by Jaclyn Hardy
“Sure.” Brianna dropped her pajamas on the bed and sat next to them. “I don’t know how I got it wrong.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Angela pulled her into a hug. “It was the right brand, but the company must have changed up their ingredients, because it wasn’t what Carl was expecting when he opened the bag.”
Brianna blinked. “What do you mean?”
“They do that sometimes. Find something newer and greater and change things up. Usually he knows about it and can plan accordingly, but since he wasn’t the one who went shopping . . .” Angela sighed. “He lost a calf tonight. That’s what really set him off and you were the one he took it out on.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Brianna sniffed.
Angela patted her knee. “Sadly, that’s part of living on a ranch. We’ve lost a couple every year. But it never makes it any easier.”
“That stinks.”
“Circle of life and all that.” Angela hugged her again. “Get some sleep. It’s going to be a long night here, but I just wanted to let you know how awful Carl feels for yelling at you. He really is thankful you helped him. He’s a good guy. Really.”
Brianna smiled. “I know. And thank you.”
Angela left the room and Brianna went to change. She was relieved it wasn’t her fault about the food, but the words still stung. If she wanted to make this whole western thing work, she was going to have to learn a lot more about being on a ranch. Good thing tomorrow was a new day.
Lance played the scene from the night before over and over in his mind. Hearing Carl getting after Brianna. Her tears and the way she’d pulled away from Lance—especially after the evening they’d spent together— had been torture.
Angela assured him that she’d fixed things, but Lance hadn’t seen Brianna since then. School would be out soon and then they could have the weekend together.
There was supposed to be a concert at the hotel that night and he hoped Brianna would agree to go with him. She’d been busy, and he was making arrangements to go pick up his stuff from his parents’ house.
Lance finished the last of the milking and poured the milk in with the rest. He just needed to check on the irrigation in a few of the fields and he would be done. Thomas and Brianna pulled into the driveway as Lance left the barn. He frowned. Why hadn’t she asked Lance for a ride?
Brianna climbed out of the truck, laughing at something Thomas said. She grinned when she saw Lance and waved. “Hey, I haven’t seen you for a while.”
“How was school?”
“It was good. They got things cleaned up from the fire yesterday, but it was still a little chaotic, so we didn’t get much done.”
“I’m sure the kids loved that.” Lance waved at Thomas as he jogged past to go get started on his jobs. “Where’s the truck?”
She shrugged. “It’s with Carl, I guess. He had to return some of the feed. The company changed something about it without him knowing.”
Lance winced. “Yeah, he doesn’t like when that happens. Listen, I’m about to go check on the water on a couple of the fields if you want to come with me.”
“Sure. I’ll be right out.” She left and came back out a few minutes later in jeans and a T-shirt.
His breath caught. She always looked beautiful, but there was just something about the way she walked in those jeans that sent his mind reeling. Her pony tail just added to the look. “How do you always look so good?”
She blushed. “I don’t. Believe me.”
“Sorry, but I have to disagree with you there.” He gestured to the four-wheeler. “Ever ridden one of those?” He laughed at Brianna’s raised eyebrow. “I take that as a no. Okay.” He climbed on and patted the back of the seat. “Sit here and put your arms around my waist.”
“All right.” She did what he said, and Lance needed to take a minute to get past the feel of her arms around him, holding tightly.
“You don’t have to squeeze. Not that I don’t enjoy it.” He started the engine and peeled out, enjoying her squeal from behind him. It was too loud to talk as they drove toward the first field, but having her there with him was enough.
He climbed off and walked over to the pump. He reset the timers so the sprinklers would come on more often, then climbed back on the four-wheeler.
“That’s all you do? Just play with that little box and move on?”
“Something like that. But we’ll have to move some handlines at the next field.” He figured she had no idea what he meant, but she’d know soon enough. He climbed off and waited for her to catch up to him. “These sprinklers don’t move on their own, obviously, so it’s our job to put them where they need to go next. I hope you brought your muscles with you.”
“I always have my muscles.” She flexed. “Okay, so maybe not. Just show me what to do.”
Lance chuckled and showed Brianna where and how to pick up the handlines, then moved it to the next location. “It’s pretty easy, but you have to get used to doing it. You can try one on your own, or you can just help me. Or sit and wait for me to finish. I’m good with whatever.”
Brianna picked up the next pipe and moved it like he showed her. She set it down and turned to him with a sly grin. “Did I mention that besides reading, lifting weights is what I do to relieve stress?”
“Of course it is.” Lance shook his head and hooked the handline up to the pump before grabbing the next one. He had to show her where they went, but having a second person made the job go much faster. They were able to go to the next field must quicker this way.
“This one is a pivot. It’s much easier to work with, but the field has to be big enough to use them. We like these.” Lance turned it on and waited for it to move on its own so Brianna could see how it worked. “Pretty cool, huh?”
She nodded, staring at the mist. “I totally want to run through that right now.”
“You wouldn’t be the first. But I have to warn you, the water is very cold and probably not super clean.”
“Will it make me sick?”
He shrugged. “Maybe if you drink it.”
