“Come on,” he said in defeat as he dragged his foot over the grasses one way and then the other, attempting to rid his own boots of the clumped stench. “The homestead isn’t much farther. If we hurry, we can make it there before it gets too dark to see where we’re going.”
When they finally reached the front steps, Holden looked down at his watch. If they hustled inside, there might still be food left on the table. He stopped short of the metal scraper embedded in the cement block at the base of the stairs. He lifted his foot and demonstrated how to best rid boots of the lingering manure stuck to the bottom. When he was done, he removed them and reached up for the hose hanging on its iron perch against the base of the house.
Olivia followed suit.
“That’s a nifty little tool,” she said with a smile as she pulled off her boots and waited while he washed the bottoms of his own. When they were clean, he gripped the kink in the line, but it slipped from his hand and sprayed Olivia in the face.
She gasped.
“Oh, I am so sorry,” he said, but couldn’t help the chuckle that threatened.
“I think you did that on purpose,” she accused with a mock gasp as she wiped the excess water from her face. She opened one eye and looked at him, reaching for the hose.
“I don’t think so,” he said, taking a step away from her. “Why don’t you just hand me your boots and I’ll take care of them.”
As she held out her boots to him, she reached for the hose and pulled it enough that it shot a stream of water directly into his own face. If it hadn’t been so cold outside, he would have declared war, but as she slipped up the stairs in her socks, he thought better of it.
“I have brothers,” she said with a grin. “Three of them. I learned a thing or two.”
He laughed, sprayed off the boots, and joined her on the porch. He set the footwear next to the door. When he stood up, he became suddenly all too aware of how close they stood to each other. He could smell the sweet fragrance of her hair and he longed to reach out and touch the smoothness of her skin. He unwittingly leaned a little closer.
“If you don’t mind,” she said with an uneasy smile, “I think I’m just going to freshen up a bit and will join you shortly.” She tucked a strand of wet hair behind her ear and bit her lip.
How did this woman have such an effect on him? It wasn’t like he hadn’t dated beautiful women before. He froze. He was not dating Olivia Blake.
“Thank you,” she said, lightly tapping his chest with her fingertips, “for everything you did for me today.”
Holden nodded, still a little taken back by the direction his thoughts had taken, and opened the door for her. She quickly ducked inside.
As he watched her jaunt down the hallway and disappear up the staircase, he realized that whether or not he’d wanted it, things had changed and for the first time in a long time, he didn’t have a plan. He shook his dripping head. After stopping at the linen closet and toweling his hair dry, he headed into the dining room.
“I was just about to call in the cavalry.” Granddad looked past him. “Where’s Miss Blake? Isn’t she with you?”
“Truck got a flat.”
Grayson snorted.
“And you didn’t have a spare?” Granddad asked, incredulity lining his voice.
“It’s flat too.”
His youngest brother stared intently at the cheesy potato casserole on his plate, a smirk twitching at his lips.
“What’s going on with you today, son? It’s not at all like you to be unprepared.”
“It’s nothing, Granddad. Gray will drive me out there after supper with the air compressor and we’ll get it fixed up.”
His grandfather glanced over at Grayson, then back at him. “And Miss Blake?”
“She’ll be right down.”
Landon walked into the dining room with a fresh full plate of food.
“I just heard about the truck, Hold,” he said with a snicker.
Granddad raised a brow. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but see to it that Olivia feels at home.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And, that goes for the both of you too.”
“Yes, sir.”
Chapter Six
Olivia snuck up the stairs and into her room. Once her door shut, she leaned up against it, unable to help the smile that seemed permanently embedded on her face. She pushed away and strolled into the bathroom where she glanced into the mirror and pinched her already flushed cheeks. She knew she should be telling herself to run, to get as far away from Holden Kane as possible, but there was something about him that made her feel like herself again. And it had been way too long.
Fate had been on her side when Ian Redbourne had stopped by her table at the Western Readers Convention book signing last month. They’d gotten to talking and he’d offered her a partnership that included the opportunity to host a retreat for her readers at one of his ranches in northern Colorado. How was she supposed to have known that the Redbournes owned the entire town of Silver Falls and all of its surrounding territories? She hadn’t known what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised to find that they were a lot like the Blackwood family in her novels. Wealthy and attractive, but still down to earth and approachable.
She figured she shouldn’t leave the others waiting any longer than necessary, so since they’d left all of her new clothing back in the truck, she slipped back into her maxi-skirt and peasant blouse, pulled the tie from her hair, and quickly brushed through her wet locks. She smiled again as she thought of the look on Holden’s face when the sprayer hit him full force.
After she’d added a few twists and curls to her hair, and fastened them in place with several bobby pins, she reapplied a quick coat of mascara and chapstick. When she felt properly presentable, she headed back down the stairs and into the dining room where four very handsome men sat waiting to greet her.
They all pushed back from the table and stood up when they saw her.
“Livvy, I’m so pleased you have agreed to join us,” Ian said as he moved to take her by the hand and lead her to an empty seat at the table. “I understand you have had quite the day.”
She dared a glance at Holden, who locked her gaze with his own.
