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Layla was overtired and grumpy by the time Carly left work. After yet another day of filling in for Tanya, Carly was exhausted. She called Birch and begged off going to see him. It cost her a promise to come out the next day first thing in the morning.
The day dawned bright and beautiful. Carly was tempted to take Layla and spend the morning in the park playing and enjoying the peace and quiet. Instead, she packed Layla up and headed for Birch’s ranch.
She was torn between trepidation and excitement. She’d get to snoop around the ranch and see what Birch had built, but she’d be having a discussion she’d rather put off until ... well forever.
“Mama, where are we going?” Her daughter’s sweet voice was calming.
“We’re going to see Birch and Grandma Helen and Grandpa Buck if he’s there.”
“Are we staying for dinner?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps. I brought snacks for you if you get hungry.”
“I want to stay for dinner. Grandma Helen is the best cook.”
“We’ll see, but no promises. I have to talk to Uncle Birch for a bit. After we talk, I’ll decide what to do about supper.”
“’Kay,” she said in her ‘I’m pouting’ voice.
“Love you, Little Bean.”
“Love you too, Mama.” Paper rustled and Carly peeked in the rearview mirror. Layla was reading her favorite car book. She loved looking at the pictures and making up her own stories. Grateful that her daughter was occupied, Carly turned her attention to her problems.
If she took a leap of faith and got serious with Birch, that meant ranch life. She wasn’t much of a horsewoman, though she had ridden a few times with Tanya. She liked the animals, but she wasn’t obsessed like Birch and Tanya. What she really loved were the views at the ranch. The fields of crops, the cow-mown grass, and the amazing stands of forest. She loved the outdoors and would thrive in a ranch environment.
Foremost in her mind was the question of whether dating Birch was the right plan. She wanted to be with him, she had for years, but what if this was just a proximity thing? What if she only wanted him because she couldn’t have him? She’d be ruining a friendship if things didn’t work out.
She stuffed the thoughts aside. Before anything was decided, she had to talk to Birch and see what he wanted to say to her. She was almost at Birch’s ranch when an attack of nerves struck. She pulled into a roadside turnout and shut off her engine. Spreading her fingers wide, she pushed out a long slow breath. “You can do this,” she whispered. After a few deep breaths, she pulled back onto the highway and traveled the last five kilometers and turned at the enormous sign she’d noticed the first time she was here. She parked beside Birch’s parents’ SUV and went up to the house.
Helen, his mother, answered the door. “Oh, Carly. Come in. It’s wonderful to see you.” She wrapped Carly in a warm embrace. “I am so sorry about the wedding debacle. I had no idea you were stuck in the basement. You should have said something. Oh, I get so angry when I think about it. How my daughter could marry that man, I’ll never know.” She shook her head. “There’s Layla! Come give Grandma a hug.”
“Where is Birch? I thought he was expecting me.”
“He’s out at the main barn, I think. If not, he’ll be at the visitor center by the track. Just follow the path out back. You can’t miss them. The visitor center is just to the left of the barn.”
Carly walked around the house on the deck and stepped down onto a patterned concrete pathway leading away from the house. The main outbuildings weren’t far away. She must have been totally out of it to miss them the night she visited. There were several yard lights on poles. They probably came on at night and illuminated everything.
A light haze covered the sun keeping it from getting too warm. Birds chirped and a horse nickered nearby. The scent of hay and freshly turned dirt brought back memories of working in her mother’s garden. She glanced around, taking in the pretty scenery and the upscale buildings.
The visitor center and barn were painted classic barn red with white trim. There was a straight-walled open-ended structure near the visitor center, though she couldn’t identify its use. She veered right toward the barn’s wide open doorway.
A young man in well-worn jeans, a cowboy hat, and boots, was working inside the doorway. He straightened up when she approached, shifting toward the center of the doorway, as if barring her from entry. “Good morning, ma’am. How can I help you?”
“Hi. I’m looking for Birch.”
“I think he’s at the guest center.” He pointed to his left. “You can find him there.” He tipped his hat. “Have a nice day, ma’am.”
She walked away. “Ma’am my backside. I’m not that old,” she muttered under her breath. There was a small parking lot beside the center. What did he do that required that much parking? Were the stands, the odd building, and the visitor center part of his business? They must be. Jeepers, he was doing more than just training horses.
She stopped in her tracks. She knew Birch raised horses, but there had to be millions of dollars in the buildings alone. How had she not known this? His sister was her best friend. Tanya frequently rattled on about Birch’s silly horses. Was she unaware of how much money was involved? Was it a function of having been raised wealthy?
All her insecurities about money came flooding back in, leaving her certain she was inadequate in her bright floral sundress and strappy flat sandals. Her floppy white straw hat made her feel like an absolute hick. She was totally out of place. She pivoted on her heel and headed back to the house. As she passed close to the barn, the youth inside called out.
“Ma’am? Ma’am? I spoke with Birch. He says to meet him in the visitor center. He’ll be there in five.”
She waved acknowledgement. Birch might be there in five, but she’d be at home. No way was she prepared to deal with all this money. What happened to the man she’d admired? When had he gotten rich ... richer, and how had she missed it? He never flaunted his money, but from someone with a very modest background and income, all this was too much.
