Wishing for the Rancher’s Love (High Country Ranch #5)

Chapter 15

15

She was hugging Grady.

A part of her still couldn’t believe it was really happening, but his solid body was flattened against hers and his arms surrounded her.

How had this happened? They’d started out the trip disliking each other, and now they were embracing like long-lost friends.

Her mind was still grappling with everything he’d just shared about his mom. She’d known Mrs. Worth had struggled with infertility after having Grady, but she hadn’t realized how the issue had affected Grady. Maybe Mrs. Worth hadn’t realized it either.

Clementine guessed that if Mrs. Worth had known, she would have tried to reassure Grady and show him better how much she loved him. Because she had loved him. She’d made that clear each and every time they’d made candy together in the kitchen.

A sweet relief was pulsing through Clementine—a relief that she and Grady no longer had to be at odds with each other. Even though he’d assured her that he was at fault for the distance, she couldn’t keep from believing she’d somehow had a hand in it. A nagging in the far recesses of her mind warned her that she had to be careful not to push him away. She’d lost him once, and she didn’t want that to happen again.

As much as she liked hugging him and feeling the closeness with him, she loosened her hold and began to sit up.

His arms remained tight, almost as though he didn’t want to let go, but in the next instant, he released her and shifted back.

She scooted away too, dragging the blanket around her shoulders from where it had slipped down during the hug. The hard ground beneath her was cold, and the air in the cavern was chilled, even with the body heat from the horses as well as the warmth of the fire.

She couldn’t keep from shivering and hugging her arms over her chest.

When Grady rose and began to rip several more boards from the tunnel entrance, she joined him, chastising him and bantering with him about which of them was stronger. They replenished the wood pile near the fire and settled back in.

As the flames flared, she moved in as close as she could. Even so, only a section of her was touched by the heat, and the rest of her was still chilled. She tried to hold in her shudder, but it escaped anyway.

In the middle of her telling him a story she’d heard about a haunted mine near Breckenridge, he hefted up his saddle and then plopped it down directly next to hers. She halted her story midsentence and watched as he lowered himself beside her so that he was only inches away.

What was he doing?

He moved more slowly and stiffly than usual, probably because of his injuries.

“You need to be careful,” she chastised, shifting away from him and trying to give him room.

He reached out a hand and stopped her. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Clementine, but I’ve decided to sleep with you tonight.”

She gasped.

A half grin worked at his lips, and his dark eyes seemed to taunt her. But the taunting wasn’t malicious. Instead it was filled with something she didn’t understand, something that sent a warmth pulsing through her.

His grin ticked higher. “With all of this handsomeness so near, I know it’ll be impossible to keep your hands to yourself, but at least try.”

She shook her head. “It won’t be impossible for me. But maybe you said that because you know it will be impossible for you to keep your hands off me.”

At that, he reached for her and began to tug her closer.

“Grady Worth, don’t you dare.” She pushed at him, but her efforts to resist were only half-hearted. She trusted him completely and knew he’d never do anything unseemly.

He didn’t relent. Instead, he rolled her and positioned her so that her back was pressed against his chest and in the crook of his body. Then he situated the blanket around her before drawing her closer.

With his arms and body cocooning hers, she settled into him, letting herself relax. Already, after just a few seconds, she was warmer than she’d been all night. And suddenly she knew why he was holding her—because he’d noticed she was cold and was coming to her rescue. He had no ulterior motives and wouldn’t advance their relationship.

She didn’t want him to advance it, did she?

Of course not. Having just forgiven each other for the hurts of the past few years, they were friends again. That was all.

Did that mean they could never become more?

She’d never thought of Grady as someone she might court, and she couldn’t imagine flirting with him and fawning over him the same way she did other men. But she couldn’t deny that an attraction had developed between them. She wasn’t sure how, but after the incident with their clothing earlier, she’d been aware of his body in a way she never had before.

Even though she’d tried not to think about how he’d looked standing only inches from her, bare-chested, it was difficult to get the image of his muscled chest and thick arms out of her mind.

“Is this better?” His voice rumbled near her ear, sending more warmth through her.

She hadn’t realized it, but he’d positioned her so that her front was facing the flames. He was heating her back and the fire her front. What more could she ask for?

