A few minutes later, Dean pushed his chair back from the table. The scraping sound echoed above the din. When he passed me on his way out, he smiled brightly and stopped.
“It’ll be fun to do another riding lesson tomorrow,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
I smiled back. “Yeah, me too.”
“I bet you’d make a good cowgirl. Maybe you could join Mica and the rest of us instead of working in here.”
I shrugged uncertainly. “Well . . . I’m not sure if we’re fully employed. We’re just helping out right now.”
Dean smiled. “You will be. I heard Pete and Val talking. They’re going to offer you all jobs. They said something about you not having any plans, so maybe you’d want to stick around for a while.”
“Really?” My mouth dropped. Was that Di’s plan all along? To let Pete and Val think that they’d come up with the idea of hiring us? It was an incredibly manipulative tactic that Di seemed to have pulled off flawlessly.
“Lena?” Dean said.
“Oh, um.” I glanced toward the kitchen. I wondered what Val would think if another one of us disappeared to the outdoor work. “I’m not sure Val would approve if I left. She needs the help in here.”
Dean grinned. “Right, what was I thinking. A woman’s place is in the kitchen.” He winked.
I laughed at his joke. His eyes lighted up even more. We spoke for a few more minutes before he left. When he finally disappeared out the door, a strange sensation flowed in the air. My body followed the feeling on its own accord.
My eyes locked with Flint’s. I realized that strange power sensation was coming off him again. He averted his gaze. Abruptly, he stood and stalked out the door. My breath came out in a whoosh. I hadn’t realized I’d been holding it.
With Flint gone, the strange power slowly dissipated. I jolted back to my surroundings. My eyes flashed to each table. Everyone carried on eating, talking and laughing. They all seemed oblivious to the heavy energy that just flowed through the room like invisible syrup.
“You want to give me a hand, Lena?” Di held up a tub full of dirty dishes.
“Right, of course.” I shook myself.
I joined her in the kitchen. However, I still couldn’t shake off whatever had just transpired in that room. How was it that nobody felt that energy off Flint? It was so strong at times, it took my breath away.
DEAN WAS RIGHT about Val and Pete. The next day, they offered us jobs until the season was over. Di’s plan had worked.
Consequently, Di, Jacinda and I began working in the kitchen. Since Val only needed two of us we had a number of days off, also like Di anticipated.
Over the next week, we fell into a steady routine as we waited for the new girl. It was pretty much the same each day. Our day started at six. We’d help Val with breakfast and then clean cabins all morning. After that, we made lunch, did dinner prep and then we had off until six at night. It was a split shift but I didn’t mind. We were off during the nicest part of the day.
The other routine I’d fallen into? Every afternoon, I joined Dean for a riding lesson. A few times I considered asking Di or Flint if I could join them when they ventured to internet cafes, but I didn’t. Being around Flint and seeing the closeness he shared with Di hurt too much.
I felt weak because of that. I wished I could force those feelings away or bury them in some hidden chest deep within my mind, but every time I saw Flint—those feelings exploded. I had no control over them. Besides, Di and Flint seemed to work well together. Maybe it was best to leave them up to finding answers. The rest of the group seemed to have done just that. Still, that didn’t sit well with me. I wanted answers more than anything and passively waiting was growing increasingly frustrating.
Riding and joking with Dean, however, helped keep my mind off Flint and our strange situation. It was the only thing that stilled the longing in my heart, or at least, allowed me to ignore it for a brief amount of time.
“Afternoon, Lena!” Dean’s cheerful voice called. I’d just finished the steep climb to the barn. Once again, he waited for me at the top.
“Hi, Dean.”
“You ready?” His hazel eyes shone brightly, a big smile plastered on his face. “I brought Coal into the barn for you to saddle. I already brushed ‘im.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, I was thinkin’ maybe we’d do somethin’ fun today. How ‘bout a trail ride?”
“Really?” We’d never done that before.