“It has certainly been an adventure.”
“I’m guessing those are coming in spades around here.”
A few snickers turned into chuckles, and then they all started laughing.
The rest of dinner was full of charming conversation and tales of humorous happenings and horror stories that had taken place on or around the ranch. Olivia wasn’t sure whether they were trying to entice her to stay or push her away. She could see a lot of possibilities for her retreat and was looking forward to gaining more hands on experience at ranch life, but it had been a long day and she was tuckered out.
She brought her hand up to her mouth to cover the wide yawn that could not be stifled.
“We’ve kept you up way too late and we have an early start in the morning,” Ian said with a curt nod, both of his hands palms down against the flat surface of the table.
They all pushed their chairs back as if on cue.
“Goodnight, Miss Blake,” Holden said, tapping on the brim of his imaginary hat.
The sleeping butterflies reawakened in her belly when he winked at her. From what she had gathered from their conversation at the dinner table, Holden was a very smart, objective man who generally gave little consideration to seemingly insignificant pleasantries. That may have sounded like the man she’d first met this morning, but now, she wasn’t convinced. She’d seen how generous he could be. Protective.
“Goodnight, Mr. Kane,” she returned the sentiment with a slight dip of her head and a smile she hoped touched her eyes.
“’Night, Olivia,” Grayson said as he passed by her with his dirty dishes in hand. He was, by far, the most outgoing of the brothers. He smiled and winked. “I’m sure this will prove to be a very interesting week.”
“I’m sorry
you got stuck with the likes of this one all day, Olivia,” Landon said as he set the last of the plates into the dishwasher and pushed start to begin the load. “I’d be happy to show you around a little tomorrow.” Landon jabbed his older brother in the ribs and raised a brow—she guessed to gauge Holden’s reaction to the offer.
Holden had a poker face if she ever saw one. Nothing. Not a smile. Not a grimace. Not a twitch. Nothing.
“Go to bed. We’re starting early,” he called after them as both Grayson and Landon headed down the hallway, presumably to their own bedrooms.
“Goodnight,” Holden said again, pausing a moment when he met her eyes, then brushing past her on his way out.
“Rascals. The lot of ‘em,” Ian said with a laugh. “First day is always a bit of adjustment, but I’m confident this is the right place for you. And your fans,” he added with a smile. “I’ll be back in the morning and we can discuss the details.” He winked. “Sleep tight.”
“Thank you, Ian. I’ll gather my thoughts and jot down a few notes before we meet tomorrow. I’m looking forward to the possibilities.” Luckily, she had packed a notebook and several pens in her laptop case and wouldn’t have to go begging for something to write on.
She clicked on the lamp on the nightstand next to her bed and realized that she had nothing to sleep in. At least she had remembered to pack a toothbrush, deodorant, and other necessary toiletries. As she stepped over to the window to close the curtains, she saw a shadow moving in the yard. She froze and jumped to the side of the glass panes, her heart thundering inside of her chest, her breaths barely squeaking in and out. She reached down very carefully and flipped off the lamp’s switch, then dared another glance outside.
“He’s not here. He’s not here. He’s not here,” she chanted very quietly under her breath.
“Hurry up, Gray. I don’t want to be gone all night.” Holden’s newly familiar voice, though distantly muffled, washed a sense of calm over her and she briefly closed her eyes with relief. Curious, she continued to watch as Grayson’s shadowy figure loaded something bulky into the back of a truck. It clanked, metal against metal.
What are they doing?
Then she remembered that Holden had said he would go back for the bags after supper. She guessed the metal contraption was an air compressor to inflate the tires so he could drive his own truck back home.
Olivia had plenty to do with a deadline looming and a reader’s retreat to plan. She would just wait up in the nice cozy overstuffed chair in the corner of the room and work until they returned.
As much as she hated to admit it, the idea of seeing Holden one more time before she drifted off to dreamland sounded very appealing. She grabbed a pencil, her laptop, and a notebook, and snuggled up with her legs tucked up beneath her into the long-seated chair.
What a day.
Her ears perked up at some sort of snorting sound. She looked up, listening more intently for the sound to repeat, and a slight movement caught her eye under the vanity. She leaned forward, squinting, but to no avail.
“Don’t be so paranoid,” she said aloud, chalking it up to nerves.
This is a safe place, she reminded herself. He won’t find you here.
With one more glance at the dark space beneath the dressing table, she shook her head and returned her pencil to paper.
Now, what kind of trouble can these characters get into?
Chapter Seven
“Well,” Grayson said in a conspiratorial manner as he climbed into the driver’s seat of their granddad’s truck, “I don’t think she’s found Darla yet.”
“Gray!” Holden nearly shouted as he closed his eyes and placed his hand on the outside frame of the rolled down window. “You didn’t.”
His youngest brother stretched his mouth and chin in an ‘oops’ fashion and shrugged.
“I thought I told you we were going to nix the list.”
“That was after I’d already released it in her room, and honestly, I’d forgotten about her until now.”
They’d gotten the tires pumped up without much of a problem. Luckily, both the regular tire and the space had been undamaged by the prank.
