Wyoming Sweethearts (14 page)

“Sean. Eloise!” A man in his thirties looked up from working a horseshoe, released the animal’s hoof and stood. “You didn’t waste any time gettin’ here.”

“Cady wanted me to follow up on this right away.” She rolled down the window, squinting against the sun. “She’s on a mission to save as many horses as she can, for little Julianna’s sake.”

“So I hear. I applaud it, too.” Troy left the horse cross-tied and ambled over to the truck. “Sean, long time no see. It’s good of you to lend a trailer to Cady’s cause, although I’m bettin’ your uncle has something to do with it, huh?”

“Maybe, but that’s all I know. I don’t have any scoop about his intentions.” Sean hopped from the truck.

“Hey, I was only speculating!” Troy chuckled as he opened Eloise’s door with a slight squeak, the sound startling her. It took effort to force her gaze away from Sean, tall and muscular, bounding around the front of
the truck. Warm air breezed over her and she grabbed her cane.

“Everyone in this town is speculating.” Sean still smiled, nothing about him had changed except for a harsh twist in his words. “Since there’s no movie theater in these parts, folks have to have something to watch.”

“You know it,” Troy agreed good-naturedly and held out his callused hand, offering to help her down. His dark gaze lingered on her cane and pity wreathed his features.

Pride kept her from taking his hand. Any moment Sean would march into range and see the expression on Troy’s face. Aware of the weakness in her left leg, she eased off the seat and landed on her good leg, dug the tip of her cane into the powder-soft dust coating the driveway and tried to stand straight and strong as if she were fine, just fine.

“I’ll get the door,” Sean said tersely, which was strange because he was an easygoing guy, but he was definitely ruffled about something. “Where’s the horse, Troy?”

“This way.” Unconcerned, the cowboy knuckled back his hat and headed in the direction of the nearest gate. A cloud of dust rose with each step. “The poor thing showed up about a few days ago.”

It was hard to guess what Sean was thinking. His dimples had faded into a stern frown as he shut the door. He kept at her side, his impressive shadow tumbling over her as they walked together toward the rails. She gripped her cane tight until her knuckles went white, sorely aware that every other step she took was imperfect. What if Sean looked at her the way Troy had? What would it do to her heart if he ever did?

“Come on, girl.” Troy chirruped, gesturing toward
a sad-eyed mare who hung back from the rails. “She showed up just hanging around the fields looking in at all the horses safe in the pasture.”

“Poor girl.” The mare was thin, not emaciated, but lost looking as if she had known too much disappointment in her life. There was no hope in her gaze, no spirit in her stance as she lifted her head to scent them. Wariness haunted her.

“Pretty girl.” Sean leaned against the fence, his tenseness faded. “Is she lost?”

“That’s what I thought at first,” Troy explained. “I brought her in but she doesn’t have a microchip or a brand. There’s no way to identify her.”

“She’s a sweet thing.” Sean held out his hand, palm up.

“Do you think she was abandoned?” Eloise watched the mare stretch out her neck and creep toward Sean’s hand one hesitant step at a time.

“That’s my guess,” Troy answered. “Folks are pretty vigilant here. A missing animal wouldn’t go missing for long so it stands to reason she was probably let go. I think she’s put a lot of miles on her hooves. She’s walked so far on bad shoes, she could have gone lame.”

Another needy creature found just in time.
Thank You, Lord.
Eloise was truly grateful as the cautious mare tentatively brushed her nose against the tip of Sean’s fingers and jumped back, as if waiting to see what would happen next.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he murmured, kindness and warmth layered in his voice, and the mare responded to it. She shook her mane, nickered nervously and reached out again.

“That’s a good girl.” When he spoke, it was as gently as a man’s voice could be. He brushed his fingertips
over the velvet curve of the mare’s nose with infinite caring. No man could be more gentle. “That’s right, I’m not gonna hurt you, beautiful.”

Worry slid from big brown eyes as the mare inched closer and offered more of her head. As handsome as Sean was, nothing could be more attractive than his compassion as he befriended the horse.

“You are wanted now,” Eloise told the mare quietly and earned a nod of understanding from Sean. Her entire heart seemed to be falling and she could not let it. Somehow she had to find a way to stop it. She could not afford to adore this strong man with a depth of caring and kindness.

