Chapter Eleven

“I’m Tess, by the way. I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced.”

April looked over at the woman—an inch or so shorter—with the vivid, naturally curly red hair, the ends tickling her collar. A handful of freckles dotted the woman’s face, reminding April of a pixie. “I’m April, and this is Carrie.”

“Nice to meet you,” Carrie and Tess chimed in unison.

Marmalade meowed once more.

“Let’s put her in Archer’s office. It’s smallish and receives little traffic.” Carrie led the way.

“Let me help.” Tess took the oversized bag of cat supplies from April and brought up the rear of the line.

Stopping halfway down a short hall, Carrie opened the door and ushered the others in before shutting it behind her. Tess started pulling items from the bag, found the litter box and set the plastic pan on the floor. Carrie plucked the kitty litter from the container then promptly filled the box about halfway full. April wrestled with the food and water dishes as Tess emptied the rest of the stuff, setting a few toys on the floor along with a rope-covered scratching post. Carrie dashed off with a bowl and quickly returned with fresh water.

Glancing around, April nodded. “I think this will work just fine.” Her gaze landed on the large wooden desk complete with office chair and she frowned. “I hope she doesn’t decide to start scratching on the furniture. As far as I know she’s always been an outside cat.”

“No worries. Both are old and run-of-the-mill. Besides, I doubt she’ll do much more than hide for a while, then find a cozy place to curl up and sleep.”

April opened the front of the carrier and whispered to the occupant. “Marmalade, we’re in your temporary home.”

The cat looked up at her but made no motion to leave the small carrier.

“Maybe you should just leave it open. She might consider it a place of refuge,” Tess advised.

“Good idea. I’ll give her some time to adjust and check on her later.” April started to the door, finding Carrie and Tess leading the way back out into the hall. Spying a wiggling nose at the opening of the box, April grinned, then slipped out before the cat could get any ideas about escaping from her appointed room.

“I need to get cooking if we’re going to have more than a sandwich tonight.” Carrie’s long strides carried her back through the living room.

“I’ll be more than happy to help,” Tess said.

“Me too. It’s the least I can do.” April realized she spoke the absolute truth. Dusty’s family had taken her in without question and, so far, asked nothing in return. Not a commonplace situation these days as charitable acts and human kindness oftentimes folded under the strain of scam artists, criminals and downright evil in the world.

Following her host straight into a kitchen made for a professional chef, April blinked and gaped. She’d never seen the likes of such. Appliances of every sort appeared new and shiny, their metal doors gleaming in the afternoon sunlight. Granite countertops in earthen browns ran in a near square around the room, covering tons of cabinet space while allowing plenty of room to work. A separate island stood in the middle, the matching surface absolutely clean. Smaller devices sat against the matching tile wall, a chopper, blender, coffee maker, mixer, even a couple of items she’d never seen before all stood waiting for use.

“Wow. This is gorgeous.”

Tess concurred. “Downright amazing. Makes my kitchen at home look like a cave.”

Carrie smiled warmly. “The only luxury I ever asked for.”

Carrie headed to a doorway in the corner of the expansive kitchen, opened the door and slipped inside. “The brothers still live here. Evan is in college. Brand runs the cattle operation, so he’s always around. Colt owns a regional oil company. He splits his time between here and an apartment across the state.”

April noted the absence of Dusty’s name and understood why. He’d moved out a few years back full of hurt pride, bitterness and animosity toward his family. Thankfully, due to the poignant shove by Mother Nature, he’d returned and seemed to be quickly making amends, judging by the easygoing smiles and lighthearted bickering she’d heard as they’d worked together as a team to load up his belongings and stock earlier in the day.

The brunette waved from inside the large pantry. “Pot pie? Roast? Turkey?”

“Are you asking or telling?” Tess inquired.

“Asking.”

Tess glanced out the window before sticking her head inside the panty. “Considering the size of them, I’d say all of the above.”

Carrie tittered. April grinned. Tess certainly had some spunk. “What do you do for a living, Tess?”

