by Jillian Hart
“Word is spreading around about your rescue mission.” He gripped the door handle tightly as she approached. “Now folks are starting to call us.”
“It’s Cady and Julianna’s rescue mission,” she corrected sweetly, bounding past him, and leaving a scent of honeysuckle in the air and a tug on his ironclad heart. “But it is an awesome thing. Cady has a lot of empty stalls to fill.”
“How are the horses we’ve already rescued?” He watched her avoid his attempt to help her as she hopped onto the seat.
“Settling in, improving, eating.” When she smiled, she could make him forget every one of his troubles. “They have names. Since Julianna named her favorite one Dusty, Cady is calling the others, Rocky, Clay and Pebbles.”
“Funny. Cady has a sense of humor. I’m sure the horses are lapping up all kinds of attention.”
“More than they know what to do with. Our employees head to the stable on their breaks, Cook saves carrots and apples to bring out to them and as for Jenny and Julianna, they are majorly attached. They hardly leave the stable. Their father arrived yesterday to take them back home. Apparently he didn’t want the girls flying by themselves. They leave tomorrow.”
“How is he going to pry the girls away from the horses?”
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t have the heart.”
Speaking of hearts, his was still successfully barricaded. He closed her door and circled around the front of the truck, pleased because he hadn’t noticed how lovely she was today, more lovely every time he saw her. He’d hardly glanced at her mouth that looked sugar-cookie sweet. Pleased with himself, he yanked open his door and hopped onto the seat. Not a single feeling crept in, other than the cheerful joy lighting up inside him. Joy from taking an afternoon off work, that was the only reason.
“Adam and the girls aren’t going to stay for Autumn’s wedding?” He put the truck in gear and hit the gas.
“I don’t know. We’ll see how persuasive Cady and the girls turn out to be.” She shrank the passenger compartment, making it seem much smaller than it had been before. Unaware of what she’d done, she clicked her seatbelt. “I do know that Cady saddled up Misty not long ago and left to meet with your uncle.”
“Frank was mighty chipper earlier. He’s awful serious about your boss.”
“What was that? I saw that scowl.”
“I was just thinking that he’d been single for so long. I don’t know how he can give up his lone-wolf status after all this time.”
“Maybe he turned in his membership card?”
“Funny. Or maybe he forgot to pay his annual dues and he got tossed out. He used to be my role model, but now? Not so much.” He shook his head, feigning disappointment. The gentle notes of Eloise’s laughter didn’t touch him. Nothing could. His emotions were stone, his will unbreakable, and if he faltered just a little, he knew he would be in big, big trouble.
“Look, there they are.”
Her voice changed, holding a hint of a wish, a touch of a dream and his impenetrable defenses wobbled a tiny bit before he could get them under control. Oblivious, she pointed in the direction of lush green fields and leafy cottonwoods to where the river glinted and two horses stood side by side, their riders holding hands. The tilt of Frank’s Stetson, the upturn of Cady’s face and the gild of the sun radiated an immeasurable tenderness.
The barriers Sean had up slid right down. Fortunately he could concentrate on his driving and pretend it hadn’t happened.
“It’s nice to see Cady so happy.” Eloise turned her attention forward, since the speeding truck had left the couple behind. “I think she’s been alone for a long time.”
“Just like Frank,” he said, although that wasn’t new information. He couldn’t seem to think straight. What he needed was a safe topic of conversation, one that had nothing to do with love or romance or happy couples. “Did you get any information about this horse we’re going to see?”
“All I know is that they have a stray horse they don’t know what to do with.” She settled back against the seat. “Troy sounded busy when I called. You know what ranch work is like.”
“I do. It’s always something, which is what I like about it.” He hit the signal and turned onto the county highway heading north. Town was a distant blur of color as they sailed by. “I’m a temporary hire at the Granger ranch, but I’m hoping I will be so invaluable after Autumn comes back from her honeymoon Uncle Frank will keep me on. It helps that Tucker has moved into his place across the road. There’s more acreage and more livestock to tend. Everyone is spread thin.”
