Page 5 of Trails of Temptation

“He’s such a strange guy,” Moira murmured, glancing at her son, Holliday, AKA Day. Day was a boy of ten or so with thick, curling brown hair and the biggest blue eyes I’d ever seen in my life. He looked a lot like his mom, actually. They shared the same eyes and face shape, as well as the smattering of freckles across the bridges of their straight noses. Moira was a natural redhead, though. Her hair was like wine, but in the sun, it shined like fire.

I’d always found Moira absolutely stunning. I was also a little intimidated by her when I first met her last year. We’d had the chance to interact a few times, but the past day had really solidified what I already knew. Moira and I were going to be fast friends.

I’d shown up to the Hallston Ranch, guns blazing and ready to get to work. I loved to cook, and bake, and having a paid opportunity to do just that without the back-breaking grind of working in a commercial kitchen was a dream come true. I’d jumped right into it, spending the morning coaxing Moira to just rest and let me handle everything. I’d cooked lunch, baked some fresh bread, cleaned the entire house top to bottom, and got a big, comforting dinner on the table by six o’clock.

Now I was sitting at the dining room table with Moira, Day having scarfed down his dinner like a starving beast and running back outside to play. Grant was lingering on the stairs, watching George walk down the driveway back to his own house.

“Did something happen between you two?”

I bristled, toying with my mashed potatoes. “No… At least… No. Nothing happened.”

Moira gave me a suspicious look, which was only heightened when Grant walked into the room and asked, “What exactly did you do to George?”

“What do you mean?” I laughed, trying to shrug it off. “He acts like I’m the plague!”

Moira exchanged a smirk with Grant and I set down my fork, leaning back to stare at the couple. I’d known Grant longer than I’d known Moira. He’d been around for at least five or six years and was a friend of my brother. But I wasn’t sure I knew them well enough to sit down and talk to them about my feelings for the grumpy, damn near silent rancher who’d had my heart since I was a silly high schooler lusting over my brother’s friends.

My mind and mouth were at odds tonight, however.

“I think George is hot as hell,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

Grant grinned, laughing softly as Moira’s eyes lit up.

“But he doesn’t want anything to do with me. He’s made that really clear.”

“Are you sure about that?” Moira pressed, resting her hands on the swell of her belly. “I’ve never seen him so bent out of sorts…” She turned to her husband, looking up at him expectantly as he dished himself some of the dinner I made. Grant looked over at her, whistling as he rolled his eyes and stood with his plate, shaking his head.

“I’m not telling you ladies a goddamn thing—”

“Grant!” Moira scolded. “What did George say to you in your office? Why’d he storm out?”

“That’s between George and—” He paused, looking down at his plate before quickly looking at me. “Both of you leave him alone, all right? He’s a good man.” He turned to Moira, pointing an accusatory finger at her before saying, “And no scheming, Moira. You’re supposed to be resting.” He walked away, the screen door clicking shut behind him as he called out for Day.

Moira licked her lips, glancing over at me with a grin on her face. “I thought something might have been going on last time you were here. George was smitten with you, I’m sure.”

“He wasn’t, I assure you,” I replied as I scooped more mashed potatoes onto her plate and covered them with gravy. “I thought… I mean, look. I’ve had a crush on George since I was like, sixteen. He came home to Hot Springs after being in the marines and… Well, he was married—”

Moira spit out her sweet tea, slapping a hand over her mouth.

“You didn’t know that?”

“No, I had no idea! Grant never said anything!”

I nodded, toying with my food. “Yeah, her name was Wendy. They were married for two years and then she… She died. She was in a car accident driving home from Bozeman. He wasn’t ever really the same after that. George used to be so… So funny. So outgoing. I was a lot younger than Pete and his friends but George always tried to include me in stuff. Over the years I just… I’ve always liked him, you know? I didn’t start having real feelings for him until two summers ago and now he’s all I can think about.” I found it hard to swallow as I put my fork down again.

Moira gave me a sympathetic look as she mopped up the tea splattered all over the table.

“I don’t know what it is about him,” I whispered.

“Well, he’s hot.” Moira stuck up a finger, then another as she said, “He rides horses all day. He has a job, a house, some land. And, he obviously has a thing for you.” She ticked all his attributes off on her fingers and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah, right. He just ran out of here—”

“Why do you think he’d do that?”

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. I mulled it over for a moment, my eyes locked on Moira’s. “I’m his best friend’s little sister, for one.”

“So? How old are you, fifteen?”

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