water.
Miranda was so engrossed in watching Justin that a tug on her line caught her off guard. “I think I got one.” She held onto her pole, feeling a hard tug and her pole bowed.
“That’s great.” Justin coached her on the whole process again until she landed the fish. He pulled out his phone and had her hold up the flopping critter and took a picture of her and her first fish. After he took the picture, he took the hook out and put the fish on the stringer with the one he’d caught.
Miranda hadn’t had so much fun in ages. She’d never dreamed she could have such a great time doing something like fishing. She’d heard plenty of fish stories, but never really “got” why people thought it was so much fun, until now.
It was late in the afternoon when they’d both caught their limit.
“You’re cleaning them, right?” Miranda asked as he grabbed a cooler out of the back of the truck.
“Nah, that’s your job,” he said.
Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened.
He grinned. “Just teasing, honey. I’ll take care of it.”
She blew out her breath. “Don’t scare me like that.”
He laughed. “Why? It’s so much fun.”
She playfully knocked his ball cap off. “Better watch it, buddy.”
He grinned as he picked up the cap and smacked it on his thigh to knock off the dirt. “Some other time I’ll bring my boat and we can go out onto the lake,” he said. “It’s a whole different experience than fishing off the shore.”
“I’d like that.” Miranda smiled at the eas
y conversation between them, and that he already planned to take her out on the lake in the future.
After Justin cleaned the fish and packed them on ice in the cooler, they headed back to the campground and Justin parked in their space. They had neighbors now, like he said there would be. Plenty of room separated them so that they weren’t too close.
The moment her gaze settled on the tent, her belly flipped. Would she enjoy doing more than just sleeping next to him? Of course, she would—that was a dumb question. The better question was, should she?
She climbed out of the truck when Justin opened her door, then waited for him to tell her what to do next. It was her first camping experience, so she had no idea.
He got the fire going in the ring of stones, then pulled out some cornmeal from the box of groceries he’d brought with them. After prepping it, he wrapped a whole onion with butter in aluminum foil and placed it in the coals now that the fire had died down. He also made biscuits that he placed in a cast iron frying pan and cooked them on the grill and cooked their cornmeal-breaded fish in another cast iron pan on the same grill.
By the time Justin had finished preparing dinner, Miranda’s stomach rumbled.
Justin flashed her a grin. “I take it you’re ready to eat.”
“Am I ever.” She took the paper plate loaded with food he offered to her. She sat in a canvas camp chair and waited until he had served himself before starting to eat her own dinner. They drank Cokes with their meal, and Miranda relished every bite she ate.
“Amazing.” Miranda sighed when she finished and patted her belly. “One of my new favorite meals.”
When they’d finished cleaning up, Miranda got out the fixin’s for s’mores and they sat in their camp chairs and toasted marshmallows over the fire.
He wiped his hands on a wet nap after eating three of the treats. “Best s’mores I’ve ever had.”
“Yep. The best.” She nodded in agreement—she’d had two of the suckers. She cleaned the stickiness from her fingers, threw the wet nap in the bag with their other garbage, then relaxed in her seat.
She enjoyed the warmth radiating from the fire. Flames danced and flickered as she watched. It crackled and hissed as it died down. Justin had a bucket of water ready to put out the fire when they decided to go to bed.
Country Thunder: King Creek Cowboys Page 9