“Will they be combining the ranches?”
“Looks like it. It will make both spreads easier to run.” He eased off the gas and pulled off the highway. “That’s a lot of acreage, so I’m hoping it means long-term job security for me. Plus, Autumn might not want to work so many long hours when she’s married.”
“All excellent news for you. So this means you have a fair chance of sticking around?”
“Just try and get rid of me.”
“Good.” The effect of the man’s dimples could make any girl forget to breathe. It didn’t mean a thing that she couldn’t draw in air. Any female would naturally feel a little dazzled by his smile.
The wide gravel lane spooled between rows of fence posts and verdant pastures. Cattle lifted their heads from grazing to watch their approach. Calves ran alongside the fence line, kicking up their heels and chasing the truck. Up ahead, a brick ranch house rose into sight. A row of barns and outbuildings marched along the base of the low hill. Sean navigated toward the buildings, bumping along the private drive, hands on the wheel, shoulders wide, simply his ordinary self but he made her rib cage tighten with wishes she could not acknowledge.
“Sean. Eloise!” A man in his thirties looked up from working a horseshoe, released the animal’s hoof and stood. “You didn’t waste any time gettin’ here.”
“Cady wanted me to follow up on this right away.” She rolled down the window, squinting against the sun. “She’s on a mission to save as many horses as she can, for little Julianna’s sake.”
“So I hear. I applaud it, too.” Troy left the horse cross-tied and ambled over to the truck. “Sean, long time no see. It’s good of you to lend a trailer to Cady’s cause, although I’m bettin’ your uncle has something to do with it, huh?”
“Maybe, but that’s all I know. I don’t have any scoop about his intentions.” Sean hopped from the truck.
“Hey, I was only speculating!” Troy chuckled as he opened Eloise’s door with a slight squeak, the sound startling her. It took effort to force her gaze away from Sean, tall and muscular, bounding around the front of the truck. Warm air breezed over her and she grabbed her cane.
“Everyone in this town is speculating.” Sean still smiled, nothing about him had changed except for a harsh twist in his words. “Since there’s no movie theater in these parts, folks have to have something to watch.”
“You know it,” Troy agreed good-naturedly and held out his callused hand, offering to help her down. His dark gaze lingered on her cane and pity wreathed his features.
Pride kept her from taking his hand. Any moment Sean would march into range and see the expression on Troy’s face. Aware of the weakness in her left leg, she eased off the seat and landed on her good leg, dug the tip of her cane into the powder-soft dust coating the driveway and tried to stand straight and strong as if she were fine, just fine.
“I’ll get the door,” Sean said tersely, which was strange because he was an easygoing guy, but he was definitely ruffled about something. “Where’s the horse, Troy?”
“This way.” Unconcerned, the cowboy knuckled back his hat and headed in the direction of the nearest gate. A cloud of dust rose with each step. “The poor thing showed up about a few days ago.”
It was hard to guess what Sean was thinking. His dimples had faded into a stern frown as he shut the door. He kept at her side, his impressive shadow tumbling over her as they walked together
toward the rails. She gripped her cane tight until her knuckles went white, sorely aware that every other step she took was imperfect. What if Sean looked at her the way Troy had? What would it do to her heart if he ever did?
“Come on, girl.” Troy chirruped, gesturing toward a sad-eyed mare who hung back from the rails. “She showed up just hanging around the fields looking in at all the horses safe in the pasture.”
“Poor girl.” The mare was thin, not emaciated, but lost looking as if she had known too much disappointment in her life. There was no hope in her gaze, no spirit in her stance as she lifted her head to scent them. Wariness haunted her.
“Pretty girl.” Sean leaned against the fence, his tenseness faded. “Is she lost?”
“That’s what I thought at first,” Troy explained. “I brought her in but she doesn’t have a microchip or a brand. There’s no way to identify her.”
“She’s a sweet thing.” Sean held out his hand, palm up.
“Do you think she was abandoned?” Eloise watched the mare stretch out her neck and creep toward Sean’s hand one hesitant step at a time.
