“Just making conversation,” he replied. He tilted his head to the side. “Surely you do that where you’re from,” he added.
She laughed, thoroughly appreciating his comment and surprised to see that he had that side to him. It would certainly make things more fun and interesting as she tried to get on his good side. “Why yes, in fact, we do. I guess you’ll have to teach me about the art of conversation.”
The way she responded made his insides spark. She was incredibly gifted at flirting, and he wondered how natural it was for her. He knew she wanted something from him, but how far would she be willing to go to get it? It was worth shaking things up a bit to find out.
After a few minutes, the awkward, flirtatious banter stopped and the two began a more relaxed, genuine conversation, covering a variety of topics, mostly about Colton. He preferred to learn more about Olivia so he felt it was time to switch the tide of the conversation.
“How’d you get interested in history?” he asked.
“In school, I always loved history class, found it to be fascinating, and that meant that I got good grades in it without a lot of effort. I liked that, too. But as I got older, I began to do some volunteer work at nursing homes—just talking to people who were lonely, that kind of thing. It was then that I really got interested in hearing the stories of people’s pasts. Their experiences really got to me. Does that make sense?”
“Perfect sense,” he said. He had been watching her talk and could tell it came right from her heart. It was touching, and her sparkling green eyes took on a softer look, reminding him of how everything first turns green in the spring time.
“Well, since I’d always loved to hear the stories from my grandparents, too, I just got consumed with history of all sorts. It never got old, and I’m pretty certain that I drove everyone nuts with my constant ‘why’ questions, but hey, I felt a need to know. How do you learn if you don’t ask, right?”
“That’s what they say,” he said.
“Well, whoever said that to me for the first time probably regrets it,” she said.
The two began laughing and sharing some of their favorite moments in history. For Olivia, it really was everything to do with settlers moving to the West and setting up their homesteads. For Colton, who’d always lived in the West, it was WWII history that he found fascinating. Watching a documentary on something like that was how he liked to relax at the end of a long, hard day.
“What I’m really curious about is the story behind that scar above your eye, Colton. How’d you get it?” she asked. Without really thinking about it, she reached over and touched it softly with the tip of her finger. Only afterward did she realize that was a rather impulsive, definitely invasive, move. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
Colton smiled, temporarily stunned by how that simple touch had felt so good. “The story isn’t all that exciting, really,” he said.
“An accident on the ranch, I suppose,” she replied.
“That would make sense, but actually, it’s not. I got it in the city on a family vacation,” he said, shaking his head as if still in disbelief about it.
“What happened?”
“Well, my parents took Mal and me to Seattle for a family vacation and to visit some relatives that were getting married. I think I was nine at the time … about that. We went to visit Pike’s Market, like most people who visit Seattle do, and when one of the guys tossed the fish to a guy across the path, the fish slipped a bit and came pretty close to my face—”
Olivia couldn’t help but interrupt. “A fish gave you a scar?”
“No,” he said with a laugh, “but when I turned my head quickly to avoid it, the post right next to me did. I smacked my head good and hard, knocked me loopy.”
“That explains a lot,” she said. She tried to keep a serious face, but it broke out into a smile and then lots of laughter.
Colton soon followed and when he looked up, he saw that everyone in the café was watching the two of them. He felt his neck heat up, slightly embarrassed, but he couldn’t get that smile off his face.
As everything played out that morning for Olivia, she had to admit that the breakfast “date” or whatever it was, was going better than she’d ever imagined it could. She was having so much fun that she almost forgot what it was that she really wanted to do. And that was dangerous. Colton was so charming, too, and that made her wonder if he was playing games with her now. She wouldn’t have taken him for that type of guy, but there was clearly more to him than what she’d built up in her head before meeting him. There was no doubt about it, Colton Tisdale in person was a very interesting, almost indefinable, man.
“Hey, you okay?” he asked, waving his hand softly in front of her face.
“Yes, why?” she asked, jumping back to the present moment.
“That must have been some thought you were lost in,” he said.
“Sorry, it was indeed.”
“Anything I can help you with?” he asked.
She looked at him, wondering if there was a hidden meaning behind that question. If he was teasing her, he was doing a good job. Because yes, there was indeed something he could help her with—and he knew it!
“Maybe, but that’s neither here nor there at this moment, is it, Colton?”
“I guess not,” he said.
“So, how long has your sister been married to Wade?”
“Just about a year now, I suppose,” Colton answered. She’d changed the topic faster than a jack rabbit changes directions when it’s being chased.
“Were you protective of her when they started dating?” she asked.
Colton laughed, because the story of his sister’s infatuation with Wade Williamson from when she was just a young girl was known by everyone in town. While it was a grand idea to think that he was effective as a protective, big brother, when it came to Mal’s pursuit of Wade, he hadn’t stood a chance. Her determination to land the man of her dreams had been stronger than anything he’d ever seen in his life up to that point—in the romance department, anyway.
After he shared the story with Olivia, she laughed, too, adding, “That’s the type of romance that reads like a book.”
“I suppose it is,” Colton agreed. “Do you have any siblings?”
