by Rose Verde
“I'll ride bareback.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” she responded her eyes meeting his.
He returned the saddle back to its place. “Here we go, let me help you up.”
Twining his fingers together, he gave her a boost and she slid onto the horse's back. He let his hand linger briefly on her ankle.
Amy's gaze flew to his. What was she thinking? He winked at her, then walked over to the big stallion and in one fluid movement, got on its back. Silently they walked the horses at a sedate pace.
The early morning sun was just making an appearance and Nevada loved the golden paint across the sky. Its warm fingers sneaked into his jacket, dissipating the cold.
He glanced at Amy. Caught staring, she looked away, but not before her cheeks tinged with color. Did she miss him? Nevada wished this was for real—he and Amy.
WHAT DID THE BIBLE say about bitterness, not to let it take root? It’d crowded out everything in her life. She, who used to be adventurous and free spirited. She, who loved the little things of life and couldn't get enough of everything, didn't want to live for a while.
Moving away was supposed to have helped. But, gradually, her hatred for the land just wouldn’t let up and she’d stayed away.
“Easy on the reins so you don't give her a wrong signal.”
His words broke into her thoughts. “Uh, okay.” She eased her hold. Longing to feel the exhilaration of riding she pointed in the opposite direction. “Look.”
As he turned to see what she pointed at she nudged the horse and it took off like a flash of lightning. In split seconds, Nevada realized what she’d done.
The sound of hooves sped after her and she bent low, speaking soft words urging her horse to go faster. The breeze swept over her, combing through her hair.
She loved it.
Amy cast a quick glance behind. Nevada would catch up in no time. Laughter bubbled inside her and spilled out. Oh, laughter is medicine for the soul, she thought with a chuckle. Two Sundays in church, and she seemed to have opened a memory chest of scriptures. Mom had taught her well, and even though she’d let it go, it was for a season.
She noticed something in the distance just as Nevada caught up with her and she reined the horse to a stop. She slid off before he slowed his horse. “Let's do this again.”
“I'll look forward to it but I'll be sure to give you a taste of your own medicine.”
She burst out laughing and he joined in. “I can imagine how difficult it must be for you, cowboy, to be beaten by someone who hasn’t been on a horse in years.”
He snorted. “You cheated and we both know it. Quit preening like you won a fair competition.”
Whatever it was that she’d seen earlier caught her eyes again. The land was a place for all manner of wildlife, but this didn't look like wildlife. “I see something.”
“What?”
“I'm not so ... oh, a calf. How did it come so far away?”
“It walked obviously,” Nevada said chuckling. “Must’ve wandered out and didn't know its way back.”
“Oh baby, it's so cute.” She walked over and knelt beside it, very aware of the man beside her. “If we hadn't come, it would have been meat for a fox or any number of predators around. You think it’s ours?” The word “Ours” sounded good in her ears.
“No. The color’s different. We’ll take it back home and check with the neighbors.”
Amy picked up the calf, held it to her chest and rose. Her gaze met Nevada's. The animal squirmed in her arms. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe.” Amy stroked the neck.
“You can't carry that on the horse. It’s heavy.”
“I can. You could hold it for me while I climb on and then hand it over.”
“Okay then.”
The calf grabbed her hair and Amy had to rescue the strands from its mouth. She giggled. “Definitely not food.”
She mounted Spicy and held out her hands.
Nevada placed the calf in her arms, his gaze not leaving her face. She read the surprise in his eyes. “Contrary to what you think, I haven't always hated the ranch...”
He smiled. Feeling vulnerable, she turned away. “Let's head back before Sam starts to wonder where I am.”
Chapter Twenty-one
HE DIDN'T RESPOND TO her. Did he dare believe that her heart was softening towards the place? In order to not raise his hope and have it dashed away, he tried to turn his thoughts from that direction.
Except that his eyes had a mind of their own because his gaze soon drifted to her.
Amy held the calf tenderly in her arms, her hair fluttering around her face. She was graceful. No one would think she'd not ridden a horse for a while, if he didn’t count the one following Anthony’s burial.
He’d got a kick when she raced him down the land. Another side of her unveiled before his eyes. Carefree, her face pink from the excitement and the wind. He'd never be the same again. “You know what?”
“What?” she asked, looking at him.
“You remind me of the story Jesus told about the shepherd and his missing sheep. Even though the shepherd didn't know where his sheep was, it didn’t stop him from going to look for it. A single one for him was precious and worth the trouble. Same way God treats every one of us.”
She nodded.
The soft hoof-falls were rhythmic, and the gentle breeze made the morning lovely. He remembered how he’d met with the Lord and wondered if she would one day do the same, or if all she’d been through had only further alienated her from God.
“I went to church these past weeks.”
“You did?” he asked, hopeful. “So?”
She smiled. “So, nothing.”
The fact that she went on her own volition was something.
There were many things he was yet to know about the woman who had gradually wormed her way into his heart.
They rode back to the ranch. Nevada helped her settle the calf in a stall, bottle-feed it, and together they rubbed the horses down.
“Have you been able to raise the loan?”
