Page 39

Chapter 39

Ford

“You didn’t push her too hard, did you?” I take the reins from Sawyer and lead Pepper into the barn.

“Heck no. Me and Scotty took turns trotting her, and we camped out twice to make sure she had a chance to rest. The trail’s pretty packed down, and without her tack on, I think she did okay.” Sawyer lifts my saddle from the back of the snowmachine and follows me, pausing to put it on one of the trees while I walk her down the aisle to her stall.

Pepper’s ears pin when I get to the door, and she tries to tug her lead out of my grip.

“Easy now. I know all your tricks.” Before I slip her halter off, I run my fingers down her flanks to check her condition under her thicker winter coat.

She feels plump, and is sure acting sassy.

I’m glad to have her home, even if she is a pissy cuss most of the time.

The gate latches as April squeals, running to stand on the lower rail and reach her palm out to the mare.

“I missed you, pretty girl.” April’s eyes fall closed against Pepper’s nose, and they stand together as if they’re both in a trance.

Makes my chest warm watching them.

“I think—” I grab a small tin of grain and hand it to April. “—that we should go to town and find you a saddle of your own so you can ride your horse any time you want.”

I love seeing the look of confusion slowly morph to wide-eyed wonder.

“Seriously? No. She’s yours!” April’s grin is so wide I bet her cheeks hurt.

“She’s pretty decent ninety-nine percent of the time. Except when I yell real loud she spooks. I bet she won’t do that for you. Besides, it’s clear she likes you a helluva lot better than she likes me.” Of that I have no doubt.

“But what about you? Don’t you need her more than me?” April’s fingers splay through the thick ruff under Pepper’s jaw.

Yep. I made the right choice.

“I got half a dozen to choose from. Char tuned up a bunch of the geldings this fall. You should ask her about watching you ride. She’s the best damn horse trainer in this half of Montana.” I’ve seen the miracles that lady can work.

Tears spill down April’s cheeks. “I don’t know what to say. I’ve always wanted one of my own, but thought it was just a silly little girl’s dream.” She rushes up to me, flinging her arms around my neck to pepper my mouth and chin with rapid kisses.

Laughingly, I frame her face and plant a firm peck on her mouth. “You won’t be thanking me when you’re riding fence lines with me and your butt is numb from sitting all day long.”

Her bottom lip rolls between her teeth. “I will hazard a guess that you can figure out how to get some feeling back in it.” She winks, then turns back to her new best friend.

I may have lost her to a temperamental mare.

Worth it for that smile.

“Let’s go get that saddle before I’m tempted to give that ass more feeling than you’re expecting.” I grin as I pat her hip.

She begrudgingly slides her fingers into mine to leave the barn.

“Sawyer, how’d it go out there?” I ask as we walk past him unloading his sled.

“It fucking sucked,” he grumbles. “Generator stopped working about the third day. Thought we were gonna strangle each other over card games after that.” He tucks his hands into the small of his back and leans into them in an arching stretch. “Sometimes I swear I hate this ranch. Ever thought about quitting, Ford?”

I catch April’s face turn up to watch me.

“There’s been days. But not today.” I squeeze her palm, then tug her with me.

I feel bad for the kid. Sometimes this life isn’t for everyone.

He’ll have to figure out his own path eventually.

“I kinda thought him and Scott were a, um…” Her words drift into the wind.

“They’ve been best friends most of their life. Mason was buddies with his dad before he passed a few years ago. Hell, ten years I think. It was shortly after Carolyn died.” My jaw clenches as the fast stab of pain.

Too many people die too early.

“Val was a bit older, so took over the bar. Scotty needed someone to spend time with since their mom was such a wreck. They’ve been pretty much attached at the hip since.” Like me and Mason.

“Well, maybe a girlfriend would have made his time in the cabin more bearable,” April giggles.

That makes me chuckle. “You’d have to hogtie him I bet at that point. He likes video games and fast food. He may very well end up working in town before much longer.” I’d hate to see him leave. I’ve watched that kid grow since he was just a twinkle in Mason’s eye.

April shrugs. “I liked it. Being stuck out there with you had its perks.” A mischievous glint shines in her eyes.

“Yes it did.” I pull her close as we walk down the snowy driveway to the truck.

I can’t stop watching her tongue lapping slowly up her ice cream cone we got at Frozen Bones on the way out of town.

I’m usually not one to eat it when it’s cold outside, but consider me a convert.

When we get back to the house, I’ll have to offer her something else to lick.

At the end of the lane leading to the ranch, I pull over to the long bank of mailboxes, slowing down in front of mine.

Along with a tuft of envelopes and fliers are two small rectangular boxes addressed to April.

“Looks like you get all the fun stuff today.” I hand them to her and she peers at the labels.