I wish, she thought wistfully. I so, so wish. It was too bad some things were never meant to be.

“M
y boss put an ad in a few local papers.” Troy backed away from the trailer, the mare successfully loaded. “If we get a call about the mare, who should I contact, you or Eloise?”

“Eloise.” Sean gritted his teeth. Me, he’d wanted to say, but that made no sense. He couldn’t explain why he didn’t want Troy to talk to Eloise. The thought made his jaw clench so hard his teeth hurt.

“Yes, or Cady.” Eloise folded a windblown lock of hair behind her ear, beautiful as always, possibly more beautiful than the last time he’d looked at her about three seconds ago. “You have my cell number. The inn’s number is in the phone book.”

“Easy enough.” Troy knuckled back his hat and apparently figured he had the right to open the truck door for her since he paraded beside her in that direction.

Wrong. Sean yanked open the door, fighting a wave of red hot, boiling jealousy that flashed into existence with a force that rivaled spontaneous combustion. Jealousy wasn’t like him, but he couldn’t deny the fact that his entire field of vision flashed crimson as Troy made small talk with Eloise.

“Cady and the girls are going to love the mare.” She planted her cane in the dust beside the truck, unaware that she was the reason he couldn’t breathe. Troy probably felt the same way and that made the shade of crimson darken.

I’m in big trouble, he thought and stepped around the door to block any attempt by Troy to help her into the cab.

“Then I can stop worrying about that lost little horse,” the cowboy drawled. “She’s in good hands now. The Lord provides.”

I’m not a jealous man, Lord.
Prayer seemed the only way to deal with the scalding rise of emotion that rocked through him like a lightning bolt.
Please help.

No answer came on the gust of warm wind or in the call of larks singing from their perch on the fence rails. He took a shaky breath and the rushing in his ears dulled enough so that he could make out the sound of human conversation. He caught Eloise’s elbow and helped her up, although she didn’t seem to need it.

He was in a fix. He couldn’t breathe, he could barely hear or see. It wasn’t as if he was looking for a relationship. He wasn’t about to turn in his lone-wolf club card.

“Thanks for coming by, Sean.” Troy turned to him, affable as always. “You saved me a trip trailering the mare to the inn.”

“It was no problem at all. Thanks for the call.” It was a total surprise he sounded normal. As he circled the truck red faded from his vision and the rushing in his ears calmed. He felt completely normal as he dropped behind the wheel.

“Another deserving horse to cherish,” Eloise said in her soft, musical alto that made him want to listen
forever. “Cady and the girls are going to absolutely adore her. She’s just the kind of horse Julianna wanted to save.”

“She’s a gem,” Sean agreed, fairly sure he didn’t mean the horse. He could not take his gaze off Eloise as he turned the key and the engine roared to life. Where were his ironclad defenses, the barriers he’d put up, the resolve he’d made not to feel one single thing for the woman?

Gone. They were all gone, as if blown to dust. He didn’t know why. He gripped the steering wheel tight and steered the truck back down the driveway, the tires kicking up a thick plume of dust. None of his current feelings were intentional. After his last bout with romance, he wasn’t eager to dive back into a relationship. So, what was wrong with him?

“You have saved the day again.” Eloise tossed that perfectly sweet smile at him, the one he couldn’t resist. The one that played havoc with his heart.

“Hey, all I’m doing is driving.”

“Cady and I can count on you, and that means a lot. I wasn’t even tempted to call Cheyenne.”

“Funny. Frank was quick to let me off work.” He couldn’t take too much credit. Sure, he wanted to help out as much as the next guy and he cared about animals. He appreciated what Cady was trying to do, but that wasn’t the biggest reason he was in this truck with Eloise. Did he want her to know that?

Not a chance.

“I’m going to make a few calls to make sure no one is looking for the mare.” She looked relaxed with him, so beautiful he kept forgetting to watch the road.

“Good.” The word stuck in his throat—the only word
his brain would produce. His gray matter decided to freeze and he couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

Eloise didn’t seem to notice. She smiled over at him as the air conditioner carried a hint of her honeysuckle fragrance. Being with her, letting silence fill him, made his soul stir. Emotions threatened to carry him away, but he held fast. He didn’t let his heart give a single bump, beat or tumble. He might not be in control of much, but at least he was in command of his feelings and he would stay that way.