“Not everything. We paid enough to stall foreclosure. With the trail ride coming soon, if we get the heads of cattle to the buyer, we’ll see how much that can raise. I’m still on it. I still have a week to meet your deadline.”
“I want to help you. I have some money.”
He shook his head. “Not yet. Let’s see what happens by the time the week is up.”
“Why don't you want me to help?” She tucked her hair behind her ear.
“If we can figure this out, there’s no point letting you spend money you have saved.” She opened her mouth and Nevada placed a finger to her lips. “Not just yet, Amy. When I think we can’t find a way, I’ll let you know. Trust me.”
“Promise?”
Nevada nodded.
But he liked that she was beginning to take interest in the land. In that area, she was making progress.
TWO DAYS LATER, NEVADA scanned the sky above the flat prairie. Angry clouds gathered in the distance heralding a storm. Flashes of lightning sped across the sky.
An uneasy feeling tightened his gut.
His gaze drifted to the pens where the new calves and their mothers were held. The shelter should hold, with God on their side.
Squinting to the right he registered the ranch hands moving animals to more secure pens. It wouldn't do for the young calves to be caught in the storm or the ensuing stampede when others scampered for safety. He made his way to the horses' stalls to ensure they were bedded down without problems.
Everything was as it should be and he should have been satisfied but a niggling persisted in his mind.
His new level of relationship with Amy nagged at him. Those heart pumping smiles always had a way of melting his insides. Friendship with her was going to be hard. He wanted more. But dare he ask?
A clap of thunder caught his attention and he stepped out of the stall to study the sky again. The expanse of repair had not giv
en him time to check the rest of the fence. Let it hold, Lord.
Clouds that roiled in the distant horizon had moved closer in the time he’d allowed his mind to roam unwelcomed territories. He rubbed the back of his neck, deep in thought.
Warnings of an impending storm had been going on for days but the gut feeling he could always rely on said this was no longer a warning, they were in for a real hit.
He was walking towards the pens where the others were working when he spotted Amy. The sight of her set to course a warm glow in his heart. Nevada swallowed a groan.
“Amy.” He touched the brim of his Stetson and was rewarded with a broad smile that spread across her face. Her smile banished thoughts of the storm, made him forget for a spell.
She walked up to him. “I hope I'm not disturbing you?”
“No. There's a mighty storm coming.”
“I hate storms.”
He held her gaze. Clad in form fitting jeans, tee-shirt, and boots, she looked like she was made for the place just like she looked so right on the horse.
She raised a slender hand and pushed her hair from her face. Nevada swallowed at the unconscious gesture. The red tresses fell right back in place. For a moment, he wanted to run his hands through her hair and find out if it was as heavy and as soft as it looked. He did a quick backpedaling.
His gaze slipped to her mouth and he applied mental clamps to that line of thought, too. It would lead him nowhere. Nevada forced his gaze away and asked. “Why?”
“I had a nasty experience some years ago.” She dipped her hands in her back pockets.
She wasn't willing to say so he went on. “I don't mind storms except after the calving season. Unfortunately, that’s usually when they happen,” he said, trying for nonchalance. He wouldn't pry into her past. Most of what he knew about her, he'd heard from Sam and their short conversations here and there.
Another slow rumble of thunder sounded and he counted silently. Before he reached twenty a flash of lightning rent the sky. It was coming faster than he thought. “I'm going to see how the cattle are settling.” She fell in step with him. “Amy, you best be heading back to the house before the rain descends. I’ll check on you.”
She looked at him. “Uh, okay.”
Was she disappointed? The rain was part of the reason he wanted her to go back, but more especially because his senses hummed at high alert. He still didn't know why she’d returned to the ranch and what the likelihood she'd stay was. If he kept his distance, he might be able to keep his head about him and what was left of his heart.
DISTANT THUNDER RAPPED ominously. Amy cast a swift glance heavenward. The clouds were swiftly moving in to fill a third of the sky. It looked like a boiling cauldron rolling across the horizon.
The lowing of cattle and neighing of horses came to her ears—a sure sign of restlessness. Animals were able to sense impending disaster quickly. She looked back.
Nevada had disappeared. Will he be safe?
Get a grip! She told herself sternly but that hold was fast slipping. Where went her ideology of no ties? A large drop of rain hit her arm, followed by another.
Shelving her turmoil and concern for his safety, she jogged the rest of the way. As she hit the porch, the windows of heaven opened and for a moment she wondered what the days of Noah had been like.
Knocking her boots together to remove the dirt, she entered the living room. “Hey, Sam, you in there?” she asked peeping into the kitchen which seemed to be the woman's constant abode now that they were preparing for the trail ride.
Nevada hadn't said anything to her. She'd have to ask him about letting her go with them. A lot was changing with her and she realized it wasn't so bad.
Judging by the way dark clouds covered the sky, night would fall swiftly, a long one at that.
Rubbing her arms to ease the goosebumps, she started when a thunderclap rent the quiet. If this was LA, Mel would be there. How would Amy handle this storm? Not finding Sam, she went to her room in search.
She found the woman lying in her bed. It was unlike Sam to be resting in the middle of the day. “Are you okay?” Amy asked, alarm rising.