“Sure, I’ll show you some of the ranch that you can’t see on the guest trail rides. You’ve learned enough you’ll be just fine, even if Coal gets spooked. It’s a great afternoon to go out.”
I glanced at the sky. Nothing but endless blue.
After we had our horses ready, we walked them out back and mounted. Warm air swirled in the breeze, but I tied my jacket around my waist anyway. Dean had warned me of how erratic mountain weather could be.
“Have you ever gone back this way?” Dean asked, turning in his saddle. We walked past the maze of corrals and pens.
I shook my head. “No. I’ve only been on the group trail rides.” Those usually went in the opposite direction and stayed in the lower regions. Dean seemed to be taking us up, not down.
Dean grinned. “I’ll be sure to give ya a good tour then.”
I smiled and sank deeper into the saddle.
We ventured slowly into the mountains. The black specs of cattle on the hills grew larger as Dean pointed out landmarks.
“You see that over there?” He nodded to a sharply pointed mountain. “That’s called the witch’s tit.”
“The witch’s what?”
Dean chuckled. “The witch’s tit. And that,” he pointed to an area of mountains and trees that were pointed at the top and fanned out at the bottom, “is called her broomstick.”
“Why didn’t they call the witch’s tit the witch’s hat?”
Dean grinned. “I dunno. It was named long ago by lonely miners. I’m sure you can guess where their minds were.”
I laughed.
The ranch soon became a distant speck behind us. We dipped and turned around hills and cliffs. Birds sang. Chipmunks and squirrels ran along tree branches and fluttered under leaves. Scents of pine and horse filled the air. It was incredibly pleasant.
“It’s so beautiful out here,” I said.
Dean nodded. “This is God’s country.”
I smiled. For once, I didn’t feel the anxiety that accompanied me since meeting Flint and learning how scary our situation was. It felt so good, freeing almost. If I had known the mountains could do this to me, I would have ventured out here sooner.
About an hour later, we passed through a shallow creek. I had no idea where we were in relation to the ranch, but Dean pointed to the ravine. “You ever get lost out here, ya look to see which way the water’s movin’. This stream connects to a bigger river that’s not far from the ranch. You just follow that, or any other stream you find, until ya get to it. Most of the creeks around here dump into that river.”
I sincerely hoped I’d never get lost in this wilderness. This may be God’s country, but out here, it was every man for himself.
We trailed up another mountain. Dean pointed to a swamp of trees that were so dense it seemed impossible to enter. “Ya see that over there?”
I shaded my eyes. “Yeah.”
“That place is called the Forbidden Hills. It’s a good way to get lost and never come back. Many men have ventured into that forest to never return. The hills are too dark and the trees too dense. Even mountain men get turned around in there. It’s best to stay away from it.”
I swallowed uneasily. “Okay.”
Dean laughed. “It’s kinda like the Bermuda Triangle of Colorado. Scientists from all over the world have come to study it, but nobody can figure out why the crazy things happen in it. GPS’s randomly won’t work. Hikers swear they lose their bearin’s within a few minutes of enterin’ the trees. People have gone in and ne
ver come back.” His joking words died, his face serious. “They’re dangerous, the Forbidden Hills. I mean it when I say to stay out. None of the locals will go in there, but every now and then, we’ll get a tourist lookin’ for a thrill. They never make it far before they turn around and run out. Trust me. It’s best to just stay away.”
A chill ran through me. “I will.”
A few hours later, the ranch appeared. It popped up so quickly I hadn’t realized we were so close.
“We’re almost back,” I exclaimed.
“Less than a mile from here.”
I nudged Coal forward until we were beside Dean and his mount. A smile grew on my face. “Race ya!”
Before Dean could respond, I kicked Coal into a gallop. The huge gelding sprang into action. We flew across the landscape.
Exhilaration ran through me at the feel of Coal’s powerful hooves pounding into the terrain and the air whooshing past. I’d never gone this fast before, but it was almost a straight shot to the barn.