“Are you going to the wedding on Saturday?” The words popped out of their own account, as if his brain had decided to ignore his resolve.

“Of course. Do you know anyone who isn’t? It’s the talk of the town. No one thought Ford Sherman would last as sheriff. No one has stuck around for very long, but he’s putting down roots.” She adjusted the air-conditioning vent so it blew on her face. “It will be nice to see Autumn happily married. She’s waited a long time for true love to find her.”

“True.” He couldn’t deny that. He also couldn’t deny the basic truth that love tended to find a person. You could go looking for it, but that didn’t mean you could locate it. And if you did, it might not be a love that would be as true or as durable as the one looking to find you.

Maybe that had been his problem with Meryl. He’d wanted to find love. He’d wanted the blessing of it in his life. What he felt for Eloise was different. It was spontaneous and quiet and illuminating, and he couldn’t allow himself to acknowledge it, couldn’t tumble one tiny bit.

“Things must be getting pretty crazy in your house with all the wedding preparations.” She glanced across
the fields as he navigated the county road that would bring the inn into sight at any moment. “I imagine there’s so many last-minute things that crop up.”

“I wouldn’t know about that, as I duck my head and try not to listen whenever something comes up.” He winked, keeping it light and friendly. “Autumn handles everything well and planning her wedding is no exception. She also has Mrs. G., who is phenomenal. Nothing gets past her.”

“Doris is also the best wedding planner in town.”

“She’s the only wedding planner in town.”

“True, but she’s also very good.” Eloise shrugged, determined not to give in to the wish gathering like a lump behind her ribs. “Autumn deserves a trouble-free day. A perfect day.”

“That’s what all the fuss has been for,” he agreed, keeping his eyes on the road.

“This is making you uncomfortable, isn’t it? The confirmed bachelor talking about marriage.”

“I’m tough enough to handle it. I think,” he added as a quip, using his dimples to his advantage.

If only she were immune. She sighed, unable to stop herself and the wish that could not be buried. Some day, Sean was going to fall head over heels for a woman. He was going to propose to her, marry her, be a fantastic husband to her and raise a family with her. Some woman was going to be greatly blessed to know his kindness, his tenderness, his gentle kiss.

I wish it could be me, she thought. I wish I could be the one he will love. Not possible, she knew, as the truck turned into the inn’s driveway and the white building with a wide front porch, picture windows and roof gables came into sight between the rustling cotton-woods. Windshields glinted in the sunshine from the
guests’ cars parked in the lot. Sean kept right, following the trail of blacktop around the gardens to the shining new stable in back.

“Eloise! Eloise!” Julianna came running all in bright pink, from her hair ribbons to her sandals. “Did you bring her? Oh, you did! I can see her through the window.”

“We’ve got her stall all ready.” Jenny came at a less enthusiastic jog, but her dark eyes glittered with anticipation. “Aunt Cady put a call in to the vet, and Nate says he is on his way.”

“Excellent.” It was a relief to hop out of the truck and escape Sean. As much as she cared, it was starting to hurt to be near to him. She welcomed the kiss of the hot sun and the puff of a lazy breeze against her skin. “She is a dear. I think you are both going to love her.”

“I love all the horses,” Jenny admitted, following her little sister around to the back where the clunk and clatter of the metal ramp going down told her Sean was there. If she listened she could just make out the low murmur of his baritone reassuring the mare.

“Guess what?” Jenny lingered, hands clasped, dark eyes unguarded. “Dad said we could spend the summer here. The whole summer. He’s gonna get a house and stay here with us and everything.”

“That’s great. You seem happy about that.”

“I am. I like it here. Julianna does, too. Besides, the horses need us.”

“Yes, they do. Very much.” There was no doubt the horses had flourished with two little girls to love them. Love makes everything better. Wasn’t that one of life’s secrets?

Julianna’s voice rang like musical chimes, muffled by the trailer. Hooves clomped on the ramp and the
little girl raced into sight. “Jenny! Come see her. She’s so pretty!”

“Ooh, she’s like red velvet.”

“She’s called a sorrel.” Sean strode into sight, leading the horse by a halter and lead rope. The mare stared at Jenny. Sean held the mare capably, crooning to her in reassuring tones and with his easy confidence.

