Country Heaven

by Vicki Green

  “Colby. You need someone to help with the cleaning, laundry, and other things so you can do chores outside. You may be a great cook but you don’t have time to do it all. I know you’re still waiting for a couple of guys to answer your ad to hire too and Mac and Dallis don’t mind coming over to help out until then.” I bring my hand back and take a sip of my mocha. “Besides. Her reply sounded like she needs to get away, maybe there’s something going on that the beauty of the land and all the good people here can help her with. Isn’t that what we’re about here?” I smile and he smiles back.

  “Yeah, I know. I’m good with that but I’m just so nervous about it all. I don’t know how Memphis did it.”

  I laugh, my eyes looking across the room. “Why don’t you ask him?” Just then the door opens and Memphis walks in. His eyes zone right to me and he smiles. “I’ll, uh, be right back.” I get up and start walking to him.

  “Sure, sure. Leave me for your fiancé,” he laughs.

  I giggle and walk straight into my love’s arms. He hugs me tight and I kiss his lips. “I missed you,” he whispers.

  “Ha, you just saw me two hours ago.”

  “Too long.” He kisses me back and I smile against his mouth.

  “I’ll go get you some coffee. Go talk to Colby. He’s a nervous wreck.” He nods and I start to walk to the counter.

  “Get me one of them cinnamon rolls too!” He yells.

  I laugh and wave my hand up in the air then pour his coffee and grab him a cinnamon roll. By the time I take them over to the table, he and Colby are laughing. I set them down in front of Memphis and sit down next to him. “What’s so funny?”

  Colby laughs again. “He was just tellin’ me about when you first came to his house. How much of a handful you were.”

  I look at Memphis and scrunch up my face, trying to give him a mean look, but he just laughs so I smack his arm, hard. “What? You were. You were all this I’m a tough chick that can do what I want. You stomped your feet a lot and stuck your nose up in the air at me.” I smack him again, and he laughs even harder. “Well, you did.”

  “I was not that bad,” I tell him raising my head up.

  He leans over and kisses me. “There she is now.”

  Tina comes out from the back and sits down next to Colby. We have a great time talking, laughing and being together. Life couldn’t be any better than it is right now. I can’t wait to marry the love of my life and see what is around the next corner. One thing I’ve learned is that we can handle anything as long as we’re together.

  Epilogue

  Colby

  I’ve been running around the house dustin’, even after I’ve done it twice already. Why am I so nervous? It’s just a woman coming to my house, a complete stranger, one who is gonna work here. I have no idea what she looks like, no idea what she’ll be like. Okay, I’m really nervous. I have one of the biggest farms around here, the biggest house to upkeep not to mention the livestock. Mac and Dallis have been helpin’ with that and Tina comes by when she can, but they can’t always help me when they have their own things to do. After everythin’ that happened with Memphis and Sadie, it really gave me an appreciation to keep my guard up, watch out for those around me. I mean look what happened, all because Memphis hired a guy to work for him. Makes me a little crazy just thinkin’ ‘bout it.

  Then again, look at them. They fell in love and are gonna get married. I couldn’t be happier for them. Yeah, I had feelings for Sadie, not gonna lie, but she and Memphis belong together. I see that. They’ve turned out to be really great friends. I’m happy for them. Wish I could find that happiness, that sense of commitment, love. Yeah, I dated in school. A lot. Really too much. I was kind of a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy. Well, no one held my interest. No one gave me that spark. I know, I sound like someone reading a stupid romance novel. A girl. But it’s true. Ma and Pa have that, why can’t I? Then there’s Tina. She’s sweet and fun but then again, no spark. She’s turned into bein’ like a sister to me. She really can bake though. I want that damn spark.

  A knock on the door brings me out of my thoughts and my heart rate shoots up a notch. I walk to the front door and open it, feelin’ a bit relieved.

  “Hi, Colby! Wow! You look pale. Are you okay?”

