Heart & Hope (Rosewood Ranch #2)

Chapter 3

Chapter Three

RUBY

S itting on Addy’s front step of her townhouse in Lewistown, I tap out yet another text to Olive about the presumed marriage situation. And I still can’t believe I am typing this drivel. But so far, the only response I have gotten back is from her secretary.

After driving through so many small towns and middle of nowheres, my directional skills are still zero. The GPS is the only thing that has saved me this past week. But when I pulled up at Addy’s new address, I could almost imagine what it would be like to live here, amongst the slow-paced life and laid-back folks.

Almost.

It’s kind of beautiful out here. Something I didn’t expect at all.

My phone vibrates as another bar of service appears and my emails flood in. I skim through them, hunting for Olive.

Nothing. Nada.

I swear, if she is ghosting me to teach me some sort of left-field old wives’ wisdom. Ugh! Alright already, I get it.

You think I’m a lone wolf.

But I’m happy, honestly.

Boots appear at my feet. Scrubs.

Addy.

I fly up from the step, wrapping her in a hug. “Damn, have I missed you, girl.”

She chuckles. “You have no idea. Please tell me you’re staying the weekend?”

“Of course; as long as you need me. My office is right here.” I wave my phone at her, and she steps around me, opening the door. I file inside.

Oh, this is just . . .

The elegant, spacious townhouse is farmhouse style, and so gorgeous. “Wow, Adds, all this for one girl. Geez, I should have been a vet.”

“Ha! You would be fine until there was blood or poop, Rubes.”

“Ugh, you can keep it. I’ll visit lots and soak up the country living and wide-open spaces.”

“Speaking of wide-open spaces, I have visits tomorrow for some of my equine clients, and then I’m off to Rosewood Ranch for another riding lesson.”

“Oh, yes, how is that going? Come here and tell me.” I flop on the couch and pat the seat beside me. Addy rolls her eyes at me, but it’s playful. I want to know it all. Every detail I missed while we have been apart. It has been like having half of my heart missing. She is closer to me than any of my actual sisters. And I have missed her so much.

We talk about her riding, her asshat of a boss, and everything concerning Hudson. He sounds amazing. Any man who can give back that huge part of her life that she lost is a literal god in my opinion. I can’t wait to meet him and his family. They sound incredible.

When the conversation lulls a little, I lean on the sofa and sigh.

“What is it, Rubes?”

“Am I self-absorbed, Adds?”

“Not at all! Who said that?”

“No one, really. I kind of got the impression that’s what they meant.”

“Olive?”

“Amongst others.”

“Well, this is how I see it. You are driven and focused. You have rules and you follow them. Especially number three.”

“Hard work, all the way. No hoping or praying.”

“Yeah, that one.”

She shifts forward and wraps both hands around her almost empty wine glass. “But Rubes, what do you do for yourself?”

I stare at her. I was accused of being too selfish. Apparently, I do everything for myself. “I don’t understand.”

“You have all these rules to follow to make sure you’re successful. But are you happy?”

Oh.

Happiness is for people with no direction.

My father’s favorite words whenever one of his daughters would complain we were miserable with the overloaded schedules the three of us had during our high school years.

“I’m happy, I think?” But the air leaves my lungs, and my grip on the glass stem tightens.

Addy puts her wine down and pulls me into a hug. I swallow past my fast-closing throat and slam my stinging eyes shut.

“You should come with me tomorrow. Stay as long as you can. See what else there is to the world, babe. And maybe you use this as a working holiday or something. Just breathe, Ruby Jane.” Addy’s words are soft, and I know she will always have my best interests at heart. Maybe I will stay longer? For a little while, anyway.

A little bit of time to breathe never killed anyone, right?

Head out the rolled down window like one of Addy’s canine patients, I close my eyes against the bright Montana sun and hold my hand up into the wind as we drive down the longest dirt road known to man. The breeze whips through my straightened hair, tossing it around. It feels like fingers running through it.

It’s been a long time since anyone has done that.

Like, a really long time.

And if I’m honest, it was quick and shallow. No foreplay, no talking, no loving touch. Purely sex. All business. Need, not want.

“What you thinking about, hanging out the window there like Charlie?”

Huh?

Oh shit!

I pull my arm inside and straighten my hair, huffing a laugh. “Charlie, hey? At least I know I did it right.”

Addy laughs as she turns the Cherokee into a driveway. A tall sign arches across the entrance.

