Love Without End (23 page)

Anna chuckled. “Nothing really. We’re giving Sam a hard time right along with that little horse there.”

As if in response to Anna’s words, the horse began to buck. Kimberly knew what that word meant too. It meant danger. It meant someone could get hurt. But the glimpses she caught of Sam’s face told her he wasn’t afraid. Just determined. As for Pete and Tara, they were having a grand old time. They whooped and laughed and shouted encouragement to Sam.

Anna patted Kimberly’s knee. “See how Sam stays relaxed and goes with the horse. He’s not going to fall. You can be sure of that. Watch. He’s going to give up the fight now.”

“Sam?”

“No, the horse.”

And just like that, the buckskin came to an abrupt halt in the center of the corral. His dark tail switched a few times. He twisted his head around, as if to give Sam a hard look. The boy said something to the horse in a low soothing tone.

“Did Wind Dancer ever buck like that with Tara?” Kimberly asked softly.

“You know, I couldn’t say for sure.” Anna gave Kimberly’s knee one more pat. “I guess you’d have to ask her.”

“I don’t think I want to know.”

“My dear, it would do you a world of good to get over this fear of yours. There is nothing more wonderful than riding a horse through this valley and up the trails in those mountains. Nothing like it.” Anna frowned. “Did something happen that made you nervous around horses? Did you get thrown or kicked?”

Kimberly shook her head. “No, nothing like that. I don’t know why I’m so nervous around them, really. It’s always been that way. Janet had to coax me onto her pony every single time when we were kids.” She looked toward her daughter, still seated on the fence. “Tara was born loving horses. It was simply always there. I think . . .” She looked at Anna again. “It would be fun if we could go riding together one day.”

A smile brightened Anna’s face. “Then let’s make that happen.”

“Could we . . . could we keep it a secret for a while? In case I fail miserably.”

“You won’t fail. Chet and I will see to that.”

C
HET WAS HOT
,
GRIMY
,
AND SWEATY WHEN HE AND
Blake rode into the barnyard. There wasn’t a whole lot of time before dinner would be on the table. He said good-bye to his hired hand and wished him a good holiday. Then he tossed the reins to Tara—all alone in the barnyard at the moment—and asked the girl to cool down the horse for him.

“Sure thing, Mr. Leonard.”

Chet headed for the house. Anna and Kimberly turned in unison when he entered the kitchen. Kimberly stirred something on the stove top. Anna was setting the table.

He spoke before either of them could. “I need a quick shower. Can dinner wait about fifteen minutes?”

“Sure.” Anna waved him toward the stairs. “You go on. We won’t eat without you.”

He glanced at Kimberly. “I won’t be long.”

She gave him a quick smile before turning back to the stove.

Chet didn’t have the words to describe what her smile did to his insides. Would giddy apply? No. He wasn’t the giddy sort. Never had been. Still . . .

In his bedroom, he yanked off his boots and dropped his dirty clothes into the hamper. He got into the shower, not minding that the water was cold at first. Not such a bad thing on a hot day like today. He lathered and rinsed faster than he’d ever done before.

Why all the rush? The family wouldn’t eat without him, like Anna had said. But hunger wasn’t the reason he hurried. He was eager to sit down with Kimberly. Across the dinner table. In his pickup. At the hot springs. All day he’d been filled with anticipation for the evening to come. And at some point during this long day, he’d realized he felt hopeful. Really hopeful. About everything. He was through trying to protect his heart. Time to toss any remaining caution to the wind. Nothing risked, nothing gained.

When he reentered the kitchen, his hair still damp from the shower, the three teens had joined Anna and Kimberly. They looked like a family, everyone helping, everyone knowing their places. Chet paused to study them, so perfect with each other. The brothers were getting along, and as of late, Pete and Tara had been acting more like best buddies than
potential boyfriend and girlfriend. Was there a chance the six of them could become a real family?

The conversation during dinner was lively, especially the retelling of Sam’s training session with one of the two-year-olds. While Kimberly looked at Sam, Chet looked at her. Something had changed about her, he thought. What was it? He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something was definitely different.

