Page 14 of Country Winds
Porter, a man who generally didn’t do a whole lot of talking, lowered the tailgate, revealing a portable forge and tools of his trade. “Had a cancellation. The man’s wife went into labor early.”
“Lucky for Katy.” Tucker waited until Porter had finished his preparations, then headed with him to the barn. He approached the two-year-old’s stall and took the bridle off the gatepost. He opened the gate, put the bridle on the horse, and walked her out of the stall. “You remember Katydid.”
“Sure do.” Porter patted the roan’s neck before he took the lead, led the horse to his truck, and settled in to shoe the mare.
Tucker watched Porter as he started up his forge. “How’s married life?”
The corner of the gruff man’s mouth lifted. “Never saw myself getting married. Now, I can’t think of life without her.”
“Leeann, right?”
Porter nodded. “Yep.”
Over the past couple of years, Tucker had imagined getting married, but hadn’t yet met the right woman. This time, Ellie came to mind, and he wondered what she thought about having children.
He pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind for the moment. “Didn’t you say your wife is a McLeod?”
“Yep.”
“I just hired Ellie McLeod to handle my social media,” Tucker said. “Any relation?”
“Leeann’s cousin.” Porter started cleaning the mare’s hoof. “Ellie helped me with a problem about a year ago.”
Tucker didn’t want to pry, so he asked, “How’s your little sister?”
Again, a slight curve to Porter’s lips. “She’s a busy young girl.”
Tucker’s phone rang, and he pulled it out of the holster on his belt and checked the screen. “Gotta take this. Let me know if you need anything.”
Porter gave a nod. “Will do.”
4
Ellie touched the back of her head and felt the tight French braid beneath her fingertips as she drove her SUV toward the ranch’s entrance. She slowed when she saw that a gate before it, to the right, was open and contained several parked cars. A couple in Western garb walked through a smaller gate that opened up across from the stables and barn.
She parked near one of the cars, grabbed her cross-body bag, and headed in the direction the couple had gone. A cool spring breeze skimmed the back of her neck, which was bare beneath the braid. Her lace-trimmed denim skirt swung around her legs, brushing the tops of her boots.
On her way, she retrieved her camera from her bag and paused to take photos of the stables, barn, and the few people who had arrived. She was early, and the number of guests there already surprised her.
Piper and Penny gave cheerful barks as they bolted from the barn to greet her. Ellie bent and patted each dog’s head. “You are such beautiful girls.”
Ellie straightened and headed on, the dogs on her heels. She reached the barn and checked to see if she recognized any of the people there, but so far, she hadn’t seen anyone she knew. She smiled, approached couples and individuals there, and introduced herself. She’d always been comfortable at events and talking to strangers. She’d never been accused of being shy.
Smells of barbeque beans and scalloped potatoes wafted her way from the potluck dishes already on the tables to the right of the barn doors, and Ellie groaned as she passed by. She’d left the platter of cookies she planned to bring on the counter at home.
About fifteen picnic tables with benches stood to the side of the huge area in front of the barn. She peered inside, where equipment for a band was set up amongst bales of hay. The scents she inhaled made her feel at home. Alfalfa, sweet oats, and horses.
Families had come to the event with children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers.
Tingles ran along the back of her spine as if someone watched her. She turned and saw Tucker several feet away.
A shiver skittered over Ellie’s skin, and she smiled at the man who was too good-looking and sexy for words. She wanted to press her body against his, slide her arms around his neck then kiss him.
Whoa. Things were progressing too quickly in her mind. She needed to slow way down.
He flashed a grin and met her halfway. “I’m glad you made it, Ellie.”
Oooh, she loved the way he said her name. Maybe it wasn’t going to be so easy to keep her libido under control.
