AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don’t we need a tractor or something? You can’t cut the hay with your new shiny toy.”
Nick piped up from the back seat. “Eli already brought it there. He said there are three fields that need to be worked on out there but today we only have to do one.”
Bella bit back a smile, her eyes meeting Grant’s again.
He jerked his chin toward the back seat. “What he said.”
She laughed. “Nick, you’re quite the character, but I’m sure lots of people say that.”
“Lots of people say I’m smart.”
“That too.” She laughed again.
“And that I talk too much.”
This time, Grant joined in on the laughter. “That’s because you do, kiddo. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, though.”
“My teacher says maybe I should become a teacher like her one day, because when she was six, she talked a lot, too.”
It was strange, being in this truck with the two of them like this. Bella couldn’t figure out what it was, but there was something different. Maybe it was the light electrical current she felt in the air. Maybe it was the soothing comfort of being with people who could make her smile.
Or maybe it was simply the fact that she so thoroughly enjoyed herself whenever she was in their company.
The last one was more than likely the culprit. Boy, she needed to rein it in if she wanted to remain professional. She was the one pushing to find out who was causing problems for Grant out at the ranch. She couldn’t let her growing affection for this family get in the way of doing her job.
And yet as she glanced at the cowboy out of the corner of her eye, she couldn’t deny that it felt nice being here—like she’d always belonged.
Another shiver rolled down her back and she squirmed in her seat to release it. Now was not the time to get sentimental. Luckily, they arrived at the field and Nick jumped from the vehicle to go racing toward the tractor that sat at the edge, ready to be put to work.
Grant got out of the truck and Bella hurried around the back to stand in front of him before he could go climb into the large piece of machinery. He stopped suddenly and stared down at her. His soulful eyes met and locked with hers.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
Dang it, even his whispers were incredibly enticing.
“I wanted to ask you something about the day…” She shot a look in Nick’s direction. “Well, you know.”
“Okay,” he drawled. “Spit it out.”
She nodded. “Eli said that assignments are usually picked out the night before.”
“That’s right,” Grant said, “so?”
“So… who would have been privy to that kind of information? Do you know if there are cowboys who resent you enough to sneak into the boss’s house and make plans to get you fired?”
“Hey Bella! Come look at this!” Nick shouted from the tractor.
“I told you everything I know, Bella. And it’s been pretty quiet lately. I think whoever did it realizes they could have hurt me. Even if they wanted me fired, I don’t think they actually want me to end up in a grave somewhere.”
“Bella! There’s a lever!”
“Maybe, maybe not. You’re one snip away from not being able to use your brakes in that brand-spanking-new truck.”
Bella glanced toward Nick, who was now waving his hands wildly. She took a step in his direction, but Grant grasped at her elbow and pulled her closer to him, his voice dropping.
“Do you really think they’d be capable of sabotaging my truck?”
“I don’t know what they’re capable of,” she said. “I just know we can’t expect them to suddenly become good people. They could be anyone or do anything around here. Heck, it could be someone from town who doesn’t like that you’re an outsider. Getting you fired would be the easiest way to get you to leave.”
