Page 36 of Choosing the Montana Cowboy

“I’m sure you’re right,” he murmured, having listened to Gran spill the latest town gossip during his Sunday dinner dishwashing duties for as long as he could remember. Would he be the topic this weekend? “But your secret is safe out here.”

“Oh, Natalie girl!”

They turned to see Gramps shuffling toward them. The sight brought a real smile to her face, which warmed Sam from the inside out. For some people, Eli Miles was a bit much. Natalie, however seemed endeared by the man.

“Well, hello there, Eli. Are you coming on a ride with us?”

“Heavens, no,” he said, slightly winded as he came to stop before them. “Been bucked one too many times in my life, and I don’t reckon I’d like another today.”

Natalie’s eyes widened as they shifted to Sam.

“No one’s getting bucked off today, I promise.” He threw a warning look at his grandfather. “Did you need something, Gramps?”

He ignored Sam’s look and flashed a broad smile at Natalie. “Just checking to see if you two would be joining us for dinner before turning in for the night.”

Natalie carefully avoided Sam’s gaze. “I’m not sure what our plans are yet, but I’d love to join you all for dinner before heading back to the Bramble House tonight.”

“Of course, of course.” Eli nodded. “Though, if you’re too tired to make the drive back, I’m sure Sam has plenty of room for you at his place.”

“Gramps…” Sam said through his teeth.

“Don’t worry, your secret will be safe with me.” On an exaggerated wink, he shuffled back the way he came.

As Sam looked around for a rock to crawl under, Natalie laughed softly. “I’ve got no reason to worry aboutyoukeeping our secrets safe. It’s your grandfather I’ve gotta watch out for.”

“Natalie, I—”

She shook her head, grinning. “It’s all right, Sam. I can’t possibly be mad at Eli. He reminds me too much of my own grandfather. He’s been gone twenty years next month, and I still miss him like crazy. Besides, that was the perfect distraction to help diffuse my anxiety.” Natalie looked to the horses and squared her shoulders. “Better get me over there before my inner chicken returns.”

Sam took in her determined look, and pride lit in his chest. From the moment they’d met, she had yet to allow an obstacle to defeat her… which made him admire her that much more.

Face it. You’re falling for her.

It was far too soon for any of that. Maybe he was just enjoying himself for the first time in ages. And right now, in this moment, he was choosing to have fun rather than sit around and worry about what-ifs. He offered her his arm, consequences be damned.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Chapter Twelve

Natalie spent theafternoon trying to be brave, really she did. Somehow Sam coaxed her into feeding sugar cubes to both the horses—creepy, even with their velvety muzzles—and managed to get her onto Marshmallow.Terrifying.She even managed to stay on Marshmallow when they took a slow ride around the horse stables and cattle feed lots. But when Sam suggested they trade in the horses for a good old-fashioned truck ride to tour the farther reaches of the ranch, she nearly jumped for joy.

She probably would have if she hadn’t been five feet off the ground. On a horse. Half scared to death.

“It wasn’t that bad, was it?” Sam asked after the horses were safely back on the other side of a fence from them, and he had one hand on the wheel and the other elbow resting on the center console of his oversized truck.

She shrugged. “I mean, I didn’t die, so…”

“No, you didn’t. Which, for the record, I told you you wouldn’t. But really, you did great for your first time in the saddle. You’ll be a pro in no time.”

He flashed her an encouraging smile, and Nat felt a little flutter in her belly. “If you say so.”

Until last night, she hadn’t been privy to the relaxed version of that handsome smile. Add in the sexy, confident cowboy persona, and he was even more appealing. But what made her feel all sorts of weak in the knees today—besides the whole scary horseback riding ordeal—was the kindness he was displaying toward her. Prior to last night, most of their interactions had involved head butting and subtle posturing—mentally stimulating, and maybe even a little flirty at times, but there’d been no substance behind them. Today, he was being far more casual around her. Encouraging. Reassuring.

“Tell me again about this dog that lived behind your childhood home.”

When was the last time she had spent any significant time with a guy who was interested in more than dinner and what came after? Add that to all his other new behaviors, and Natalie was enjoying this change of pace.

“His name was Bruno. I have no idea what breed he was. I just remember him being big and fluffy and white with this huge, deep bark. Every time my sister and I would be in the backyard playing and his owners let him out of the house, he would charge the fence, barking his head off. I was convinced that one day he’d jump the fence and chew us to bits, but he never did.”

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