“Let’s hope we find it before Granddad hears about it.” Holden patted the door twice with a firm hand. “Follow me,” he said as he quickly ran back to his own truck, jumped in, and started for home.
“Come on. Come on,” he muttered under his breath, thumping the top of the steering wheel with his thumbs as he navigated the bumpy road back to the ranch.
When he pulled up into the front drive, he grabbed Olivia’s bags and hopped out, taking the porch steps two at a time. He threw open the front door, ran down the hallway, and up the stairs, but stopped short when he reached Olivia’s room. Suddenly, her door burst open and she stepped into the hallway holding a long, fat bullsnake.
“Oh, Holden. I was just coming to find you.” She met his eyes with a smile. “Look who I found crawling around in my room,” she said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She held the snake out to show him.
Holden shivered. He was not a fan of snakes—especially the kind that looked so much like rattlers. Their nephew had raised the bullsnake from a hatchling and it had grown accustomed to people, but harmless or not, Holden did not like it. Cows, horses, pigs—even chickens—were preferable to any animal in the reptile or amphibian families.
“Where’s her cage?” she asked.
“How…?” He’d expected a frantic houseguest, a little bit of chaos, or at least a screaming damsel in distress, but she surprised him yet again. “How did you know she was a pet?” he asked, breathless from his grand gesture to save her.
“Bullsnakes are generally scared of people and this one, well, she slithered right up to me. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen one do that before. You have her trained very well.”
“Oh, she’s not mine. She belongs to my nephew.”
Grayson ran into the house and up the stairs, then stopped with a jolt, staring at Olivia, looking as dumbfounded as Holden felt.
“I’m…not sure what to say right now,” Gray told them.
Olivia laughed.
“Don’t look so surprised. I did a lot of research on bullsnakes for my first book. I even hired a snake wrangler.” She laughed. “The things you learn in the name of research.”
“A snake wrangler?” Gray’s eyes grew wide. “I didn’t even know such a thing existed.”
“Her cage?” Olivia asked again.
“Oh, yeah. I’ll be right back.”
Sometimes it was hard to believe that his little brother was already twenty-one and a part-time deputy sheriff. He still seemed like a frat boy with his love of practical jokes and his fascination with childish things.
“Not much of a snake fan, huh?”
Holden raised a brow. “I have just never seen the need for them.”
“Did you know that they eat mice, rats, and other small rodents? Not that I would ever want a snake as a pet, but I can see how they might earn their keep.”
“A cat.”
“I’m sorry?”
“A cat. We’d get a cat if Landon wasn’t so allergic.”
“I like cats. And dogs,” she said. “I tend to prefer mammals as pets.”
Finally, Grayson found his way back up the stairs with the cage and took the animal from Olivia.
“Darla, I really do hate your stinking guts.”
They all laughed.
“Sorry she got loose in your room, Olivia,” Grayson said, then turned to Holden. “I’ll make sure she gets back over to Silver Oak first thing in the morning.”
Holden nodded.
“Goodnight. Again. Olivia,” Gray said before heading back down to his room.
“Goodnight, Grayson.”
“I thought you might be needing these.” He handed her all of the shopping bags they’d gotten in town today, except the last one Holden had purchased. He would save that one for later.
“Thank you.” Olivia
reached out to take them, her hand brushing lightly against his. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to sleep in tonight.” She looked up at him, her eyes wide, brilliant. “I mean, um…it’ll be nice to have some new pajamas to sleep in.”
She’d brushed her hair, which now hung down her shoulders, and she had cleaned her face of any make-up. He’d been around plenty of women who would never have allowed any man to see them without their social masks or perfect façades.
Olivia was different.
“I thought that might be the case.” He managed a smile. “Goodnight, Miss Blake.” He reached up to tip his hat, only to realize it wasn’t there. Heat crept up his neck.
“Goodnight, Mr. Kane.” She leaned against the doorframe, holding the bags up close to her.
He nodded and made his way back down the stairs.
Instead of heading straight into bed, Holden stopped in the library and looked over his grandfather’s shelves. It didn’t take long for him to find what he’d been looking for—The Rancher’s Winter Bride, the first book in Olivia’s Blackwood series. He looked over his shoulder to make sure no one had seen him take it, then shoved it under his arm and headed down toward his room.
It was time to see what all the fuss was about.
Chapter One.
Chapter Eight
The excitement of being on the ranch kept Olivia from sleeping as well as she would have liked. Nevertheless, it allowed her to mull over and devise a few plans in her mind for what she wanted to do for her reader’s retreat. By five o’clock she was done trying to sleep any longer and decided her time would be better spent doing something productive. So, instead of waiting another hour for her alarm to go off, she simply got up, got dressed, and headed downstairs.
“You’re up early.”
Olivia nearly jumped out of her socks. She was surprised to see Holden sitting in the adjacent mud room pulling on his boots.
“You startled me,” she said, her hand flat against her chest.
“Sorry. I guess it’s one of the hazards of getting up before the rooster crows,” he said as he stood up.
Landon's Love (Silver Spring Series Book 2) Page 4
