Page 3 of Cozy Cabin for Two
“You’re not staying in town, and there’s no hotel here. We have a place at the ranch.” Ash muttered. The bus driver set our suitcases and a trunk beside us.
Before I could say anything more, a man nearby adjusted his camouflage pack on his back and caught Ash’s attention. He’d been on our bus trip with us.
“Colt Calhoun?” Ash called.
The man nodded and walked over.
“I’m Ash Rhodes, foreman of the Off-Duty Rescue Ranch. Chris told me you’d arrivetoday.”
“Thanks for picking me up.” They shook hands firmly.
“My truck’s over there. You can load your stuff and grab this trunk here too while you’re at it. We’ll meet you there.” Ash pointed.
“Yes, sir.” The young man, very tan and muscular, maybe early twenties, his hair high and tight, stood at attention with a salute.
“Hey, you’re out of the military now. No need for ‘sir’ or salutes. Most of the ranch hands just call me Boss.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I arched an eyebrow once Colt walked off. “You’rerunningthe ranch?”
Ash shrugged like it was no big deal. “Started it up last year. Chris Magnus brought me on to run the operations.”
“Guess I would’ve known that if you had written me back.” By the way he winced, I must have stabbed him with my words. “And I suppose you didn’t get around to reading my last few emails either, announcing our plan to visit?”
“No,” he admitted, jaw tightening.
“I got laid off from my position at the school. Your dad wouldn’t take us in. And mine?” I rolled my eyes. “You know how he is.”
“Yeah. I do.”
Our fathers measured worth in obedience, not love. Mine ruled by the Bible. His with a fist. Their wives long gone, the two men had tried their best to raise their families. And they both did a shitty job of it.
“Rosie and I just need a change of scenery. We came here hoping to find you. I don’t know. Maybe this was a mistake.”
Ash exhaled as if the weight of the past settled on his shoulders. “There’s a cabin on the property,” he said. “Nothing fancy. But it’s new and warm and private. You can stay as long as you need.”
“Thank you. Really, we won’t be a bother.” A tremor of relief pulsed through me. But also a tiny speck of hope.
Our eyes met again, and the air between us thickened with everything we hadn’t said yet. Everything we’d buried long ago, like unfinished business. At some point, we were due for a really long talk.
He looked away first. “Let’s load up.”
With our things tossed into the back behind some logs, and my heart somewhere tangled up in my throat, we climbed into his truck. I avoided his offer of a hand to help me up, not ready yet to feel his skin on mine, even though I’d dreamed of the touch of him for far too long.
THREE
Distracted
ASH
“Montana is a pretty place.Nothing like home in upstate New York.” Colt broke the silence, fidgeting in the seat like a guy trying to get comfortable in boots a size too small.
I grunted. Wedged between Willow and me, Ro tried to inch further away from me.
“We don’t have to do small talk.” Willow offered Colt a soft smile.
“Right. Just the tension in here is thick enough to cut,” Colt muttered, tugging at the collar of hisI Hiked the Pacific Trailshirt.
