Chapter Five

Dan paced the great lodge, glancing at his watch every few minutes. Sofie had yet to return to Sky Lake, and the urge to do something was eating away at his skin. It was kinda hard to help someone if that someone couldn’t be found. Lord, if he’d managed to lose Sofie in five hours in a town the size of a pea, what did that say about his “Dependable” moniker?

“Dan, sit down. You’re driving the staff and guests crazy.”

He looked up to see Peyton Brooks bearing down on him like a boat in full sail. Knowing to argue or go against anything she ordered was a fool’s game, he collapsed in the closest rocker and sighed.

“What are you waiting on?”

“Who.”

She pursed her lips. “Is this a game?”

“No. I’m waiting on a who. Emily’s sister.”

“Emily’s what?” She jammed her fists on her hips. “How did I not know this?”

Dan laughed. Full belly laughs. Peyton looked so affronted, he nearly fell off the chair. She crossed her arms and stomped a booted foot. “You done?”

He sobered, afraid she might hit him upside the head. “Shelby knew.”

Wrong thing to say. Red flushed her face, and she looked downright mutinous. She pointed a finger in his face. “How long?”

“Since about five a.m. this morning.”

Peyton looked at her watch. “Twelve hours!”

All he could do was shrug. A flash of brown caught his eye, and he shifted to see past the pissed drill sergeant. Sofie was doing her best to slip by unnoticed.

“Come on. That’s her now.”

Peyton spun around as Dan passed her.

“Sofie, wait up.”

He heard her groan and swallowed another laugh. Lord, she and Peyton would get along just fine. Which, considering how he’d once felt about Peyton, was slightly disconcerting. Apparently, his type was headstrong with a temper to match her beauty.

“Umm, I was just headed up to change and get some dinner,” Sofie said once they’d caught up to her.

Peyton pushed in front of him. “Hi. I’m Peyton. We think the world of Emily. I’m her neighbor. Well, along with my soon-to-be husband, Ryder, and our daughter, Mel.”

Sofie shook Peyton’s hand, and Dan caught the side-glance she threw him. What had he done now? He arched a brow and gave her a questioning look, but she ignored him.

“Nice to meet you. If you’ll excuse me.” She made to turn away, but Peyton was having none of it.

“Why don’t we have dinner together? Dan said he was waiting for you.”

It was his turn to groan. The way Peyton sounded, he’d been all but panting for her arrival. A quick glance showed Sofie blushing despite her body being tight and tense.

“Dinner sounds good. Thank you.”

“Great, let me call Ryder and let him know. Is Emily here?”

“Umm…” Sofie looked unsure what to say.

“Peyton, you’re losing your touch. Adam was hurt, so Emily just flew out to be with him. She’s going to stay with him until he’s able to travel.”

Peyton’s green eyes had grown into saucers, and she slapped him on the shoulder.

“Ow.” He rubbed the abused spot.

“Why did you let me ramble on when something that important had happened?”

“I didn’t know you didn’t know. You usually—”

“Don’t. Finish. That. Sentence.” She narrowed her gaze, then closed her eyes and let her shoulders slump. “Darn it, Emily called me earlier and left a voicemail, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t listened to it yet.”

“It was probably her asking you and Ryder to look after her place. She said she was going to call you,” Sofie said, some of the tension draining from her.

Seizing the opportunity, Dan turned toward the dining room. “Shall we?”

The trio grabbed a table by the massive fireplace/stove area. Several cooks were stirring cast iron pots and then pushing them back over the open flames.

“It always smells so heavenly in here.”

Dan helped Sofie sit and pushed in her chair, doing the same for Peyton. “Laney is a genius, and she hires semi-geniuses to work under her.”

Peyton shook out her napkin. “Just wait until you have some of her tarts. She’s famous for them.”

They placed drink and food orders and Dan glanced several times to make sure Sofie was okay. She had to be dead on her feet by now, since she hadn’t slept at all last night and had been out all day. But food was important, too, especially since she was eating for two. He would have to make sure Peyton and her busybodiness didn’t interfere.

“So what brings you to Fly Creek?”

Sofie dropped her fork. Dan didn’t miss her trembling fingers. He was way too interested in her answer and had to scold himself. Why she was there and for how long didn’t matter. He would keep an eye on her and help her get her bearings until Emily returned, and that was all. Of course, that meant his leaving would be pushed off a little more, but he hadn’t been able to tell a tearful Emily no. He didn’t do well with crying women.

“It was time for a change, and I hadn’t seen Emily in far too long.”

