“You can never tell.” Chet shrugged. “You know how it is.”
“Yeah, I know. Most of the folks I work with are great. They love the outdoors and horses, and they take in stride whatever comes while on a trip. But every so often . . .” Buck let his words fade into silence as he gave his head a slow shake.
Chet grunted in response.
Buck looked toward the open barn door. “It’s not letting up.”
“We need the moisture. Been a dry summer.” Chet leaned his shoulder against a post. “Buck, when do you think you’ll go back to outfitting?”
“I don’t have anything booked until the end of August.”
“How’d you like to come work for me until then? Full time. Not just leading trail rides for our guests but training horses, too, and general ranch work. I could really use you.”
Buck didn’t have to think about the offer. “Chet, there’s nothing I’d like better. I’m not used to having a lot of spare time on my hands. I like to be busy.”
“Great. Start tomorrow morning?”
“Sure,” he said. “I’ll be here. Eight o’clock? Or do you want me earlier?”
“Eight’s fine.” Chet grinned. “Kimberly’s going to be glad to hear it. She’s been after me to hire another hand ever since Denny left for Colorado. I haven’t been very happy with the interviews I’ve had. Then I started wondering about you. You know horses and ranch work, and you’re good with people too. You’re a perfect fit.”
“I’ll try not to disappoint you.”
“I’m not worried about that.” Chet slapped a hand on Buck’s shoulder. “Only disappointment will be when you leave us.”
Chet’s words stayed with Buck during the drive home. It felt good, the trust the other man had shown in him. What was more surprising was how much he liked the idea of ranch work. Especially the horse-training part. He knew a lot, but he didn’t know as much as Chet Leonard. Nobody in these mountains knew as much as Chet. A paycheck, even for a single month, would be a big help. Learning more about horse training from Chet would be a major bonus.
As his truck approached his driveway, the rain—little more than a sprinkle now—stopped and the clouds broke apart, letting through a bright beam of sunlight. It felt like a promise of some kind. Almost as a response, Charity sprang to mind. And along with her image came an old Vince Gill song. He began to sing it to himself. The lyrics were perfect. They described exactly how Charity made him feel. Whenever she came around, she made his knees go weak and his breath catch. Her smile turned his world upside down.
But he wouldn’t keep his feelings hidden. That part of the song was all wrong. Buck Malone was more determined than that. He just needed to find the right moment.
CLAD IN HER COTTON PAJAMAS, CHARITY STAYED UP until midnight in order to Skype with her parents at eight in the morning in Rome.
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.” She leaned closer to the laptop screen. “How are you? You look fabulous.”
“Thanks, honey,” her mom replied. “We are good. You cannot believe all of the wonderful things we’ve seen and the marvelous people we’ve met. I know we say that every time we talk, but it’s so true. We are having the trip of a lifetime.”
“Are you going to be ready to come home at the end of the month?”
“Of course. Dorothy was right, you know. There’s no place like home. But that doesn’t mean we won’t enjoy every single moment we’re here.”
Charity laughed softly.
“Now, tell us. How are you? How’s the book coming?”
“I’m okay, and the book’s coming along great. I’ll finish on time, and I think I’ll really like the book when it’s done.”
Sophie Anderson repositioned her iPad. “You look a little tired. Are you getting enough sleep?”
“Yes, Mom. I’m getting enough sleep.”
“Don’t poke your chin out, dear. I’m still your mother and I worry about you.”
Charity gave her head a small shake. “I know, Mom, but you don’t have to worry.”
She imagined her sister pointing a finger at her, telling her that their mom did have cause to worry. And with it came a shiver in her stomach. When her parents returned, she would have to tell them everything she’d told Terri. At least with her sister, it had been over the phone. She wouldn’t get that same distance when she shared everything with her mom and dad. It was going to be harder than she wanted to contemplate.
The iPad got pulled over so that her dad’s face was all she saw. “My turn,” he said, looking at her mom offscreen. Then he smiled at Charity before asking, “How’s Cocoa?”
“Pretty good, considering. She’s getting around on three legs without trouble. She still sleeps a lot, but I think that’s the pain meds the vet has me give her.”
“Did the bear show up again?”
“No. No sightings anywhere. Must have gone back to the mountains right after it met up with Cocoa.”
“Well, that’s a relief. I hate it when a wild animal has to be shot just because it comes too close to civilization. It was only doing what bears do.” He frowned at her. “But you be careful when you’re outside, all the same.”
“I will.”
“How’s your house coming along?”
“Good, I think. Although the contractor is pretty tight-lipped about progress when I talk to him on the phone. I plan to drive down to Boise one day this week to see for myself.”
Charity’s mom popped back into view, going cheek to cheek with her husband. “Honey, we’ve got to go. We’re signed up for a tour this morning, and we don’t want to miss the bus.”
“Okay. Have a great time. Love you!”
“We’ll talk again next week. Bye. Love you too.”