She was storming back to the house to wait inside when a horn tooted. A shiny red, dual wheeled, 4X4 truck pulled up and parked on the grass behind the house. The door opened and Birch jumped out.
“Where are you headed?” he asked, striding toward her. “Jimmy said you were headed to the visitor center.” He moved close like he was going to kiss her.
She stepped back, nearly tripping in her haste. “Um. I was going to...” she snapped her mouth shut. She wouldn’t lie, but she couldn’t tell the truth either. “Never mind.”
“Were you leaving? You just got here. Mom texted that she was playing with Layla.”
She wished he sounded accusatory, but he didn’t. He sounded ... bewildered. She sighed. “I was leaving.” She did not want to go into this right now. Or ever. She was a waitress. He was ... whatever he was. Clearly, he was above her pay grade. The difference in income shouldn’t matter, but it made her grossly uncomfortable.
“Why? I have the whole day planned out. I want to spend the day with you, and Layla.” He waved to the west of the house. “I wanted to watch her play on the play structure I put in the week the house was finished. I did it for you, and Layla. I’m not messing around here. I want you to know, in no uncertain terms, that you and your daughter are important to me. A play place was one way to show you how important you are to me. I want you in my life, Carly.”
She swallowed hard. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her. Even her parents’ plentiful words of love and praise hadn’t hit this deeply. “Oh.” The single syllable was barely audible once she forced it past the lump in her throat. But the expense he’d put into the play area made her uncomfortable. Inadequacy pinched her shoulders together.
She stared down at the ground but could feel his eyes on her like a caress.
He slipped a finger under her chin and lifted her face. She stared into his eyes, wished she was anywhere but here.
“What freaked you out?” His brow wrinkled in concern. “First the other night, and just now, I can tell something scared you. We should talk about it.”
His hands were warm on her shoulders, driving away part of the chill threatening to overcome her. Tears formed in her eyes. She blinked them away, hoping he didn’t notice.
“What is it?” He massaged her shoulders and then trailed down to grasp her icy hands in his warm ones. “You can tell me anything. I swear.”
She shook her hands free and dashed away her tears before they could fall. She didn’t want to talk about it. “I was just ... overwhelmed by everything. I didn’t realize your work was such a big thing.” She shrugged.
“Let’s go for a ride. We’ll show Layla the horses later. Mom is so excited to be with her.”
“Is that your truck? What happened to Big Blue?” She realized he’d had this truck at the wedding.
“Oh, I’ve still got Blue. I won’t part with her anytime soon. She’s had a total overhaul. This is my company truck. The one I use when I need to make an impression. Red’s got all the bells and whistles. Top of the line.”
“Ah.” She pretended she understood the need to look important rather than being who you were.
“Frankly, I’d rather drive Blue. Remember Rusty from high school?” He laughed.
“Um. No. As far as I know, you’ve only ever had Blue. I’ve only been in town for six years. Remember?”
“Really? It seems like longer.” He shrugged. “Unrequited love will warp your sense of time.” He chuckled. “I’m glad I found you. Hop in and we’ll hit the barn first.”
She looked him up and down. He looked incredible. Polished boots and a brand new hat. Neatly pressed jeans and a pristine, navy-blue button-down shirt with a discrete logo for his ranch on the pocket. He reminded her of a rich television Texas rancher. Where had the real Birch gone?
“Am I dressed okay?” She brushed her hands down her dress. Again, she felt inadequate beside this fancy man. She was unnerved by the changes in him.
“You look amazing. Pretty, sexy, adorable.”. He lifted her hat and dropped a kiss on her forehead. He set the hat back on her head and adjusted it with a soft smile. “Stop fretting. I’m the same person I always was.”
Yeah, one who drives a truck worth more than everything I own. She banked her nerves and climbed into the tall truck. Thank heavens it had chrome running boards. She wasn’t short but it was a long way up and she was wearing a skirt.
Birch climbed in and buckled his seatbelt. “Buckle up.”
“We’re only going five hundred yards.”
He gave her a raised eyebrow look and she fastened her belt. She wanted to bolt or tell him how unnerved she felt, but he chatted away about how he’d worked hard with his grandfather to build his ranch. She kept her fears to herself.
He stopped outside the barn and greeted the youth by name. “Jimmy, good to see you. This is my girlfriend, Carly. She’s allowed to go anywhere she wants to. If she needs anything, I’m trusting you to help her out.”
“Yes, sir. Nice to meet you ma’am.”
“That’s my man.” Birch clapped him on the back. “We’re going to pick a couple of mounts. I’ll get you to saddle them for us while I take Carly to change into riding gear.” He turned to her. “You did bring jeans, right?”
“I keep a spare pair in the trunk.”
He led her inside and they met a few horses. Jimmy trailed behind them waiting to learn which he would be saddling. After meeting a dozen horses, she was totally overwhelmed. “Just pick something, Birch. I have no idea how to choose between horses.”
“Jimmy, please saddle Isis and Osiris.”
“Yes, sir.” She banked a smirk at the youth’s eager attitude.
“Now, let’s run you up to the house to change.”