Peyton frowned. “And she had to leave. Well, that just sucks. I’m pretty busy with the lodge, but maybe I can find a ranch hand to—”

“Emily asked me to help Sofie while she’s gone.” Like hell was Dan letting one of the other guys keep an eye on her. Stubborn woman that she was, she would probably stomp her foot, place a demand, and they would let her walk all over them, most likely getting herself into a bind in the process.

Peyton considered him for a long moment, then nodded.

“About that, Mr. Rigby…”

“Dan,” he corrected.

Sofie frowned. “Dan. I really don’t need a babysitter.”

“Well, that’s good, because I’m not sure how good a babysitter I would be.” He smiled, but she just pursed her lips.

“I’ll be perfectly fine on my own. Besides, I’m sure you have better things to do.”

Peyton snorted. “Please. This is exactly the type of thing Dan lives for. This is what he does.”

Dan clenched his fist under the table while smiling at Sofie. Those raw places were positively burning on the heels of Peyton’s words. Part of him wanted to get up and say he was done with doing the dependable thing, the right thing. But he knew that he never would, and truth be told, he lived to be giving and supporting. He’d just like the person on the receiving end to appreciate his effort. Which was not Sofie, since he knew she would point-blank refuse if she thought she could get away with it. He’d only spent a few hours in her presence, but her “stand back, I’m doing this on my own” vibe had punched him in the gut loud and clear.

Sofie looked at him, probably expecting a response, maybe praying it would not be the agreement he was about to give.

“I would never go back on my word to your sister. Besides, who else can show you the sights of Fly Creek and Sky Lake but me?”

The mumbling under her breath returned, partially disguised by the arrival of their food, but he caught a mention of choices, children, and men, none with a positive spin to it.

The rest of the dinner stayed superficial. Peyton digging, Sofie sharing the bare minimum. Dan just sat back and enjoyed the show. It seemed Peyton had met her match.

An hour later, Peyton left them in the lobby. Her frustration was visible to him, but only because he’d known her for over a decade. Once she was out of sight, he turned to find Sofie narrowing her gaze at him.

Uh-oh.

“I really do not need an escort.”

“Oh, of course you do, dear, and Dan’s perfect for the job.” Shelby had appeared from behind him and once again he had to hide the laughter bubbling up his throat. Sofie was at her rope’s end. “Emily was right to pass the ‘Welcome to Fly Creek’ torch to him.”

A commotion saved them from any more, as Shelby hurried to the far fireplace, where a young kid was crying over spilled ice cream.

He tweaked Sofie’s shirt. “Three for three.” He shrugged, and she rolled her eyes. “Look, I promise we’ll have fun. You won’t feel like you’re being babysat at all.”

She didn’t look convinced.

“If you won’t do it for fun, will you at least do it for me? I live for my Dependable Dan crown. If I lose that, I’m not sure what else I have.” He’d spoken in jest, but truth rang out between them, and she must have realized the confession for what it was.

She poked his chest. “I expect fun, Rigby.”

He saluted and gave her a wink. He felt like a million bucks when she smiled back at him.

She waddled her way to the stairs.

“Tomorrow, after breakfast?” he called out.

Sofie nodded, bypassing the steps for the elevator hidden behind them. Thank goodness, ’cause he’d been about to tell her she looked too exhausted to haul herself up three flights. He imagined that would have gone over about as well as the time he told Peyton she was running herself ragged. His head still hurt at the memory.

He ran a hand down his neck and sighed. It was going to be a very long week. But as he turned to leave, he found he couldn’t stop smiling.

…

The next morning, Sofie had to force her feet to carry her to the elevator. The thrill and relief of finally reaching Fly Creek and her sister had fled the coop. In their place was dread. She was being escorted around by a cowboy who had somehow gotten under her skin and into her blood. She was sticking by her hormone alibi, but there was a small part of her that craved and welcomed the attention, and no hormone played a part in it.

“Snap out of it.” The elevator dinged and she stepped in and smiled at the other two guests, a couple holding hands. They were bundled up, but she had no problem deducing just where the bright eyes and flushed faces had come from. Staring at her feet, or rather where she assumed her feet were since she hadn’t seen them in months, she hoped this elevator was a fast one and not one of those “take your time and enjoy the scenery of every floor” kind.

Her prayers were answered, and she pushed through the doors the minute her frame would allow.

Unfortunately, she was still looking at her feet and bounced right into six foot, two inches of solid muscle. Quick fingers wrapped around her shoulder and steadied her already threatening to tip body.

“I mean, I figured you would be in a rush for some fun, but you didn’t have to run me over.”

She stepped back, and Dan released her. Thankfully. Meeting his dark, playful eyes, she smiled and said, “I’m sorry. I should be more aware of my surroundings.”

Dan tipped his hat. “No worries. Besides, I’m much safer than the cows.”

