“Nor me.”
“I know that. It’s easy to tell you’re solid.”
“Is talking to Lani face-to-face part of this plan? You’re gonna knock on her door and?—”
“God, no. That would be a full-blown disaster.”
“Or a golden opportunity.”
“It’s not time yet.”
“How do you know?”
“I just do. She’s not ready to hear what I have to say. And I’m not ready to say it. When she comes for Christmas, I will be.”
“That’s four months away! She could be engaged to some chancer in New Jersey by then. She’s a right feek, in case you haven’t noticed.”
He laughed. “A right feek? “
“It means she’s nice to look at.”
“In that case, yes, I’ve noticed. I just don’t want her to figure that out. Not yet.”
“You’re not going to show your hand?”
That made him grin. “Keeping my cards close to my vest. And a few up my sleeve.”
“You do remind me of that fella Maverick. Granny loves that old show. But you’re taking a risk to wait like that.”
“And you’re taking one by charging ahead.”
He dragged in a breath. “That I am.” He let it out slowly. “And it’s worth taking.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Creeping through the dark house in her sock feet, her heart thumping, Sara expected to be caught any minute. She carried her phone, a jeans jacket and her boots, so pretending to be after a drink of water wasn’t an option.
If someone switched on a light and asked where she was going, she’d claim that there was a meteor shower she was eager to see and maybe photograph. Then she’d have to pray she could text Rance in time to have him hold up until she gave him the all-clear.
Her tennis shoes would have been easier to carry than boots, but Lani had insisted on the boots for getting in and out of the truck in the dark. Sara hadn’t argued, because her sister was right.
A ranch in Montana was nothing like the area where they’d grown up. She’d only seen one reptile in her neighborhood, a cute little garter snake in the back yard. And no bears, obviously.
Snakes and bears hadn’t been an issue in February, but Desiree had been clear that everyone kept their eyes open this time of year. She’d advised using the flashlight on their phone if they were walking around after dark.
Lani had reminded her about using the flashlight once she was out on the porch. As a little kid, she used to yellyou’re not the boss of mewhen Lani issued reminders, or worse yet, tried to stop her from doing something. Now she cherished Lani’s protectiveness.
If their roles had been reversed, Sara would have worried about Lani driving Rance’s truck alone in the dark. These days they took care of each other, especially when one of them was flooded with hormones and might not be thinking clearly.
She was awash in them right now, shaky with anticipation laced with disbelief. Could this wild scheme actually work?
The front door wasn’t locked. Doors seldom were on this ranch. The custom came in handy tonight, since she had no way to lock it behind her. It opened silently on its well-oiled hinges.
Stepping into the cool air, she pulled the door closed. A breeze rustled the leaves of the trees that surrounded the house, making her jump.
White fairy lights in the trees danced and sparkled, giving her a decent view of the area. No sign of bears. Crickets chirped in the bushes and a crescent moon dangled above the dark bulk of the Sapphire Mountains.
She put on her boots and her jacket. In preparation for this rendezvous, she’d taken time for a quick shower and a change of clothes.
