Page 22 of Embracing Hope

Just as he imagined, the bunkhouse was a step above a barn. On the first step through the door, flutter he met the stench of body odor and stale whiskey. Hell, this wasn’t anything he wasn’t used to, but if he had a choice, this wouldn’t be his.

He scanned the makeshift counter in the kitchen loaded with empty pizza boxes and buckets of beer bottles like the boys hadn’t cleaned up after a party. Just beyond was a group of cowboys sitting at the high-top table. They’d all removed their attention from the poker game and skewered him in curiosity.

A large man with thick dark hair, broad shoulders, and a genuine smile said, “It looks like I’m no longer the new guy.”

“Sorry about your luck, Keifer, but he doesn’t belong here,” said the scrawny-looking man sitting at the head of the table. “I think you took a wrong turn, fella.”

“I was told my bag has already arrived,” Isaac said.

Another of the cowboys, a seasoned man with dark eyes and a rough expression, flicked a thumb through the air toward the hall. “Dropped it on your bed. The name’s Robbie.” He thrust out a welcoming hand, which Issac quickly obliged.

Isaac debated whether he should ask for names from the others, but he caught the hint that none of the men were worried about a warm welcome. They were already back to their game like he wasn’t even standing there.

“Nothing gets in between them and their game. They’re playing for money,” Robbie said. “Come on. I’ll show you around.”

Following the man, he pointed at a closed door. “Bathroom. Imagine your worst nightmares and you’ll understand what it’s like ‘round here with only one shitter. Next up, we have the lovely five-star sleeping accommodations.”

Isaac strode down the hallway, scanned the large room filled with twin-sized beds, and saw his bag on a bed near a window. He swiped up the bag and released it at the end of the bed, then dropped down on the thin mattress. He wasn’t sure what was worse. The springs that poked him in his back or the hand-sized stain on the white sheet. Again, he'd slept in far worse; it had just been a long time.

“I’ll leave you to it, fellow.” Robbie took his leave.

Isaac stretched out and pulled his hat over his face, closing his eyes. He could use a nap.

“You might have won the battle but you won’t win the war, Hope.”

Chapter Six

Two days had passed since she had spent any time with Isaac.

He’d spent one day with Sam and another with Keller. She couldn’t be entirely sure why she was excited to see Isaac again, but that telltale flutter in her stomach told her the butterflies were loose.

The sun had set a bit behind the clouds, offering some respite from the heat as she paraded down the worn path and the thick grass to the corral, where she expected to find Isaac finishing his day with Keller. She spotted both men on the other side of the fence but they weren’t alone. A row of hands lined the training arena fence watching Jinx work with a horse. She was so used to seeing his limp from the accident with the bull, Misdemeanor, that Hope forgot about it until he squinted in pain. She angled up to the fence between Billy and Keifer and settled Isaac in her line of vision. He was busily talking to Keller.

“Howdy, ma’am,” Billy said, thumbing the brim of his hat in greeting.

She liked Billy. He’d matured a lot since he started working the ranch. He'd exchanged his cockiness for humility.

“Hi,” she said. Out of her peripheral vision, she noticed that Isaac’s gaze was now on her. She told herself not to look, but she couldn’t refrain. Drawn to him with the magnetism of a thirsty horse to water, she sent her gaze in his direction. He grinned, and she smiled back. He was growing on her.

“Are you boys heading over to Mav’s tonight?” Although she asked the group, she was only interested in the answer from one cowboy. As all the men answered, most of them said “yes,” but Isaac stayed quiet.

“Is that where you’re going?” Jinx asked as he transferred the reins of the filly to another hand.

“I thought I might go down and have a drink and listen to the band.” She braced her arms on the top rail.

Keifer grinned from one ear to the other, adorned with an earring. From what she'd heard, he’d lost a bet to the crew. Hope enjoyed Keifer’s friendship. He was always friendly, courteous, and respectful. His smile now showed off a row of sparkling white teeth that probably cost a fortune in braces.

“I’ll be there. Will you save me a dance?” Keifer said.

After chortles died down from a few surrounding hands, Hope said, “Sure.” She realized Keifer had a crush on her, and although she didn’t reciprocate, she couldn’t turn him down in front of the boys.

“How about one for me?” Darby, one of the younger hands piped in, his eyes creasing at the corners because he smiled so widely. He had that appearance that made all the women stare. Rough, tough, and ruggedly handsome, he had no trouble finding attention from most women. She used the term “most” because Hope had little interest in a man who was commitment-phobic and hankered for a different flavor every weekend.

She turned her head for a moment, and when she looked back, Isaac was gone from his spot at the fence. With him gone, she lost interest in being there, too.

She took a step back and did a subtle sweep of the proximity. Where had he gone?

“I guess I should get on the road.” She had friends waiting at Mav’s.

---