“I'm fine, just a tad tired.”
Amy came to sit beside Sam on the bed and took her hand. Amy felt Sam’s forehead. Thankfully, it wasn't warm. She couldn't imagine anything happening to Sam. She gave Amy a smile and her fear eased.
“Please be fine.” Her voice sounded shaky even to her own ears.
“Are you okay?”
Amy blinked back tears. Her emotions were topsy-turvy. Amy wasn’t sure if it was her worries for Sam, the storm, or her feelings for Nevada that troubled her. Especially that he seemed to want to keep her at arms-length. She was in love with Nevada but she wasn't ready to face up to that with anyone.
“Are you all right?” Sam was too perceptive.
“Silly me, I thought I’d outgrown my fear of storms.” The pounding of rain and wind on the roof was unrelenting.
Sam squeezed her hand. “You know I won't mind if you come sleep here with me. I have space for two.”
“I may take you up on that but rest awhile. Let me check if Nevada's back so I can lock up.” She kissed Sam and stepped away.
As she walked out, she remembered Nevada no longer lived in the ranch house.
Chapter Twenty-two
NEVADA BOUNDED UP THE porch. His shirt and jeans were plastered to his body. He should’ve bunked down with the others since the bunkhouse was closer. But he had to make a stop. He needed to make sure Sam and Amy were fine. Unfortunately, he didn't have his phone.
Keep telling yourself that. Really, he could’ve used Angel's but he remembered Amy said she hated storms and he wanted to ... do what?
Would he babysit her? He pulled off his boots, set them away from the rain and went through the kitchen. “Where’s Sam?”
“She's resting.” She looked up from the book she was reading and flushed a vivid red.
He glanced down at himself. His tee-shirt stuck to his chest like plaster of Paris. “I must look a sight. Let me get out of this.”
He didn't wait for a response. He had to get out before the laughter that rumbled in his chest let loose. She'd only be more embarrassed.
Ten minutes later he set his umbrella against the wall and stepped into the living room just as lightning flashed. A deafening thunder followed in its wake.
Amy dropped the mug she was holding. She jumped back as it crashed to the ground in a boom that rivaled the thunder. She cast a frightened look about her.
The lights flickered and went out.
Thankfully, Nevada had his phone on him now. He flipped on the light and came toward her. He took in the spill on the rug. “Let me get the mop.”
“No!” she said, “Not yet ... please stay.”
He took a few seconds to think about it, “How about you come with me? If we don't get this out on time, it will smell something awful by morning. Careful, so you don't step on the shards.”
He stretched out his hand to her and she took it. Silently they padded to the closet where Sam kept cleaning supplies.
Why was Sam sleeping at this time? It was unusual, but now he had to make sure Amy was okay, then he'd check on Sam.
When they returned back, he had the place cleaned up.
The wind howled big time and he prayed the ranch would be spared from too much damage. The last time they had a huge storm, four years ago, it’d been devastating. Anthony had made improvements in the buildings since then. He hoped it helped.
Sitting on the big sofa, he patted the spot beside him. Nevada put his arm around her shoulders. If only things were different. If she were cuddled up next to him as his wife instead of...
He pictured many evenings like this one and maybe a child or two playing around. What would she look like pregnant? Nevada hid a sigh. “Tell me about your experience that's got you so scared.” He turned off his light and they were plunged into darkness.
“It happened when I was tw
elve, so long ago, huh? There was a storm, much worse than this. Lightning and claps of thunder were incessant, booming through the air.”
He sensed the tension ease from her shoulders as she spoke.
“I was in my room, but couldn't sleep. We used to have this big tree behind the house on my side of the building. I guess the tree lost a branch in all the wind and rain and crashed through the roof.”
She shivered and he ran his hand gently down her arm to soothe her. After a brief moment she continued, “The roof caved in and before I could escape, a part of it ran into me and got stuck in my belly. I remember the excruciating pain and screaming but nothing after that. I guess I passed out from fear. When I came to, I was in the ER but God had mercy on me, it wasn't too deep and the damage not much. In one week, I was out of the hospital but the memory of that day hasn't been tempered by time.”
Nevada didn't know what to say, he ran his hand over her hair and then lifted a handful. Soft and light. He sighed and let it drop. “I'm glad you didn't suffer much injury.”
The roof must have been changed to the pattern it now had to accommodate an apartment up in the loft. His 'upper room,' Angel called it.
“Will you stay in the house tonight?”
“You want me to?”
She nodded.
“I will.”
“Thank you.”
He kissed her head. “You’re welcome.”
Amy snuggled closer, and Nevada’s breath caught. He loved Amy. God help him.
Companionable silence filled the room and Nevada listened to the storm. It seemed to be dropping in intensity.
They had been sitting in peaceful silence for about an hour when her breathing changed. She had fallen asleep.
What was God's will in all of this? Why did he feel things for her? Sometimes, like now, he'd been tempted to think there was a possibility of a future for them, other times he wasn’t so sure.
She shifted and snuggled closer and he wrapped his arms around her. So innocent in her sleep.
Another half hour passed before silence descended on the land.
