A Cowboy's Christmas Reunion. Sasha Summers

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СКАЧАТЬ She forced a smile. “Dad bailed at the last minute.” Which had led to a thirty-minute argument. At least Eli would be there as a buffer.

      A strange look crossed Hunter’s face and then he smiled. “His hip giving him trouble?”

      “Yes.” That’s what her father had told her, though she suspected he was trying to play matchmaker. Why her father was trying to fix her up with a married man was a mystery. After the hell her mother’s indiscretions had put him through, she’d expected him to place a little more value on the whole faithful vow thing. He’d always been on the eccentric side, but this was ridiculous. Hunter was off-limits, no if, ands or buts about it.

      “Can you give me a ride?” he asked. “Or we can take some horses.”

      “How much farther is the main house?” She let her eyes travel over the buildings again. “And why don’t I recognize any of this?”

      His eyes traveled over her face. “Did you think you’d recognize it?”

      “Of course.” She rolled her eyes. “I mean, I figured you’d made some changes, and you obviously have, but...”

      “I didn’t own this when we... In high school this wasn’t part of the family ranch. We bought this about six years ago.” He paused.

      “That makes sense. So, if I remember correctly, this must be the guest lodge?” She took it all in, impressed. “Am I right?” She waited for him to nod. “Well, wow, congratulations. Looks like your big plans are coming together.”

      “Most of them.” He nodded, his eyes boring into hers. “So horses or driving?”

      She looked down at her skirt. “Driving. Didn’t know horses were part of the evening.”

      He opened the passenger door and climbed in. “Just stay on the drive to the left. It’s a ways down yet.”

      She drove on, and her small red four-door rental seemed to shrink as the silence stretched on.

      It was too quiet. The pounding in her head seemed to echo. “Too bad you didn’t have paved roads when you taught me to drive. Maybe I wouldn’t have totaled that truck.”

      “You didn’t. That thing was like a tank.” He looked at her. “It wasn’t for a lack of trying, though.”

      “I guess I should blame my teacher.” She flashed him a grin.

      He chuckled. “Sure. If that makes you feel better about wrecking my granddad’s truck, you just go on telling yourself that.”

      “God, I felt terrible.” She shook her head. “I still do.”

      “Don’t. Still drive it back and forth around here when I need to run errands or deliver something. Imagine I’ll teach Eli to drive in it.” Hunter rested his head against the headrest.

      As they crested the next hill, Josie saw the ranch house. It had always been a special place, where her most treasured memories took place. She was hit with a case of nerves so intense she almost turned the car around. Instead, she did what she always did when she was nervous. She talked.

      “You’ve made a lot of improvements to the house. I knew you’d never tear it down, since your grandmother was born here.” She paused, but he didn’t say anything. “I guess it’s nice to have some privacy for you and your family. I mean, you haven’t said anything about the way the ranch works now, but I remember the way you said you wanted it to work. Population studies. Rehabilitation center. Animal preserve. Did you ever get the white-tail deer breeding program started?” Her head felt as if it had a band tightening around it. “Guess you’re keeping cattle, too, since Eli is raising a calf?” She stopped as the car pulled up in front of the house. Crippling anxiety gripped her, the throbbing pulse around her skull excruciating.

      Any second Amy was going to walk out that front door. Any second Hunter was going to put his arm around Amy, his wife, and they were all going inside to have a meal together. Why had she come? She felt very nauseous.

      “You okay?” he asked.

      She looked at him, watching the traces of amusement turn into concern. “I’m not sure. I’m feeling a little...off.”

      His forehead creased as he stared at her face. “You’re really pale.” His hand touched her cheeks and forehead. His touch felt so good. “But you feel cool. Let’s get you something to drink.”

      He climbed out of the car and walked around to her side. He opened the door, but she was paralyzed with fear.

      “Maybe I should go home. I feel weird about leaving Dad home alone.” Which was partly true.

      “Okay,” he said slowly. “You can leave. Once there’s some color in your cheeks and you don’t look like you’re gonna pass out. Don’t think this car would take a beating the way Granddad’s truck did.”

      She glared up at him. She pinched her cheeks, then smiled thinly. “There. Color in my cheeks.”

      He laughed. “Don’t make me pick you up, Jo.”

      She slipped from the car, grasping the roof for support.

      They stood there, regarding each other in the warm rays of the setting sun. No one came out to greet them. Other than the faint coo of a dove, the moo of a distant cow and the slightly rhythmic whump of the windmill’s blades, it was quiet.

      “Drink?” he asked. He held out his hand awkwardly.

      She stared at it and pushed off her car, not taking it. “I think I can manage to walk to the door, Hunter. I’ll have my drink and hit the road and you can have a peaceful evening with the family.”

      “Eli’s out.” He sounded amused. “Fish, Archer and Ryder all have places of their own. But Renata still lives with Dad so she can take care of him. She always was a daddy’s girl.”

      Josie felt bile in her throat. He wanted her to sit through dinner with him and Amy? She felt angry suddenly.

      “Don’t you think it might be a little awkward?” She turned toward him. “Okay, a lot awkward.”

      “Why?” He looked genuinely surprised. “Why would being alone with me be awkward?”

      Josie was distracted by the shift of emotions on his face. The tone of his voice was soft but coaxing. He seemed to take a step toward her, rattling her from her silence.

      “Alone?” A full-fledged pounding began at the base of her skull. Shooting pain focused right behind her left eye.

      He nodded. “Let’s get you inside. You can lie down, have your drink, and once you’re better, you can leave, if that’s what you want to do.”

      “I should go now,” she argued. “Pretty sure it’s a migraine and once it gets started—”

      “You’ll be down for the count.” He nodded, slipping his arm around her for support. “You’re not driving, Jo. It wouldn’t be right or gentlemanly.”

      “You could be a gentleman СКАЧАТЬ