LISA FINISHED HER last appointment at noon on Saturday. She told Janie she could go. She locked the clinic and walked the few blocks home.
She’d told Luke Daniels they would try to drop by around noon if that was okay. Kerry was thrilled and was waiting at the door when Lisa arrived. Gordon was in the kitchen eating a sandwich, but he’d dressed in a new pair of jeans and an actual shirt instead of his favorite worn T-shirt, which was his usual Saturday uniform.
Lisa ate a quick sandwich, too, but Kerry was too excited to eat. They were going to an actual horse ranch. She loved Beauty, the horse she was riding at the Mannings’ house but she looked forward to seeing the foal.
Lisa finished the sandwich, then changed into jeans and a light blue denim shirt.
It was less than ten minutes later when they arrived at the ranch. The gate was open and she drove up to the ranch house. There were five other cars there, as well, including one she recognized as Jubal Pierce’s.
To the right of the house was a large barn with another large building behind it. An outdoor riding ring was to the left. There were several fenced-off pastures. She immediately focused on one that had a horse with a foal running and jumping behind it.
She recognized Luke Daniels as he emerged from the barn with another man. Jubal! He carried a riding hat in gloved hands and wore riding pants and plain leather boots. The sleeves of his blue shirt were rolled up to expose deeply tanned arms. She didn’t remember them being that tanned. As the two men came near, she noticed Jubal’s eyes looked even bluer than she remembered.
He took her breath away.
Somehow, she moved forward, pasting a smile on her face. “Mr. Daniels,” she said. “Thanks for inviting us. You remember Gordon and Kerry?”
“Sure do. Come over and meet the newest resident of Covenant Falls Stables. He led them to the fence of the closest pasture. The mare trotted over, the foal by her side. Jubal handed Kerry a carrot to give to the mare. Lisa’s sister stepped up on the lower cross bar of the fence, leaned over and offered the treat.
The mare took it, and the foal looked up at her. Pure joy shone in Kerry’s eyes.
“Too soon for the little one,” Luke said. “He’ll still be nursing for a while.”
“It’s a colt?” Kerry asked.
Luke nodded. “And he’s all boy.”
“He’s so cute. What’s his name?”
“Ask Mr. Pierce,” Luke said. “He helped bring him into the world.”
Jubal raised an eyebrow. “I brought in the hay,” he corrected. Lisa noticed he didn’t provide the name.
“He was on foal watch,” Luke said.
She had a hard time imagining him sitting still for hours to watch a foal being born. He seemed to be all barely restrained energy. But she knew how miraculous it was to watch a healthy baby being delivered. It never ceased to amaze her. Had it affected him the same way?
She wished she knew what he thought, but she, who was usually so good at reading patients, couldn’t read him at all. He’d been quiet at the supper at Eve’s when she first arrived and again the night of the pageant, and yet, she’d sensed he was absorbing everything—the words, the people, the interaction. Since then, he’d revealed very limited information about himself, his past and his thoughts, even during their time at the cabin.
She knew more about him through the changes she’d seen in Gordon, and that was more intuition than actual knowledge of what had gone on between them. She only knew Gordon seemed to be on an upswing.
But now she saw yet another side of Jubal. The mare had gone straight to him, not to her actual owner, Luke Daniels, and allowed her foal to nuzzle Jubal’s hand while protecting her baby from the others.
Even more telling, he’d worked for Luke just a short time and yet the man treated him like an equal rather than a hired hand. He seemed perfectly at home on the ranch, more at home than she’d seen him before.
He was an enigma to her. An enigma that fascinated, attracted and aroused her.
And scared the hell out of her.
He moved aside, giving her half of a carrot. “Want to make a friend?” he asked.
Lisa took it and offered it to the mare, who gently pulled it from her hand before scarfing it down. “How many carrots do you have in your pockets?” Lisa asked.
“A bunch. The grocery store is running out,” Jubal said with a grin. “They ensure a warm welcome.”
He seemed uncharacteristically unguarded and relaxed. She was stunned by his smile, its magnetism and the pure need that pulsed along her nerves and settled in her stomach.
Luke broke in. “My wife is giving a barrel racing lesson in the arena out back. Would you like to watch?”
