Wyatt followed as well. He was no stranger to washing and drying dishes. He had to do it at home, because it was just him inthe house and when his mother visited, it simply became his job then, too.
“May I help?” Sheridan asked as she put their bowls on the butcher block table with the others.
Tia Evie pulled an apron from a drawer and tied it around her waist. “You’re a guest, Sheridan. You don’t need to help, though I thank you for the offer. Besides,” she gestured to the army of adults and children now crowding into the kitchen. “I have plenty of help. Why don’t you and Wyatt go out to the stable and look at the horses?”
“I think that’s a fine idea.” Wyatt agreed then reached for his coat from the hook beside the door and draped it over Sheridan’s shoulders.
She looked at him as she drew the edges of the coat together. “Won’t you be cold?”
He shook his head then grabbed a lantern from the hook as it had grown dark while they’d been eating. He held the door for her. “I’ll be fine. It was a little warm in the dining room.”
Sheridan stepped through to the patio with its table and chairs and porch swing hanging from a thick beam. Wyatt made quick work of lighting several more lanterns, illuminating everything. She looked out at the garden, though the trees and rose bushes were dormant. “This is lovely.”
“You should see it in the summer. Tia Evie grows the most beautiful roses, but if you think this is beautiful, wait until you see the stable. And the horses. Montaña del Trueno has been breeding horses for several generations now. They seem to have a knack for it, especially Teddy, and now Jake. Montaña del Trueno horses are the fastest, strongest, yet gentlest horses I’ve ever seen. I bought all my horses from here and I can’t say there’s a bad one in the bunch.” He took her hand and walked her through the garden, then stopped at the door to the stable. “They have cattle, too, but the horses, that’s what they’re famousfor. People come from all over to buy them.” He chuckled. “Last year, someone came all the way from Texas simply because he’d heard about them. He purchased four without thinking twice.”
He opened the door to the stable. “Wait here. I don’t want you to trip over anything.” He went inside to light more lanterns. When he was done, he came back to the entrance and took her hand to lead her inside.
She looked around and smiled. “There was a stable at Bouchard’s, but nothing like this.”
“I didn’t know you rode.”
“I do. Well, I did, but I haven’t in a long time.”
“You’ll have to come out to Stone Creek sometime.”
“Stone Creek?”
“My ranch. It’s not as impressive as this one, but if you enjoy riding, I have a horse that would be perfect for you. Her name is Goldie. She’s very gentle. Actually, she’s rather sweet.”Like you, he almost said out loud, but stopped himself.
Still holding her hand, he led her down the central corridor, showing her all the horses that were in their stalls. He stopped about midway down and let go of her hand. “This is the horse I’m thinking about buying. This is Dynamite. Isn’t she beautiful?”
“She is.” Sheridan stroked the foal’s soft coat, and he wished for a moment she would caress him that way. He’d actually been wishing that all night, since he first walked into the kitchen and saw her sitting at the table, the smell of her perfume invading his senses.
His gaze roamed over her, taking in her delicate hand stroking the foal, then her long slim arm, then upward to the spot on her neck, where he imagined he could see her pulse beat, and finally to her face. There was such pleasure reflected in her features, he had to take a breath.
If there was a time to kiss her, it would be now. The urge to do so rippled through him and he took a step closer to her. Hetook her hand in his and turned her, so she faced him. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
Her eyes widened with surprise and curiosity, but she didn’t deny him, nor did she turn away as he started to dip his head toward her, already tasting how sweet her lips would be.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Ben laughed as he stepped into the stable. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Blood rushed to his face as he released his hold on her, taking a step back. She took a step back too, but said nothing, simply stared at him with something akin to disappointment. Or at least he hoped that’s what it was.
“Sheridan, we should be getting back,” Ben told her, though it looked like he was trying to hide his smile.
“Yes, of course.” She shrugged his coat from her shoulders and handed it to him before she slowly walked toward Ben, still waiting in the doorway. Sheridan turned one more time, smiled as her eyes swept over him before she disappeared from sight.
Wyatt stood there for a long time, trying to find his balance, cursing himself for a fool. He should have kissed her when he had the chance, whether Ben witnessed it or not.
CHAPTER 9
“I’ll be back, Mrs. Gallagher, but don’t hold dinner for me if I’m not.”
“And where are ya goin’?”
Sheridan thought about not answering the question, but felt the woman deserved to know what her plans were. After all, she worked here. It shouldn’t come as a surprise when a new owner walked in the door. “I’m going up the hill to see Mr. Steele.”
“I see. An’ why would you be doin’ that?”
