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Cortland’s day followed a routine. Her life was a series of repeated tasks that kept her busy from sun up to sun still up in the summer. Or, in the case of this early winter, from sun barely up to sun down. What little light there was all in the space of six hours. If only her chores lasted six hours, she mused as she fed the horses one last meal before going in to cook her own supper.
Was that a car door slamming? She wasn’t expecting anyone today. Certainly not at this hour of the early evening.
A knocking noise drew her attention. Dawson stood in the open barn door bathed in the kerosene lantern light.
Her heart gave a leap that subsided into suspicion. She hadn’t heard from him in three months, and now he was standing in her barn? She put down the empty water bucket. “What are you doing here?” She asked, crossing her arms over her chest. “Ohio not all it was cracked up to be?”
He stepped forward a few paces and stopped again. He turned toward the stall where the fire had started. “I came to check your electrical system.” Gesturing toward the lantern hanging from a nail in a beam, he said, “Isn’t that a little risky in a barn?”
Cortland’s ire flared even more. Who did he think he was? A building inspector? “That’s none of your business, is it?”
He stepped forward a few more paces and stopped twenty feet from her. “It’s my life’s work, preventing fires and putting them out when necessary.”
Cortland mulled over his words. Who the heck did he think he was to arrive unannounced, uninvited, and unwelcome? The last thing she needed was a man to tell her everything that was wrong with the homestead. She was acutely aware of its problems, from the barn’s electrical grid to the house’s leaky plumbing, the septic in need of pumping, and the field of hay bales that needed to get into the barn loft before it rained, or, more likely, snowed.
He walked closer, stopping a couple feet before her. “Nope. I quit before I even began.” There was a twinkle in his eyes as he said it. “I have a different new job. I start on Monday.”
Three days away? Was he insinuating he was working here in Alaska? It wasn’t in Hope since their entire fire department was volunteer.
“Where?” She asked, looking him up and down. He looked great. Perhaps better than when she had last seen him at the grass fire. He’d lost weight, making him look even taller than his six-foot-one stature. The weight loss had narrowed his face though a couple days of stubble gave the impression of a wider jawline. A flame flared through her body.
He crossed his arms over his chest, mirroring her stance. “City of Whittier Fire Department. I’m their new deputy chief.”
“That’s like an hour from here?”
He smiled. “It is. So, I was wondering if I could bunk here. If your offer still stands.” His eyes seemed to search hers. “I know it’s last-minute notice, but I can pay rent.” He pulled the jewelry box out of his coat pocket. “This can be my security deposit.”
He could have knocked her over with a piece of hay; she was stunned by his announcement. She eyed the box. It wasn’t a ring box, of that she was sure. Did he think he could just waltz in here and take up residence with a simple present? You told him he could change his mind. She could feel his eyes on her, unnerving her to her marrow
She took the box and pulled the lid off to reveal a large diamond solitaire drop on a gold chain.
“You did say the offer was good anytime, right?” He stepped forward again until they were nearly toe to toe. “Or have you changed your mind about that?”
“Maybe.” She fingered the gem a moment before putting the lid back on the box. Cortland cocked her head. “Depends on your motive.” Even she heard the slight tremble in her voice, the tone which asked as much a question as it made a statement.
“I decided I couldn’t let you come here and live by yourself. Told Ohio I changed my mind, and then I searched for another job—one in Alaska.”
She mulled over his meaning. “So, you’re here to protect me?” She shook her head, her shoulders stiffening. “I don’t need protection. I can handle this place on my own with a little help from the neighbors. That’s what we do here in this community. Rely on each other for help.”
“I’m not saying you couldn’t do it alone.” He sighed and dropped his chin to his chest. “I suck at this,” he muttered. Then he glared at her with a fierce look in his eyes. “What I’m saying is I want to do it with you. I don’t want to be without you. My motive is my love for you.” He reached out and took her hand. “I love you, Cortland. I want to be where you are.”
Cortland felt her defenses fall. He loved her. And she loved him. More than she could ever say. But she said it anyway because he needed, no, he deserved to hear it. “I love you too, Dawson.” She nestled her body against his as his arms hugged her so tight she squealed, “Too tight!”
His arms let up just a little before his lips brushed hers, softly at first and then deeply. So deeply, her toes curled. When he came up for air, he still held her close but asked, “Any more chores left tonight?”
Her fingers lingered in his hair. “All done except our dinner and the late night check.”
He grinned mischievously. “Let’s skip right to dessert.” He swooped her up in his arms and carried her into the house. “And if you like your present, I would love to see you wearing it. And nothing else but a smile.”