Page 121 of Love in the Wild

Glancing over at her as he drove back onto the path leading out of the ranch, he grinned. “You couldn’t be more wrong. Actually, I noticed you before we met.”

She lowered the biscuit to her lap. “What are you talking about?”

“I saw you in the hallway at the hospital a few days before you came to the garage. Let’s just say you had my attention even then.”

Hadley swallowed the dry biscuit. “How? I didn’t see you.”

Gage shrugged. “You weren’t as captivated by me as I was you.”

“That’s not fair. I didn’t see you.”

“I’d have to be dead not to notice you,” Gage mumbled.

She playfully shoved his shoulder. “Stop it.”

Gage jerked his head toward the food in her lap. “Eat.”

With a huff, she did as she was told. The drive to Silver Falls passed quickly, and Mr. Benson was waiting for them at the barn. Hadley hopped out of the truck and grabbed a cooler from the back seat.

Gage hefted the chainsaw from the truck bed and looked around. “Travis running late?”

Mr. Benson nodded as he met them at the barn entrance. “He’ll be here in a second. I asked him to pick up some chains on his way.”

“Hey, Mr. Benson,” Hadley said with a wave.

“Morning, Miss Hadley. I didn’t know you were coming.”

Gage jerked his thumb at her. “I said work, and she said me too.”

Mr. Benson laughed. The hearty chuckle reminded her of the sound she’d heard Mr. Chambers make many times. Matthew Benson was much younger than her boss, probably in his early fifties, but he had the same wise and content air about him.

Hadley looked around at Silver Falls Ranch. It was much smaller than Wolf Creek, and it had a rustic feel about it. The Bensons recently renovated the barn near the entrance to be used for events, and a field of horses ran along the long drive to the main house. “I love this place. I’m glad y’all are getting it up and running.”

Mr. Benson lifted his brown cowboy hat to rub the back of his neck. “We’ve had a few dozen head of cattle and two horses for a few years now. We can’t add much more without hiring some help.”

“I thought Gage worked for you,” Hadley said.

“He does, but he already has a full-time job.” Mr. Benson turned to Gage. “I appreciate your help, by the way.”

“No problem. I’m glad to be here.”

Travis pulled in and parked beside Gage, and everyone put the equipment in Mr. Benson’s truck.

“What are we doing today?” Hadley asked.

“Clearing some trees. I need to build stables over there.” He jerked his head to the tree line behind the field. “The ones we have are falling apart.”

Hadley scooted into the back of Mr. Benson’s truck beside Gage and leaned in to whisper, “What am I gonna do?”

“You know how to use a chainsaw?”

“Of course not.”

“What about an ax?”

Hadley narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you kidding me?”

He squeezed her thigh and grinned. “There’s a hedge trimmer you can use to clear the brush. It’s easy.”

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