Thundering hoof beats came from behind me. Dean followed in hot pursuit, but he still lagged a few lengths back. Razz was doing his best to catch Coal, but the smaller stallion was no match for Coal’s long legs. I urged Coal to go faster. We left them in the dust.
A few minutes later, we reached the pastures and pens behind the barn. A hundred yards after that, the barn approached. I sat up straighter, not realizing I’d been hunched over Coal’s neck as we thundered across the land.
“Easy, boy.” Coal instantly responded to my shifting weight. He slowed to a canter and then bumpy trot. I trotted in a circle and turned. Dean was still galloping at the last pasture. He slowed as he got closer to the barn.
“Damn, girl, you can ride!”
I grinned.
Dean smiled, an ear breaking grin that stretched across his face. “We better walk ‘em.”
We walked the horses to the end of the pastures and back again. By the time we reached the barn, both horses had cooled.
“That was a lot of fun,” I said. “Thanks for taking me.”
“My pleasure. We should do it again.”
“Definitely.” I swung my leg to get off Coal but paused. Something pulsed into my back. A wave of energy hit me.
Looking awkwardly over my shoulder, I spotted Flint standing by the barn. His arms were crossed. Power radiated off him in hot waves. It was so strong, I physically felt it.
I tried to balance my boot in the stirrup, but another push of his power hit me. The next thing I knew, my foot slipped and I was falling. Before I could shriek, strong arms encircled me and a tight voice whispered into my ear.
“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Flint seethed.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Flint caught me so abruptly, the air whooshed out of my lungs. It took me a minute to catch my breath. “What . . . how . . .” I stammered.
Dean interrupted. “Flint? Where’d you come from?” The cowboy cocked his head, a puzzled expression on his face.
Flint still had his hard arms around me. I wondered if Dean had seen Flint’s mind-numbing speed as Flint raced the twenty yards from the barn to where I’d fallen off Coal. From the innocent curiosity in Dean’s voice, I guessed not.
I still reeled from how fast Flint moved. Other than him rearranging the furniture that one morning, I’d never seen what he was capable of.
“Did you fall?” Dean asked incredulously.
I nodded numbly and tried to stand. Flint and I still huddled close to the ground. However, I couldn’t get my tongue working. How could his arms be so hard? They felt like steel.
Before I could get my knees to straighten, Flint stood and set me back on my feet. The ground, however, didn’t cooperate. It swayed. Or perhaps, I swayed. My head spun from how close Flint stood.
“Thank you.” I did a double take when I saw Flint’s expression. Thunderous, was the first word that came to mind. His eyes shot sparks at Dean.
“Lena?” Dean said. “We should probably put the horses away.” His gaze didn’t leave Flint’s.
“Right. Excuse me.” I sidestepped Flint and pulled Coal to the barn, but Flint’s question stopped me.
“How far did you take her?” He stared at Dean.
Dean shrugged. “To the Forbidden Hills and back.”
“You took her all the way to the Forbidden Hills?” Flint said, his voice rising. He placed his hands on his hips. Once again, raw power radiated off him. The force of it hit me like a wave. I gasped and stepped back.
Dean didn’t seem to notice the energy pouring off Flint. Instead, he slid off Razz and put his hands on his hips too. Both men stared at each other. The stallion pawed the ground and flung his head. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one feeling the charged atmosphere.
“Did you consider what would happen if she’d fallen off or gotten hurt out there?” Flint asked.
“She wasn’t gonna fall,” Dean said. “She’s a solid rider.”
“She just learned a week ago.”
“Well, she’s the most natural rider I’ve ever met!”
Both men now stood within a foot of one another. I briefly thought of a Clint Eastwood movie. I waited for guns to be drawn and a shootout to begin.
“Ah, excuse me. I’m still here, you know.” I blew at an annoying curl that kept fluttering in front of my face.
Dean shook his head and took a step back. “Sorry, Lena.”
Flint stayed put, his shoulders bunched. He still glared at Dean. “Did you think to tell anyone where you were going? What if something happened? How would we have known where to look for you?”