“That’s my guess,” Troy answered. “Folks are pretty vigilant here. A missing animal wouldn’t go missing for long so it stands to reason she was probably let go. I think she’s put a lot of miles on her hooves. She’s walked so far on bad shoes, she could have gone lame.”
Another needy creature found just in time. Thank You, Lord. Eloise was truly grateful as the cautious mare tentatively brushed her nose against the tip of Sean’s fingers and jumped back, as if waiting to see what would happen next.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he murmured, kindness and warmth layered in his voice, and the mare responded to it. She shook her mane, nickered nervously and reached out again.
“That’s a good girl.” When he spoke, it was as gently as a man’s voice could be. He brushed his fingertips over the velvet curve of the mare’s nose with infinite caring. No man could be more gentle. “That’s right, I’m not gonna hurt you, beautiful.”
Worry slid from big brown eyes as the mare inched closer and offered more of her head. As handsome as Sean was, nothing could be more attractive than his compassion as he befriended the horse.
“You are wanted now,” Eloise told the mare quietly and earned a nod of understanding from Sean. Her entire heart seemed to be falling and she could not let it. Somehow she had to find a way to stop it. She could not afford to adore this strong man with a depth of caring and kindness.
I wish, she thought wistfully. I so, so wish. It was too bad some things were never meant to be.
Chapter Fourteen
“My boss put an ad in a few local papers.” Troy backed away from the trailer, the mare successfully loaded. “If we get a call about the mare, who should I contact, you or Eloise?”
“Eloise.” Sean gritted his teeth. Me, he’d wanted to say, but that made no sense. He couldn’t explain why he didn’t want Troy to talk to Eloise. The thought made his jaw clench so hard his teeth hurt.
“Yes, or Cady.” Eloise folded a windblown lock of hair behind her ear, beautiful as always, possibly more beautiful than the last time he’d looked at her about three seconds ago. “You have my cell number. The inn’s number is in the phone book.”
“Easy enough.” Troy knuckled back his hat and apparently figured he had the right to open the truck door for her since he paraded beside her in that direction.
Wrong. Sean yanked open the door, fighting a wave of red hot, boiling jealousy that flashed into existence with a force that rivaled spontaneous combustion. Jealousy wasn’t like him, but he couldn’t deny the fact that his entire field of vision flashed crimson as Troy made small talk with Eloise.
“Cady and the girls are going to love the mare.” She planted her cane in the dust beside the truck, unaware that she was the reason he couldn’t breathe. Troy probably felt the same way and that made the shade of crimson darken.
I’m in big trouble, he thought and stepped around the door to block any attempt by Troy to help her into the cab.
“Then I can stop worrying about that lost little horse,” the cowboy drawled. “She’s in good hands now. The Lord provides.”
I’m not a jealous man, Lord. Prayer seemed the only way to deal with the scalding rise of emotion that rocked through him like a lightning bolt. Please help.
No answer came on the gust of warm wind or in the call of larks singing from their perch on the fence rails. He took a shaky breath and the rushing in his ears dulled enough so that he could make out the sound of human conversation. He caught Eloise’s elbow and helped her up, although she didn’t seem to need it.
He was in a fix. He couldn’t breathe, he could barely hear or see. It wasn’t as if he was looking for a relationship. He wasn’t about to turn in his lone-wolf club card.
“Thanks for coming by, Sean.” Troy turned to him, affable as always. “You saved me a trip trailering the mare to the inn.”
“It was no problem at all. Thanks for the call.” It was a total surprise he sounded normal. As he circled the truck red faded from his vision and the rushing in his ears calmed. He felt completely normal as he dropped behind the wheel.
“Another deserving horse to cherish,” Eloise said in her soft, musical alto that made him want to listen forever. “Cady and the girls are going to absolutely adore her. She’s just the kind of horse Julianna wanted to save.”
“She’s a gem,” Sean agreed, fairly sure he didn’t mean the horse. He could not take his gaze off Eloise as he turned the key and the engine roared to life. Where were his ironclad defenses, the barriers he’d put up, the resolve he’d made not to feel one single thing for the woman?
