Laurel Rowan craned her neck each time the doors slid open at the Arrivals level of the Calgary International Airport. The flight from Heathrow landed twenty minutes ago, but still no sign of her friend. Must be held up in Customs. She sighed as the doors whooshed shut again.
“You sure he managed to get on the right flight?” Chance frowned down at her.
“Of course, he did. Don’t be mean,” his sister Carly said.
Laurel shifted a few steps away from them and chewed on her bottom lip. Chance was acting like an idiot which annoyed her to no end. Carly claimed her brother was jealous. That was hardly likely in Laurel’s opinion. She’d been friends with Chance since they were in diapers, but the thought of kissing him was just gross.
“There he is!” Her heart jumped in her chest and she waved wildly as Coll Tinne came through the doors from the baggage and Customs area. “Coll, over here!”
The English boy’s face broke into a wide grin and he pushed through the low metal gates. “Hallo, Laurel. You’re looking grand.” Dropping his luggage to the floor he gathered her close in a hug.
“Harrumph.”
Chance cleared his throat loudly. Laurel turned toward him, keeping an arm around Coll’s waist.
“Chance, Carly, this is Coll. Coll, my friends, Chance and Carly.”
“Nice to meet ya.” The British youth extended his hand which Chance shook with some reluctance.
“Welcome to Alberta! I’ve heard so much about you it feels like I already know you,” Carly pushed her brother out of the way. “The truck’s this way. C’mon, Laurel. Chance’ll bring the bags, won’t you?” Linking her arm in Coll’s she drew Laurel along with them toward the exit.
Laurel glanced back and grimaced at the black expression on Chance’s handsome face. Catching her eye, he immediately pasted a totally fake smile on his face, gathering up the two bags at his feet. Dragging the wheeled suitcase and slinging the carry-on over his shoulder, the long-legged cowboy caught up with them in short order.
“The truck’s this way. We’re parked on the second level.” He manoeuvered around them and led the way toward a battered red pickup.
Carly rolled her eyes at her brother’s broad back. Laurel grinned and squeezed Coll’s hand.
“I’m so glad you’re here! How’s Sarie? How are all the horses…and Emily and…oh everyone!” Laurel stopped to catch her breath.
“Everyone’s grand. Ash and Gort are enough to make you bork, snogging every time you turn around.”
“That’s kinda sweet, don’t you think?” Carly smiled up at Coll.
He grunted and shrugged noncommittedly. “I guess if you fancy getting mushy in public.”
“Is Ash’s mum still up in arms about them seeing each other?” Laurel tugged Coll a little closer to her side away from Carly and her bright vivacious smile.
“As ever. They just don’t go to her house much and hang out at Gramma’s. She doesn’t mind and keeps trying to get Alice to get over herself. It’d be just brill if they could go over there and I wouldn’t have to put up with them being gooey all the bloody time.” He paused. “Especially since you’re so far away and all.”
Laurel’s face heated, and she avoided Carly’s knowing look. Coll made her feel things she couldn’t describe and didn’t really understand. It was exciting and scary all at the same time.
“Hurry up, would you?” Chance threw the bags into the bed of the truck and wrenched open the driver’s door. “I want to get out of the city before the traffic gets bad.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Chance. What’s the rush?” Laurel frowned at him. Carly stood back and grinned, obviously enjoying her brother’s jealousy.
“I said I’d come pick up your friend for you, but I didn’t think it would take all day. The Gore’s are expecting me to work that heading horse of theirs tonight. And I have to check over my rigging bag for High River on the twenty-second. Kessler’s are bringing in some good stock. I’m hoping I get a good draw. I really want a shot at that Shredded Coconut mare.” He swung his lanky frame up into the cab and the big diesel roared to life.
Laurel yanked the back door open and let Coll get in ahead of her. She wouldn’t put it past Chance to take off without him. Carly hopped in the passenger seat. “Shot gun!” She grinned over her shoulder. Chance glowered at her. “I thought Laurel called shot gun on the way up,” he growled.
“You wish.” Carly rubbed in the fact Laurel and Coll were crammed in the back seat along with Chance’s gear. “Maybe you should have cleared out the back. Then it wouldn’t be so cozy.” She giggled and hung on as Chance gunned the engine, the noise loud in the enclosed space.