The Skype connection was broken, and Charity felt the emptiness of the house swirl around her as she closed her laptop. After a few moments, she unfolded her legs, got up from the bed, and returned the computer to the desk. A breeze fluttered the curtains over the window, and she went to lower it about halfway before switching off the bedside lamp. Outside the night was pitch-black, clouds hiding the moon and stars. No lights were on at Buck’s house. Now that he was up and mobile, she’d learned that he was an early-to-bed, early-to-rise guy.
She lay down and pulled the sheet and lightweight blanket up to her chin. But she didn’t close her eyes. If she did, she knew thoughts about Buck would inevitably lead her back to the kiss they’d shared. Time and space hadn’t helped her forget it. The memory was always close by. It took great willpower to keep it at bay. Sometimes she succeeded. Often she did not.
It would be good for her to get away from Kings Meadow for a day. She’d already planned to go down to Boise to meet with the contractor and see the progress on her house. She would do it tomorrow or Wednesday. She would return to the valley and see how it felt to be home again.
Chapter 23
BUCK STARED AT THE FLAT TIRE, THEN AT THE USELESS jack. He couldn’t believe his bad luck. Who knew how long it would be before someone stopped to offer help? Traffic was sparse this early on a weekday morning. It would pick up later, but he might as well settle in for a wait.
The truck belonged to Chet Leonard’s sons. Chet had asked Buck to drive it down to the valley to pick up a special piece of equipment. He should have been able to complete the errand in under four hours—if not for a flat tire and a broken hydraulic jack. He should have brought his own truck. It might not look this good, but at least he knew his jack was in working order. Something teenagers didn’t always think about.
He looked north, up the winding two-lane highway. He could see about a quarter mile before a bend in the road hid any oncoming traffic. Looking south got an almost identical view.
Might as well get comfortable.
He dropped the tailgate and hopped onto it. At least it wasn’t hot yet, and there was a nice breeze off the river. He should be able to hitch a ride to the nearest public phone before the temperature climbed above eighty.
He bumped
the brim of his hat with his knuckles. He hoped this incident wouldn’t mess up his day so badly he’d have to cancel his dance lesson with Skye. He looked forward to it. He’d realized that the all-class reunion dance would be his best chance to sweep Charity off her feet. Cliché, perhaps, but that was what he intended to do.
He wondered if she’d noticed his absence the last couple of days. He wondered if she thought about him at all. He hoped so. Remembering the night he’d kissed her, remembering the night she’d kissed him back, he had convinced himself she cared for him. At least a little.
If I could just get more time with her. I need a day for her and me. Like the day we went riding . . . only better.
The thought had barely become conscious when a light-colored SUV rounded the bend from the north. It couldn’t be. But it was.
Charity.
Buck dropped off the tailgate and lifted his arm to wave her down. There was a moment when he wondered if she would stop—she wouldn’t recognize the truck—but then he saw the Lexus slow down. She brought the automobile to a halt a couple of yards behind the pickup.
Buck approached the driver’s side door as she lowered the window. “Are you a sight for sore eyes,” he said.
“What’s happened? Whose truck is that?”
“Flat tire. Belongs to Chet’s boys. I’m supposed to pick up some ranch equipment down in Boise, but the hydraulic jack is broken. Don’t suppose you have one of those for this rig of yours?” He tried to make the question sound teasing.
She shook her head, her expression serious.
“Can you give me a lift? There’s a pay phone at the café a few miles from here. I can call Chet and then walk back to the truck to wait for him.”
“I wouldn’t make you walk.” She motioned with her head. “Get in.”
He moved swiftly to the passenger’s side of the car, opened the door, removed his hat, and slipped in. The interior was as luxurious as the name Lexus promised consumers. He hadn’t taken any note of it on the day Eddy was born. Now he did.
“Nice,” he said, glancing into the backseat.
She sounded almost apologetic when she answered, “It was my one big splurge after my books took off. Well, it and my house.”
I could never afford to buy you anything like it. The thought made his gut clench.
Charity restarted the engine, checked for traffic, then pulled onto the highway. Neither spoke in the short time it took to reach the café overlooking the river. Once there, Charity parked her car near the restaurant’s entrance. The public phone was inside the doors and to the right.
“I’ll wait for you,” she said as he opened the car door.
“Thanks.”
Kimberly answered the phone. Buck quickly explained the situation, then she asked him to hold on. He waited.
It took awhile before Chet’s voice came over the wire. He asked a few questions, then said, “This is Sam’s responsibility, Buck, and he’s going to have to take care of it. But he’s not here right now. You stay put and I’ll come get you.”
The idea came to him, sudden and perfect. “Hey, boss. I know I’ve just started working for you full-time but . . . do you think I could take some time off?”
Silence greeted him from the other end of the line.
“I was hoping maybe I could ride along with Charity. She’s the one who gave me a lift.”
Chet laughed. “Kimberly told me you were sweet on Charity, but I didn’t believe her. Guess she was right. You go on. I can manage without you today.” He chuckled again. “Kimberly’s going to love this when I tell her. See you when you get back.”
Buck hung up the phone but didn’t move away at once. He still needed to figure out what to say to Charity. He couldn’t lie, but he didn’t want this to blow up in his face either. He would have to choose his words carefully.