“I would!” Kerry said.
“Good. Why don’t you two come with me, and maybe Jubal can introduce Gordon to the horses—if that’s okay with you, Doctor. Jubal can show him how to tack up a horse and ride him around the ring.”
Lisa wasn’t sure that was the best idea, but she looked from Kerry’s eager face to Gordon’s pleading one and agreed. Luke led them through the barn, introducing them to the few stabled horses. “Most are in the pastures,” he explained.
The name of each horse was inserted in a slot in the door. The stabled horses poked their heads out to see who was visiting, and Kerry made a point of saying hello to each one. Lisa noticed her sister seemed torn between lingering with the horses and watching the practice session. But then they were outside, taking a short path to the large building behind the stables.
Inside was a large ring. Three barrels were arranged in a cloverleaf formation, and a girl about Kerry’s age riding a gray horse was talking to Tracy, whom Lisa had met earlier that week at Maude’s. She noticed several others nearby, watching, as well.
After a discussion, the rider rode to the entrance of the ring, turned and raced around the barrels at what seemed an incredible speed. The whole thing was over in seconds.
“In barrel racing,” Luke said, “the fastest time wins. It’s not judged on style, only the clock, but the riders have to maneuver at high speeds. Precise control is imperative.”
They watched for another twenty minutes, then Luke suggested they check on Gordon.
“Can I stay and watch?” Kerry begged.
Lisa looked at Luke, who nodded. “Sure. No problem. They’ll probably be here another thirty minutes.”
Luke led Lisa back through the barn and out the front doors. When they emerged, Lisa saw Gordon wearing a riding hat, sitting astride a dark brown horse in the riding ring.
Jubal attached a long rope to the horse’s halter and stood in the middle of the ring while giving commands to Gordon. “Walk. Stop. Slow trot. Halt.”
Then he told Gordon to take his hands of the reins and repeated the same commands.
“That’s to help him learn to balance,” Luke said as he watched beside her. “Your brother has a good seat.”
Lisa knew nothing about riding. She’d watched as Eve had worked with Kerry but she never expected Gordon to be interested, as well, not until he raised the subject, and even then she thought it had more to do with Jubal than the actual riding.
She was beginning to understand the connection Jubal had with Gordon. One of the biggest things missing from his life was a strong male presence. He probably couldn’t pick a stronger one than Jubal Pierce. Apprehension ran through her. The last thing he needed was to find one and lose him.
She’d hoped the police chief would’ve been that model. She had liked Clint immediately, and he lived here. Permanently. He had the open, friendly personality that she thought would appeal to her brother. Instead, he’d picked a quiet loner. Like himself.
Lisa continued to watch them. She didn’t know if Jubal had taught before, but he was good at it. Patient. Calm. Encouraging. He took the rope off, and Gordon controlled the reins. At Jubal’s command, he went from a walk to a slow trot. Back to a walk. Halted. Started again. When Gordon wanted to go faster, Jubal said no. To her surprise, Gordon didn’t argue.
The lesson ended, and Jubal walked over to her. “Do you have time for him to cool off the horse and groom him? It’s part of the process he should learn.”
She nodded, trying not to wonder how it would feel to be in those muscled arms for more than a few seconds. “Kerry’s still watching the barrel rider.”
“Why don’t we go inside and get something cool to drink?” Jubal asked. She nodded as he led the way into a room loaded with saddles and other riding equipment. He went to a small fridge and took out two bottles of water and handed one to her. It was ice cold.
He took a long pull from the bottle, then splashed some on his face. She watched as water dribbled down his lips. There was something elementally masculine about the picture that made her knees weak.
She decided not to be dainty and did the same. It felt good on her face as well as her throat.
He grinned. “Good?”
He looked as if he belonged here. Surrounded by salddles and bits and halters. His shirt stuck to his chest and he might as well have a sign: I am Man.
It scared her, and fascinated her and enchanted her.
He reached over and wiped a drip of water from her chin with a finger. It was both provocative and...caring.
The door opened and Luke entered. “Jubal,” he started, then looked from Jubal to her and back again.
“Maybe I should come back later...”
Lisa knew her face was probably scarlet, but she squeezed between Luke and the door. “I wanted some water,” she said, “and saw the trophies. They are really impressive.” She was babbling.