Rosewood Ranch

H J & L M Rawlins

The ranch is enormous. A magnificent sprawling homestead and twin red barns sit on the other side of two front white-fenced paddocks, a horse in each. This place is something else. A man rides away from us on a horse, heading toward the mountains that rise behind the barns.

Wow, this really is the west.

“You’re going to kink your neck, Rubes.”

“I can’t believe how amazing this place is.”

“You have no idea. Wait ’til you see the ranch, some of the places Hudson has taken me.”

“How have you been living here and not sent me pics? Rude, Adds. Just rude.”

Those mountains are something else. Stunning. The life they must lead living here...

Addy pulls in by the homestead at a small white gate and shuts off the engine. “I’ll introduce you to the Rawlinses. Did you want to tag along or stay at the house with Louisa?”

“I’ll tag along, if I can.”

Addy grins and pushes out the door in her jeans and long-sleeved, button-down shirt. I follow in capri-length jeans and boat-necked, ribbed white-and-navy striped top. The smile on my face is so wide it hurts. A small white dog with tan ears speeds toward her. She is crouched a heartbeat later, loving him up. He ignores me, licking her up.

I huff a laugh, not sure if I’m disgusted or amused. Addy stands as trotting hooves head toward us.

I grab her arm with a gasp when a guy trots over to the car on a horse, bringing with him another saddled-up mount. His brilliant blue eyes fall automatically to Addy.

“Oh wow, you must be Hudson!” I grin, waving a hand.

He tips his hat, giving me a happy but somewhat confused glance.

“Hudson Rawlins, this is Ruby Robbins, my best friend,” Addy says.

“Hey Ruby, it’s a pleasure to meet you. This is Rocket, and this here is Addy’s current loaner, Sergeant.”

“Hello, boys,” I gush.

“Why is he all saddled up and looking like he is about to head some place big and open?” Addy says.

“’Cause he is, Howard. Sorry, Ruby, I didn’t realize you were coming, otherwise I would ha?—”

He calls her Howard?

Must be a country guy thing.

“Addy! How’s it going?” A younger guy swings an arm over Addy’s shoulders and tips his hat to me. When his brows shoot up and his mouth gapes, he extricates himself from my friend and shoves his hands into his back pockets. Okay...

His face slackens before he raises an eyebrow. Clearing his throat, he holds out a hand to me.

“Ah, Reed Rawlins. You must be Addy’s friend from the Big Apple?”

“Ruby. It’s nice to meet you.” I press my hand into his.

He takes me in, releasing a breathy huff and then my hand. “If these two are riding off into the sunset, I can give you a tour of the Montana mountains. If you’d like.”

“Um, is that okay with you guys?” I ask Addy.

A cheeky smile pops up on her lips. “Sure. Looks like I have plans.”

Addy takes the stirrup iron in her hand and mounts like an absolute pro. I cover a hand over my mouth for a moment. She really did it.

She flashes me her happiest smile and waves as she turns the horse to follow Hudson and Rocket.

Reed shuffles a little closer, and I turn, offering a smile. His face is lit up by his green eyes as he returns the gesture. Shaggy dark blond hair flips in his face and he sweeps it away. His biceps flexes as it moves. I purse my lips and shove my hands in my back pockets.

“So, first time in Montana?” he says cautiously.

“First time out of the city, actually.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “Oh, wow. Well, in that case, let me take you on the deluxe tour.” He crooks his arm as his happiness grows into a grin that splits his face.

He’s gorgeous.

I huff a small laugh and watch as Addy and Hudson disappear behind the barn and into the field. “Sure, show me what you’ve got out here.”

“It would be my pleasure.” He nods to his arm.

I roll my eyes and weave my arm through his.

“This way, mademoiselle.”

When he takes off at a high stepping walk, I laugh. He’s funny and so friendly. I like him already.

“We’ll take Huddo’s truck. It knows these hills backwards.”

When we reach the old Chevy, he opens the door for me, and I climb in. The door closes, and he walks around the front of the vehicle and hops in. With a flip of his hair, he starts the engine and backs away from the barn.

“So, lived here your whole life, Reed?”

“Born and raised. But don’t hold that against me, will ya?” He winks, and I roll my eyes at him.

“I wouldn’t dare,” I finally say, looking out the window.

“Wouldn’t you?”

Are we still talking about the same thing?

“How far are Addy and Hudson going?”

“Not sure, maybe to the river. But we have to take the long way, no loping across pastures today, Miss Ruby.”

“Do you ride, too?”

“Yup, kind of a mandatory skill round here.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess it is. I’ve ridden a couple of times with Addy, when we were younger. Before...”

