“Caramel is plotting my downfall.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Anyway, we’ve got a big Lucas family holiday coming up. We used Claire’s graduation in Washington as the excuse.”
Claire, his sister-in-law.
“Big deal for her,” I said. “And for you guys.”
“Feels like it’s been a long time coming,” he said, a proudglint in his eyes. “She’s already got plans for her own practice. She’ll be running the town in no time.”
“Smart move. Vets have job security. People love their animals.”
“Not to mention,” Noah added with a smirk, “my brother is thrilled about slashing our vet bills.”
I let out a short laugh. “Is that why you guys encouraged her in the first place? Long-term investment?”
“Gotta think ahead,” he said, grinning.
Then he nodded toward the house. “I would’ve offered you my place while we’re gone, but there’s a wedding coming up, and both mine and Elia’s places are basically guest houses now.”
I turned to him with my eyebrows raised. “Oh, Noah! You evenconsideredleaving me in charge of this place? I’m touched.”
Noah snorted. “Not in charge. Elia barely let the wedding planner have the keys. No way he’d trust you.”
“Wow. Way to boost a guy’s confidence.”
“Nothing personal. We’ve got Hank, anyway. Wedding or not, nothing happens to this place under his watch.”
Good old Hank. The foreman ran this ranch as if it were his own.
I glanced back at the spread, thehorse-infestedspread. “Appreciate the thought, but I’ll take my chances at the motel. Less risk of me breaking something expensive.”
“Or getting trampled.”
“That too.”
Noah smirked, leaning against the fence. “You know, old Bill over at the fishing shop is thinking of retiring. Maybe you ought to buy the place. You used to talk about fishing.”
“Fishing,” I repeated, mulling it over. “You know I haven’t actually fished in, like, a decade?”
Noah shrugged. “Doesn’t mean you can’t run a business selling fishing gear to people whodofish.”
He had a point. It wasn’t the worst idea I’d ever heard.
I exhaled, letting my gaze drift out over the Montana horizon. Big sky. Big space. A whole different rhythm from what I was used to.
“I’ll think about it,” I said. “For now, I just wanna have a zen moment.”
Noah clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Just try not to zen yourself into stepping in horse shit.”
“Good call,” I said. But my mind was already on the next plan. “Hey, you mentioned a Raven Bluff trail?”
Noah nodded. “Beautiful trail. If you hike all the way, you end up at Blodgett Pass.”
“Sweet.”
Noah’s smirk deepened. “And you’re aware you’re inMontananow, right?”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you by needing a search party to come find me.”