“Most of those belong to Tracy,” Luke said.
Jubal moved then. “I have to get back to Gordon,” he said and disappeared out the door.
Lisa was left standing there, and she suspected her face was strawberry red. She hated losing control, but she had been doing a lot of that lately. She stepped back to the open door. “Thanks for asking us over today. I would like to pay for Gordon’s lesson.”
“No way. You’re an invited guest,” Luke said.
“What if he wants to continue them?”
“Is it okay if Jubal teaches him?”
No, she screamed internally. Outlwardly she tried to keep her cool. “Has he had any experience?” She didn’t doubt Jubal’s ability, not after watching him with Gordon, but she hoped to tempt out another kernel of information.
“Not teaching, but he’s just a damn good rider and great with the horses. I’ll be there with him because I want him as an instructor. I want to keep him as long as possible.”
How long would that be? He would be galloping in and out of their lives. Could she knowingly subject her brother to that?
“There wouldn’t be any charge,” he added.
“I couldn’t allow that,” she said.
“It’s Jubal’s time, and hell, I’m not paying him anything.”
“You’re not?” She couldn’t stop the question bursting from her lips.
“He won’t take a salary. He just wants to learn about ranching. He puts in a good fifty to sixty hours a week, too. Heck of a good man.”
Lisa was stunned. She shouldn’t be. Nothing about Jubal should surprise her now. “I still wouldn’t feel right,” she said. “Why don’t I throw in free medical care if you need it?”
“Done,” he said. “I’m relieved you’re here. We have injuries now and then. A fall, a horse stepping on someone’s foot. Concussions. Doc Bradley was great. Always available.”
“I’m trying to do the same, but he has a lot of experience on me.”
“Saw him yesterday. He says you’re doing real good.”
That’s good to hear.”
“Want to go see how your brother’s doing?”
They walked to the front of the stable where Gordon was using a thick bristled brush on the horse he’d been riding. The horse seemed to approve, reaching her head around and nickering softly. Jubal sat on a bale of hay. He gave her that slow, crooked smile that made her heart beat a little faster. “He’s doing good. He would make a good groom,” he added with a grin.
She sat on the bale next to him. “Not exactly the future I planned for him.” She paused, then asked, “Would you tell me if he didn’t do well?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I would.”
She believed him. “Thank you,” she said softly.
“I like him,” he said simply.
She hadn’t. She loved Gordon but she hadn’t liked him much recently.
The silent admission saddened her. She should have tried harder to understand what he was going through.
Gordon finished cooling his mount. He looked sweaty and sunburned and happy. “We’d better collect your sister and go home,” Lisa said. She turned to Jubal. “I suspect we’re taking up too much of your time.” She paused and then the words came out before she could stop them. “Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?”
“Yes,” he said simply. Something else she appreciated about him. His directness.
She looked at her watch. It was already four. “Seven okay?”
He nodded.
She gathered her brother and sister and headed out. On the ride home, Kerry was telling Gordon about the barrel rider and how she wanted to be one. Lisa thought of the expensive-looking horse in the arena and hoped not.
She wondered what the heck she’d been thinking when she’d invited Jubal over for supper. She didn’t even have much food at home. Maybe spaghetti with meat sauce. She usually kept ground beef around and she had spaghetti. She would just have to make it. No adult beverages, either... What had she been thinking?
She was thinking she wanted to see him and she certainly owed him after what he’d done for Gordon.
In any event, the deed was done.
As soon as they arrived at home, she looked in the cupboard and found several cans of tomatoes and the spices she’d need. She dumped them in the frying pan, along with chopped onions and some ground round, then put it on to simmer. No adult beverages, but she had chocolate cupcakes brought by one of her patients. They had been one of many such gifts during the past two weeks. A benefit and a curse as she felt her jeans grow tighter.
She took a moment to assess progress. Her sister was setting the table. Her brother was putting his stuff in his bedroom. Who were these well-behaved kids and what had they done with her siblings?
After the sauce was bubbling and a salad was made, she took a shower, then worried about what to wear. She finally just changed her shirt and put her jeans back on. No big deal. The supper was just a thank-you, nothing more. Or so she kept telling herself.
