The morning sun splashed its gold across the Indian paintbrush and daisies in her garden.
"You're up early." She carried a mug of hot coffee over to the side of the house where Michael leaned his tall frame against the ladder, stretching with each stroke. He stepped down when he saw her with coffee.
"I usually am." He relieved her of the mug and took a swallow. "Just what the doctor ordered, hot coffee and the sight of a beautiful woman to start my day." He looked down at her with her hair pulled back into a silver barrette.
"You always this nice in the morning?"
"Always, ma'am. I don't have a mean bone in my body unless I'm on the back of a bull."
"Sounds like a man who knows where he's going." She held her hand up to block the bright sun.
"I know where I'm going and I know how to get there. The only one with more testosterone than the bull is me." He enjoyed making her laugh.
"Sounds like you're the kind of guy that could get my house painted." Kelly watched him walk around the corner of the house, then walk back. The light blue, western shirt accentuated his tanned, muscular arms, its sleeves cut away, exposing his biceps. A swirl of dark chest hair protruding from his shirt made her insides tighten.
The sight of the good looking, well built man standing in front of her that early in the morning was hard to handle. Damn! If he wasn't the finest looking man she'd seen in a month of Sundays!
"You wanna tell me exactly what you have in mind?"
"I will not!" For a moment she thought he'd heard her thoughts. "I'm sorry, what?"
"For this job. What color did you want for the trim?"
"Uh, sorry," she smiled. "The mint green for the inner trim and peach for outer trim and the finials. What do you think?"
"Good choice," he watched the blue-black colors of her hair dance in the sunlight, "and it'll hold up over the years because you bought a good brand of paint."
"Never do anything half-assed, as my daddy used to say."
"Wild Bill O'Shae, I know. I saw the pictures on your walls. He was pretty famous in his time."
"That he was. I can only remember bits and pieces of his rodeo days. By the time I was older, he'd gone into ranching more because mother didn't like him gone all the time. She was ill for most of my childhood."
"Was she Cherokee?"
"Yes. They met at a small county rodeo. She rode barrels and was actually pretty good. They did a lot of rodeos together."
"Lovely woman."
"I think so. She was strong too, in spirit. Much stronger than I."
He walked around the ladder. "I'll bet you're stronger than you think." He took off his hat and raked his fingers through his hair.
His eyes saw into her deeper than she wanted anyone to go. "Strong in some areas, weak in others, but I manage." She stuck both hands in her pockets. "Want to come and check the new foal with me?" She squinted into the sun.
"Sure, then I'll talk you out of another cup of coffee and get back to my work."
"Breakfast is at seven. You won't want to miss Angelina's cooking." She walked with him to the barn.
They entered as the smell of fresh hay filled the air. She inhaled it deep, "I love the smell of fresh hay."
"Uh huh." He followed her.
They walked through the barn to the corral behind it, where Velvet Lady stood, quietly allowing her energetic newborn to suckle.
"Mooney turned them loose in this single corral so they could have it all to themselves." Kelly entered slowly. "Hi, Lady, you nursing your new baby?" The large mare nickered as Kelly moved closer, holding a carrot at arm's length in front of her.
"Foal's got some fine lines, Kelly. She's a right pretty little thing. Looks healthy enough." He admired the pair for a short time, but enjoyed watching Kelly more.
"Thanks to you, she's alive, Michael."
"Like I said, don't mention it." He turned to the west to take in the glory of the early sun reflecting off of the distant mountains. The azure sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds, floating on invisible currents of prairie wind. Indian paintbrush splashed color onto the neighboring hills, thick with wild bluebells. The green sage was fragrant. "Pretty country, ain't it?"
Kelly stopped stroking Lady and looked up at the mountains. "Yeah, it is. I love it here."
"Ever been to Montana? You'd love my ranch. Rolling green hills spotted with white-faced cattle as far as you can see. Montana skies, now they're beautiful."
"I've been to Billings."
"I'm due north of there. Winters are bad sometimes, but springtime in Montana is the best. Wish you could see it, Kelly."
"Mmm."
"You should let me show you Montana."
She turned and in his eyes saw sincerity that made her want to believe every word he said. For that moment there were only the two of them, standing alone with the horses. With the splendor of the hills around them, they were oblivious to the clamor of ranch hands working in the corral next to them.
They were interrupted by the clang of the metal triangle at the back door. "We'd better go in for breakfast." Kelly gave Lady a firm pat on her rump and stood up straight.
"Oh, yeah, breakfast. Actually, I was enjoying the view from right here. Looking at the sun in your hair's the prettiest thing I've seen in a long time."
Kelly smiled. "Thanks." It was nice hearing a compliment from a man.
Together, they walked across the corral. For a moment, his hand grazed hers when he closed the gate. She was starting to like the excitement he caused when he drew near.
Breakfast was fun. Michael and Mooney told old rodeo stories while everyone at the table laughed until their sides hurt.
Kelly was having fun, feeling drawn to him. Later, she walked into the yard with him. He spoke softly and his words drew her closer, coaxing her gently into the territory of his mind with tenderness she was unaccustomed to feeling. A tenderness that was a comfort to her now. The kind that awakened her senses, satisfying her like a thirsty woman in a desert, inching her way towards fresh water. Only thing was, when she looked into his eyes she found herself wanting more than just a sip.
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