  “Shit, Sadie. Hi. Come on in.” She walks in giving me her smile, and we walk into the way too big for one person living room. She sits down on the couch, and I sit on the big leather chair across from her. “Yeah, I’d say I’m just a bit anxious. Ya know?” I run my fingers through my hair, somethin’ I’ve always done when I’m frustrated or nervous.

  She smiles and then giggles. “Aww, Colby, you don’t have anything to be worried about. I’m sure she’ll be a great help here. Oh! Here! I made this for you.” She hands me a package. I take it from her and smile. It’s not a box, more like brown wrapping over something soft. I start to open it. “It’s not much but just a little something to thank you again for saving me and Memphis’.”

  I sigh. She and Memphis keep doing things for me for saving their lives. I rip the paper off and smile. It’s an Afghan. She’s been knitting and crocheting more. I look up at her and soften. “This is great! The colors will go perfect in here. Thank you!” I get up and wrap it over the back of the couch then lean over and kiss her cheek. After sitting back down, I look at it from my chair. “It’s really perfect. Sadie, you don’t have to keep thanking me. I’m just glad that it worked out the way it did. It could have gone so differently.” I shiver at the thought and I notice she does to.

  “Well, we can never repay you for what you did so expect this to go on for a long time. Maybe even forever.” She laughs, and I hold mine laugh back. “Besides, not only do we owe you our lives but you’d already become more than a friend to us. You’re family. So, I guess you’re stuck with us.” Now I can’t hold back my laughter any longer. Her hands push against her legs as she stands. “I guess I’d better go. I need to get back to the shop.” I rise and walk with her to the door. After opening it she turns to me. “Maybe you can bring her by. I’m sure my coffee and Tina’s pastries will break some ice.” She leans up and kisses my cheek. “Bye. Have fun.”

  I laugh again, rubbing my finger over where she kissed. “Fun. Yeah. Bye.”

  I shut the door and turn lookin’ around. I’m at a loss what else I can clean. I’ve never cleaned so much in my life. Okay, maybe when I was younger and my parents made me. I look at the clock on the wall between the two staircases. She must be runnin’ late or maybe she got lost. I did give her my cell phone number. I guess I’ll go out and check on Sable. She’s been acting weird lately. I grab my coat from the front closet and put it on then walk down the hall and out the back door.

  When I get down to the pasture I look around for her. She’s nowhere in sight. I open the gate and walk through making sure to latch it behind me. I remember the time the horses got loose and I had a hell of a time roundin’ them up. I walk towards the lake at the back part of our land and as I round the bend I see her. She’s grazin’ by a bunch of trees. She raises her head as I approach, chompin’ on some grass. “Hey, girl.” I rub the side of her face and then pat her back. She snorts. Figures. That seems to be the way all girls are to me anymore. I laugh.

  “She’s beautiful.”

  My head snaps to the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard. There stands a goddess. She’s the most gorgeous creature that has ever walked this earth. Her brown hair is long, coverin’ her breasts, with some highlights of a lighter brown that look natural and not painted on. Her lips are full but the thing that mesmerizes me the most is her eyes. They are a light blue but not even that. They are so light in color that they are almost white. I’ve never seen anything so unique before.

  “Beautiful.”

  She bows her head, actin’ shy. “I was speaking of the horse.” Those full lips turn up into a smile.

  “I wasn’t.” I smile back but can’t tear my eyes from her.

  We stand there and just starin
’ at each other until she breaks it and walks up to me, her hand outstretched.

  “I’m Shiloh Willson.”

  My eyes widen. I shake her hand, “Oh, hello. I’m Colby Carter.” Our eyes lock, our hands still but not releasing. She shakes her head, like she’s come back to reality and pulls her hand from mine. “So, you finally made it. I was beginnin’ to think maybe you’d gotten lost.”

