Cade stood frozen in place, his heart slamming into his chest, as he watched the horse race directly at Allie.
Bryn let out a warning shout, and the sound finally spurred him into motion. His boots felt like they were pulling through peanut butter as he sprinted toward the bunkhouse. He saw Zane take off running around the far edge and instinctively knew he was going to try to head the horse off and force her back toward the barn.
He should have followed his lead and closed in on his flank, but all he could think about was getting to his daughter.
Allie froze, much like he just had, her eyes wide as the horse galloped full speed at her.
Cade was sprinting full speed as well, but the horse reached the girl first and came to an abrupt stop about two feet in front of her. She shook her head, rearing back for a second, then took a tentative step toward Allie and stretched out her head toward the bowl of apples.
Cade and Zane stopped at the same time, both recognizing that the horse had quieted and neither wanting to spook her again.
Something about the horse must have touched Allie—maybe it was her gaunt and frightened appearance, but the girl reached into the bowl and plucked out a thick slice of apple, then slowly held it out to the horse. She kept her hand flat like Cade had taught her the day before.
The horse sniffed at her hand, then delicately took the chunk of fruit. The horse’s body stilled and all her attention was focused on Allie as she took another slice of apple from the bowl and held it out on her outstretched palm.
Bryn, Zane, and Cade stood perfectly still, watching the exchange as if they all knew something special was happening. Cade had been around horses all his life and could read them well enough to know this one had calmed and was more interested in the fruit than in causing any harm to the girl feeding it to him.
“You okay, honey?” he quietly asked his daughter.
“I’m fine,” she said softly, keeping her eyes on the horse, a look of awe on her face. “I was scared at first, but I think this horse likes me.”
As if in answer to her statement, the horse lightly nudged her arm. Allie laughed as she passed her another slice.
When the bowl was empty, the horse stood still and let Cade approach her. He gently ran his hand over her neck, murmuring soothing sounds as he hooked his fingers under her halter. “There’s a good girl,” he said. Now that he had the horse firmly in hand, he looked down at this daughter. “That was really brave.”
“I didn’t feel brave at first. I was so scared I thought I was going to pee my pants,” Allie said, reaching out to touch the horse’s cheek. “But then all of sudden, I wasn’t afraid. It was like I just knew she wasn’t going to hurt me.”
He smiled at her. “Maybe you have a little more cowboy in you than either of us realized.”
A grin broke across her face before she had a chance to stop it.
“Wow, you did really great with her,” Bryn said, coming up on Allie’s side and putting an arm around the girl’s shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.”
Allie beamed up at her cousin, eagerly accepting the praise from her that she could only hesitantly take from him. “Thanks.”
“You did a good job,” Zane said, approaching the group. “That horse was just as scared as you were. She’d been uprooted from her home less than an hour ago and wasn’t happy about riding in the trailer. She’s not a bad horse, she was just afraid.” He tipped his cowboy hat toward her. “I’m Zane by the way.”
“I’m Allie,” she said, then turned her attention back to the horse. “Why’d you take her from her home?”
“We rescued her,” Bryn answered. “Her owner died, and no one was taking care of her.”
“Is that why she looks so skinny?”
“Yes, but she doesn’t look as starved as some of the horses we’ve taken in. We got to her before she got too bad.” Bryn ran a hand gently over the horse’s neck.
“That must be why she stopped for me. She was probably real hungry,” Allie said.
“I think she knew you were safe and wouldn’t hurt her,” Cade said. “Sometimes horses will just connect with people, and I think this horse knew you were a friend. That’s something special.”
Another small smile tugged at Allie’s lips. She stood a little taller as she confidently stroked the horse’s neck. “I think you’re special too.” She turned back to Bryn. “What’s her name?”
Bryn shrugged. “We don’t know. Would you like to pick a name for her?”
“Me?”
“Sure. You seem to know her the best already. Why don’t you think about it, and you can let me know if you come up with an idea?”
“Okay.”