CHARITY CLICKED HER FINGERNAILS AGAINST THE steering wheel in time with the music playing on the stereo. She didn’t feel impatient. Her appointment with the contractor wasn’t until early in the afternoon. She had plenty of time before then.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the restaurant door swing open. Buck appeared and strode toward her in that easy gait of his, coming to a stop beside her door. She turned down the volume of the music as she glanced up at him.
“Well, I talked to Chet,” Buck said, “and there’s a problem.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Chet wants Sam to take care of this since it was his responsibility. But Sam isn’t around right now. Won’t be for a few hours. I didn’t want to ask you to drive me back to Kings Meadow, and I hate for Chet to have to drive out here twice in one day. Once for me. Once to bring Sam. So I thought, if you don’t mind, I’d tag along with you down to Boise. I’d buy you lunch.” He ended with a questioning grin. A completely charming, devastatingly handsome grin.
Her heart flip-flopped in her chest. A day in Boise with Buck Malone. Why did that sound almost like a date?
“Unless, of course, I’d be in the way.”
“No, I . . . It would be fine. Of course you can come. Get in.”
Buck strode around to the opposite side and opened the passenger door once again. Charity had to force herself not to watch his every movement. Once he was seated beside her and seat-belted in, she started the engine and steered the car back onto the highway.
Driving along this stretch of river was one of her favorite things to do. Whenever she came up to see her parents, this was what she looked forward to first. She loved the climb out of the valley, the falling away of sagebrush and foothills, the first sign of pine trees and clear running water. The beauty of nature all around made her heart sing. She’d had her reasons for staying away from Kings Meadow, but this wasn’t one of them.
As if reading her thoughts, Buck said, “God didn’t hold back when He created Idaho, did He?”
She smiled, liking his comment, though her attention remained on the winding road ahead.
“So what’s taking you to Boise?”
“My house. I want to see how the renovations are coming along.”
“Hey, that’s great. I’d love to see where you live. The way we live says a lot about us, don’t you think?”
“Yes. I suppose it does.” She felt his gaze upon her and for some reason feared she might blush.
“So what does my place say about me?” he asked.
“Confirmed bachelor?”
“Ouch.”
The response surprised her. “Isn’t that what you want it to say about you?” Isn’t that what you are?
“It’s who I’ve been up to now. But I’m always open to change. I think this summer has changed me. Hopefully for the better.”
An odd feeling thrummed inside her chest. She wished she understood what it meant.
They fell into silence as the road and river parted ways and the pine trees were left behind. Another fifteen minutes and they reached the valley.
Breaking the silence, Charity said, “My appointment with the contractor isn’t until this afternoon. Shall we have an early lunch?”
“Sure, sounds good.”
She had a favorite restaurant that overlooked the Boise River. At this point in the summer they would be sure to see lots of people floating by in inner tubes and rafts. It was a popular activity in hot weather. Her home was about halfway between the launching point at Barber Dam and the exit point at Ann Morrison Park, and she had a fine view in her tree-shaded yard from where she could watch people enjoying the river. Not just in the summer when they were on the water but year-round as they walked and bicycled and skated along the Greenbelt that followed the river for miles and miles and miles.
As was true for many who chose to live and work in Idaho’s capital city, Charity loved nature and thrived on activities in the outdoors. At the same time, she loved being able to attend the Idaho Shakespeare Festival or get tickets to a Broadway show. Not to mention the ballet and the philharmonic orchestra. And there was a little thing called BSU footbal
l that had become her passion as well.
She glanced over at Buck, wondering if he would care for any of the cultural activities she loved about the city. Or would he be the proverbial fish out of water in a place like this? Was he the type of cowboy who only cared about horses and the wilderness? Or did he have other sides to him she’d never seen?
Such questions were still swirling in her head when they arrived at the restaurant. Almost before the engine died, Buck was out of the car and coming around to open the door for her. If she knew nothing else about him, she knew he’d been raised to be a gentleman.
The restaurant was a popular placed to have lunch, but they were early enough to beat the crowd. They had their pick of seating outdoors at one of the shaded tables.
“Have you been here before?” she asked as she sat on the chair he held for her.
“Nope.” He rounded the small table to sit directly opposite her. “Looks nice.”
“The food is great, but what I like most is the view. I’ve always loved our rivers. The water runs so clean and clear. I was surprised when I started to travel more and learned it isn’t like that everywhere.”
Buck smiled at her, and as had happened before, she felt it all the way to her toes. Was she going to blush again?
The waitress came to their table—a welcome interruption—and Charity ordered a Cobb salad with Thousand Island dressing on the side. Buck asked for the same.
Shouts of laughter carried to them from the river. They looked up to see the inhabitants of two rafts splashing one another with their oars. Teenagers, it looked like. Three boys and three girls in each raft.
Buck chuckled. “Remember when we were that young and carefree?”
She smiled at him. “Yes, I remember.”
She was surprised to realize she meant it. For years now, all of her memories had been tainted by that one winter’s night in the Riverton mansion. But sitting here with Buck, it was as if a cool breeze had blown a thousand lies and regrets away.
The Kings Meadow Romance Collection Page 37
