I motion to the two doors on the far wall. “Bathroom is on the left. My room is on the right. It’s off-limits.” Having a stranger in my house is bad enough. I’m not letting her roam my personal space too.
“Copy that. Guess I’ll have to resist the urge to go treasure hunting then, huh? Since I’m supposed to be planning a robbery and all,” she adds with a wink.
“Unless you want to brave the cold outside, I wouldn’t suggest it.”
“Don’t rob the grumpy cowboy, got it,” Noelle mumbles as she moves farther inside, toward the warmth of the fireplace. She brushes her fingers along the couch as she passes. “Your place is so cozy. I’d spend all day curled up by the fireplace if I were you. I bet it looks absolutely magical when your Christmas tree is up. Do you always wait until the week of to decorate, or did the weather make you put it off this year?”
I blink at her. “I don’t celebrate the holidays.”
Her smile falters. “Oh… I see.” She’s quick to mask her disappointment. “That’s alright. It’s still a lovely home.”
I clench my jaw in an effort to maintain a neutral expression. Her bubbly disposition is irritating, but worse is how difficult it is to ignore the way she brightens the room.
Against my better judgment, I allow my gaze to roam over her. Her yellow sundress is dotted with white flowers and clings to her hips, and the thin straps show off her sun-kissed shoulders sprinkled with freckles. Her blue eyes are bright and curious, and her lips curve into a soft smile despite her situation.
What was I thinking inviting her to stay?
The last thing I need is to share my space with a stranger for the night. Let alone a pretty little thing with a weakness fordesigner shoes and not a lick of common sense. I might not know her age, but I’m guessing mid-twenties. Far too young for me.
Needing to quash any lingering desire, I remind myself that the last city girl I brought here broke my heart, and I swore I’d never go down that road again.
The wind howls outside the barn as I finish settling Blaze into his stall. I give him a handful of grain as I straighten the blanket over his back. The storm’s only getting worse, and the half mile back to the cabin will be brutal, but I’ve stalled as long as I can. With any luck, Noelle will be asleep by the time I get there. Even better if the storm clears and she’s gone by morning. Might be wishful thinking, but it’s what I’m holding on to.
A loud mooing sound echoes from the other side of the barn, repeating every few seconds.
I give Blaze one last scratch behind his ear. “Sorry, buddy, I’d better go. We both knowshewon’t stop until she gets some attention. See you tomorrow.”
I latch the door behind me and walk down the aisle, past the other horses who are all settled in for the night. At the last stall on the right, Maple’s fuzzy nose peeks out of one of the panels of the stall door, sniffing the air. Her tail flicks with excitement as I step inside.
“Hey there, sweet girl,” I croon.
When I open the gate, she bumps her head against my pant leg, the small horns beginning to curl above her fuzzy ears just missing me as she roots for a snack.
I chuckle as I take a green apple from my coat pocket. “And here I thought you were just excited to see me.” Maple greedilyaccepts the treat from my outstretched hand, chewing loudly before letting out a contented snort.
I’m not shocked when my phone rings in my pocket. Only one person would be calling me before a storm.
“Hello,” I grunt.
“Oof, somebody’s in a mood today,” my cousin, Birdie, replies brightly. “I saw a blizzard is headed your way and wanted to check in while I still can.”
Reception is hit-and-miss on a good day, and when a storm hits, the mix of heavy snow and distance from the nearest cell tower wipes the signal out completely. I usually lose service for days.
I balance the phone on my shoulder while I give Maple a second apple. “I’m fine.”
Birdie laughs. “You always say that.”
“Well, it’s true.”
“I wish you’d reconsider moving to Montana. There’s plenty of land for a proper farm, and you’d get to hang out with your favorite cousin every day.”
“You’re my only cousin,” I remind her.
Our moms were sisters. Mine was the oldest, and Birdie’s mom came along unexpectedly after my mom graduated from high school. Although Birdie and I didn’t grow up together because of our age difference, she still showed up at my mom’s funeral a few years back. I think she realized that with both my parents gone, her family was all I had left, so she’s made it her mission to look out for me.
For all my griping about her being a nuisance, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t secretly appreciate her check-ins. She’s like the little sister I never had, always sticking her nose in my business, but she means well.
“Admit it. The only reason you want me there is to pawn off more animals.”
