The Wrangler Takes a Wife (Silver Creek Ranch #7)

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

C hase

Most of Chase’s admirers backed off once word spread of his budding relationship with Amara. A few stragglers continued to drop food off at Sagebrush Hill. It took Vera having a run-in with Amara for everyone to get the picture and back off altogether. He was having lunch with her at the ranch when Vera stopped by. They heard her truck approaching, and Amara went out to meet her.

“What are you doing here, Vera?” Amara asked her.

“I was bringing Chase some lunch.” Vera held up a cooler.

“No need. I have it covered.” Amara placed her hands on her hips.

“I’m just looking out for him. The poor man had to fend for himself after he was banned from ‘your little diner’.”

“Well, now he isn’t banned. In any case, if you continue to push up on him when it’s clear to everyone, he’s seeing me, you'll be more than banned from ‘my little diner’.”

“I don’t care about being banned.”

“Your family will, and I will let them know it's because you are disrespectful.”

Vera huffed. “I never.”

“Ha! We both know you have. Over and over again.”

Vera shot Amara the middle finger and ran to her car.

The word must have spread because Chase was finally given some peace.

As their relationship blossomed, the Welch brothers paid Chase a visit. They couldn’t have made their feelings clearer. After the morning roundup, they sought Chase out. Rodney stood menacingly behind his brother with his arms folded over his chest, while Roddick made it clear how they felt.

“Just make sure our sister doesn’t shed unhappy tears over you and we’ll be straight.”

Chase respected how they felt. They cared for Amara and were protective of her.

Hell, she grew on him the more time they spent together. It wasn’t just their physical chemistry. Although, the intensity of it was like nothing he had felt before. Chase found himself putting a lot of effort into their little dates. At some point, he would have to concede he just enjoyed seeing her smile. Going out riding was something they enjoyed. Amara was so relaxed then. He loved seeing her carefree. There was the bonus of how sexy she looked when she rode.

Their riding dates were easy to plan. It was a small town and there wasn’t much to do. So, Chase had to use his creative hat. Inspiration hit him. He knew a thing or two about constellations and wanted to share it with her. Where better than an open field under the night sky? Before picking her up, he adorned the bed of his truck with blankets and pillows to make it more comfortable for them. Then he covered the rear of the truck, so he could reveal the surprise.

He timed his arrival perfectly, so that only Van and Amara remained at the diner. While Amara was in her office, he collected the basket the chef had prepared for them. “Thank you for coming through, Van.”

“It’s my pleasure. Amara is a great boss. It’s nice to help do something for her.”

Her employees not only loved working for her, they loved her. It was a sign of how big her heart was. After he ran the basket to his truck, Chase stopped by her office.

The new normal consisted of sharing supper together. When she was working, they ate upstairs in her apartment. He spent a few nights with her, leaving in the early morning. It was how Chase had learned the hands on the ranch had their gossip game on lock. A few short hours after he left her place, he’d overheard the workers talking about it.

“Well, I guess Amara is off the market. She and Harrison had a sleepover.”

They knew not to take the topic any further. They wouldn’t risk pissing off the Welch brothers. Hell, they shouldn’t risk pissing him off, either.

Chase knocked on Amara’s open door. “Hey, Sweet Darling,” he greeted. He saw the corner of her lips tip up before she suppressed her smile.

“Wrangler.” Her tone was clipped, but he saw the tenderness in her eyes. If she wanted to persist with the tough act, he wouldn’t attempt to change her. Just as long as she melted in his arms. She stood up from her desk and rounded it.

“Are you all done for the night?”

“Yeah.” Despite her smile, he could tell she was tired. Her day had started early, and here she was just finishing up. Amara had pushed herself because she was taking the day off tomorrow. “We can head out,” she informed him.

Earlier, Amara had told him that she would make him dinner at her house. She did not know he made a change of plans. He hoped it was a pleasant one. All Amara had to do was sit back and relax.

As she moved to walk past him, he grabbed her waist. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I thought we were leaving.”

“Yes. Right after you give me what you have for me.”

There it was. Her eyes danced with a hint of mischief. He enjoyed pushing her buttons and bringing out her sass.

“You know?—”

He cut off whatever smart mouthed thing she was about to say with a kiss. His Sweet Darling pressed her body against him, and he grabbed her ass. She was playing with fire. Chase had a fantasy of bending her over her desk and fucking her senseless. Maybe he should delay the moonlight picnic and make it a reality.

“Mm, mm.” Van cleared his throat.

Chase slowly pulled away from the kiss.

“I just came by here to ask if you would like me to lock up?” Van offered.

“Yes. Thank you, Van. Have a good night.” Amara took a hold of Chase’s hand and led him out the back door.

“Don’t tell me, my Sweet Darling, got embarrassed that we got caught in a heated moment.”

“Be quiet, you!” Amara shot him a glare.

Their ranches were in the same direction. So, it was only when he drove past the entrance to the Welch’s ranch that she noticed. “Hey, you drove past my place.”

“Change of plans. I have a surprise for you.” Chase reached over and squeezed her knee before returning it to the gearshift.

“I don’t know…”

“Trust me, you’ll like it.”