Brianna grinned and ran for the pivot. She shrieked when she ran under the water, and he couldn’t help laughing. He pulled out his camera and got a picture so he could send it to her later, then ran to join her.
The shock to his system as he went under the cold water was worth it as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He brushed her hair from her face and bent down to kiss her. He pulled away when he noticed that she was shivering in his arms and took her by the hand to run back to the four-wheeler.
“Want to drive?” Lance gestured to the four-wheeler.
Brianna’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“Why not? I’m right here to help you.” Lance patted the seat. “Come on. It’s easy.”
She bit her lip and climbed on. Water dripped from her hair and she shivered in the breeze. “So, what do I do first? We need to pull that thingie, right?”
Lance laughed and nodded. “Yes, we have to pull the thingie, to get the engine to start. Put your hands on the bars. This gear is the gas, and here is the brake. Got it?”
“Got it.” Brianna waited for him to start the engine and climb on. “Do it now?”
“Yes, that would be good.” He had to grab onto the seat as the four-wheeler jerked forward. “Okay, maybe not so hard this time. Just ease into it.”
Brianna pushed on the gas and they slowly crept forward. Lance wrapped his arms around her waist and held on as she gunned it. Her steering was a little erratic at first, but as she grew more confident, she relaxed and kept it in a straight line.
They got back to the barn, and she stopped. “Uh, how do I turn it off?”
“Just let go.” Lance climbed off the back. “Of course today would have a breeze. I’m going to go change. Thanks for helping me out.”
“No problem.” Brianna ran toward the house grinning.
Lance shook his head and went back to the bunkhouse. He showered, changed, and laid his wet clot
hes on his laundry basket to wash later. He hadn’t asked Brianna to the concert that night yet, and he didn’t want her to plan something else before he could.
She sat in the kitchen in a T-shirt and sweats, her wet hair pulled up in a bun. “Hey.”
“I didn’t have a chance to ask you before. There’s a concert tonight over at the hotel and I wondered if you want to go.”
She raised her eyebrows. “A concert?”
“Yeah, Rachel puts them on. She always wanted to be a singer, but instead she followed a different dream and opened the hotel. So every now and then they have a dance concert with her and some of her friends.”
“I just have a few more things to do, but that sounds like fun.” She smiled and went back to her computer.
“Great. We’ll head over there around eight. Make sure to bring dancing shoes.” Lance caught movement outside and looked up to see Thomas on the phone, pacing back and forth. “Know what’s going on there?”
Brianna shook her head. “He was a little agitated on the way home, but he wouldn’t tell me what’s going on.”
“Huh.” Lance left the house and went around to the side where Thomas hung up and threw his phone into his truck. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. It’s fine.” Thomas stalked off, running his hand through his hair. Things were definitely not okay. But when he didn’t want to talk, he wouldn’t talk.
Lance went into the barn to check on Daisy. It was always a little worrisome after a cow lost her calf, and they kept a closer eye on them. Daisy looked up at Lance with sad eyes. “I know, sweet girl.”
He tried offering her food, but she just turned away. That wasn’t a good sign. He pulled out his phone to call Carl.
“Hey, have you checked on Daisy today?” Lance tried to offer her food again.
“Yeah, why? Is she not looking good?”
Lance sighed. “She’s not eating.”
There was silence for a moment. “Call the vet and let him know. I’ll be home soon. Oh, hey, you need to call the bank while you’re at it. They had a few questions for the loan you need to answer. I already did my part.”
“Thank you.” Lance called the vet first, but had to leave a message. The call to the bank took much longer than he’d hoped it would because they kept asking strange questions about his past. He knew they needed to make sure he was qualified for the loan, but some of them seemed to make no sense at all.
By the time he was done with both calls, Carl was back home, and the vet had sent a text saying he’d be there asap. Lance went to the kitchen to see if dinner was ready, and found Brianna there, all dressed up for the dance in a pair of jeans and a red tank top. Her hair was down and curled.
“Hey. I was going to stay here for dinner and then head over, but since you’re ready, do you want to have dinner at the hotel too?” Lance leaned against the counter. He wanted to kiss her, but with Angela standing there, he stayed a few feet away.
“Sure.” Brianna picked up her purse. “Think I’ll need a jacket?”
He shook his head. “It should be fine. It’s not too far away and the dance is indoors.”
Brianna waved at Angela. “See you later tonight.”
“You two have fun.” Angela smiled and picked up a basket of rolls to take into the dining room.
The hotel was just up the road, and Brianna gasped when she saw it. “This the hotel? It’s like a huge mansion.”
“Yep. That’s exactly what it is. It was abandoned until Rachel and Patrick fixed it up.” Lance helped her out of the truck, and they walked up the steps into the hotel. Dozens of other people crowded the entryway as they waited for the concert. He took Brianna’s hand in his so he wouldn’t lose her and weaved through the crowd.
Rachel stood at the entryway to the ballroom and brightened when she saw Lance. Her eyes drifted to their hands that were still clasped. He moved to let go, but Brianna held on. “Are you two here to eat or are you just here for the concert?”
“It’s chicken day. Of course we’re here for the food.”
“Chicken day?” Brianna glanced between them.
