Page 88 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

"Yeah, I forget that you're one of the few people who understands that just because I'm not talking or smiling, it doesn't mean I'm mad about something."

Mason chuckled. "Yeah, they give me the broody cowboy label too, but I play it to my advantage. You might want to do the same thing."

Ford nodded. "I think you know damn well that I've been playing it that way for years."

Mason grasped his shoulder. "Yeah, and what I’m saying is that you don't have to give it up now that you've met your lady. Everyone else can think what they want as long as she knows that you're as soft as she needs you to be. That's all that matters."

Ford glanced over to the table where Gina had now joined Amelia, Sierra, and Cassidy. "But G doesn't need you to be soft, does she? She's not that kind of woman."

Mason shook his head. "No, and we wouldn't work if she were. No way could you call her a girly girl, but that doesn't mean she doesn't need me to step up and be her man. I don't know Amelia, but I’m guessing she might be the same way."

Ford nodded. He wasn't about to start explaining the conversation they'd just had outside, but Mason was confirming for him that he and Amelia could bring out different sides of each other while still being who they were fundamentally.

Chapter Twenty

Amelia sat up straight in the saddle and ran her hand over Delta's neck. She couldn't believe she was doing this, and at the same time, she was loving every second of it. When Ford had gone to work this morning, she thought that would be the last that she'd see of him until tonight. When they left the bakery yesterday, he'd explained that as much as he'd love to spend the weekend with her, he had to work at least part of it. And since she planned to have her chat with Rootless2 on Sunday, he was going to take Sunday off. Even though she didn't need him with her, and it wouldn't have occurred to her to ask him, she loved that he'd thought of it.

She'd been quite happy working on her laptop at the big farmhouse table in the kitchen and could have spent the whole day there. But he'd come back just after three and asked if she wanted her first riding lesson. She hadn't been sure at first, but he'd told her that most of the hands had the afternoon off and had gone into town, and the ones who were still on the ranch would be chilling out in the bunkhouse or out riding fences. She hadn't even needed to explain that her hesitation wasn't about learning to ride so much as feeling out of her element learning something new in front of strangers.

She glanced over at him now as she and Delta walked the perimeter of the round pen. Tanner had come over to talk to him, and she was rather proud of herself that he'd trusted her to stay on Delta while he talked to his brother. Granted, he kept glancing back over his shoulder, checking to make sure that she was doing okay – and she was. She stroked Delta's neck and murmured, "Thanks for being so kind to me. I know I'm not good at this yet, but I hope I'm not doing anything too wrong."

Of course the horse didn't answer, but she chose to believe that he was listening and that if he did have a problem with her, he'd let her know somehow.

"What do you think of him, Amelia?" called Tanner.

"Do you mean Delta or Ford?" she asked with a grin.

Tanner grinned back at her. "Whichever one you want to tell me about."

She decided to be brave and point Delta toward them, hoping that he'd go where she wanted him to and not keep plodding around in the opposite direction. She silently promised him a carrot later when he turned and headed toward them, making her look far more competent than she really was.

"Well," she said as she got closer, "I can tell you that this guy" – she stroked Delta's mane – "is incredibly sweet and considerate and is doing a very good job of looking after me, even though I'm in his world now and not mine, and I'm feeling kind of clueless." She met Ford's gaze and smiled as she said, "And I'll let you decide which guy I'm talking about."

Tanner laughed. "I like it – in fact, no, I love it. You two are good together." He met Amelia's gaze. "You're going to stick around, right? I heard that Mav and Blane are going to be moving back here. I hope that doesn't mean you're going to move down to Mav's place when the rest of the team arrives."

Her heart thudded to a halt. She hadn't even thought about that. She'd be more than happy staying here at the ranch with Ford, and it was the kind of practical detail that hadn't really crossed her mind. Since she'd been working with Cash and Mav, she'd been living in an apartment at the compound that they called home base. It was like so many places she'd lived – just a place to lay her head. If she were honest, she'd been seeing the ranch that way when she first arrived.

She stole a glance at Ford when it occurred to her that perhaps he'd already wondered about her living arrangements. Perhaps she'd been invading his space too much. She didn't know what to say. He didn't look as though he had anything to offer on the subject. He certainly didn't look happy. She swallowed, but she wasn't going to go jumping to any conclusions. She'd already messed things up once by doing that.

Tanner gave them an apologetic smile. "Did I just go and put my foot in it? I'm sorry, guys."

Amelia shrugged. Both she and Ford were normally honest to a fault; this didn't seem like the time to back off from that. "I'm not sure you put your foot in it, but I think you did name the elephant that I wasn't even aware was in the room." She smiled at Ford. "I know I kind of landed in your space out of the blue and I made myself right at home. Once the guys set up their operation down at Mav's ranch, I'll be working down there, and I imagine that they'll also provide accommodation for me there – if I want it." She held his gaze as she added, "But if it's up to me and okay with you, I'd rather stay here."

The lines around his eyes crinkled as he smiled. He didn't say anything; he just nodded.

And Tanner laughed. "This is awesome, guys," he exclaimed. "I knew the two of you kind of fit, but I couldn't have told you why. Now I get it. You," he told Amelia, "are just like him; you don't seem all that approachable from the outside, but once you're comfortable, you're happy to say it like it is."

Ford was still smiling at her. "I don't know that I'd say you weren't approachable," he said. "Maybe that's just because I didn't stop to think about it before I knew I wanted to approach you. But I'm glad you're as upfront as I am." And even though this guy is standing right here" – he slapped the back of Tanner's head – "I'm not going to wait until later to tell you that I hope you won't move down to Mav's place. I want you to stay here…"

His words had her smiling, and when he added "with me," her heart felt like it filled up and overflowed.

Tanner chuckled. "Aw, you guys! I never thought I'd see the day, but I love it, and I'm not going to ruin it. I'm out of here. See you soon." He tipped his hat toward Amelia and slapped Ford's back before turning to walk away.

When he'd gone, Ford came and caught hold of Delta's reins. He rested his hand on her thigh as he smiled up at her. "Did we just take a big step forward without having to make a big deal out of it?" he asked.

She nodded happily. "I believe we did. Although, if you want to take some time to think about it, and if you want to change your..."

He shook his head adamantly. "I don't and I won't. Want to get back to your riding lesson?"

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