  She smiles. “No, I just took my time.” She walks around Sable, pattin’ her as she goes by, and looks out at the lake. “Nice place you have here. I love the view of the mountains and the lake is….” She turns her head, lookin’ at me from over her shoulder. “Peaceful, something I’ve been needing for a while.”

  I walk over next to her and look out at the view. “We’re fortunate. Our house, the land, has been in our family for generations. I can’t even remember who bought it in the beginning.” I turn my head and look at her. “It’s all I’ve ever known.”

  She turns, looks at me, and smiles. “Well, it’s really beautiful.”

  I can’t seem to get the smile off my face. I clap my hands together. “Well, let me show you the house.” She smiles and we both turn and start walkin’. “So, how far of a drive was it for you?”

  She bites the inside of the cheek and then smiles. “It took me about six hours but I did stop a few times.”

  “You never did tell me exactly where you were comin’ from.”

  She looks down. “I know.”

  Okay, that just told me a ton. She likes her privacy and I’m okay with that, or she’s hidin’ from somethin’, or someone. We continue to walk in silence. We reach the deck and walk up the stairs. I open one of the French doors for her and she walks inside.

  “Wow! What a magnificent kitchen.” She turns around slowly like she’s takin’ it all in. “I love the colors and the granite countertops match it perfectly.”

  I walk over and lean against the breakfast bar. “Are you into interior designing or just have an eye for it?” I ask, really wantin’ to know and totally fascinated by her.

  She turns until she faces me and smiles. “No, I just really love it. The coordination, how designs work together. I don’t know. It’s silly.”

  “Ha, maybe you missed your calling.” She shrugs, still smilin’. “Well, through here leads out to the dining room, as you can see.” She walks up beside me so close that I smell her perfume. Or is that her unique smell?

  “Very nice. Your furniture looks antique.”

  I turn and walk out into the hallway. Her eyes move up, down and all over. “Two staircases? Nice. Reminds me a bit of Gone With The Wind.”

  “Ah, a classics movie buff?” I laugh.

  She turns and smiles, her eyes lighting up even more. “Maybe.”

  I point between the two staircases. “That door leads out onto the deck as well. Then….” I turn again and walk into the living room. “This room is way too big for me but I do enjoy watching some TV in here or over there….” I walk to the end of the room and open the sliding doors. “This is one of my favorite places in the house.” I turn and face her. “I like to come here to read, sittin’ by the bay window, or sometimes just to think.”

  “It’s lovely,” she responds, her voice quiet. Finally, she looks up and into my eyes. “I think this would be my favorite place as well.”

  Our eyes search each other’s for a beat and then she looks down, breakin’ the spell. We walk back into the living room and then the foyer. “Did you bring much luggage? I can help you get it then show you the upstairs. You have quite a pick of which room you’d like. There’s six others, besides mine, well, unless you count the attic room. That was an addition my parents made while I was gone at school. It is nice as well.”

  I open the front door and follow behind her and look in the drive. There’s a red SUV. It looks brand new, like she bought it right before she came here. I can even still see remnants of the sticker on the passenger window. Odd.

  I follow her to the back and help her raise the hatch. “Well, I’m afraid I did bring probably way too many things,” she laughs nervously. In the back looks like about five suitcases, a matching set which also looks new, a smaller case and then a couple of medium sized boxes.

  “Ha, I’d say you came well prepared. Here, let me help.” I take all five suitcases, a couple under my arms and she takes the small one and one of the boxes. “I’ll come back and get the other box.” She smiles and nods and I take her back inside and up the right staircase. “Once you’re unloaded, you might want to put your car in the garage. We are expectin’ some heavy snow in the next couple of days but I’m sure you know how reliable the weather is.” I hear a small laugh behind me as I reach the top. She follows me down the small hallway in front of us, and then I walk the five stairs up to the attic room. “I haven’t really been in here since I’ve been home. I apologize if it’s not clean.” I turn to the right, at the top of the stairs, and walk the two steps to the door, opening it. I hear her follow close behind.

