Page 56 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

She still stopped the side-by-side a little way short of Kolby and Callie, and they came over to greet them. Kolby gave Ford a knowing smile while Callie greeted Amelia.

"Hey, it's good to see you. And look at you, driving that thing. I keep threatening to learn, but I haven't gotten around to it yet."

Kolby smiled at her. "You will when you're ready. It's not like you don't have anything else going on, is it?"

Callie shrugged happily. "Levi keeps us both busy, it's true."

"And you've been writing again," said Kolby.

"How's that going? Are you enjoying it?" Ford asked.

Callie smiled. "I am. I'm finally ready, and it feels so good."

"Are you thinking about performing again? Or are you happy just writing?"

For a moment, Ford wanted to kick himself for asking. Callie didn't need the pressure of people always asking if she was going to start performing again. He relaxed a little when she smiled.

"I'm thinking I might, and if I don't, it'll be because I have so much else going on in my life these days." She smiled at Amelia. "I was scared for a while after everything that went on with the stalker. I thought I'd get over it and want to get straight back out there, but now... I'm not worried about going back on stage or even on tour, but I don't know that I want to leave these two."

Kolby smiled. "I've told you, if you want to go, we're going with you. It's still my job to keep you safe, whether we're here on the ranch or out on tour."

"We'll figure it out," said Callie. "But what about you, Amelia? How are things going for you? Are you getting settled in okay? How's work?"

"It's going really well," said Amelia. "I worked remotely most of the time before I hooked up with Cash and Mav, so that's nothing new to me. And I'm not exactly out here by myself anyway, since Cash is here."

Ford tried to keep his expression neutral when both Kolby and Callie glanced at him. He knew what they were thinking – and it was understandable. He and Cash had their differences, so he could see why people would be curious how things might work between him and Amelia when she was already so close to Cash.

The moment didn't have the chance to get too awkward – it was interrupted by the sound of Callie's phone. She frowned as she took it out of her pocket. "Sorry, guys. I need to take this. It's my mama." She smiled at Amelia. "I hope we'll see more of you now. Any chance that you might come down to the bakery on Friday afternoon?"

When Amelia looked surprised by the request and didn't answer immediately, Ford stepped in to explain. "You take your call, Callie," he said, before turning to Amelia. "It's kind of a tradition in the valley that folks meet up at the bakery on Friday afternoon when they can. It started out with people putting in their orders for bread and pastries for the weekend and turned into pretty much the social event of the week in the valley."

Kolby chuckled. "It's true. People seem to like their cake served with a side of gossip around here."

Ford frowned, hoping that description wouldn't put Amelia off. He was relieved when she smiled at him. "Is that where you got the coffee cake from?"

"It is."

"Then I'd love to go. Obviously, depending on how work pans out." She turned back to Ford. "Do you go? Will you be there?"

Kolby smirked at him when he said, "I haven't been for a while, but I'll see what I can do on Friday."

He knew damn well that his brother would give him shit for that just as soon as he could. Kolby – and everyone else – knew that Ford didn't usually join their group of friends and family who gathered at the bakery on Friday afternoons. He was generally too busy, but on the rare occasion that he could spare the time, hanging out gossiping over coffee and pastries wouldn't be how he chose to spend it.

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Ford took hold of her hand as they walked down the aisle between the stalls, and Amelia couldn't keep the big, silly grin off her face. It seemed out of character for him – she never would have had him down as a hand holder. Then again, she certainly wouldn't have described herself that way either. But she loved the feel of his big, rough hand wrapped around hers.

He turned to smile at her when the horse in the end stall – the one they'd come to see yesterday – stuck its head out and let out a low nickering sound when it saw them.

She smiled back at him and said, "Isn't it cool that he already knows you? I want to ask if they're all like that – if that's a horse thing – but I'm guessing that it's more a personality thing." She chuckled. "Or should that be a horse-onality? Either way, you know what I mean? Does he come out to greet you like that because it's just who he is and he likes you?"

Ford nodded happily. "It seems that way, although I'm not so sure that it's me he's happy to see." He chuckled, and a buzz of happiness filled Amelia's chest when the horse stretched its neck out and nuzzled its lips into her hair.

"Well, hello, big guy. I'm happy to see you, too." She felt a little nervous as it brushed its lips over her face. For all she knew, it could mistake her nose for a carrot and want to bite it, but for some reason, even though she had no experience with horses, she trusted this one. Even so, she relaxed when it turned its head to Ford and greeted him by resting its chin on his shoulder.

"Oh, look at that," she said. "He loves you to pieces. You can tell."

Ford reached up and patted the horse's neck. "He took me by surprise, this one, but I have to say, the feeling's mutual."

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