Page 29 of Ethan

“He’s my brother.” He turned back to the eggs. “It’s his job.”

“His wife is very pretty.”

“Yeah. They met when he rescued her. Her car broke down and she entered his pasture to look for help.” Ethan chuckled. “His steer was in there and ran after her. Cole came on his horse, picked her up, then jumped back over the fence. They fell in love.”

“What a way to meet.” She shook her head.

He slid a plate in front of her a few minutes later and sat down across the table with his own. She took a bite and raised her eyebrows.

“These are really good.”

“I told you.”

She laughed softly and he looked at her across the table and for a moment it felt completely natural, the two of them sitting here in the early morning quiet like they’d been doing it for years.

Then he looked back down at his plate and she did the same.

Taking it slow. She could do that. She hoped. The only thing she was sure of was that she wanted to tear his clothes off. She snorted, making him look at her with a raised eyebrow but she just shook her head.

****

Ethan pushed his empty plate aside and picked up his coffee. She was looking out the window at the pastures, the morning light catching her hair, and he made himself look away.

Sundays he rode. Had done it for years, every Sunday without fail. It was the one morning he gave himself permission to do nothing useful.

He looked at her again.

“I ride on Sunday mornings,” he said. “See the property, check the fence line.” He hesitated. “You’re welcome to come along if you want. I can show you my land.”

She turned from the window and looked at him. A slow smile came across her face.

“I’d like that very much,” she said.

He nodded, stood, and picked up both their plates. “Give me twenty minutes.”

“I’ll go change into my boots.” She stood and pushed her chair in. “I was hoping to explore but I didn’t want to go out alone when I don’t know the land yet.”

“I’d rather you didn’t, at first.” He set the plates in the sink. “Once you know your way around you’re welcome to ride wherever you want. Just take a walkie-talkie with you in case something comes up.”

“We always took them with us at my last job.” She headed for the back door, then paused with her hand on the frame and looked back at him. “Thank you for breakfast, Ethan.”

“You’re welcome.” He kept his voice even. “Twenty minutes.”

She smiled and walked out.

He stood at the sink and listened to her footsteps cross the yard toward the barn.

By the time she came back across the yard in her boots he had both horses tied at the rail outside the barn, saddled and ready.

She stopped when she saw the horse and Ethan watched her eyes go wide. She walked straight to him, bypassing Jewel entirely, and put her hand on his neck.

“Oh my.” She looked him over from nose to tail. “He’s magnificent.” She glanced back at Ethan. “What’s his name?”

“Vulcan. He’s been with me six years.”

“Vulcan? Like Mr. Spock?” She laughed.

Ethan shook his head. “No. Vulcan means Roman god of fire. It fits his coloring.”