He watched as she nodded and stood beside the SUV, removed her shoe, and wiped it on the grass, then gracefully climbed back into her SUV. The engine roared to life, and with a final, lingering wave, she drove away.
As soon as the silhouette of her vehicle faded into the morning haze, Seth laughed.
“Hey, boss! Who was that? She was gorgeous,” called out Red, one of the ranch hands, his voice echoing off the barn walls.
“That was the photographer I mentioned to you,” Seth replied, his tone a mix of reluctant admiration and dawning apprehension.
Red’s brow furrowed, “I thought you said it was a man. You said his name was Ryan.”
Seth’s jaw tightened as he corrected him, “Well, I was mistaken.Hername is Ryan.” The implications of that realization settled heavily on him; this was clearly going to be a problem.
“Well, she can follow me anywhere,” Red quipped with an easy laugh as he jogged into the barn.
“Someone find Elsie. She got out again, and clean up the mess, please.”
Seth grumbled, his voice low and weary, “Yeah, it’s going to be a problem.” With that, he reentered the barn and returned to his work, the events of the encounter swirling in his mind like unsettled dust in the early morning light.
****
Ryan navigated her car along the winding road back toward the B and B, then went on to the cabin where she was staying. As she eased into a parking spot, her eyes caught sight of the cabin door nearest to hers, left invitingly open. A very pretty woman with her blonde hair up in a ponytail stepped onto the porch, smiling at her.
Ryan pulled her SUV to a stop and stepped out, making her way across the gravel path to join the woman, who stood waiting with an easy smile.
“Hi, I’m Ryan Carroll,” she said as she smiled at the woman.
The woman put her hand out and they shook. “Alyssa West. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too. Are you here alone?”
“Yes. I’m from Arizona. A friend of mine stayed here last year and I just needed to get away for a while. How about you?”
“I’m alone. I’m from Valencia, California and here to take photos of Beckett Feed for Western Living magazine out of Los Angelas.”
“Oh, that sounds exciting.”
Ryan chuckled lightly, shaking her head. “The man I have to follow around is drop-dead gorgeous. But he doesn’t seem too pleased with me. He told me to dress appropriately Monday.” Her tone turned exasperated as she confided, “He also mentioned he was expecting a man.”
“I’m sure most people would expect that with a name like Ryan.” Alyssa grinned.
“True. Well, I’m going to change and head to town. I need to buy a jacket and maybe some flannel shirts. I can’t believe it’s so cold. My boss told me to pack warm clothes, but I didn’t expect the weather to be this chilly. I’m sure Monday is going to be a full day.”
“Maybe we could grab dinner one evening?”
“That sounds wonderful,” Ryan agreed, her mind already drifting to the thought of shedding her clothes after a long day.“Mr. Harrison said they started at five in the mornings, even though it was still dark. He made it clear I need to be there by eight,” Ryan said, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Oh, wow. I’d hate to be up that early, especially when I’m on vacation,” Alyssa remarked.
Ryan laughed softly. “I’m definitely not up at five a.m. ever.”
“Same here,” Alyssa agreed, then said, “I’ll let you get on with your day.”
“Do you have plans for dinner, this evening, Alyssa?”
“No, I don’t. I’m kind of just winging it.”
“I’m sure I won’t be in the mood to venture out again once I get back from town, even if it’s just to the main house for dinner. I read that they will deliver dinner to the cabin guests. We could have dinner in my cabin, if you’d like?” Ryan admitted, groaning at the mere thought of another drive. After flying from Valencia, California, to Kalispell, then having to drive to Clifton had left her weary and now she had to head into town.
“I’d love that. I don’t know anyone here yet. I can’t wait to head into town. I hear they have amazing little shops.”