“I’m an ophthalmologist.”

April’s eyes widened. “Wow. A doctor.”

Tess waved her hand. “Please don’t make a big deal of it. I still put my pants on the same as everyone else.”

“Impressive.” Carrie emerged from the small room, her arms laden with cans and boxes. “April, what do you do?”

“I’m a nurse.” She stepped forward to take some of the items from her host. “I’ve been afraid to ask, but Dusty never mentioned his parents, except to say his father was a lawyer. Are they still living?”

“Yep. They retired a couple years ago and bought a fancy RV. Now they travel full-time. Come home now and again to bother their children, then take off on another adventure.”

April smiled, cheered by the thought.

“They sound like they’re happy,” Tess observed.

“Very. I think they’re on their fifth or sixth honeymoon.” Carrie grinned widely, set some items on the counter, then returned to the pantry for more.

April stuck her head inside and blinked in surprise at the shelves laden with every kind of foodstuff imaginable. “How much food are we cooking again?”

“Enough to make up for the past three holidays that Dusty’s not joined us.”

“Oh, boy.” Tess glanced at the growing pile, then up at the cat clock, the tail swinging in beat to every second. “No time for a full turkey, though.”

“No worries. I have turkey breasts in the freezer. We’ll make do.”

April looked at Carrie. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve done this before?”

“That’s because I owned the local diner before I married Archer.”

That explained so much.

“Let me guess, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” Tess pulled a couple of pots out from under the stove.

“Not necessarily, but it sure doesn’t hurt,” Carrie answered. “Speaking of, what’s up with you and Dusty?”

Placing the vegetables on the cutting board, April glanced over at Carrie. “Nothing.” She’d figured the inevitable questions would come sooner rather than later.

“I hate to admit it, but I was surprised to see you with him. He’s been badly burned by a woman before.”

“I know. He’s never said anything, but I’ve been told that fact by others.” April opened a box of stuffing mix and poured it in a large bowl Tess handed her.

“How long have you two been dating?” Tess asked.

The term made April ponder for a moment. “I can’t say we’ve ever dated. I adopted my horses, brought them to his stable. That was Monday. Since then, I’ve been hanging out with the horses and him most of the day. We’ve shared a meal or three, but that’s about it.”

Carrie turned to stare at her in puzzlement. “He hasn’t asked you out? Not even for dinner?”

April shook her head. “No.”

“Have you even kissed?” Tess pulled out another larger pan and stood back up.

“Once.”

“Once?” Carrie scrunched her face as if trying to decipher a complicated recipe.

“How was it?” Tess whispered as she organized the cookware.

April smiled at the memory. “Sinful.”

“The best kind.” Carrie chuckled. “You might not be following the traditional steps in a relationship, but Dusty adores you. Otherwise he’d have kicked you out of his stable long ago. Certainly he wouldn’t have packed you up and brought you here if he didn’t really care for you.”

He cared, April knew that. How much, she didn’t have a clue. If not for the one kiss, she would have claimed they were friends and nothing more. “He needs help with Miracle. My filly is afraid of men. She’s still nervous around him. I don’t know that he could handle her in such circumstances by himself.”

“A convenient excuse.”

April blinked at Carrie.

“Listen to me, girl. If I know Dusty, and believe me I do, that man can work wonders around horses. He’d have found a way to deal with your filly. Easy-peasy. By letting you think he needs help with her, he gets to see you again, spend time with you.”

“I don’t know. He’s not said anything or made any overtures.”

“All in good time.” Carrie dug out a cookbook.

Tess nodded in agreement. “Men are fickle creatures, but the good ones come around eventually.”

April couldn’t help but turn the tables on her new friend. “Good men like Brand?”

Tess shrugged. “Just met him. Besides, he hates my llama.”

Carrie laughed. “You should have seen the expression on his face.”

“Mentally sizing up Bogart for the roasting rack?”

“Nope. Checking out Bogart’s owner’s hiney.” She waggled her eyebrows. “He liked what he saw. Big time.”