Cade wanted to hug his cousin. And he was not a hugger. But the way she was talking to Allie and offering her the important job of naming the horse made his heart swell. “Why don’t we get this girl into the barn?” Cade said, giving the halter a little tug. “She can see her new home, and you can give her some grain,” he told Allie. The horse obediently followed him as he turned around and started toward the barn.
He had to smile at Nora, who stood about six feet back. She had Shamus standing on one side of her and Tiny, the pig, stood on the other. “Evidently she came out to see what all the commotion was about,” Nora said, nodding toward Tiny. “I guess now that I let her watch her show at my place, she considers us friends.”
“I love it,” Bryn said, swooping in to throw her arms around Nora. “I’m Bryn, and I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t apologize enough for my goat’s rude behavior, but I hope we’ll be great friends too.”
“Told you so,” Cade muttered behind his cousin’s back as he led the horse around her and into the barn. He got her settled in a stall on the other side of the barn from Gypsy and let Allie feed her some grain while he got her some fresh water.
Zane went to move his truck while Nora and Bryn hung back and let Cade and Allie take the lead with the horse. Cade crossed to where the two women stood chatting with each other. “Thanks, Bryn,” he told his cousin as he leaned against the fence next to her.
“For what?”
“You know. For this. With Allie and the horse.”
Bryn put a hand on his arm. “This is our family’s farm. I want her to have some ownership in it too. She hasn’t got to grow up here like we did, but she’s here now. And that’s what’s important.” She squeezed his arm. “I’m going to go help Zane get the trailer unhitched and put away. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
“You were right,” Nora said, leaning against the fence next to him after Bryn left. “I do already feel like I’m best friends with your cousin.”
He huffed out a laugh. “I told you so.”
“You already said that,” she told him, giving his arm a playful nudge.
“Yeah, but it bears repeating because I’m so often wrong when it comes to reading women and what they’re going to do.”
“You got a lot of things right this morning.”
His smile turned to a sigh. “I don’t know about that. If that horse hadn’t been half-starved, we could have had an entirely different scenario on our hands.”
“But it turned out okay. And you still seemed to know how to handle the situation. I watched you back off as if you could read that horse’s intentions.”
“I could, I guess. But it’s my fault it got loose in the first place. I should have been paying closer attention.” He shook his head. “I don’t get how I can have such natural instincts when it comes to horses, yet I seem to know nothing about taking care of a child. Why did I even open that trailer door without checking to see where Allie was?”
“You’re being too hard on yourself. You’re not used to having a child around and having to take note of that sort of thing. You’ll get better. You just have to cut yourself a break.”
As much as he appreciated her encouragement, he was uncomfortable with so much of her attention focused on his lack of parenting skills. He needed to change the subject. “Why don’t we all take a break? I’m starving. What do you say I take you and Allie into town and treat you both to a cheeseburger?”
“I’d say yes. I’m starving.”
***
Nora was surprised at the ease the three of them had with each other as they powered through cheeseburgers, chocolate shakes, and a mountain of crispy fries. Even Allie’s spirits seemed to have perked up a little, especially when she was talking about the animals.
Cade had brought them to the Creedence Country Café, the diner where Bryn waitressed. Her shift didn’t start until later that afternoon, but it seemed like it was the place to be because half the town was eating lunch there and a good number of them knew Cade. Several people waved and a few came by their booth to say hello, including the infamous Aunt Sassy.
“You must be Allie,” the older woman said after she had greeted Cade. “It’s nice to meet you. You can call me Aunt Sassy. Everyone does.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
“I knew your great-grandparents, and they were good people. In fact, I spent quite a bit of time out at their ranch when we were younger. They used to hold a barn dance there every fall to celebrate the end of harvest, and I’ve boogied with several of the ranch hands who lived in the very same bunkhouse you’re living in now.”
Allie’s eyes went wide, and she leaned forward. “You did?”
“Yep.” She winked as she planted a hand on her hip. “I may have even kissed a few.”
Nora chuckled. This woman was a character. And it seemed she’d already won over Cade’s daughter.
