Page 10 of Kiss Me Kate

Kate

Ican’t believe Silas Gentry rescued me from certain death.

Emerging from the dense forest, my eyes widen as I take in the sight of a sprawling ranch ahead. A herd of cattle follows a man on horseback, marching past a large barn. It’s Silas’s cousin, Cyrus. His bulky frame and ornate tattoos are unmistakable. Nearby, another man in a cowboy hat wrangles a group of spirited horses, urging them to run towards the hills. I’m not one hundred percent certain, but if I were to guess, the second man looks like their cousin, Cotton. It’s been ages since I ran into him, but he’s close friends with my friend, Leah. He used to be tall and scrawny. She’s failed to mention how nicely he’s filled out since high school.

My brow furrows in confusion as I watch Cotton's actions, wondering why they're not helping the animals seek shelter from the coming storm. As I take in my surroundings, nothing looks familiar. The rustic charm of their grandfather's ranch, with its quaint old-fashioned house and dilapidated fence, is nowhere to be seen. In its place stands a brand new, modernized version that resembles a bustling center of activity. Has it only beenthree years since I left? How could so much change have taken place in such a short time? Questions swirl through my mind as I struggle to make sense of this unfamiliar landscape.

“Is this what you do for a living, Silas?” I hug my chest to shield my hard nipples from his view. Is he a cowboy? I remember his brief rodeo days and my stomach twists with anxiety. This gorgeous man is my only love. He was my first and only kiss and the only person to see me naked. I’m out of my depth. How on earth will I ever resist begging for his love? I’m as weak as I was on the night we went our separate ways.

Please stay strong, Kate.

Silas leans against the wooden fence, his leather boots planted firmly in the dirt. His calloused hands hold the frayed rope attached to Buddy loosely as he speaks. "I'm just a humble rancher," he says, gesturing to the sprawling fields behind him. "But I also dabble in wrangling and horse training, and I've been told I have a way with goats." He smiles, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth. “My cousins and I inherited this place from our grandfather after his death. We’ve turned it around and made it what it is today. Cyrus’s settlement made it possible, so he’s technically the boss.”

My heart races as I take in his rugged good looks— tousled brown hair, piercing blue eyes, and strong jawline. They’re attributes I remember all too well.

"It’s clear you care for your animals," I remark, my curiosity piqued. "Doesn't it take a toll on you knowing they'll eventually be sent to slaughter?" I'm not a strict vegetarian, but the thought of raising and caring for animals with the intention of consuming them would be heart-wrenching for me.

Silas chuckles and motions towards the barn, where a group of goats are being led inside. "Those goats are hired out to help people clear their fields. We rent them out weekly to folks in the surrounding five counties. And you see those cows over there?They're celebrities, used in films. They were even featured on that western TV show,The Lone Prairie. Ever since they came back, they've been demanding better treatment and food." Silas points towards his cousin Cyrus, who is walking towards us. "And Cyrus has a pack of rescue dogs, all black because they're often the last ones adopted. That's where our ranch got its name. He gestures to the sign on the side of the barn— Black Dog Ranch.

“Oh, wow.” I place my hand over my heart, currently racing with amazement. No wonder I fell so hard for this man.

The sound of thunder grows louder, and dark clouds loom menacingly overhead. Cyrus trots toward us, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. “I see you found more than Buddy?” he questions Silas, then tips his hat at me.

Silas nods, his hand gently releasing the leash of the young calf to his cousin. "He wandered much farther than I expected and as I went searching for him, I stumbled upon Kate." Silas looks to me and an affectionate smile spreads across his face.

Suddenly, my stomach begins to flutter with wild butterflies, their wings beating frantically against my insides. I had thought they had disappeared long ago, but with one look from Silas, they’ve come back to life. My mind races as I realize I should make my way back to Aunt Jane's cabin before this charming man gives me any more reason to stay and beg his forgiveness.