Rachel laughed. “It’s our special for the day and tends to be a favorite for my friends. Follow me and we’ll find you a table.”
They ended up at a table with a few of his friends. Rachel waited for their orders, then left. Lance caught the glances from the others.
“Oh, hey, this is Brianna. She’s teaching at the school now. This is Justin, Laura, Stuart, Heather, and Mark.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Heather set her fork down. “So, how do you like teaching here?”
“I like it here. The kids actually want to learn, which is a nice change.” Brianna shifted uncomfortably under their stares. “I taught in New York City before. Lots of issues in my school.”
Laura gasped. “You did? Which school?”
“Lawrence High School. It’s in Manhattan.” Brianna smiled up at the waiter who set the food in front of her. “Thank you.”
“I haven’t heard of that one, and I grew up there. Weird.” Laura picked up her fork. “Welcome here, though. That’s exciting.”
Lance took a bite of his mashed potatoes. The food was perfect as always. One thing Rachel got from her mom was her amazing cooking skills. True, he could have gotten this same meal for free at the ranch, but it was more fun sometimes to come here instead.
Soon after they finished eating, waiters and other employees began moving the tables to the sides of the ballroom. Lance took Brianna’s hand and they walked out into the hallway where everyone else waited.
“So, this happens often?” Brianna asked.
“Yep. They have it down to a science. We’ll be back in there in about five minutes and you’ll barely recognize it.” Lance led her over to a couch and sat down. “I figured these would be full by now.”
Brianna nodded toward the crowd. “I think they’re all too excited to get in there.”
“Probably.”
Brianna rested her head against Lance’s shoulder. “It’s weird that Laura didn’t know where my school is. I mean, it’s got pretty awful scores because it’s a low-income school, but still.”
“The city is pretty big, though, right? She might just not know all of them.”
“Maybe.” She ran her fingers up his arm, sending sparks of pleasure through him, and by the thoughtful look on her face, he wasn’t sure she even knew what she was doing.
Lance stood as the doors came open. “It’s time.”
They walked into the ballroom, and Brianna’s eyes widened. “You weren’t kidding.”
“Nope.”
Rachel’s stage was set up in the corner, and a refreshment table was set up on the opposite side. The band was on the stage doing a soundcheck, while the crowd stood waiting for it to start. The excitement in the air was contagious, and the moment the first song started, the cheers were deafening.
Brianna stood in the middle of the dancing, seeming mesmerized by the music. “She’s good.”
“She is.” Lance took Brianna by the hands. “Want to dance?”
“Of course.”
Most of the dances were fast dances, so when it finally slowed down, Lance was ready to collapse. Brianna made a beeline for the refreshment table, and drank a few glasses of punch before she finally had enough.
“Wow, did they spike the punch or something?” Lance glanced at his own.
“No, I was just dying.” Brianna wiped her brow. “I haven’t been to a dance in so long. Thank you for bringing me.”
Lance finished the last of his punch and tossed the cup into the trash. “You’re welcome. Oh, it’s another slow song. Want to dance? Or we can sit out again if you’d like.”
Brianna grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the floor. “No resting. Let’s go.”
He chuckled and pulled her close. He loved the feel of her in his arms. Like he was protecting her. There had been other girls over the years, but this was the first time he
wanted to hold her so close. She laid her head against his chest, making his heart thump even harder.
If only she knew just how hard he was falling for her. And if it were up to him, he’d spend the rest of his life doing what he could to help her love him just as much.
Brianna sat at her desk, fuming. After such a perfect weekend with Lance, she’d hoped school would go just as smoothly. But when she got to school Monday morning, the rumors that Thomas had been fired were confirmed. The school district deemed him responsible for the fire, and decided it wasn’t safe to keep him there.
He was the first friend she made when she got here, and now he was being forced to leave the school.
“Uh, Miss Nielson? Are you okay?” Hannah had her hand raised, but lowered it when Brianna shot her a glare.
Not the best way to start the day. “I’m sorry. I’m just . . . something is on my mind. Okay, why don’t you turn to page three hundred and go over those study questions. It should cover a lot of what was missed on the test.”
The students glanced at each other, but did what she asked. Brianna rubbed her forehead and turned her own book to the same page. The answers along the sides should have spurred her into remembering what she wanted to talk about that, but they were no help.
It was all she could do to keep the rest of her classes going. Putting them in groups to study meant that she could sit at the front of the room and decide what she could do to help Thomas. By lunch, she finally had an inkling of an idea, but she wasn’t sure it would end well.
The bell rang, and she waited impatiently for the kids to leave before she headed for the main office. She spotted Mr. Parker in his office, and went straight toward it, ignoring the questions of what she needed.
She knocked on the door and walked in without waiting for an answer. “Hey, Mr. Parker.”
“Brianna. Please sit down.” He straightened the papers on his desk. “What can I do for you?”
“You can rehire Thomas.”
He blinked. “Uh, I’m sorry, but that does not concern you. I can’t discuss this matter with anyone else.”
She leaned forward. “You already lost one teacher this year, and while you managed to get me here to help out, you can’t really afford to lose another one. School only has a few more weeks, so just let him finish it and then you can decide.”