“This is perfect, Grady.” She relaxed into him even more. “Do you think this is okay?” Even though no one else was there to see them resting together in such an intimate fashion, she didn’t want to do something wrong.

“You know you’re safe with me, right?” Again his voice had a low, crackling quality—one that made her stomach tumble.

“I’m not worried about you .” She situated her head on his biceps, loving the feel of him all around. “But what will people think of us staying together like this?”

“No one will know.”

He was right. And she was worrying for nothing. Besides, they would already have all the gossip about their running off together to deal with when they returned. She wasn’t sure how they would handle the rumors, but if Grady wasn’t worried about the ramifications, she decided she didn’t need to worry either.

“Finish telling me the ghost story,” he said.

“Oh, I see how it is.”

“How what is?”

“My story was scaring you, and you couldn’t listen to any more of it until you knew you were safe with me by your side to protect you.”

“That’s exactly it.” His tone held a hint of mirth.

“Very well. Then since I’m here to keep you safe, I’ll continue.”

They traded scary stories, and at some point she dozed, waking only when he moved away from her to add fuel to the fire. Each time he did so, she shivered until he wrapped her back up. And each time, she was cozy enough that she could almost imagine the two of them sleeping together at night forever.

It was a far-fetched thought, but it crept into her consciousness anyway.

She wasn’t sure how much sleep Grady actually got, because whenever she awoke, he didn’t seem to be sleeping. At daybreak, he gently woke her, then he rose and took the horses out. He let them graze, and by the time he returned, she had their bags packed and was ready to go. She wanted to clean his wounds again, but he claimed they were fine and that they would be at the doctor’s office soon enough.

For the first hour or so, they were able to ride at a decent pace even though they had only faint light to guide their way. By the time they started on the switchbacks to Argentine Peak, the sun was out and the clouds of the previous day were gone. And thankfully, they didn’t come across any ice or snow until they crested the top. Though a fresh layer covered the summit, it was only a few inches deep, not enough to prevent them from crossing.

They had to make their way slowly and carefully for a while, but by the time they started down the other side, the way was clear again. When they arrived at the old wagon road, they stopped to rest and water the horses. The rest of the way was easy terrain, and they made up for lost time.

As they reached the outskirts of Georgetown, they passed by a large mine that was busy with men at work. Grady slowed and seemed to take stock of everything. After the way he’d pushed them hard all morning, she raised her brow at him. “I didn’t know you were interested in mining.”

“My dad has part ownership of this mine.”

“He does?”

Grady had narrowed his gaze on a fellow standing at the side of a tall tower that had pulleys. “He and his partner filed the claim when they moved to Colorado back in ’60.”

“So your dad was part of the early gold rush?”

He nodded.

“And the mine is producing all these years later?”

“It’s still going strong.”

“With gold?”

“And some silver.”

She scanned the area, this time with a fresh interest. With multiple log buildings and smoke pouring from the chimneys of each one, the mine was like others she’d been at over the years, perhaps larger and more organized.

“When you said you needed to check on your dad’s business in Georgetown, I assumed it was another store.”

“Yes, that too. Along with a few other places.”

They’d slowed almost to a stop, and she could only stare at Grady and try to understand the information she’d just learned about him and his family. His dad was part owner of a successful gold and silver mine and had been for close to twenty years. He had to be a wealthy man. Probably very wealthy.

She frowned at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

“That your family is rich.”

He returned the frown. “Because it doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Because maybe it makes me feel like I don’t know you as well as I thought.”

“It’s not my wealth. It’s my dad’s.”

“Even so . . .”

“I bought the livery with my own hard-earned money.” He nudged his horse forward, and she stared at his broad back and stiff spine.

The road had widened and was covered with gravel. In the distance, above the evergreens, several streaks of smoke rose into the blue sky. They were getting closer to town. And possibly the stalker.

She caught up and rode alongside Grady, tossing him a sideways look. The day-old scruff on his jaw was dark. With his hat pulled low, his eyes were more shadowed and darker than usual. “So you’ve never taken any money from your dad?”

He clamped his mouth closed and stared straight ahead.