“Isn’t it too late for surprises?” Amara sighed.

“It’s never too late for surprises. If you don’t like it, tell me and we’ll do something else.” He drove his truck past the house, to the spot beyond the brook he picked out. An open field looked down over a hill. It was far from anyone and everything. The field was surrounded by a dense border of trees, their leaves beginning to shift from vibrant greens to hues of amber and gold. Patches of wildflowers dotted the landscape, adding splashes of color amidst the rich, verdant grass. The picturesque scene was nature at its best. “Stay in the truck for a moment. Okay?”

“Should I close my eyes?”

“No, it’s okay. Just look ahead.”

It didn’t take Chase long to have everything ready. A few well-placed LED lanterns lit up the cozy space. The picnic basket was placed in the centre of the blanket.

Chase got Amara from the truck and walked to the back of his pickup.

“Oh, my goodness, this is so… wow, this is really nice,” Amara gushed.

Chase couldn’t help the grin as she showed her appreciation for his effort. Gripping her waist, he helped her up onto the truck bed.

“One moment I have to grab something.” The temperature hadn’t dropped yet, but he had planned for it. He gathered the bag with sweaters out of the cab.

They made themselves comfortable against the pillows. Chase reached for the basket.

“Hey, what’s in there?”

“This is our dinner.”

“Oh, God. You cooked?” Amara looked well and truly horrified. When she visited his house and saw what he lived on before she let him eat at the diner, she was shocked. “ So, I guess I'd better make sure you have something decent to eat when we aren’t together, ” she volunteered.

“No smartass. I’m happy to let you know Van prepared this meal.” Chase looked in the basket. There had been no discussion made over what Van would prepare, but at first glance he was pleased.

“So, what did he make for us?” Amara leaned forward and tried to take a look.

“Let’s see,” Chase announced as he removed the items from the basket. Although, it was Amara who identified the items. There was a small container of caramelised onion & thyme sausage rolls. Mini personalised sized cherry tomatoes, basil, parmesan and pancetta quiches. He held up the fruit kebobs and Saskatoon Berry Bakewell squares. However, he placed them back in the basket for later. Along with small homemade labelled bottles of ginger beer as well as sparkling water.

“This is a nice spread,” Amara complimented.

Every item was perfectly packaged making it easy and manageable to eat. This had been worth every penny he paid Van.

Chase brought a sausage roll to her mouth. “I can feed myself.” She quirked an eyebrow at him, but he didn’t move the roll. Eventually, she took a bite.

“See, that wasn’t so hard,” he told her before popping the rest in his mouth. Chase winked at her. It set the tone for a dinner where they shared their meal.

While they ate, the sky became illuminated by the stars and the quarter moon. The gentle glow of the moon cast a soft light across the landscape, creating a picture-perfect scene.

They talked in a soft and intimate tone. Even their laughter was gentle. The twinkling stars added a touch of magic, making the evening feel enchanting. The tranquil brook mirrored the night sky, its surface rippling slightly from the movements of nocturnal creatures. Nearby, a field of wildflowers basked in the moonlight, their subtle fragrance mingling with the crisp night air.

Crickets chirped rhythmically and the gentle rustle of leaves accompanied the soft whisper of the breeze, creating a soothing symphony that underscored the quiet of the night. Occasionally, the distant call of an owl echoed through the trees, adding a mysterious note to the serene atmosphere. Nature was the perfect backdrop for their meal.

“It's been a while since I got to enjoy nature at night like this.”

“You’ve had nighttime outdoor dates before?” Chase asked.

Amara wrinkled her nose at him. “No. My family used to camp out when I was a kid. That was when there were a lot more Welches around. Most of them have moved away to bigger towns or cities.”

“You miss them.” Chase didn’t know what it was like to have an extended family. After his dad passed, it was just him and his mom. However, he could see how much she missed her family.

“I do.”

“But you’ve never thought of moving away?”

“No. I love it here. My family is tied to the land. Our history is so rich. It’s hard for me to let go of that.” She gave him a half-hearted smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Shaking her head, Amara handed Chase one of the ginger beers, but he declined. “Van doesn’t put any alcohol in his,” she informed him.

“Okay. I’m just not the biggest fan of ginger beer.”

Pursing her lips, it looked like she was searching for her words. “I’ve noticed you aren’t a big fan of alcohol either.”

Chase considered what Amara wasn’t saying. She was observant and had noticed his aversion to liquor. He had nothing to hide from her. “When I came back from my last deployment, alcohol started to feel more like a need, than a want. It wasn’t a good feeling, so I put an end to it. I haven’t looked back since.” It’s how Chase handled things, if something bothered him, he eliminated the problem.

Sighing softly, she tilted her head. “That takes a lot of fortitude and self-awareness. Thanks for sharing it with me.”

Amara began closing containers. Chase had finished his food, and she hadn’t touched what was left of hers. He brushed away her hand. “I’ve got this. Just sit back.”

Once he packed the items back into the basket. He asked if she was ready for something sweet. “Not right now. I probably overindulged with those rolls.”

Instead of regaling Amara with his knowledge of the constellations, the two ended up snuggling and star gazing. Words seemed like they would be an unnecessary intrusion.