“All right. That’s enough talk about kissing,” Cade said, obviously uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation by the pink color on his cheeks—which was seriously cute as heck. He nodded toward her. “Aunt Sassy, this is Nora Fisher. She’s a friend of Elle’s and the physical therapist who’s staying out at the ranch with us to help with Allie’s recovery.”
Aunt Sassy turned her attention to Nora and narrowed her eyes as she studied her. “Nora, is it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You’re not from around here?”
“No.”
“You a city girl or from the country?”
“City, I guess. I’m from Denver.”
“You go to college in Colorado?”
Nora nodded.
“Buff or a Ram?”
“Ram. Go CSU.” She raised her fist in a little air bump. But it seemed as if Aunt Sassy wasn’t finished with her rapid-fire questions.
“Coffee drinker or tea?”
“Coffee.”
“Favorite season?”
“Summer.”
“Popcorn with butter?”
“Always.”
“Peanut butter chunky or smooth?”
“Extra chunky.”
“Glass half-empty or half-full?”
“Full.”
“How often do you stay up past midnight?”
“Rarely.”
“Biggest pet peeves?”
“Non-apology apologies, pushy vegans, finding a single sock in the dryer, people who chew with their mouths open, and mansplaining.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“Spiders, snakes, and the Broncos never getting another quarterback as good as Peyton Manning.”
Sassy nodded wisely. “That’s a valid concern. Do you play an instrument?”
Nora shook her head. “Can barely carry a tune.”
“What are you good at?”
“Breaking my diet, charades, and looking on the bright side.”
“How many books do you have on your Kindle?”
“Too many to count.”
“What’s the first thing you’d save in a fire?”
“My mom.”
“You’ll do.” Sassy offered her a wink and a satisfied grin before patting Cade on the hand. “I’ll come out to see you in the next few days, bring you a pan of my famous macaroni and cheese.”
“That’d be real nice. You know how I love it.”
“What was all that about?” Nora asked after Sassy had gone back to her table.
“The twenty questions?”
Nora nodded. “I’m not sure I wasn’t just interrogated by a CIA intelligence officer.”
Cade chuckled. “Right? Apparently, it’s just a thing she does. You should have heard some of the stuff she asked me the first time we met. She wanted to know if I preferred blonds or brunettes, if I knew how to tie a fly, and even asked my hat size.”
“So which did you tell her?” Nora couldn’t help but ask as she fought to not smooth her chestnut-brown hair. “Blonds or brunettes?”
He laughed again and offered her a roguish wink that sent shivers of heat coiling in her stomach. “Honey, this wasn’t my first rodeo. I said silver of course.”
Despite the heat, Nora laughed with him. “Of course.”
The waitress came by with their check. Cade handed her a couple of twenties and told her to keep the change. Nora knew how much their meals should have cost and liked that he was a good tipper.
“I appreciate the gesture, but I can cover my own meal,” she told him as they headed out of the diner. Although just barely. She hadn’t collected her first paycheck yet and she knew her account was slim. Apparently her bank account had no trouble keeping on its diet.
“I know you can,” he said as he held the door for her and Allie. “But I invited you, and this one was my treat.” He walked slowly along the sidewalk, patiently waiting as Allie wheeled herself along next to them.
The downtown area of Creedence was patterned in a square with the courthouse in the center. The sidewalks were dotted with old-fashioned streetlamps and planters overflowing with pansies and trumpet flowers. Several shops had cute benches in front of them where either dogs were tied or people could sit to chat. Nora was charmed at the number of shops that had dog bowls sitting outside their stoops filled with water.
The diner was on one corner of the main street and they passed a hardware store, a bank, and Carley’s Cut and Curl as they walked back to Cade’s pickup. He stopped on the sidewalk outside of the Creedence Mercantile. “As long as I’m feelin’ generous, I think we should stop in here and get you each a pair of cowboy boots.”
Allie pointed to the scooter. “How am I supposed to wear cowboy boots?”
“You can at least wear one boot on your good foot,” he told her as he held open the door to the mercantile. “Because if you’re gonna be spendin’ any time with that horse, you need a pair of boots on. She’d feel awful bad if she stepped on your foot. And her hooves could rip your toenail clean off.”
