Page 3 of Belonging to the Rancher

Not Axe. He demanded it.

She had taken his advice, and knew from personal experience how treacherous the roads were in the main town, and his ranch was off the beaten track, quite difficult to get to. Every time she went to town, she stocked twice as much as needed, and the pantry was nice and full. This coming Sunday, she’d check to see what was missing.

Clarissa didn’t know how he liked to spend his Thanksgiving and Christmas, but she liked to celebrate. She made a note to ask him if he had a tree or any decorations she could use to get the house all festive. They were still several months off, but she would like to be prepared.

“When are you going to the store?” Axe asked, surprising her.

They rarely talked. In fact, other than the advice and commands he sent her way, they never had a conversation.

“Monday.”

He nodded. “I’ll come with you.”

“If there is anything you need, I can pick it up. I’ve got a list.” Before he could say anything more, she slid out of the chair and moved to the cabinet where she’d hung her list inside. Taking it down, she placed it in front of him, and sat down.

Axe perused the list. “A Christmas tree?”

“I know it’s early, but I wanted to make sure we have one, or pre-book. Frank takes early bookings, and I thought we could have one delivered.”

“I have a tree and all the decorations in the basement.”

“You do?”

He nodded.

She’d not been in the basement. It was the one place he didn’t ask her to go, and she wasn’t about to argue with him.

“That’s good to know.”

She watched as he swiped the pen through the list. Christmas tree and decorations were there. Everything else he left on the list.

“I’ll take my car.”

“Okay.”

He slid the list back toward her and she took it. Clarissa paused as she looked at Axe. Their fingers had touched. It was just a small touch, but it was enough to get her pulse racing.

“I wanted to offer my condolences on your mother,” Axe said.

His words took her by surprise. She let go of the list and sat back in her chair, staring at him, a little bewildered.

“You knew my mother?”

He nodded. “She was a kind woman. When she worked at the supermarket, she always gave me extra meat, but she’d add that after the ticket was made. She was a good woman.”

Her mother had worked at the local supermarket before she had gotten sick. Even after her cancer diagnosis, she had worked until she couldn’t anymore.

“Thank you,” Clarissa said.

“She’s been gone three years,” Axe said.

“Yes.”

“I went to the funeral. You did an amazing job.”

“You were there?”

He nodded.

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