Page 10 of The Cattleman’s Unforgettable Love: Ford and Amelia (MacFarland Ranch #11)

On Saturday morning, Ford stood in the kitchen, staring at the picnic bag he'd packed. He hadn't been nervous about a date in years. Not that he'd been on many. But he really shouldn't be second-guessing himself about the picnic.

He didn't know her all that well, but as different as she may be from most of the folks around here, Amelia was still a human.

And most humans he'd ever known ate sandwiches.

If she didn't like the coffee cake he'd had one of the hands pick up from the bakery yesterday, he wouldn't have a problem eating it all.

If she didn't like beer, he'd packed soda and water, too.

And fruit, just in case she was... just in case fruit was her thing.

He ran a hand through his hair and went to pour himself a coffee. He didn't even know if she was an early riser when she wasn't working. For that matter, he didn’t know what time she got up even when she was working; he'd been out of the house before her every morning since she'd come to stay.

He leaned back against the cabinets and sipped his coffee. Caffeine was supposed to make you antsy, but he found it settled his nerves. Maybe it was just the habit of a familiar routine that calmed him – while faced with the very unfamiliar position he found himself in this morning.

He reached for his phone when it buzzed on the counter and frowned when he saw Boone's name on the screen. Surely the foreman could take care of things by himself for just one day.

Boone: Ignore me if you're already on your way out. Just wanted to check if you want me to turn the Morgan out with the rest this morning.

Ford frowned as he stared at the message, not knowing why the Morgan would be with the ranch horses. He'd thought that Tanner was keeping him over at the barn with his horses so he could train him.

Ford: What's he doing with you?

Boone: Tanner asked last night if he could leave him in one of our stalls. I thought you wanted him.

Ford: I do. But I thought Tanner was going to work with him first.

Boone: Sorry, boss. I can take him back over there if you like. I'll figure it out with Tanner. Didn't mean to create problems for you on your day off.

Ford: It's not a problem. I'll stop by before we leave.

Boone: Shit. You don't need to do that. I can figure it out.

Ford: I don't mind. It'll give me the chance to introduce Amelia to him. But yeah, I'll let you figure it out with Tanner after we leave.

Boone: OK. I'll brush him down, so she gets a good first impression of him.

Ford: Don't worry about it. You've got enough to do. I'm hoping she'll be happy to meet him even with straw in his mane.

Boone: Yeah, but still. He'll want to make a good first impression. We all will.

Ford stared at his phone for a moment, wondering what exactly Boone meant. Whatever it was, he wasn't about to ask.

Ford: See you soon.

He set his phone down when he heard Amelia coming down the stairs.

“Morning,” he called. “Do you want coffee?”

His breath caught in his chest when she appeared in the doorway from the hall. She was a good-looking woman. He’d been attracted to her from the first time he saw her, and yet it seemed that every time he laid eyes on her, she still took his breath away.

“Morning.” She greeted him with a smile. “I hope I’ve not kept you waiting. We didn’t say what time we wanted to go out.”

He smiled back. “That was the point. I didn’t know if you’d want to sleep in or get going early – and with no set schedule and no fixed plan, we can do as we like.”

“In that case,” she said as she stepped into the kitchen, “I’d love a coffee.”

He poured a mug and then hesitated. “I don’t even know how you like it.”

She chuckled. “Don’t look so disappointed. You can hardly be expected to know, can you? We haven’t been around each other in the morning before. You’re usually gone before I roll out of bed.”

He swallowed, hoping that his expression wouldn’t give away what he was thinking – that he’d love for them to be around each other in the mornings. To wake up together. They hadn’t even been out on a date yet, so he was probably getting ahead of himself.

Although, he had to wonder if she was thinking the same way when she gave him a naughty little smile as he handed her the mug.

“Do you want some breakfast?” he asked.

She shook her head slowly. “I don’t want to hold us up. I have protein bars that I carry around with me. I can bring a couple of those if you’d like one, too.”

He smiled. “I told you; there’s no big rush. I can make you a full breakfast if you want one.”

“That’s sweet of you. Thanks, but I’d rather we set off and go… wherever we’re going,” she added with a laugh.

“Well, there is one stop I’d like to make before we leave the ranch. If that’s okay with you.”