By we, I assumed he meant himself and the other cowboys. Not moi. But instead of Dean coming back with a smart comment, something Flint said seemed to touch a chord in him.
“We were never in any danger,” Dean said, although his voice didn’t sound so sure.
“Yeah,” I replied. “No danger at all. We were only walking in the woods.”
“Walking?” Flint spun, facing me. The intensity of his gaze made me step back. I resisted the urge to take another step back when he leaned forward. “You call that neck breaking gallop into the barn, walking?”
I stood up taller and put my hands on my hips. “Well, yes, actually, we were walking. The entire time out there we were walking.”
“Then how do you explain what I saw just a minute ago?”
“So we raced in, what’s the big deal?”
“The big deal?” he said, his voice tight. “The big deal is that you could have fallen off and gotten hurt.”
“So?”
“So?”
“Yeah, so? What’s it to you, anyway?”
Something in his face changed, but abruptly it disappeared. “You’re my responsibility, that’s why,” he said gruffly.
I didn’t think he could have said anything worse to hurt me. I was his responsibility. It was his duty to protect me, nothing more. My heart broke right there. That was all I’d ever be to him even though something about him pulled at me like gravity. Just his presence made me want to step closer, to touch him and feel his muscles bunch and tighten beneath my fingertips. My body was helpless to resist. It was impossible for me to ignore my attraction to him.
Not wanting him to see the tears that burned my eyes, I turned and stalked to the barn. Dean called out, but I ignored him too. How could I have been so stupid? I’d actually hoped that maybe, just maybe, Flint cared for me. Maybe a little. But why would he?
Flint appeared at my side, hands in his pockets, head down. “Lena?” he said quietly.
I ignored him and kept walking. I couldn’t speak. My voice would probably break. A breeze swirled around us. I pushed another curl behind my ear.
“Lena?”
If I didn’t know better, I’d say there was an ache in his voice, but I did know better, so I knew I imagined it.
“Lena,” he repeated, sounding exasperated. “I’m sorry.”
I stopped. My chest rose and fell quick
ly. I was pretty sure my skin was even paler than normal. For some reason, that happened when I got hurt, angry, frustrated, and all of the other emotions I felt right now. I concentrated on the anger. That was the easiest to feel.
“Did you just say you were sorry?” I turned toward him and cursed the stupid, bright sun that made me squint when I looked up. “Whatever for?”
He either didn’t hear my sarcasm or chose to ignore it. “For . . .” he began, then stopped.
I raised my eyebrows.
He didn’t say anything. Something flashed across his face again. Those damned, fleeting emotions that never lasted longer than a second. I swatted at another curl, my frustration growing. Tapping my foot, I waited for him to continue. He didn’t.
“Just forget it.” I turned and walked the remaining steps to the barn. I half expected Flint to say something and secretly hoped he would. I waited for him to call out, but he didn’t. Nothing but a soft breeze whistling through the rafters reached my ears. I turned.
Flint was nowhere to be seen.
I spun around. Was he really gone? I ran to the end of the barn and then back to where Dean stood. There was no sign of him.
“Have you seen Flint?” I asked Dean.
He shook his head. “No. Why, he leave?”
“I guess so.”
Dean sighed. “Good.” He turned back to his horse.
AFTER THAT INCIDENT at the barn, Flint went back to ignoring me. Unless social niceties required he talk to me, it was as though I didn’t exist.
I attempted to make myself feel better as I got ready for work the next night. I searched for one of the trendy tops Jacinda bought me. It was almost six in the evening. I didn’t have much time so cursed when I couldn’t find it. After digging through my mountain of clothes on the floor, I finally spotted it.
Jacinda insisted fashion was therapy. Beautiful clothes always made her smile. I had yet to experience that euphoria, but considering my mood today, I was willing to try.
Muted colors of green, lavender, gold and ivory flowed around me in the peasant style top. The material felt nice. I had to agree with that. However, a heaviness still hung in my heart. Just the thought of Flint was like tying an anchor to my mood. It sank.
The Complete Lost Children Series Page 11
