Page 3 of Hiding in Montana

Polly looked away and then back at him. Her eyes locked on his. “I appreciate the offer, Clint.”

The way she said his name was like a gut punch and an embrace at the same time, and it had been like this since the first day he’d helped her plow up the land and set the fencing.

“Anytime.” He strode away, but he could feel her eyes on his back. He stopped, looked over his shoulder, and strode back to where she was still standing.

“Polly, any chance you want to meet me some night at The Lucky Bucket for supper?”

Her eyes grew wide, as if she’d never been asked out for a meal before. “What about Annie?”

Where did that come from? “Are you saying I should ask Annie for dinner?”

“No,” she stammered, “She might have a policy against people sitting down and having supper together.”

That sounded like the lamest rejection he’d ever heard. “Like a policy for people who work on the ranch can’t date?”

She nodded, but she kept her wide hazel eyes locked on his. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear he saw a hint of fear in them.

“Are you saying if you knew for sure, you might consider it?”

She shrugged. “Maybe?”

That was better than an outright no. “I’ll talk to Linc and see what he says and I’ll get back to you. So think about it. Just a couple of friendly co-workers sharing a bite. No strings.” He threw that out there and saw a spark of something recede in her eyes. She couldn’t be afraid of him, could she?

“Great, thanks, and well, um, I’ll see ya around.”

He walked off in the direction of the horse barn, determined to find out if there was a no dating policy among ranch workers. And if there was, he was going to see what he could do to change it. There was something about Polly that drew him in like a bee to wildflowers.

Clint saw Linc walking in his direction and he was going to find out if Annie had rules for him dating Polly.

“Clint, why the serious expression?” Linc looked around the horse barn. “Busy day?”

“A mite. I’ve been rustling something over in my head, and I have to ask, does Annie have any rules about co-workers dating?”

“Are you talking about someone specific who might work for the ranch, or is this hypothetical?” He pushed the brim of his hat back and his grin grew wide.

His old friend was going to make him shoot straight. “I asked Polly if she wanted to meet me at the Bucket for supper some night, and she said there might be something that Annie had in place so we couldn’t.” He scuffed his boot and kicked a small bundle of hay skittering across the cement floor.

“Well, if she had, that rule was shot to the devil with not only us dating, but we got married to boot.” Linc clamped his hand on Clint’s shoulder. “I’d say you're safe to take the woman out.”

With a slow shake of his head, he said, “I’ll ask Annie just to be sure.”

“You really like this woman. I’ve never seen you get so riled up around a pretty face before.”

Hooking his thumbs in his belt loops, Clint leaned back against the wall. “From the first moment I laid eyes on her, I felt like we’d met, but I’ve racked my brain and come up with nothing. But the pull is still there.” This was unfamiliar territory for him. He dated but let no one get too serious, except for one time. He had a job he loved and he lived on the nicest ranch in Montana. He wasn’t about to let a woman change all that, and most wanted the picket fence, house with the sunny-yellow door, and a man who didn’t have to work weekends.

“I get it, Clint, and from this viewpoint, you got it bad for this woman.”

He nodded and felt his face fall. “That’s why I want to take her out, see what’s going on between us. I think she feels it too.” He wiped his hands down his legs. “Heck, maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but I’ve gotta try, right?” Out of all his buddies, Linc would understand what he was trying to say. When all hope was lost with him and Annie, they put their stubborn pride aside, talked, and found their way back to each other. They gave him hope he could have it all.

“I’m the first one to say go for it. I spent too many years not being honest with Annie and it cost us years together, so don’t follow my lead.” He pointed to the main house. “I know for a fact Annie’s in her office and her door is always open. Go talk to her and find out straight from the boss’ mouth that you’re free to date whoever you want, and that includes the pretty Polly Carson.”

Clint rapped on the doorjamb to Annie’s office. She looked up from the paper she was reading and put it down, a welcoming smile on her face.

“Clint, come on in.”

He entered through the glass door from the back patio of the house. He didn’t want to carry in any dirt. And also, he didn’t want Mary to know since she’d been poking at him all winter to cowboy up and ask Polly out on a proper date instead of mooning around the ranch. Her words, not his.

He swept his hat off his head and held it in his hands. “Got a minute to talk?”

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