Tess sighed, but her green eyes sparked. “He’s stubborn and probably has a dozen women lined up in a harem.”

“Stubborn, yes. Harem, no. Most women don’t speak their own mind around him, wanting to please him. He hates that. Runs this ranch like a tiptop ship and he’s the captain, but he doesn’t care for people who can’t think for themselves.”

Tess tapped her lips. “I don’t know…”

Carrie handed Tess a bag of potatoes. “Peel while you think. It helps.”

Tess grinned. “Helps me think or helps the cook?”

“Both.”

* * * *

“That was fantastic.” Archer tossed down his napkin and smiled at his wife. “Outdid yourself this time.”

Carrie smiled. “I had lots of good help.”

“I’d forgotten how wonderful Carrie can cook.” Dusty sipped his tea. He’d forgotten so much. Dinners together at the oversized dining table, the good-natured ribbing he and his brothers threw out constantly. The laughter. The tasty food. So many small details he’d shoved aside because of his hurt pride.

Archer kicked at him under the table. “Stop staring at my wife like that. She’s already taken.”

Dusty grinned and shifted to protect his shins from Archer’s bony feet. Carrie made everyone shed their shoes as soon as they entered the house. She’d made the rule one day after cleaning up mud and muck from the hardwood floors, left behind by their work boots. He couldn’t blame her and didn’t dare disobey. Not when she threatened to make them clean it up. Important lesson learned.

“Besides, you have your own woman,” Evan tossed out from across the table.

Dusty glanced to his left, noting April suddenly found her plate enthralling. He didn’t miss the pink blush, either.

He liked her, had enjoyed working with her this week at the stable. Never once had she complained about the heat, the endless chores, the fact she volunteered and didn’t receive any pay for all her hard efforts. He couldn’t recall many women like her, giving and kind as the day was long. They had developed an easy rapport, and even after only a few days, he found her growing on him like moss on the north side of a boulder. He cared for her, preferred his brothers didn’t hit on her, but more than that, he couldn’t say—way too early to be considering such profound decisions.

“Which reminds me, why isn’t Colt dating? Last I heard he proclaimed himself God’s gift to women.” Dusty purposely shunted the conversation away from him and April.

Colt rolled his eyes. “Even the world’s greatest man has to have a day or two of rest in between.”

Archer chuckled. “More like running the oil business is keeping him hopping from sunup to sundown.”

Colt snorted. “Trust me. I have plenty of time for the ladies.”

“All fifteen of them.” Evan snickered, then yelped when Colt whapped him hard on the arm.

“Just wait until you head off to college, whelp. You better keep your head in the books and off the rears of women,” Colt cautioned.

Evan flashed him a cocky grin. “I can do both.”

“What are you studying?” April asked.

“I’m pre-vet right now. I should start vet school next fall if I get off my lazy rump and start applying.”

“Wow.” She noted that all the Delaney brothers were smart, motivated and not afraid of hard work. “What specialty?”

“Large animal, of course. While dogs and cats aren’t too bad, I have to draw the line at birds and snakes.” He shuddered dramatically. “So not my thing.”

“I don’t blame you,” Tess said. “Birds bite and snakes are just eww.”

Evan nodded. “Agreed. So, let’s hope I do well at large animals and can avoid moving to Miami and caring for the exotic pet population there.”

“You’ll do just fine,” Brand replied. “Hell, you’ve been helping run this ranch since you could walk. If there’s something you haven’t seen yet when it comes to horses and cows, it can’t be much.”

“There’s always something new. Especially in the ladies’ department.” Evan peered over at April and waggled his eyebrows.

“Horn dog central. Were we ever that young, boys?” Archer asked.

“Nope,” Brand answered right away.

“Well…” Cole grinned wickedly.

“Some of us haven’t left that stage yet,” Brand offered, his focus on Cole.

Dusty shook his head before checking his watch. “I better get a move on. The horses will expect their dinner soon.” He emptied his glass in one gulp.