“I have a younger sister, but no older brother. I always wanted one, though. I used to think it would be really cool to have everyone who ticked me off know that they might have to deal with my older brother. But since you can’t make an older brother, I decided that I’d have to be my own ‘older brother,’ and it sparked me to really stand up for myself and take care of getting the things I wanted in life.” She took her last sip of coffee and held her hands around the cup, staring into it for a second as if the bottom of it held something of value.
“You don’t have a shy bone in your body, do you?”
She shrugged her shoulder slightly. “I don’t, and I’m glad for it. It’s not easy being shy, I’d imagine. But I’m more reserved than what people might think.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just because I’m not afraid to pursue what I want doesn’t mean that I am an open book—someone without a filter, as some folks phrase it.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Colton said. “There’s no reason to be an open book to everyone, after all, ‘cause some things are just meant to be personal, between us and our maker.”
“Interesting. It would be fascinating to know what types of secrets you hold in that mind of yours, Colton.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” he said. Then he took a sip of coffee and set the cup down. Afterward, he looked at the round white clock that hung over the pass-through window from the kitchen to the counter of the café. “It’s already 10:00. Wow, time went by fast. I don’t mean to be rude, but I have got to run, Olivia.”
“I’m sorry to keep you. I know you have a lot of work to do,” she said. Inside she wanted to offer to help, but suspected that would be too much. Take it easy, that voice o
f reason cautioned.
“I have a full plate today, but I was wondering if you’d like to come out to the ranch tomorrow … maybe … if you like,” he said. He felt his words fumbling and he was suddenly nervous. He hadn’t planned on doing anything like that, but there he was doing it. Since he couldn’t suck the words back in now, he’d just have to deal with whatever answer she gave.
“That would be great. I’d love a tour of a working ranch. I’ve never done that before,” she said.
“Great. Why don’t you come out at 1:00 p.m.? Does that work for you?”
“That would work great. I know where to find you,” Olivia said, pointing at Colton and giving him a smile that was brighter than a lighthouse beacon.
“Yes, I do believe you do,” he said.
He grabbed his black Stetson from the seat of the booth and got up, leading the way to the door, and then held it open for Olivia as they left the café. Then they stood there and looked at each other with a slight awkward silence. Finally, she leaned in and gave him a hug, saying, “Thanks for the great breakfast. You have a nice day, Colton Tisdale.”
“And you, too, Olivia Jaspers. Don’t get into any trouble. I’m not sure Cherish can handle you.” Then he laughed.
“We’ll see. Trouble seems to follow me wherever I go—just a little bit.”
Colton nodded, put his hat on, and then turned to walk toward his truck.
She watched him appreciatively, taking in the handsome cowboy—hat and all. She’d had such a good time and felt delighted with over-the-top excitement. She’d landed herself an invitation to the ranch for tomorrow and she had a lot of work to do. Her head began to clear up, and thoughts of Colton as a man—more than someone she needed to get permission from to take care of business—left her mind. He really was distracting and if it had been any other situation, she would have definitely enjoyed that.
***
Olivia was pacing around her hotel room, slightly annoyed that she couldn’t get decent reception from her cellphone. She stuck out her lip, biting it and wrinkling her nose, and then tossed the phone on her bed. Then she sat down on the edge and reached for the receiver on the land phone that was on the nightstand.
She referenced the number in her mobile and dialed it. After three rings, her sister Amelia finally answered.
“Hey, how are you?” Olivia said.
“Good, I’ve been wondering about you,” her sister said. “How’s everything going? Do you have it?”
“I don’t have it—yet, but I’ll get it.”
“How’s the search going?” Amelia asked.
“It’s not going, but tomorrow I should get to start. I finally got an invitation out to the ranch for a tour.”
“Awesome! That guy must have thought you were crazy,” her sister said. She sounded quite serious.
“I was a bit much at first, but he’s warmed up to me, I think.”
“Is he good looking?”
“Amelia, he’s distractingly good looking, unfortunately.”
“What’s unfortunate about that? Getting what you want and being around a good-looking man at the same time. Sounds ideal to me.”
Olivia didn’t want to answer because she didn’t think it was smart to let her emotions go there. She wasn’t going to be in Cherish for that long and allowing her heart to linger here after she left seemed foolish, a waste of time. And while she would never bring up the idea to Colton, she felt quite confident that he’d feel the same way.
Finally, she told Amelia that she had to go. “Lots to do and I’d better get a good night’s rest since I’m going to be touring a ranch tomorrow.”
“You said it was over 1700 acres, right?” Amelia asked.
“1720, to be exact. Why?”
“That’s a lot of land to explore, Sis.”
“Don’t remind me,” Olivia said. “Okay, talk to you soon.”
She could hear her sister calling out, “Have fun,” as she hung up the telephone.
Olivia walked over to the dresser drawer and pulled out a large, rolled-up document. It was a map of the property and she rolled it out and began to study it. On the map, she saw the boundaries for the ranch. To the left of the ranch was a lengthy metes and bounds description that seemed longer than the Constitution of the United States itself.