Somehow she had to resist the incredibly powerful pull of gravity on her heart.

I will not fall, she vowed. I won’t do it.

“Look, she’s taken a liking to you, Jenny.” Sean gave the mare her lead and she walked straight to the older girl. Big brown horse eyes gleamed hopefully.

“She’s so nice,” Jenny breathed, holding out her hands as the mare placed her face in them. “She really does like me.”

“Maybe she used to have a girl about your age,” Sean suggested as the mare nickered low in her throat, a contented, welcoming sound. Julianna held out her hand to stroke the horse also.

Over the arch of the mare’s neck, Sean’s gaze found hers. It was more than horses they were rescuing, and she knew by the poignant set of his gaze that he knew it, too. They were repairing wounded hearts and broken promises and giving animals the chance for happiness to find them again.

I cannot fall for him, she told herself, holding on tight with all the strength and willpower she had. She was not in love with Sean. Teetering on the edge, maybe, but she had not made that long, perilous tumble.

Yet.

“Eloise, you brought us another keeper.” Cady breezed into sight, the tall solemn figure of the girls’

father trailing behind her. “Come, let’s show her to her new stall.”

Sean handed over the lead to Jenny and stepped away, saying nothing as he backtracked around the truck. It was easy to say goodbye if she didn’t look at him. She gripped her cane and headed to the barn, not daring to turn around and wave as he drove away.

Thoughts of Eloise trailed him all the way to the ranch. Images of her burnished by the sun, tenderly petting the new mare, just being Eloise with the air conditioner blowing her hair. He banished them but those images kept coming, impossible to stop. By the time he’d unhitched and hosed out the trailer, he’d lost the battle.

Footsteps knelled behind him when he was winding up the hose.

“Heard Dad took you off sheep duty.” Tucker ambled over, dusty from a hard day’s work repairing the fence. “Were you able to get the mare?”

“That’s an affirmative. She’s being properly spoiled in Cady’s stables as we speak.” He attempted to keep the vision of Eloise from popping into his mind, but it was a half-hearted attempt. He had to accept he had no power when it came to her. Maybe he never truly had. He could see her with the Stone girls, luminous and hopeful as the mare basked in the children’s attention.

“Nate’s coming over first thing in the morning.” Tucker strolled on by with a chuckle. “Earth to Sean. Do you read me?”

“Sorry, guess I’m a little spacey.” He shook his head, the understatement of the year.

“Yeah, I remember feeling that way. Still am ever since Sierra and I set a wedding date.” There was no
disguising the understanding grin one man gave another when he’d been lassoed in by marriage. “There’s no way to avoid it now.”

“You’re doomed, buddy,” Sean jested, as it was the lone-wolf way.

Stop thinking of Eloise, he told himself in the silence left behind as Tucker strolled out of sight. Work was done for the day, and he needed to do something to keep his mind from boomeranging back to her.

He hopped in his truck and his phone rang. He whipped it out of his pocket so fast, he didn’t even glance at the screen. His palms went damp, his pulse galloped as he imagined Eloise on the other end. “Hello?”

“Sean.” A woman’s overly bright voice burst across the line.

“Meryl.” Shock left him so stunned, he nearly steered right into the fence. His mind spun, too shocked to engage. Utterly blank, he listened to her chatter on.

“I’m so thankful you took my call. Finally. That must mean you listened to my messages. I know you’re upset with me, but you took my call.” She emphasized the words as if he’d saved the world from a killer asteroid and lived to tell the tale.

His guts clenched. His throat ached. The memory of her betrayal lingered, souring his mouth. “I wouldn’t have answered if I had known it was you.” He said the truth as gently as he could. “I don’t want a second chance with you, Meryl. The first time around was more than enough for me.”

“But I made a mistake. You can forgive me, I know you can.”

He pulled into his slot in the garage and cut the
engine. Yes, he was capable of forgiveness. “I can’t forget and I’m not going to. This really is over.”

“I was hoping we could meet. I could drive up your way.”

“No. Sorry.” He opened the door and let the sweet grass-fed breezes tumble over him, breathed in the fresh air and wide open spaces. The bitterness vanished. He was over her, he realized, thinking over his afternoon with Eloise.