“What’s he all aggro about,” Coll whispered in Laurel’s ear.
“He just likes to be the centre of attention.” Laurel shrugged it off, vowing to have it out with Chance later. The guy was acting like a total idiot. How many times did she have to tell him she wasn’t interested in him as a boyfriend, or anything else, besides a friend?
Pushing her annoyance aside Laurel smiled at Coll. It was so good to see him again, to have him close. “Tell me what’s been going on at home,” she prompted. “Is Stuart still being a pain in the ass? You never said how you did on your O Levels, did you pass?”
“Stuart is Stuart, he still causes a bit of aggro, but not like he used to. He’s working now and talking about getting a flat with some mates. I think he’s really wanting to get out of his parents’ place. Ted’s pretty rough on him.” Coll grimaced.
“Can’t blame him, I guess. Being the son of the Chief Constable can’t be easy. Still he doesn’t have to be such a jack ass,” Laurel said.
“Stuart? Is that the guy who was such a dick, bullying your friends?” Carly turned around as far as the seat belt would allow.
“Yup.” Laurel curled her lip in distaste. Glancing forward, she accidently caught a glimpse of Chance’s face in the rear-view mirror. A deep furrow creased his forehead and a small muscle ticked in his clenched jaw. Should she try and include him in the conversation? Whenever she mentioned England, or her friends there, Chance always shut her down, saying he didn’t need to know anything about her foreign friends. She sighed and decided to keep quiet.
Carly’s brother sometimes blew up at the littlest thing and lately Laurel found it safer to avoid touchy subjects around him.
Coll slid his hand around hers, twining his fingers with Laurel’s. “Laurel?”
“Huh? I’m sorry, did I miss something?” She focused on Coll.
“I was saying about the O Levels, but you didn’t hear me…”
“Oh! Sorry, I was just thinking about something for a minute.”
“Care to share?” Carly piped up. A mischievous grin on her face, she tipped her head toward her brother who was still scowling out the windshield.
“Nothing important.” She shook her head slightly in warning to her best friend. “I’m sorry, Coll. Did you pass?”
“I did! Gramma wants me to think about doing the Cambridge Pre-University Diploma as well, but I don’t know if I want to go that route.”
“Sounds impressive. Cambridge, wow! Isn’t that where Kate met Prince William?” Carly asked.
“Sure, I guess. I don’t pay much mind to what the royals do, myself.” Coll shrugged.
Chance snorted and glanced in the rear-view mirror. “Sounds like that’s for snobs and the rich and famous.” A sneer twisted his features.
“Ignore him,” Laurel whispered to Coll.
“He’s just jealous of you.” Carly poked her brother in the ribs and smothered a laugh.
“Shut the hell up, Carly! Like I’d be jealous of some English guy…Just shut up.” The digital display on the dash increased as he jammed his boot on the accelerator and the truck jumped ahead on the highway.
Carly met Laurel’s gaze, rolled her eyes and shrugged. Laurel bit her lip and watched their speed increase. When the readout tipped over to 140 kilometres even Carly began to look worried.
“Chance—” She put a hand on his arm.
“Shut up, Carly. Okay? Just shut it.”
Laurel squeezed Coll’s hand, then let it go and leaned forward to speak in Chance’s ear. “Either slow down right now or stop and let me out. I mean it, Chance. Slow down.”
“What’re you gonna do if I don’t?” The speedometer climbed to 145.
“Quit being such an ass! Slow down or I swear I’m gonna open the door and jump out.”
“You know she will,” Carly joined the argument. “Remember the day—”
“Fine!” The big vehicle slowed to a more reasonable speed. “Bunch of babies. Afraid of a little speed,” he muttered and turned up the radio.
“Just stay close to the speed limit or I’ll tell Dad. And you know how he feels about speeding, he’ll nail your hide to the barn door.”
“I ain’t afraid of your dad, Laurie. Give me a break.”
“Are to!” Carly hooted with laughter. “That’s why you still call him Mr. Rowan all the time, ’cause you’re best buds.”
“Shut up, Carly. Or I swear…”