Do I tell him about the accident? Do the Rawlinses know the details of that day? It has affected Addy for so long. If she doesn’t want them to know everything, I won’t be telling them.

“Yeah, I bet,” Reed simply says. “Addy said you two were like sisters.”

“She did?”

I can’t flatten the smile that lights up my face. Of course she did. But it still fills me with happiness every time someone brings up the fact that Addy loves me like a sister. And I guess it also stings a little. I have actual sisters. None of them treat me the way Addy always has.

“Addy’s somethin’ else. I know Hudson likes having her around,” Reed says, but his eyes don’t leave the road. I take a moment to study him. Big hands grip the wheel, forearms flexing as the road tosses the wheel side to side. His pale blue Wranglers are fitted, the checkered shirt he’s wearing has the sleeves rolled up, white t-shirt underneath. The top three buttons are undone. He’s sexy, and he’s not even trying.

As if he read my stupid, wandering mind, his green eyes flick to meet my gaze. “You okay?”

I shoot my focus back to the road ahead and grip the door handle, the other hand holding the front of the seat as the truck lurches a little to the left. “Sure, all good.”

He chuckles softly. And I fight the urge to turn back and see the smile I can hear in his voice.

Shit.

Rule numero uno, Ruby Robbins.

No distractions.

Tell that to the hammer in my chest right now.

When we finally turn with the road and head toward a line of trees that flanks the river, I sit up straighter. Addy is still sitting on her horse as we roll to a stop. Hudson stands at her side, looking up at her. Addy, girl, if you can’t see the way he looks at you, you’re blind.

It’s like he’s going to fall apart if she so much as breaks a nail.

“Shit,” Reed mutters, his face twisted with worry, eyes locked on Addy. These two guys... they’re all heart. He shoves the truck into park, rushing from the vehicle, and rounds the front to open my door. With another cheeky grin, he crooks an arm, and I slide mine through. We walk to where Addy is still sitting on the horse.

“You okay, Adds?” Reed says, the grin slipping from his face.

“Yeah, a little achy.”

Hudson glances up, brows dropping, head tilting.

“Get her down, Huddo. She should stretch or something.” Reed stops at Sergeant’s head, and I rub the gelding’s face.

“You ready?” Hudson asks.

Addy nods, and Hudson lifts her from the saddle. She slides down until her feet hit the ground.

“Better?” Hudson whispers.

Addy dips her head. “Thank you.”

He hovers like he wants to fold her into his arms, but he hesitates and lets her go.

“Nothing a good skinny dip won’t fix, Addy,” Reed quips.

I track my gaze between Hudson and Addy. “We should leave them be. Come on, show me your mountains. I’m dying to see them, since Adds hasn’t shut up about them the whole time I’ve been here.”

“Really?” Reed’s eyes widen.

“Really. Take me away from these two.”

But Addy doesn’t hear me—she’s staring at Hudson like he’s the last drop of water on the planet. God, girl. You are so gone.

I spin back to the truck and tug Reed along with me. He catches up, closing in. “You sure you don’t want to go skinny dipping, Ruby Robbins?”

His voice is deep and soft and close to my ear. My stomach flips, wild and messy. I suck in a breath before looking up at him.

“Mountains, Rawlins. I want my tour. Or I am going to have to talk to management,” I say as seriously as I can muster.

He runs a hand through his hair and groans. “God, don’t talk to Harry, please, whatever you do. Not management.”

I laugh but the pained expression on his face almost looks real. When he holds the door open for me, I slip my arm from his. I still, hand gripping the side of the truck. That gorgeous face, those green eyes that could bring a girl to her knees, and his cheeky, playful way could have this girl in a whole lot of trouble if she let it.

But Ruby Robbins has rules.

Rule number one, no distractions. And Reed Rawlins could quickly become a very big distraction if I let him. We will be keeping whatever this is strictly in the friend zone.

You’re out of luck, Rawlins.

When I climb into the truck, he watches me for a moment before closing the door and disappearing around the back. When the driver’s door opens, he climbs in without a word.

I want to crawl over the bench seat between us and let his gaze wander wherever it wants.

Good Lord, Ruby. Get a hold of yourself, woman.

Instead, the truck roars to life, and he shoves it into drive.

“First stop, the northern hills and Rosewood Ranch vista. Buckle up, keep your tray tables stowed away at all times, and remain seated until the captain turns off the seat belt sign. Enjoy your flight, and thank you for flying Air Rawlins.”

I force a small smile. Because his voice is strained, his face expressionless, and the rise and fall of his chest is almost faster than mine.