  “Wow! This is perfect!” she exclaims. I set her suitcases down against the closest wall and turn around. She’s walkin’ around the room, touchin’ the furniture, and then walks to the bay window. She places her hands on the pillowed seat and leans, looking out the center window. “A great view of the lake and mountains.” She turns around, her smile huge. “I love this room.”

  I chuckle. “Well, I guess it’s decided then. I’ll go down and get the other box. Do you want to give me your keys? I can pull it into the garage for you.”

  Her eyes widen, like I just told her I was going to hurt her, and then they soften just as quickly. Very odd. “Oh, no! I can get the box in a little while and I can put it in the garage. Thank you though.”

  I smile and head to the door. “Well, okay then. Suit yourself. I’m sure your drive was tiring. If you want to get some rest, supper won’t be until six. I’ll cook tonight and let you get settled. There’s some cleaning supplies in the laundry room. It’s down these stairs to the left and down the hall a few doors. Help yourself to anything you need.”

  Her hand moves over and grasps her other arm. “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll see you at supper.”

  I turn and walk out, closin’ the door behind me. Headin’ downstairs the strangest feeling comes over me. For a gorgeous woman, one that seems very intelligent, she sure seems like she’s either skittish, like she’s hidin’ or runnin’ from something. Or maybe from someone.

  Shiloh

  I turn around looking at everything. A king sized bed, the wood seems antique, with the matching upright dresser then against another wall is a long dresser with the mirror overhead. The bay window with the soft pillow seat is so welcoming. The view breathtaking. I can just imagine what it will look like after it snows. I can see myself sitting there getting lost in my writing and reading for hours. I turn around and see a door and walk to it, opening it to find a huge bathroom. I walk in, flipping on the light, and run my fingers over what looks like marble countertops. There’s a built in linen closet, and I’m surprised to see it full of sheets and towels when I open the double doors. I close them and look further to see a huge corner bathtub and beside it a nice sized walk in shower. The toilet is set back into a small alcove with its own door. Nice. I leave the bathroom, turning off the light, and walk back into the room. When I turn to the left, I see a door, open it, and cannot believe my eyes at the size of the walk in closet.

  Smiling as I turn back around and hug my waist with my arms. This is perfect, almost like paradise. I hurry downstairs, then down the staircase and out the front door. After parking my car in the garage, I get the last box out from the back, close it up and shut the garage by the button on the wall and walk inside from the garage entrance. I take the box upstairs, setting it down by the other one and walk over to the bay window, sitting down on the seat, my back against the pillows there. I kick off my shoes and pull my feet up, my hands on my legs, and look out the window.
This is serene and much needed after what I’ve been through. Unconsciously, my hand moves up under my shirt, and my fingers move over the large scar. Maybe he won’t find me here. Maybe I will have outrun him this time and foiled his plans. God, I hope I’m right.

  The End

  A Taste Of Country

  Sometimes beauty is skin deep,

  Other times it is in the things we see inside,

  Then there are times it is both

  Colby Carter comes from a traditional country life, one that dates back for generations. He put that behind him by attending an out of state college. He came back and his parents gifted to him their large farm and estate. Overwhelmed by the responsibility and knowing he can’t possibly keep up with the farm and the enormous house alone, he places an online ad to hire help. He has no time for women. He got his fill in college, acting the playboy that is now in his past. However, that doesn’t stop the women in town from trying to get his attention, but he knows they are only after two things: his hot and sexy body, and his wealth.

  Shiloh Willson responds to an online ad to work for a man, cleaning and caring for his house. She finds it’s a perfect escape from the mess her life has become and a faraway place she hopes no one will find her. She can’t believe her eyes when she arrives at the large house, but what really surprises her is the hot and sexy man that hired her. Has she taken on too much? Will this be the perfect place to hide or will she have to run again?