“Oh! My new phone finally got here! I might be able to catch up on all of my missed calls.” Her face pales. “A month’s worth. I can’t believe it’s Christmas tomorrow.”

It seems so long ago. I’ve nearly forgotten what life was like without April in it.

That part of me died that day in the snow. Every memory I have, I want her in it.

I pull up to the front steps and put it in park, but leave the engine running. Stepping around the hood, I open her door and help her down onto the snowy ground.

“I’m going to take your saddle to the tack room. I’ll be back in just a few.” Carrying the other bags of things we picked up in town, I drop them inside and then climb back in the cab.

This ranch is huge, and even just driving down the lane takes a few minutes.

The leather and oil smell is still pungent as I hoist the pad and buckles over my shoulder. One of the long belly bands flops over my chest, etched with tiny flowers.

They’re dyed a soft blue, in dainty designs.

I feel like I should know it, but I’ve never been much of a plant guy.

Pepper raises her head and nods, pinning her ears and baring her teeth as I walk by.

“Don’t worry, I ain’t your problem anymore. You buck April off, though, you and me are gonna have words.” Almost as if she understands, one ear raises and her lip drops.

“Atta, girl,” I grunt, pushing into the tack room.

The truck is still idling when I get in, and head to the house.

Our house.

In such a short time, April’s made it a home.

I look forward to going there. The four walls that used to torture me in silence are a welcome retreat when she’s there.

Her mouth is twisted with just the pink triangle of her tongue poking out as she flips through her phone. “I got in. I can’t believe I remembered my password!” She takes the last bite of her cone, then rinses her fingers under the sink before resuming her scrolling.

I hang my hat and heavy coat on the hook near the entry, then pull a beer out of the fridge before finding a spot on the couch to stretch out.

We had a big meal in Campton, making me drowsy.

“What the fuck?” she exclaims and rushes to the cushion next to me. “That bitch, Norma, left like five messages.” She hits the play button and puts it on speaker.

“Hi, April. I’m really sorry about your dad, and think we got off on the wrong foot. Can you give me a call? I’d love to go out for coffee sometime.” The nasally voice has a sing-song quality as she talks.

April’s brown eyes are saucers. “What kind of Twilight Zone shit is this?” She flicks her thumb over the screen. “That was the day after we saw him. All of her calls are after that.” Her brows scrunch as she starts the next one.

“Hi, April. I’d really like to chat. I think we can be really good friends if you’d call me back?” Norma’s voice reeks of desperation.

April shakes her head slowly. “I gotta backtrack. This one is from the hospital after we visited.”

I’m still irritated with how damn rude her father was.

A deep voice sounds tinny. “April Nelson, this is Doctor Shevman. I’m afraid you were listed as an emergency contact for Albert Nelson. I regret to inform you he suffered another cardiac event this afternoon, and he did not recover. This message is sent at his request prior to his passing.” The heavy click echoes in the silence between April and I.

“Ford?” she squeaks.

I can see the shock on her face. Pulling her into my arms, I squeeze her as she processes.

“There’s one from his law firm,” she whispers against my chest.

“April, it’s Sam Caldwell, one of your father’s partners. I’m sure by now you’ve heard the news of his passing. I need you to come down to process his belongings. His will is on file, and you’re the sole beneficiary—”

She drops the phone, the rest of the message getting lost in the gap in the cushions.

That’s when I feel the first heat of tears land on my shirt.

“Did he die because of me?” A shudder shakes her shoulders and her nose buries against my neck.

“No. His heart was already weak. Anything could have set it off.” My lips find the top of her head as I rock her gently.

Her thumb works over one of the fading cuff scars on her wrist. “This is the last thing he saw of me.” Her head rises with a trembling chin.

“He was a fool. Blind to the magnificent woman that you are.” My palm works broad circles over her back.

There’s a part of me that wishes I hadn’t held back on him that day. I should have said my piece and set the record straight.

It wasn’t my truth to share, though.

“I guess that explains why Norma is sucking my ass,” April grumbles as a half-smile pulls up one corner of her mouth. “That’s pretty damn funny my dad didn’t leave her a dime.”

Her head slumps back against my chest. “Ford?”

“Mmhmm?” I let her hair tickle my nose as I try to tuck every part of her against my body.

“Will you still love me if I’m rich? My dad was loaded. ” She sighs, snuggling tighter into my arms. “Funny, I never wanted any part of it, and made it very clear to him.” She twists to see my face. “Maybe I’ll give it all to charity?”

I’ve got twenty-five years of generous paychecks sitting in a bank. I don’t exactly have expensive tastes. She’d never have to work anyways, I’d make sure of that.

“You spend it on whatever you want, Frosty. I just want you.” I meet her teary gaze.

She tilts her lips up to meet mine. “I love you, too.”