“You have.” She wasn’t sure why it mattered, except that maybe she was hurt that he hadn’t trusted her enough to share this part of his life with her before.

“No, I told you, I bought the livery on my own.”

Something in his tone told her there was more. “But...”

He rode silently for several heartbeats before expelling an exaggerated sigh. “But my dad has offered me a loan so I can buy the building next to the store.”

She’d known the drug store was moving locations just as soon as the new building was finished. When she’d first heard the news, she’d had the fleeting wish that maybe she could open her own candy shop there—the one she’d always dreamed about having. But she would never be able to purchase the building, not with the meager earnings she made. And she wasn’t sure she’d even be able to afford to rent a space either.

“What do you want to do with the building?”

“Start a hardware store.”

A hardware store. Grady had a good business mind and had no doubt already investigated the need for a hardware store and also calculated the costs, risks, and all the other business terms he tossed around from time to time.

“Your dad isn’t giving you the money?”

“I’d never take a handout, and he knows it.”

She’d always admired Grady for how hard-working and determined he was. And her esteem only grew at the realization that he could have used his father’s success to further his own, but instead he was doing things on his own.

Grady sighed. “It feels like I’m cheating to even consider taking his loan.”

Her mind filled with the image of the two-story structure next to the general store. It was weathered and needed a fresh coat of paint, and it was a little smaller and narrower than the store. But it was well-built and sturdy and clean. It would be a good spot for a hardware store, on Main Street next to the general store, and it would draw a lot of attention and customers.

“It’s not cheating,” she said. “You’ll pay him back eventually.”

“It wouldn’t take me long, since I’ve already saved plenty.”

“Then I don’t understand the problem.”

His jaw ticked, highlighting the raw, red coyote scratch on his cheek. “Remember when I told you my dad thought it was time for him and me to find wives?”

How could she forget? “Yes, and I also remember how you failed with Willa, candidate number one.”

“She wasn’t right for me.”

“Really?” Clementine couldn’t keep a tiny amount of glee from forming inside. “Willa’s such a sweet girl.”

“I think I know what I like in a woman and what I don’t.” Grady’s voice turned testy.

“Fine.” She wanted to pester him to tell her his ideal woman, but the words stuck in her throat. What if he listed off qualities she didn’t have? Not that she cared if she had what he was looking for in a woman. Did she?

“Anyway,” Grady continued. “My dad proposed a challenge.”

She had an idea of what the challenge entailed, and she didn’t have a good feeling about it.

“If I find a woman first, then he’ll give me the loan.”

The upcoming dinner with Mrs. Meriwether was suddenly making much more sense. “What happens if he finds a woman first?”

Grady shifted in his saddle but didn’t respond.

It had to be something Grady didn’t like. “Tell me.”

“It’s frustrating, that’s what.”

“What?”

He shook his head. “He said he’ll pick a woman for me.”

Everything within Clementine halted. In fact, she almost halted the horse. “Don’t you think that’s taking the challenge a little too far?”

“Absolutely.”

“So you turned him down.”

“Not exactly.”

“Grady Worth.” This time she did halt. “You can’t let your dad pick a woman for you. This isn’t the Middle Ages.”

He reined in his horse too. “I wasn’t planning on losing and letting him pick.”

“You’ve already lost Willa. And you don’t have many more options left.”

He shrugged with an irritating arrogance. “I’ll find someone.”

Which was the worst option? Having Grady hastily find a wife or having his dad pick a woman for him? Neither sounded great. But she couldn’t fault Grady for wanting to take up his dad’s challenge. If it had been offered to her, she would have accepted it too.

“Who else do you have in mind?” Clementine mentally flipped through the eligible women in Breckenridge. She couldn’t recommend Captain Moore’s daughters—not after the way Sadie had hurt Ryder. There was Scarlet Noble, but at eighteen, she was too young for Grady, wasn’t she? Of course, Violet Berkley and her sister had just returned to the high country after being gone most of the year out East with their mother. But who would want Violet after she’d run away from Sterling Noble right before their wedding last spring?

A few other possibilities sifted through Clementine’s mind, but no women that she could see partnered with Grady.

“Well?” she persisted. “Who do you want to marry?”