The current Tisdale Ranch land had been intact for nearly two hundred years and had had only two owners, which was quite rare. It had been passed down from generation to generation, which made it even more fascinating. Ranchers loved land, specifically their land. And that might be the biggest challenge that Olivia faced as she tried to find the place she was looking for. One spot, likely only three feet or so in diameter in a parcel of land that was equal to over one square mile. So yes, she had a big challenge ahead of her, but if she wanted it badly enough, she’d get it. That’s what she kept telling herself.
Olivia felt anxious and had to do something to pass the time until 1:00 the following afternoon finally arrived. She’d studied the map all she could and didn’t want to talk to anyone, except for the one person she wouldn’t be seeing until the next day.
It was time for a little shopping trip. She got into her truck and headed to Deer Run so she could look for a few new clothes to wear for her outing on the ranch tomorrow. It wouldn’t hurt to look her best, after all. Then she could also get a few groceries at the local store, because it seemed that she might end up being in Cherish longer than she’d ever expected. Surprisingly, although there wasn’t a lot to do in such a small town, she felt quite relaxed there. Everyone seemed friendly, which was always nice, and more than that, everyone seemed to walk around with a sense of contentment in their hearts that she had never experienced before—at least not to such a noticeable extent. It was interesting, and it seemed, to her, the way that most people said they wanted to feel, but seldom did.
Chapter Four
The sun was shining down brightly and you couldn’t have asked for a better, more playful feeling day to go explore the ranch grounds than what the good Lord had delivered that day. A slight breeze gently swaying the surrounding wheat fields lent to it, making it an ideal day to be outside. For Colton, knowing that he’d be able to experience it with Olivia was something he was looking forward to.
She had shown that she had some toughness so far, but he was curious about whether she had the type of mindset it took to really understand the workings of a ranch and everything that came along with it. Why? He couldn’t say for certain, but he was certainly curious to find out. Sometimes, without being able to explain it precisely, that’s just the way a person could feel.
He was in the equipment shed and pulled out the ATV, deciding that was the best route to go. If Olivia wasn’t really comfortable around horses, going on one would be more hassle than it was worth. And he didn’t trust that she’d say she was uncomfortable on them, because she was determined, and frankly, a bit prideful—maybe too prideful, he suspected.
When the old truck pulled up, noted by the sound of a slightly knocking piston, Colton looked up right away and watched her approaching. She was driving slower than she had that first day and he could see her arm resting on the edge of the rolled-down window, her hand tapping out some beat that he assumed went with the music she was playing from her radio.
He walked up to the truck and opened the door after she put it into park. “Good afternoon, Olivia.”
“Hi Colton,” she said.
Her smile just about knocked him back on his butt. She sure had a way of catching him off guard. “Ready for your tour?”
“I cannot wait,” she said. There was nothing fake about her excited sound; Olivia was ready to start looking at this land so she could pinpoint what she was looking for.
Colton laughed and shook his head. “Ranching is the ideal life for me, but I fear I may have oversold it to you.”
“Nonsense,” she said dismissively.
She walked toward the center of the open area that separated the house from the stab
les and other outbuildings and looked around. As she did that, Colton took the time to look at her. She looked good—probably too good for what their plans were. Even if you didn’t do anything at all, you couldn’t help but get dirty when you were driving around in the fields, especially if it was a windy day and there was tilling going on anywhere nearby. That dust could travel for miles through the air and you’d never realize it, until you suddenly felt your skin and there was a gritty coat of dirt on it.
“So, are we riding horses?” she asked, turning back to Colton.
He realized that he’d just been caught looking at her and it embarrassed him a bit. He put his hand up to his neck and rubbed it. “No, I thought we’d be better off on the ATV. That all right?”
“That’s perfect,” she said. “I haven’t ridden many horses before, and while I’m sure yours are trained well, especially with your sister and all, I don’t want my tour to land me in the ER because I did something wrong,” she said. She laughed casually, but Colton suspected that there was some serious concern in her statement.
“Agreed,” he said. “Well, I just have to run into the house and get my walkie-talkie. You’re welcome to come with me.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll just wait right here,” she said.
“Suit yourself.”
Colton walked toward the house and up onto the steps that led to the porch. He turned around and saw that she had pulled a piece of paper out of her jeans pocket—or so he assumed it must have been—and was looking at it and then looking up and out toward the pastures. He could see her lips moving and her finger pointing like it was a compass. What was it that she was looking for? He wished she’d just tell him, but if she didn’t want to, he’d just have to keep a closer eye on her to make sure she didn’t do anything that he didn’t approve of. And he had to admit, keeping a closer eye on Olivia Jaspers was hardly a bad thing. A rather pleasant punishment for a sunny day, in fact.
After going into the home and coming out with the walkie-talkie, Colton saw that Olivia was still busy with that map, completely focused on it and nothing else. He walked toward her, hoping to get a glimpse of it, but when he got within ten steps, she quickly whipped her head around and looked at him. “You’re back,” she said as she folded it up and slid it into her back pocket. He wondered if she really thought that he was that unobservant to not notice what she’d just done.
Cherished Moments (Cherish Cowboys Book 2) Page 3
