Page 3 of Bred

“Is this some kind of joke?” My voice was rough, reverberating through the headset.

“I don’t think he has a sense of humor.” My grandfather took his headset off after his words, gesturing for me to do the same. I followed his direction and waited awkwardly for our pilot to come around and assist us down.

The pilot’s hand released me immediately, the man moving away from me as quickly as he could, given the circumstances. My grandfather gave a pleased grunt as the blades slowed to a stop and the pilot crept back into his seat.

“What do we do?”

“You are an Ehlers, my dear. We wait on no one.” My grandfather rose to his full height and strode off across the yard towards the house, leaving me to hurry to fall in line behind him.

“We can’t just walk in there.”

“We can and we will. This is your home now, Wren. You might as well lay claim to it.”

I’d been right about the house. It was all one level, but sprawling, with half a dozen fireplaces, gorgeous dark hardwoods, and absolutely no curtains. At first I’d been confused, but I guessed out here, there were no neighbors glancing in on you. Even in Grandfather’s private estate in Fargo, we’d had curtains.

I ran my fingers down the walls, fascinated by the variety of artwork on the walls. The rugs under my feet were soft, warm, and beautiful. I could almost imagine being here, laid out on the rug, absorbing the heat from the fireplace.

My future husband had good taste. Or whomever he’d chosen to decorate did. I could be comfortable here. I would be comfortable here, I decided.

That thought had barely crossed my when the doorway in front of me was suddenly filled with a body—a man’s body. I stopped back with a sharp yelp, my hand coming up to cover my heart as I stumbled back. The edge of the carpet made me waver, and a heavily calloused hand snapped forward to wrap around my forearm with a growl.

“Easy, girl,” the man practically snarled as he heaved me back onto my feet, his body easily holding my weight until I managed to right myself. “Loren will have my head if his new bride shows up to the wedding bruised.”

I gasped, heart still racing as I took another small step back, trying to find a perspective where my neck didn’t ache to stare up at this giant.

His bride… This wasn’t my intended. “Who are you? What are you doing in my…?” I trailed off, surprised that I didn’t know what to say.

He was good-looking, sure, but the way he stared at me—or maybe glared was the right word—made it clear that he wasn’t happy I was here and that I didn’t belong.

Yet, a lifetime of men looking at me like I was an irritation meant that I knew exactly what he wanted. And I refused to give it to him.

I leveled my chin up another notch, crossed my arms, and asked again, “Who are you?”

“Name’s Erik. I work for Loren.”

I blinked at him, slowly and intentionally. “And you are here because…?”

“Because Loren’s flight is late.” Erik gestured around. “Which I’m sure you already knew. But he wanted me to come down to check in on you and your grandfather.”

“We are fine.”

“I can see that.” His drawl would be attractive if his face didn’t make me want to punch him.

“When will Loren be here?”

His eyes darted away, the first bit of emotion on his face, other than the irritation, flaring briefly. It looked shockingly like guilt. “I’m not sure.”

“Does he expect me to sit around all night in a wedding gown, waiting for him?”

That got his hackles up again. “I’m not sure.”

“Great. Thank you for your help, Erik.”

His brow wrinkled as he stepped back and away from me. “Welcome to Wolf Ridge Ranch.”

The screen door slammed behind him, and for a moment, I almost regretted sending him away. Someone was better than no one. Especially since Grandfather had been on the phone since we set foot inside the ranch. As usual, it was just me, wandering around this place and hoping to find something that would cement me here. Tell me that I had made the right choice. That I belonged here.

But there was nothing.