Allie winced. “Gross. Okay, you convinced me. I’ll let you get me some boots. Although how I’m going to get them on is a mystery.” She ducked under his arm and wheeled into the store.
“Nice touch with the toenail,” Nora told him quietly as she stepped in front of him.
The sound of his chuckle did funny things to her insides. “I thought that would do it. Now what’s it going to take to convince you to let me buy a pair for you too?”
“A lot more than the threat of a sore toe,” she told him. “But I’ll look around.” She wandered the aisles, surprised at the selection of moccasins and boots available. The store was huge inside and divided into two sections, as if the owners had purchased two stores, then added a large doorway between them. One side of the store carried boots, hats, and western clothing while the other side seemed to focus on hunting and fishing.
Cade led them down the aisle to a section of short-topped boots. “I think you should each get a pair of these Ropers. They’re shorter, so they’re easier to put on and take off, plus they’ve got good soles, are comfortable, and won’t pinch your toes.”
“And they come in pretty cool colors,” Allie said, picking up a pair of brown boots with dark pink and purple sides. “I like these.”
“Good choice,” he said, then pointed to a chair. “Sit down. I’ll help you try one on.” He grabbed a packet of socks. “You’re gonna need these too.”
Allie sat and only fussed a little as he pulled a sock on her foot, then helped her push her good foot into a boot.
He pulled her to a standing position. “How does it feel?”
“Good,” she said. “I like them. They’re more comfortable than I thought they’d be.” She nodded to the black-and-teal pair Nora was admiring. “Are you going to get a pair too?”
She voiced the question as if her accepting a pair depended on Nora’s answer. Nora ran her finger over the dark teal stitching. They were cute boots. And they were a much better option for walking around the ranch than either her sandals or her dress boots.
Cade nudged her arm. “Just try ’em on.”
She sighed and relented, knowing if they were half as comfortable as Allie said they were, she’d have a hard time turning them down. She was such a sucker for a cute pair of shoes, even if they were cowboy boots. She found a box in her size and a pack of socks and sat in the chair next to Allie. “I don’t know. I’ve never had a pair of cowboy boots before. I’m not sure I need them.” She pulled on a sock, then took out a boot and tugged it on. Dang it. It was surprisingly comfortable.
“Oh, you’ll need them. You both will. It’s an essential part of being a cowboy, or in you all’s case, a cowgirl.” Cade peered down at Nora’s feet as she pulled on the other boot and stood to take a few steps around. “Those look good on you. How do they feel?”
“Good, actually. I thought they’d feel weird, but they’re pretty comfy.”
“I think so too,” Allie said. “Those are cute.”
“So are the ones you picked,” Nora told her. She could see the indecision on Allie’s face and the need in Cade’s to do something nice for his daughter. It felt a little weird to be accepting this gift from him, but she could see how much it meant to him to buy them for Allie. She could always take them and then later talk him into taking the cost out of her first paycheck.
A saleswoman stopped behind their chairs. “Anything I can help with?”
Cade offered Nora a questioning, and hopeful, look. She chewed her bottom lip as she glanced from Allie to her feet, then back up at Cade. She smiled as she gave him a nod. “I guess you can ring up a couple pairs of boots.”
“And the socks,” Cade told the saleswoman as he hoisted the boot boxes into his arms. His face shone with a wide smile as he turned back to her and Allie. “Unless I can talk you all into looking at hats.”
Allie made a barfing sound, and Nora laughed as she shook her head at Cade. “Don’t push your luck, cowboy.”
He chuckled as he followed the saleswoman to the counter to pay for the boots.
“He’s weird,” Allie said.
“Yeah, I know. But getting these boots does seem like a good idea to protect our feet around the animals. And it sure seemed to make him really happy.”
“I know,” the girl said, looking down and picking at a loose seam on her shorts. “That’s why I let him.”
Nora smiled even though Allie wasn’t looking at her. “Me too.”
***
A surprise was waiting outside their door when Cade, Nora, and Allie got back to the bunkhouse.
