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The center mercantile stretched wide and long, and it took her over an hour to fill a cart with groceries and necessities she hadn’t brought with her. She refused to admit Slade’s suggestion was the reason she purchased the low-heeled ankle boots. Where that man was concerned, denial would stay her middle name.
She took advantage of the polite hired help to load her vehicle then returned for the pie. “I appreciate the offer, Ina, but I’m more than happy to pay for it. Lily said you bake from scratch, which is a lot of work.”
“Work I love, so never you mind. It’s always a pleasure to welcome new neighbors. Stop by Casey’s on a Friday or Saturday night sometime. That’s a popular gathering place just north of here where you’ll meet a lot of locals your age. You can’t miss the lighted parking from the road.”
Nicole took the pie, her mouth watering for a piece despite not being hungry after that big lunch. “I’ll keep that in mind, and thanks again. I’m sure I’ll become a regular here in no time.”
“Then I’ll see you soon,” Ina returned, with a twinkle in her eyes behind the wire-rimmed glasses.
Nicole welcomed the warm fuzzy filling her as she returned to her SUV, taking it as proof it wasn’t just the annoying, libido-stirring neighbor who could cause such a reaction around here.
Chapter Five
Slade shifted in thesaddle, eyeing the large herd of Charbrays grazing around a big lake., the midafternoon sun warm enough to still get by without a burdensome coat. A sense of proud accomplishment always spread through him when he saw so many of the hardy, hefty breed, a lot of them showing the bulge of calf bearing. This particular breed’s foraging attributes and sheer robustness enabled them to endure the cold winters. Their father had started raising the Australian breed with coats ranging from light red to cream after making millions off the oil wells on their land. Brett now handled the wells, leaving the beef production to him and Reed, working with the livestock and the comradeship he enjoyed with the hired hands what he loved best about ranching.
Spending hours a day riding the range afforded him the chance to indulge in the solitude he still craved when the guilt returned without warning. If the haunting memories arose at night, blurring the line between his morals and the need to protect others, he would sit in the barn’s open loft doors. He found peace in gazing at infinity through the star-studded inky sky.
Lately, though, it was the new neighbor who plagued his thoughts, which bugged him as much as his presence appeared to bug her. He had to admit, she’d done an admirable job covering her pique at their intrusion the other day. The only time he noticed it was when she looked at him, and damn if that annoyed spark in her blue eyes didn’t make him itch to pin her against a wall and cover her mulish mouth with his. Given his sexual preference for control and her penchant to shun most people, including him, that would never happen, but it didn’t prevent thoughts of her from distracting him.
She’s an anomaly, that’s all.Like every other challenge in life, he’ll deal with it then move on.
Until then, Slade planned on staying clear, which was what he told Allie this morning when she tossed out Nicole had mentioned wanting a horse but lacked riding or equine care experience. There were other options around here where she could get both. He was too busy to add another chore to his schedule. A shout from one of the hands cut off the nagging voice calling that excuse an outright fabrication. This time of year, work slowed down from the busy spring and summer months.
A shrill whistle refocused his attention, and he nudged Bandit forward to meet up with Keith and Riley riding his way. He’d narrowed down his suspect list to one person responsible for the malicious, costly vandalism incidents around the ranch during the last fifteen months. For the life of him, though, he couldn’t figure out why this part-time college student held a grudge against them.
“Hey, boss,” Riley greeted him, the three of them reining to a stop a few feet from a red-coated, heavily pregnant cow. “We’ve pulled this one and two more to bring into the barn. A few others we’re not sure about.”
“Katy. She’s so young.” Keith pointed to one of the cream-coated Charbrays who grazed with a barely discernible baby bulge.
He shook his head at the kid. “I’ve warned you about naming them. It makes it that much harder on you come market time.”
Keith eyed the young mother-to-be with fondness. “They don’tallhave to end up on someone’s table, do they?”
Riley snorted. “They’d be out of business if they didn’t. Right?”
Not quite, but he had a point. “We don’t maintain a herd this size for pets.” Slade remembered the calf his dad gave him to raise and still didn’t believe their foreman’s excuse she had been put down due to illness. “Now, what aren’t you telling me? Where’s Evan and Jeff?” All four were assigned to this herd today.
