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He nodded. “Then stay and we’ll call a truce.”
A smile finally turned her lush mouth. “What’s the plan for today, cowboy, or do I have to go back out and give milking Betsy another try?”
“It’s already done.” He felt a heaviness lift off him when her smile grew.
“Okay…there’s something I need to do. Will Bonnie mind if I take her clothes down off the line?”
“I don’t think she’d mind one bit. How about we do it together?”
They stepped out and they went to work unclipping the clothes and folding them, placing them in the basket.
“I slept like a baby last night.” She stretched her arms high over her head, which arched her back and pressed her firm breasts against the flannel. “Apparently the country air is good for the soul.” She must have sensed something in his expression because she lowered her arms and some of the smile slipped. “You’re not telling me that you were hoping I’d be long gone when you came back?”
“Yeah, I thought maybe you’d catch a red eye back to where you came from.” No reason to lie.
“Don’t you feel a little foolish now?” She raised a brow but the smile had returned.
“To be determined. For a city girl you certainly can fill out a pair of jeans.” He felt this gave him a justifiable opportunity to dip his gaze downward to the tips of the new boots. He suddenly had a new appreciation for jeans. At least she’d bought more than one pair.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said chirpily. “What are we doing next?”
“Breakfast.” He rubbed his belly in anticipation.
“I’m starving. Is that the next test? See if I can cook?”
He laughed. “We’ll save that for another day. My treat.” They made their way to the truck. Remembering his manners, he opened the passenger door for her. “I know you have a problem with big trucks, but unless you want to walk this is our only option.”
“I didn’t say I have a problem with trucks. They just seem so…over the top.” She paused before she climbed in, sweeping her gaze around the cab. “Where’s Chow?”
“Home. I thought he should sit this one out.”
He closed the door and rounded the front of the truck. He climbed in and once his seatbelt was clicked into place, he said, “Horse trailers, feed, and hay,” he said once he started the engine.
“Huh?”
“You said trucks are over the top. Ranchers could never haul feed and hay, or pull horse trailers without a truck. Cars aren’t much good ‘round a ranch. Or on the mountain during winter. By the way, we must make a stop before we get breakfast.” He reversed the truck and pulled onto the narrow lane.
“Please tell me there are no other cows to milk.”
“No. I need to stop at the feed store.” He didn’t bother telling her that once the mouse contaminated the feed he had to throw it out. “You’re going to find out how useful trucks are.” He pushed his hat back on his forehead and looked out over the forlorn pasture. The place should be dotted with livestock but instead it reminded him of an abandoned ghost town. He shook his head. A waste of land.
“Ryde Hard is the name of your ranch, right?”
“My family’s place.” He turned right onto the back road that would take him straight to his ranch.
“Do you live there?” She shifted in the seat.
“Yeah.” He flicked his gaze across the seat. “Are you going to make fun of me?”
“Now why would I do that?”
He shrugged. “You city folk can’t wait to move away from home. In my world, staying at home and living on the homestead isn’t unheard of.”
She played with the frayed edges of a small hole in the knee of her jeans.
“I get it.” She sighed. “Every time you lump me under the “city folk” umbrella I don’t feel like you’re seeing me as an individual. That would be like me telling you that all cowboys walk bowlegged because they ride in a saddle.”
He snorted. “Weareall bowlegged.”