When the meal was over, Anna volunteered Pete and Tara to do the dishes while Sam took care of the evening chores. Looking at Chet and Kimberly, Anna added, “You two scoot.” She flicked her hands toward the door. “Go on and enjoy your evening. The kids and I have a couple of movies to watch, so no need to hurry back.”

Chet resisted the urge to hug her, but he said thanks with his eyes.

Half an hour later, wearing swimming suits beneath their shorts and shirts—with towels and a blanket in the back, along with a dessert and a jug of pink lemonade in a picnic basket—Chet drove the truck away from the ranch complex. June had been dryer than usual, and a huge sand-colored cloud rose behind them as they headed north.

“You’ll never guess what I agreed to today,” Kimberly said, breaking the silence that had filled the cab.

Chet glanced over at her. “What’s that?”

“I agreed to learn to ride. Or at least to learn to be less afraid.”

His eyes widened as he returned his gaze to the dirt road, delight erupting in his chest.

“I’m as surprised as you are.” She laughed softly.

“What changed your mind?”

“I really don’t know. Perhaps because it will please Tara if I at least try.” She reached over and touched his right forearm, drawing his eyes back to her for a moment. “But don’t tell her. I want it to be a surprise.”

“That’s not going to be easy. Your daughter is here whenever you are.”

“You’re right. I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe Anna will have some ideas.”

“I guess we can send her off riding with one of the boys while we give you a lesson.”

“Mmm.” Kimberly was silent for a short time, then said, “Pete kissed Tara on her birthday.”

“He did?” Maybe he’d been wrong about those two.

“I don’t think we have to worry about them. They act more like siblings.”

Chet hid a smile, but there was no denying he was pleased by her choice of words. Siblings meant family, and family was what he was hoping for.

I
S THIS WISE
?
K
IMBERLY WONDERED WHEN THEY
were nearly to their destination.
Should I let myself care for him? We want such different things.

Only, was that true? What
did
she want? She used to know with certainty. A few short months ago she knew. Even a few weeks ago. Now it all seemed muddled.

Chet parked his pickup by the renovated line shack, grabbed the basket, blanket, and towels, and then he and
Kimberly walked up the mountainside to the hot springs. She felt a shiver of nerves.

What do I want? What?

When they arrived at the small pool, Chet spread the large blanket on a level piece of ground and set the picnic basket nearby. Sunset was still an hour away, but the sun had fallen far enough beyond the mountains to lengthen shadows and cool the air on this eastern slope. The sounds of the rushing creek were soothing to the ears.

Kimberly turned her back to the water and looked through the trees to the valley below. Everything she could see from this spot was part of the Leonard ranch.

She’d read somewhere that the average American moved eleven times in a lifetime. And job-hopping was the new normal. Few stuck with their first or second or even third careers for the rest of their work lives. And yet, for a hundred and fifty years, the Leonard men had stayed in this valley and managed this ranch. Six generations of them, counting Chet’s sons. What was it like, to have that kind of stability? It sounded wonderful.

“Want some lemonade?” Chet asked, intruding on her thoughts.

She faced him. “Not yet.”

“A little music.” He lifted a small cloth bag from inside the basket. Out of it came an iPod and a pair of small speakers. A few moments more and music mixed with the sounds of nature.

She didn’t recognize the song, but the tune was catchy.

“Shall we soak a bit?” Even as he spoke, he removed his shirt and tossed it onto the blanket.

There were those nerves again. She turned away before he could catch her staring at his bare, muscular chest and toned abs. Oh, mercy! It had been a long, long time since she’d noticed a man’s physique. Any man’s other than her husband’s. Ages. Forever. Chet’s muscles were sculpted by hard work, not hours in the gym, and she liked knowing it.

She steadied herself with a deep breath. Then stripped to her one-piece swimming suit and joined Chet at the pool. He stood in the middle of the naturally shaped bowl, the water up to his waist, and held out his hand to help her descend. Heart slamming against the wall of her chest, she took hold and stepped where he indicated. Moments later, both of them were seated on a submerged ledge, steam rising around them as they faced one another from opposite sides.

“The temperature’s perfect.” She was desperate for something to take her mind off of how wonderful he looked, his black hair curling slightly in the moist air.

“It would be too hot—enough to take your skin off—without the creek water to cool it down.” He raked wet fingers through his hair. “Has kind of a sulfur smell that I’m not crazy about, but it sure feels good to soak in when your muscles are sore and tired.”