“What the hell are those?” Cade asked as they approached the porch.
“They’re yoga balls,” Nora said, obviously delighted. “But how did anyone know we needed them?”
“I think I mentioned it to Bryn. But I was asking her where I could get a pair.” Although he wouldn’t have guessed this was what he would be buying. The balls were huge, one blue and one gray. “There’s a note,” he said, pulling a folded paper from between the jamb and the screen door. “It’s from Elle. It says she’s sorry she missed us. She stopped by to see Allie and catch up with Nora, and she heard we needed yoga balls so she ran to Denver and grabbed a couple.” He shook his head. “That woman constantly surprises me.”
“Me too,” Nora replied, agreeing. “She’s about the nicest person I know.”
“Put her together with Bryn and it’s like rainbows and teddy bears float in the air around them. She also picked us up a baked ziti and said she put it in the oven on low and stuck a lemon meringue pie in the fridge.”
Nora offered him a grin. “You have to admit, she’s not a bad friend to have. Baked ziti and a pie. I mean, come on.”
He chuckled. “She said don’t give her too much credit, they’re from the diner. Then she drew some hearts and stuff and signed her name.” He passed the note to Nora.
“Why do people keep bringing us food?” Allie asked, her brow furrowing. “Mom and I have never had anyone drop off anything at our apartment.”
“It’s different up here. Small towns are a community, and they like to take care of each other. And one of their own has been hurt, so their way of helping is to drop off food.”
“I’m not one of their own. And neither are you. You only moved here a few months ago.”
“You’re right. But my grandparents lived here all their lives, and you can bet your great-grandma dropped off plenty of baked goods for folks in this community. The Callahans are family around here, and you’re a Callahan.”
“In name only,” she muttered before pushing through the door and heading for her room.
Cade flinched at the sound of her bedroom door slamming. He leaned his shoulder against the side of the house and let out a sigh. “I don’t get it. What did I say?”
Nora put a hand on his arm. “Nothing. She’s a teenager, so her moods are going to be all over the place.”
“But I thought things were going so well. She was even laughing at lunch.”
“Which might be part of the problem. Remember, she just lost her mom and has been uprooted to this new place. She might feel guilty for having fun or for enjoying this farm—like if she starts to like you and Bryn too much, it will be a betrayal to her mom.”
“You might be right.” He offered her a smile. “What’s that advice gonna cost me?”
She grinned up at him. “One baked ziti dinner.”
“Done. I’ll even throw in a slice of pie.” He tried to laugh, but the anguish of the situation was getting to him, and he dropped his chin to his chest. “Ya know, I consider myself a pretty tough guy, but this parenting stuff is rough.”
Nora took a step toward him. “I have to warn you that I’m a hugger by nature, and it’s killing me not to be able to offer you a hug. Like I’m totally comin’ in hot, so if you don’t want to be smothered in a hug, you need to stop me now.”
The idea of wrapping his arms around Nora had emotion burning his throat. Which was weird since his feelings toward women weren’t generally led by his heart. But something about this woman, with her sunny attitude and her giving nature, was getting to him. He opened his arms, and she stepped into them and wrapped herself around him.
He let out his breath as she sank into him, and he bent his head and buried his face in her hair. “You feel good,” he whispered, then cleared his throat. “I mean this feels good.”
“So do you,” she murmured into his chest. Or at least that’s what he thought he heard. She might have said, “This does too.”
She pulled back, but he wasn’t ready to let her go and kept his arms circled around her waist. She looked up at him from under long eyelashes, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
There was something here. He knew it, and he was sure she did too. The electricity between them was almost visible, as if it shimmered in the air. They’d been teasing and flirting and touching the last few days, but this felt different. This was more than playful flirtation.
He dropped his gaze to her mouth and wanted to groan. Her lips were plump and parted, as if just begging to be kissed.
He leaned down and softly grazed her lips with his—not quite a kiss but enough to feel the soft catch of her breath and the delicious enticement of her mouth.
“What’s this going to cost me?” he whispered, but he already knew the answer.
It was going to cost him everything.