“Of course it is. And if you need to work, I understand. I don’t want to drag you away if you’re busy.”

“I need you to drag me away,” he said with a smile. “I don’t remember the last time I gave myself a day off like this — not just for me to do something I want to do. And it’s not work that I want to stop for. It’s something for you.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Something for me?”

“You know I told you that Tanner has a horse that might be suitable for you? I thought we could stop and introduce you to him on the way out.” He jerked his chin toward his phone. “Boone was just asking me about where I want to put him.”

He loved that she smiled and nodded eagerly. “I’m excited to meet him. Does he have a name?”

“Not yet,” Ford told her. “I was thinking you might want to name him.”

There was something endearing about the way she looked so touched by the offer as she asked, “Me? I get to name him? Oh, wow. I don’t even know…

” She waved a hand at him. “Don’t take me literally.

I’m not saying no, I don’t want to . I’m saying that it might take me a little while to come up with something good.

And if I come up with something you hate?

Feel free to tell me. I don’t know what kinds of names horses usually have. ”

He held her gaze for a long moment, considering whether he should tell her.

She looked a little sheepish as she asked, “What? Have I said something stupid already? I can’t defend myself – I don’t know the first thing about horses or ranches, and you already know that. So don’t be too hard on me, okay?”

Her words made the decision easy for him.

“You didn’t say a damn thing wrong. I was looking at you like that because I was trying to decide if I should make a confession.

And I’ve decided that I’d hate for you to feel dumb about whatever name you might give him.

I’d hate it because I know exactly how that feels. ”

“When I was a kid, I came up with what I thought was a brilliant system for naming the horses by number. I even figured that we could cross-reference them with a letter, depending on what job they were best used for.” He shrugged and gave her a rueful smile.

“I’m sure you can imagine the shit my siblings gave me over that one. ”

His heart sank when she said, “Oh, you poor thing.” He didn’t need her pity. But then it soared again when she added, “I can totally relate. That sounds like something I would do. I mean, it’s efficient, isn’t it?”

“It is,” he agreed. “I’m glad you understand. I was in two minds to tell you because I didn’t want you to laugh at me.”

As he said the words, it hit him that while he didn’t normally care anymore if anyone wanted to laugh at him, it felt incredibly important that she shouldn’t.

~ ~ ~

Amelia felt a little self-conscious when Ford pulled up in front of the bunkhouse and Boone came out to greet them. A couple of the other guys came out, too.

Ford looked over at her before he got out. “Are you okay with this?” he asked.

She nodded, trying to look more at ease than she felt. “I’m excited to meet him.”

He gave her a knowing look. “I didn’t mean that, and I think you know it. I mean about these guys. You can wait here if you like while I have a quick word with Boone and then I’ll get him to clear the guys out while we go visit the stalls.”

“No! I mean, thank you – it’s sweet of you to offer, but that’d be too weird. I’m not some delicate little lady who’s afraid to be around people if that’s what you’re worried about … I just …”

He reached across and touched her arm. “I didn’t think you were. And I’m not worried; I’m just trying to look out for you. You’re kind of out of your element here. I get that. If you took me to a conference full of computer security specialist ladies, I’d feel out of place too.”

She laughed. “I’m not sure that we’d find a whole conference full of women, but I can assure you that if we did they’d be more than happy to welcome you.”

He chuckled. “You know what I mean. And I can guarantee you that these guys will want to welcome you, too.” He looked quite formidable when his smile faded and he added, “But if ever any of them overstep, I need you to tell me.”

She laughed. “They’re hardly likely to do that, and I can set them straight myself if they do – but thanks.

” She looked out through the windshield at Boone and the others who were now chatting and pretending that they weren’t watching.

“You picked up that I was feeling self-conscious about being here, but I think sitting here like this while they wait is only making it worse.”

“You’re right. Wait there.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he held his hand up to stop her. “Sorry, that wasn’t an order. I just meant that I’ll come around and get your door.”

“Oh!” She cocked her head at him – it wouldn’t have occurred to her that he might want to open her door. But …

His gaze never left hers as he walked around the hood of his truck and came to get her.

He opened the door and offered her his hand.

Part of her wanted to laugh, to make a joke about him helping her down from her carriage – and it maybe turning back into a pumpkin – but she couldn’t find the breath to speak.