Gone. They were all gone, as if blown to dust. He didn’t know why. He gripped the steering wheel tight and steered the truck back down the driveway, the tires kicking up a thick plume of dust. None of his current feelings were intentional. After his last bout with romance, he wasn’t eager to dive back into a relationship. So, what was wrong with him?
“You have saved the day again.” Eloise tossed that perfectly sweet smile at him, the one he couldn’t resist. The one that played havoc with his heart.
“Hey, all I’m doing is driving.”
“Cady and I can count on you, and that means a lot. I wasn’t even tempted to call Cheyenne.”
“Funny. Frank was quick to let me off work.” He couldn’t take too much credit. Sure, he wanted to help out as much as the next guy and he cared about animals. He appreciated what Cady was trying to do, but that wasn’t the biggest reason he was in this truck with Eloise. Did he want her to know that?
Not a chance.
“I’m going to make a few calls to make sure no one is looking for the mare.” She looked relaxed with him, so beautiful he kept forgetting to watch the road.
“Good.” The word stuck in his throat—the only word his brain would produce. His gray matter decided to freeze and he couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
Eloise didn’t seem to notice. She smiled over at him as the air conditioner carried a hint of her honeysuckle fragrance. Being with her, letting silence fill him, made his soul stir. Emotions threatened to carry him away, but he held fast. He didn’t let his heart give a single bump, beat or tumble. He might not be in control of much, but at least he was in command of his feelings and he would stay that way.
“Are you going to the wedding on Saturday?” The words popped out of their own account, as if his brain had decided to ignore his resolve.
“Of course. Do you know anyone who isn’t? It’s the talk of the town. No one thought Ford Sherman would last as sheriff. No one has stuck around for very long, but he’s putting down roots.” She adjusted the air-conditioning vent so it blew on her face. “It will be nice to see Autumn happily married. She’s waited a long time for true love to find her.”
“True.” He couldn’t deny that. He also couldn’t deny the basic truth that love tended to find a person. You could go looking for it, but th
at didn’t mean you could locate it. And if you did, it might not be a love that would be as true or as durable as the one looking to find you.
Maybe that had been his problem with Meryl. He’d wanted to find love. He’d wanted the blessing of it in his life. What he felt for Eloise was different. It was spontaneous and quiet and illuminating, and he couldn’t allow himself to acknowledge it, couldn’t tumble one tiny bit.
“Things must be getting pretty crazy in your house with all the wedding preparations.” She glanced across the fields as he navigated the county road that would bring the inn into sight at any moment. “I imagine there’s so many last-minute things that crop up.”
“I wouldn’t know about that, as I duck my head and try not to listen whenever something comes up.” He winked, keeping it light and friendly. “Autumn handles everything well and planning her wedding is no exception. She also has Mrs. G., who is phenomenal. Nothing gets past her.”
“Doris is also the best wedding planner in town.”
“She’s the only wedding planner in town.”
“True, but she’s also very good.” Eloise shrugged, determined not to give in to the wish gathering like a lump behind her ribs. “Autumn deserves a trouble-free day. A perfect day.”
“That’s what all the fuss has been for,” he agreed, keeping his eyes on the road.
“This is making you uncomfortable, isn’t it? The confirmed bachelor talking about marriage.”
“I’m tough enough to handle it. I think,” he added as a quip, using his dimples to his advantage.
If only she were immune. She sighed, unable to stop herself and the wish that could not be buried. Some day, Sean was going to fall head over heels for a woman. He was going to propose to her, marry her, be a fantastic husband to her and raise a family with her. Some woman was going to be greatly blessed to know his kindness, his tenderness, his gentle kiss.
I wish it could be me, she thought. I wish I could be the one he will love. Not possible, she knew, as the truck turned into the inn’s driveway and the white building with a wide front porch, picture windows and roof gables came into sight between the rustling cotton-woods. Windshields glinted in the sunshine from the guests’ cars parked in the lot. Sean kept right, following the trail of blacktop around the gardens to the shining new stable in back.