“Do you come up here often?”

He shook his head. “Not often. Never seems to be time to fit it in.” He shrugged. “Or maybe I don’t ever have a good enough reason to take the time.”

His eyes told her she was all the reason he’d needed. It pleased and frightened her in equal measure.

Chet closed his eyes and leaned his head back against
the rocks. “So you said the website is up and running. What’s next?”

Bless him. This was much safer territory. “Advertising. Getting the word out every way we can. Including social media marketing.”

“And you know how to do all of that?”

“No.” She shrugged, even though he wasn’t looking at her. “But I can learn.” As she spoke those words, she realized how true they were and how good it felt to be confident about something.

“Never doubted you for a moment, Kimberly.”

Strange, it felt even better to know that Chet had confidence in her.

Without rising from the water, he moved across the pool until his face was mere inches from hers. “Kimberly,” he said, his voice low and husky, “you’ve become important to me. Do you know that?”

Throat dry, eyes misting, she nodded.

“All I want is a chance.” He drew closer.

Her pulse quickened in expectation.

“And now I think it’s time I kissed you again.”

Her lungs forgot how to breathe on their own. She had to think about it, force herself to draw air. Then his mouth was on hers. Gentle, yet demanding. Tentative, yet assertive. The kiss—very different from the one on the night of the concert—made her insides twirl and then melt. Beneath the surface of the water, their bodies remained apart. Only their lips touched. Which for some reason made it all the more wonderful and exciting. She wouldn’t have minded if it had gone on for hours.

But it didn’t.

Chet drew back, and his eyes met hers once again. “You really know how to steam things up, Mrs. Welch.”

“We’re in a hot spring, Mr. Leonard,” she whispered back. “It’s always steamy.”

They smiled in unison, as if knowing they had created a special memory, one that would make them smile when they spoke of it in the future.

Twenty-nine

J
ANET
’
S LAUGHTER PRECEDED HER INTO THE KITCHEN
the next morning. “That must have been some hot tub.”

Kimberly turned, coffee mug in hand. “Why do you say that?”

“Because you were humming.”

“I was not. Was I?”

Janet laughed again. “Yes, m’dear, you were. And if I’m not mistaken, it was an old George Strait hit. ‘Love Without End, Amen.’ ”

A slow smile curved Kimberly’s mouth. She remembered the song playing on the iPod last night. “You’re right. I
was
humming. Guess I remembered the tune but not the words.”

“So? Spill. How was your date?”

“Very nice.” She felt her smile broaden.

“And?” Janet wiggled her fingers, as if trying to pull more words out of Kimberly.

“And none of your business.” Kimberly tried to look stern but she failed.

Janet clapped her hands. “I
knew
it! You two are perfect for each other.”

“Hardly perfect.”

“Why?”

Her smile slipped. “Nobody is perfect.” She moved away from the coffeemaker and stood at the sliding glass door, staring up the sloping ground toward the home of Ned and Susan Lyle.

“I didn’t say
he
was perfect. I said the two of you are perfect together.”

Kimberly released a sigh, her good humor drained away. “I wish you’d attend to your own love life.”

“I have no love life, Kimmie. That’s why I need to meddle with yours.”

“Thanks a lot.” She turned around. “Look, I don’t know where this attraction is going. Let’s not make it more than it is. It may go nowhere.”

“And it may go somewhere,” Janet countered.

“You don’t give up, do you?”

“Nope.”

Kimberly shook her head slowly, her smile returning. “You’re hopeless.”

“Hopeful, my friend. Not hopeless.”

T
HE
F
OURTH OF
J
ULY FUN BEGAN IN
K
INGS
M
EADOW
in the afternoon with a parade along the meandering main street of town. Afterward there was a public barbecue in the
city park, followed by games, music, dancing, and fireworks. The celebration of Independence Day had been much the same when Chet was a boy. Then the recession of the eighties had come, and the town had been forced to cut back in countless ways. The Fourth of July had been one of the victims. But when Oliver Abbott was elected mayor, he put the old traditions of parade, food, and fireworks back onto the township’s calendar. It felt good for the community to come together again. Mighty good.