She laughed and walked. He quickly fell in step.

“So, after breakfast, I thought you might like to see Emily’s store and gallery.”

“Oh.” She hadn’t thought much about what his “fun” might entail, and while this might not qualify, it was in all ways sweet. “I would really enjoy that.”

They ate breakfast in the dining room and thankfully Dan didn’t touch on anything more than the weather and Sky Lake in general. He seemed to know that any hint of her past or what brought her to Fly Creek wasn’t something to be touched. She didn’t have much respect for men in general these days, but she was willing to admit an intuitive one was a nice change of pace.

The drive off the ranch and into town was short and sweet, but Sofie tried to soak up as much of the scenery as she could. This was her new home. Where she would raise her son and plant roots.

“So, after the gallery, I could show you a few of the local stores. We have a clothing boutique run by a brother and sister that’s really nice.”

“I have clothes, thank you.”

He cleared his throat, and she looked down at her ensemble and back at him.

“I thought maybe, you know, a coat. One that might protect you a little better. We get some numbing winds, especially when they get stuck between the ridges.”

She took a deep breath and counted to ten. Her pulse beat in her ear and she reminded herself that what he said wasn’t untrue. Her coat was basically nothing more than an accessory. It definitely didn’t serve any purpose. But she didn’t need him telling her what to do, trying to force her to do what he thought was best.

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

She chanced a glance. His lips were thin and he concentrated especially hard on the straight open road in front of them. She refused to feel guilty. Just cause they called him Dependable Dan didn’t mean she had to depend on him.

They entered what she assumed was the center of town. Lampposts dotted the sidewalks, with benches in between. There was a gazebo farther down in what looked like a square. She could understand what her sister found so appealing about the small town. It was charming and cozy like a city could never be.

“What’re those wooden posts for?”

“To hitch horses to.”

“You’re kidding.” She shook her head and stared out the window, absorbing every detail. The whole town was decorated. Beautiful, vibrant wreaths hung on the lampposts. Trees surrounding the gazebo were strung with lights and snow-capped. Each business seemed to have something out front or on their door or windows. It looked like a Hallmark Christmas movie, a perfect winter wonderland.

“We hold a contest every year for best business decoration. Your sister won last year.”

Sofie laughed. “I’m not surprised. She may be the quiet one, but she’s as competitive as they come. A decorating contest is right up her alley.”

Dan parked his truck outside a row of businesses. A group of kids pulling paper things off a tree caught her eyes. “What are they doing?”

“Picking angels.”

What?

She let her question show.

“Come on, I’ll show you.”

He hopped out, and Sofie scrambled to get open the door and slide off the bench seat before he could assist. She didn’t need to get that up close and personal with him again. Not to mention, she wasn’t a damsel in distress.

She assumed right as he circled his tailgate and frowned. “I would have opened it for you.”

“I’m not so far pregnant that I can’t open a door.”

“It’s not that I thought you couldn’t, it’s that it’s a nice thing to do.”

She was not going to have this argument in the middle of the sidewalk.

He must have agreed because he waved her on toward the tree surrounded by children.

They stopped beside it and she fingered a paper angel and read the information.

“Each one is a child in need from here or the surrounding area. Donations are voluntary, and the identity is kept confidential. You pick an angel, then you can purchase one or as many of things listed on there.”

Sofie looked at the meager list. A book, a toy tractor, a jacket, and a scooter. Her throat closed up, and she had to moisten her lips to talk.

“What happens to the ones that don’t get picked?”

“Fly Creek takes care of their own.”

There was something in his voice that reached inside her, made her want to discover his secrets. But she knew firsthand what secrets men kept behind the do-gooder facade.

“Thanks for showing me.”

He led her down the street to Emily’s store.

The Painted Glass sat on the corner block, huge glass windows allowing as much light in as possible.

“So this is my sister’s domain?”

Dan opened the door, a cowbell sounding. “Yep. She has really made a nice place for herself here, and it’s a huge benefit to the town.”

Four years ago, Emily had run to Fly Creek to escape her grief. Only it followed her here and kept her immobile for too long. Now she knew how much Emily gave back to the town that brought her to life again. She prayed Fly Creek would be the same medicine for her. And she would be happy to give as much back as her sister.

“Are you an artist, too?”

Sofie snorted as she trailed her fingers along stacks of art supplies. “Um, no. That gene skipped me. Entirely.”

“I hear ya. I got roped into one of Emily’s classes. Let’s just say the result is hidden in the back of a closet, never to be seen again.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.”

“Even the horses stuck their noses up at it.”

Sofie burst out laughing. It was easy to forget what she still faced when sharing the company of this nice, handsome cowboy.

“So, where’s this fun you promised me?”