He arrived at seven on the dot. She wasn’t surprised. Punctuality had probably been drilled into him during years in the military.
His hair was still damp from either a shower or swimming, and he was clean-shaven. He gave her that quirky one-sided smile as he handed her a bottle. Wine. Thank heavens. She took a deep breath. She’d never experienced this kind of internal confusion before—the rapid beating of her heart, the sudden rush of heat in the pit of her stomach.
She clutched the bottle. “I hope you like spaghetti.”
“It’s one of my favorites,” he said.
Thankfully, Kerry appeared then. “Hello, Mr. Pierce.”
“Hello, Kerry,” he said with a disarming smile. “Did you like the ranch?”
“I loved the foal. Have you named him yet?”
“Nope. I want to pick just the right one, since it’s the first horse I’ve ever named. Any suggestions?”
He was so easy with Kerry and Gordon. Lisa was good with other people’s children, not so much with her own siblings. “I’ll open the wine,” she said.
He followed her to the kitchen. “Nice house.”
“The town provided it,” she said. “Most of the furnishings belong to the owner. We left ours in Chicago.” It was a reminder that she was only here for a year.
“That must have been tough, leaving everything behind.”
“There were as many bad memories as good ones,” she replied as she rummaged in a drawer. “I know I brought a corkscrew.”
“Don’t need one,” he said. “It has a screw top. The guy at liquor store vouched for it. I’m not that good at choosing wine so I just asked for a nice red. I remember that’s what you had at supper Saturday night.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. His blunt honesty always startled her. No man she’d known before would admit they knew nothing about wine. Well, she didn’t, either.
“I like wine with screw tops,” she admitted. “They keep better.”
She put spaghetti in the boiling water and stirred the sauce. Steam rose from the pans. Seemed to hover between them.
She felt the temperature in her blood rise, as well. She looked up and was lost in the intensity of those blue eyes. The silence stretched tautly between them. She wanted to ask so much. But now was not the time or place, and he didn’t make conversation easy. He always seemed to keep much of himself off-limits.
“Lisa?” Her sister broke the tension as she came into the kitchen.
Jubal stood back.
Lisa turned off the stove element.
“Can I do anything to help?” Kerry asked.
“You can strain the spaghetti,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. Natural. She feared there was a quaver in it.
She hoped Kerry’s presence might cool the temperature in the room. It didn’t. Every time she glanced at him, she felt as if she’d been reduced to putty. Dammit.
She managed to get everything together: the spaghetti on the platter, the sauce poured on top, the salad finished. She wished she had some hot bread, but there wasn’t any. Kerry poured herself a glass of milk and Gordon helped himself to the iced tea she’d made yesterday.
To her surprise, Gordon carried the conversation. He wanted to know about SEAL training. Was it as bad as he’d heard? Was it true that only one in a hundred applicants made it through? How could someone go through nearly a week with only an hour’s sleep?
Lisa felt her fear grow with every question. It competed with the constant somersaults in her stomach, or maybe magnified them. The two males ate is if they’d never had a meal, but she could hardly get a bite down. She finished her glass of wine and Jubal poured her another.
She served the cupcakes, drank the wine. It was refilled. Kerry looked at her with a question in her eyes. Lisa rarely drank more than two glasses but she felt like the proverbial cat on the hot tin roof. The more he sat there, talking more comfortably to her siblings than he had to her, the more an uninhibited need blossomed inside her. It warred against the fear she felt over Gordon’s interest in the military, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.
When they finished, Kerry offered to clean up and Gordon said he had to study. Jubal followed her to the living room.
“I should go,” he said. “It was a great dinner.”
They walked together to the door.
He stepped outside and his hand guided her out with him.
“Do you ever get up early on Sunday morning?” he asked.
They were standing on the front porch. In front of neighbors and God and maybe even her siblings, who were probably looking out the window.
She nodded.
“There’s a path near my cabin that leads up the mountain. The sunrise is spectacular from there. I’ll have some coffee.”
She shouldn’t. She knew she shouldn’t. She nodded.
“Six a.m.?”
She nodded again.
He gave her that half smile. “Good. Thanks for supper. It was great.” Then he turned and walked rapidly to his car.