“Do you need help?” April glanced up at him.

He debated on how to answer. In all fairness, he could see to the horses himself, even in a pasture situation. Hell, his brothers could help him if they would get off their lazy rumps and do so. On the other hand, he enjoyed her company, but didn’t want her trying to deal with a half dozen hungry horses running free in a pasture. If one of them even accidentally stepped on her, he’d feel worse than a steer with a belly ache.

Archer pushed his chair back and stood. “Come on, boys. We’ve got stock to tend to.”

“I haven’t eaten my cherry pie, yet,” Evan protested.

“Eat it when you get back.” Archer bumped his chair. “Let’s go. It’s going to take a few of us to keep those horses out of one another’s grain buckets.”

Dusty inclined his head toward Archer, then met April’s gaze. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of your babies personally.” With a small grin, he followed his brothers outside, almost relieved by Archer’s timely intervention.

* * * *

With the three of them working on clearing the table and cleaning dishes, the women finished in record time. Carrie excused herself to jump in the shower. Tess wandered out to check on her pets. April, alone and a bit lost, plopped down on the front porch swing to watch everyone at work.

As promised, Dusty carried feed to both Miracle and Mischief, even stayed with them while they ate, ensuring the geldings in the same pasture didn’t pressure them to give up their food. Ben sat at his side, raking the horizon, constantly searching for a threat.

What am I going to do about him? Not for the first time since arriving at the huge ranch, April questioned herself and Dusty. The women had lifted her spirits and confidence earlier only for Dusty to shoot her down when he refused to answer Evan’s comment about being Dusty’s woman. He probably didn’t want to discuss his personal life in front of the large group in attendance. Understandable. Yet his silence sliced into her.

Nice pickle you’ve gotten yourself in, April. What to do? She’d succeeded in becoming friends with the quiet and sometimes surly cowboy. That had been her goal after all. But she wanted more. She wanted Dusty to look at her as Archer looked at Carrie. To tease, to kiss, to be unable to keep their hands off each other even after five years of marriage. She wanted sheer happiness covering both their faces. She wanted Dusty and love all rolled into a neat little package.

Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to be in the same frame of mind.

Yes, he’d been burned. Horribly so, to leave him so leery of women. She’d experienced her fair share of hard knocks in the relationship department, too. Still, she couldn’t help thinking as nicely as she and Dusty clicked, there had to be more there.

It’s only been a week, you ninny. She sighed sadly. Patience. The one virtue she didn’t possess a lick of. Miracle wouldn’t get over her fears in a week, and Dusty wouldn’t move past his issues in the same time frame. Perhaps, down the road, she’d wake up to find her dream come true.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

Startled, April snapped her head up. She found Dusty staring down at her with an inquisitive expression on his face. “Oh, just thinking.” She gathered her wits.

“I got that much.” He sat down on the swing next to her, sending the seat into a gentle rocking motion. The Belgium Malinois flopped down on the porch, his tongue lolling out as he panted. “What about?”

She didn’t want to push, to appear clingy, yet she couldn’t lie to him. Taking a moment to consider her words carefully, she finally answered. “So much has happened in a week’s time. I became a horse owner, a dream since childhood finally fulfilled.” She met his gaze. “I met you and found a man with a special talent, a good heart, and one that knew how to work hard.”

He remained mute, but didn’t look away.

“I’ve learned so much from you. About horses, about life, about carrying on when the chips are down.” She sucked in a breath. “I don’t know where the road of life will lead, but I hope I’m not near done with this pit stop anytime soon.”

The corner of his mouth hitched upward. He intertwined his fingers with hers and brought her hand up for a gentle kiss. “You know what they say about pit stops?”

She shook her head.

“Gives people time to look around and decide if they like the scenery well enough to stay.”

The softly spoken words soothed her soul. No declaration of love or even a mention of a future date. Just a philosophical statement that renewed her hope. She couldn’t have been happier.

Maybe, just maybe dreams could come true.