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“I witnessed a murder, a nice man who never hurt anyone. They were spoiled, punk teens, riding high on drugs and unafraid of consequences due to their father always bailing them out. I didn’t realize how far he would go to protect his kids, or how much I would have to give up when my testimony sent the boys to prison and he threatened me.” She reached up to stroke a hand down the sleek neck of a black equine. “Keeping to myself so I wouldn’t inadvertently put anyone else at risk should he ever find me was the hardest after missing my sister.”
They strolled down the clean-swept aisle with large stalls on each side, the tremor of remembered heartbreak in Leslie’s hushed voice drawing on Lillian’s sympathy. “That was quite a sacrifice on your part. Was it worth it?”
Leslie stopped at the stall of a huge stallion, his muscles rippling as he pawed at his door. “Kurt rescued this guy from the dog food factory. He was a mean son-of-a-bitch, unrideable and malnourished. My fiancé busted his butt gaining his trust and getting him healthy again and I lost track of how many times I asked him if he was worth it.” Reaching a steady hand toward the animal, she rubbed behind one ear, unafraid. “He would always reply ‘ask me again later’, but as you can see, I didn’t need to. Devil here is still feisty but happy and healthy, and worth every sweaty, painful hour Kurt put in working with him. Yes, Lillian, as hard as those four years away from my sister and home were, it was worth it to see justice for Alessandro. Come on.” She nudged her with her elbow and a smile. “It’s too nice an afternoon to brood about the past. There’s the cutest premature calf I want to show you. I’m trying to convince Kurt to let me keep her.”
Laughing in disbelief, she followed Leslie outside, asking, “Why?”
“Because otherwise she’ll end up on someone’s table and I helped bottle feed that baby.”
“Oh, well, when put that way, it makes sense.”
Leslie grinned. “I like you, Lillian. Kurt didn’t think so, but I almost have him agreeing.”
Lillian enjoyed the hour she spent alone with Leslie, listening to her talk about her second-grade students with such fondness, how her relationship with Kurt had begun with a one-night stand between two strangers and meeting several young cowpokes whose polite addresses tickled her. After she crooned over the tiny calf with big doe eyes, they strolled across the lawn and up a small hill, walking by the family plot, shaded by large trees, the graves decorated with plants and fresh cut, colorful flowers. The story of how Kurt lost both his mother and sister so close together resurrected the sorrow of her own losses.
“I’m sorry,” Leslie said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “I wasn’t thinking. It’s become a ritual for me to come up here and check on the plants and flowers when Babs, our housekeeper and cook, has the day off.”
Shaking her head, Lillian turned away from Leslie’s sympathetic gaze. “It’s all right. Everyone has lost someone, right?”
“True, but that doesn’t make it any easier.” Pivoting, Leslie led the way toward another corral where Lillian saw Mitchell and Kurt saddling three horses.
“That’s a beautiful horse,” she remarked, nodding toward the pale-coated stallion Kurt was tossing a saddle onto.
“That’s Atlas and he’s a sweetie. Not as sweet as my girl, Anna Leigh. She’s the Appaloosa between Atlas and Mitchell’s bay.”
Mitchell looked up as they approached, his gaze as probing as always, Lillian’s response to it the same with warm tingles racing across her skin. With his Stetson shading his face, the sleeves of his black western shirt rolled to below his elbows, those long, muscled legs encased in snug denim and wearing scuffed boots, he appeared more a rough wrangler than a medical professional. Either way, her heart tripped as he held a hand out to her and she wondered what pivoting point in their relationship had caused her to set aside her annoyance with his autocratic tendencies long enough to fall for the protective, caring side of him.
“You’re thinking too hard, pet” he whispered in her ear as she took his hand.
“I have to around you,” she retorted before turning to smile at Kurt. “Thank you for inviting me out today. I’ve had fun touring your ranch with Leslie.”
“It’s good to see you again, Lillian. The tour’s just begun. Mount up with Mitchell and I’ll show you some of the prettiest country in Montana.”
She could see why Leslie had fallen for the cattleman as she watched him boost his fiancée onto the dainty mare. Dressed similar to Mitchell only wearing a burgundy shirt, he sported a perpetual five o’clock shadow along his jaw that was as dark as his black hair and ebony eyes. Lillian sure hoped things worked out between her and Mitchell because there would be no going back to the pansy, vanilla lovers she used to date after being subjected to the focused gazes and sexual dominance of these cowboys.
“You’re up with me, Leslie.” Mitchell’s gruff voice pulled her head out of the clouds and she turned to see him mounted and leaning down with an outstretched hand. “Don’t worry, Phantom’s well trained now.”
“What do you mean now?” She clasped his hand before she could let the size of the animal scare her off. With little effort, he swung her up and wrapped a tight arm around her waist as she settled astride in front of him, surprised the horse didn’t budge.
Kurt sent her a wicked grin, turning his steed around to face them. “I thought h
e was crazy to pick that son-of-a-bitch at auction last year, but Doc swore he saw something in his eyes that made him worth saving. For a city bloke, it turns out he has a good eye for horseflesh. We’re heading east.”
“I know a good bet when I see one,” Mitchell said, his arm tightening around her waist as he kicked the horse into a slow walk.
Leslie gripped his forearm, refusing to look down. From the distance she could now see, she knew how high up they sat. The slow, sedate pace lulled her into relaxing and leaning back against that wide, rock-solid chest, the deep rumble of Mitchell’s voice above her a pleasure to listen to. The never-ending acres of fields were broken up by wooded areas and in the distance they pointed out a mountain range that appeared as an island of higher ground and would make an awesome painting.
“Oh, I wish I thought to grab my camera.” She sighed wistfully as her mind filled with potential art.
“You’ll have to come back when spring is in full bloom,” Kurt said. “There’s nothing prettier than the prairies in the warmer months.”
She could tell he loved the ranch from his proud tone, and Lillian envied him that connection to a special place. Would she still be here in two months? God help her, she hoped so. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to see where her relationship with Mitchell could lead.
Kurt pulled to a stop, glancing at Mitchell. “I’m going to check on the west pasture. Why don’t you show Leslie the falls and we’ll meet up with you there before heading back? I’ll put steaks on when we return.”
“Sounds good. About an hour?”
“That’ll work.”