Before Cyrus can reply, a loud crack of lightning splits the sky, and rain begins to pour down in sheets. Cyrus jumps off his horse and motions for us to take cover. “The air is eerily still. Something is sucking the wind away. Mark my words, this isn’t the calm before the rainstorm. A tornado is coming, maybe more than one. Cotton is leading the horses and cows into the hills to take cover. And we just finished helping the pigs, dogs and goats into the underground stables. I’ll hang out with them, butyou two should get to the shelter by the house. Don’t take any chances.”

As Cyrus rushes away, Silas takes my hand in his and begins running toward the house. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he screams as the rain grows heavier. “This is not how I wanted our reunion to go.”

"This is no reunion!" I shout, struggling to keep up with Silas as the calm is soon replaced by a strong gust of wind that nearly knocks us off our feet. "It feels like a tornado!"

“That’s a sign from God, Kate. He’s working overtime to bring us together!” Silas slides, then stops abruptly in front of the bulkhead doors leading into the basement. He struggles against the wind’s resistance to open the hatch, then helps me inside, securing the door with a series of latches. Stepping backward, Silas turns a switch illuminating the space behind us. “It may not hit us, but it’s best to be safe.”

As I slowly turn my head, my eyes sweep over the small, dimly lit space behind me. Four cots, each neatly made with wool blankets and thin pillows, line one side of the room. On the other side, an old recliner sits in the corner, its frayed fabric cushions sunken from years of use. A wooden shelf, filled to the brim with essential supplies, stands against the far wall. I pray we won’t be here long enough to use them.

Silas guides me deeper into the building, scanning the shelves until he locates a kerosene lamp. "The lights may not last long with this wind," he begins, but before he can finish his sentence, the overhead light flickers and shuts off, cloaking us in darkness. “Not to worry. We'll have some light soon enough.” He flicks the switch on the lamp and sets it down on the ground, illuminating a small space between us with its warm glow.

“Do you think there’s really a tornado? There hasn’t been one here in a while,” I say, struggling to refrain from staring into his gorgeous eyes, but it feels impossible not to stare at suchperfection. He looks ten times better than he did three years ago, when I already believed he hung the moon.

“There was an EF 3 in Jackson Hill last year. Didn’t your mom tell you about it?” He rolls up his sleeves and bares his sculpted, sinewy forearms, while giving me details on the damage.

I don’t remember my parents mentioning anything about it, but if they did, I can’t recall it now. My mind is so fuzzy, I can hardly remember my own name.

"I've missed you so much, little girl. Why have you been avoiding me? We were friends long before we became lovers." Silas' allure is evident in his fiery gaze and the way he draws out the word “lovers.”

My body reacts to him immediately, my thighs clenching and my core yearning for his touch. Despite my attempts at resistance, my resolve weakens with every passing second.

"You know exactly why, Silas. I was heartbroken and embarrassed. If I ran into you, I knew there was no way I could look you in the eye. It was hard at first, but the more time passed, the easier it became. I simply convinced myself that our time was over, we’d run our course and lost. Not everything is meant to last." I bite down on my bottom lip to hide any trace of a pout from forming.

“That’s not true, Kate. You and I were meant to last. We could have fixed things. Why didn’t you let me fix things? You had to know I wanted the best for you. I’ll always want the best for you.” His patronizing words bring the memory of that night rushing back.

I take a deep breath and try to hold my tongue. “I don’t want to talk about this. It’s in the past and there’s no sense performing an autopsy on something that died over three years ago.”

Silas's smoldering expression quickly turns into a look of anger, his brow furrowing with frustration. He starts to saysomething but is abruptly cut off by the deafening sound of what can only be described as a roaring train. A tornado is coming. It’s barreling down on us and threatening to pull us out from the ground.

I jump up from my seat and press my back against the wall, instinctively covering my head with my hands. The wind howls outside, and I can feel the heaviness and impending danger in the air. As I slide down to the floor, fearing that the shelter door will be ripped open at any moment, Silas rushes over and shields me with his body, holding me tightly against his chest.

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